Never Too Old to Learn to CrochetAs I sit under this old crocheted quilt, I am reminded of teaching my grandma how to crotchet. She was a single mom and worked all her life in the box factory making boxes to feed and raise my dad. Grandma had retired about a year earlier.
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.
Silverware Cabinet HandlesThe knobs and handles for kitchen cabinets are so expensive unless you want to settle for plain old wooden knobs. Here is how my husband and I were able to have something a little fancier with lots less money.
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.
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!
Make Hats from Leftover FleeceAfter altering 3 pairs of fleece pants for my mother-in-law, I was left with 3 pairs of pant leg bottoms (about 7 inches each). I made these hats from them. The pom-poms are made from left over yarn I had.
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.
Use Tin Foil To Make Your Own Sewing PatternsA friend of mine knows someone who sews "Knock offs" - Dresses that look just like those worn at the Oscars made by designers. The trick is aluminum foil. Yes! Plain old tin-foil.
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.
Origami Paper FlowersThese paper flowers could be used for a party decoration.
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.
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.
Loghouse Hexagon Quilted Hot PadMade from scrap strips of fabric.
Homemade GiftwrapMaking a small piece of gift wrap using brown paper and my computer printer. I needed some gift wrap for a small book, and because I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery, I didn't want to have to drive into town (7 miles round trip) to buy more.
Simply Stuffed BearsI am making these for a charitable donation to a local police station to give to children who may be facing a traumatic situation. They are simple to make and you can use small scraps of fabric and ribbon and a little stuffing, so they are inexpensive. Just requires your time.
Surprise Candy CakeThis craft is not a cake. I made this one for my son's birthday last December so that I don't have to make loot bags. Indeed I was able to save half of my budget. Anyway, I am sharing this to give you a gift idea for Valentine's Day. It's a DIY surprise candy cake.
Recycled Spice Shakers for CampingRecycled spice shakers.
Upcycled PaintingI like to save things to re-use and I painted a canvas and glued on things I had around the house to make a very decorative painting. If you don't have a canvas, you can use stiff cardboard or any hard surface.
Recycled Magazine ArtI made this as a gift for a friend who has a band called Black Cat Road. I used the back of a broken guitar, magazine page (black for the cat), sheet music, black shoelaces for the trim, and I attached a mini washboard, as the lead singer plays a washboard. The pages are rolled and glued using a glue stick (not the gel ones, as they are too sticky). They are cut to size and glued using Mod Podge, then the entire piece is sealed with Mod Podge, then sealed with clear spray acrylic.
Flower from Plastic BottleYou can make a beautiful flower from a simple plastic bottle. I used an iron to make this flower, not a candle flame. The hottest iron is not hot enough to melt plastic, so you won't ruin your iron or get charred edges on the petals, but it will be enough to make the flower petals curved. I also like this method because, unlike a candle flame, you cannot stain the petals with soot.
Halloween Tree SkirtI made this tree skirt for a friend who leaves her Christmas tree up all year around and decorates it for the holidays.
Travel BagToday, I'm sharing my new craft made from scraps. Materials are easy to find at home just like old newspapers and card boards. The best thing is - it's wearable and useful.
Beads from Old JeansIf you have small pieces of old jeans left, you can make beads out of them. Denim beads go well with wood beads and leather cord. Using jeans of different colors, you will get multi-colored denim beads.
DIY EarringsIn this tutorial, you will learn how to make earrings. The earrings can be made in about 30 minutes. Here's what the making process looks like.
Flower Pot from Cement and Old JeansNever throw away old jeans. Since denim is a fairly durable fabric and also absorbs concrete mix well, I used old jeans to make the petals of this flower-shaped flowerpot. This flowerpot looks beautiful not only on a lawn, but also on any hard surface in the yard or inside the house. It will delight you with its "bloom", even in winter.
Fabric Rose BroochNever discard double-sided fabric scraps, even if they are very small. You can use them to make a great rose brooch.
