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Gifts to Make for Your Man. Gift Ideas for Poor Creative Souls (17) Posted by: Cathy on Aug 04, 2012 Tagged in: Untagged Paper Flower Tutorial Doesn't this look divine? When I first saw these, I thought they would be really difficult to do because they look quite intricate but actualy, they're easy! Anyone can make these with the minimal of materials. Materials needed: - hand-painted paper or colored paper - watercolor paint (if painting your own paper) - florists tape - cork - wire - decorator's tape - scissors - craft knife If you decide to paint your own paper, you can add a wash of soft pink to your paper/card.

Cut your paper in thin strips with a craft knife. If you've used a few pieces of paper, join them with paper glue so that you end up with a long strip. Start rolling up this strip of paper. Now you can cut your green paper into leaf shapes as above. Attach your leaves with more tape all around the base of the flower. To make the center of your flower, cut a small piece of cork and push a piece of wire through it as in the image. Et voila! CWTS reveal - the book clutch + how-to.

Did you see this week’s Crafting with the Stars? We got third place- and we’re moving on to round 2! Yikes! My project was the book clutch…this is the post:A little vintage book… upon further review is actually a clever clutch. This upcycled clutch is sure to be a conversation starter wherever you go. Made from a vintage book and old bag found at the thrift store melded together to create this little gem of a purse. When your activity doesn’t command a large bag, just stash your cell phone, keys and cash in this little clutch. Pair it with a ruffley blouse and some skinny jeans and you’re rockin’ the librarian chic look. (Plus you’re husband won’t feel too awkward when you ask him to hold it!) Smart and fashionable. Did you vote for us? How to make a book clutch:Scour every thrift store for purses with metal frames and a books about the same size. Gut your book: (This is where I stopped taking pictures, sorry!)

Now it’s off to make the project for round 2: Decoupage. Make This - Stab Bound Journal - Luxe DIY - How Did You Make This? Make a hand bound journal with elaborate side stitching for yourself or as a gift. The stitching is a lot easier than it looks and is so much nicer to hold than a spiral bound edge. Supplies and Equipment – sharp utility knife and cutting surface BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE SHARP BLADE – rulers – drill with 1/16th inch bit OR a small paper punch BE VERY CAREFUL WITH POWER TOOLS – fancy cover paper – I used Cavallini Vintage Tickets Wrapping Paper – 20″ x 28″ – 1 sheet of 8.5×11 for endpapers (this can be fancy or the same paper as your pages) – 10 sheets of 8.5×11 paper for pages – 3 yards of embroidery floss – mat board – I used Crescent No. 33 White & Cream Smooth Mat Board – Yes Stikflat Glue or other archival glue that leaves paper flat – heavy object to use as a weight – waxed paper – cutting/hole punch template – click here to download – thin cotton or linen fabric (optional) – needle with an eye large enough to fit embroidery floss – brush for glue Stitch down through the next hole.

DIY Sharpie Tie Die. I love this Sharpie tie die DIY from The Art Girl Jackie blog! She did it with her adorable daughter and I think it’s a fun inspiration for this Spring and upcoming music festival season. Use this technique to spruce up your ratty t-shirts or maybe a pair of of cut off shorts.

For another idea, check out how to spruce up your clothes with DIY leopard print here! What You Need: Pre-washed white or light colored t-shirtRubbing AlcoholLiquid dropper or medicine dropperSmall plastic cup(s)Rubber bandsVariety of colored Sharpies Do It! Choose a spot to start and put your cup in right side up and secure a rubber band around the cup rim holding the shirt tightly in place.Pick your colors and create a small design in the center of the stretched circle. Photos and DIY via The Art Girl Jackie. How to make wrapped leather bracelets « Rings and Things. Triple-wrap leather bracelet with blue tigereye beads Let me begin by stating the obvious – this style of wrapped leather bracelet is EVERYWHERE this season.

Everywhere! Even my athletic clothing catalogs – which only have maybe three pieces of jewelry – are featuring this style. Why? Five different leather wrapped gemstone bracelets designs: green opal, mookaite, African turquoise, hematite and rhodonite The supply list is pretty short: 4-6mm round beads We used gemstone beads, but glass, crystal beads or pearls would also be lovely. Wrapped bracelet made with green opal gemstone beads and natural Greek leather. The technique: Choose your bracelet length and cut your leather. If your button has a small loop, you might need to miter (angle) the leather end and pull it through with pliers. Other design options: Have fun creating your own wrapped bracelets! Need supplies? Other how-to’s: Q: “How do you start a new thread in the middle of the bracelet?” How to make wrapped leather bracelets « Rings and Things. Triple-wrap leather bracelet with blue tigereye beads Let me begin by stating the obvious – this style of wrapped leather bracelet is EVERYWHERE this season.

