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Best DIY Hair Accessories

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DIY HairLadies, like makeup, we accumulate a ton of hair stuff. Blow dryers, curling irons (of different sizes and shapes because there is a difference between a wand and an iron), hair creme, hair mousse, anti-friz, heat protector, hair spray, bobby pins…and more bobby pins. That doesn’t even cover the hair accessories! I used to rock a pixie cut. In order to “dress it up,” I would put flower barrettes or sparkly clips in my hair. It was super adorable, a lot of times they were difficult to find without going into the kids’ section at the store. Kids get to have all the fun, right? Wrong! Why should you let retail dictate what you get to wear? You should be making your own clips. And you should also be making these easy hair accessories for you and your child. They will save you money and you can cater to your taste.

Personally, I’ve always adored cute headbands. I have very thick, wavy hair that gets unruly pretty quick. These headbands are the best in the business because you get to make them yourself! My favorite is the upcycled scarf because I have so many scarves that I would hate to get rid of, but can’t wear anymore. In the list below, there is a mixture of both kid and adult craft tutorials. I encourage you to check out both kinds because you never know when inspiration will strike! You can adapt each to your own style and preference.

 

Featured Hair Pieces

 

Frozen Elsa HatOkay, so this isn’t quite a hair accessory, it’s a straight up hat, but it is too cute to pass. This Frozen Elsa hat will be a great gift to make for your child who adores the Disney movie. She will love the soft yarn and the long braid that would go perfectly with an Elsa costume. Check out these other Frozen inspired costumes for more cool fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crochet Hair Band

I am constantly on the go. That’s why I love this easy braided headband. It pulls back all the fly-away-hairs and it is adjustable as it gets stretched. These are a 10-minute craft, so you can make one of these DIY headbands in every color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Pebble BarretteAnd then there’s some days where you want to put your hair up, but, you know, society dictates you look put-together at work (who makes these rules), and you want to go half-up, half-down. This barrette craft is a great homemade hair accessory for when you are looking for a statement piece without too much effort.

 

 

 

Check Out More Best DIY Hair Accessories

Frozen Elsa Hat Crochet Pattern

Back to School Hair Bows

Beaded Victorian Hair Comb

Marbled Silk Hair Bands

Frozen DIY Hair Accessories

Frozen Inspired Headband

Sparkly Hair Clips

Frozen Elsa Crown

10-Minute Crochet Headband Pattern

Scrap Fabric Rosette Barrette

Beach Pebble Barrette

Floral DIY Hair Accessories

Scrap Fabric Rosette

Upcycled Scarf Headband

How to Make Hair Accessories

Colorful Braided Headband

What is your favorite hair accessory?

10 Sorority Gift Ideas for Your Little and Fun DIY Gifts

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So there are a million and one sorority gift ideas on Pinterest and Instagram, but there are the basics that every Little needs to start out with. If you’re a Big who wants to show your Little the ropes, you know how much you wanted to show your letters in every aspect of your life when you first accepted your bid. You probably went straight to Etsy to buy Greek apparel (I did it too). But quickly, you realized how over-priced Greek apparel and sorority trinkets are. You’ve learned, and you surely don’t want your Little to make the same mistake. Your job is to help your Little and guide them on their journey through the chapter and as a member. Starting them out with easy DIY crafts is the fun part. By this point, I know most of you have already started your “Welcome Home” baskets for your Little, but these are the basic starter DIY gift baskets that every new Greek life member needs.

Sorority Gifts

When I went through recruitment, it was informal, but it was the best time of my life. I used to be very much against Greek life—still slightly am, but I understand Greek life now and appreciate it for the intentions and the standards that each organization sets out for their members. I loved working with so many people with different interests and different viewpoints. I eventually dropped because of personal reasons, but the girls in my chapter are still some of my best friends.

Even if you are in a sorority or are not currently, these are some amazing gift ideas for those who are in a sorority or some very adaptable crafts. I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “Yeah right, what can I do with a paddle craft?” Actually, they are some really cute homemade wall decor. They are great for recognizing a milestone in your life. I’ve seen big/little matching ones, welcome paddles, “21st Birthday” paddle…the list can go on. Monogramming is very trendy with DIY home decor and homemade clothes. A personalized cooler is great for camping trips. These easy crafts are adaptable, you just have to think outside the box a little bit.

