I’ve had a few conversations recently about eco-friendly crafts and supplies that have made it really clear to me that green crafting is not a black and white thing. Like so many other things, there’s definitely a continuum with green crafting, and lately I’ve started to wonder how “green” a project needs to be for it to be an eco craft.
What does green crafting mean to you? Read More 👉
Twenty-five people will win a copy of Mahe Zehra Husain’s ebook, The Christmas Guide to Upcycling. Enter now, and one of those winners could be you!
Giveaway: Win a Copy of The Christmas Guide to Upcycling, by Mahe Zehra Husain Read More 👉
If you’re a recycled artist or crafter, you may think that you know everything that can be done with old soda cans and plastic packaging, but trust me–Mahe Zehra Husain has some very new things to teach you (and something to give you, as well–read on for the details!).
Green Crafter Book Review: Crafty Cans and Perplexing Plastic, by Mahe Zehra Husain Read More 👉
Between gifts and a night out on the town, Valentine’s day can get pretty pricey, but it doesn’t have to be! Instead of heading out to dinner this year, why not whip up a romantic meal for two and transform your living- or dining-room into a perfect Valentine’s day date spot?
Every year I receive some of these yummy chocolates, as I’m sure most people do too (or I shamefully buy them for myself!). Once the chocolates are gone, though, the average person would think these cute boxes don’t really have a purpose. However, if you have a crafty, eco-friendly mind like me, these adorable hearts can have new life! What did I do? I created awesome wall art!
Upcycle Your Chocolate Heart Boxes into Wall Art! Read More 👉
Do you drink soda? Perhaps you’re a bit of a soda addict? Hopefully you already recycle your soda cans, but if you want, save a few to complete these 5 awesome projects!
Brr! It’s getting chilly out there again. Wristwarmers can add an extra layer of cozy to your winter look, but the store-bought kind often aren’t the most eco-friendly. Chances are, they’re mass-produced in a factory using conventional cotton (with all of the issues that come along with it). You can skip the human rights and environmental issues, though, and make your very own set of wristwarmers out of a thrift store sweater instead! Here’s how.
How-to: Make Lovebird Wristwarmers from Sweater Sleeves Read More 👉
Fortunately, one of the most common points of breakage in an umbrella–that tip that comes unmoored from the metal support–is quite simple to repair.
In the year since I crafted my first drawstring bag tutorial, I’ve refined it to correct these fiddly bits and to make the bag even quicker and easier to sew. Read on for the quickest, easiest, drawstring bag tutorial that you’re ever going to find.
How to Sew a Drawstring Bag (an even easier tute!) Read More 👉
One of the most beautiful things about crafting green is the end result of our labor: awesome crafts that are unique, upcycled, and built with our own two hands. Add solar power into the mix, and the project is elevated into the realm of clean, green, renewable energy – something that reduces your carbon footprint even after the project’s complete!
Want to Build a Solar Street Lamp in Your Own Backyard? Read More 👉
Can you believe that Valentine’s day is coming already? Don’t fret! You still have time to make it a romantic, handmade holiday! Here are 10 ideas for DIY Valentine’s Day gifts for him.
10 DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him Read More 👉
This Valentine’s Day, make something different and fun for your kids to hand out to their friends– a toilet paper roll Valentine! It’s more eco-friendly and they are one-of-kind Valentines!
Toilet Paper Roll Valentine Read More 👉
Maps are one of those things that just look cool. I look at one and I’m immediately inspired to travel the world and see everything each place has to offer. Why not utilize such an amazing item to spice up every day, boring pieces? Here are 10 incredible ideas to transform those boring items into inspiring ones!
10 Ways to Upcycle Maps! Read More 👉
The thing about crafting for dudes is that it’s hard to resist my inner urge to fancy things up with hearts and flowers and whatnot. Plus, since this is a Valentine’s day gift for him, I wanted it to have a little bit of romance! My solution was to tuck a secret little heart inside the neckwarmer, so I can be mushy without treading on this project’s manliness. Here’s how to make your very own!
