Give Dad Something Great: Handmade Ideas to Make His Day

May 28, 2014 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

Father’s Day is around the corner and we think that store-bought gifts are just a little boring. Unused ties, Best Dad mugs, and golf balls are all collecting dust this year. It may seem like there are no other options for Father’s Day, but I can assure you that handmade gifts are the way to go. My dad still has some of my childhood artwork on his desk and hanging on his walls. I still stand by my motto: Happiness is Handmade.

Where to start? To make things easier for you, I’ve divided up our best “Dad Crafts” into categories so you can pick the right craft project to make. Start thinking about what your dad really likes and I’m sure you’ll make his day this Father’s Day!

Superhero Cork Coasters

Beer Bottle Holder

Denim Drink Cozy

The Best Drink Recipes: 13 Refreshing Easy Summer Recipes for You

Rustic Etched Drinking Glasses

Decorated Shot Glass

How to Make A Dad’s Rib Rub Jar

Father’s Day Grilling Apron

Father’s Day BBQ Plate

Father’s Day Spice Rubs

Dad and Son Tie Dye Camo Set

Personalized Plaid Platter

Father’s Day Coin Frame

Sepia Tone Crocheted Slippers

Framed Tie Wall Art

To the Ends of the Earth Card

Necktie Cell Phone Case

Manly Coffee Jacket

Stitched Leather Keychain

Cozy Cabin Slippers for Men

Golf Ball Flowers for Father’s Day

Golf Themed Photo Cube

Dad’s Golfing Frames

DIY Golf Towels

Rustic Man Cave Signs

Fishing Picture Frame

Father’s Day Forest Card

Rustic Cabin Plaque for Grandpa

Fisherman Quilt Wall Hanging

Geek Crafts: Nerdy Neckties for Father’s Day

Easy Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts… and Some Poetry

The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day Photo Shoot Saturday!

Craft for Fathers Day: 22 Free Homemade Gifts to Crochet

Knitting for Men: 14 Manly Patterns

Father's Day Crafts: Blogger Edition 2010 Book

"Crafts for Father's Day: 36 Homemade Father's Day Gift Ideas" free eBook

Put a Ring on It: 5 DIY Ring Patterns

April 28, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

Can it be true? Hollywood’s Eternal Bachelor, Mr. George Clooney, is engaged? Shocking! Word on the street is that he put a gorgeous (and enormous) ring on his girlfriend’s finger a few days ago. We’ll believe the marriage buzz when we get the invitation. In the meantime, all the hype about George settling down has us fantasizing about the ring of our dreams. Here are 5 DIY ring patterns that look fabulous and don’t cost a fortune.

No. 1: Cocktail Ring

Say “hello” to the classy and versatile Cocktail Ring. This piece of DIY jewelry looks great dressed up or dressed down. Whether you’re wearing jeans or sporting a dress jacket, this ring looks positively fetching. You can wear it to a Christmas party, and it makes a great addition to your New Year’s Eve outfit, as well. Believe it or not, this handmade ring gets its sparkle from a $2 pendant the designer found at Walmart. Make a trip to your local retailer, or raid your closet and dresser for costume jewelry. This DIY ring is the perfect project for people who like to upcycle and repurpose their baubles.

No. 2: Spiral Bead Ring

Looking for something a little more modern than rhinestones and floral motifs? Check out this Spiral Bead Ring. Choose your favorite bold bead to set off the silver wire. This deep blue looks lovely, but a bright purple or dark green would be just as stunning. The delicate wire wrapping on each side of the bead gives this ring a feminine look. Make this ring for a friend whose style is a little edgy.

No. 3: Wire and Pearl Ring

This Wire and Pearl Ring is every vintage-lover’s dream! Pearl beads allow you get that sophisticated vibe without spending money on authentic pearls. Grab your pliers and a handful of pearl beads and get to work! We love the varied colors of the beads in the photo, by the way. This is an easy tutorial for jewelry-making rookies to make. This DIY ring pattern will have you thinking summer, so wear it with your favorite sundress.

No. 4: Garden Green Bauble Ring

It’s easy being green with this Garden Green Bauble Ring. In fact, you can put together this springy accessory in less than an hour. The trick to making this DIY ring one-of-a-kind is mixing up the size, style, and texture of your beads. Try to use several larger beads as well as small ones, and feel free to incorporate faceted beads, seed beads, glass beads, and more. Whatever catches your eye is sure to catch someone else’s!

