Treasure Boxes from Wine CratesI noticed my neighbor regularly discarding wooden wine crates in the alley. On one of my evening walks with my dogs, I dragged one of the crates home, and the rest is history.
Greeting Card TrivetCreate a Christmas trivet from an inexpensive tile and a recycled Christmas card or wrapping paper. It can be displayed on an easel when not in use. Makes a great Christmas gift along with an inexpensive easel!
Coffee Filter ArtEasy and inexpensive, children of all ages can enjoy this craft. Use everyday household supplies to make lovely kid designs. This craft can also be used to teach colors and color blending.
Clay Pot Candy/Gumball MachineMake this cute, inexpensive candy machine for Valentine's Day or decorate for any occasion. It makes a nice gift for a friend or co-worker.
DIY EnvelopeThis is easy to make and only takes a couple minutes. If you made a card and have no envelopes you can just make this one out of regular printer paper.
Pull-Apart PineappleThis is a fun way to tackle a pineapple that keeps you from having to peel, core and slice. This is best done with a super ripe pineapple because the flesh is easy to twist and pull at. You will need one pineapple and one sharp pairing knife.
Heart Shaped PotholderThese potholders are easy to make and can easily be customized for your kitchen.
Aluminum Leaf EarringsThese 2 sets of aluminum leaf earrings are made from scrap aluminum from disposable pie pans and also an aluminum seal from a coffee can.
Homemade Birdseed WreathThis cute wreath will bring your feathered friends together for a good meal. Made from birdseed and a few household items, this hanging feeder can give you many pleasurable hours of bird watching.
DIY Off-Shoulder TopI was looking to buy an off-shoulder sweatshirt when I noticed that most of them cost $10 to $15 more than their pre-cut counterparts. There is a super simple way to cut them to make them hang off your shoulder just right. Here's how to do it.
Light Bulb VaseThis is a project to recycle and reuse old lightbulbs. I've converted them into vases for my money plant. They look beautiful and are super easy to make.
Big Soap BubblesSo I know winter is approaching and these aren't really typical to see at this time of year, but you can use them inside too! You just have to be prepared to clean up a little bit of a mess:)
Protective Scissor CaseCarrying scissors is dangerous, making a protective case a must! This project shows how to make a protective case for scissors using paper and cardboard. It's quick to make, and does a pretty good job too. This is especially relevant to children for whom a protective case for scissors is important.
Popsicle Stick Geometric SculptureThis intriguing sculpture is made out of a bunch of equilateral triangles made from popsicle sticks and hot glue. If you add LED lights or votives inside, it makes a fantastic lamp. The inspiration for this came from a set of polyhedral gamer's dice, which I think are so cool. Give this craft a try!
Salvaging a Basset Chest of DrawersOn a trip to the laundromat, I saw what appeared to be a chest of drawers. I pulled over and stopped so that I could get a closer look. Indeed it was a chest of drawers. Looked ugly enough. Some sort of mustard yellow puke color. All 5 drawers were there. The bottom of the chest looked as though it had been sitting in 5 inches of water. Long enough so that the lower decorative part of its foundation and bottom slat of wood had disintegrated. I opened the top drawer and it appeared brand new, albeit dusty, dirty and webby.
Stamped Tile CoastersSuper easy stamped tile coasters! These make great inexpensive gifts for family and friends.
Toilet Paper Origami FanThis is a simple, but pretty, way to display your toilet paper. It adds an extra special touch when having guests over.
Silverware for Butter Dish HandleUpdate a simple glass butter dish by adding a bent piece of silverware. Glue to top using a good adhesive like E-6000.
Quick Tea Towel AngelsI needed some inexpensive, but thoughtful gifts for a number of people who have been helping me with my small business this year. I was able to pick up packs of Christmas towels and matching hot pads for $5. Each pack makes two angels and you have an oven mitt left over.
Making Fabric Yo YosThis is a short tutorial for making fabric yo yos. These cute little fabric circles can be used in lots of craft projects, from quilts to Christmas garlands.
Decorated Seashell Jewelry DishesA friend of mine gave me a dozen large seashells to see if I could do anything for our fall craft fair. Well, I thought if I painted and glittered each one, they could be used on the jewelry table as small jewelry dishes. My thought was; spend $10 and get a free jewelry dish. I think it will work!
Pipe Cleaner BraceletsYou can make colorful bracelets out of pipe cleaners by braiding them. Make for team colors, holidays, or friendship bracelets.