Crafting these cute gifts saves you so much money and it gives you the freedom to personalize it without breaking the bank. These would be really cute for graduation gift ideas and practicing monogramming. Sure, you can easily go on Etsy and find crafts already made, but is it really the same? No, it’s not. I can guarantee it because it wasn’t made by you to your little from her big. That’s what makes those baskets special. You may make them in advance, but it is for your perfect little that you find in the fall or spring recruitment.

10 Sorority Little Ideas and DIY Gifts

Monogrammed StoolMonogrammed Stool

This would be super cute with your letters monogrammed on the seat with colors to match your sorority. For those not in one, your initials would be just as cute with your favorite colors.

 

Family TreeFamily Tree

Everyone, no matter if you’re in Greek life or not, loves a good family tree. This one uses wood burning, but you can easily just put one on a canvas instead.

 

Paint and Paper LettersPaint and Paper Letters

Decorating your letters in their favorite pattern gives your decor a little more personality. If you don’t want your letter, use an inspirational word!

 

Pin BoxPin Box

Make something cute to hold their pin, or you can make this trinket box to hold small jewelry items.

 

Personalized CoolerPersonalized Cooler

I realize this is a sports cooler, but painting this your favorite colors, letters, and your open motto would be too cute.

 

Sharpie MugSharpie Mug

This is such an easy craft. I’ve done this so many times to make a personalized gift. Coffee is a must in college!

 

Decorated Bulletin BoardDecorated Bulletin Board

Getting organized right off the bat is setting up for good habits in all parts of life.

 

 

DIY Fleece Throw

from lifeovereasy.com

DIY No Sew Fleece Throw from Life Over Easy

If you don’t have a tie blanket, you’re missing out. These are so easy to make and last for forever.

 

 

Sparkle Letters

from eighteen25.com

Sequined Letters from Eighteen 25

If you’re looking to add a little extra sparkle to your letter, this is an easy tutorial on how to skip the rhinestones.

 

 

84 Paddle Ideas

from pagebypaige.com

84 Sorority Paddle Ideas by Page By Paige

The biggest collection of sorority paddle inspiration.

 

 

 

 

What else would you give to your little? If you’re not in a sorority, what do you think would be the most fun to make?

DIY Pet Toys

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I have two puppies. Well, technically not puppies. One is a 13-year old yellow Labrador, Lilo, and the other is a 7-year old half black lab, possibly border collie mix, Maggie. So they’re old, but Lilo still thinks she is the little pup we got so many years ago, even though her body can’t keep up anymore. However, no matter how old she gets, she still loves toys. She honestly makes a toy out of anything. We trained her to get the paper from the driveway, to pick out a pair of socks for my dad (as long as the drawer is open), and any loner socks she gets to play with. My dogs are able to make play time out of any household items. So making homemade pet toys has got to be cheaper than buying name brand items, right?

 

DIY Pet Toys

 

DIY Pet Toys

 

That’s why you need to ditch the store-bought toys and make your own with these DIY dog toys. Just a little bit of fabric or an old water bottle can make the different between a dud or a deal.

Now I may not have too much experience in the cat area, or any experience at all, but I feel like I have a good handle on the DIY cat toys and what is considered “cool” in the cat-world (thanks Youtube). Anything small or dangley that attracts attention for short burst of time. And anything they can scratch. Lordy, there’s a lot of scratching.

 

Crunchy ToyI love this crunchy dog toy. It is just a water bottle sewn into a piece of fabric and stuffed. It’s durable enough to play fetch, while soft enough for your puppy to snuggle at night. If you’re not much of a sewist, you can also put a water bottle in a sock and tie off the end. No matter if you’re upcycling fabric scraps or upcycling socks, your fur-baby will love this homemade toy.

 

 

 

DIY Cat Scratching PostFor cats, from what I have gathered, scratching posts are a ridiculous amount of money, but you don’t want to sacrifice your furniture for your cat’s habits. That’s why this homemade cat scratching post is a great way to recycle your cardboard boxes and save your money. I love the fact that you can make it however high or wide you want it so you can accommodate your living space.

