Category Archives: tutorial/DIY

DIY Mini Pumpkin Painting

Posted in Art, Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY by

diy mini pumpkin painting

Tis the season for pumpkins, costumes, scary makeup and scarecrows. Pumpkins are my favorite part of that, so today, I chose to paint just that.

We painted a beach sunset a few months ago for summer. Well, because I wasn’t ready to let go of summer. I’m not  embracing the cold weather now, but I’m more open to the idea, ha.

So, grab your supplies and some friends and meet me at step 1 below!

 

mini painting supplies

Mini pumpkin painting supplies

  • paint brushes
  • paint palette
  • water cup
  • paper towels
  • mini canvas
  • acrylic paint
    • light green
    • dark gree
    • navy blue
    • medium blue
    • brown
    • orange

 

acrylic paint blobs

Step 1: paint set up

Drop a few blobs of paint on your palette. Read the whole post

DIY Bottle Cap Wreath

Posted in Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY, Upcycled Crafts, Zero Waste by

diy bottle cap wreath

As we sit here, me writing, you reading, I’m drinking beer. Most of the time, that beer comes in a bottle and I refuse to throw away those bottle caps. I figured I could use them for something. Lo and behold I found a purpose… I made a bottle cap wreath!

beer bottle caps

I have no idea how many it took to cover the form, but I do know it took about 1.75 pasta jars filled with caps. Read the whole post

DIY Fall Inspired Gift Box

Posted in Craft Ideas, Fall Crafts, Gifts, Paper Crafts, tutorial/DIY by

fall lace bow

Some wrapping paper is really cute, but most of it is boring and common. Sometimes it’s nice to change it up and make your own, so to speak.

My best friend’s birthday was this past weekend and my dilemma was getting the gifts to fit in the baskets I had. (Based on this blog post, I obviously deviated for the basket idea.) Eventually I gave up and moved to a box. A box that fit my boots. Read the whole post

DIY Gum Container Upcycle for Button Storage

Posted in Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY, Upcycled Crafts, Zero Waste by

As most of you know, I’m a big fan of upcycling. I’ve written many tutorials on how to recycle everything from 6 pack carriers and soda cans to mint tins. I try to reuse everything.

Today, I’m upcycling an old gum container. You know, the plastic ones that fit in the cup holder of your car? I have a few of them and I’ve found that they’re super useful for storing small things like buttons and bobby pins. Read the whole post

DIY Fall Candle Holders from Recycled Jars

Posted in Craft Ideas, DIY Halloween Craft Ideas, Fall Crafts, tutorial/DIY, Upcycled Crafts, Zero Waste by

DIY candle holders from recycled jars

It’s starting to get cold here in PA, and when that happens I get out my candles. They keep my apartment a little bit warmer and make the atmosphere more relaxing. Every Fall I do a few candle tutorials and this is the first one of the season. I know we’re not quite into autumn yet, but its about 64 degrees here, so it’s close enough for me.

I always save my jars because they can be used for something, whether it be craft and food storage or, in this case, candle holders. Read the whole post

DIY Tea Holder from Scrapbook Paper

Posted in Craft Ideas, Gifts, Paper Crafts, tutorial/DIY by

diy tea bag holder scrapbook paper craft

Tea is such a good gift. You can share it any time: when someone is sick, for special occasions, for fun… Whenever really. But it’s no fun to just give people a box of tea. It’s much more exciting to gift in unique packaging.

This tea bag holder is wonderful and makes gifting just a few teabags more personal.

You only need a few supplies and you might have them in your craft box already.

 

scrapbook tea -holder supplies

Paper tea bag holder supplies

  • scissors
  • ribbon
  • hole punch
  • scrapbook paper
  • ruler (optional)

 

scrapbook paper square

Step 1: cut a scrapbook paper square

Cut a square in your scrapbook paper. Read the whole post

DIY Lemon Essential Oil Car Air Freshener

Posted in Cleaning, Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY by

DIY lemon car air freshener

Over the last few years, I’ve made and tested a lot of air fresheners. Essential oil air fresheners are my favorite because I know I’m not breathing in crappy chemicals, they smell wonderful and the scent lingers for a long time. Today, I want to make an air freshener for my car.

To make one of your own, you’re going to need the following:

 

car air freshener supplies

Felt lemon air freshener supplies

  • felt
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • lemon oil
  • hot melt glue and gun (not pictured)
  • a lid with different sized top and opening*

*You don’t necessarily need a lid. Read the whole post

DIY Notebook Pen Loop

Posted in Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY by

notebook with pen loop

Every notebook should have a pen loop. Notebooks and pens are like partners in crime, right? One without the other is useful, but they’re better together. My Moleskine notebooks included.

I get tired of digging in my purse for something to write with so it was time to make a pen loop for my notebook. It was surprisingly simple and takes 1 minute to create, literally.

pen loop supplies

Pen loop supplies

My content contains affiliate links to products I use and love. Read the whole post

DIY Swirl Wire Wrapped Toe Ring

Posted in Craft Ideas, DIY Jewelry, Gifts, tutorial/DIY by

diy wire wrapped toe ring

It’s summer. It’s warm and sunny (sometimes) and it makes me think of flip fops, bright pink nail polish and toe rings. I like them a lot, and used to have a few. Instead of buying more, what does a maker do? We make our own.

Get some good wire and some jewelry pliers. Let’s get to wire wrapping!

 

diy toe ring supplies

DIY Toe ring supplies

  • Thing-A-Ma-Jig
  • jewelry pliers
  • jewelry wire

 

wire jewelry design

Step 1: make the first wire swirl

Using the rounded pliers, twist the wire until you’ve made a swirl. Read the whole post

DIY Dryer Sheets with Essential Oils

Posted in Cleaning, Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY, Zero Waste by
diy dryer sheets with essential oils

Store bought dryer sheets are gross. They’re filled with chemicals that get into our clothes and onto our skin. I don’t know about you, but I’m not into that.

I started using dryer balls not too long ago and I like them a lot. However, they’re pretty loud thumping around the dryer. I was looking for an alternative and a friend (thanks, Kel) recommended that I make my own dryer sheets.

Now this method involves vinegar, which I HATE the smell of. Read the whole post