No. 5: Wire Wrapped Circle Ring

And what about those of us who like to keep things simple? There are hundreds of wire jewelry patterns out there, but it would be hard to find one that is simpler and more elegant than this Wire Wrapped Circle Ring. Classic shapes make for classy jewelry. If you want to add a dash of color to this DIY accessory, watch the video tutorial to see how to add pretty little seed beads to your ring.

What would your dream engagement ring look like?

In Case You Missed It: “11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More”

July 14, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

I am a huge fan of festive attire at any time of year. During the summer, I create wearable crafts with more color than in fall or winter. Around Halloween, I bust out the orange and black and go a little heavier on the eye makeup. At Easter, it’s pastels at all times, and pretty dresses.

The same trend holds true, of course, around Christmastime. Bring on the ugly sweaters, the handmade hats, the holiday earrings. You better believe I’ll find an excuse to wear my knee-high green and red striped socks, and I’ll roll up my skinny jeans to show them off, proudly. To me, nothing says “I’m getting in the holiday spirit” like dressing up in wearable crafts.

You can make great wearable crafts for the holidays when you download the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook! Christmas wearable crafts are perfect gifts for anyone on your Christmas list. Even if your friend, cousin, or child doesn’t love to wear handmade hats or homemade scarves, there’s always the argument of practicality. If it’s cold, you’ll need a hat. Why not make it an elf hat? If it’s brisk, you’ll need a scarf. Why not make it a Fleece Scarf with Pom Poms?

It may be more than six months until Christmas, but making great handmade Christmas gifts takes time . . . especially if you’re going to try making all eleven wearable crafts in this great AllFreeChristmasCrafts eBook!

What you’ll find in this eBook:

Loom Knitted Santa Hats: Talk about getting in the Christmas spirit. Nothing says “Merry Christmas!” like these great Loom Knitted Santa Hats. They’re festive, sure, but they’re also practical: if you live in a seasonal climate, you need to keep that head warm. Put those knitting skills to the test when you knit this great handmade Christmas gift found in the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook.

Santa Scarf: Now this homemade scarf is just so precious, I had to share. The scarf project has you make Santa’s face and beard on one end, and the entire length of the scarf is his hat! The scarf tapers to a point, then you attach a puff ball for the pom-pom, and you have the finished product. Best of all, you don’t need to sew to make this adorable scarf because this blogger gives directions for a no-sew version as well. Find this incredibly endearing scarf in the 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More eBook.

Download a copy of 11 Christmas Gift Ideas: Handmade Scarves, Hats and More; like all of our great eBooks, it’s free!

If you like this eBook, you might also enjoy:

6 Adorable Homemade Christmas Crafts for Summer

10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts to Make

What is your favorite wearable Christmas craft that you’ve made?

Teachers & Students: Celebrate Summer With DIY Gifts

June 2, 2013 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

This post is brought to you by Hannah Anderson for Full-Time Nanny.

It may be hard to believe, but it’s already time to think about end-of-year school gifts! Saying goodbye to friends is never fun, and it can be especially difficult when your child knows he may not see his favorite pals for the entire summer. To end the year on a high note, why not put together some inexpensive gifts for all of your kiddo’s classmates? The gift ideas in the following 30 blog posts are all reasonably priced and easily assembled, and are perfect for letting your little one’s friends know how much they mean to him.

DIY Favor Bags

Favor bags are a simple, inexpensive way that your child can treat all of his friends. All you need to assemble these little bags is some candy, maybe some small toys and a topper with a fun saying. One simple option for a favor bag is a Candy Header, which takes just minutes to make. You can even use a fun play on words when you make the topper, such as doing a ball-themed topper with the words “Have a Ball this Summer!” added on top.

Non-Food Gift Ideas

If the school your child attends doesn’t allow candy or food in goodie bags, or if you want to avoid potentially triggering an unknown food allergy, you can put together some bags or boxes filled with toys, fun straws and personalized cups instead. You can even create personalized version of the Class of ’09 Shirt with a graduation year and give one to everyone on the last day.

DIY Gifts from the Teacher

It’s easy for teachers to get attached to the students that they’ve taught for an entire school year. After all, you’ve seen them through their ups and downs, their learning struggles and their breakthroughs. You’ve watched them grow. Giving a little token to each child at the end of the year is completely appropriate and welcomed by the children. A Job Well Done Pin will help end the school year on a sweet and motivational note. With 20 or more students per class, the gifts likely need to be inexpensive and easily assembled.

