More DIY Wreaths + Tutorials

Speaking of wreaths (see my recent post)....



Brenda at Alpha+Mom shared these great ideas for creative (and sometimes recycled) wreath designs that can be done with kids or just with kids-at-heart. Love them! (via Craftzine)

DIY Gift Bows

Awhile back, I shared a DIY trick for making gift toppers out of plastic bags.


As the holiday season approaches again, I thought I'd pass along this tutorial from How About Orange on making gift bows out of recycled items you have on hand, like maps or magazine pages.

DIY Coffee Stencil

I think How About Orange's idea of creating a DIY stencil to make words or designs on top of coffee etc. is very cute. Learn how to do it here.

DIY Poppy Pins Tutorial

Check out the Grosgrain tutorial on how to make these great fabric poppies. So lovely.


She makes them to pin on sweaters as boutonnieres, but I think they could make great hair accessories as well. Make some of your own and come up with other creative uses!

DIY Recycled Can Flower Magnets

This is a great tutorial from 10th muse studios on using old soda cans to make adorable flower magnets. Just be careful not to cut yourself on the aluminum!

DIY Japanese Paper Dolls Tutorial

These Japanese paper dolls that Kimono Reincarnate makes are super adorable. They could work as bookmarks for those who want a more grown-up way to play with dolls. Here's the easy tutorial.

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day, Crafty Chica is posting tutorials for 24 creative re-use projects....one every hour. The spectacular ideas she's posted so far include these great ribbon picture frames and mixed media wind chimes.

Business Card Artwork

Whether you've been laid off in this horrible recession or you just have a lot of used office supplies hanging around, here's one idea for an alternative use for business cards:  stick 'em together and make a quick and easy art project.  (If you're interested, I previously posted about using business cards to make a nice origami-style box).

All I did was put masking tape on the back, so that they formed a single sheet.  Masking tape or painter's tape works well because it comes off later.  They don't need to be perfectly aligned.

Then I made my drawing.  I used only office supplies on hand (permanent markers and highlighters).

Last step was to remove the tape.  You could keep it together for a textured look.  Or you could mount them on some other paper with space in between.  Another option would be to hang each piece on the wall separately.  Or how about using it as a simple puzzle?  Anyone have other ideas?  I haven't decided what to do with my little masterpiece yet.

Envelope to Gift Bag Tutorial

I've posted before with tutorials for how to use envelopes to create beads and to make new envelopes.

This time, How About Orange provides a great tutorial so you can learn how to turn old envelopes into nice gift bags in just a few steps.

P.S. This is not an April Fool's Day joke! =)

DIY Pop-Up Photograph

After my Christmas card debacle, I've pretty much had enough of pop-up card making for a lifetime. But if you still like them, wikiHow can show you how to make a pop-up photograph card. (via Craftzine)

Mizuhiki Cord Knots Tutorial

Wow. Just wow. I'm amazed by how cool this knot made with mizuhiki cord looks. Zakka Life provides a lesson on how to make this abalone shell knot. (via Craftzine) Decorate all your gifts!

Plastic Bag Gift Topper Tutorial

A great use for all those plastic bags: Creature Comforts provides this wonderful tutorial on turning old bags into pom-poms.

Junk Mail Art Tutorial

Even if you sign up for those nice services to limit the amount of junk mail you get, it's still nearly impossible to avoid getting some unwanted mail.  So I thought this art project from re-nest was a nice idea.  The post even includes a nice step-by-step tutorial in case you want to replicate it.
 

Yum! Gingerbread Skeletons

 

From MyPaperCrane:   Make gingerbread men and owls with icing piped on to look like bones for a yummy Halloween treat.  She even includes a recipe.

Carpet Sample Reuse

ReadyMade offers a few suggestions for creative reuse of carpet samples, including this great geometric rug.

Ooh, pretty.

Bitter Betty Blogs provides a tutorial on how to make a gilded lace crown.  Perfect for costumes or just your everyday tiara needs.  (Via Craftzine)

Halloween Candle Decorating

My friend alerted me to this cute project from Booga J after she saw yesterday's post.  Using stamps and  tissue paper, you can decorate candles!  I love, love this idea!  I want some candles, stamps, a heat gun...

Halloween Votives

For a cute, simple Halloween craft, head over to Skip To My Lou for a tutorial on how to make these Halloween votives.

DIY Album Cover Wall Organizers

 

Paper and Stitch has come up with this brilliant reuse idea for old vinyl covers.  Make your own wall organizers using their ingeniously simple tutorial.   (via Ready Made blog)

Pumpkin Carving Crafts

There's nothing I love more than a good holiday craft.  Growing up, crafting was how we celebrated holidays:  ornament making for Christmas, elaborate Easter egg dying,  crafting our own lace Valentines....the list really went on and on.  And of course, Halloween pumpkin carving.  Usually, my mom and I spurned the messiness of actually carving pumpkins and instead created charming faces using good old permanent markers.

For those of you who want to transform a pumpkin this Halloween, How About Orange provides a great list of links to carve, decorate, and generally maim your holiday gourd.  Hope all those pumpkin guts all over the place aren't too....horrifying!