The Best of DIY

Pumpkin Caps

2008-10-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Looking for a simple, cute way to dress up your kids for Halloween? Knitrgal has knitted some really adorable pumpkin hats and you can purchase them over at her etsy shop. All you need is a matching orange knitted sweater and you have yourself a full costume! This would be great for those fall/Halloween portraits.

Miniature Witch's Broom

2008-10-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

How about a Miniature Witch's Broom to go along with your Miniature Pumpkin? This is too cute I had to share this with everyone. I found this tutorial on Makes and Takes. If you make amigurumi animals this would be a great prop. I think I'll make an amigurumi witch!

Miniature Pumpkins

2008-10-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

Liquid Paper has a tutorial on how to create these adorable pom pom pumpkins. The pom pom's she used are from a fringe, which you can probably find at any craft store. These would make a great addition if you are making a fall miniature scene or for a kids' dollhouse.

Spooky Cheesecloth Ghost

2008-10-21T06:15:00.001-07:00

I remember making these cheesecloth ghosts in elementary school for Halloween. We added eyes and a mouth and some candy corn pumpkins to them. This one is a little more sophisticated, I found this cheesecloth ghost tutorial on cut out and keep.

Old, Creepy Book Covers

2008-10-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Want to go all out this year with your Halloween decorations and create old, creepy, dusty books? Or do you like the look of old books and need a cool cover for your sketchbook? Well, I found this really neat how to on Dave Lowe Design the blog. All you need is an old book or empty sketch book, craft knife, cardboard, glue, paper towel, mod podge or (white glue and water), acrylic paint and water color paint. Check out the tutorial.

Monster Wreath

2008-10-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen the movie Monsters Inc? That is what this wreath reminds me of. I found a tutorial over at Crafster on how to create your very own monster wreath. If you are having a monster themed Halloween party this would be a perfect decoration.

Felt Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Looking for some more handmade fall decorations for your house? Knitty.com has a step by step tutorial on how to create these felt pumpkins. This would be cute to create a whole pumpkin patch to use as a background for some fall photographs.

Lego Pumpkin

2008-10-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

How cool would it be to build your own Lego pumpkin?! Well if you head over to the Lego website they have a step by step tutorial on how to build one of your own. It looks like you can't buy the pumpkin pack anymore, but by looking at the tutorial you can easily see what pieces you'll need.

Spider Candy Bowl

2008-10-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Lion brand has a tutorial on how to make this spooky spider web candy bowl for Halloween. If you haven't signed up for an account on Lion Brand you should do it...it's free and you get access to hundreds of free patterns and crafts. This would be really fun to hand out candy with.

My Own Creation: Tiny Sock Monkey

2008-10-10T07:03:00.001-07:00

I've created the tiniest amigurumi stuffed animal in my collection yet. This little guy was actually pretty simple, it took me one night to complete since it only took a small amount of yarn. He's about three inches in height, I think I can do smaller I just need even thinner yarn.

Pumpkin Coffee Can Decoration

2008-10-10T06:17:00.001-07:00

Looking for more ways to decorate for Halloween? Well, this Pumpkin Coffee Can is a great way to recycle and is very easy to create. All you need is an empty coffee can, black and orange acrylic paint, craft wire or a wire coat hanger, a sponge, hammer and nail, a paint brush and a paper plate. I could even see this being a luminary. Poke some holes in it all around the can and place a tea light or one of those fake tea lights in it. Create a few of these and place them outside for the trick-or-treators.

Doily Produce Bag Tutorial

2008-10-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

I never thought doilies could look so good, I'm definitely not a fan but I like how they look used as a bag. I found this tutorial on scrumdillydilly, so nice of her to share! You can use these bags to bring home produce from the grocery store or a farmer's market. Or you can use them simply just as a decoration to show off your lovely produce.

Beautiful Paper Flower Bouquet

2008-10-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

Looking for a stylish way to decorate your home with flowers that won't die? I really don't like how silk flowers look but I think these paper flowers look really neat. Craftstylish has a tutorial on how to make these flowers.

Mac-O-Lanterns

2008-10-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

I found these Mac-O-Lanterns on Instructables and thought it was so creative. Now not all of you have old Mac computers sitting around but if you do there are instructions on how to create one of these.

