FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

4 Super Last-Minute DIY Christmas Gifts

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This craft tutorial roundup is brought to you by craft designer Rachel Faucett aka Handmade Charlotte.

I found 5 perfect projects for the “fly by the seat of your pants” crafter. These are the gifts that everyone will love unwrapping. Each project can be completed in 20 minutes or less and is so super basic with great instructions. Get the supplies out fast and get to work because Christmas is here!

The 20 Minute Tote
You could probably save time by cutting two or three out at the same time.
via Purlbee

DIY Simple Felt Tree Ornaments With Free Pattern
via Handmade Charlotte

DIY Star Photo Holders
via Handmade Charlotte

DIY Super Easy Photo Ornaments
via Babble

Create 10 Quick and Easy Gifts with AllFreeChristmasCrafts Latest Free eBook

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I have news for you – there are officially on 5 months until Christmas! I bet you’ve noticed a few Christmas items at local big box stores or spied a few Christmas in July posts on your favorite sites (including this one). Before you know it, the weather will begin to change, the kids will be hopping on the bus back to school and the holidays will be upon us. Sure, there are some important dates in between now and Christmas (Halloween, Thanksgiving), but nothing requires quite as much time, dedication and planning as the holiday season. Save yourself the stress and start creating homemade Christmas gifts now. The latest eBook from AllFreeChristmasCrafts, 10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts To Make, is filled with crafty inspiration.

Gift giving is one of the most rewarding aspects of Christmas, but the  need to find the “perfect gift” can lead to undue stress. Download a copy of 10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts to Make (it’s free!) and save it all year long. You can come back to this eBook whenever you need an unexpected and unique gift idea. Many of the crafts are kid-friendly and simple enough for beginners, so crafter of all ages are sure to find a fun gift to make.

Here are just a few projects you’ll find in 10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts to Make:

Personalized Casserole Dish

Add a personal touch to a practical item this Christmas – it’s so simple! Using etching cream and contact paper, transfer a homemade image or word on to an everyday item such as the casserole dish featured above. Each time they make a delicious dish, the gift recipient will be reminded that you created a thoughtful gift just for him or her! This is a great gift for a cooking enthusiast and it’s so simple to make. In fact, you can create a Personalized Casserole Dish in less than hour. This is a fantastic project for a novice crafter or anyone that is short on time.

 

Coffee Cup Cozy

Cold winter morning require a warm beverage, it’s pretty much the law. You probably don’t realize just how harmful those little paper sleeves are for the environment. If you have a special someone on your list that can’t survive without their morning cup of coffee of tea, make a Coffee Cup Cozy using fabric scraps and a sewing machine. This is a simple project for anyone that’s new to the world of sewing. Plus, you can use up your fabric scraps and save yourself some cash.

 

Winter Fairy Land Snow Domes

Last winter, Taylor Swift sent out a Twitpic that rocked the craft universe. Why? Because in the photo, she was making her own snow globes! Immediately, it seemed that everyone was looking for snow globe projects and tutorials. Snow globes are a fun collectable that can be displayed anywhere. Best of all, you can use recycled mason jars for this super simple project. Each globe can be personalized using figurines, fake foliage and more. Search your local dollar store for cheap plastic miniatures and add them to your project. This gift is ideal for someone who works at a desk – he or she can think of you every time they glance at their personalized snow globe!

 

These are just a few of the projects featured in 10 Quick and Easy Christmas Gifts to Make. Download a copy today – it’s free!

6 Cute Kitchen Crafts You’ll Love!

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I’ll admit, I’m not much of a cook. I can make pasta and eggs but anything out of that skill level is a challenge. My family will never let me live down the day when I burned soup. Who knew you could even do that? I didn’t, that’s for sure.

The funny thing is that as hopeless as I am at cooking, I love to bake. Cakes, cookies, brownies, you name it I’ve baked it. I guess I like how scientific the recipes are, basically if you follow the directions you end up with a delicious treat!

This summer, I’m moving into my first apartment and I’m excited to have my very own kitchen to let my baking fantasies run wild. The kitchen itself is a little drab but I know with some cute crafty projects I’ll be able to liven the decor up a bit. That’s why I’m loving these quick and easy pot holder sewing patterns. Not only are they practical but they will look great hung on the shelf over my sink or even just on the counter. Just looking at these cute potholders makes me want to bake. Or even learn to cook!

You won’t be able to find these fun pot holders in stores! Not only are these sewing patterns unique, but they are super easy to make:

  

“Let’s Eat” Potholder – I’m in love with the fun applique utensils on this pot holder. Not only does it have a pocket for my hand but it’s so cute it makes me want to cook something!

Retro Potholder – Right now I’m really into anything with a vintage or retro feel. This pot holder has a fun pattern and colors that remind me of the 60’s and 70’s.

