So, this is new to me: my kids celebrate the first 100 days of school. (We didn’t do this back in the day.) As a result, my first grader was required to bring in 100 items- anything, really- and display them for the class. The purpose is counting, I suppose. But I saw this as a crafter-tunity to use up some beads AND get my daughter making art! Since I recently thinned out my beading stash (yes, I am a […]
How-To: Carve Erasers Into Stamps
Every now and then I get an idea and can’t wait to try it on my own. Lately artist Julie Fei-Fan Balzer has been talking about her new obsession- stamp carving- and it gave me an idea for some erasers that I’d bought at the Dollar Store: (Don’t tell my daughter- they were supposed to be treats for her! ) I cracked open my Speedball Linocutting supplies and just kinda went to town. I doodled on the erasers, planning to […]
How to Make A Chronicle Quilt {Recycle Craft}
Chronicle Quilts are so named because they were made by sewing strips of fabric on newspaper- like the Chronicle- to make warm, inexpensive quilts during the Depression. In the time when the motto was “Use it up, wear it out: Just make do, or do without.” ….this quilt can help you “use it up”- all those scraps from your stash AND empty your recycle bin of newspapers. Plus, since it’s sew-and-flip technique, there is no fussy measuring or seam-matching- just […]
Upcycle Craft: Halloween Witch Shoes
Last week I played with the new Martha Stewart Paints line, and got really excited- maybe over-enthusiastic- with the glitter paint and Tintable Fabric Medium. The result? Some rockin’ witchy shoes to round out my Halloween costume. Here’s how I did it. First, I mixed the Tintable Fabric Medium with Sugar Cube Glitter Paint by Martha Stewart (available at Michael’s) in a 2-to-1 ratio. I painted the sides of the shoes with this color, then painted the tops and heels […]
Upcycling Project Featuring Martha Stewart Paints by Plaid Crafts
Wow! What a week! This weekend I got my Martha Stewart Paints by Plaid (available exclusively at Michael’s, by the way) and I got to business testing them out. By now, I hope you’ve read my overview of the Martha Stewart Paints as well as the review of tools and accessories that I received. Now it’s time for the fun part- making something! I can’t tell you how I agonized over which to make- some fun witch shoes for Halloween […]
Recycle Craft: Suitcase Shrines
This is the most amazing idea ever, and I can say that because it isn’t MINE. Let this sink in a minute: Decoupaged Suitcase Shrines. Yeah. My friend E is a Roller Derby gal and is also the league historian- and she chose to commemorate the 5th anniversary by making a traveling exhibit out of discarded suitcases.What makes the idea brilliant is that she can set up the suitcases and literally pack the shirts, skates,and other 3-D memorabilia in them- […]
Recycle Craft: Fabric Flowers from Dress Maker’s Scraps
Here’s a tutorial I wrote from CraftsUnleashed.com as part of their design team- but since it’s Earth month, I thought I’d share it here as part of my #GoGreen theme. Most of the materials can be found on ConsumerCrafts.com. I love to be able to recycle- it means I can stretch my money and save more for my craft shopping! Well, this handy-dandy flower is made from recycled silk or taffeta (I got mine from a relative who sews prom […]
Green Crafting: Recycled Aluminum Can Brooches
It’s amazing to me what the right tool can do for you- and in this case, the tool is the Cuttlebug This little hand-cranked gem can help you transform old aluminum soda cans into cool, kitchy blooms that you can wear as pins! For this craft, you will need: Aluminum can, rinsed well Craft Blade Household scissors Cuttlebug machine Damask embossing folder (or embossing folder of your choice) Adirondack inks in your favorite colors (optional) Scalloped Circles Nestabilities dies Black […]
Recycle Craft: Fabric Corsage
I loved reviewing the Clover Flower Frill Template, and it kind of got my creative juices flowing. I started thinking of all the ways I could use the template to upcycle and recycle fabric to make chic, fun hair pins and fabric corsages. I thought I’d share my technique with you, so you can try it, too. You’ll need: recycled fabric- a cloth that is made of cotton or silk works best, and try to use fabrics that are the […]
Craft Book Review: Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin
This imaginative book by Terry Taylor totally got my juices flowing- and that’s just when I read the title on Amazon.com. When it arrived, Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin didn’t disappoint me. I consider myself a medium-to-advanced recycle crafter, in that I use about 50% recycled materials in a lot of the art I make. However, this book blew me away- first, in ideas, and second, in execution. So, in case the title wasn’t enough to tip […]
