Archive of ‘Crafts & DIY’ category

11 Easy Yarn Crafts Anybody Can Make

August 10, 2017| Crafts & DIY

11 Easy Yarn Crafts Anybody Can Make

Are you fascinated with yarn, but don’t really know how to crochet or knit? Don’t worry, there are a ton of fantastic and easy crafts you can make with yarn.

Check out our list below for some great ideas for fun yarn crafts that anybody can make without spending a lot of money or time.

1. Yarn Wrapped Flip Flops

Take some $2 red flip flops and some left over rainbow yarn from your stash. The two become one in this awesome little pair of summer sandals – yarn flip flops!
Via Dream A Little Bigger

2. Macrame Yarn Garland

Macrame is an awesome knotting art that you can start learning with this easy garland.
Via A Beautiful Mess

macrame yarn garland

3. Toilet Roll Bracelets

Toilet roll crafts, such a versatile everyday material. No need to get the wallet out for the craft shops, all you need to make these colorful toilet roll bracelets is within your four walls.
Via Molly Moo Crafts

4. Yarn Tassel Bedskirt

Are you one of those people who just love tassels? Well, this should tickle your fancy.
Via Tater Tots and Jello

5. Tassel Dandelion Bouquet

These dandelion flowers are impeccable and if you already know how to make tassels – easy!
Via Bren Did

tassel flowers dandelion

6. Yarn Wrapped Ombré Monogrammed Letter

Adorn cardboard or wooden letters with an ombré flair.
Via Catch My Party

ombre yarn monogram letters

7. Ice Cream Cone Garland

This would be a trendy decoration to use for parties or a little section of a kid’s room.
Via Growing Up Gabel

yarn ice cream garland

8. DIY Wall Hanging

Find a cheap woven rug somewhere and add some of my own yarn to it. Boom, in less than an hour you’ll have an awesome feature that will be the perfect upgrade to your decor
Via Brepurposed

9. Yarn Dolls

For kids who appreciate simple pleasures this yarn doll is perfect.
Via Little House Living

yarn doll

10. Neon Nonslip Hangers

Make all your hangers nonslip with this colorful update.
Via Brit+Co

yarn-wrapped nonslip hangers

11. Pom Pom Mobile

Who can resist cute pom poms? They are so easy to make and great for all sorts of fun craft projects. Learn how to make a pom pom mobile that will look adorable in a nursery, child or teen bedroom.
Via Kids Craft Room

Do you have more yarn craft ideas? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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15 Fun and Easy Sewing Projects for Kids

August 18, 2016| Crafts & DIY, Kids Fun

15 Fun and Easy Sewing Projects for Kids

We’re on the home stretch of summer now and you may be trying to find things to keep your kid’s minds (and fingers) busy. Have you considered sewing?

Kids are never too young when it comes to learning crafts, especially sewing. Sewing can not only bring hours of joy, it’s also a practical life skill. These fun sewing ideas will help kids learn and develop dexterity and coordination. I’ve been on the lookout for some cute things they can start off with and the projects I’ve gathered here range in difficulty from toddlers to teens.

Once kids learn any one of these fun sewing projects, who knows these might even spark their imagination to come up with their own creations. So go find a kid and get your sewing on!

1. Fried Egg Felt Zipper Pouch

In the ranks of cute foods, fried eggs are at the top of the list – so here they are, fried eggs in all their felty goodness. The DIY Fried Egg Felt Zipper Pouch is in full effect.
Via Damask love

2. Fabric Scrap Key Chain

Finally, you can get rid of your fabric scraps and teach your young ones to be crafty and resourceful, too.
Via Craftiness is not Optional

3. Book corner bookmark

This lovely bookmark is for the older kids who might want to put a little spin on their own creations.
Via kr creations

4. Emoji Keyrings

Have you seen the hundreds of emoji pillows and products in the stores these days? Once your child makes one of these keyrings, they’ll want to make one for everyone in the neighborhood.
Via crafternoon cabaret club

5. Scented sachets

These scented sachets will not only give your child something to do, these can also keep drawers and closets smell loads better.
Via Martha Stewart

6. Fish Laundry Bags

Cute… check! Useful… check! Easy… check! These adorable Fish Laundry Bags will be the envy of all the other kids at camp.
Via she can sew

7. Pleated headband

Kids will surely enjoy making their own combinations of fabric, buttons, and charms to make these lovely headbands.
Via Craftiness is not Optional

8. I Heart Coffee Cozy

Having a fabric cozy to take with me to get a hot beverage helps to keep the cardboard ones out of the dumpsters. Plus, it is super cute!
Via simply notable