Everywhere! Even my athletic clothing catalogs – which only have maybe three pieces of jewelry – are featuring this style. Why? Because it is casual yet chic and infinitely customizable! Five different leather wrapped gemstone bracelets designs: green opal, mookaite, African turquoise, hematite and rhodonite The supply list is pretty short: 4-6mm round beads We used gemstone beads, but glass, crystal beads or pearls would also be lovely. Wrapped bracelet made with green opal gemstone beads and natural Greek leather. The technique: Choose your bracelet length and cut your leather.

If your button has a small loop, you might need to miter (angle) the leather end and pull it through with pliers. Other design options: Have fun creating your own wrapped bracelets! Need supplies? Other how-to’s: (answers selected from replies to blog comments) Minis. Dannijo Friendship Bracelet. Cardboard Stampede « ann wood. Or: How to make a cardboard horse. In 2006 I started making cardboard horses. They were a self imposed assignment, a daily creative task intended to motivate and loosen me up, little experiments, paralysis prevention.

My plan was to make a cardboard horse everyday, Monday through Friday until I had 100. I did and exhibited the group at Tinlark in Los Angeles in 2007. I’ve made 3 patterns, two adults and a colt, to share and I hope you make a cardboard horse or two or three or maybe a little family or maybe your own stampede! What you will need:pattern cardboard- you can use any kind – I think a medium weight is good, I’m using cardboard from a gift box. scissors manicure scissors pencil hammer and one nail buttons thin wire pliers paint and brushes, glue, paper, fabric, lace etc. – whatever you like, whatever you’ve got. First download and print the patterns, cut out the pieces and trace them onto your cardboard. (Click the images for a larger view) Utility Cord Bangle. ANNOUNCEMENT: A select number of these bracelets are available for sale here. I know, I know. ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE UTILITY CORD AND BRACELETS!

I couldn’t resist! I had extra utility cord lying around from last week’s project, and was highly inspired by these Orly Genger bangles. Thus, today’s latest DIY accessory. Time to break out some very basic crochet skills. Materials: Utility cord Crochet hook (sized according to utility cord thickness) Metal chain (optional) Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart. Tutorial: Homemade Sidewalk Chalk. By Michelle Vackar, Modern Handmade Child One of our favorite outside activities at our home is drawing with chalk on the driveway. You can play hopscotch, four-square, and of course draw and create silly stories. My daughters and I were talking one day as we played hopscotch about how to make chalk and I thought to myself, let’s try it!

It ended up being quite a lot of fun. What you will need: • Toilet paper or paper towel tubes • Scissors • Duct tape • Wax paper • Small bucket or disposable container to make the recipe • ¾ cup of warm water • 1 ½ cups Plaster of Paris • 2-3 tablespoons of tempera paint • Paper bag or a “mess mat” ** we made six tubes of chalk – we simply doubled the above recipe. Step 1: If you are using paper towel tubes, cut each tube in half, so it is roughly the length of a toilet paper roll tube.

Step 2: Cover one end of each tube with duct table to hold the contents within. Step 3: Cut as many pieces of wax paper as you have tubes. On the Cheap: Scrapbook Paper iPhone Covers. I found this clever trick on Pinterest the other week from Oops I Craft My Pants and had to try it for myself: iPhone covers using scrapbook paper!

Now when I had my first cell phone in high school (the old Nokia), I probably had about 15 different cell phone covers that I would switch out to match my clothes everyday! I figure this scrapbook paper iPhone phone cover is an easy way to update my phone without spending all the cash! First thing I did was purchase a couple sheets of scrapbook paper from Michael’s.

