When most guys think of arts and crafts they either think of something that they did in summer camp twenty years ago or as something their wife or girlfriend does while waiting for their husbands to come home from fighting bears and catching fish with their bare hands. However, when it comes down to it, a craft is anything you make whether it be decorative, utilitarian, or something between the two; the idea that crafting is just a female activity is totally false. There are a myriad of crafts that guy can and should make. Here’s a few to get you started.
1. Canvas Ditty Bag
The canvas ditty bag goes by many names; you can call it a ditty bag, a stuff sack, or the-thing-I-put- stuff-in. Whatever you choose, canvas sacks are easy to make, tough as nails, and are extremely handy for camping, holding tools, and keeping emergency car equipment in. All you need is canvas fabric, a drawcord, a toaster lock, and heavyweight needle and thread. The whole bag can be put together in a matter of a half hour. Well, if your man enough for the challenge that is.
2. Survival Bracelet
If you are not familiar with ‘survival bracelets,’ they are bracelets that are woven from thick, durable cording that can be unwoven and used for anything and everything from a quick repair on a tent to stringing up a recently caught fish. It is one of those really cool ideas that is not only easy and inexpensive to create yourself, it is also something very practical that you should have on you at all times. All you need is some paracord, a side-release buckle, and the know-how to tie some square knots. Even the know-how isn’t totally necessary. That is what youtube how-to videos are for!
3. Boat Bumpers
I rowed crew all through high school and nothing would piss off my coaches more than scratches on the side of a boat. Not only are they terrible to look at, they can also harm the structural integrity of the vessel. This is not a problem that rowers alone face. Nobody wants to scrape up the side of their boat pulling up alongside a dock or into a boathouse. Bumpers are very simple to make and go a long way in protecting your boat. You’ll need heavy duty foam and marine grade vinyl to cover it. The only two things that you need to remember are to make sure that it is big enough to effectively stop your boat from ramming into a dock while you are distracted and that it floats! Nothing is worse than losing something valuable in the water.
4. Woodworking
Not to say that there are not plenty of adept women woodworkers in the world, but working with wood is very much a traditional man’s craft. This is certainly one of the hardest things to pick up for the first time and try to master; it is very time consuming, requires specialized tools, and takes a very steady hand. However, as with anything else, with dedication and the right teacher (on youtube or otherwise) you can start practicing this art form. Just remember to start small with your first projects so you don’t get discouraged. Begin with something easy like a spoon or a key rack.
5. Velcro Fishing Rod Case
Taking care of your fishing polls can be a challenge, especially when they are stuffed in your garage for far too long during the year. To solve this problem we suggest making a velcro fishing rod case to keep everything you need for your annual fishing trip in order. For this project all you need is some quilted fabric, seam tape for the edges, and extra strength velcro to hold it shut. You can make a small case for each rod or a large one for multiples. Just make sure to add velcro straps inside to keep the rods secure. Either way, keeping them together with this case is much easier than wrestling them out from behind that grill you have been meaning to go get fixed.
Have another idea of a he-man craft? Be sure to tell us about it in a comment. If any of you guys out there try these crafts post pictures on our Facebook so we can see how they turned out.
