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Ah, The Great Outdoors: Homemade Camping Gear and Munchies

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The-Great-OutdoorsOh, how I miss family camping trips. As a child, there was nothing more exciting than watching my parents pull sleeping bags, lanterns, and outdoor eating utensils out of a storage closet. My little brother and I would run around and try to remember what each object was for. My parents, of course, would be less than amused: “Get out of the way; this box is heavy!” “Chelsea, turn that lantern off or you’ll waste the battery!” Making camping preparations was just about as exciting as the actual trip itself. If you’re planning a campout this summer, try to make some of your own homemade camping gear.

Your journey begins once you dust off a cooking set or unload cozy sleeping bags and when you discover the best s’mores recipe ever. And it will live on in the pages of a handmade travel journal. Make the absolute most out of your trip right from the start. These DIY camping ideas will make sure that your trip is as fun as it can be. Camping, of course, can be a stressful time, but we have everything you may need to bring right here, as well as a few snacks to enjoy. Let the kids be part of the fun with camping crafts for kids as well.

 

Homemade Camping Gear

Everything from cooking sets and sleeping bags to hand warmers and simple campfire seating can be found in this handy must-have camping list.

PENTAX ImageRugged Camper Cooking Set

Camping or Sleep Over Bag

No Sew Hand Warmers

Fun Camping Butt-Kits

Camping Tote

How to Make an Outdoor Candle Chandelier

Marshmallow Sticks

Good Things to Bring Camping

Summer Hike Water Bottle Strap

DIY Folding Camp Chair

Tin Can Name Plates

 

Food for Camping

I hope you’re not expecting something “healthy.” These delicious snacks for camping will satisfy your adventurer’s sweet tooth and include the best s’mores recipe ever. If you want to try a little something different and stray from oatmeal raisin cookies, then try making a few campfire cupcakes. As you make them at home, you’ll grow even more excited for your trip. Just make sure you don’t eat them all before you leave!

Campfire-Smores-Kabobs[1]Campfire S’mores Kabobs

Campfire Cupcakes

Cutest Cookie Campers

Edible Crafts Campfire

The Coolest Campfire Cookies

Camping Getaway Snack

 

 

 

 

 

How to Make a Travel Journal

No camping trip is complete without a special place to store all your memories. If scrapbooking isn’t your thing, consider making a travel journal to jot down a few funny stories or tape in some canoeing tickets. These woodsy journals are perfect for you to tote along on your trip.

Earthy-Memory-Book[1]Watercolor Travel Journal

Earthy Memory Book

 

BONUS!  If you need a few extra crafts to keep the kids busy while you’re setting up camp or trying to pack, download our free eBook:  22 Summer Crafts for Kids. I bet my parents wish they had this when they were trying to load the minivan!

 

What is on your list of must-have camping gear?

 

Dress Up a Clay Pot & Add Some Color to Your Patio

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This tutorial is brought to you by Latrice Murphy for Any Occasion.

There is still time to spruce up your outdoor space with fun handmade pieces like colorful DIY succulent pots. I’m lucky to have a landscape designer husband, but he’s not into decorating that space. I wanted to add pops of white and aqua to our patio, so I decided to make these fun little pots to put around our space.

Materials:

  • 2 clay pots
  • Various succulents
  • Spray paint in the color you would like
  • Ribbon
  • Hot glue gun
  • Various ribbons and gems
  • Box or drop cloth

Instructions:

First, you want to spray paint the pots and let them dry in between a few coats.

Next, choose your ribbons and create bows by bunching layers together in the center and tying it together. I finished my bows off with a giant gemstone.

After your pots have dried, it’s time to decorate them. I started with ribbon and simply hot glued it around the top portion of the pot.

Next, I took my bow and added it to the center. My bow matches my other handmade summer decor, so I love that it flows outside too.

Plant your pot or do as I did just simple keep your plant in the pot it came in and sit it inside. That way you can change the plants later is you would like to.

 

Succulents have swept the nation all of a sudden. They are such fun and unique plants and I feel like they needed a unique pot. I hope you try this soon since summer’s almost to its end. Have fun creating before it’s over!

Link Love: Projects for Your Patio

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It’s party time! The Fourth of July is just weeks away and summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to head outside. There are so many little touched you can add to your outdoor space, whether it’s big or small. Seek out inexpensive planters and party supplies at your local home goods store – you can always add paint, string, yarn and other touches to create a one-of-a-kind craft.

