Crafting Club Brings Out Creativity, DIY Spirit
Members created miniature portraits. Photo Credit: Abeni Chen
By ABENI CHEN
“I felt like my inner Picasso was coming out while painting my little pin,” said Nhu (Jennifer) Lu ’21, a member of the crafting club. “It felt very therapeutic to paint, but also the club is at the very end of the day, so it relieves stress for me, too.”
Lu was talking about a crafting club project where members were given a mini-canvas made of metal to decorate. Paintbrushes with tiny tips and paints were also distributed across the classroom. This is only one of the many DIY (Do It Yourself) projects members get to play around with.
The DIY industry has grown markedly since the 1980s, becoming a popular weekend pastime for people who want to add beauty and creativity to their living conditions without the expense of paying someone else to do it.
The crafting club was just created this fall by president En Yi Chen ’21 and vice president Xinyi Huang ’21.
“I wanted to create this club because there aren’t a lot of electives related to art for students who do have the interest,” said Huang. “Students that are in the medical track couldn’t really take classes related to art, so this is an opportunity for them.”
The crafting club also made plastic keychains along with the miniature paintings. They have many more projects coming up in the following club meetings.
Chen said, “We watch videos online of people making crafts, and during the meetings we vote for what projects to do later on based on the options provided.”
A plastic keychain project began with drawing a design in sharpie on shrink paper. Shrink paper is a plastic sheet that, when exposed to high heat, shrinks until it becomes a small hardened piece of plastic. This would later be turned into keychains with strings attached.
“My favorite DIY is when we made our own decor from a specialized sheet that hardens once heat was applied to it,” said Jessica Wu ’20.
The members all patiently waited for their turn to make the keychain as there was only one heat gun available. The members also took turns helping each other hold the shrink paper in place while the heat was being applied. Other members continued designing their own keychain with a sharpie. Everyone worked at their own pace, and no one was rushed.
“I feel that this club provides a welcoming, chill, and inclusive atmosphere,” said Wu. “It also gives students their chance to try out different things and to work with their creativity.”
“It’s very hands on,” said Lu ‘21. “It’s like you learn something and you replicate it but in your very own way. You get to put your own little twist on things and personalize whatever you’re making.”
For those interested, crafting club meets every Friday period 9 in room 432.