Easy Recycled Aluminum EarringsThese earrings are a great way to recycle aluminum, are easy and fun to make, unique, and also make a great gift.
3D Initial Floral Decoration BoxI was able to transform a sunglasses box that I was just about to toss out into this 3D initial greenery/floral box. This makes a nice decor piece and works great (easier) if your initial is a T or L. For other letters, you can freehand and make your own 3D initial with cardboard.
Making Shank Buttons Using ConcreteI want to share with you a method I have invented for making shank buttons out of concrete. This is a very easy and cheap method. As a result, you will get very original shank buttons.
Candle RingThis candle ring is made from disposable aluminum pie pans and a 10" wire frame.
Upcycled Plastic Bottle Jewelry StandThis a super cute and thrifty jewelry stand you can make out of some plastic bottles and a few pieces of hardware. I used it to fill up with the jewelry I wear most often, and separated them by colour using the different tiers: silver on top, then gold, then colour pieces. I love this stand!
Ceramic Plate Flower SculptureThese flowers don't need to be watered and they look wonderful all year round!
Seasonal Clothespin WreathsThis craft was born out of a need to fill my time while not spending a ton of money on supplies! I think I speak for many who were and still are staying home during the pandemic.
Gravity-Defying Ramen CakeThis is a super cool cake you can make at home with a few fun techniques. It's a bowl of ramen with chopsticks that appear to be suspended in the air. You don't need too many obscure items to make this yourself. Making it will save you literally hundreds of dollars as these fun types of cakes don't come cheap from the specialists. Have fun with this edible craft!
Tea Time - Tissue Box Tea PotThis is an original recycled tissue box teapot idea with inspiration from online paper craft teapots. It will be used for my future daughter-in-law's tea party, garden-themed bridal shower. The teapot will hold little plastic packets of citrus tea mix for the shower guests to take home.
Quiet Time Play Tins for ChildrenHere are smiles in a tin. I make these little slices of everyday life always with a dog, cat, or other critter in the scene. The tins depict recognizable objects and always have a removable animal or object that hopefully make you or your little one smile. These are great for keeping kids busy and quiet on car trips or in doctor's offices of anywhere where a quiet diversion is needed.
Yarn Wrapped Coffee Can Mummy Candy DishThis was so much fun, and I was able to do it while watching TV! It was made with a lot of white yarn, a little gray, and some black for the eyes. I loved the way it turned out!
DIY Shirt Collar Stays from Magnetic Hotel KeysThis is a simple way to recycle magnetic keys from past hotel stays into shirt stays. One key makes 6 stays.
Heart Succulent WreathI purchased this iron heart chicken wire wall decor at my local Michael's Arts & Crafts for 70% off. I will show you all how to create this heart shaped succulent wreath to use as outdoor decor.
Rubber Band Art Painted VaseThis simple idea is fun and never results in the same look twice. With rubber bands in different sizes and a Dollar store vase, and spray paint, you can create this one of a kind art piece.
Weaving Coconut Leaf PlatesHere in Tahiti we use coconut leaves for many different things. They are used to weave roofing panels for your home, making a broom to clean your home, or even used to make serving plates to serve food on.
Champagne Cork Crochet Hook SaversTo prevent dropped crochet hooks from rolling under furniture, getting lost in seat cushions, or even under the bucket seats in a car, drill a small hole in a champagne cork with your wine bottle opener and stick the end of a crochet hook in it. When it drops it stays in place.
Making a Crab from a Scallop ShellI like to buy scallop appetizers at the seafood shop. They come in these beautiful shells, so I clean them and keep them for crafts. I've made a little red crab with one of them here. It's pretty easy to do and looks so cute. You can add a magnet to the back and put it on your fridge, if you like!
Pistachio Shell Birds PaintingI like to save the shells from my pistachio nuts to craft with. Here, I've turned them into birds on a tree I painted.
