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Though I was not 100% reassured by what I found, there are at least some safety regulations in place for arts and craft supplies, and fusible web does meet those standards. So let’s move on to my next challenge: assess the environmental impact. The environmental impact of many products is pretty evident. Oil is a non-renewable resource and it creates toxins when you burn it, so I think it’s a no-brainer to bubble in “No” on the sustainability question in the answer booklet....

Well, think of it this way. The felt board isn’t retro or dated- it’s classic! A felt playset is fun to play with, versatile, educational, and it happens to be just about the easiest craft you can possibly make. Did you learn how to cut with scissors in Sunday school? Yeah? Then you can make a felt playset. The first step, and the hardest part, is figuring out what felt to use....

What You Will Need: Magazines. I used the same magazines that I used for my posts How To: Upcycle Candle Holders into Colorful Organizers, How To: Eco-Friendly “Sparklers,” and How To: Make a Recycled Gift Tag & Ornament. Start picking up magazines from thrift stores or garage sales– you never know how you will be able to use them! Scissors School glue. If you can, use Eco-Glue! Recycled cardboard or something strong for the base of your magnet....

Father’s Day is right around the corner! Here’s an easy DIY koozie that would be an awesome, eco-friendly gift for dad and requires no sewing. What You Will Need: Recycled felt. I used three different colors– red, blue, and black. You could felt an old sweater instead of buying recycled felt, too. Hot glue/hot glue gun Scissors A pen A ruler How To Do It: Wrap your felt around the cup/bottle/can your Dad typically uses....

Poured candles are even simpler to make than hand-dipped candles or rolled candles–all they require are wicking, melted wax, and a heat-resistant repurposed container. You can also have just as much variety with your homemade poured candles as you can with fancy, store-bought container candles, since you can vary the shape of your jar, change the color of your wax, and even add essential oils for a healthy scent. To make your own poured wax candle, you’ll need the following:...

Because I’m a mean momma, my girls and I make the long march to the public library a couple of times a week even if the sun is blazing, the snow is snowing, or, gasp, the rain is raining down. Kids (and their otherwise lazy momma) can tolerate a lot with the proper gear–in the heat, you’ve got to have water. In the snow, you’ve got to bundle up. And in the rain, you’ve got to have your galoshes and your matching rainbow umbrellas....

Turn an old window frame into a unique memo board for your home! What You Will Need: An old window frame Chicken wire Wire cutters Eco-friendly paint Sand paper Mini clothespins A staple gun and staples How To Do It: Depending on the age of your window, please make sure the existing paint does not contain lead by using lead paint swabs. Once you have checked that, you can sand the window....

It’s something special! Boutonnieres often seem as if they’re generally reserved for prom dates or members of a wedding party, and of course, those people deserve the beautiful, handcrafted flowers that they’re wearing, but you know, weddings and high school dances don’t have to be the only occasions when one wears a boutonniere. I kind of fell down the boutonniere rabbit hole as I was researching this article, and thanks to this post that details all the appropriate times to wear a boutonniere and what type of boutonniere one should wear, I’m now pretty sure that everyone should be wearing little bright bits of flowers pinned or buttoned to their shirts every single day....

A nine-patch quilt block is made from nine pieces in two different fabrics. The pieces are all square and are sewn together in alternating fabrics in three rows of three. This pattern works well with both a dedicated color scheme and layout or a seemingly random mishmash of color and contrast, which is another reason why it’s such a favorite with sewers of all ages and levels–and their recipients! Just as the nine-patch quilt is the easiest type of quilt to sew, I find a doll quilt to be the easiest size of quilt to make....

Before you pick up the power tools, make sure that the wood pallet you’re using right for the project you have in mind. Our sister site, Sustainablog, recently shared some tips for how to tell if wood pallets are safe for your next crafty adventure, and I found some additional helpful info over at 1001 Pallets. There are two steps to choosing a safe wood pallet for crafting: sourcing wisely and looking for key markings on the pallet....