Cross in a Pocket ProjectThis is a cute little reminder that anyone can carry. It is simple enough for children, but also interesting enough for grown-ups. It should take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
How to Make a Matching Curly Gift BowWhy pay for a gift bow when you can easily make one to match from left over gift wrap. This will give your gift wrapping a sophisticated and professional finish.
Painted Wire Flowers and CloverThis is a super fun and pretty craft using wires, wood glue, and nail polish. Bend the wires in whatever flower shapes you admire, dip in glue, then paint. They reflect such beautiful colours in the sun. I hope you give this a try!
DIY Rhinestone NecklaceIf you want to make a necklace for yourself, it can be a lot of fun and easy. It takes you about 45 minutes to make this necklace. Just follow these steps.
Converting a Drawer Unit Into a FootstoolI recently gave a very large desk to a gal just across the road from me. I had used it less and less over the last year, so it was time.
Clothes Pin and Popsicle Stick AirplaneHere is a way to make a miniature airplane using a clothes pin and Popsicle sticks.
Turning a Crew Neck Shirt into a V-NeckI recently found some t-shirts on sale at the craft store for $2. I was excited, but I despise crew neck shirts. I found a youtube video explaining exactly how to turn your shirts into v-necks and they looked like you bought them that way. It's easy and takes less than half an hour.
Egg Carton Magic MushroomsThese magic mushrooms make cute decorations. All you need is a paper-based egg carton, paint, and glue. This is a great all-ages craft.
Crochet Kitchen TowelCrochet several of these and put them in handy places throughout your kitchen; on the oven door and the refrigerator handle are the best places for these. My version is different from most since I don't cut the towel in half, but fold it and use the whole towel.
Filet Crochet HeartFilet crochet is usually done with crochet thread. I chose to use yarn because I wanted more coverage than thread would allow. (I bought a green pillow that didn't match my décor as well as I thought it would.)
Coiled Rag BowlI saw a pretty coiled rag bowl on Pinterest and decided to make one for myself. Here it is. I hope you are inspired to make one too. I really like how it turned out.
Making a Bamboo RainstickHere on the island music is an important part of our lives. There are many ways that we use bamboo to make musical instruments. One of the instruments I love to make is a rainstick.
Thriftstore Glass Garden TowerI have seen other examples of this type of project and wanted to create one of my own. Currently it is decorating my kitchen countertop, but will move outside into the garden when the weather improves.
Baby Cradle PurseThis is also sometimes called a Church Purse. It is crocheted using a dishwashing detergent bottle for a base. Any oval bottle will work. When it is closed it is a purse, and opened it is a baby cradle.
DIY Puffy Stickers from Hot GlueI have always loved 3D puffy stickers ever since I was a little girl. I used to adore putting them on letters to my friends at school. Now I like to make them myself using hot glue and some paint. They turn out very pretty and the design choices are endless. Not to mention they are super cheap to make!
Plastic Jug Wall MasksWall masks made from plastic jugs. Cut tops off jugs as shown in photo. Make a hole at top center and make a string loop for hanging.
Glitter and Glue IciclesWhen I taught Pre-k, this craft was definitely a classroom favorite! It is very simple to make and is fun for kids because they get to make a little mess. These icicles are the perfect craft for winter days at home, when it is too cold to go outside.
Industrial LampWhile attending an arts festival, we saw a lamp like this and decided to make our own.
Old Jewelry PendantThis was made from old jewelry and charms that I have been collecting.
Bullet Holder CaseA good way to store bullets is an original idea from my husband, who enjoys going target shooting with his brother.
Turtle MopLow cost Christmas gift!
Patchwork Prayer PouchUsing little pieces of fabric scraps to make a mini quilt with a pocket that holds a prayer list.
Hidden Diamond Quilt DesignYou have to make four quilt blocks to find the "hidden" diamond in this quilt design.
Lacey Barefoot Baby SandalsI saw a baby wearing this type of sandal and thought they were adorable. Inexpensive to make and so cute!
Zig Zag Christmas Table RunnerThis table runner could be used for any holiday themed table runner. I had a lot of Christmas fabric so I made a Christmas themed one. It was a fun way to use up scraps other than making a traditional nine patch block, etc.
Square in Square Quilt BlockEasy quilt block pattern with a square inside.
Halloween MasksI made these for my daughter-in-law's special needs class from leftover scraps of felt. I looked online for ideas for decorating the masks and found a basic pattern.