Decorative Outdoor Solar SconcesI am in love with outdoor lighting! Often I find great candle holders that can be transformed into solar lighting. With a little creative alteration, you too could make these.
Decorating From Your PantryOften decorating you home for the holidays or for the season, is just a pantry and walk in nature away. Using enclosed glass containers you can create this simple vignette. Use edibles such as grains, dried beans, and fruit, plus naturals including pine cones, greenery, and herbs (rosemary).
Save Ribbon from Shopping Bag for CraftingBefore tossing out shopping bags, see if you can salvage any pieces. This Victoria's Secret bag has had it's fair share of being recycled/reused. I was able to salvage the ribbon and it will be perfect to use for crafting!
Elements of Nature Fall WreathTurn faux nature elements into a beautiful wreath for the fall season.
Plastic Milk Jug FlowerI love plastic milk jugs because they are a lot like thick vellum paper, except they are free after you drink all your milk. After cleaning, drying, and cutting, these milk jugs can make beautiful flowers. Placing a candle in the middle and using it as a votive holder is optional.
Hanging School Bus Picture FrameBack to school season is coming up! This is a cute craft you can make to decorate your fridge and fill up with your child's pictures throughout the year.
Cookie Tin Shadow BoxFor the holidays we always purchase Danish cookies in the tin. The tins are sturdy and great for this project idea I had.
Color Explosion Summer WreathCelebrate the summer colors seen in nature with this wreath! Made from cupcake liners that were dipped in food coloring, this wreath is not only colorful, but also easy on the budget.
Butterfly Graduation Gum Wrapped LeiMake a personalized lei for someone special graduating! Use their favorite candy, gum, snacks, and add some cute butterfly accents.
New Baby FrameI made this for a friend's new grandnephew, Luciano. It's time intensive, but I love how it turned out.
3D Orchid in a Jar CardThis is a card I made for my mother because she adores orchids. I used a stamp set to make this, so I've attached the orchid and jar templates for you to print out, colour, and cut out. You can use markers to colour it, then paint some water on top to make this beautiful watercolour look.
Pretty Botanical CenterpiecesHere is a super pretty and inexpensive centerpiece for Mother's Day, bridal showers, or a natural wedding table.
Antique Rose Upcycled Bottle VaseI am in the process of changing my décor in my house, adding a few new accents here and there. I do not have the finances to spend on overpriced store bought items, so I am recycling trash into treasure.
Egg Carton Rose BroochDon't throw away your empty egg cartons. You can make beautiful roses out of them, then glue them onto an old pin. When painted, the cartons make a beautiful almost canvas-like material. This is one gorgeous upcycled brooch that I think you should try!
Altered T-Shirt for Shoulder SurgeryRecently, I searched online for medical clothing needed after a rotator cuff surgery and noticed the cost of such alterations was in my opinion over priced. After gleaning a few items, I decided to give it my best DIY version that was less costly and worked just as well.
Flames of Love Tie Dye T-ShirtOur economy in South Africa has been hit by a rough patch. I love clothes that are unique, but most clothing items have just become too expensive. Here is a great way to add a modern touch to a cheap white T-shirt, without breaking the bank in the process.
Make Your Own Wrapping PaperTake some plain brown parcel paper and make it into a sheet of cool fashionable decorative gift wrap. You don't have to be an artist. Take a look at the example paper I have decorated below and be inspired to design and make your own
Succulent Planter with DIY Wood StainThis trendy and modern succulent art piece can be hung up (saves space) or displayed as a centerpiece on a table, coffee stand, end table, or desk.
Felt Fortune CookiesThe best part of opening a fortune cookie is receiving your paper fortune, so these felt versions can save you from ingesting too many cookies! They can be reused, too, so this is a great craft for Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, and many other celebrations.
Love Grows Valentine CardThis Valentine's Day, celebrate your love for your significant other with this easy card. Using a printout of a tree and hearts punched from an old calendar page, this card is also easy on the pocket.
