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Archive: CRAFT Projects

May 21, 2012

Flashback: Build a Toy Camera from Recycled Materials

This week's Flashback project is a perfect one to pin for a summer activity with the kids. Jessica Wilson shares how to make a fun toy camera with things you can pull from your recycle bin.

By Jessica Wilson

If you have ever happened over to my Flickr page, you might notice that I like to take pictures...of everything. I am also quite smitten with cameras; all sorts of cameras. My mister however, is not a camera person, but he does have a fondness for Animal Crackers.

One day, I picked up a couple of boxes for him (I am a sucker for the boxes, they are kinda adorable) and I noticed that the little darlings are perfectly camera-sized. So, with a little paint, glue and vision, I came up with this quirky camera project your kiddos should have a blast doing. Hit up your local snack shop and find yourself a small camera-like box and get to creating. I have oodles more ideas for this project but here is the how-to for the scrumdilly-deluxe!

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May 14, 2012

Flashback: Pool Noodle Flower Curtain

With summer right around the corner, pool noodles are all over the place. It's the perfect chance to repurpose the floaty tubes in to a whimsical flower curtain. Our flashback project for this week is from Jessica Wilson, and has always been a fan favorite.

By Jessica Wilson

When I was a kid we didn't have pool noodles, we had boogie boards. While boogie boards were very cool in their own 1980s way, they were not nearly as versatile as the candy-colored pool noodle. There are all kinds of nifty things you can do with a pool noodle. You can float on them, build with them, turn them into swords and lightsabers, and even make nifty gear-styled walls, all sorts of fun things.

You know summer is almost upon us once the pool noodle pops up everywhere. From fancy-schmancy flower- and star-shaped noodles to your regular old round noodle, they are ridiculously easy to find. Once summer ends, though, you're left with a slightly squished and has-been candy-colored thingamajig. Don't throw it away -- turn it into a lightsaber, car wash, or sword, or follow along with me to turn a pair of noodles into some nifty room decor.

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May 10, 2012

How-To: Fabric Pendant

Long-time friend of CRAFT, Ellen Baker of The Long Thread, has a new fabric collection for Moda Fabrics called Quilt Blocks.

Inspired by traditional quilt designs, there are nine prints in the collection in three different colorways: shade, marine and spectrum.

The prints are delightful, charming and bold, and perfect for summer sewing projects. Today, she's sharing a simple project for making a cute fabric pendant.

Fabric Pendant

by Ellen Baker

I've been loving all the fabric and embroidered jewelry that I see these days, so I decided to make my own using a bit of my new fabric collection for Moda, Quilt Blocks. The collection is inspired by the patterns of quilts, but with a modern twist. This simple necklace is easy and can truly be made in half an hour. You can find the pendant frames in various shops on Etsy by searching around. I got mine for four dollars, then used a chain that I had on hand. This would also be great with cross stitch or with a kid's stitched design.

Materials:

Pendant frame
Fabric scrap
Embroidery thread or pearl cotton
Embroidery needle
Scissors
Tape
Chain necklace Read full story »

May 8, 2012

Project: Recycled Cashmere Flower

Ah, cashmere, why are you so soft? The goat fiber is one of the most silky, fluffy, and delicious fibers I've ever worked with. I vigilantly scour thrift stores for cashmere sweaters, and then chop them up! I make wrist warmers, scarves and capelets with the body of the sweaters, but because I consider the fiber to be so precious, I also hoard the scraps. Which are perfect for projects like this dramatic flower.

The smallest scraps of sweater can be cut into little petals, then needle felted into a luscious accessory. The key to this project is the volume of petals- the more petals, the better. And if you need a primer on needle felting, I posted a quick video in one of my first blog posts for Craftzine.

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May 7, 2012

Flashback: Upcycled Beach Bag

Our first Flashback for May fits right in with our UpCraft theme this month, as we focus on recycled, upcycled and repurposed projects. Since we're heading in to summer, it's the perfect time to put together this handy beach bag using an old towel and some scraps of fabric for the straps. I'm thinking of making one for each of my kids so they can haul their own beach toys and snacks this summer!

I am all about quick and dirty craft projects. I hate measuring. I hate pinning. I just want to get right to the sewing! If you are like me, you will find this simple Upcycled Beach Towel to be very satisfying. I dug out an old threadbare towel, and found a cute fabric belt at the thrift store for $1.00. In less than 20 minutes the bag was cut, sewn, and good to go!

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May 2, 2012

How-To: Portfolio, a Project Excerpt From Reinvention by Maya Donenfeld, Plus a Book Giveaway

Maya Donenfeld of Maya*Made is well know in the craft community for her simple and beautiful projects celebrate sustainable resources. Her new book, Reinvention from Wiley, is not just about making cute and useful projects, but also about creating with purpose and attention to meaningful materials.

Advancements in technology have increased the pace of our lives. As a response, a vibrant Do It Yourself movement has risen to reclaim age old traditions that reconnect us to slower and simpler times. A sewing renaissance has been set in motion at a time in history when economic instability and an awareness of the importance of using sustainable resources is peaking.
With this in mind, I created a guide to working with my favorite recycled materials. You'll find linen, burlap, wool and more with details on their history, deconstruction techniques, sewing tips, and information about their environmental impact.