Crochet T-shirt RugThis project mostly shows how to make t-shirt yarn which you can then use for other projects. I chose to make a small rug. I had a lot of leftover strips of tshirts from a latch hook rug project. I wanted to use them up, so I made tshirt yarn with them. The crochet part didn't take nearly as much time as making the yarn!
Taco Quilt BlockI found a picture of a taco quilt block design but didn't want to buy the pattern, so I made one similar. I figured it out as I went along but I think it turned out very similar. It was later made into a hot pad for a friend who is obsessed with tacos.
Embroidered PhotographyThis three dimensional craft was quick and easy and fun to do.
Anchor Cross-stitch CraftCounted cross stitch on wood for an easy craft for children.
Monogram Jewelry CraftUsed old jewelry to make this wall art for a friend.
Granny Square Quilt BlockThis block is a way to use up smaller size quilt scraps. You can make a potholder, a table runner, or a quilt using this fun design.
Eyeglass HangerMade from a little bit of wood and a chain makes your reading glasses readily accessible.
Pista NecklaceJust got a bag of pistachios from my mom-in-law. I enjoyed snacking on it while setting aside the shells because it gave me another concept of art. It's amazing 'cause the shells are hard and I know it is a stable material for handicrafts. Here's the first craft I made from pista shells.
Simple Hoop Floral WreathA twenty-minute wreath with a few supplies I had on hand.
Personalized Flat Felt DollMy grandson likes Mario so I made him a personalized "Mario" doll.
Spin Me Around Quilt BlockScrap strip quilt block design
4th of July Inspired Paper Cup RocketI made a paper cup toy to entertain my youngest child. I thought the 4th of July would be a nice subject for this art since it is already fast approaching.
Hexagon Table Topper Using a Triangular RulerThis is my first project using a triangle quilting ruler.
Crochet RoseThese are simple, little crochet roses that you could use to decorate something. I made 25 of them to go on a quilt I made.
Bicycle WreathAnother idea for wreath making for the bicycle lover.
Coin Purse Made of Soap BoxMy son collected a few soap boxes. He's been so fascinated with different boxes and cardboards turning 'em into toys like a mini oven, or tv and even washing machine. Then he would enjoy playing with his creations.
Fourth of July Fabric Strip WreathThis was a 30 minute easy craft a child could make.
Crochet and Fabric Fusion QuiltThis was my year long "T.V." project. It was time consuming but fun to make. It is more of a display quilt.
Tablet HolderThis project makes a handy addition to the kitchen if you are following a recipe from the internet while cooking or it can be used anytime you need to prop up the iPad while you are doing something.
"Butter" Knife FlowerIn a previous posting, I submitted a craft on making a dragonfly out of forks and butter knives. This craft shows how I used up the "leftovers" from the dragonfly which was a "thrifty" use of leftovers. It is made from the end pieces of forks and knives.
Dresden Plate Quilt BlockLearning a new quilt block design and made it into a table runner.
Counted Cross Stitch Shadow BoxFor those who have never done counted cross stitch, here is a simple counted cross stitch picture which uses a shadow box and is three dimensional. Because counted cross stitch is so time consuming, I added the little figurine in the corner so I would have a lot less of the counted cross stitch pattern to fill up the space! The wording is fairly quick but the floral part is more time consuming. This would be a good beginner project.
Silverware DragonflyUsing old silverware to create an outdoor sculpture adds interest to my collection of backyard sculptures. Some of this old silverware was what I used in my childhood my parents had given to me. I wasn't sure how I could use these "keepsake" knives and then came across this idea.
Teacup "Flower" StandAnother addition to my china flower landscaping for my backyard!
Personalized StatueMy grandson is involved in soccer and has a bedroom decorated with a soccer theme. I thought he would enjoy this handmade "statue" of him in his soccer uniform. This is a fun and fairly easy project if you have skills using a scroll saw. Otherwise, you might be able to use stiff cardboard and a razor blade knife to get similar results.
Folded Flower Table RunnerThis was a cute and different table runner to make. Reminded me a little bit of paper folding or origami.
Easy Bulletin Board Border DesignWe have been assigned to work on a bulletin board for the Women's Month celebration. We have to think of something that is simple but attractive to symbolize the simplicity and purity of every woman's heart.
Strip Block PotholderI've become interested in quilting and all of the neat ideas for quilt blocks. Because there are so many, I decided I would make a variety of quilt blocks and turn them into potholders so I can try out a lot more designs and it wouldn't be as time consuming.
Surprise Pullout BoxHere's another craft idea that I learned from my son. He is preparing a lot of unique valentine greetings for his teachers. What I like most about these crafts is that you won't need to spend so much for a gift. And it will take only 10 minutes to make.
