If you have cigarette burns, soldering iron burns, or other spot-based burns on your carpet, instructables user west49rules has a solution!

Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo shows how to do this super fast 4th of July paper swag banners using patriotic scrapbook papers.

In 2007 my husband and I traveled to Iceland. It's a country that he has always wanted to visit, but I was less than convinced. I was thinking Fiji, or Hawaii, right? I couldn't have been more wrong. It was the best time of my life, and I did not want to leave. Our trip included hot springs, sheep, music, graffiti, wool, fashion, art galleries, and night clubs.

Craft and art are massive parts of the culture in Iceland, and so is wool. Downtown Reykjavik's tourist shops are packed with hand and machine-knit 100% Icelandic wool sweaters, scarves, socks, hats, blankets and more. Practically every other shop window in the heart of the the city features handcrafted fiber arts. Craft supply stores and art galleries are staffed with people who love wool and who love to knit. And these aren't bland, boring products for the average tourist — they are spectacular cutting-edge knitting designs from amazing designers.

Just a reminder about our Twitter Giveaway that's going on this week. Three lucky CRAFT Twitter followers will win a CRAFT T-Shirt. Start following us here @craft.

We'll announce the winner next Monday, July 6th. Good luck!

Here's some circuit board candy Collin @ MAKE found in the MAKE Flickr pool. It's based off of the iPhone circuit board and has some innovations I haven't seen before including a sour straw ribbon cable. Nice!

For me, this almost falls into the kitty litter and/or thorax cake category; it's amazing to look at, but could I actually eat it?

But then, discovering that the meatballs are some sort of chocolate truffle goodness, and seeing a piece of the cake sliced to expose a moist, banana cake center, and my inhibitions melt away! Read all about it and lots of other yummy dishes on the tasty Ciao Chow Linda blog. (Thanks, Diane!)

Vickie Howell shows how to bring a little crafty nostalgia to your 4th of July table with these dandy little ric rac flowers.

This rad wind-powered knitting machine knits a long tube while the wind blows. It uses a vintage sock knitting machine. I love it as a visualization of how windy it's been in the last few hours/days. Via knitgrrl.

More:

• CRAFT Video: Antique Sock Knitting Machines at Maker Faire Austin
• CRAFT Video: Machine-Knitted QR Code Scarf
  
• Knitting your voice
  

Finger Knittin' Good
By Vickie Howell

In the past, I've had little luck getting my sons interested in learning to knit. Even when presented with jazz hands, in their eyes, my needles make much better swords than crafty tools. Alas. When summer vacation hits, however, a mom has to get creative in order to keep the kids busy. It's time to approach the situation from a different angle: keep the knitting, but ditch the needles!

Finger knitting is a great way to keep little hands busy, while creating long cords in a flash! Kids dig it because it's faster and less cumbersome than traditional knitting. Once knitted, the cords can be made into things like googly-eyed snakes, purse handles, gift ribbons, or my son Tanner's favorite project du jour, the Twisty Scarf, which we'll show you how to knit. Hey, don't just sit there, let your fingers do the knitting!

We've always got plenty of things to do around our house, from scrubbing the fireplace stones that have been gathering soot since 1949 or thereabouts, to pulling weeds in various flower beds around our yard plus a quarter acre or more of hillside that the thistle and blackberries are fond of. The mudroom walls really need repainting, it's been 10 years since we said we were going to grout an exposed tile edge in the living room, and it's high time for a purging session in both the boys' rooms.

So, obviously, last weekend I decided that I really, really had to paint an old wooden wishing well that's been fading in our yard for several years.

My 6-year-old Arlo heard the word paint and signed on immediately. This means that he played outside while I, the mom, set up the work space (tarps, a ladder, and a table), gathered the materials, washed the dirt and spider webs off the well, and sanded the flaking paint and splintery wood to a semi-smooth condition. The DH removed the bucket from the inside to reduce the temptation to swing it at wet, newly painted sides, and then the redheaded tyke was ready to help.

