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14 Actually Pretty Perler Bead Crafts to Melt

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The 90s are back in full swing with chokers showing up on store shelves and beautifully bright, neon craft ideas populating the most popular crafting blogs and sites more and more every day. The days of 60s/70s/80s nonstalgia is taking a backseat to the #ThrowbackThursday love for all things 90s-themed. If you’re really looking to craft like it is 1999, consider making perler bead craft ideas. These brilliant little beads were popular back in the 90s and are experiencing resurgence now that we’re starting to look back. Traditional perler bead patterns create charming little designs from melted beads. This list offers perler bead patterns that are used in unexpected ways. Whether you’re making perler bead jewelry or perler bead home décor, you’re sure to love the 14 Actually Pretty Perler Bead Crafts to Melt.

   Unexpected Perler Bead Patterns and More

Petite and Pink Perler Bead Earrings

  1. Checkerboard Can Cozies
  2. Petite and Pink Perler Bead DIY Earrings
  3. Rainbow Perler Bead Keychain
  4. Fully Floral Perler Bead Tray

Fully Floral Perler Bead Tray

  1. Unexpected Key Holder Perler Bead Pattern
  2. DIY Perler Beads Fruit Bowl
  3. Perler Bead Christmas Ornaments
  4. Colorful Cookie Cutter Ornaments

  1. Fun Emoji Perler Bead Patterns
  2. Hama Bead DIY Rings
  3. Personalized Bike License Plate
  4. Fruit Fish Perler Bead Bracelets
  5. Lovely Perler Bead Cuff Bracelets
  6. Wonderfully Wover Perler Bead Planter

Find even more 90s-inspired craft project ideas in our collection of rad rainbow loom ideas, 10 Rubber Band Loom Projects.

What types of unexpected projects have you made with beads?

13 Vintage Christmas Crafts

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Are you like us and you have a love for anything vintage? These type of items always seem to bring back the memories of good times and of our loved ones. If you’ve got a flare for the vintage, then these are the the Christmas craft ideas for you!

13 Vintage Christmas Crafts

Christmas crafts come in all varieties and sizes. From decorating the tree to making handmade ornaments or even DIY gifts, the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to get crafting. We love vintage Christmas crafts because not only do they remind us of times past, but they’re also timeless! No matter what, your vintage crafts will never go out of style. You’ll be able to use your DIY Christmas decorations year after year!

Everyone will be wondering how you made your own Crafty Coca Cola Advent Calendar or those Old School Christmas Crackers that are both beautiful and fun. You can keep your DIY Christmas decorations as classic as can be with some Vintage Dried Citrus Ornaments and add the finishing touch to your tree with a Granny Tree Skirt. Also, you can get that thrifty, vintage-look with this Thrifty Vintage Red Sled and Grandma’s Pearls DIY Wreath. All these Christmas crafts will have you and your home in the holiday spirit in no time! All your guests and friends will be impressed with your festive crafting skills. They’ll definitely be asking you to make them some homemade Christmas decor as well!

13 Vintage Christmas Crafts

  1. Crafty Coca Cola Advent Calendar
  2. Vintage Dried Citrus Ornaments
  3. Old School Christmas Crackers
  4. Thrifty Vintage Red Sled
  5. No Sew Vintage Quilted Star Ornament
  6. Grandma’s Adorable Baby Reindeer Hat
  7. Vintage Christmas Ornaments
  8. Grandma’s Pearls DIY Wreath
  9. Faberge Egg Ornaments
  10. Classic Christmas Stocking
  11. Touch of Vintage Christmas Mini Trees
  12. Granny Tree Skirt
  13. Antique Clothespins Tree

Traditional Vintage Christmas Crafts

Looking for more vintage Christmas crafts to soothe your nostalgia?

If you love retro Christmas ideas, be sure to check out our collection of cozy ideas your grandma would love. 29 Traditional Vintage Christmas Crafts has vintage craft ideas for just about every decade. Whether you are looking for a sled right out of Little House on the Prairie or hippy dippy holiday printables, there’s a Christmas craft idea you’re going to love in this collection.

 

What’s your favorite, classic Christmas movie?

43 Throwback Vintage Patterns

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Get inspired with the look of yesteryear with these 43 Throwback Vintage Patterns.  From home decor to knit and crocheted accessories, this collection of projects will have you reminiscing about the good ol’ days in no time!