 

 

 

 

Whether you have a canine-companion or a feline-friend, these homemade pet toys are going to be your favorite because of how easy it is to make cheap pet toys.

Check out these other toys…

Dogs

Easy Rope Ball Dog Toy

Recycled Denim Dog Toy

Fleece Tug Rope

Doggy Bed and Blanket Set

Your Pet’s Favorite Toy

No Sew Octopus Ball Doll

Run Rabbit Run Dog Toy

Cats

No Sew DIY Cat Bed

Crocheted Cat Toy

Crochet Cat Bed

Holiday Cat Collar

DIY Cat Toy from thediydiary.com

Catscraper DIY Cat Scratching Post from maisonkuotidien.com

What is something odd that your pet plays with?

Let’s Take a “Craft-cation”, We’re Thinking Some Place Tropical

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Although we love winter weather over here at AllFreeChristmasCrafts, after all Christmas does take place in the middle of winter, we’re starting to get a little tired of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love that serene white landscape, but after a few months of the blistering cold, piles upon piles of snow, and limited amounts of day light, I’m ready for some sun and bright colors.

The novelty of a winter wonderland having officially worn off (I like it better in films, like Frozen), I’ve begun dreaming of a vacation. I’m thinking someplace tropical, where the sun is shining, I can make sand sculptures instead of snow sculptures, and enjoy a never ending sight of blue ocean and sky. Since I can’t take an actual vacation (cue the violins) and we can’t rush Mother Nature (we have no way to reach her) I figured the next best thing is a “craft-cation”.

It might still be a blank slate of white outside, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create a little paradise inside! From DIY home decor to homemade ornaments you can hang around the house, these crafts will help you drift far away into a nautically-inspired nirvana. Not to mention it’ll be a nice head start for spring and summer crafts (nautical crafts will be all the rage in the next coming seasons).

So, if you have the winter blues and are looking for a cure, follow these steps:

  1. Break out your crafting supplies
  2. Begin thinking that you’re someplace tropical and warm
  3. Repeat after me: We can make it, we can make it, we can make it.

Make one of these tropically-inspired crafts:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Out to Sea Pillow
Coastal Wall Art
Simple Nautical Inspired Wreath
Anchor’s Aweigh Necklace

 

 

 

Sand-Dipped-Candles

 

Maritime Buoy Garland
Beachy Driftwood Trees
Sand Dipped DIY Candles
Coastal Rope Vases

 

 

 

Bit-of-Beach-Ornaments

 

Bit of a Beach Ornament
Nautical Painted Napkins
Sun and Sand Afghan
Glamorous Glitter Seashell Ornaments

 

 

 

How do you get over the winter blues?

 

10 Must-Make Summer Crafts for the Home and Garden

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10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer

The summer days can be long and hot if you have nothing to do but with our free eBook you’ll be a busy crafting bee. These 10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer are the perfect way to soak up the spirit of summer and give a little life to your humble abode. In this printable eBook you’ll find projects for sprucing up your garden, crafts for your beach necessities, and lighting crafts for when the summer sun sets and the soothing summer nights begin. Don’t let the season pass you by – enjoy it to the fullest with these 10 Must-Make Summer Crafts for the Home and Garden. This collection of summer craft ideas has everything from beach bags and garden planters to summer string lights and lanterns. You’ll be prepared for any daily event that the summer has to offer when you have this list of summer craft ideas to choose from. Prepare yourself for some serious gardening and beach bumming with our favorite, fun crafts for summer.

Garden Crafts

10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer

Your flowers and vegetables shouldn’t be the only beautiful element to your garden. With the garden crafts from this free eBook you can give your home some stunning outdoor decor. Make a bird house for a quaint and welcoming backyard atmosphere or a garden sign for a whimsical touch. Garden crafts are a wonderful way to spend time outdoors. The hot summer sun will help the paint dry faster and provide you with a constant source of light. Allow nature to assist you in your summer crafts while you fly through these 10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer

Beach Crafts

10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer

The summer can be cluttered with a lot of stuff – towels, swim suits, flip flops, sunscreen bottles, water bottles – you get the gist! A trip to and from the beach can be a bit of an ordeal. Use these beach crafts from 10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer to help you stay equally organized and stylish. These DIY bags not only keep things contained, they can also be transformed into shopping bags for your post-beach trip to the market or the mall. It doesn’t get much more useful than that. Hate touching soggy, sandy towels? The towel basket gives you a hands-off way of transporting them to and from the beach. These beach crafts put the fun in functional!

