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.
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 👉
With the advent of 3D printing, I think that there’s been a sea change that is leading innovators towards the idea of more local, individual, custom-fitted treatment parts.
In Bolivia, Knitters Treat Heart Defects Read More 👉
What is a rain chain? Here’s how rain chains prevent erosion and 12 DIY rain chains you can make from recycled materials!
12 DIY Rain Chains for Your Yard Read More 👉
How would you like to paint with crayons?
How to Paint with Crayons Read More 👉
Did you know that you can paint with Easter egg dye? The result is similar to watercolor painting, and it’s a great way to use up leftover dye after you’re done with your eggs.
You can paint with Easter egg dye! Read More 👉
Doesn’t your packed lunch look so grammatically correct now?
How to Make a Decoupaged Lunch Box Read More 👉
You want to make a hat for your cat. Let’s just establish that, okay? Like, trying to deny it and pretending that cats in hats isn’t an interest of yours are just not going to be options here.
Cats in Hats: You’re Welcome (+ a giveaway!) Read More 👉
“This bouquet is so beautiful!” you said. “I’m going to dry all these flowers!” you said!
Awesome!
… Now what?
27 Dried Flower Crafts Read More 👉
If you haven’t been feeding the birds all winter, this is a great time to start! And if you have been feeding them all winter, this is a great time to mix things up by adding some new homemade bird feeders to welcome the spring migrants.
The 20 Best Bird Feeders That You Can Make Read More 👉
Pysanky is like Egg Dyeing: Master Level, except that it’s actually quite accessible–my eight-year-old did it, and my ten-year-old, and my husband, and fumble-fingered ME!
We Made Pysanky Eggs–and So Can YOU!!! Read More 👉
Those little notebooks at the Dollar Store sure are cute, but even cuter are the notebooks that you make yourself.
How to Make an Upcycled Notebook Read More 👉
Cardboard is sturdy, it’s easy to cut and fold, easy to paint and glue, and best of all… it’s FREE!
Organize it with Cardboard: Upcycled Cardboard Organization Projects Read More 👉
Because you’ve got to give the kids something to do while you drink green beer.
An ounce of waste for every cup of coffee–that’s what Keurig is doing to our planet. And I’m pretty sure that all the glue guns in the world can’t fix this problem.
Keurig K-Cups are Killing our Planet Read More 👉
Because you really don’t need that many hard-boiled eggs.
How to Blow out an Egg Read More 👉
Feel less guilty about polishing off that box of Thin Mints. Save the cardboard for one of these Girl Scout Cookie box crafts!
15 Girl Scout Cookie Box Crafts Read More 👉
Here’s how I constructed two superhero costumes out of nothing but old T-shirts, fold-over elastic, and some thread.
The Awesomes: Superhero Costumes Sewn from Old T-shirts Read More 👉
It is really not that hard to sew jersey knit fabric, and even to applique it, without any kind of fusible webbing whatsoever.
How to Applique Jersey Knit without Using Fusibles Read More 👉
A lens cap leash is nice if you’ve got a wandering lens cap, like I do, but it’s also extremely handy for keeping track of your lens cap for you while you’re busy shooting photos.
Make a DIY Camera Lens Cap Leash Read More 👉
The ubiquitous art of coloring Easter egga has gotten weird, as every year marketers try to make your kids want to buy something ever more elaborate, just to dye Easter eggs.
Coloring Easter Eggs: 20 Natural Alternatives to Easter Egg Dye Read More 👉
Whether you’ve got a craft fair, street festival, urban yard sale, protest rally, or, yes, Girl Scout cookie booth in the works, a DIY sandwich board is an excellent, albeit old-school, way to get the word out. Here’s how to make a sandwich board with materials that you can get for free.
How to Make a Sandwich Board Read More 👉
Sure, you can buy trains and train accessories for your kids. Or you could make them some DIY train crafts to save money and create something totally special for them.
Spotted: Cardboard Train Bridge from Pink Stripey Socks + 17 More DIY Train Crafts Read More 👉
I pretend that St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that’s made for pretty rainbow crafts, and I’m happy to oblige.
Spotted: Rainbow Whole-Fruit Popsicles + 24 More Rainbow Crafts Read More 👉
