Craftzine.com blog: Pets Archives

Archive: Pets

January 5, 2010

IKEA-Hacked Hamster Home

This hamster home, hacked from an IKEA Expedit bookcase, is amazing. Martina created the hamster mansion complete with loads of space for running, and even a compartment filled with bedding in which her pet can burrow (all while she watches through a glass window). I better make sure our pet rat, Reese, doesn't see this or he's going to be awfully jealous .... [via Apartment Therapy and IKEA Hacker]

December 24, 2009

How-To: Photo to Fabric Portrait

Stephanie the Multi-Tasking Mama is guest blogging on Crafty Chica, where she shows us how to convert a photo of a beloved pet into a fabric portrait suitable for a stocking or even framing!

December 15, 2009

Speaking of reusable coffee cup holders, Ana of Paco Collars just announced their gorgeous leather coffee cup cozy (aka coozie). You can still get it in time for Christmas if you order it today. (Same goes for the beautiful handmade dog collars, human belts and bracelets, and other leather goods.) If you want to try making your own, Ana wrote a great leather dog collar how-to for CRAFT, volume 10.

October 30, 2009

How-To: Doggy Ballerina Costume

Halloween Crafts

I can't wait to parade my sweet boxer, Stella Baby Star, around in her ballerina costume on Halloween. She is the most social and loving pet, and she always insists on being the center of attention. Last night, as I was working on my own Halloween outfit, she looked up at me with her sad eyes that clearly seemed to say, "Brookelynn, I want to be a ballerina, will you make me a tutu, pretty please?" How could I say no? Follow my easy steps to make a tutu for your prima-donna dog! And, always remember to keep a watchful eye on any pet when they are dressed up. Oh, and treats help during fittings!

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October 27, 2009

Book Review + Giveaway: Glamourpuss by Julie Jackson

Header Book Glamourpuss

Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs by Julie Jackson
Book Site: kittywigs.com

Julie Jackson who brings us Subversive Cross Stitch and Kitty Wigs has reached "eleven" in terms of cuteness with her new book, Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs. The fashionable kitties, photographed by Jill Johnson, are styled in various Kitty Wigs amid scenes of their fashionable life. Hey, it's the world of the supermodel kitties! I love each of the hilarious kitty quotes that go with each photo making it super believable that these kitties are living some kind of extraordinary life that we get a glimpse into.

Book Giveaway Time!
We are giving away 3 copies of Glamourpuss. Just leave a comment in this post and tell us why you want this book. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Thursday, October 29th. The lucky winners will be announced on the site. Good luck!

Glamourpuss Images

Light-Up Dog Costumes

Mojoindandimain
Alison at Switch appeared on Martha yesterday and showed off how to make this light-up dandelion dog costume and the illuminated porcupine dog costume (below).

Porcupine Costume L

October 15, 2009

Big Bad Wolf Dog Costume

Halloween is clearly not just for humans. Down Under Dog Designs has some amazingly adorable dog costumes in their Etsy shop. My favorite is the Big Bad Wolf costume, custom-made to fit your dog's exact measurements, whether your pooch be big like the one pictured above or little like the ones below.

October 13, 2009

How-To: Dog as Grapes Costume

If your dog is docile enough (or even not?), you could try dressing it up as a bunch of grapes for Halloween. Might be good for just the photo-op, even.

October 9, 2009

How-To: Martingale Dog Collar

Instructables user Doggie Stylish writes:

Martingale collars are a very popular choice for dog trainers. They are not a severe as a regular choke collar since they cannot infinitely tighten and choke the dog. This instructable will show you how to make a martingale collar from scratch.

September 25, 2009

Cooking with Dog: How-To Make Japanese Food

While on You Tube, I came across my new favorite channel, Cooking with Dog, a Japanese cooking show complete with a poodle host/sidekick. Makes me love Japan even more now. It also reminds me of one of my favorite Nintendo games, Cooking Mama. Watch this video on how to make a bento box.

September 21, 2009

Creating with Yarn Scraps: Crochet Cat Toy Pattern

Crochet Cat Toy Pattern
By Kristin Roach

I am so happy to be here with all of you for the next two weeks. Guest writing for CRAFT is such an honor! Thank you so much to Natalie and all the wonderful CRAFT team for having me. I am so excited about the next two weeks and all the fun projects, tutorials, and inspirations I get to share with you.

My name is Kristin Roach and I am visiting from Craft Leftovers, my craft blog all about using up my leftovers craft supplies and inspiring others to do the same. Learn to create uniquely wonderful handmade projects using what is on hand. There are free patterns, tutorials, book reviews, interviews, and general musings about stash. In the next two weeks I'm going to share with you some of my favorite ways to use up yarn leftovers!

Today, get started using up yarn bits with a cute catnip mouse. Needing under 20g of yarn and a catnip pillow, it's just the thing to use your yarn ends up and make your (or your friends') cat really happy!

Materials

1 catnip pillow
10g or less of Color A worsted yarn
10g or less of Color B worsted yarn
Size D hook

Directions

Learn how to start your crochet project with a magic loop (adjustable loop) on Crochet Me. Don't have a catnip pillow on hand? Learn how to make your own catnip pillow.

This pattern was first featured in the September issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly, a print extension of Craft Leftovers!

September 3, 2009

How-To: Dog Coat from a Recycled Jacket

CRAFT: We <3 Pets

When chilly winds start to blow, your best friend can battle the elements in cozy style with a dog coat made from a recycled jacket. For the raw materials, you can tap into the never-ending supply of jackets in thrift shops and yard sales, where I often find the racks chock full of color and fabric choices. Or consider Plan B: make the dog coat from a favorite in your closet that's outgrown or showing its wear. You'll keep it all in the family with one more hand-me-down recipient, the dog.

This project is a how-to for transforming an old jacket into a new dog coat. Once you've assembled the materials, you'll find it goes quickly. A dog coat is basically a flat piece of fabric that needs edge finishing and a means to stay put on the dog. Here are the main steps:

1. Select a dog coat pattern.
2. Lay it out on the recycled jacket.
3. Cut it.
4. Finish the edges.
5. Sew on the velcro fastening.