Need to put a hole in a seashell? Use a Dremel. A hole in a bottle cap? Use a Dremel. A hole in a piece of Fiestaware that your younger kid shattered for you? Use a Dremel. With the right bit, you can use a Dremel to drill through just about any material, natural or recycled, that you can think of. From bottle caps to rocks, here are my tips on the best bits and the proper technique to make your work perfect and keep your fingers safe....

Hand that wood over to the kids, because they’ve got a stomp catapult to build! This stomp catapult is dead easy for a kid to build, even if this is the first time that they’ll have picked up a saw and a drill. They’ll use up some of your scraps, they’ll practice their woodworking and problem-solving skills, and they’ll make themselves a super-fun, active outdoor toy that will keep them happy all summer while they get hands-on physics enrichment....

What else will this slightly holiday themed issue have to offer? Here is a run-down of some of the Winter 2007 features: PIECING TOGETHER MORE TIME Shannon Okey finds ways to make every moment on the needles count. KNIT-TINI TIME Vickie Howell investigates: Where does Pink Martini frontwoman China Forbes rank knitting on the list of life’s most important things? A KNITTING TIMELINE Leigh Witchel’s almanac charts the most important dates in knitting history....

Use a mini greenhouse to keep warm-weather herbs happy, even if it’s still a little bit chilly to grow them. I love growing herbs and miss my herb garden terribly when cold weather sweeps in and kills everything. Next winter, I’m going to keep an eye out for empty plastic soda bottles for sure! Over at Spoonful, they show you how to turn an old plastic bottle into a simple mini greenhouse with just a few supplies....

Anneli was so kind to share with me some additional photos of her rag pillows (after the jump). I think it takes a true craft visionary to imagine that cutting up a bed sheet could result in pillows with such amazing texture. Anneli created these rag pillows by cutting old bed linens into a continuous one inch strip and crocheting them into giant circles to serve as the top of the pillow....

Plarn is yarn that you make by cutting up and knotting together plastic bags. If you’re used to knitting and crocheting with natural fibers like cotton and wool, it might sound gross to put plastic on your knitting needles, but check out all of the awesome stuff that you can make with plarn! 1. how to make it. Start here to learn how to make plarn. 2. apron. I wouldn’t use this while cooking, because of the possibility of it touching a heat source, but it would be just the thing to wear while deep cleaning the house....

To reach this goal the American Chemistry Council announced a new initiative to invest in the collection and manufacturing of these bags. The recycling of plastic bags and wraps has escalated in recent years to an estimated 830 million pounds in 2007. This represents a 27 percent increase from 2005. Still, additional material will need to be collected for manufacturers to reach their goal. About 470 million pounds of plastic will be reclaimed for the manufacturing of new bags and will help in the development of plastic recycling and using recycled plastic content....

I talked last week about the awesome superhero birthday party that we threw for my son and shared how to make cute superhero capes from recycled felt. Today I’m going to share another superhero birthday party craft: printable cupcake toppers! Cupcake toppers aren’t really appropriate for one-year-olds who don’t know what is OK to chew on and what is a choking hazard, but if I ever throw another superhero party for my kid, these printable cupcake toppers are happening!...

The robots are fantastic. Most have a very industrial feel but some could pass for whimsical and even steampunk inspired decor. I think what I love most about the lamps they’re both sculptural and functional. I also love Brauer’s personal statement: You can learn more about Brauer but you’ll need to be able to read some French. And if not, can at least enjoy the photos. You can also connect with Brauer on Facebook I particularly like the robust appearance of used steel and industrial materials....

Some of the worst caddy crimes happen on college campuses. At the end of the semester, students hurl thousands of “slightly used” caddies into dumpsters on move-out day. Once a dorm room must-have, now it’s TRASH. I guess it’s just too much trouble to save it for next semester. The crunchy solution to this caddy conundrum is a DIY shower caddy planter. Put it on your patio table. Hang it from your porch....