Frightfully Funky Halloween Decoration

2008-10-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

It seems like you can have a wreath for any holiday it's no longer just designated for Christmas. I really love this frightful feather wreath it's very different. It almost looks like feathers from crows which makes it perfect for Halloween. If you love decorating for Halloween or are hosting a party check out the instructions to make this scary wreath.

Carve Your Own Pumpkin

2008-10-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

Carving pumpkins is one of my favorite things to do in the month of October and watching the Red Sox play in the Series is another favorite. I carved this pumpkin in 2004 when they won the World Series.

All I used was a really sturdy knife, a metal spoon to scoop out the seeds and gunk, and I had some pottery utensils that I used to poke out the design. I found a large Red Sox logo online printed it out, taped it to the pumpkin and started poking holes in the areas I was going to carve out. I didn't want to go all the way through since there were so many details I didn't want to chance breaking anything.

I found a really neat website that goes through the process of carving a pumpkin. They even give you tips on how to preserve your pumpkin, which is what I need living in the south, your pumpkin only lasts a few days.

Ghost Toast

2008-10-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

I love the month of October, it's my Birthday month, Halloween and I love the change of weather! This whole month I'll be posting Halloween and Autumn crafts, there's a lot of them. I really like this Ghost Toast it's a fun thing you can do for your kids on a Saturday morning! I found this tutorial on Curbly.

DIY Ribbon Valance

2008-10-01T05:49:00.001-07:00

Looking for an inexpensive creative way to decorate your windows? Well, you can create a valance using ribbons. This is such a great idea, I never would've thought of that. I found this idea on the Blissfully domestic website, check out the tutorial. I could see using this ribbon valance in a babies room, it would look so cute!

Candy Corn Crochet Pattern

2008-09-29T05:40:00.001-07:00

Looking for some decorating ideas for your Halloween party or fall parties? If you like to crochet Lionbrand has a cute pattern for candy corn. They even have a pattern for pinwheel candy. If you don't want to be tempted with real candy laying out you can make these instead. You may have to sign up to be able to view these patterns if you haven't yet.

To Do List Holder

2008-09-26T05:52:00.001-07:00

I love being organized and to do lists help! Christmas is just around the corner and I'm sure all of your lists are full. Over at A Little Hut Patricia Zapata has created a To Do List Holder and she's posted a tutorial. This holds your note cards or scrap paper and it gives you a hard backing so you can take it out in the grocery store and easily write on it.

Reusable Sandwich Wrap

2008-09-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like to bring your own lunch to work...I introduce to you a reusable sandwich wrap! The Small Object blog has a tutorial on how to make one of these stylish and handy sandwich wraps. I usually bring my own lunch into work, I don't like to spend tons of money eating out, plus it's more healthy. I also don't like having to keep buying plastic sandwich bags. But, with this reusable sandwich wrap you can just wipe it clean and keep using it and it looks cute!

Kid's Sea Monster Collar

2008-09-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Etsy artist Lumpkin creates some really cute knitted outfits. I especially love this sea monster collar, she has an adult size in her shop as well. This would be great for when the weather gets colder and you want to add a little whimsy to your outerwear.

DIY Fabric Labels

2008-09-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you that create things to sell on etsy.com, craft fairs or even for your own family members I've found a tutorial to make your own fabric labels. To add a little extra special touch wouldn't it be nice to have your own own label to attach to your craftings? PatchworkPottery has a great step by step tutorial and I was surprised you really don't need too many materials for this project. I posted about making a felt embroidery label a while back, but this one is probably much quicker.

First Day Of Fall DIY

2008-09-22T05:54:00.001-07:00

Yay! Today is the first day of fall. I love the beautiful colors of the fall and the crisp, cool weather. To get started right away decorating your home for fall I've found a great tutorial. Betz White has a tutorial on how to create these autumn leaves and acorn decorations.

Netflix Origami

2008-09-19T13:01:00.001-07:00

It's finally Friday and I'm sure most of you are planning on watching a movie tonight, maybe even a Netflix movie. Now if you are a Netflix member than you know about the piece of paper that gets torn off and thrown away from the envelope. Well I found this really cool website called Netflix Origami, where it shows you how to create different types of origami from that piece of Netflix paper. How clever is that?! Now you can add origami to your movie night.