Candy Box Into Treasured KeepsakeOften during special occasions and holidays we get rich, chocolatey, flavorful boxes of chocolates. The boxes are often tossed! Here is how to upcycle a favorite gift that keeps on giving.
DIY Coin HolderIf you are like me and have a ton of change then you definitely need this! Coins add up fast and those little piggy banks don't hold enough. So I created my own coin bank using a Tide Pods container. It's super sturdy and holds lots and lots of coins!
Heart Shaped LeisI am helping my niece prep for her Valentine's Day class party next month. She wanted to make heart shaped leis for the girls in her class. We made these inexpensive heart shaped leis with items we already had at home and they turned out really nice and cute!
Making a Pill Container for Pocket or PurseUse plastic gallon milk jug and water bottle caps to make a pill container.
Buy Grab Bags of Craft SuppliesThere are over 1,200 Michaels Stores '- art supplies, crafts, framing around the world. At the end of each season - items that are unable to be sold may be offered in grab bags (stores may vary). Seasonal items will be stuffed in a bag and sold for only $4!
Repurpose Free Sample Holiday CardsI received a Vista Print Holiday Catalog and they are advertising their holiday cards as well as other services they sell. Included was a sample holiday card. I turned the holiday card into my own and added a magnet to hang the card on the fridge!
Lotus Pod and Crepe Paper Fall WreathHere is a colorful wreath for the fall season! This is a great way to add some drama to your front porch.
Candy Flower BouquetI made this candy flower bouquet for my friend featuring her favorite dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's. This is perfect to gift for any occasion like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, a birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, just because, and so forth. It makes a thoughtful gift made with love.
Pistachio Shell Flowers and Candle HolderEver since I was a little kid, I've eaten a "lot" of pistachios. Even back then, I would save the shells in order to make crafts out of them because I thought they were so pretty to throw away. This is how I make flowers and candle holders out of my pistachio shells. Painting them is completely optional.
Birthday Number PiñataI made this birthday number "1" piñata by recycling shipping boxes I received from my Target orders. The only item I needed to purchase was the metallic gold tissue paper, 8 count, at Target for $1.49.
Drinking Straw Statement NecklaceI save straws for two reasons: to save the earth and to make beautiful jewelry. I love this necklace because it's super easy to make and makes any plain outfit incredibly bold. I get so many compliments on it when I wear it out and no one knows they're upcycled scraps of plastic. Give it a try!
Sorting Buttons or BeadsI often work with buttons and beads. Pouring them out into a bowl or cup just takes up more room on the small work table. So yesterday, I decided to make a sorting space where I can see and sort tiny things without having them roll off onto the floor. My feet and vacuum are happier for it.
Patriotic Straw Wall ArtI saw something like this on line, but I made my own. I had to improvise because I didn't buy enough of two colors, but I think it came out pretty cute anyway.
DIY Unicorn HeadbandMy best friend was having a unicorn themed birthday party, but could not find unicorn horn headbands anywhere! I went out to look for some for her and found they were all terrible plastic pieces of junk. I decided to make some for her. She loved them so much, she actually squealed. Success!
Handmade Pinwheel MobileThis style handmade pinwheel mobile is going for $55+ and I was able to make this for only $10 with supplies I already had at home. It does take a couple of hours. I would recommend fun patterns and colors for baby to enjoy looking up at for diaper changes.
Repurposing an Old WalkerI have a free walker someone left in our donation station. If I ever need it, it will be easy to "disassemble" and use in about 3 minutes.
Paper Plate Jelly Fish DecorationFun for children and adults to make. These look pretty hanging in the house, or even better on a sunny day blowing in a gentle breeze in the garden.
Sea-Loving Adult Coloring Birthday CardThis card is perfect for a sea lover celebrating a birthday. By using watercolor pencils and working wet on dry, and adding some detail with a Pilot extra fine white pen, this project can be turned into a stunning card that will score you a lot of brownie points with the recipient.
