A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects by Mr. Kate
Review by Lauren
source: copy from library; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: In this beautiful paperback edition featuring French flaps, hugely
popular lifestyle blogger, YouTube star, and designer Mr. Kate (Kate
Albrecht) offers a stunning collection of step-by-step personal style
and home projects—woven in with quirkily hilarious stories and
anecdotes.
Do you dream of finding ways to infuse do-it-yourself
projects into every aspect of your life and have fun doing it? From the
quirky personality behind the Mr. Kate brand comes a not-so-average DIY
lifestyle book that will make your dreams of creating unique how-to
projects become reality.
Filled with 50 unique and approachable projects, along with hysterical, unfiltered stories from Mr. Kate’s crazy life, A Hot Glue Gun Mess
will show how life can inspire art. Growing up with a high-powered
Hollywood father and an oddball, down-to-earth mother, Kate Albrecht had
a childhood that was anything but normal. From how her first period
influenced her to become an artist to how her friendship with a
high-priced hooker encouraged DIY beauty products, Mr. Kate’s stories
are weird, wonderful, personal, inspiring, and downright hilarious.
Review: I didn’t know who Mr. Kate was before I read this book, but I certainly learned a lot about her through A Hot Glue Gun Mess. I liked that this book was 50 stories and 50 DIY projects. After each story, there is a specific craft or DIY project (this can include makeup, etc.) that somehow relates to the story we just read. If you are just interested in reading the crazy stories, then you can do that! I did that but I also paid attention to all the projects that were included as well. Some of them looked really fun! I also liked that Kate used hot glue for a lot of them because I feel like that makes some of these projects easier for people like me, who love crafting and doing DIY but might not have the sewing skills or whatever to do certain projects.
One of the stories Kate includes is I Went to Hogwarts, about an eclectic school she attended as a child. The project that goes with it is the DIY Found Objects Headboard.
 |
| Final look at the DIY Found Objects Headboard – source |
While this isn’t something I could see myself doing for my own room, I kind of wish I could do it at some point. Kate definitely makes you feel like you could easily do something as awesome and cool-looking as this headboard!
Oh, and in case you’re wondering why she’s Mr. Kate, she says she feels like she’s a mix of things – including masculine and feminine. She’s Mr and she’s Kate. I kind of love it! Kate isn’t shy about sharing the crazy stories from her past, including details about her parents and her husband. Sometimes I wondered how they felt about her sharing certain things, but I suppose they were okay with it!
In all, this was an enjoyable read! I didn’t know Kate beforehand, but it was fun learning about her life, loves, and DIY passions.
I have no clue who Mr. Kate is either but I was wondering where her name came from so thanks for explaining that. I love the idea of DIY projects but I get bored very easily – I love the mental image of me having a final product, but doing the work … not so much – so I don't think I'd be too interested in doing the actual DIY stuff. I'd be interested to read the stories though.
I've seen this book in Target a few times, but haven't paid much attention to it – definitely picking it up for a looksee next time!
xx
I don't know who Mr. Kate is either, but I want to know now! I am not much of a DIYer, but in my heart I long to be. I'm going to go see if my library has this!
Not someone I'd heard of …. until now.
This book sounds full of wonderful ideas – if only I wasn't banned from using anything more 'dangerous' than a stapler and I'm pretty sure a glue gun would be more lethal in my hands.
This sounds like my type of book! I love DIY projects 🙂
This sounds like it was a fun set of stories and I like that there are projects included to try as well.
I know I would get some terrific ideas, the problem is following through on them.
I love DIY projects, even if I never wind up finishing them!
What a cool concept! First time seeing this, Lauren. Thanks for the heads up!
Well I don't know who Mr. Kate is either but after reading you review, I would love to find out! This sounds like a fun read! 😀
I've never heard of Mr Kate before now, Lauren, so this is all new to me. It's fun that the book is a mix of fun and crazy stories and DIY projects. And if you try the headboard one day, I really hope you'll share pictures!
Have a wonderful Wednesday 🙂
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Ohhhhh, that headboard looks gorgeous, I'm not verry into DIY or craft tbh, but I used to be in high school, but I'd love to do that. It sounds fun, and love that there's stories that go with it, too!