DIY carpet-sample craft: checkers game

This checkerboard is made from two free carpet samples. I’m excited that my DIY checkerboard rug idea actually worked. I was a little trepidatious about cutting carpet. I thought it would be difficult and require special tools. I was wrong on both counts. Cutting the carpets was the […]

2021-01-31T01:55:48-08:00April 8, 2013|

Camp craft: DIY fabric flower headbands & barrettes

As some of you may recall, I saved last year’s yo-yo crafts for this year’s girls camp. The girls with patience and determination loved making yo yos. For others, hand sewing was a bit arduous. So, I came up with an easier alternative: fabric flower […]

2021-01-31T05:53:07-08:00July 28, 2011|

Camp craft: DIY stitched leather bracelets

As a teenager, I was jealous of my brothers who got to do leather crafts at Boy Scout camp, while we at girls camp never did. So I was determined to teach these girls a leather project this year. We ended up doing two leather projects. This stitched leather bracelet is […]

2021-01-31T05:53:19-08:00July 8, 2011|

Isabela’s DIY leather coffee sleeves + a giveaway

I am happy to present our next guest nester: my new friend Isabela! Her husband and I met at Sportivo Coffee Bar (which is now closed) in Redwood City, Calif. (I don’t drink coffee, but my friend owned the place, so I visited often.) Isabela makes these leather coffee sleeves, which […]

2021-02-17T08:52:03-08:00June 28, 2011|

DIY handbag set: coin purse, tissue pouch, pen sleeve, eyeglasses case, business card pocket

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! This year I made myself my own Valentine’s gift. I loved the feel of this reversible fabric scrap that I got from FabMo. It’s woven but soft and thick like knit. The beauty of this craft project is it takes very little fabric. […]

2021-01-31T05:54:34-08:00February 14, 2011|

DIY red doily matchbox

When I discovered that my matchbooks fit perfectly into this old unfinished cigar box, I knew it was a DIY matchbox in the making. I wanted to step up the fancy in a subtle way, so I could leave the dingy box out in plain site. I like showing off doilies […]

2021-01-31T05:54:43-08:00January 24, 2011|

Spring 2011 craft workshops

I am excited to share the news that I’m teaching my first craft workshops next spring at Sharon Art Studio in San Francisco! I’ll be teaching three classes in February/March. 1) Paper Lantern Making, 2) Duct Tape Wallets, Cases, and Bags, and 3) Fabric Flower Brooches. If […]

2020-10-07T23:45:17-07:00December 16, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 7: media, service, cards & wrapping

This is the final part of my list of 137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas, and we’re down to these categories: media, service, cards, and wrapping. Media, as in photos, books, music, or other means of communication. Service, as in giving experiences or assistance. I included cards and wrapping because oftentimes […]

2021-03-09T03:01:46-08:00September 8, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 6: for children

You thought I forgot about the kiddos, didn’t you? Well today’s inexpensive, handmade Christmas gift ideas are all about the young and the young-at-heart. The list includes everything from handmade play dough to cardboard games to an indoor fort-building kit. My personal favorite is the coloring/activity book using free printables. All […]

2021-02-21T06:41:22-08:00September 6, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 5: themed gift sets

Personally selected gift sets are a great way to give a meaningful present without spending hours crafting. And they’re especially handy when the container is part of the gift. You’ll probably find ample baskets to choose from at your local thrift store. The traditional gift basket is a solid choice, but […]

2021-02-21T07:03:37-08:00September 3, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 4: jewelry & accessories

Part 4 of this seven-part list of inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas comprises jewelry and personal accessories. Tote bags, belts, scarves, wallets, bracelets, headbands … all the things we like to carry on us or with us. Few, if any, of these DIY projects require any special talent or skill. And […]

2021-01-06T06:21:45-08:00September 1, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 3: from the kitchen

Anyone who knows me, knows cooking is not my specialty. That’s why I’m not one of those bloggers who takes a picture of whatever masterpiece she made for dinner and shares the recipe. I can, however, bake quite well. Maybe it’s because I’m good at following the directions in a recipe. […]

2021-01-06T06:21:56-08:00August 30, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 2: Christmas-themed

Handmade Christmas-themed gifts often double as decorations, so you might want to give these gifts early so they can be properly enjoyed during the holiday season. Or maybe the gift is making some of these together with family or friends. Either way, these crafts get in you in the holiday spirit, […]

2021-01-06T06:22:04-08:00August 27, 2010|

137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas. Part 1: home & garden

Why Christmas when we’re in the throes of summer? I know. I worked six years in retail. In my experience, nothing incited more groans than Christmas being stocked on the shelves in August. However, I think this a worthy exception. After all, if you’re going to have a handmade Christmas, you […]

2021-06-03T01:07:30-07:00August 25, 2010|

Camp craft: DIY resin pendant necklaces

These resin pendant necklaces are the final craft that we made at girls camp last June. (I planned one more craft that we didn’t have time for in the end: yo yo headbands and pins. You can see that tutorial here.) I’d always wanted to […]

2021-02-09T09:11:28-08:00August 19, 2010|

Camp craft: DIY subway tile nameplates

All you scrapbook fanatics are going to love these. The girls at camp took this idea and ran with it. I wish I had photos of all their great plaques. These subway tile nameplates to stick on your bedroom door were inspired by a reader, Josie, who asked me for […]

2021-03-03T00:59:54-08:00August 7, 2010|

Camp craft: DIY fleece alphabet pillows

I anticipated that this these pillows might not be as well-liked as the other camp crafts because hand stitching is rather time consuming. Surprisingly, these fleece alphabet pillows were very popular at girls camp.

I got the idea from a book titled 101 Crafts Under $10 […]

2021-03-03T00:53:34-08:00July 19, 2010|

Camp craft: DIY two-color paracord bracelets

These paracord bracelets were a hit at girls camp. As you can see, even some of the male camp leaders joined in. I got the idea from Stormdrane at Instructables.com. His tutorial is excellent, but although the site pictures two-color bracelets, he doesn’t explain how to […]

2021-01-31T05:59:03-08:00July 12, 2010|

Camp craft: DIY duct tape wallets

I volunteered as a crafts director at a girls camp last month. So, for the past few months, I’ve been preparing all the crafts and buying supplies for about 90 teenage girls to make cool stuff. I’ve kept the projects secret in case any of the girls read my blog, but […]

2021-01-31T05:59:45-08:00July 6, 2010|

DIY salvaged wood pencil & pen caddy

I had a scrap 4×4 piece of wood sitting around and decided to put it to use. Drilling the holes in this desk caddy was a bit harder than it looks. This was my third try. It made me wish for a drill press. But, if you have a steady hand […]

2021-03-25T15:40:38-07:00August 28, 2009|
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