I brought out a dozen or so cans of leftover paint from various projects over the years, and Arlo and I picked dark blue and yellow as the colors. My husband respectfully suggested that this was too reminiscent of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese packaging, so we added a muted green and a hot coral to the mix.

The painting was surprisingly fun and mess-free! First, we painted the roof, which was very satisfying since it had completely faded. Then Arlo and I decided that the top and bottom borders of the body should also be blue, so we painted those next. I added the yellow paint to the triangle sides of the roof while Arlo looked on and shot at aliens lurking in the forest. Then I added the green to the support rails, and Arlo decided he was ready to help paint the sides with the coral. I followed closely behind him, smoothing out his paint strokes and wiping away his drips onto our freshly painted blue border. Throughout the project, he frequently proclaimed, "I love painting, and I'm good at it! And it's hard work."

I added a second coat to all surfaces the next day, and got a little crazy when I decided to paint the bar that the bucket hangs off of, as well as contrasting colors on the handle. My husband made me stop when I considered painting the bucket, each slat a different color.

And happily, we're all quite thrilled with the outcome. I've decided it looks very Lego-esque, which is appropriate in our yard since our basement has 3 cabinets full of Lego bricks and the monthly arrival of the latest Lego catalog becomes an hour-long page-by-page discussion over dinner.

In retrospect, I would have painted more of the inside of the well, probably first, and would have saved the dark blue trim until the very end. But since this particular art piece will be sitting in our yard and gazed upon from afar, the messy edges and meeting points between colors won't be scrutinized very closely. Plus, I can always say my 6-year-old painted it, and it was hard to do!

If you're in the Bay Area in August and are interested in homemade zines, be sure to put this event on your radar. The annual SF Zine Fest is a "free two-day conference for independent and underground publishing. Exhibitors come from all over the West Coast, and while the focus is on zines, all walks of DIY life are represented — comics, arts and crafts, literary presses, and more." Their special guest this year is Xeric Award-winning cartoonist Andy Hartzell. If you've got something you want to share as an exhibitor, now's the time to get your application in. Everything you need to know is on their site.

From the recipe:

Freshly ground coffee adds a depth to the spice rub and brings out the flavor of the meat. Be sure to keep the rub recipe handy. The spice rub would also be great on steaks and chicken.

Also, don't miss the Independence Day Party Planner on Epicurious.com that's filled with menus, drinks, and table decoration ideas.

So classy and so classic is this Playstation iPhone case, via BBG.

Maya writes:

Everyone needs something soft and familiar to rest their weary heads upon... especially our children when they're far from home. This little travel pillow has a built in handle for easy toting or to clip onto a backpack when heading off to camp, a sleep over, or some other summer adventure.

This kids t-shirt tote from The Object Project is super simple and super practical. It's a great way to use up seasonal shirts that no longer fit your kiddos, and it's a great way to introduce them to re-purposing fashion items!

Tara Young at Etsy writes:

Three years ago, Alice Saunders, a.k.a. Forestbound, and Francesca Zmetra, a.k.a. Thirteen Eighty-Five, became roommates in an old house in Jamaica Plain, MA. They didn't know each other at the time but because of their similar styles, they bonded instantly and became close as friends and creative colleagues. Alice's aesthetic tends toward old military Americana with a collection of canvas bags, found bones, birch bark, vintage lace and postcards. Francesca's taste is more feminine, influenced by wartime beauty parlors and apothecaries.

Check out more about these two lovely ladies.

Kit Lane created this fantastic needle-felted Jabba the Hut (The Early Years) for the Stitch Wars exhibit at Bear and Bird Boutique in Lauderhill, Florida. The show is a collection of handmade goods celebrating Star Wars.

Jabba is 100% wool with the exception of two beads, two glass eyes and quite tightly needle felted. He's not at all delicate and will only get better the more he's handled.

