DIY and handmade craft ideas

Calling all DIY neat freaks: jannypie offers a delightful decorative charging station tutorial to organize your phone, mp3 player and other chargeable devices. She makes hers from already-prosh Martha Stewart boxes, but you could easily recycle boxes found around the house and embellish them according to your own style.

[tags]charging station, ipod, mp3, Martha Stewart[/tags]…

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Does your knitting measure up?

We’ve all been there. Just when you’re at a point in your knitting when you need to double-check your gauge or see if it’s time to switch stitch patterns, the ever-elusive measuring tape has disapeared. Again. What’s a knitter to do? Never fear, Knit Stix® are here!

These patented designed needles have the digits you need right on them so …

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Replayground on TV

Tiffany Threadgould, founder of Replayground, is featured in a segment of the one-hour special on Fine Living, It’s Easy Being Green. In just over three minutes you’ll see how Tiffany comes up with ideas for her recycled furnishings and accessories. Sitting in her home with a pile of unwanted computer keyboards in front of her, she says it …

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Happy Hour Recipes

Pina colada Bath salt recipe

It’s got to be happy hour somewhere right? Here are some fun “Happy Hour” recipes.

Champagne Bubble Bath Recipe

Margarita Soap Recipe…

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Behind the Knitter

I’ve been a bit incommunicado this week due to caring for a child with a horrible ear infection. Hopefully though, I can make it up to you by giving you a little Friday afternoon giggle. Me and a couple of old friends from Knitty Gritty but together this spoof video. It’s the untrue, not really hollywood story of a knitter’s …

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Upcycled Bracelets

Bracelets look great, but they don’t always feel great on your wrist. By wrapping used bangle bracelets in colorful yarn, not only have you created a soft accessory for your skin, but you’ve also created a whole new look. Here are a few Etsy sellers offering pretty yarn-wrapped bracelets:

[tags]bracelet, bangle, …

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Knit Prints

Sure baskets of yarn and vases filled with needles make great, knitty home decor. But what if you want to take it a step further–what if you want your knit in print? Well I know I did, which is why I bought this first crafty cutie for my office from Rosie Music.

As I did a little more investigation however, …

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CD Earrings

These cute earrings are music to the recycled crafter’s ears. Shannah at UpCycleMart upcycles discarded CDs into pairs of cute and unusual earrings, like this geometric-themed pair made from the printed side of the CD. She also works with the unprinted side of CDs and embellishes with paint and dainty beads. Check out the upcycled earrings collection at her Etsy …

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Challenge, Challenges are abound!

by Stamping Editor

Hi Everyone:

If you are like me sometimes mojo is gone and not to be seen for weeks. If that happens to you, have no fear!

There are tons of challenges going on various blogs and mfg websites to jump start your creative juices again… whether you are stamping, scrapbooking, creating cards, digital scrapbooking, etc.. there’s something for everyone..

Here’s …

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Scrabble Tile Pendants

Pieces of Me Pendants offers a wonderfully sweet collection of pendants made from used Scrabble tiles. Each pendant is sealed with a high-gloss nontoxic glaze and comes with an organza bag with gift card tag, just waiting to be gifted to a special someone. A bargain at $5 a piece — plus the shop is offering a buy two, get …

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Bag Hag

I’m a longtime fan of Namaste products. I have a set of their beautiful glass needles displayed in my office, and have used one of their older Messenger bags to tote around larger projects for years. Their latest line The Cali Collection however, has offially given me a “bag crush”. So much so, that’s I’ve completely ditched the purse I …

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Recycled Art Exhibits

While we may fiddle with crafts at home just for fun, recycled art is increasingly found in fine art galleries, as illustrated in these current and upcoming exhibits:

Red Bull Art of Can
Featuring works of art inspired by or created with Red Bull cans.
The Galleria
Houston, Texas
July 12-25
www.redbullartofcan.com

GreenCraft
Artistic expressions using found, recycled and eco-friendly …

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Billy Goat Soap — Baaaaa

Billie goat soap (with an ie not a y) was recently featured on an Australian News Program as an effective soap for sensitive skin, eczema or psoriasis. I got the impression from the show that it was the only soap on the market but obviously it is not. So I did a little research and here are a few more …

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February in June

I was hanging out over on Ravelry (aka avoiding work) and came across this beauty, the February Lady Sweater, by Pamela Wynne. I *heart* it so, it hurts! The pattern’s adapted from an Elizabeth Zimmerman baby cardigan, but super-sized and modernized for those of us who love a retro look with a bit of current flavor. The best part? …

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Knitting, it’s a real gas!

It’s a fact that wool is warmer when it’s wet, but I wonder what happens when it’s gassed? Should the situation arise, both Craftster’s Teriyakimoto and these prepared purlers will likely find out!…

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Egg Carton Sewing Kit

You’ve probably seen all kinds of kids’ egg carton crafts, but this take on the convenient cubbyhole containers is suitable for any age. Etsy store Swirlyarts is selling, among other items, mini sewing kits made from used cardboard egg cartons. Better start eating your eggs if you plan on making one for yourself!

[tags]egg carton, sewing kit, etsy[/tags]…

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Soap Of The Month Club

Whats better than getting beautiful handmade soap delivered to your door…. how about a 4 oz scented block of soap each month for 6 months!!

How exciting it would be to open the mail box at the begining of each month knowing there is a little special something in there just for you.

Order in creme brulee, Sugar cookies or …

13

Strawberry Heaven

Mmm Strawberries and cream or better still strawberries and Chocolate… This post is dedicated to my little red friend the “Strawberry”

You can literally eat, live and bath with strawberries. Here is a quick Strawberry Bubble Bath recipe to tempt the kids into the bath with or how about some strawberry bath dust recipe.

Is your face a little …

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Make a Leather Watchband for Fathers Day

by Jewelry Making Editor

Watches do fall under the catagory of jewelry for both men and women- so suprise your dad or the Dad in your life with some custom, one of a kind, hand crafted leather watchbands. Its easy, as our friends over at Craft Bits shows in this tutorial.

These are so clever and stylish, you could make a few in different colors to go with …

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Recycled Coffee Sleeve

The next time you crave a take-out coffee, come prepared with your own stylish coffee sleeve — recycled from a sweater, of course. Head on over to East Coast Kitsch for a sampling of colorful ideas from Jane Murphy, or support your fellow crafter and purchase one from her shop. East Coast Kitsch also features other recycled wool and felted …

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Sticky Butter Cleanser

Nothing about this title sounds cleansing but its filled with zesty ingredients that smell devine.

For the free cleanser recipe visit our sister site Craftbits.com…

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Once upon a time in a knitting bag, far, far away…

Oops, he knit it again! My dear friend Dave Lowe always keeps me in stitches with his clever, cartoon blog, ParaAbnormal. His most recent entry however packs such a purl-punch, I couldn’t resist sharing it. I wonder if they’re looking for UFOs?…

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Time to knit a red carpet!

A HUGE congratulations to my friends over at PBS’s Knit and Crochet Today: Brett Bara (host), Candi Jensen (producer), and the folks at Coats & Clark (underwriters)! The show’s been nominated for a regional EMMY! I’m so thrilled not only for them (all of whom I adore), but also that knit-related programming has finally been given some props. That …

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New Knit on the Block