DIY Valentine’s Day Gift for Him: Neckwarmer with a Hidden Heart Read More 👉
Using tools ranging from scissors to drills, using materials ranging from fallen tree branches to clamshell packaging, and, most importantly, using absolutely no additional money, I’ve been able to make a wide variety of sturdy buttons for all my sewing and craft projects. Check out the following tutorials to see how to make some DIY buttons of your own.
DIY Buttons: Make Your Own Buttons from Natural or Recycled Materials Read More 👉
I’m currently working on a project to revamp our clipboards from dust-catching shelf-clutterers into something actually usable–otherwise, they’re off to Goodwill next weekend–but until then, check out with me these DIY upcycled clipboard projects from across the web. Clipboards actually ARE useful!
Upcycled Clipboard Projects: You Never Knew that an Old Clipboard Could be This Useful! Read More 👉
You know we love a good t-shirt reuse project around here, so I was pleased as punch when reader Nancy Sharp was kind enough to share her idea for reusing a sentimental t-shirt that was past its prime…
Reader Tip: T-Shirt as Art Read More 👉
This week I wanted to create a project that brought the outside, in (because it’s too cold to go outside right now!). I looked around my house for inspiration and I found a cardboard box and toilet paper rolls. I’ve done projects with toilet paper rolls before like the Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Lights and the Christmas “Candle” Cover, but I wanted to make something more natural-looking. Drawing inspiration from a fall project I did on my personal blog, I created a Cardboard and Toilet Paper Roll Tree!
How To: Cardboard & Toilet Paper Roll Tree Read More 👉
Before we get into 5 ways you can recycle plastic bags, I want to encourage you first and foremost to use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic bags. However, there are those days when we forget our reusable ones, and I know not all of our friends and family use reusable grocery bags. With all of that said, here are five unique ways to reuse plastic bags!
A reader recently wrote in with a great question about finding a food-safe fabric for making snack and sandwich bags. She was specifically looking for a laminated cotton fabric that was eco-friendly. In digging to answer this question, I found a ton of information and a few ideas for the safest ways to make reusable snack bags that are at least semi leak proof.
Reader Question: Food Safe Fabric for Sandwich Bags Read More 👉
Instead of wearing cheap, mass-produced, low-quality undergarments that have to be replaced regularly, I’ve found that sewing panties and boxer shorts, for people both big and small, really isn’t that hard. You can sew underwear from your own stash fabric–even scraps, for kids’ underwear!–or from awesome thrifted clothing, and the results are unique, way cheaper than store-bought, and often sturdier, since they can be made from higher-quality fabrics and sewn with care.
To make your own upcycled undergarments, check out these patterns and tutorials from around the web.
What are You Making Under There? Upcycled Underwear Tutorials from Around the Web Read More 👉
When I saw that my family was clearly not going to eat through that entire 10-pound bag of navel oranges before the last ones went bad, I thought briefly about marmalade and fruit leather, but then I thought, “Nah–craft supplies!”. Read on to see how to turn leftover oranges into shelf-stable craft supplies, and how to make a garland that shows off the lovely translucency of the preserved orange slices.
How-to: Dehydrated Orange Garland Read More 👉
The new year is all about changes, and that probably means ridding your walls of those outdated calendars from last year, right? It also seems to be The Month of Promotional Calendars, when unwanted calendars from businesses flood our mailboxes. Rather than toss all of that paper into the recycle bin, you can get crafty and turn those old calendars into something new. Here are some crafty uses for old calendars to get you started!
10 Ways to Upcycle an Old Calendar Read More 👉
Most people know I love crafting, so they always give me items that they think I could use (which I absolutely love!). My friend and her family saved a few wine bottles for me after one of their family gatherings and I was so excited to do a a project with them! Then, a few weeks ago, I found several books of sheet music at a thrift store for 50 cents each. Add these items together and you get a really fun and recycled decor piece– a sheet music bottle!
How To: Sheet Music Bottle Read More 👉
Vacations are amazing, but a craftcation? The thought of one makes my heart flutter! Craftcation is an indie business and DIY conference that will be taking place in Ventura, California on March 22-25, 2012. Read on for more information on how you can take a craftcation!