Romantic WreathI won't get this on in time for crafters to make it for Valentine's Day, but it's pretty for a romantic room/wall hanging any time of the year!
How To Use Watercolor PencilsWatercolor pencils can be very versatile, and can be a great way to express your creativity. They can also be a wonderful tool for adult coloring pages.
Yarn Cozy PocketI love blue jeans pockets. I sewed two strips of fabric to a pocket, salvaged from a pair of jeans, and put Velcro on the ends. Now my yarn holds it's own crochet hook and scissors :)
Autumn Arrangement in Twig Wrapped JarIf you are fortunate to have a tree lined or wooded area in your vicinity, then on the next bright autumn day that you come across, take a walk of gratitude and collect some twigs, preferably straight ones. When you get home you can then make this lovely autumn vase and fill it with beautiful things
Soap Scented Perfume BasketThis project is called "perfume basket" simply because of its fragrance. The scent doesn't come from any expensive perfume, but from a bar of soap. This will cost you less than a dollar and since it looks gorgeous and elegant it can best be used as a party giveaway, especially for weddings.
Thrifty Gift Wrap with Food ColoringI love putting in effort when wrapping a gift, but at the same time, I don't like spending money on gift wrap. The gift wrap usually ends up in the dustbin, so I will rather look at thrifty ways of wrapping a gift without having to spend too much on the wrapping itself.
Clothespin Click BeetleThis beetle is fun for kids to make after reading Eric Carle's, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle". They will have a blast getting the beetle back onto its "feet".
Minimizing Damage from Hot Glue Burns While CraftingIf you craft a lot, then you most likely own a hot-glue gun. If so, you are surely familiar with the nasty burns that inevitably come with using one! Hot glue is very painful and continues to burn your skin for several minutes after contact. I always keep a bowl of ice-water within easy reach on my work surface.
Sugarbush (Protea) Adult Coloring PageThe protea is one of South Africa's most famous flowers. It is also called a sugarbush. The protea flower, which represents change and hope, is a local favorite in wedding bouquets. It is definitely one of my personal best-loved flowers.
Wreath Made from a BookThis lovely little wreath lesson was offered at my local library and used discarded books for the project. Lovely I think and lots of fun to make with a friend/loved one!
Upcycled Chopstick TrivetI have a rather large collection of disposable wooden chopsticks from decades of restaurants and takeouts. After I use them, I wash them and keep them either in my utensil drawer for reuse or in a canister for future crafts. This trivet is one of my favourite chopstick crafts.
Book Page ArtYou don't have to be a brilliant artist to produce pleasing artwork to display around your home. This is just one quick simple idea that anyone can do.
Glitzy CD Sun CatcherWith a CD, mirror pieces, jewelry findings and recycled jewelry, you can make this pretty sun catcher.
Making Galaxy JarsThis project uses different inks and cotton to create a wonderful galaxy jar!
Nautical Miles Summer Beach WreathInvite the beach right into your home with this nautical miles wreath. The twig ring is covered with hessian, which imitates the sandy shores of the beach. Make the wreath more personal by adding sea shells collected during your visit to the beach. Hang it on your front door to celebrate the last days of summer.
Domino ClockHere is a way to turn dominoes into an inexpensive and fun clock.
Simple Plaster of Paris Hand KeyholderThis is a super simple, easy, and innovative keyholder or decorative item made of plaster of paris.
Hummingbird on Flower Adult Coloring PageAdult coloring pages can be very easy, or very intricate. This is an easier version of a coloring page and is ideal for days when you do not have so much time to spend on coloring.
Hot Glue Basket BowlI am so in love with making these little basket bowls. They're so easy to make and barely cost a thing. They're so pretty, you'd never know at first glance
they were made of hot glue!
Crocheting Using Graphs and ChartsThis might look intimidating, but is very easy, using up your stash of scrap yarn. You only need to know how to chain stitch and single crochet.