Mosaic Table

2008-09-18T05:51:00.001-07:00

Looking for an inexpensive way to create a mosaic table? Well the person who created this table spent a little over $30 and it makes for a beautiful kitchen table! I found this on Crafster, she goes through all the steps she took to make it. The table was bought at a Goodwill store for $10 and the tiles were bought online at wholesale for $20. I never would've thought of checking online.

DIY Wood Clock

2008-09-17T05:39:00.001-07:00

Design Sponge has a tutorial that shows you how to make one of these wood clocks. All the major things you'll need are a wood disc, clock parts, power drill and a wood burning tool. I just love how this clock looks.

Shell Crafts

2008-09-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

I have been collecting tons of shells, every time I go to the beach I come home with handfuls. One of these days I was thinking I could use those shells somehow in a craft. Well, the Martha Stewart website has 17 pictures that show how you can use shells in a craft. I really liked this one, attach shells to a string of lights and hang it on your porch. This would look lovely on a summer evening.

Nerdcraft: Handmade NES Coffee Table Controller

2008-09-15T05:43:00.000-07:00

The author of the Ultra Awesome blog created this awesome NES coffee table controller. It can actually be used as a controller, it's wired up to a Nintendo. You can also open it up and use it as storage for all your video games! There is a video posted at the bottom of his post that shows how the table works and how it was created.

Floating Headboard

2008-09-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

Apartment Therapy has a great tutorial on how to create a romantic headboard for your bedroom. I think this looks gorgeous, I definitely need to spruce up my bedroom it is too plain.

DIY Photo Flipbook

2008-09-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

I used to be so fascinated by flip books, I loved going to the Disney store and looking at all the character flip books. I kinda forgot about flip books until I saw this tutorial on Photojojo. If you are into photography you gotta sign up for the Photojojo newsletter, they have so many great projects. But anyways, Photojojo has this tutorial on how to transform video frames from a point and shoot camera into printable snapshots to turn into a flip book. They got the idea from a flip book tutorial on the Curious Blog, but simplified it.

I like the leather spine from that tutorial. I would love to try this but all I'm missing is a drill! Make sure you have Photoshop CS3, if not you could always use the continuious shot function on your camera and take a few 100 shots of your subject moving.

Artist Spotlight: Nicole Gastonguay

2008-09-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love amigurumi! I came across the amigurumi artist, Nicole Gastonguay her stuff is amazing, she makes anything you can think of from cheeseburgers to sardines in a can. She has had her creations up in a gallery and you can purchase some of them through her website.

Shoe Rack Tutorial

2008-09-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

I just love to be organized, but I'm always kicking off my shoes in the entryway and they start piling up. This shoe rack I found on not martha would be perfect for the entryway, it holds just enough shoes, has a modern look and doesn't take up too much space. There is a tutorial over at not martha on how to create this shoe rack.

Mini Journals

2008-09-08T11:28:00.001-07:00

Journals are a great way to put your creative ideas on paper to always have to look at. It's always nice to have one handy when that idea sparks. Well, I found this great website, Maquette, that has a tutorial on how to make all different kinds of journals.

No Knit Scarf

2008-09-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Soon it'll be time for scarf weather and Christmas is just right around the corner. Well we will start seeing ads for Christmas soon. But I'm sure there are a lot of you crafters out there that want to start on some scarf projects for Christmas gifts. This nice and cozy scarf is made out of thick yarn that you braid together. It's such a quick project that ends in a great result. Follow the tutorial on Martha Stewart Living. I can't wait to start on one myself.

Beer Sweater Cozy How To

2008-09-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Aren't these little sweaters the cutest things?! I'm usually not big on using a beer cozy...but that's probably because I live in warm weather all year round. Melissa Martensen created these cute sweater cozy's and was nice enough to post a tutorial on how to knit them, just in time for the cold weather.

Remote Control Pillow Tutorial

2008-09-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Are you always trying to find your remote for your tv? I'm always misplacing my remote, I think this pillow is a great idea to try and keep them all together. If you are into sports you can get a pattern of your favorite sports team to put on there. Julie-bird has a great tutorial on how to make this remote control pillow.

Mike Tyson's Punch Out Scarf

2008-09-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share this really cool scarf with you all. I grew up playing Mike Tyson's Punch Out on Nintendo, this is such a neat idea for a scarf. Unfortunately it is sold out on etsy.