Outdoor Lighting Crafts

10 Summer Craft Ideas and Garden Crafts for Summer

There’s nothing in this world more magical than a warm summer night. This season you can add to the magic with the lighting craft projects included in our free summer eBook. Recycled crafts like these Water Bottle Summer Lights are not only stunning and decorative, they’re good to the earth. You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own outdoor lighting solutions. Make paper lanterns for your Fourth of July BBQ or add a romantic touch to your backyard dinner party with recycled wine bottle lights. Whatever the occasion may be, you’ve got a craft that will make it shine.

Which summer craft will you do first?

Score a Touchdown With Your Family This Football Season With These Sporty Crafts

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Even if you’re not excited about football season, chances are there’s someone in your house who is. At FaveCrafts, we’ve been preparing for this for months, so we have a real treat for all of you pre-season crafters. We’ve picked out some of our best football-inspired crafts that we think your whole family will love. Whether you’re going to be in the stands or on the couch, you’ll find something below that you’ll want to tackle.

Taped Up Tushy Cushion – When you’re not jumping out of your seat in excitement for the home team, you’re going to be sitting on bleachers that might be less-than-comfortable. Be sure you’re prepared with this ingenious craft project that doesn’t require any sewing at all. It’ll be just like sitting at home on a nice sofa, which will help keep even the most restless family members happy in their seats.

Stuffed Toy Football – In case you don’t have a real football on hand, you’ll always have a backup that you made yourself. This football is fun for both little children and small pets, so if you’re watching the game at home, this will keep them occupied and safe. The best part is that if it breaks, you can stitch it right back up again (much cheaper than replacing a real ball).

Football Field Tailgating Table – If you want to really score points with your sports fan at home, try out this DIY table. Not only is it durable and inexpensive, but it can also be customized to support your family’s favorite team. A design like this is sure to have all of your guests rushing to get seconds.

Team Pride Jersey Tote – If you’re attending a lot of games this season, you’ll need a strong defense against boredom and hunger. This sporty tote bag is an easy sewing project that you can create from an old jersey and can hold everything you’ll need on the go. It’s the best of both worlds; representing your favorite team and having what you need to keep your family occupied.

 

Team Pride Bottle Cozy – Team spirit doesn’t have to stop at wearables and decorations; it can also be represented through your refreshments. This crochet cozy is the perfect blend of form and function, as it’s a creative way to show your support, but also to keep your hands warm on chilly autumn game nights.


Easy Striped Scarf – One of the toughest things about fall sports is how unpredictable the weather can be. You don’t have to worry if you get ahead of the game and make some scarves for your family. They’re easy, fashionable, and wearable options for both genders. Be on the offense against the cold this year without losing a sense of style.

You’ll be your family’s MVP if you prepare for the upcoming football season with some smart crafting. If you loved these projects, head over to our site for even more football-themed crafts!

What’s your favorite part of football season?

Give New Life to Old Furniture!

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One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to browse old thrift stores and antique shops for great furniture bargains.  There’s nothing quite like the thrill of getting a set of chairs or a table for $2.00 and completely revamping it, turning it into a unique piece of art that no one will believe started as a hunk of junk.

But for all of us, there comes a time when you’re just stumped on ideas.  No matter how long you stare at that wooden dresser, those high back dining room chairs, or that end table you just can’t live without, you’re mind is blank when it comes to thinking of ways to make that furniture better.  Not to mention you don’t have the time or the money to devote to an afternoon of What Not to Wear: Furniture Edition.  Thankfully, there’s Quick and Easy Paint Transformations: 50 Step by Step Ways to Makeover Your Home for Next to Nothing.  This book is a plethora of ideas for how to turn your favorite thrift store finds into artistic and stunning home decor pieces that look like a million bucks, but cost pennies to complete.  And best of all, it can be yours…FREE!

Filled with tons of projects covering everything from aging and distressing, to crackle painting and decoupage, Quick and Easy Paint Transformations–the latest giveaway from FaveCrafts.com–takes the daunting fear out of revamping old furniture and provides step by step instructions on how to achieve several different painting techniques.