Craftcation: An Indie Business and DIY Conference Read More 👉
This treat box tutorial requires no glue and no tape. All that you need is a calendar, a ruler, and a pair of scissors!
How-to: Turn an Old Calendar into a Treat Box Read More 👉
When I shared with you my round-up of clothespins embellishment projects, I left out my own personal favorite. These dyed and glittered clothespins are so saturated with color, so sparkly, and yep, so darn useful that I find myself making up a fresh batch surprisingly often. Read on to see how they’re done.
How-to: Dyed and Glittered Clothespins Read More 👉
Beeswax tealight candles are expensive, petroleum-based tealight candles are polluting and unhealthy, and yet my lovely little essential oil warmer won’t work with anything larger.
In the mornings, I MUST waft the scent of peppermint and rosemary essential oils through the air, lest I never escape the desire to just go back to bed, and so I’ve gotten into the habit of making my own rolled beeswax tealight candles. They’re quick and easy to make, inexpensive, and you can do them in any colors that you fancy. Read on to see how it’s done.
How-to: Rolled Beeswax Tealight Candles Read More 👉
This necktie headband took me all of 5 minutes to make. Bing bang boom! Here’s how you can make your own!
Tutorial: The 5 Minute Headband Read More 👉
My mom is an elementary school teacher and has developed an obsession with cool peace signs for her classroom. When discussing a how to project this week, she asked me to make her a peace sign out of recycled materials. You guys know I’m all about fun wall art like the Laundry Cup Wall Art, Newspaper Art, and Burlap Chevron Paintings– so I was totally pumped to take on this challenge! After searching around the house, I grabbed a cardboard box they had left over from moving and a bag of pop-tops that my grandma had collected. Here’s how to make your very own pop top peace sign!
How To: Pop Top Peace Sign Read More 👉
If you’re anything like me, the New Year makes me want to reorganize and clean! Often times I go through my clothes to see what fits, what needs to be “retired,” etc. If you can’t refashion your wardrobe like Becky shared yesterday, there are even more options! Hang on to your old t-shirts to try out these amazing projects! For example, perhaps there are some shirts that you would love to keep for sentimental reasons, or one that has a really fun pattern, but just doesn’t fit anymore– these are the perfect shirts to recycle! The only problem you will have is deciding which one of these projects you should try first!
New Year Cleaning: 5 Projects for Your Old T-Shirts Read More 👉
Do you ever look at your closet and just feel like you have nothing to wear? No more! Use your crafty superpowers to revamp that wardrobe and save yourself a shopping trip.
21 Ways to Refashion Your Wardrobe Read More 👉
Plain wooden clothespins are as versatile as they are inexpensive, but unlike their plastic cousins, plain wooden clothespins are…well, plain!
If you’d like a little more variety in your clothespin stash, check out these simple crafty projects that will show you how to decorate, embellish, paint, color, and otherwise jazz up your clothespins.
Projects to Personalize, Decorate, Embellish, and Otherwise Jazz up Your Clothespins Read More 👉
Have any ratty bath towels or blankets or other thick fabric to upcycle? Have some stash cotton to rescue from your scraps basket? Read on to find out how to turn that stash into potholders!
How-to: Sew a Nine-Patch Potholder Entirely from Stash and Upcycled Materials Read More 👉
We are all about the green crafty inspiration around here, so of course we love Pinterest!
Connect with Us on Pinterest! Read More 👉
When I saw this Thanksgiving post from Dana at Make Them Wonder, I completely fell in love with her Thanksgiving tree. In the post, she explains that she created a tree for guests to hang what they are thankful for on cute little leaves that she cut out of paper. Her tree is so simple, yet beautiful– and would be an amazing conversation piece. I decided that I would use Dana’s idea and tweak it a little bit to become a New Year’s Eve goal tree! I also made it more eco-friendly by using old newspaper instead of new paper. In addition to the New Year’s Eve Banner I made yesterday, your New Year’s Eve party will be off to a great start!
How To: New Year’s Eve “Resolution Tree” Read More 👉