Wall Squares Tutorial

2008-09-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

I don't have too many decorative pieces on my wall, but that's probably because I'll be moving soon. I'm always looking for neat and inexpensive ways to decorate my walls. I found this patterned wall square tutorial on decor8. All you need to make it is decorative paper, foam board, spray adhesive, x-acto knife, and some acryllic paint to match your paper. Local craft stores such as Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michaels has a wide variety of scrap book paper that would be perfect for this project.

Candle Holder Tutorial

2008-09-03T06:05:00.001-07:00

In response to reader megan bayliss's request I have found a great tutorial on how to make candle holders from tin cans. You can find a tutorial on Apartment Therapy all you need is an empty coffee can, can opener, spray paint and tea light candles. You use the can opener to punch holes and make a design in your can.

I remember making lanterns just like these in Girl Scout camp, but we punched small holes into the can. I'm sure you can take something like a phillips head screwdriver or something sharper to make smaller holes if you don't like the big can opener holes.

If anyone has any requests on a tutorial you'd like to seen on here let me know and I'll try to find it. You can email me requests at thebestofdiy@gmail.com

Cereal Gift Box How To

2008-09-02T06:27:00.001-07:00

Want to save money this year on your Christmas gift wrap? Save all your cereal boxes and follow this tutorial on Instructables to make your own gift box. This is such a great idea, especially for those gifts that won't quite fit into a t-shirt box.

Knitting Village

2008-09-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share this picture with everyone. I came across Magdalena Bors' photography website and found this neat picture!

How To Make A Felt Bag

2008-09-01T13:35:00.001-07:00

Fall is coming soon and it'll be time for a new handbag. A gray or red felt bag would make for a nice bag for the fall. I found a great tutorial on how to make these cute felt bags on Burdastyle.

Etch-A- Sketch Laptop Cozy

2008-08-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Betz White is such a talented designer and crafter, this Etch-A Sketch laptop cozy made out of felt is just one of her latest creations. There are so many cute things you can create with felt! Check out her cupcakes, she has an etsy shop where you can purchase them.

Woven Paper

2008-08-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

I came across this really neat woven lined paper and had to share. I don't know how to use a tapestry loom, but I was thinking of trying to crochet one of these, it could make a really neat blanket.

Vintage Suitcase Table

2008-08-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

I found another neat way you can re-use vintage suitcases, make a small table out of them! I found a quick tutorial on Curbly on how to make these cute tables. I love the round green suitcase, with the legs it looks like a stool.

Suitcase Pet Bed

2008-08-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Do you find your cat sleeping on your luggage after you get back from a trip? After I empty out my suitcase I just let my cat make a bed on it. I thought it would be great to actually make a bed for him out of a suitcase. Well, I found a tutorial that shows you how to make your pet an old suitcase bed.

Katamari Baby Bonnet

2008-08-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

La la la la la la, la la la la la la. I love Katamari, it is the most addicting game! I could not believe it when I saw this crochet pattern for a baby bonnet. What a cool Halloween costume this would make! I can't believe there are other people out there like me who's played Katamari and crochets!

My Own Creation: Flower Scarf

2008-08-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Tropical storm Fay has been sitting in my neck of the woods for the past two days. I've been cooped up inside trying not to get soaked and I've had time to finish up a crochet project. I made this flower scarf in two days, it will be a birthday present for my mom. I know it's still summer but it'll be cold soon up north and a scarf will be needed. I got the pattern for this scarf in the Stitch N' Bitch Happy Hooker book, love that book. A while back I posted about a handbag I crocheted for a mother's day present, well the flower on the handbag actually matches the scarf.

Felt Sushi Kit

2008-08-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Looking for a diy gift? Or want to learn how to felt? Misshawklet.com sells a felt sushi kit, packaged in a Chinese take out box. The tutorial uses the wet felting technique where all you need is water, bowls, dish detergent and scissors. This would make a great gift for someone who loves crafing.

Children's Rainbow Fabric Book

2008-08-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

Fiskars Craft has a great tutorial on how to make a children's book out of fabric. Since my sister had a baby I'm always thinking of special handmade gifts I can make for my nephew. I absolutely love this idea! You could make an alphabet book, animal book all kinds. Jo-Ann Fabrics sells fabric quarters in all different colors and patterns, I've also noticed a huge selection of fabric quarters at my local fabric shop as well. This would be a book to stand out among all the others in your child's collection.