Reinventing everyday materials into items of beauty and utility for the modern home and family will excite new and experienced sewers alike. To add an element of personalization, I drew upon my experience leading print workshops to share easy methods for transforming gently-used fabric with paint and ink. Stenciling templates and thorough instructions are provided, as well as encouragement to invent your own designs. Stories, a favorite recipe, and nature activity are tucked between and around the projects to offer you, the reader and maker, an invitation to slow down, and create with intention.

We're thrilled to be part of Maya's Reinvention book blog tour, and are excited to share a great project from the book. To make your own awesome envelope portfolio, just download the project PDF below.

Download the Instructions for making a portfolio, by Maya Donenfeld (excerpted from Reinvention)
Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.

Giveaway time! One lucky Craft reader will win a copy of Reinvention. Just leave a comment below, telling us what your favorite kinds of materials to reuse are. Please be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch. US Residents only. Comments will close at 4PM PST on Sunday, May 6th. Good luck!

Follow along with the rest of the Reinvention tour below!
Week One
5/1- sew liberated
5/2- Craft
5/3- Resurrection Fern
5/4- Apartment Therapy

Week Two
5/7 Whip Up
5/8 elsie marley
5/9 Poppytalk
5/10 Annekata
5/11 Pink Coyote

Week Three
5/14 Betz White
5/15 Etsy
5/16 Sew, Mama, Sew!
5/17 Made
5/18 Wiley Craft

April 30, 2012

Flashback: Turn Soda Bottles into a Desk Organizer

Tomorrow kicks off our month-long look at upcycled, recycled and re-made projects, so to get us properly geared up, here's a flashback to one of our most popular re-use projects. Diane Gilleland turns empty soda bottles in to a cool-looking and useful desk organizer. Enjoy, and be sure to let us know what kinds of green projects you are working on this month!

By Diane Gilleland

I love digging in my recycling bin for potential craft materials. A recent surplus of empty plastic soda bottles inspired this easy organizer, which is endlessly customizable. Use any size bottles you like, and arrange them in a configuration that fits on your desk or in a drawer.

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April 25, 2012

Project: Vertical Tape Shoelaces

Are your sneakers in need of some much-needed love? I can tell you that my beloved collection of Converse Chuck Taylors sure do! You can make your own shoelaces based on favorite colors, patterns, and even fabrics thanks in part to one sewing staple - a bias tape maker. If you've never made your own vertical tape, it's easy to learn how.

SUPPLIES

Fabric of your choice (I used a fat quarter of Dear Stella's Stella Dot collection and had fabric to spare)

Bias tape maker - 1/2" size (I used Clover's bias tape makers)

Rotary cutter, mat and ruler

Iron and ironing board

Clear heat shrink wrap (you can pick this up at Radio Shack)

Scissors

Sewing machine and thread (I used a gray Aurifil thread for my laces)

Quilting pins

Heat gun or hair dryer

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April 17, 2012

Project: Laced High Heels

High heels are hot. And so are long ballet ribbons wrapped around the ankle. So of course the combination of heels and ribbon is to die for.

You don't need any fancy leather working tools to get the look. I used my eyelet setter and in about 30 minutes had this project all tied up!

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April 13, 2012

Flashback Video: Basket Weave Kicks

Today we've got a special Flashback Video for our spotlight on shoes month. Learn how to basket weave your laces for a cool look!

Basket Weave Kicks
by Brookelynn Morris

Re-learn to tie your shoes! I just learned how to basket weave laces, and now no shoes are safe. For $2 and in 2 minutes you can add a totally new look to any pair of shoes. I've tried different lace combinations, and I think the best look comes from pairing a skinny lace with a wide lace. Set the horizontal lace first, and make sure it's wide enough to slip your foot in, then, add the vertical. You can custom fit the laces on your foot once it's done. Just over, under, over, under, over under, it's easy and awesome.

April 11, 2012

Olympknits Project Excerpt: Gloria the (Knitted) Gymnast

This July, London will host the 2012 Summer Olympics, and English knitter and designer Laura Long has created a book to help crafters celebrate. Olympknits is a book of 10 knitted athlete designs (and one horse!) representing popular Olympic sports like swimming, fencing, cycling and gymnastics. When I saw this video for the book, one of my favorite characters was Gloria the gymnast, whose shiny gold leotard hints at her hopes for a medal. Gloria's segment in the video had me laughing like crazy, so I'm excited that we can bring you her project excerpt from Olympknits. Just download the pattern below and knit Gloria in anticipation of this summer's games. You can use the pattern to knit some teammates for her as well! Be sure to check out all the projects available in Olympknits, by Laura Long.

Download the Instructions and Template for knitting Gloria the Gymnast (excerpted from Olympknits by Laura Long)
Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.

April 10, 2012

Project: Fabric Covered Shoe Makeover

Cute shoes are hard to find, but for some reason, ugly shoes are readily available. Turn lemons into lemonade with quick shoe makeover. Spray on glue makes it easy to cover old shoes with new fabric.

For this project, I chose a fabric with a tie-dye pattern that was very forgiving to work with. Because the bright colors all blend together, I didn't need to worry about lining up any patterns or making sure my seams were perfect. The project that was way easier than I thought it would be, and the shoes are completely transformed into something fresh and fashionable.

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