I also purchased a clear iPhone 4 cover from Best Buy. You could really purchase any cheap clear phone cover, but I wanted one with protective rubber sides since I’m a klutz and always drop my phone! First thing I did was trace the scrapbook paper around the iPhone cover to get the basic shape. I cut out the main section just using a pair of scissors. For the camera hole I used a pencil to sketch in the hole that I had to cut out using an exacto knife…. and that’s about it! Rolled paper flowers {tutorial} | Jones Design Company | stylish custom designs for life. Welcome to flower week – five days of simple and delightful flower projects. I could probably do three weeks of flowers because there are so many different ways to create them, but I’ve limited it to five of my current favorites. Before we get started, let me make a few disclaimers: 1.

I find inspiration for projects all over the place {online, in shops, in magazines}, then figure out how to re-create them on my own. Each of these projects are my adaptation of something I’ve seen elsewhere. 2. 3. Okay, so let’s begin. Here’s what you’ll need: :: paper {either cover or text weight} :: florist wire :: scissors, pencil, glue gun STEP ONE: cut irregular circle This circle is approximately 8 inches, but you can do any size you wish.

STEP TWO: cut spiral Start at the outside edge and cut in a spiral fashion to the center. I like a sort of bumpy shape so that the petals end up a bit irregular If you aren’t so sure about your cutting skills, feel free to draw your spiral before cutting. 31 Insanely Easy And Clever DIY Projects.

Food crafts

Build a Thumb Piano - Step-by-Step Guides for Offbeat DIY Projects. Pete Plumley's Cat Trees Are Functional Works of Art. I recently moved my cat tree from the living room to the patio so the cats could sit on it to watch the birds in the morning –- at least, that’s what I told myself. The real reason? The so-called “tree” looks like a cardboard tube covered in old rec-room carpeting. Threads hang from it where Phoenix, my calico girl, got a little too aggressive sharpening her claws. Luckily, Pete Plumley creates objects that can make me and my cats happy.

“We were trying to find a cat tree, but it just wasn’t going to fit into our décor,” he says. Plumley, who lives in Novato, Calif., is a former set designer for Pee-wee Herman's popular 1980s kids’ show Pee-wee’s Playhouse -- he built the frame for that iconic, red vinyl zigzag door. “I was a lot younger and a lot stupider,” he says, laughing. He’s now freelancing in broadcast media, and he has worked on a number of commercials and music videos for artists such as Billy Idol and country star Monty Lane Allen. Even better: Cats love them, too. Hanging String Balls. Whattya need? BalloonStringScissorsGlueJar How do I make glue string balls? Step 1: Hang inflated balloon from ceiling. Step 2: Put string and glue in the jar with a hole in the lid. Next, pull string from hole while wrapping around the balloon.

Step 3: Wait until dry (try to contain yourself). Created by Dane Holweger. How to Make Leaf Skeletons. I wanted to share with you a project from one of my readers who shares with us how to make leaf skeletons. I LOVE this! I have several leafs in various forms displayed in my home and knew I needed to make some of her leaf skeletons to add to my decor. I love how a pattern of leaves can enhance the beauty in your home. So I asked Heather if she would mind sharing her project with you. You can find more great projects from Heather at her blog The Other White House. I have spent hours and tried various ways of making these. You need washing soda, not baking soda! Gather your leaves.

Washing soda is a strong base so you may want to wear gloves when handling the leaves. You will add 3/4 cup of washing soda and 4 cups of water to your pot of leaves. Keep going, you will need to add more water so your pan doesn’t dry out. When 1.75 hours are up fill a glass baking dish with cool water. I carefully removed them and rinsed with water and added clean water to the pan. 37.1Kstumbleupon. Ingenious. This to That (Glue Advice)

Judah Method - Bleaching Experemnet on the Behance Network. How To Make Paper. Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps Ancient Egyptians invented the first substance like the paper we know today called Papyrus. Papyrus scrolls were made by taking slices of the inner part of the papyrus stem, flattening then pounded into a hard, thin sheet. The word “paper” comes from the word “papyrus”. The Paper that we know today was invented by Ts’ai Lun in A.D. 105, It is believed that he mixed hemp, mulberry bark, and rags with water, mashed it into a pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung it to dry in the sun.

Paper was born and this humble mixture would set off one of mankind’s greatest communication revolutions. Today there is a revival in homemade paper making crafts. Below you will find a simple paper making recipe to get you started. Experiment with different textures and colors after all Ts’ai Lun did! Simple Recipe: Many types of paper that can be used include: Supplies you’ll need: Instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Author: Print Hula Hoop Rug Page | Crafts.