9. Keychain chapstick holder

For kids/teens who can’t live without their chapstick – these will keep them from losing them.
Via Crazy Little Projects

10. Felt forest friends keychains

Kids can make their own little forest friend, hand sew and use on their bags.
Via Repeat Crafter Me

11. Handsewn Beady Eyeglass Case

These would be perfect for kids to make for their grandparents, friends or themselves.
Via How To Sew.com

12. Glove monsters

These cute glove monsters will surely be a hit for kids, they can make them as funny or scary as they like.
Via Craftaholics Anonymous

13. Felt iPod Case

Even young kids have smartphones now, so why not teach them how to better take care of their things by learning how to create a case.
Via Diary of a Quilter

14. Carefree Cat from Scraps

When you start combining pieces of fabric and sewing them together, the toy starts to create its own character…just like this super carefree cat made from fabric scraps.
Via Sew Toy

15. Button Sewing

Button sewing is the easiest thing to teach young kids – just use a blunt needle and burlap.
Via Mama.Papa.Bubba

I hope these sewing ideas for kids will give you parents the chance to widen your kids’ horizons and teach them a skill or two. If you have other fun and easy sewing ideas that you would like to share with us, please do so in the comments.

If you’re looking for more great sewing ideas, check out this fantastic book: Little One-Yard Wonders: Irresistible Clothes, Toys, and Accessories You Can Make for Babies and Kids

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How to Make a Cozy Pillow Bed

January 27, 2016| Crafts & DIY, For the Home, Kids Fun

Learn how to make this cozy pillow bed.

How to Make a Cozy Pillow Bed

In honor of Throwback Thursday, I’m resurrecting an oldie but a goodie. Over two and half years ago I posted my second ever blog post called “PILLOW MATTRESS – MY FIRST BIG SEWING PROJECT”. At the time, I didn’t think anyone would be interested in my blog or anything I had to talk about. Boy was I wrong! Today, that same post has been pinned over 40,000 times on Pinterest and it didn’t even come with a tutorial or directions on how to make the pillow bed. I think it’s time to remedy that situation now. I’ve redone the photos and am now including a full photo tutorial so you can learn how to make your own cozy pillow bed.

Before we get to the tutorial, I want to take a minute to talk about how great this pillow bed is. It’s been a couple of years since I made the pillow bed and it still gets used on a very regular basis. It’s so incredibly comfortable that it’s the bed of choice anytime my daughter has a sleepover. I’ve even had kids fighting over who gets to use it before. Noelle uses it whenever she goes to sleepover’s where they don’t have an extra bed or mattress – it’s very easy to transport. We’ve even used it to sleep on when we go camping. I’m telling you, it is the most luxurious and comfortable bed ever. And, don’t worry if you’ve never sewed before, neither had I before I made this – it’s super easy to make and you’ll whip it up in no time flat.

Cozy Pillow Bed Sewing Tutorial

Finished size: 33 x 74 inches (83.8 x 185.4 cm) | Seam Allowance: 1/2″ (1.3 cm)

Supplies:

2.25 yards (2 m) flannel material in pattern 1 (you can also just choose to do the entire bed in one pattern if you prefer)
2.25 yards (2 m) flannel material in pattern 2
Sewing machine and thread
Sharp scissors or rotary cutter
Pins
Measuring tape
Pencil or water soluble marker
4 pillows

Directions:

Using your scissors or rotary cutting tool, cut both pieces of flannel material to measure 34.5″ x 75″. (PHOTO A)
With both flannel pieces facing their right sides together, pin around one short
side, one long side, and the other short side (one long side will not be pinned together). (PHOTO B)
Machine sew the three pinned sides together, leaving a 1/2 seam as you sew. Remove pins as you sew. (PHOTO C)
Trim the points off the stitched corners with scissors (don’t get too close to the stitching). (PHOTO D)
On the one long raw side that hasn’t been sewn, fold over and pin the material twice so that there’s approximately a 1/2″ seam. (PHOTO E)
Machine sew the 1/2″ seam along the edge of the material (do not sew the two sides together) and turn right side out. (PHOTO F)
Starting at one short end, mark a parallel line every 18.5 inches down until you reach the other short end. This will divide you pillow bed into four equal sections. Stitch along each line to make four pillow pockets. (PHOTO G)
Stuff each of the four pockets with a pillow. (PHOTO H)

Download your free cozy pillow bed sewing tutorial here.