I particularly found the chapter on hand painting very useful.  Author Annie Sloan has lots of great ideas on how to add a unique hand painted touch to your furniture. For example, her cow parsley chest project uses a match to create a unique and beautiful cow parsley design on the front of a set of drawers.  Brilliant!

If you’re a crafty minded person who loves to breathe new life into old worn out things, be sure to sign up to win Quick and Easy Paint Transformations!  You have until May 8th to sign up, and you can register to win once every day…so the more you enter, the greater your chances of winning this awesome DIY go-to guide!

 

Meet and Make: Lisa DeNardi

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Today’s Meet and Make is Lisa DeNardi, a craft designer for AllFreeHolidayCrafts.

Lisa’s passion lies with creating something awesome from something neglected. For her, it’s all about time-honoured, classic possessions that never really go out of style. Sometimes she restores them to their original loveliness, other times they are re-purposed and reused into something fresh and fabulous. What started as a hobby and has turned into a small part-time business for Lisa.

Lisa lives in a home that she lovingly refers to as ‘The Money Pit’ since there’s always something to fix, paint, sand down, build up or move around.

Lisa created her blog, Recaptured Charm, when she lost her only sister to breast cancer in 2006. She wanted to turn to something that would occupy her time and her mind. She started with small furniture makeovers and within a year moved to a fixer-upper home and started a blog to chronicle her renovations and furniture transformations. She has been busy ever since.

You can find more about Lisa on her designer profile page.

10 Fun Facts About Lisa:

1. I am most comfortable in my work clothes that smell like Downey but are splattered with paint.

2. My father owned a Queens Plate winner in 1983;The Most Coveted Horse Racing Trophy in Canada.

3. I must see the opening credits of a movie or else I can’t start watching it.

4. I truly believe that square pizza tastes totally different than round pizza.

5. I try to convince all my friends and Mr. Charming that ‘all you can eat sushi’ is good for you.

6. When I hear my daughters come in at the end of the night, I silently thank God for another safe day.

7. I am the sister of a breast cancer victim. She was my best friend and is never far from my mind at any given moment.

8. Can recite every line from When Harry Met Sally and any Bugs Bunny Cartoon.

9. I have severe arachnophobia.

10. I have a hard time convincing my friends that despite my age I don’t have a grey hair on my head.

 

Lisa’s Craft Tutorial: Make a Coffee Filter Wreath

Materials:

  • Styrofoam wreath form
  • Approximately 200 coffee filters
  • Hot glue and glue gun
  • Decorations of your choice (ornaments, pine cones, branches, etc.)

Instructions:

1.  Fold the basket shaped filter in half.

 

2.  Run the filter through your hand to make a flower. Flatten the bottom and apply hot glue.

 

3.  Start gluing filters to the inside of the wreath and work your way out. No need to go all the way around. Leave the back as flat as you can.

 

4.  Using sharp scissors trim any areas that are uneven.

 

5.  Hot glue on any decorations you like.

 

Question:  Have you ever crafted with coffee filters before?  What did you make?

 

3 Days and Counting

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It’s almost here! My fiance and I are moving into our first place together in three days! Can you believe it? With that said there are so many things to do, so many things to pack, so many lists to make….ahhhhh. Breathe! I have most of my things packed, except for all my last minute things, which is kind of a lot. But I can’t wait to decorate the new place. I’ve been wanting to make some of my decorations for the house, not sure what the “hubs” is going to think of that. I found a really cute daisy flower pot though that I would love to create for any room, even if it’s for one of the bathrooms. Daisies are perfect too because that’s what I’m planning on using for our bouquets for the wedding. Daisies just brighten up the room and make me happy. Another really cute piece I found was this chocolate flower wall art. I think we’re going to be painting our bedroom some kind of brown color like a Mocha maybe, so this would look great in there. I guess I’m getting a bit ahead of myself though. We still have to pack, move in, unpack, clean. Oy ve!

For more great home decorating ideas, check out Vintage Home Decor, Cute Kitchen Decor Idea or 4 Fun Decor Ideas for the Kid’s Room.

daisy-flower-pot chocolate-flower-wall-art

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