DIY Junk Mail Notebook

May 8, 2012 in Paper Crafts

Originally posted at Crafting a Green World

junk-mail-notebook

Oh, junk mail! Why do you invade my life? Even after signing up with Catalog Choice, I still get bills and credit card offers each week, and if you’re saving all that paper for possible future craft projects, they can add up quickly.

We’re all familiar with the joys of crafting with junk mail, but have you ever peeked inside of those envelopes that house things like bills and bank statements? Inside many of those envelopes are printed patterns. The idea is that the printing on the wrong side of the paper prevents snoops from reading your mail through the envelope, but the side effect is that every day your mailman is basically delivering free, decorative paper to your house!

More after the jump →

Vegan Thumbprint Cookies: Orange Marmalade + Lavender Love

April 17, 2012 in Food Crafts

lavender-vegan-thumbprint-cookies

There’s something about thumbprint cookies that just feels so nostalgic to me. My Nani used to make them, and as a kiddo I loved eating all of the cookie around the edges first, and then eating that bit of jam at the end. Yum!

More after the jump →

Simple Syrup Recipe: Lavender Simple Syrup

April 9, 2012 in Food Crafts

Originally published at Glue and Glitter

lavender-simple-syrup-recipe

We had a baby shower for one of my favorite couples last weekend, and I whipped up this lavender simple syrup for one of the mocktail recipes that we served there.

More after the jump →

How-to: Make a Repurposed Table Runner

March 22, 2012 in Fiber Crafts

Originally posted at Crafting a Green World

table runner

Have you ever started a project, and it just gets gigantic by the end? A few weeks ago, we decided to rearrange the furniture in our living room, replacing a giant, 3-piece entertainment center with a smaller situation that wouldn’t look so looming in there. When we took the old one apart, it turned out that each piece on its own was super awesome! The base is now a window seat in my office, the top piece makes a perfect long shoe rack for the hallway, and the middle piece was just right for a kitchen sideboard. So, instead of rearranging the living room, we sort of rearranged the entire house!

More after the jump →

To Do: Green Crafts Showcase at Crafting a Green World

March 16, 2012 in Events

Green Crafts Showcase

Over at Crafting a Green World, we are launching a super awesome monthly showcase where readers can submit their green craft projects!

More after the jump →

How-to: Make Lovebird Wrist Warmers from Sweater Sleeves

March 5, 2012 in Fiber Crafts

Originally published at Crafting a Green World

DIY-Wristwarmers

Brr! It’s getting chilly out there again. Wrist warmers can add an extra layer of cozy to your winter look, but the store-bought kind often aren’t the most eco-friendly. Chances are, they’re mass-produced in a factory using conventional cotton (with all of the issues that come along with it). You can skip the human rights and environmental issues, though, and make your very own set of wrist warmers out of a thrift store sweater instead! Here’s how.

More after the jump →

How to Make Vanilla Extract

February 29, 2012 in Food Crafts

Vanilla Extract

I am apparently on a kick of making food that I would normally buy: almond milk, marmalade, and now I have a batch of vanilla extract that’s just about finished! Ever wondered how to make vanilla extract? It’s super simple!

More after the jump →

How-to: Neckwarmer with a Hidden Heart

February 8, 2012 in Fiber Crafts

Cross-posted from Crafting a Green World.

hidden heart neckwarmer

My husband takes the train to work, and when the temperatures get chilly, that is not always the most pleasant walk. Not only is the cold tough on your body, but have you noticed that it’s hard to catch your breath when the air is chilly? Enter the neckwarmer! He can push it down, and it looks like a scarf, but on his walk he can pull it up around his face to warm the air a bit as he breathes and make his walk a bit nicer.

More after the jump →

DIY Oatmeal Face Scrub

February 5, 2012 in Food Crafts, Tutorials

Cross-posted from Feelgood Style

DIY Oatmeal Face Scrub

Need a quick fix for exfoliating your face this winter? Oatmeal face scrub to the rescue!

Store-bought face scrubs aren’t always the best for your body or the planet. Even if you spring for an organic scrub, chances are it comes in a disposable, single-use plastic bottle. Rather than shell out the big bucks for something that’s not totally in line with your feelgood beauty routine, why not whip up your very own homemade oatmeal face scrub instead? Here’s how.

More after the jump →

Easy Upcycling: Homemade Ribbon

January 29, 2012 in Fiber Crafts

homemade ribbon

It was one of those “AHA!” moments. As you know, I am a crazy hoarder of fabric scraps. I’m constantly looking for ways to use them up, and my scrap bin often has trouble closing because it’s so stuffed. At the same time, I go through quite a bit of ribbon. So many craft projects require just a bit of ribbon, and that adds up when I get into a really crafty headspace.

AHA! It turns out, you can make functional, coordinating ribbon with just long, skinny fabric scraps and a pair of pinking shears! The pinked edges avoid fraying, and I love the look of it.
More after the jump →