Jabba was the character that attracted me most from the Star Wars series. Even though he's quite a bad guy I imagined what he must have been like as a wee snot of a slug. You dont get to be a such a great naughty creature without some sort of trauma, his being a lover of his squeezly "bunnybear". The unmerciless taunting by his slime mates over his compulsion for plushies I suspect caused him to turn his back on a normal upbringing, turning instead to a life of crime.

You can see more pictures of the needle-felted Jabba the Hut in Kit's Flickr Stream.

fabricandlines on Twitter asked us:

Do you have any tips on painting or making your own wooden dolls?

Sure! You can make wooden dolls from pieces of scrap wood, old banisters, or even bedpost caps sold at the big box hardware stores. You can also use wooden clothespins, too. Sometimes the craft store sells wooden eggs or spheres that make great bodies and heads. If you go that route, all you need to get started is a drill (for making attachment holes) and your paints. You can use a hot glue gun to attach fabric for clothes.

You can use all kinds of paints on wood, but acrylics will give you a durable finish. Check out the acrylic paint section of your local art supply store for small containers in lots of colors. You'll want to use a low or medium viscosity paint in order to hide brush strokes, so you may want to consider using a matte or gloss medium (sold right next to the paint) to get the right consistency and finish. If you water the paint down or use watercolors, you can get a faint effect that will soak into the wood. For geometric areas of color, you can try to mask off parts of the doll with tape; peel if off after painting for a crisp line.

Also check out the wooden dolls we've seen previously:

• Clothespin Dolls
  
• Kokeshi Doll Ornament
  
• How-To: Make Egg Matryoshka Dolls
  

Dark Chocolate Gelato
By Katie Goodman

I have a love affair with eating. I can think of no other place that I'd rather indulge that passion than in Italy — a place where eating is a treasured event and delicious food is abundant.

Many travelers remark at the wonders of Italian gelato, admitting to visiting the Gelateria twice (or more!) daily during their travels. That's an experience I long to enjoy, especially as summer temperatures continue to rise. Unfortunately during economic times like this, many aren't in a position to spend money on extravagant travels. That's where I take matters into my own hands — learning the art of Italian cooking at home.

Gelato is actually quite simple to make. As simple as it is to make, it's also easy to convince yourself that it's healthy. After all, gelato is made with milk, not cream, giving it a healthy dose of calcium and vitamin D with each serving, without the fat of its American counterpart. Flavors are only limited by how far your imagination can reach. From fruity, like this strawberry gelato, to nutty, like my favorite, pistachio, and everything in between. Feel free to push beyond the traditional flavors and explore something new.

If stateside travel is in your budget, consider planning a trip to Little Italy in New York for the chance to indulge in some authentic Italian treats at a fraction the cost of visiting our Mediterranean friends.

Molly of HydraHeart has the most adorable custom Bridal Flats available in her Etsy store. All the shoes in her shop are handmade, vegan, and organic. These flats are just the tip of the cute iceberg. Check out her Equinox Flats and Redefined Mary Janes, too. And yes, you can even get the bridal flats made in white.

Collin @ MAKE writes:

The Arkansasridgerunner pioneers the world of shipping chic with this sensible wine rack built from FedEx tubes. I do believe this would go quite nicely with my packing-peanut chaise lounge!

I'm so in love with this circuit board latch hook rug from Red Tarts, I'm not sure what more to say other than ... wow.

Making yourself an emblem for your wedding is a great and simple way to weave a personalized theme through your wedding elements and get a very "pulled together" look for very little money. You can use your mark on your invitations, place cards, programs, favors, and thank you cards to add a personal and memorable touch.



Over on Etsy's Storque, Diana Eng has a tutorial from her book, Fashion Geek, on making this LED "nightlife" necklace.

I always enjoy the reading/craft projects from The Long Thread. It's a great way to share a story with a child and create a craft project together that goes along with the story. Today, she shares these fun firefly lanterns, based on the book The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle.

Crystalized ginger is a great healthy treat, plus it's great for an upset stomach. I ate it once when I had nausea from sun poisoning and it was great. It tastes delicious in a cup of tea and can also be used in baking. Instructables user lemonie has a tutorial for making your own crystallized ginger.