DIY Gifts to Give to Tweens and Teens

By the time the kids get to be a little older, they may no longer be interested in goodie bags full of little trinkets or bags filled with candy. These six blog articles detail several gifts that are appropriate for older kids. Older children typically love pictures and CD’s, as well as all sorts of memorabilia that can be autographed by their friends. Teens can create their own Custom Notebooks in which friends can leave notes and memories from the year.

Homemade Gifts for Kids to Make

When there are lots of kids to make gifts for, the costs associated with each gift can quickly add up. Using items that you have at home and making gifts for classmates is a frugal option that will still allow the student to give something to classmates and teachers. If you’re looking for a thoughtful teacher gift, have your child create a Tribute to Teacher. Use scrap fabric and a picture frame to create a quick and thoughtful gift. After your child determines what he wants to give his friends, you can give him a helping hand putting everything together.

Link Love: Making It Personal

May 30, 2013 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

I’ll admit it – I’m a sucker for a single letter – J (for Julia, of course). When I see a J accent or decoration, I have to have it. In my lifetime, I’ve had J necklaces, J purses and even J sweaters. There’s something so special about a monogram, big or small. Whether the piece is mass-produced or one-of-a-kind, that personal touch makes it feel extra special. Plus, monogram gifts are always a great option when showing someone you care. In fact, I just gave a friend an S mug for her birthday!

No matter the occasion, you can’t go wrong with a monogram craft. In fact, monograms can also help you personalize a shared space like a dorm room. Young people will love creating Elegant Wood Wall Monograms to hang up and display. Spell out a name or hang up a single letter – this simple craft is extremely versatile. If you’re looking for a practical yet fun sewing pattern that can be used over and over again. consider creating a Felt Monogrammed Glasses Case. You’ll never swipe someone’s spectacles when you keep a pair in a personalized case. Plus, the design is simple, so you don’t have to be an expert to make your own version. Looking for a pretty wedding gift for a soon-to-be-bride? Cross stitch your own version of an elegant Monogrammed Sachet. Fill the sachet with a relaxing scent like lavender to help the bride stay calm on the big day.

Monograms make even the more boring item so much more personal and important. Who knew a single letter could mean so much? Sew, stitch or paint a single letter and transform your next craft into a meaningful work of art.

Monogram Gift Box from Craftgenuity
Stitched Monogram from Do Small Things With Love
Monogrammed Jewelry Box from The DIY Village
Yarn Dipped Monogram Letters from Hello Lidy
Yarn Wrapped Monogram Gift Tag from Craft Craft Love
DIY Clay Monogram Medallions from Damask Love
Moss Monogram Door Sign from Designing and Diapers
Monogram Brooch Pin from Caught on a Whim
Reverse Embroidery Hoop Monogram from Flax and Twine

Make Homemade Gifts for the Graduate that He or She Will Love

May 8, 2013 by FaveCrafts 1 Comment

It’s amazing how quickly graduation season rolls around each year. If your family members or friends are donning that black cap and gown, it may be time for you to think about homemade gift ideas for the graduate in your life. For my own part, I’ll admit that I’m still mourning the long-lost college life and that sweet season of graduation. As a way of coping with my graduation-less future, though, I find it best to indulge in some graduation crafts for those around me. A little self-indulgence now and then isn’t too bad, right? Check out what my most recent search for graduation stuff yielded.

Homemade Gifts for the Grad- Another Excuse to Craft!

Make this “Finding My Way” Graduation Gift in time for the morning of his or her graduation. This adorable table decoration will psych them up before they have to make that walk towards their diploma.

Maybe you want to go more traditional. Totally fine. You can utilize the always-appropriate picture frame as a way of gifting to your graduate. The Graduation Frame is a quick and easy project that is entirely tailored for the special day. You can also check out our other famous frame projects to tailor a gift to your graduate’s taste.

Graduation Decor and More that You’ll Adore

I was super psyched when I came across this DIY Pinwheel from Style Me Pretty. This project will add a whole lot of fun to whatever shindig you’re holding. Make this grade-A graduation decoration by fashioning these DIY pinwheels in your graduate’s school colors.