Flower Fairy Lights Tutorial

2008-08-20T06:00:00.001-07:00

Flower Fairy lights are made from egg cartons and led lights. I can't believe how pretty these look and they are only egg cartons. You can find a tutorial on esprit cabane.

Bird Mobile Tutorial

2008-08-19T06:37:00.001-07:00

Seems like a lot of people I know are having babies this year, baby decorations have definitely been on the brain lately. Design Sponge has a great tutorial on how to make this unique bird mobile for your baby's crib. I think this would even look neat to put on a porch outside if you aren't an expecting mother.

Twinkie Chan

2008-08-18T07:08:00.001-07:00

Mmmm mmmm. Looking at that scarf makes me hungry. Twinkie Chan crochets food-themed scarves and brooches just like this cupcake scarf. She makes pizza scarves, salad scarves and any kind of candy for your sweet tooth's desires. You can make purchases at her shop and sign up for her mailing list to find out what is new.

Invisible Book Shelf

2008-08-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Invisible shelves have been becoming more and more popular. I always wondered how it worked, well I found a really great tutorial on VideoJug on how to make one. It is actually very simple and you don't need many materials to create it. All you need are some screwdrivers, an L bracket, utility knife and a large book that you won't read anymore. I love how these invisible shelves look!

Tea Towel Crocheted Edging Tutorial

2008-08-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Craftblog.com.au has a great tutorial on how to make a crocheted edging for your kitchen towels. I love how this looks and it adds a little class to your towels.

Crochet Muppets Glasses Holder

2008-08-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

What a cute creative, idea to crochet a Muppet head for a glasses holder! I wear glasses once in a while and I'm always putting them anywhere but my glasses case. If you are into the Muppets this would be a whimsical way to hold your glasses. I found a pattern for this on Crafster.org. I'm gonna have to make one and put it on my night stand, my glasses look similar but smaller and rectangular.

Owl Amigurumi Tutorial

2008-08-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

Roxycraft creates some really cute amigurumi stuffed animals. I really like her collection of jungle animals. She sells all the patterns for her animals on the Roxycraft website. She also has a few free patterns on there like this cute "Woody the Owl".

Framed Silhouettes Tutorial

2008-08-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

Simple Gifts has a tutorial on how to make these framed silhouettes. Creating silhouettes of your family and framing them makes for a nice decoration to preserve. I remember making silhouettes in elementary school but I never thought of putting them in a nice frame.

Baby Blanket Tutorial

2008-08-09T15:17:00.001-07:00

Seems like everyone is having babies this year! Ever since my sister and one of my friends had a baby, I feel like I know a lot more about all the popular toys and accessories that are out now for new mommies and babies. Have you ever heard of "Taggies"? Well this blanket is just like those Taggie blankets. This blanket is perfect for your little one to grab on to, you can customize the fabric pattern to fit your style and choose a nice soft fabric for the bottom. If you are crafty this would make for a nice personalized baby shower gift that your friend or relative will love! I found this tutorial on Craftblog.com.au. I really need to get a sewing machine to make things like this!

Drawstring Bag Tutorial

2008-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Happythings has a great tutorial on how to make a simple drawstring bag. These would be great for gift bags at a party, match the fabric to the holiday or decoration of the party. The Happythings blog has a bunch of different tutorials on how to make drawstring bags, you can check them out here.

My Own Creation: Stuffed Panther Skinned Rug

2008-08-07T12:24:00.001-07:00

Check out my stuffed panther skinned rug, which is for sale on my new etsy shop. I just finished this little guy last night. About 5yrs ago I created one of these out of a huge stuffed bear. I ripped open the stitches and took out the stuffing in the belly, arms and legs leaving the stuffing in the paws and head. Then sewed a fuzzy lining underneath. I decided to make another one, finally, because I had some relatives over and the kids absolutely loved it. They laid on it the whole time they were here.

I had a nice stuffed panther that I didn't mind using for this project. I ripped him open, got some pretty pink and black polka dot fabric to use for the lining. This would make a great addition to a baby's nursery, kids love laying on the soft stuffed animal. This one is small and would be perfect for a newborn to toddler.