Craft Tool Review: G2 Generation Green Bottle Cutter
Everything old is new again, and that goes for some of the “green” crafts of the 70’s including recycling bottles and glass. DiamondTech is right on top of the trend with the G2 Generation Green Bottle Cutter. It was up for a CHA Innovation Award at Winter CHA, and I was excited to try it out myself. Here’s how it’s described on the website: Be part of Crafting a Green World, it’s easy with the new Generation Green (g2) Bottle […]
Craft Product Review: Amazing EcoGlue Craft Adhesive
In my quest to find products that are more “green”- that is, Earth and human friendly, I found a product by the makers of Amazing Goop, Eclectic Products. I love me some good glue, and if they had a “non-toxic” version of Goop, then I wanted to be the one to bring it to you. Meet EcoGlue Craft Adhesive! I checked out the properties as listed on the package and website, and this is what I found: Amazing EcoGlue® is […]
Vicki Howell Spins Newspaper into Yarn
I love me some cool recycling crafts. And as an avid newspaper reader, I really have a LOT of paper to recycle at the end of the week! This week though, I’m going to pull some out and try this idea from Vicki Howell on making yarn. Don’t have a drop spindle? Don’t worry. Folks at Spindle and Wheel have a tutorial on how to make one from recycled CDs! Yes, folks, this post is a two-fer! I think this […]
Hearts in Bloom Wall Decor
This projects was something of a lark- Stacy made her fabulous Tower Of Hearts centerpiece, and she had all of these lids left over. I couldn’t let them go to waste, now, could I?? So I used up all of HER leftovers and made some cute wall hangings for next to nothing! Supply List: Lids from Nesting Hearts paper mache box set (but you could use left over heart-shaped candy box lids, too.) Red acrylic paint Loose silk rose petals […]
How-To: Craft a Spring Kissing Ball
Right about now I need a little spring- it’s still dark out and my world is shrouded in white. How about a little spring kissing ball to brighten things up? It’s easy, and your glue gun will be your best friend on this one! You’ll need: Styrofoam ball- 4″ is good Sheet moss Glue Gun & sticks Hot Glue Gun Helpers (optional, but barely!) Silk flowers (great for upcycling old arrangements) ribbon rhinestones (small) Start by covering your Styrofoam ball […]
Tin Work Ornaments featuring Bic Mark-its
Happy Friday, friends! We’re in the homestretch of the Christmas holiday now, and I’m STILL making little gifts. Today I came up with this idea to make some metal-work ornaments. Wanna see? Disclosure- some of the links below may be affiliate links or links to reviews. I made this with craft tin, but you could just as easily use recycled soda can aluminum. Start with a basic shape- I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities dies with my Grand Calibur to cut […]
Craft Project: Creating Your Own Travel Journal
I always have such big dreams for scrapbooking my travels…I really do…. but truth be told, I’m just inconsistent. My birthday trip to Dublin, Ireland from 2008 is still sitting in a suitcase, and my amazing trip to London is in a box….somewhere! So I realized a while ago that I do better if I combine scrapbooking and travel journaling into one activity. In this fashion I can take notes on what happens day-t0-day, collect little bits of ephemera, and […]
Recycled Zipper Pulls and Luggage Tags
It’s a new school year and new backpacks and jackets have been purchased- but it’s only a matter of time before my kids yank the pulls right off of the zippers! So I’m getting the jump on repairs by making some fun, recycled ones that the kids can personalize. We’re building the base on an unlikely substrait- Formica samples from the home improvement store! You can pick a few up the next time you’re there, and if you ask nicely, […]
Crafting for a Cause: Little Lion Designs
Last July when I was at the Cleveland Craft Coalition Show, I had the pleasure to meet Stephanie of Little Lion Designs. Her fabric collage pieces where colorful and delightful to behold, and when I found out that she uses her artwork to raise awareness, I knew I had to learn more about her and share her story with you. So, first and foremost, Stephanie Urban is a mom. She gave birth to a baby girl, Kaia, May 30th 2009. […]
Kid’s Craft Review: ArtTerro Wire and Bead Art Kit
ArtTerro is a brand-new company to me, and I’m so pleased that they reached out and offered to send some kits for my family to “craft test.” Their tag line is “Art of the Earth”- and with a slogan like that, who wouldn’t be interested? Here’s some of what they say about their mission: We love art and wanted to share that experience with our kids. We searched high and low for eco-friendly, open-ended art projects with beautiful materials but […]
