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.
Picket Fence Butterfly CardUsing country elements, such as a picket fence, flowers and a butterfly, make this delightful birthday card to celebrate the birthday of a country girl.
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.
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.
Oh Christmas Tree Jar LightTurn an empty clear glass jar into a Christmas jar light. Use the jar light to decorate your table for Christmas Eve, or make a few to decorate your front porch. A thrifty way to decorate for the festive season!
Red Nosed Reindeer Candy BoxChristmas is a time of sharing and having fun together as a family. Here is an activity that you and the kids can do together. Make a few of these reindeer candy boxes, and let the kids give them to their friends or their favorite teachers. A cute way of spreading festive joy without leaving the budget in a mess.
Fridge Milk TartOne of my fondest childhood memories was when my mom, my sisters and I prepared baked goodies for Christmas. My favorite was when we made melktert (milk tart). Melktert is a famous South African delicacy, part of our food heritage.
Finch NestsAfter an unusually cold winter here in South Africa, it is a blessing to start seeing signs that the seasons are changing. Our apricot tree is sporting its first few small blossoms, and the days are slowly getting warmer. This morning I noticed these finch nests hanging from a tree in our neighbor's garden.
Butternut Squash Print VaseCut a butternut in two and use the one side of the butternut to print a vase onto brown cardstock. Add some fall colored flowers and cherries, and celebrate the natural beauty of the fall season. Use this colorful artwork to brighten up your room, and impress everyone with your creative skills.
Nautical Themed Fridge MagnetMake a nautical themed fridge magnet for a beach home and bring the seaside feel right into your kitchen. Use them as a fridge decoration that pops, or stick your child's drawings of your summer holiday to your fridge and create some special memories.
Double Delight Chocolate CakeTurn a gluten free muffin mix into a nice treat for a Sunday afternoon, or make it when you entertain your friends. This chocolate cake has a subtle hint of coffee and whiskey, which adds to the rich flavor. Served with an extra dollop of dairy free dessert topping, this cake will make your guests think that you bought it at the local coffee shop.
Lavender Infused Sugar JarFind your inspiration for this kitchen gift in the beautiful French region of Provence.
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.
Patriotic Birthday CardUse a combination of red, white, and blue card stock to make this card for the patriotic significant other in your life.
Shabby Chic Vintage CardUse a selection of embellishments and stamping techniques, and create a card with a vintage feel. The card can be ideal as a birthday card for an older lady, or by adding a touching message, it can be turned into a special card for Mother's Day. This vintage card is sure to be cherished by the recipient.
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.
Special Delivery Birthday CardMake this birthday card for a family member that lives far away. Ask your local post office to add a postage stamp to the front of the card, and voila! A letter within a letter!
Scenery: Lorikeet (Montecasino Bird...During our summer break, we went to Montecasino Bird Gardens. At the entrance, we could buy a little bowl of nectar, and then walk through several aviaries.
3D Valentine Heart Flower CardUse a cookie cutter to trace hearts onto different shades of sugar and tissue paper. Glue the hearts onto card stock to create a 3D flower effect for your sweet Valentine.
Paper Doily Christmas TreeMake a delicate Christmas tree to add to your table decorations for Christmas Eve. Use cardstock and paper doilies to create it, and add a silver star to the top of this dainty little tree.
Toilet Roll Father ChristmasThis year, make an early start with your Christmas decorations. Turn your empty toilet paper roll into a cute Father Christmas that is inexpensive to make. This is a fun craft that you can do as a family.
Nature-Friendly Christmas TreeThis year, I wanted to do something different for Christmas. Keeping up with the green trend, I wanted to have a Christmas tree that would be friendly towards nature.
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.
Quilting Memories for the FutureMy earliest memories of my grandmother are connected to her busy with some kind of needlecraft. She was keen on sewing, quilting, and crocheting.
Patchwork Card Gift SetUse leftover pieces of pink patterned papers and a matching piece of leftover floral gift wrap to make this gift, to thank a special teacher for a job well done. The teacher can then use these cards for special occasions in her own life, such as birthday cards for friends or family.
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.
Hoo-to-You Owl Collage ArtworkSummer is a great time to let the kids make some unique artworks. Let them make a beautiful collage of an owl, using dried seeds from the pantry. Using different textures provides an ideal opportunity for fine motor and sensory stimulation, so this activity also provides ample learning opportunities.
Polypropylene Bag as Dog MattressI wanted to buy my dog a mattress for her bed, but the store versions were just too expensive. I turned an empty polypropylene bag and old newspapers into a recycled dog mattress. Very cost-effective and my dog loves it!