If you love the colorful and graphic look of quilt blocks, here's a fun way to experiment with designing them — only without having to pull out the rotary cutter and iron. Just round up some origami paper or patterned fabric and some graph paper and you can create all sorts of fun designs to turn into useful and unique greeting cards. Here's how I did it!

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or novice, think of it as your go-to place for all things do-it-yourself, filled with hundreds of inspiring ideas from our 15-year history to get your creative juices flowing, complete with helpful how-to's for your wedding day and beyond.

Now that you're inspired. Grab that fabric or old t-shirt, take out your sewing machine, and make your own swimsuit cover-up! Once you do, add the photo to the flickr group and you'll have a chance to win the Grand Prize, a SINGER® Fashion Mate 7256 Sewing Machine! The deadline for entries is July 16th and you can enter up to 3 cover-ups. To find out more, visit the official rules.

Threadbanger has taken on the $10 wedding dress challenge with a modern strapless number constructed from 2XL white t-shirts. It looks so comfortable! Make it in a different color for a cute summer party dress.

If you love the concept but would rather have straps, try our t-shirt wedding dress by Donna and Lauren Kroiz.

Make and Takes has a great tutorial for making these fun yarn fireworks, perfect for adding a little safe spark to your 4th of July celebrations!

Here's an interesting technique for making your own stickers at home, with things you probably already have around.

My son's fifth birthday was yesterday, and because he's obsessed with all things LEGO, we had a LEGO-themed birthday party. When we got to the presents portion of the party, he madly ripped into his packages. When I picked up this set of gifts, though, I stopped him and made him (and everyone else) admire the ingenious hand-made wrapping paper. I asked my friend, Amy, how she did it, and she said that she was working on putting together a tutorial for the quick and easy project. Better yet, her son (who made the wrapping paper) even made a short video on how to get the brick effect on the paper. She posted the tutorial and video this morning, and I'm so tickled to see it. I love that their wrapping was not only unique and fun, but that her son got in on the crafy action. I'm the kind of mom who always intends to do something like this with my kids, but can never seem to quite get it together. Amy makes it look so easy! Enjoy!

As for decorating the cake, I ordered a plain cake with the intention of decorating it at home with some of my son's LEGO mini-figures. However, he decided he didn't want to see them submerged in icing, so I had to come up with a backup plan. I picked up some of these brick candies in the bulk section of Whole Foods to sprinkle on top. Then I went on to the LEGO web site and downloaded some of their sticker sheets that they provide for various play sets. Instead of printing them on sticker paper, though, I printed them on shrink plastic. Once they were cooked, they were the perfect size and structure to embed in the icing and decorate the cake. He made sure I included all his favorite LEGO mini-figures. And, yes, R2D2 is on there twice ... because he's just that cool. My son loved it, and I loved that it was so super simple. Now we can take the Shrinky Dinks and stick magnets on the back and use them on the refrigerator! Sometimes I fret about the fact that I'm somewhat of a slacker when it comes to party planning and decorating for my kids, but this just reminded me that simple is fantastic, and the kids love it just as much!

Aram Bartholl is pioneering twitter fashion with his Tweet Bubble Series (shirt pocket version pictured). Sort of like wearing your heart on your sleeve, made in four styles including one with conductive thread affecting a thermochromic sweatshirt! Via F.A.T.

We spent last week at the pool, trying out our super fun pool toss game. And since it's been hovering in the low 100s for about a week straight now, you can pretty much rest assured that anytime we are outside, we will pretty much be near water, be it pool, cold springs, or in the river. And when so much time is spent lugging stuff to and from the water's edge, you definitely need a way to keep your dry stuff dry and separated from the wet stuff.

This week while I packed up a family of six for a summer vacation, Kathie worked her magic in the studio. After a trip to the thrift store and a couple of hours in the studio, she emerged with this sweet bag, the perfect combination of form and function — upcycled and super styling too.