You Are So Hot Potholder – This is such a clever pattern. It’s silly but it’s sure to make you smile every time you see it.  I’m a sucker for puns so I think this pot holder is hilarious!

Double Potholder – This potholder is longer than most and protects your wrists and part of your arm from the heat. It’s great for me because I’m not the most graceful when it comes to maneuvering pans out of the oven.

Polka Dot Pot Holders – Polka dots are such a fun pattern and it makes these pot holders really pop! I want to make a set of these in coordinating colors to give to my friends as housewarming gifts.

Dishtowel Potholder – These are made from dishtowels which makes it a thrifty pattern that’s really useful. I’m going to buy some  dishtowels from the dollar store to make these on the cheap.

If you are looking for more  easy sewing projects to add some spice to your kitchen you should check out these 10 Kitchen Projects: How to Make Potholders + 3 New Ideas.

Which pot holder is your favorite? Share with us below!

 

 

 

 

Easy as 1-2-3! New craft ideas on Cool2Craft TV

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Easy as 1-2-3 Cool2Craft TV

This week, the Cool2Craft community is sharing super easy ideas this week! Watch your favorite crafters create super cool projects. Join EcoHeidi Borchers, Tiffany Windsor, Candace Jedrowicz, Savannah Starr, and Heather Valentine for this week’s episode.

EcoHeidi is sharing a fun discovery — the Look of Fused Glass, Savannah Starr is creating a rope bow necklace,Tiffany Windsor crafts ribbon wraps, Candace Jedrowicz is making a polymer clay bead fob and a quick and easy soda can pin and Heather Valentine stitches up covered wire hangers.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Monday March 19, 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

The First Ever Craft Bowl: Quick Craft Projects to Do During Game Time

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Huge TV sales, empty grocery stores, and a surprising lack of men out and about can only mean one thing:  Super Bowl Weekend!  For many households, this weekend is game time.  The snacks are made, the beer is cold, and football fans are bearing their colors as their favorite teams go head to head in the biggest game of the year.  But what about those who aren’t into football?  Why, you can gear up to get crafty!

We have a great lineup of quick and easy craft projects that you can do while everyone else yells, cheers, and hollers at the TV.  If you’re really on your game, you can easily tackle two or three before the big game’s over!  Let the Craft Bowl begin!

Fans of both the New England Patriots and The New York Giants will love this American Spirit Stars and Stripes Throw.  Handmade crochet afghans are great for passing the time or working on as you watch the game (or the commercials)!  You could even leave this patriotic crochet afghan on your couch year round…and is obviously great to bring for picnics and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Are you hosting a Super Bowl party this year?  Why not make little Team Pride Bottle Cozies for all your guests to thank them for coming?  This adorable quick and easy crochet pattern is so fun and is a great way to show your team pride!  You could even make these before the big game to help guests remember which drink is theirs.

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to come up with new DIY home décor projects, so my Craft Bowl will be spent working on ways to brighten up my home for spring!  I love these Bright Button Flowers and I can’t wait to make them!  It’s a great way to use up all my random buttons and to add color to my dining room!  Plus I don’t have to worry about forgetting to water these!

Speaking of spring (and water!), you know what they say:  April showers bring May flowers…and the coming of spring means lots of rainy days!  If your umbrella is not up to the challenge, give it a makeover with this Umbrella Recovery Project.   This simple sewing project should take you no more than three hours to complete and is a great way to fall in love with rainy days!

Three hours is the perfect amount of time to organize your craft supplies.  This Coffee Cup Tool Carrier is a great way to keep track of your crafting essentials, as well as use up those Styrofoam or paper cups you’ve been saving.  This simple craft project is so easy that you’ll have your whole craft stash organized without having to go into overtime!

So there you have it.  A lineup of fun easy craft ideas fit for a DIY All-Star.  And while we don’t have funny, over-the-top commercials between projects, we do have lots of other fun ideas for you at FaveCrafts.com…so be sure to check out our newsletter this weekend for more Craft Bowl projects!

How are you spending The Super Bowl?  Cheering?  Eating?  Crafting?  We wanna know!    

Too Cool for School

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The summer has flown by. It doesn’t even feel like we had a summer this year. Come August all the kids are going back to school. I was never ready to leave school, but I guess you have to go into the working world at some point. There are so many ways you can get the kids back into the groove of going back to school soon. You know they love the summer and dread going back, so have some fun out of it. I found this really cute craft that kids can make for themselves, for a friend or for their teachers. It’s a terra cotta pot apple container. Kids can put anything they want in there, whether it’s little treats or even small school supplies. It’s really easy to make and I thought it was a cute craft, so I thought I’d share. Terra cotta pots are really cute, so if you like this craft you should check out the decorative pots. I really like the painted pots for the kitchen. Kids can definitely help out with this one. Get creative!

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty