A really simple D.I.Y Project

When I spot a box on the street labeled 'free', chances are you can spot me pulling over to the side of the road to rummage through someone else's abandoned clutter in hopes of finding a temporary treasure. Often I feel inclined to take something just because it's free, whether it be a book I don't need or a children's toy for a baby I don't have. A few years ago I found a miniature skateboard in one such box. I decided to take it home with me and was determined to turn it into something.

I love to make collages. Cutting out interesting pictures in magazines and books is a relaxing activity and discovering how the found images can come together and make something new is rewarding. I decided to decoupage (glue pictures onto another surface using a special glue called Mod Podge) these little skateboards and give them to friends as gifts. A few months ago, I found a magazine lying around called Stop Smiling (a great magazine for writers and people who like to read). This particular issue was largely dedicated to the O.G Gonzo himself, Hunter S. Thompson. I cut out some pictures and words of him and searched through other magazines and found elements that came together as a common theme and new creation.

How to make this really simple craft:

1) Get a small skateboard at a toy store, or anywhere that sells kids stuff.
Price - 5.99 (This is just an example of a brand that makes them)


2) Get a bottle of Mod Podge at any crafty store (There is both Matte and Glossy kinds. Sometimes I just buy the glossy kind and do a coating over the top to make the pictures look shiny, but sometimes that just looks cheesy)
Cost - about $5 a bottle


3) Cut out pictures form magazines or books. Pictures form postcards tend to be too thick to stick to the skateboard material.

4) Fit pieces together and arrange a collage on the skateboard. It's not a completely flat surface, so don't get frustrated if some of the skateboard shows through.

5) Use a sponge brush and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the back of each image as you glue them onto the skateboard. You might want to arrange your collage on a flat surface off to the side to remember which images still need to be glued on.


6) Delight in the fact that you made something pretty easy and badass looking! Share Your Madness with someone or keep the skateboards you make for your greedy little self. However, if you place it in a free box outside your house, don't be surprised if I snatch it up and post it on our blog.

Here's my Hunter S. Thompson skateboard fit for a gnome.