Origami Heart BoxMy eldest is the sweetest person next to his dad. The most thoughtful kid ever. I saw him cut out some pieces of art paper and asked him what it's for and he said he'll give it to his teacher. He said he doesn't have much money to buy her a gift so he tried searching for ideas online. I helped him with his work and it turned out really nice.
Book Picture FrameA unique way to display pictures, vintage garden style!
Seasonal Gnome Porch SitterThis is a gnome that can stand upright on the front porch and be decorated with changeable holiday or seasonal decor. This one is for Valentine's Day. For other holidays, you could use a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, an egg or an Easter basket with eggs for Easter, flowers for spring, flag for 4th of July, school book or apple for fall, pumpkin for Halloween, and tree for Christmas.
Upcycling Expired PlannersIt's 2023 now! Do you have any 2022 planners? While cleaning, I found a few 2022 planners that I used half way but never really utilized the planner to the fullest. While flipping through the planner there were lots of potential.
My TO-GO NotesThis is very budget-friendly notes because you need not to spend to have this. As long as you have a piece of bond paper and a stapler, you can make one for you. This is also very easy to bring because of its customized sizes, which depends on what size you want, and on where you will put them. Just like mine, I usually make a size of this which is not bulky in my little wallet so that I can bring it with me wherever I go.
Valentine's Day StockingsI started the tradition of Valentine Day stockings a few years ago. We enjoyed filling them with sweets and love notes.
Origami Paper FlowersThese paper flowers could be used for a party decoration.
Heart Quilt BlockI made this quilt block into a table runner for Valentine's Day.
Paper Flower ChandelierIt's inspection season in schools. My sister asked for my help in making her classroom decorations. Her idea was to make a chandelier out of craft paper to hang in the reading corner. This can also be used as Christmas decor.
Dried Flower Candle VaseMade from one of my grandma's jars from her canning days. It has a unique shape and I wanted to display it.
Crochet Bow TieMade this for a Halloween costume.
Crochet BasketMade with a CD base, this was a fun little basket to make. I filled it with a small tube of lotion and some treats for a friend's birthday gift.
Cherry Blossom Out of Egg CartonsFor my son's school project, he only needed the plastic bottle vase. As a "mom of extra", I insisted on making the flowers to put into his vase. What I like about making this project is that I don't have to go to the craft shop to find the materials. I used what I can only find around the house.
Woven T-shirt Yarn BasketWith my leftover t-shirt yarn from another project, I made this basket to hold mail. It is nice and sturdy made from the yarn.
Decorative Flower Vase Made From Plastic BottleEvery day I'm learning a lot of ideas from my children, specially my eldest since he's now in grade school. I actually was planning to do this craft before but I forgot about it and since it's not that really important. This time, it's my child who needed it in school so we have to look for materials right away that wouldn't cost us much.
Copycat Paint Brush CoverI found a good use for all those political ads and other ads I have received in the mail. I pulled one out of my recycling paper. The size and thickness was perfect for making the paint brush cover that I needed. I had one that I liked and I traced it.
Decorative Bowl Made from Cardstock and Hot GlueThis one is pretty amazing. Imagine creating a bowl out of paper. Well, that's not really impossible but this is my first time to try. It's a very simple craft you can make out of just scrap cardstocks and hot glue. Let's see how it is made.
Roll Holder BasketOld-fashioned roll basket!
Fall Pumpkin Patchwork Table TopperA good way to use scraps. My daughter-in-law loves the fall season and pumpkins, so I made this for her.
Screw and Nail OrganizerGreat organizer for small spaces! Holds sixteen jars in a 15 inch space! My husband's original storage container.
Tissue Paper Roll Face Switch ToyI got the idea from my eldest son. I found him playing with a tissue paper roll as if he was telling a story with 3 characters and changing his voice as he switched the tp roll.
Necktie OrigamiPreviously, I submitted a craft entitled "Teachers Day Greeting Card for Men." I would like to share about how the necktie was made. Although you can just cut a drawing of a necktie, it would look more appealing when you use an origami for detail emphasis.
Teacher's Day Greeting Card for MenNot all teachers are women. Some are men and they are great, too. So here's a 5 minute craft to pay tribute to our wonderful men teachers out there.
Teacher's Day CardTomorrow we'll be celebrating World Teacher's Day. My son asked me to help him do a simple greeting card with a small token attached to it. He chose to put a box of chalk since "it's the best reminder of being a teacher", he said.
