Submitted by Kimberly T, Project Runway finalist (season 3):

Fashion Plates were the Project Runway of the late 70s/80s. You would choose different fashion ideas from raised plates, place a piece of paper over it, and then rub with a special holder that held a piece of black crayon. You could then color your designs with the pencils included with the kit. There were endless combinations since the most plates were double-sided, and some plates had a pattern you could use to add texture. They also sold additional plates to use with the original kit (these plates were blue), and there were different versions, including updated contemporary fashions and even a New Kids on the Block version! I am not embarassed to say that I am in my 30s and still use my Fashion Plates. I break them out with my girls and give my inner fashionista a chance to shine!

Submitted by Kelly K, with that slow southern style.

Though velvet paintings originated in Kashmir and primarily depicted religious imagery, chances are good that most of us associate them with kitschy 1970s decor. Black velvet is the preferred canvas for paintings of wolves, unicorns, and Elvis Presley. How many of you own–or paint–some of these timeless beauties?

Submitted by Caitlin, our feathered friend.

‘Tis the time of year when these things, which we ALL made throughout elementary school (and hopefully not beyond that time), pop up in our parents’ houses as “decoration.” It’s almost incredible that these old scraps of paper have managed to survive as long as they have, in boxes, in attics, with 20-year-old tape still stuck on the back. Pictured above is the traditional Hand Turkey, but some of us got creative with materials: Real feathers, glitter, googly eyes. Sadly, Hand Turkeys are about as far as my art career went.

Submitted and Written by Lauren, Ms. Stussypants

It’s amazing that sometimes I can barely remember basic math but can still draw a “stussy symbol” (also called a “Super S” in some regions) without hesitating. I remember these stylized “S’s” being drawn on every available scrap of paper, but unless you knew the secret of the lines, you were out of the cool club. We called them “stussies” but I don’t think they had any relation to the Stussy company that was popular at the time. Everyone thought that this was a unique symbol that only they and their friends knew how to draw, but talk to your friends from around the country and you’ll find out that they too knew how to make a super cool “S” out of 14 lines.

We called them Super S’s where I grew up, so I went all New Yorker and fact checked Lauren’s story. She’s 100% correct, as far as I can tell.

Submitted and Written by Gina W

who didn’t have tons of fun in computer class with this awesome art program?

I had a copy of Kid Pix at home where I spent most of my day placing a lot of stamps, then erasing things with the dynamite. I also recall my parents being pretty angry that I was wasting so much colored printer ink with all of my Kid Pix drawings.

It’s a shame kids don’t get to use Kid Pix anymore, but I think they’re all messing around in Photoshop, which I suppose is more useful to learn, actually.