I just recently created a new etsy shop and all my items will be under "Creative Craftings". I'll be adding my amigurumi stuffed animal on there as well. Also, a new design for my blog is in the works, so within the next few weeks expect to see some changes.

Handmade Felt Tags

2008-08-06T07:02:00.001-07:00

Futuregirl.com has a great tutorial on how to create hand embroidered tags on felt. I've made a few crochet handbags for family and thought it would be neat to create my own tag for the inside. Having a tag in there would just finish it off! I had no idea how I could create this, I figured you could just order some, but didn't have that kind of time. I wish I had come across this tutorial before.

Framed Cork Boards by Yummy Goods

2008-08-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

Head over to the Yummy Goods blog, she gives you the rundown on how to make these old fashioned framed cork boards. If you have some luck finding cool frames like these at a garage sale, flee market maybe even a salvation army you can paint them white or a color to your liking and put in cork board for the backing.

The author of this blog also creates some really neat looking fabric, check it out here. Some of her fabric has been used for pajama pants at Victoria's Secret, how cool is that! Her work is fabulous!

My Own Creation: Hula Hippo

2008-08-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

This hippo was one of my first amigurumi creations. I followed the crochet pattern from Lion Brand for Heather the Hippo. I made this back in March and was unhappy with the way I put it together, you could see the stitches where the arms and legs were attached. I finally came up with an idea to make it a hula skirt to hide the stitches, then followed the coconut bra and the lei. I think I'll make another one!

Pincushion Tutorial

2008-08-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Heather Bailey crafted this cute pincushion and was nice enough to post a tutorial on how to create it. My pincushion right now is the package my pins came it, I really need to create an actual pincushion. I even have the same ribbon she used in blue, I got it from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Check out her tutorial there is a pdf to download.

Recycled Bottle Vase

2008-08-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Zakka Life has a great tutorial on how to transform old plastic bottles into vases. This vase was made from a plastic soap dispenser bottle, wound with raffia. I have a few wine bottles that I never get around to throwing away, I could recycle them and make a nice vase.

Artist Spotlight: Blythe and Her Plushies

2008-08-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

How cool is this?! A full Nintendo Entertainment System made from felt! Everything is so detailed down to different screens for Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt. This was created by the artist Blythe. If you visit her blog you'll see other plushies she's made. I really love the radio plushie, she even made batteries for it.

Easy Reversible Headbands

2008-07-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

The Long Thread has this easy tutorial on how to make reversible headbands. I love the fabric she used, last time I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics they didn't have anything that great. I like going to local fabric stores, they usually have a huge selection.

Swatch Artwork

2008-07-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

I've found so many great tutorials on the Purl Bee blog, here is another. I don't do embroidery but I think these embroidery hoops look great as a frame for different colored fabric. This would be a great way to decorate your home.

Coffee Stain Coffee Table

2008-07-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

I found this really neat way to salvage your badly stained coffee table. Instead of throwing it away add to the stains and create some cool art. You can find a tutorial on ReadyMade.

Flower Artwork

2008-07-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

I found a really neat tutorial on how to create this beautiful flower artwork. All you need to do is scan a flower and you'll get some really interesting results. Check out the tutorial.

Taxidermy Craft

2008-07-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

This taxidermy craft has got to be the cutest thing! This stuffed fish was created by Kayte Terry of Love Forever I found this via craftershock. I've been seeing a lot of taxidermy crafts lately, felt and crochet. This would look so nice in your craft room.

Card Tutorials

2008-07-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

World Card Making Day has some great tutorials on how to make your own greeting cards, from baby showers to Christmas. I like making my own cards, it gives it a more personal touch. There are lots of different creative tutorials, with detailed info on what materials you'll need. World Card Making Day is a holiday for card makers around the world to celebrate the creativity of handmade cards. The first Sunday of each October is the official date. Card making can be any day for me.

Earrings Tutorial

2008-07-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to make my own jewlery, I love these dangle earrings. Lounge Brigade has a great tutorial on how to make these earrings. I'm gonna go to Michael's and get all the materials, I'm sure you could use the same utensils to create necklaces and bracelets as well.

Coaster Tutorial

2008-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Foofanagle has a great tutorial on how to sew together these fashionable coasters. You can match the decor of the room and make a few for the different seasons, these would make for a great conversation. All I have are some ugly cork coasters, I think it's about time to get rid of them and make these.

