Learn more about FaveCrafts.com after the jump. They have tons of free craft ideas, tutorials and even how-to videos. They even have a lot of green crafts like 14 things to do with an old pair of blue jeans, Recycled Tin Can Luminaries, CD case picture frame and for those already getting ready for a green Halloween check out the plastic bottle pumpkin luminaries. FaveCrafts.com has free downloadable e-books too....
Created by cultural anthropologist and artist Ashley Phelps, GLOB paints are currently available in six colors made from plant based ingredients. They are made with fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices that have strong natural pigments that have been used as paints, dyes and natural colorings for centuries. GLOB’ new products are made in the U.S. in a FDA and EPA registered facility. The paints are eco-friendly and health friendly. They are completely non-toxic, and are free of chemicals, parabens, petroleum, synthetic preservatives, and they are gluten and soy free....
Recently found on the Berroco website (a fashion yarn manufacturer), two easy patterns are available: a Surplus Blanket Coat and a Plaid Blanket Shrug. Though specific Berroco yarns are mentioned, it is worth noting that few, if any, of their wares are sustainable. Substituting other yarns for these projects is quite simple, and an extensive list of eco-sellers can be found on my website. Starting with an army surplus blanket (which are often easy to find), the Surplus Blanket Coat simply adds two well-placed sleeves, making this “coat” perfect for relaxing afternoons at home, long car rides, or pleasant mornings on the porch with a cup of tea....
Do you have a hard time coming up with Valentines Day gifts for men on your list? These manly homemade bath salts are simple to make and smell like heaven. Homemade bath salts may not seem like the ideal gift for a fella, but this combination of earthy scents makes a perfect Valentines Day gift for the guys in your life. Every guy has a little bit of stress in his life, and a nice soak in the tub with some soothing bath salts helps melt stress away....
Read on to see how to make your own autumn leaf mobile with your preserved leaves and just a couple of other stash or repurposed materials: Start by preserving your autumn leaves using your favorite method. For my mobiles, I prefer the shine and the natural shape of beeswax leaves, but this project is amenable to any method of preservation that you’re used to. Next » Choose your favorite leaves, and cut off a length of string, twine, or jute cord for each one....
Cold and wet and dismal outside? There’s nothing like staying inside, doing some math enrichment with the kids! Newspaper, rolled tightly and taped, makes an excellent, large-format building toy. It’s also great for three more reasons: Here’s how to turn yesterday’s newspaper into a temporary toy that your kids will love using to increase their spatial reasoning abilities. To make your toy, place two full sheets of newspaper on top of each other, roll them very tightly from one corner to the opposite corner, and secure with a small piece of masking tape....
At least that’s why I wanted a balance bike for my kid, who, at the ripe old age of seven, had taken to claiming that she was NEVER going to learn to ride her bicycle. Nope, too scary. She’d rather walk. Unfortunately, balance bikes can be super-pricey, unless you go for a cheap knock-off of the wooden ones, and those are meant for toddlers, and they’re not uber-durable. Fortunately, being a DIYer means that not only can you figure out how to make something new using only what you already own, but it means that you can basically custom-build for yourself whatever you’re dreaming of....
I buy pretty much all of my clothing from thrift stores, so I take stuff home expecting to make some alterations. Sometimes the changes are drastic, such as hacking off a pair of cargo pants to make a pair of cargo capris, and sometimes the changes are cosmetic, such as adding painted dragon wings and a couple of horns to an otherwise perfectly fine hoodie. Sometimes, however, all I need is simple: a plain pair of well-fitting jeans....
To make these recycled bottle cap magnets you will need: Recycled metal bottle cap Recycled color magazine Scissors White Glue 1 Quarter 1” wide clear tape Recycled magnet (free business card magnets or giveaways will work, if not you can buy magnets at craft stores) Aleene’s Paper Glaze E-6000 Adhesive Ruler Next » Use the quarter to trace a circle around an image from the magazine. Take the tape and carefully place a piece over the circle....