Maybe you’re a scrapbooking fiend. If you’re hosting a graduation party, take it as an opportunity to display a Graduation Scrapbook Page. You can include a photo of the graduate, their accomplishments and even a space for guests to sign. Browse through our scrapbook crafts to get more ideas for this party-pleaser.

Don’t forget about a banner! Make this Congrats Paper Banner to add some festive fun to your party. It’s so easy to make and will look gorgeous. String it up and let guests and the graduate celebrate underneath.

Time to get crafting on those homemade graduation gifts and decorations. You’re not only crafting gifts and decorations; you’re crafting memories!

Do you have a favorite graduation memory?

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with some Handmade Gift Ideas

January 27, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

With Valentine’s Day coming up, crafters everywhere will be looking for some sweet and heartfelt gift ideas to make for their loved ones. The editors at AllFreeChristmasCrafts are very excited, because we’ve seen many wonderful Christmas crafts that would be just as thoughtful in February. You can make edible crafts, wearables, or even a personalized card with some special details to show your loved one you care.

Strawberries and Chocolate Tree – Make a tree craft that’s both decorative and delicious. This is an unconventional approach to the standard chocolate covered strawberries gift that’s often considered very romantic. You’ll impress whoever receives this with how professional-looking it is, and you won’t have to worry about it taking up space during the rest of the year, because it’ll be gone before the night is over.

Bite Size Chocolate Spoons – There’s no better way to top off a nice holiday dinner than a minty, chocolatey dessert. If you’re having a party on Valentine’s Day, these will be a great addition to your Christmas table, or you can give a box of them as a cute homemade gift. Not all chocolates have to break your bank! Something homemade will be much more touching.

“We Love You” Jar – If you have little ones at home who you’d like to encourage to get into the spirit, or if you’d like to give them something special, this easy kids craft is a very popular choice for many crafters. All you need to do is cut up some paper scraps and come up with your best personal messages for whichever loved one will be receiving this. A jar craft like this is a simple way to teach kids the value of creating handmade gifts as opposed to buying something.

Single Serving Hot Chocolate in a Jar – Another great use for craft jars is one that cocoa fans will love. If you have a special recipe for homemade tea or coffee, you can easily switch those options in. Anyone who loves to start the day with a warm cup of something to drink will appreciate this so much, and they can refill it for every day use.

Cocktail Ring – Jewelry is always romantic, but very expensive to personalize. Now you can make something truly one-of-a-kind for your special someone with this very thrifty tutorial. You can find a look that matches their style and personality, making this piece of DIY jewelry one they will want to wear every day of the year.

Center Step Card – One of the toughest parts of Valentine’s Day is finding a card that gets across your message of love and thankfulness without being generic. As a crafter, there’s no better solution than to make a homemade card, and this one in particular really pops with a 3D effect. Design a personal message that you can make stand out with your choice of festive cardstock.

What are you thinking of giving this Valentine’s Day?

4 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Teacher

November 9, 2012 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

Teaching is a thankless job. Not only do they have to spend all day with rambunctious children but then they have to spend all night grading papers and creating lesson plans. The madness never ends! But this Christmas take time out of your life to thank a teacher with these four great homemade Christmas gift ideas. Create some wonderful and loving teacher gifts. Taking only a small portion out of your day to make something nice for a teacher is a great way to help give thanks for all the amazing things that he or she does on a daily basis.

I have a very close friend of mine who is a middle school teacher and I asked her what gifts she would like to receive and here are some of the responses I got back from her:

Ornament Shaped Gift Card Holders

A traditional gift to give a teacher is gift cards. All teachers (and really everybody else too) love free money. Brighten up the gift by making your own Christmas-themed gift card holder with this wondrous pattern from Better Homes and Garden. It not only is very easy to make but that little extra effort shows that you care.

Decorative Christmas Basket Filled With School Supplies

Most teachers have to spend their own money on basic school supplies like pens, paper, and post-it notes. Giving teachers a big basket full of school supplies is a stupendous gift that all teachers will be able to appreciate. However, like the gift card idea given above, the gift in and of itself can be boring and unimaginative. Our friends over at AllFreeHolidayCrafts have come up with a solution for this: an easy to make decorative Christmas basket. The basket takes under an hour to make, costs under 10 dollars to create, and it shows your thankfulness.

