Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


June 07, 2010

Danger is not my middle name



I worry a lot. I am faint-of-heart.

I imagine all sorts of craft-related accidents. Like cutting my hands with the rotary cutter. Or dangling my hair into the path of overlocker blades. Or searing my fingers whilst ironing bias binding.

Frankly, I don't do dangerous particularly well.

Which is why my attention was diverted from the promise of rich, intense and profoundly dark on the packaging of "Velvet Black". And how I came to hone-in on the warning.

Blah blah ... breathing difficulties ... blah blah blah ... serious skin and eye irritation ... blah blah blah ... allergic reaction ... blah blah blah.

Perhaps the restoration of my favourite skirt - and removal of an infuriating bleach mark - need not involve fabric dye at all.



Call it unconventional ... or even a little bit wrong ... (and correct me if I am mistaken) but I am yet to hear of a serious mishap involving a Sharpie marker.

26 comments:

  1. I am also the worrying, cautious type, but I never even *thought* to worry about crafting accidents. Of the hurting sort, I always worry I'll have a stuff-it-up type accident when I make stuff.

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  2. Oh, I'm a HUGE fan of the Sharpie marker for allsorts of touch-ups and quick dye-jobs.


    I'm a worrier, too... and I've had most of the crafting accidents you mention.

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  3. hey, I have done it before, make sure sharpie hangs around for touch ups later on.

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  4. A sharpie would be easier and faster! Good choice. :)

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  5. def. keep the sharpie for future use, might fade it in the wash

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  6. I don't know about the accident thing but I AM the mother who painted the bleach mark on my son's ballet shorts with acrylic paint. I'm not sure if it makes it better or worse that I took the time to blend the paint to get the correct shade. But hell, it isn't like I made him dance for cheese or anything!

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  7. This has been my solution to bleach marks on most things, too. I have heard of people sniffing permanent markers, but why they would is beyond me. They kill the few brain cells they have in the first place to do something this stupid!

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  8. I have used sharpies as dye in the past...pull out the inside ink cartridge and drop it in a bottle of rubbing alcohol.

    But I will warn you that black sharpies are not actually black and create a brown or sometimes deep purple dye. Just keep that in mind. :)

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  9. My most frequent craft accident is when I can't be bothered reaching for my rotary cutting ruler and use my regular 30cm ruler instead. The slanted sides means the rotary cutter runs straight onto the ruler and through one's thumbnail. Yet I still try it rather than moving a few steps to reach the proper implement!

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  10. Yep - sharpies have covered everything from bleach stains to scraped shoes at the quilary's - and do need a regular touch-up (better than buying new clothes though!). They are a bit of a problem when used as 'temporary tattoos' and 'nail polish' to be "just like my big sister"...

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  11. never in medical history has there been a sharpie accident of the life threatening variety- in spite of the sharpies ominous name. i know this- i googled it. sharpies are the be all answer to bleach on black mishaps

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  12. I'm a huge fan of the sharpie marker to hide bleach stains. You'd think I'd remember to change out of good clothes before cleaning bathrooms, but no. Hence the need for sharpie markers.
    Any photos of the finished result?

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  13. I love Sharpies! Never thought of using them to cover up bleach marks though - great idea!

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  14. I've currently got a big blue band aid on my finger from a craft related accident. Now I know why people in the know use safety pins when pinning their quilt sandwhich. Watch out!

    Thanks for the message.

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  15. I have a fear of the sewing machine needle breaking and ending up in my eye. I don't think it likely but you never know....

    A couple of days ago I was given a blog award and I am passing it on to you. http://craftyjoe.blogspot.com/2010/06/caring-and-sharing.html

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  16. Sorry, I am getting uncontrolled flashes of Liesl's face with sharpie handlebar style mustache and broad thick eyebrows!
    Don't let the kids read this!
    P.S. 2 more sleeps until the World Cup!

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  17. Once my camera is fixed (I hope, I hope) I'll send you a photo of the wallpaper in my hallway, Liesl. I'd call that a serious mishap involving a Sharpie marker.

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  19. Sharpies are a staple in the Mookah studio but I've got to say, never quite used it like that before. Thanks for the hot tip!

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  20. Love it!! Use 'my' sharpie for the exact same thing only on a pair of black pants!!

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  21. It works! And it's much faster than dye!
    I used a black Sharpie on a pair of shoes that got scuffed really badly. I thought, "I should throw out those shoes. They look like crap." And then I realized with a little Sharpie work, no one would be the wiser!

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  22. I do that as well! I have an awful bleach mark on my favourite bright red dressing gown which I colour in with one of my daughter's red felt tips every time I wash it! It works perfectly.

    PS The quilt top looks lovely.

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  23. Sharpies rock. They save my black, scuffed shoes, they save my bleach splashed clothes, etc etc. We need stock in this company.

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  24. I'm with you - I use markers too!

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