When I first thought of making my own zine library I was at a loss as to what would fit them all. How could it look good and be functional? I thought it would be kind of neat to make a series of small boxes that would hang on the […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
Winter Composting Part 2: Saving Kitchen Scraps
Maybe you really just want nothing to do with wormy friends like I posted about last week. Or maybe they aren’t eating enough to take care of all your kitchen scraps. That’s okay. That doesn’t mean you have to forgo composting all winter long. My issue with winter composting is […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
Winter Composting Part 1: Vermicompost!
The gardening bug has hit me earlier than usual this year. Last year I mapped out all the gardening plans in the February Craft Leftovers Monthly. Well, right now it’s too early to start seeds or even purchase them. The compost pile is frozen solid. And it’s too late to […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
Using Up Wrapping Paper: Making Herbalist Bottles!
Herbalism is a lovely medicine-making tradition that can be done right in my kitchen, using things I collect in my own backyard, and with minimal amounts of equipment. I’ve read about herbs–grown herbs, collected wild herbs “weeds”–and have even played around with making my own green medicines from my finds. […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
How to: Paw Print Ornament
With the new addition to our home (kitten Gregory) I got a bug in my bonnet to commemorate our little citizens with their very own ornaments, but how?
Then a memory from long since past hit me: handprints! But in this case: paw prints!
Each little critter gets their own disk. And then I decided that Jason and I get one too. To load up on the cheese, it’s Jason and I’s first Christmas in our house and it seems like something to make note of too.
howto
How to: Carve your own Mailing Stamp
The great thing about using these blocks, is you really can use any stamp pad, making it much easier to use than a lino block – and a lot quicker to dry. Here’s how to carve and mount your own stamp to use and love because it’s uniquely your own.
howto - patterns & tutorials
How to: Autumn Textured Thank You Cards
This past July, I participated in a pencil rubbing swap on Swapbot. It reminded me how much I enjoy and how beautiful this simple technique is. With all the leaves blowing around, there are plenty of things to make textures from. When Kelly C told me she wanted to learn to draw textures, my mind instantly thought about pencil rubbings. I know, not exactly what she had been talking about, but a fun project for leftover paper all the same. Love the way the mind works.
clm - howto - vol2
CLM Sneak Peek: 8 Gourd Drying Tips
Every issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly is full of patterns, tutorials, and fun little snippets. What are these snippets I am referring to? Well, that varies from month to month. Because October’s issue was all about Falling into Fall, I filled the pages with patterns, tutorials, and thoughts on crafting outside as well as cozying up with fall crafting. Here is one of my favorite pages from this month’s issue about what I’ve learned about drying gourds:
howto - patterns & tutorials
Making my own earrings: And how to make your own too!
Recycled Bead Earrings Quick as a Flash Glitz! When I moved, I carefully packed up my jewelry box. I wrapped it in tissue paper and tucked it into a safe place. Since then I have been 100% without any jewelry save my engagement ring and one necklace I tend to […]
fabric - howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
Bamboo Shade Leftovers: How to twine them into projects.
Two weeks ago, I trimmed down my bamboo shades and realized that I had in my hands the most wonderful leftover–bamboo sticks! Twining. Oh twining, I love you. This, my friends, is a wonderful way to “weave” multiple things together.
To demonstrate it’s power I give you:
Sticky Twined Coasters
fabric - howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
How To: Trim your Bamboo Shades & Make them Private
Jason knew as soon as we moved into our new house that we needed some blinds fast for the master bedroom and main bath. We just needed a little more privacy so we would stop having to get dressed in the closet, haha.
Here’s how I shortened, trimmed the width and length, and made these neatly natural blinds more private.
fabric - howto - patterns & tutorials
Tutorial: Attach a bias tape edging
I forgot to sew the bodice right sides together and turn it out before top stitching, so I was left with all these crazy raw edges, woops. I could have redone it, but once it happened it was like “well, this would look better with a little trim anyway.”
Here is a quick easy way to add a bias tape trim to a raw edge to finish it off and make it look great.
howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
Saving a Paint Brush from Becoming a Paint Stick
Working on the mural reminded me of my first painting professor and of the importance of brush cleaning. After 50 different people worked on the mural (awesome) all our brushes were trashed. Paint up the handles, crusted, dirty, and half dry. Is there any coming back from that? We had about 10 nicer brushes and some fine tipped brushes of mine that I was intent on saving from being paint sticks.
howto - redress
Redress: Pillows Part II: Recycled Stuffing Material
Last week I posted about my fight with pillow stuffing and how I’ve gone on a quest to figure out what works best. Shredded Paper Shredded Fleece Plastic Bags All Sorts of stuff – bits of yarn, thread, fleece, paper, and dryer lint. After making 4 small pillows and stuffing […]
howto - redress
Apartment Redress: Say goodbye to lumpy pillows: Part 1
I’ve made a few pillows over the years. Seriously, just a few. And I’ve not liked a single one. It’s not that the designs weren’t cute, they were. It was that they were lumpy. With each one I tried a different way of stuffing them: Pillow stuffing method 1: Huge […]
howto - journal
Picking the Right Hook and Needles
{Note: I’m totally sick today, so I’m taking the day off. Today’s post was originally published as a guest post for Craftzine in September. Enjoy!} One of the things that many experienced yarnies take for granted is how to know what hook or needles to use for the yarn you […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
12 Days of Christmas: Free Advent Calendar
I had so much fun making this little advent calendar. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to make one until Monday! So now you need to get on it and make one today to have it ready to tomorrow ;) It’s a really fun project to do with a friend or your […]
fabric - howto - journal
Playing Around the Christmas Tree: Mini Tree Skirt
I nabbed this super cute piece of Christmas fabric while I was at the Ames C.art Sew n’ Swap. I had entertained many project ideas. This week I finally made the leap and jumped feet first into tree skirt making.
howto - nosew
Past Perfect: Fixing Broken Ornaments
Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am happily jumping straight into Christmas mode, and part of that is getting a tree up and decorated. A little Christmas cheer to start the season out right. So what happens if you open up your box of homemade ornaments, or hand-me-down extra special […]
fabric - howto - nosew - redress
How To: Fabric Covered Wall Panels
Two week ago I moved into my new studio and everything fits wonderfully, but this back wall was killing me. It was too office and not nearly studio enough. I needed color. I wanted paint. I ran though several ideas that were all overly complicated and overly costly. Time for a Redress project! I posted about it two Tuesdays ago and you all came to the rescue and helped me figure out a great way to splash some color around without splashing around cash.