Unfortunately, as pricey as weighted blankets are, they’re still not always made with great ingredients. Polyester fabrics and plastic pellets are crummy for the environment–seriously, we do not need more plastic (especially plastic pellets!) in our waste stream–and I’m not gonna blame you if you don’t feel like sleeping every night with that nonsense draped all over your skin, either. Supplies & Tools It takes some fiddly work and some sewing prowess, but it’s completely possible to DIY your own weighted blanket, and to do so using natural and/or sustainably-sourced materials....
Yes, I know it’s not Christmas, but we did LARP Candyland at my kiddo’s recent ninth birthday party (candy-themed–you know the other parents hated me!), and LARP Candyland requires not only a life-sized molasses swamp and a life-sized gumdrop mountain and a life-sized peppermint forest, but also a life-sized licorice castle. The kids and I built our licorice castle out of a giant box, with some structural and decorative mods, including a peaked roof, to make it look like a giant gingerbread house....
Really, once you start using cloth pads, they’re no more gross than paper ones. And unlike paper pads, all of those used menstrual products don’t pile up in a landfill, which in my opinion is way more gross than a reusable pad that you wash in the machine! Using a Cloth Pad You can basically treat your cloth pads like paper ones in a lot of ways. Keep one stashed in your purse – you can even get cute carrying cases for them!...
Everybody knows that paper napkins are a wasteful use of resources, and we ought to ditch them for mealtimes. But the solution isn’t just to wipe your hands on your pants! Instead, take a little time and a few fat quarters and sew everyone in your family their own set of cloth napkins. These cloth napkins, sewn from regular quilting cotton, are bounteous, easily washable, and indefinitely reusable. They’re large enough to cover your whole lap or serve as a makeshift bib, and the fabric is soft, much nicer than paper....
So of course the news about a dye being used in temporary tattoos that is, you know, POISONOUS, scared the crap out of me, and got me thinking, as well. What IS in your run-of-the-mill temporary tattoo, anyway? Apparently, a legit temporary tattoo contains FDA-approved ingredients and must have its ingredients listed on its packaging. An illegitimate temporary tattoo, however–gee, I wonder how hard it would be to come across one of those?...
Lost an earring backing? Here’s how you can replace these sneaky jewelry findings in just a few minutes! You guys, I shopped so much at the Indie Craft Experience a couple of weeks ago. The very first thing that I bought was a pair of stud earrings featuring the artist’s own photography. They are freaking gorgeous, and I love them! So you can imagine how bummed I was when one of them fell out of my ear the very next day....
First off, clean up the space! Having a lot of clutter means wasted time, and you’re more likely to get frustrated when looking for something. I know that when I get in this phase, I tend to not think clearly and throw away a lot of things that I probably shouldn’t. Having an organizational method is key to cleaning, and maintaining, your space. Make sure you have recycling bins out for white paper, colored paper, plastic and other materials you frequently use....
How sweet are these boho chic mason jar candle holders? The secret to these beauties is in the stencils. Justine from Sew Country Chick contributed this tutorial over at Mod Podge Rocks, and I love the vibrant colors and beautiful pattern. What a fun way to reuse an old glass jar that’s past its prime. This is already an upcycled project, and if you choose soy tea lights instead of conventional petroleum-based tea light candles, you’re doing double eco-duty....
I have a confession to make…I’m addicted to music. I guess it comes naturally, since that’s what I spend a lot of my time doing. So I always love it when I stumble across a craft project that uses music-related materials, like Kelly Rand’s recent article on things to do with old cassette tapes. By this point, I don’t have too many old tapes lying around, but what I do have is a lot of CDs–most of which I still listen to....
For an Easter basket that is heirloom-quality and made with love, check out my list, below, of my favorite free tutorials. Your only issue is going to figure out which one to make, because they are all perfect! Tiny Easter Egg Basket This is the cutest little basket, perfectly sized to hold a jumbo Easter egg or some small candies. I love it for table settings and for nestling into college student care packages....