We decided to kick off this collection of vintage patterns with some home decor ideas.  By recycling old sheet music, book pages, and other odds and ends in your craft stash, you can create awesome decorations for your home that have that special touch of vintage class.  This Measure for Measure Teacher Wreath, for example, is made using old rulers, flowers, and thread spools.  It’s a great way to decorate your workspace and it also makes a wonderful end-of-the-year teacher gift.
We also wanted to include plenty of knit, crochet, and sewing patterns so you could also enjoy the look of vintage in your wardrobe.  This DIY Fleece Cape may remind you of those chilly homecoming nights spent watching football with your high school friends.  Fans of the smash hit, Mad Men, may like making this Betty Sweater, and Downton Abbey fans will surely love this Downton Abbey Hat.

So enjoy your little trip back to the days of boyfriend sweaters, headscarves, and lacy designs with this collection of 43 Throwback Vintage Patterns!

43 Throwback Vintage Patterns

Throwback-Vintage-Patterns

If you were knitting in the 70s and 80s, you might remember condo knitting! Check out our complete guide: Condo Knitting: Knitting with Two Different Size Needles

Vintage Home Decor

Vintage Knitting Patterns

Vintage Crochet Patterns

Vintage Sewing Patterns

 

Get Great Gatsby Style with 10 1920s-Inspired DIY Jewelry Projects

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The 1920s are all the rage these days! The premiere of a new film adaptation of The Great Gatsby this year has ushered in a revived desire for Jazz Age-inspired jewelry. I don’t know about you, but I was so excited for the new film version of this classic American novel. The movie was certainly an audacious spin on the material, and it excited many admirers of the novel. Designers have also been excited and influenced by the film’s era, and looks galvanized by a love of the Jazz Age, flappers, and art deco have appeared all over fashion magazines and red carpets. Vintage jewelry pieces, in particular, are very popular.

You don’t have to bust your budget on expensive, vintage jewelry pieces; get these 1920s-style looks for less by making  DIY jewelry. AllFreeJewelryMaking has compiled a list of 1o vintage-inspired crafts to meet your 1920s-inspired fashion desires.

 

Jazz Age Homemade NecklacesMultistrand Bugle Bead Necklace

To get Great Gatsby inspired style, start off your DIY jewelry making with a statement piece. Try a homemade necklace, like this Multistrand Bugle Bead Necklace. This tutorial will show you how to make a necklace with so many strands with ease. You’ll have a necklace worthy of flapper wear in no time. Below are other DIY necklaces you can try to fit right in with the Jazz Age.

 

Darling Daisy-like DIY EarringsDeco Darling Earrings

The simplest way to add some vintage-inspired DIY jewelry is with homemade earrings. Art Deco style was huge in the 1920s, and you cannot go wrong with these Deco Darling Earrings. The gorgeous geometric design in these earrings recalls the bold Art Deco style of the ’20s. If you aren’t as into Art Deco but still want to rock a Great Gatsby-inspired look, try this Jazz Baby Gatsby Inspired Jewelry for another homemade earring project.

 

Flapper-worthy Homemade Hair AccessoriesRoyal Blue Flapper Hair Clip

Flappers are a staple symbol of the 1920s. If you’re looking for something to add a little excitement to your outfit for Saturday night, try making this Royal Blue Flapper Hair Clip. Try these other flapper-inspired jewelry pieces for your hair, put on your dancing shoes, and you’ll be ready for a night out on the town.

 

 

Movie Star Sparkle DIY BraceletsGreat Gatsby DIY Bracelet

Like most jewelry of the Great Gatsby era, these DIY jewelry pieces evoke eras of the past, with a modernized twist. This Great Gatsby DIY Bracelet from M&J Blog was inspired directly by a piece of jewelry that Carey Mulligan’s Daisy wore in the film. This homemade bracelet is stunning and very bold; if you are looking for some sparkle but something a little less flashy, try this Sparkle and Stardust Bracelet. The opulent effect of multiple stacked bracelets makes this one show-stealing piece.

 

 

So get into the Gatsby spirit this season and try these fun, vintage-inspired DIY jewelry pieces. Looking for more vintage-inspired jewelry to make? Find DIY jewelry projects from every era in 15 Vintage Jewelry Patterns.

For more inspiration, check out The Great Gatsby movie trailer:

 

Would you wear these 1920s-inspired accessories?

 

 

 

In Case You Missed It: “American Quilting Traditions: 11 Free Quilt Designs, Quilt Blocks, and More Americana” eBook

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Quilting is not only a tradition existing amongst a number of generations within a family, but also within a country. The editors at FaveQuilts have found that many of the most popular patterns on our site are also some with traditional roots in American quilting. We wanted to share our love of these classic quilt patterns with our readers, who can download a collection of them for free with our new eBook, American Quilting Traditions: 11 Free Quilt Designs, Quilt Blocks, and More Americana.