CD Case Pen Holder

2008-07-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Craft Chi has a tutorial on how to make this pen holder out of 4 cd cases. They even decorated it with a tape transfer, which they show how to do as well. This is a nice, creative and inexpensive way to get all those pens, pencils and markers all in one spot so you can find them.

Free Crochet Cuff Pattern

2008-07-21T18:23:00.001-07:00

I always love it when I find free crochet patterns, especially trendy patterns like this crochet cuff. I can't wait to make this, I would so wear it. I found this link through craftzine, you can download a pdf here of the pattern.

Button Flower Tutorial

2008-07-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing a lot of flowers made out of buttons lately and just came across a tutorial on how to make one. The artsy-crafty babe blog has a great tutorial on how to make a flower pin out of these.

Child's Artwork Collage

2008-07-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

Artist Jane Eleni creates this framed collage of your child's artwork through her website LOVE. This is such a great idea, you send her a collection of all your child's artwork and she'll compile it all together in a print and frame it. Such a great way to archive your child's artwork in style. Instead of displaying on your refrigerator, you can make it look even more special.

Picture Frame Tray

2008-07-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Design Sponge posted about this great picture frame tray tutorial created by photographer Ashley Ann. This is such a creative way to display your photographs, you could make a collage of photos to put in this tray. All you need is a double glass picture frame and some handles. This would be a cute gift for mother's day, breakfast in bed and pictures of the family in the tray.

Shadowbox Cut-Out Painting

2008-07-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

I love the cut-out art like this that has depth to it. The first time I saw this type of style was on the Little Hut blog, I've been wanting to try this myself. Well, I found this farm cut-out painting tutorial by Arounna Khounnoraj. A craft project great for kids and to preserve your child's art work in style.

You'll need to make a line drawing or find a line drawing, possibly out of a coloring book, that has depth to it. Let them paint away or color away, then cut out the foreground, background and the middle. Finally, you'll need to cut out some foam core to secure the different pieces you've cut out to make them stand out. Check out the tutorial.

Paper Flower Tutorial

2008-07-18T06:05:00.001-07:00

I posted a while back about a tutorial on how to make a butterfly and branch decoration. I came across this tutorial on how to make a paper flower and I love how it looks with the branches. Now if you don't want to have butterflies on your branch decoration you can switch it out with these beautiful flowers. This tutorial was created by Dozi Designs.

Fingerpaint Wall Art

2008-07-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Looking for a creative way to preserve your child's handprints and footprints? I found this neat craft on the tutus and turtles blog. You just let your child have fun and paint away with one color of acrylic paint to fill a canvas. Then with white or a lighter color of acrylic paint, get it on their feet and hands to make prints on the canvas. You may want to make sure it's a kind of paint safe for kids or make sure they don't eat it! These make for nice wall art!

DIY Shoji Lamp

2008-07-16T05:34:00.001-07:00

Found this great tutorial on how to create your own shoji style lamp, out of chopsticks and paper. If you don't have your own chopsticks, you can probably find those cheap wooden ones that break apart and paint them to your liking. I think rice paper or some off white textured paper would work best for the shade. This would make a great decorative lamp for the home.

Word Photography Picture Frame

2008-07-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Yay! I found this really neat photography idea on the Trans-craft-inental blog. If you are into photography pick a word you like and find the different letters in nature or your everyday life to photograph. Or if you don't have a great camera you can do a search on flickr for some high res photos of letters, put them all together and frame them. I think this is something I'll try the next time I'm out taking photos. I love how the tree is in the shape of a Y.

Sony Handycam For Sale

2008-07-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

If anyone is interested, I am selling my MiniDV camera on ebay. It is a Sony Handycam DCR TRV950 MiniDV 3CCD, it's in good condition and was barely ever used. I bought this camera in 2004 and spent $2000 on it, I was taking a class in video editing in college and got into filming, but I decided I like taking still pictures better. I tried selling it on ebay before but someone made a false bid and it cancelled my listing so I'm trying again. I hope someone will get some use out of it. Just wanted to let everyone know incase any of you are film making buffs or like taking family video.

Felt Squares Blanket

2008-07-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

I love this blanket, it's made out of felt squares and each square is hand sewn. I found a link on Purlbee to a tutorial on how to make this beautiful blanket. I was excited that this blanket is hand sewn because I don't have a sewing machine yet.