If you’re interested taking on more sewing projects, check out this fabulous book – Present Perfect: 25 Gifts to Sew & Bestow

Looking for some other great maker projects? Check out: Learn How to Embroider, Pink Grapefruit & Clay Soap, Copycat Burt’s Bees Lip Balm, Outlander Crochet Cowl, DIY Button Stamp Tool, Jellyfish Friendship Bracelets, 10-Minute Superhero Costume,

Learn how to make a cozy pillow bed with this quick and easy tutorial – a great beginner sewing project. Perfect for reading, lounging, sleepovers, and camping!

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Learn How to Embroider Simple But Pretty Designs

January 20, 2016| Crafts & DIY, Design & Technology

Learn How to Embroider Simple But Pretty Designs

Learn How to Embroider Simple But Pretty Designs – BONUS free Embroidery pattern included!

Hand embroidery is so challenging and tedious – oh, and it’s sooooo old school! Let me be the first to correct you on both points.

I’m the last person in the world to take on anything that’s too hard or time-consuming (case in point – my running shoes still look new and have hardly logged any hours on the pavement). I’m more of an instant gratification kind of girl.

As far as embroidery being old school, it’s making a triumphant comeback and soon you’ll see it everywhere – mark my words (you can’t see it but I’m wagging my finger at you). There’s a ton of incredible designers out there who are anything but old and stodgy. Today’s embroidery designers are cutting-edge, graphic and humorous (and often R-rated). If you’re curious, go check out Instagram and search the hashtags #hoopart, #embroideryart and #handembroidery.

I’m now positive, with every new hobby and skill I attempt, that I was an old west homesteader in a former life. My claim to fame is that I seem to be particularly adept at picking up old lady hobbies (my husband teases me constantly). You name it, crochet, soap making, pottery and now let’s add embroidery to the list. The embroidered hoop you see pictured in the photos is my second attempt at embroidery. I’m not telling you this to brag but rather to prove just how easy it is and how quickly you can learn to hand embroider simple designs. Being the instant gratification person I am, I spent all of an hour or two watching video tutorials then, I grabbed the materials, made my design and got down to it.

This particular embroidered hoop art is a birthday gift I made for my lovely mother-in-law Lynda. She’s sweet, kind, generous and caring but she’s also fierce in her beliefs, convictions, and the love she has for her friends and family. As soon as I found this little saying, I knew it was perfect for her.

How Can I Learn to do Hand Embroidery?

There are tons of tutorials and courses out there on hand embroidery. The first place I went was Craftsy where I took the amazing “Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery” class by Jessica Marquez. This is a great foundation course that teaches 25 basic stitches – at this point, I still haven’t even gotten through the entire course – I was too excited with all the stitches I learned in the first 4 lessons.

If you’re looking for some free tutorials, this great YouTube playlist “Beginner Hand Embroidery: Learn Hand Embroidery with Me Series” by TLCinspirations is another great resource.

Another fun resource for learning about embroidery is my Embroidery Pinterest board where I’ve pinned hundreds of inspirational ideas as well as great photo tutorials.

Now let’s get to the floral embroidery pattern I used in the photos. Below, I’ve listed some of the specific tutorials I used to learn the stitches I chose for this project (click on each to go to the tutorial)

The writing – the back stitch (also used for the branches)
The green leaves – the fly stitch
The blue rosettes – the spider web rosette stitch
The daisy flowers – lazy daisy stitch (the purple and pink flowers /also the dark green leaves around the blue flowers)
The centers of the flowers – the french knot

Embroidery Supplies

Luckily there are only a few supplies you’ll need to get started and generally, they are pretty inexpensive.

Embroidery needles (sizes 3-9)
Embroidery floss – cotton or pearl cotton
Embroidery hoop – there are many sizes available – I used a 7″ hoop for the hoop art in the photos
Fabric such as linen, cotton or muslin (great for practicing)
Sharp scissors
Fine tip marker or soluble pen (I used the Fine Water Erasable Marker by Clover)
Needle threader (not a requirement but it can help make threading easier)

Once you’ve gone through a few tutorials and are confident enough to start your first embroidered hoop art, feel free to download my pattern and try your hand at embroidery. Simply print it out and then trace the design onto your fabric (I held my fabric up against a window so that I could see the design behind the fabric more easily).

Get Your Free Embroidery Pattern – in two sizes

Download the 6″ embroidery pattern with quote here
Download the 6″ embroidery pattern without the quote here
Download the 7″ embroidery pattern with quote here
Download the 7″ embroidery pattern without the quote here

I can’t wait to hear what you think and how your attempt at embroidery goes. Please feel free to share your stories and photos with me… I may even (with your permission of course) showcase them with my social media community.

Learn how to embroider simple but pretty designs – bonus embroidery pattern included.

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, which means that if you visit Craftsy.com through this link and purchase this product, I’ll get a commission. Don’t worry–the price is still the same for you.

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