American Quilting Traditions: 11 Free Quilt Designs, Quilt Blocks, and More Americana

You might be surprised to see how many of your favorite patterns are part of the American quilting tradition! Several styles of quilting are included in this must-read eBook, so whether you’re simply looking for a vintage quilt pattern, or need a special patriotic quilt pattern for an upcoming holiday, you can have several choices right at your fingertips in minutes. There are also small quilt projects and techniques that are commonly seen in American quilts so you can even touch up a finished project to give it a more classic appeal.

What you’ll find in this eBook:

Flower Petal Dresden Plates – One of the projects you’ll see in this eBook is also a favorite on our site. The tutorial teaches you how to take a classic Dresden plate pattern and turn it into a versatile pattern that’s perfect as an applique quilt design or floral embellishment for a seasonal quilt pattern.

Old Money Quilt – We cover many different periods in American quilting that are equally as important in history. One of the best examples of this in our eBook is this stacked coin quilt based off of Civil War patterns. Fans of vintage quilt patterns will particularly enjoy this, especially if you have some old fashioned fabric you’re looking to use.

 

American Quilting Traditions: 11 Free Quilt Designs, Quilt Blocks, and More Americana
Download a copy of American Quilting Traditions: 11 Free Quilt Designs, Quilt Blocks, and More Americana – It’s free!

If you like this eBook, you’ll love:

 

 

Instant Antiques: 16 Vintage-Inspired Free Jewelry Patterns

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They say fashion repeats itself, and that has never been more true than today. Vintage style is all the rage, and modern day fashionistas are borrowing from any and every era, fom the Roaring ’20s to the psychedelic ’60s. But vintage items can be expensive, as any antique-shop-frequenting fashionista will tell you, and not all of us have an attic full of grandma’s old duds to pull from. Well lucky for the vintage-loving fashion maven of today, there are plenty of DIY projects to help you imitate the hot looks of yesteryear, especially when it comes to DIY jewelry. Check out these vintage-inspired free jewelry patterns and create instant “antiques” without the wait!


Fans of Downton Abbey will go head over heels for this refined necklace design. Inspired by the high necklines of the era, this Downton Abbey Lace Choker is an accessory fit for the most elegant aristocrat. Bring a bit of the Downton drama into your wardrobe with this stunning necklace pattern.

 

DIYVintageInspiredPearlEarrings

If there’s one jewelry statement that has stood the the test of time, it’s pearls. That’s why I love these DIY Vintage-Inspired Pearl Earrings from Delightfully DIY. They’re classic, sophisticated, and can never look outdated. Every girl needs some classic pearl jewelry in her collection; why not make your own with this tutorial?

 


You’ll be ready to rock the jazz club with this ’20s-inspired Art Deco Flapper Necklace. The “roaring” red strand of glass beads combined with the deco-style charms make this the essential accessory for any “new woman.” Pair this piece with a fringe dress and a feather headband (or a Royal Blue Flapper Hair Clip), and you’ll be good to go!

 


This one’s for you thrift shop junkies. Put those retro brooches and pins you’ve been collecting to good use with this Recycled Brooch Bib Necklace. You can easily pick up a whole slew of these on the cheap at your local second-hand shop and then transform them into this fashion-forward statement necklace.

 

VintageDoilyNecklace
Who would have thought that old doily on your grandmother’s end table could become gorgeous vintage-inspired jewelry? Rebekah Murray of Pretty Things did, which is why she created this jaw-droppingly gorgeous Vintage Doily Necklace tutorial. This piece is a perfect marriage of old and new, bringing that antique vibe into the contemporary fashion world.

 

Still feeling nostalgic? Do some more DIY time traveling with these vintage-inspired jewelry designs:

Find even more DIY jewelry tutorials and inspiration, both modern and vintage, at AllFreeJewelryMaking.com!

So, which is your favorite fashion era?

 

Grandma’s Favorites: Timeless Quilt Patterns

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Much of spring is spent preparing for new bundles of joy with many quilters working on quilts for babies. Interestingly enough, the editors at FaveQuilts have noticed a different trend going on as well; grandmother quilts. We love this versatile, very sweet trend and want to give you some ideas on how you can show your love for your granny in your quilting.

Grandmother’s Garden Flowers – This quilt block pattern is for quilters looking for a different approach to their designing. Though these floral hexagons look like they’re from English paper piecing patterns, you’ll discover that this tutorial actually shows you how to sew the hexagons onto their blocks simply with a machine. You can’t start a quilt without having a beautiful quilt block pattern, and this one will also be the perfect first project to start on come spring.


Grandmother’s Flower Garden Table Topper Pattern – Grandma’s favorite floral quilt patterns don’t have to just be for big projects. Next time she comes over, surprise her with a new table topper pattern that uses the hexagon quilt blocks you can learn above. Lay this out while enjoying some nice spring weather or spread it over a table indoors to bring some springtime cheer into your house.