Coffee and Coffee Cozies

BREAKING NEWS: Teachers love coffee. Coffee is another classic gift that kids love to give their teacher and a gift that teachers love to accept. However, handing a teacher a bag of coffee grounds is just as much fun as it is for this kid to sit through that teacher’s class every day. House On Hill Road came up with an entertaining way to spruce up the gift. Their original idea was to create a fun gift card holder but I think this works even better when giving coffee as a gift.

Picture Of The Class With A Christmas Decoupage Picture Frame

My friend was telling me that when you work so long and when you spend so much time in the classroom, the kids become your second family. There is nothing more sentimental and personal than giving a gift of a picture of the class. Add a great Christmas touch to the picture with this great Christmas Decoupage Picture Frame from yours truly at FaveCrafts.

What is your go-to gift for a teacher during the holiday season?

6 Crafty Ways to Say “I Love You”

February 10, 2012 by AllFreeHolidayCrafts Leave a Comment

For us crafty gals, sometimes the best way to express our feelings is through our work. I know that whenever I want to show someone how I feel, I always wind up making them something. Whether it’s a scrapbook for my mom’s birthday, a sewn necktie for Father’s Day or just a special handmade card for a friend’s birthday, handmade “labors of love” are always my go-to gifts.

So, with Valentine’s Day just a few short days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite crafty ways to say “I love you” to that special someone. And don’t worry if you don’t have enough time to finish these before February 14th. The great thing about all of these projects is they’ll be just as meaningful any time of year. You can make these for birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones, or even better… as a “just because” present. Aren’t those the best kind of gift?!

Handmade Cards – One of the easiest ways to say “I love you” is with a card you’ve made yourself! It doesn’t have to look super professional; it just has to come from the heart! If you’re looking for inspiration, this “Love You” note card and envelope is one of my favorites, but I also love this Charming Heart Card and the Treasured Love card.

Decorative Picture Frames – If you’re not the craftiest person, picture frames are a great project for you to tackle. You can give yours a personal touch and include a special photo of one of your favorite memories! These Fancy Frames are so elegant looking, and this Lovely Lace Frame would be perfect for a girly girl.

Flowers from Yarn – Who doesn’t love receiving flowers? The only thing I don’t like about it is mine tend to die pretty quickly, and nothing’s sadder than a wilting rose. So, why not make that special someone a flower or bouquet that will last forever! This knitted Peruvia rose is beautiful, and so is this crocheted Always Blooming Bouquet.

Gifts with Photos – Turn your favorite picture of you and your loved one into a keepsake they can display in their home! I love this personalized photo clock and also these reversible family photo placemats (though it might be sort of strange to eat your dinner on top of your cousin’s face, it’s still super cute as a kitchen decoration!). You can also preserve special memories in the form of a cute accessory with this Glass Photo Pendant. Speaking of jewelry…

Jewelry – If there’s a lady in your life who you want to shower with gifts of love, there’s no better present than handmade jewelry! Make her this “Live, Laugh, Love” charm bracelet and she’ll make it part of her everyday wardrobe; I guarantee it! I also love the idea of this hidden message locket!

Sweets – The way to just about anyone’s heart is through their stomach, or at least that’s the way the saying goes. So, if you really want to show your love, make them a sweet treat! Chocolate is almost universally loved, so why not make them these Love Struck Chocolates? Or even better, how about this Amazing and Edible Chocolate Body Scrub?! If you want to go the candy route, you could always whip up a batch of homemade Conversation Candy Hearts. And they might not be edible, but these chocolate-inspired crochet patterns would definitely be a hit with anyone who has even the tiniest bit of a sweet tooth! Check out the Amigurumi Chocolate Fountain, the Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates and the Hot Chocolate Amigurumi!

Have you ever made someone a homemade gift? What did you make?

Link Love: The Manliest of Gifts

November 24, 2011 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

It seems like the men in our lives get overlooked when it comes to crafting a lot of the time. Let’s face it, most of the frilly, pretty, poofy things we craft just don’t appeal to guys. So what can you make for your man this year? Try one of these ideas from around the web!

DIY Monogram Mugs from Design Mom
Toiletry Bag from Prudent Baby
Beer Coasters from Bare Bodied Beauty
Monogrammed Cuff Links from Purl Bee
Big Bow Tie from Kojo Designs
Stenciled Bike Shirt from Tatertots and Jello on Kojo Designs
Guitar T-Shirt from Acire Adventures
Leather ‘Tache Keychain from Luck and Bliss
Etched Beer Mugs from I’m a YaYa!