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You can get your scissors professionally sharpened, but first check out how to sharpen scissors with a supply that you probably already have in your stash. We love repairing instead of replacing around here. We’ve talked before about how to repair things around your house, but what about the tool that you use in your crafting? I’m on the lookout right now for ways to fix your tools and supplies, and this simple tip for how to sharpen scissors felt like a great way to kick things off....

One of the great things about visiting the web sites of craft fairs, however, is the vendor list–most artists have a web presence these days, so perusing the list of vendors is one way to check out all the Renegade-worthy artists even if you can’t be there for the ambiance. Web shops also help me decide where I want to shop in person, if I am attending a craft fair....

Picking up fallen sticks around the yard is less of a hassle when you have something more fun to do with them than just tossing them in the ubiquitous brush pile by the street. Read on for several crafty uses for this completely free and natural art supply: DIY bird’s nest: Think bird’s nest, but without bird spit and WITH a handy little place to set your keys! This decorative bird’s nest tutorial from our own Bonnie results in a nest that looks real, but will hold up in your home–and hold something useful....

I mean, yes, greeting a brand-new life is sweet and precious, and the babies, themselves, are of course adorable and wonderful, but mainly it’s the making of tiny and cute things that I get excited about. Give me a sewing machine and a friend’s new baby announcement, and I’ll keep myself happily entertained until that kid graduates high school! I like handmade baby gifts for a lot of reasons, but I especially like how they enable you, the gift-giver, to personalize the entire process, from choosing eco-friendly (or awesomely upcycled!...

Reader Lara sent in a great question about finding polyurethane alternatives. Here’s what I was able to find out, and I’d love your suggestions too! Lara asks: Lara also mentioned that shellac is not an option for her, because it’s not vegan. I hadn’t heard that about shellac before, but a quick search revealed that this is totally true! According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, shellac is a resin made from the secretions of the lac bug....

The designer came up with this idea while visiting her mother in Maine. After taking notice of the strong canvas material that made up the sails on a boat, she realized that this material would make a sturdy alternative material for bags and pillows all while saving them from going to landfills. Reiter8 takes full advantage of all of the different stitching styles and interesting text that the sail makers created as a design aspect for her bags....

Chances are you’ve probably seen some of these little stuffed toys somewhere, at craft shows or in your friend’s house. My daughter’s friend crocheted a bunny for her. I had no idea there was a Japanese name for this new crafty craze that has teens and tweens crocheting. My mother taught me how to crochet when I was little. It’s one of the only domestic crafts I know how to do....

Dress up plain pencils, blah binders and boring books with scrapbook paper, stickers, or fabric. You can make just about any of the following ideas green by using only what you have on hand. These crafts can help get kids ready to go back to school with supplies they helped dress up. Next »

Denim quilts also tend to be super soft, since they’re most often made from well-loved and well-worn blue jeans. They tend towards all cotton, so that’s a plus for those of us who prefer natural fabrics. And if you put it out into the world that you’d like to have some old jeans to craft with, old jeans WILL come to you–I have relatives I don’t even remember who call every now and then to ask me if I want their old jeans!...

Well, why not join the team and be a part of the green crafting blogosphere? Crafting a Green World is on the hunt for a couple of super awesome crafters that want to share their green crafting knowledge with the world. That’s right, we are on a talent search and could be looking for you! If you feel like you have what it takes to be a part of our team we want to hear from you!...

This innovative store will feature TerraCycle’s full line of over 100 products literally made from common waste materials such as chip bags, food wrappers, yogurt cups, glue bottles and writing instruments. In addition to selling its affordable, fun products made from waste, TerraCycle will use the space to collect over 30 different non-recyclable items, turning the store into the world’s largest upcycling center. Consumers who drop off waste will be given a discount on the products they purchase at the Shop....

If you follow Crafting a Green World on Facebook (which you totally should!), you may have seen the following image that I posted a couple of weeks ago: Friends, that crayon lipstick did indeed happen! The kid and I got the idea from Pinterest, and you may also know that I LOVE to test the veracity of the craft tutorials that I find on Pinterest, AND I love to share with you the ones that do....

Learning to string and lace is hard for kids. Here’s how I got my two-year-old interested in this toddler fine motor project. Stringing and lacing crafts are great for helping toddlers develop their fine motor skills, but getting a toddler to sit still long enough to string buttons onto twine can be a challenge. Here’s how I got my kid interested in this project and helped him keep trying, even when he was frustrated....

Trying to decide if your next sewing project will need a twin or full-sized sheet? Here’s how to convert standard sheet sizes into yardage. I thrift a lot, and I sew a lot. When I sew, I try to use primarily thrifted or recycled or otherwise unwanted materials, and when I thrift, a large part of what I’m searching for is material to sew with–T-shirts, button-down shirts, pants, sweaters, pillowcases, curtains, sheets, etc....

Winning is fun. And it’s even more fun when it comes with swag! Whether you want to celebrate the winner of your annual family Olympics or the champion of your school-level spelling bee (that’s what these ribbons are for, in case you were wondering), a handmade, extra-elaborate, bigger-than-big award ribbon is going to make that victor feel even more special. And the best part–these ribbons are made with nothing but scraps and stash....

You know you’ve got some empty picture frames cluttering up a shelf somewhere. And even if you don’t, the thrift store definitely does! A picture frame is one of those items that I hate the most to see thrown out. I know it’s ugly, I know it’s tacky, I know that whatever is framed inside of it is REALLY ugly and tacky, but with a little wood putty, a fresh coat of paint, and some creativity, that picture frame can once again look awesome as it once again displays something REALLY awesome....

Got some old books that need a little love? Check out 10 creative ways to upcycle old books into something new! Not too long ago, we asked you guys what you need to reuse or upcycle, and you had lots of great ideas from you! We’re still sorting through the comments and emails, and decided to kick things off with this request from reader Rachel Sandler: She is so spot on – the majority of upcycled book projects that I found when I started researching this article were gadget cases and hardcover book purses....

Of course, it’s a lot quicker to hit up the party store. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour of shopping, and your decorations are sorted. Handmade decorations take a bit more time, but they also add charm that those mass-produced goodies just don’t have. The key is planning ahead and making it fun! Don’t hole up by yourself. Instead, plan a craft night with friends or get your family involved in the crafty goodness....

10 Awesome Ways to Use Wooden Letters Garden sign – I’ve been kind of obsessed with making garden signs for my friends. Color them! – This is one of my favorite ways to use wooden letters with my kid. I love seeing how creative he gets, and it’s fun to come up with my own patterns, too. We’ve been using fine-tipped markers to color ours, but crayons or colored pencils would work well, too....

This week I’ve been hunting down linen. Linen is that elusive fiber that I sometimes come across in interesting summertime knitting patterns for open weave shirts, tunics and shawls. I always make a mental note of it, thinking, huh linen. But I’ve never actually made anything with it. Linen itself is harvested from the flax plant which produces long and strong fibers known as linen. It has a natural luster and is found in creamy white to tan and can easily be dyed other colors....