I'm a writer, crafter, Zombie Preparedness Planner, and homeschooling momma of two kids who will hopefully someday transition into using their genius for good, not the evil machinations and mess-making in which they currently indulge. I'm interested in recycling and nature crafts, food security, STEM education, and the DIY lifestyle, however it's manifested--making myself some underwear out of T-shirts? Done it. Teaching myself guitar? Doing it right now. Visit my blog Craft Knife for a peek at our very weird handmade homeschool life, and my etsy shop Pumpkin+Bear for a truly odd number of rainbow-themed beeswax pretties.
I monogrammed the fronts of the children’s fabric bins. I’m VERY pleased with how they look now, and they’re much more organized now that they’re labeled.
DIY Fabric Storage Bins + Review of Stencil Craft Read More 👉
Independence Day is this weekend! If you need some last-minute decorations or activities, we’ve got 16 easy 4th of July crafts for you and the kids.
16 Quick and Easy 4th of July Crafts Read More 👉
There are lots of different ways that you can make a candle. Here’s how to make candles using poured beeswax that you dyed yourself!
How to Make Candles with Poured Beeswax Read More 👉
You don’t need expensive wax dyes to turn your natural wax of choice a vibrant color. Here’s how to dye wax with crayons that you probably already have.
How to Dye Wax with Crayons from Your Stash Read More 👉
LOTS of people upcycle empty picture frames, and there are a lot of awesome project tutes to turn that empty picture frame into just about anything else that you could ever want or need.
How to Upcycle an Empty Picture Frame: 18 Projects Read More 👉
Remake the drawer knobs that you already own or, at the most, upcycle something into a drawer knob.
20 DIY Drawer Knob Makeover Ideas Read More 👉
Father’s Day is this Sunday, right? Dang it! Here are 10- last-minute Father’s Day gifts that you can make just in time.
10 Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts to Make Read More 👉
It IS possible to DIY eco-friendly labels for all your stuff.
Label ALL THE THINGS! DIY Eco-Friendly Labels for Everything Read More 👉
If you’ve got kids (or a Scout troop, or a day camp…) who love making jewelry, then they’ll love making these embossed aluminum pendants.
Embossed Aluminum Pendants: An Upcycled Kid Craft Read More 👉
With beeswax, you can make a mixed-media, collaged art piece that’s almost entirely glue-free.
How to Make a Mixed-Media Collage with Beeswax Read More 👉
Not only does this project take about one minute to complete, but it also works better and holds more water than a lot of those cheap-o watering cans that look cute but cost real money.
DIY Plastic Jug Watering Can Read More 👉
All kinds of discovery bottles are easy to make from upcycled plastic jars or bottles and mostly household ingredients.
16 Totally Different Discovery Bottles to Make for Kids Read More 👉
There are a lot of simple, easy, around-the-house ingredients that will encourage babies through big kids (and even adults!) to be excited science explorers.
DIY Density Discovery Bottles Read More 👉
Muddy water with oil on top. Huh.
Ocean in a Bottle: Witness my Epic Pinterest Fail! Read More 👉
Candy wrappers do have one redeeming quality: they’re so cute! Here’s how to make a candy wrapper picture frame to show off your favorite photo.
How to Make a Candy Wrapper Picture Frame Read More 👉
If you spend any time outdoors, you come across the occasional bird feather. And if you simply enjoy collecting natural objects, or if you enjoy crafting with them, you probably want to pick up that feather, take it home with you, and display it or make a pretty feather craft pretty with it.
Did you know that’s probably illegal?
Your Found Feather Craft Project is Probably Illegal Read More 👉
This is me, doing the weirdest, most random, most vaguely disturbing projects out there, so that you don’t have to!
How to Whiten Bones Read More 👉
Even though rain barrels are pretty much all the same concept, each one tends to be put together in its own way. This is my DIY rain barrel. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
Check Out My DIY Rain Barrel (and how we built it) Read More 👉
Do you have some surplus candy wrappers? Here’s what to do with them!
20 Candy Wrapper Crafts Read More 👉
Here’s how to make your own giant cardboard gingerbread house.
How to Make a Kid-Sized Cardboard Gingerbread House Read More 👉
With the right choice of product and material, the process can be contemplative and enhance your skills and stretch your creativity.
The Gnome Project: Jessica Peill-Meininghaus Makes a Gnome Every. Single. DAY Read More 👉
Lize-sized Monopoly, anyone? Giant Jenga? Supersized Scrabble!
Build Your Own Yard Games: 18 DIY Projects Read More 👉
Small store-bought dice are fine for small board games, but for GIANT games, you need GIANT dice!
How-to: DIY Giant Dice Read More 👉
A spaghetti sauce jar makes a great vase, but not necessarily when it *looks* like a spaghetti sauce jar, you know? The best upcycled vases don’t look like you’ve just scrounged them out of your recycling bin, even though you have.
12 Awesome Upcycled Vases that Don’t Look Upcycled Read More 👉
Decoupaging glass bottles is a cheap, easy way to upcycle something plain and ordinary into something unusual and outstanding.
Make Tissue Paper Decoupaged Glass Bottles Read More 👉
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly dessert or a birthday party treat that won’t knock the children over with sugar overload, then this fruit pizza recipe is what you want.
Fruit Pizza Recipe that Kids Can Totally Make Read More 👉
Friends, that’s not how we treat our artists, crafters, and other creative folk.
City Tries to Steal Craft Fair from Its Creator: The Glittergate behind Strange Folk Read More 👉
This great-looking ecosystem is actually a very poorly functioning one.
A Betta in a Vase is NOT a Green Craft. Here’s the Safe Option. Read More 👉
Have you ever come across a once beautiful, now battered quilt at a yard sale?
Handmade Review: Recycled Hexie Quilts Read More 👉
What are YOUR plant markers going to look like?
13 DIY Plant Markers from Recycled and Natural Materials Read More 👉
Y’all? I kind of don’t think that seed bombs work.
Do Seed Bombs Work? (I Kind of Don’t Think So) Read More 👉
I really like my kids’ toys to be American-made and either heirloom-quality or recyclable/upcyclable.
My Kid Play Tested YOXO (and I Took Photos and Wrote about It!) Read More 👉
You don’t have to spend a bundle just to show kids that science is fun.
Cool Science Experiments: Make a Soda Bottle Cartesian Diver Read More 👉
The National Wildlife Foundation wants you to save the monarch butterfly, and they’re going to give you the stuff that you need to do it.
Be a Butterfly Hero and Get Free Wildflower Seeds Read More 👉
THESE playhouses could actually come and live in your yard this summer!
13 DIY Playhouses to Make this Summer Read More 👉
If you’re a knitter, I know the question that you’re squealing to your screen right now.
Knitted Pouches Help Rescued Wildlife Read More 👉
