> The Collegiate Crafter

With all the stuff we have going on in our lives, we’d be crazy to add something else to the mix, right?

Between endless hours of studying and working, interrupted by fleeting sleep, we often forget to take time for ourselves and relax. One way to combat this tendency is by expressing our inner creativity, namely though crafting.

Ah, steampunk. Just the word brings images of scientific Victorian romanticism to some, and looks of confusion to the faces of others.

Steampunk began as a literary offshoot of science fiction, and evolved into an entire punk/gothic subculture. Early examples of literary steampunk include the works of Jules Verne, author of such classics as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Around the World in Eighty Days.”

There are many ways to mark important milestones in life. Many crafters enjoy scrapbooking, or framing photography.

Before these pastimes became so popular, some cultures, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch, prized illuminated drawings called fraktur. A fraktur is a certificate done in an elaborate style of Germanic script accompanied by folk paintings.

Sometimes it’s best to go for drama. When growing houseplants, there is nothing more dramatic than a carnivorous plant, each species of which has evolved its own particular insect snatching method.

While many carnivorous plants can be hard to grow, if you keep some basic rules in mind, you should be able to maintain a few popular varieties with no more effort than it takes to keep your pet goldfish happy. Venus flytrap, sundew and pitcher plants are recommended for beginners, and these species have similar requirements.

With the remainder of the semester rapidly dwindling and the forecast finally confirming that it’s spring, many people are finally enjoying going outdoors, instead of suffering the Wisconsin weather. It’s that time of year again – we can finally look forward to the summertime and also summer gardening.

If you find yourself stuck in a rut, not wanting to turn to the same flower or vegetable garden year after year, consider planting a theme garden. Here are some tips for popular themes and corresponding plants and outdoor décor. (If you are shopping for seeds online, Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties are zone 5 on the hardiness scale.)

Many college students’ rooms are less than inspirational, and there is a common culprit behind all of them: landlords/parents who refuse to consider anything less than blank walls and boring furnishings. (In a way, you can’t blame them. When selling a property the less personality, the better, because a conflicting style can make the potential buyer unable to imagine him/herself in the space.)

However, while you live there it is important to get the most out of it. Your apartment/dorm should feel like home, no matter how temporary your situation may be. If you are thinking of leaving your parent’s house or the dorms next semester, keep in mind that your redecorating options will likely be limited, unless you buy a condo or house.

June is approaching and everyone knows what that means…the start of the summer wedding season! Hopefully you’ve been planning ahead in between pop quizzes and working your two part-time jobs. But if you’re running a bit behind, maybe you have a few loose ends to deal with – you know, picking rice or bubbles, scheduling your final dress fitting or deciding who your groom will be.

Favors usually fall towards the bottom of the list, but they can be a really fun way to convey your personality and provide a small thank you to all of your guests. Here are a few favor ideas that are not only fun to make, but relatively simple as well.

Summer. Finally, a chance to catch up on all of those half-finished projects I have lying around the house – and an opportunity to use all the supplies I bought because I thought I had to have them, although I had no idea what to use them for.

If summer will open up some free time for you as well, here are some things to do when you are not at work or the beach.