Puffy Paint Terra Cotta Pot

2008-07-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Apartment Therapy website has a great tutorial on decorating your plain terra cotta planters with puffy paint. I never thought I could find a good way to use puffy paint, I remember using it to decorate sweatshirts when I was younger. I have a bunch of plain terra cotta planters that could use some sprucing up so I'll have to try this one out.

Zipped Pouch Tutorial

2008-07-14T05:56:00.001-07:00

I found a really great tutorial on the twelve 22 blog on how to make a zipped pouch for your makeup, change, etc...This is a great tutorial to try if you want to know how to sew on zippers.

Panda Kirigami Card

2008-07-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

I posted about Kirigami cards a few months ago and I just visited the easy cut pop up website again today and found that they have some new patterns. These new patterns are so much more intricate, before they only had flower patterns which were really neat but now they have animals and nature scenes you can create. They offer a free tulip pattern you can download and try. These are great to use as birthday cards, mother's day, etc...

Vintage Pillowcase Lunchbox Tutorial

2008-07-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Oh Fransson creates some really pretty lunchboxes and bags, I finally came across a tutorial on her blog to make one of these beautiful lunchboxes. You can use an old pillowcase for this tutorial, I love finding crafts where you can reuse something you already have. You'll have to download a pdf once you follow the link to the tutorial.

Recycled Newsprint Art

2008-07-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

I love the art at A Little Hut, the artist, Patricia Zapata creates beautiful framed art with cut out paper. I was excited when she posted a tutorial on how to create this recycled newsprint piece. My walls are pretty barren, I'm going to have to try this out to get some art up there.

Crayon Nibbles

2008-07-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

Looking for a fun craft or gift for a kid? I found a neat tutorial on the Crafty Dasies blog on how to make "Crayon Nibbles". All you do is melt together different colored crayons to make big chunky crayons for younger kids to hold onto and create art with. You can put them in little plastic baggies and tie them up for a gift.

"Life" Scrapbook

2008-07-09T13:08:00.001-07:00

I found this really cool tutorial on how to turn an old game of Life into a scrap book cover on Cleanhomejournal.com. I haven't tried scrap booking yet but I'll be sure to try this tutorial once I have a bunch of pictures to put together. I love board games and Life is one of my favorites, I would have to buy a new one cause I wouldn't want to cut mine up. This would be the perfect cover for a scrap book of your family.

My Own Creation: Amigurumi Cactus

2008-07-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

After seeing these amigurumi cacti all over the internet I decided to take a stab at it and create my own cactus. It was pretty simple and only took me one night to complete. I purchased the mini terracotta pot at target, they were selling seed kits and I bought a sunflower kit for $1. Well the sunflower grew out of the pot pretty quickly so I used the empty pot for this project.

DIY Photo Bookmark

2008-07-08T07:44:00.001-07:00

If you are a book worm you'll love this tutorial. Photojojo has a neat tutorial on how to make a photo bookmark. You can pick out your favorite picture of a full person or even pet and use it as a bookmark. All you need are scissors, photo paper, transparent tape, glue and flat magnets. I'm always using whatever piece of paper I can find that's closest to me like a receipt sometimes pens this will be even better to have an actual bookmark.

Tote Bag Tutorial

2008-07-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hip To Piece Squares has a great tutorial on how to make this tote bag. I love these tote bags and it would be great to create one with your own style, have a new color for every outfit. I'm definitely not a big purse person, I am pretty picky with picking out the right one I usually only get a new one every year. Now that I know how to make them I think I'll have more.

CD Case Frames

2008-07-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Found this really great video tutorial on how to turn your cd cases into picture frames, through photojojo. I have hundreds of empty cd cases laying around that I could use for this project, I barely listen to my cds, I usually just listen to music through my computer or ipod now so they are just taking up space.

Crayon Roll Tutorial

2008-07-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

I thought this was such a cute gift to make for a kid I had to share. Skip To My Lou has a great tutorial on how to make a crayon roll, a cute holder for your crayons. The first time I saw something like this was at Urban Outfitters, they had a pencil roll with a spot to place a notepad. I always wanted to buy one but figured I could just make it myself, finally I found a tutorial to do so. You could easily make this taller for colored pencils, paint brushes or even crochet hooks.