Bucket Penholder for a TeacherTurn an ordinary galvanized mini tin bucket into a penholder for your favorite teacher, and show her some appreciation for all her hard work.
Vintage Rose Gift BagCelebrate the joy of gift giving with this project. Turn an ordinary brown paper bag into an extraordinary gift bag that is sure to make the recipient feel special. The roses are made from an egg carton tray, so this is also a budget-friendly winner!
Hermann Tortoises (Monte Casino Bird Park, South...I took this photo of the three Hermann's tortoises during a visit to the Monte Casino Bird Park.
Easter Egg Hunt CardUse a cookie cutter to trace a bunny onto sugar paper. Add some Easter eggs and you have a perfect card to celebrate Easter this year!
Valentine Pudding TreatSweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey... If the amount of sugar is used to measure your love, then this sweet treat will send oodles and oodles of love. This is a kid-friendly craft ~ your kids can make these to show their love for their best friends.
Bambi (Border Collie Cross)I got her on 29 November 2016. I accidentally came across her in a pet shop and just couldn't resist those lovely eyes. She was the runt of the litter, and was much smaller than her siblings.
Mock Pewter Stocking Filler Gift BagUse aluminum foil and some shoe polish to create this mock pewter gift bag. Fill it with stocking fillers or candies, and you are ready to spread some Christmas cheer to friends and neighbors alike!
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.
Quick VetkoekVetkoek (fried dough bread) is another well-loved part of our South African food heritage. Whenever we have church bazaars, you can bet your bottom dollar that vetkoek will be sold at one of the food stalls. It can be served with savory mince, or cheese and honey, or cheese and jam.
Seasons Greetings House CardMake this Christmas card to bring Seasons Greetings from your house to a neighbor's house, and spread some Christmas cheer.
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.
Arielle (Christmas Angel)The idea when making this angel was to create a decoration only from scrap material. I rummaged through my craft supplies and found a twig ball that I had used in a floral creation a number of years ago.
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.
Funky Mosaic Ball DecorationSummer is the time to bring homage to "out with the old, in with the new". Adding new elements to your décor does not need to cost an arm and a leg. Turn an ordinary polystyrene ball into a beautiful décor item for your house and add a fun element to your lounge.
Christmas Reindeer HeadbandWho says you can't have fun during Christmas time? Make this cute reindeer headband and wear it to any social events you attend during Christmas time. A great way to bring festive cheer to the occasion! Whoo-hoo!
Lace Frill Sock Christmas AngelTurn a girl's cotton lace frill sock into a sweet little Christmas angel. A great way to use a mismatched sock for something useful.
Spotted Eagle Owl (South Africa)During the recent school holidays, we visited the SA National Birds of Prey Centre. The centre focuses on the rehabilitation of different types of birds of prey. They use falconry methods to train the birds, and to prepare them to re-enter nature.
Nyala (Dinokeng North, South Africa)Our staff went on a team building experience at Camp Discovery in Dinokeng North. To end the day, we went for a game drive. We saw several beautiful and unique animals, but the pick of the day was this nyala.
Autumn Leaves Jar Candle HolderTurn empty cheese spread glass jars into colorful fall lanterns. Use the lanterns to decorate your porch. Fill the jars with battery operated tea light candles, and add a soft glow to your house during the fall season.
Corn and Sweet Basil Savory BreadThis corn and sweet basil bread is a good gluten free side dish to make when having a barbecue. It can also be served as a stand-alone dish, especially when served with butter and cheese, or with butter and biltong* powder.
Vintage Decoupage TinMy father is currently recovering from cancer, and he uses a food supplement called Lifegain that comes in a neat tin. When the first tin was empty, I asked my mom if I could have it, as I was thinking of recycling this tin.
Let's Drink a Cup of Tea CardSummer will be here soon, a time to sip on tea and have long visits with friends. Make this invitation to invite your friends to a summer tea party.
Flip-Flop Beach WreathInvite the beach right into your home with this summer wreath. Inspired by the colors of the ocean and beach-themed accents, this wreath is sure to make you dream of warm sunny days and long relaxed walks on the beach - an easy way to experience coastal living in the comfort of your own home.
White and Gold Upcycled Bottle Christmas AngelUpcycle an empty glass bottle into a beautiful angel for Christmas. With a gold and white dress, and white glitter wings, this angel will add a touch of glamour to your Christmas decorations.
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.
Elements of Nature Fall WreathTurn faux nature elements into a beautiful wreath for the fall season.
