It’s funny how easy it is to trace the origins of  both my craftiness and my pack rat nature.  I was reminded recently that I got both traits from my grandmother.  When she passed away about ten years ago I inherited her collection of sewing notions, and as as  part of my stashbusting this month I was surveying the random items in one of her …

Over at Mich L. in L.A., Michelle has a regular feature called Guess the Mystery Thing where she challenges her readers to guess what unconventional materials she used to create various jewelry items.  Can you guess what she used to make these dome flower necklaces?  Here’s a hint:  it’s something from the party favor section of the dollar store.  I bet next time you walk …

The reader questions keep on a-rollin’ in!  This is another good one, so it’s time to put on your extra-creative thinking caps!  Via our Facebook fan page, Ana made an inquiry about one of those things she’s been saving but has no idea what to make with them:  empty shotgun shells.  You know, the big ones with a brightly colored plastic sheath.  She has yellow, …

These amazing chandeliers were made by artist Madeleine Boulesteix out of materials she found at her local thrift shops. She incorporates dishes, pots, pans, mugs, beads, and other assorted kitchenware to create these works of art, which she makes on commission for people who order them. I thought some of you might be up to the challenge of making similar chandeliers, so step forward! Who’s …

I love reader questions like this one because they make me feel less strange about some of the random things I keep.  I just can’t help it!  Over on our Facebook fan page, reader Shana asked:
Chipboard coasters — you know, the ones you get at a restaurant — what can I do with ‘em??
I have a collection of these as well, since things that …

This is too darn cute! This adorable dollhouse is made out of two drawers from a salvaged nightstand. Roo from Nice Girl Notes attached two drawers together, painted them, and Mod Podged some adorable embellishments on the house. I just love this idea (and I fully expect Rhonda to make her own dollhouse to go with all her awesome dollhouse miniatures.) [how to make a …

Is the real estate in your shower space a premium? How about when you’re traveling and need a space to put your bathroom bottles? Time to make use of all that bare wall-space in the  shower, with some easy elastic bottle holders!
Make your own bathroom bottle holders from everyday suction cups and hair elastics and keep your bottles separated and organized. Sure to please the …

You probably wouldn’t think to look in your sewing kit for all the makings of a jewelry project; I know I wouldn’t.  Lucky for us, Laura from The Wind and The Sail did think of it!  The resulting necklace is a squeal-worthy miniature flower pot made from a thimble and some sewing pins with colored heads.  It’s a perfect project for spring and with Mother’s …

T-shirts are amazing as a craft material.  You can turn them into all kinds of things, including tweaking them into much more fashionable shirts.  Reconstructed clothing projects are near and dear to my heart because I love clothes but hate spending money on them.  However a lot of reconstructed clothes require at least some degree of sewing skills,  an arena in which I’m sorry to …

Earth Day is next week, which is just one of many good reasons to try out some recycled crafting!  Using odds and ends that would otherwise end up in a landfill is rewarding both because it helps to save the planet and because it takes a special type of ingenuity to make something beautiful out of trash.  Cris from Crissy’s Crafts, for example, came up …