In general, the more colorful the craft project, the more it will stand out. Simply applying paint to a plain clay pot can add a touch of sunshine to an otherwise boring piece. A Floraled Flower Pot doesn’t require a lot of skills or expertise to make, but the results are sure to put a smile on your face.  Paper crafts can also perk up your space during the warm summer months. Patio Paper Lanterns make great decorations during a summer cookout. Best of all, they don’t take long to make, so you can create a bunch and place them all around your deck. Once you’ve decorated your space with a few items, it’s time to focus on comfort. Crochet a few Easy Patio Pillows to place on uncomfortable patio furniture. Guests will love relaxing with your DIY creations and might now want to leave (you’ve been warned)!

This weekend, throw a party outside and enjoy the summer sun. Even a small gathering will help create memories that last long after the season is over.

  1. Square Beadboard Garden Planter from Home and Away
  2. DIY Stripe Stamped Herb Pots from A Bird’s Leap
  3. Wood Veneer Pendants from Fabric, Paper, Glue
  4. Succulent Wreath from Unskinny Boppy
  5. Outdoor Rug from Design Improvised
  6. Glowing Magical Butterfly Garden from Crafty Moods
  7. Fabric Tassel Garland from Prudent Baby
  8. Dixie Cup Garland from Hey Gorg
  9. Drop-Cloth Patio Rug from Whimseybox

This Week on Cool2Craft TV – Great Outdoors

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Cool2Craft TV - Great Outdoors

This week, the Cool2Craft design team is sharing a fun collection of great outdoors inspired ideas! Watch your favorite crafters create super cool projects and join in the live on-line chat. Join EcoHeidi Borchers, Tiffany Windsor, Candace Jedrowicz, Linda Peterson, and Savannah Starr for this week’s online episode.

EcoHeidi Borchers is creating a Look of Enamel Travel Journal Cover, Tiffany Windsor is crafting Upcycled Whimsical Yard Art, Savannah Starr is making a Glittered Dinosaur Necklace, Candace Jedrowicz is decorating a Mixed Media Canvas, and Linda Peterson is crafting an Outdoor Candle Chandelier.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Monday July 2, 2012 at 9 am Pacific/ 10 am Mountain/ 11 am Central/ noon Eastern. Watch craft demos and join in the live chat at showtime at Cool2Craft.com. See you Monday!

 

Watch live streaming video from cool2craft at livestream.com

Link Love: The Great Outdoors

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There’s nothing like the great outdoors, especially this time of year. I love barbecues, campfires, and evenings spent on my porch, listening to the cicadas. Pretty up your outdoor space with some of these whimsical ideas from around the web.

  1. Upcycled Windchimes from Hands On: As we Grow
  2. Ruffled Soda can Cozy from Craftaholics Anonymous
  3. Anthropologie Inspired Beach Chairs from modhomeec
  4. Outdoor Oilcloth Placemats from Craftzine
  5. Drab to Fab Patio Table from Virginia Blue
  6. Outdoor Hanging Lanterns from The Pleated Poppy
  7. Sea Shell Windchime from Lee La La for Ucreate
  8. Backyard Sandbox from MADE
  9. Patterned Pinwheels from Jones Design Company

Start your Summer Garden

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I just decided that I’m going to start a vegetable garden this summer. With the high cost of fruit and vegetables, I’m hoping that it will pay off to grow a little of my own produce. I haven’t done any gardening for years, so all of the sudden I’m getting really into it! Not only is gardening a great green activity, but garden crafting is also a way to get the family together outside. I love these tips to decorate your garden while saving money from our tips on summer crafts with your kids. Check these out:

Windsocks are easy projects that only require a few materials:

You can make your very own windsock with just some colored paper, decorative ribbon and clothespins to hang it from. Your kids can help you decorate your windsock while you cut the ribbon. Click here for the blowin’ in the wind windsock project idea. 

 

Use what you’ve got:

If you have extra paint (that doesn’t stain!) let your kids decorate the fence around the vegetable garden with it. They can make their own signs to label what you’re growing too with just some colored markers and paper. If you have extra clay around the house, let them make their favorite animals in clay to put on the patio or in the garden. If you have an abundance of green clay, try making these cute clay turtles!

 

Make your garden unique and whimsical:

Add your own personal touch to your garden that will make your garden your own. Forget buying that expensive garden gnome! Try something like this bees and hive outdoor decor made out of terra cotta saucers.

 

Outdoor Bees and Hive

How cute are these? This is going to be my new craft project with my little cousins this weekend. I better start planting soon!

For more summer crafting ideas with kids check out our page at FaveCrafts.com.

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