Folk Heart Dresden Quilt – Another classic pattern that quilters have loved for generations are those involving Dresden plates. The whole family can get together and lounge on this throw blanket comfortably. Choose grandma’s favorite color scheme to make beautiful designs just in time for spring or any other part of the year.

 

Crazy Basket Quilt Block – Here’s one that lets you get a little crazy with your patchwork patterns. Turn the classic look of a basket quilt into a block with a real explosion of color with your scrap fabrics. A stack of these blocks could easily become a truly one-of-a-kind scrappy quilt that shows how you put your own twist on one of grandma’s old favorites.

Double Wedding Ring Wall Quilt – A sweet gesture that loved ones of all ages will really appreciate is another unique take on wedding quilt patterns. Instead of piecing this project together, all you’ll need to do is applique it. This quilt pattern would make a lovely gift to help commemorate an anniversary or as an artistic decoration for your own home.

Lined Patchwork Apron – Blocks and quilts aren’t the only way quilters have kept busy throughout the years. If you feel like you’ve got a bit of a fashionista in you, use your squares to make yourself a brand new apron. There are tons of ways you can personalized this paper piecing project to really represent your style and a bit of your grandma’s too.

Where would the world of quilting be without people like our grandma’s to pass down their patterns and secrets. Be sure to check out more of the timeless quilt patterns on FaveQuilts to see how you can bring a little of your grandma’s style back into your own quilting.

“Best Witches” for a Vintage Halloween!

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Ghosts and goblins roam the night, giving kids a dreadful fright!  Don’t distress, they’re not that mean…They just want to wish you a Happy Halloween!

Who remembers awesome vintage Halloween cards like that?  I love the look of holiday themed vintage crafts, and Halloween lends itself so perfectly to a wonderful assortment of vintage-themed projects.  From vintage black cats to a more modern take on old-school steampunk designs, these awesome Halloween crafts will help you get in the spirit of Halloween in no time!

Get your celebration off to the right start with this All Hallows Eve Banner.  Made with various bits and pieces, this festive banner makes a wonderful Halloween decoration.  You could also use this same tutorial and trade Halloween for Christmas or a birthday banner.  The possibilities are endless for this festive party decoration.

And Halloween isn’t Halloween without some pumpkin decorations.  Help your pumpkins last longer by thinking of other creative ways of decorating them, like covering them in vintage lace.  This Vintage Doily Pumpkin is absolutely stunning, and takes minutes to make.  This is a great way to decorate for Halloween or Thanksgiving, and it makes a great decoration for those having a fall wedding.

This Needlefelted Pumpkin Cube is another great vintage craft for Halloween.  Made with easy to find supplies and decorated with those classic vintage Halloween greetings, this decorative item makes a great centerpiece or mantel decoration.

Still need some festive costume accessories?  Jazz up your wardrobe with one of these 21 Steampunk Style Jewelry Designs.  By combining different textures, materials, and colors, the art of steampunk gives your jewelry a look that’s totally unique and original.  Use clock gears, washers, keys, lace, and coins to give your projects the vintage look you desire.

And don’t forget to send out your awesome Halloween greetings this year!  This “Best Witches” card is a great way to send your love to friends and family this Halloween.  Use your favorite vintage Halloween greeting and embellish it to create a card that’s sure to please everyone!

Get ready for a classic Halloween with these fun and easy vintage craft ideas!

 

Do you like the vintage look when you’re decorating for the holidays?  What’s your favorite holiday to decorate for?

Burned Glue, Bread Dough and More on Cool2Craft TV

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Cool2Craft TV Vintage Inspired

This week, the Cool2Craft design team is sharing vintage inspired crafts! Watch your favorite crafters create super cool projects and join in the on-line live chat. Join EcoHeidi Borchers, Tiffany Windsor, Candace Jedrowicz, and Savannah Starr for this week’s online episode.

EcoHeidi is crafting a Lace Inset T-Shirt, Tiffany is mixing up a batch of Aleene’s Bread Dough to create a Timepiece Inspired Pendant and Earrings set, Savannah is sharing her great-grandmother’s vintage technique of burning glue for the look of metal and Candace is crafting a Vintage Inspired Photo Pendant.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Watch craft demos and join in the live chat at showtime at Cool2Craft.com. Monday October 1, 2012 – 9 am Pacific/11 am Central/noon Eastern.

 

Geek Crafts: Swingin’ Mad Men Roundup

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I’m Haley Pierson-Cox from The Zen of Making, and this is your weekly dose of geeky goodness!

Love it or hate it, you have to admit that the polished, modern—and sometimes completely over the top—style of AMC’s Mad Men is completely irresistible. Whether you’re a Don, Joan, Betty, or Peggy, there’s something in this roundup that’s sure to catch your eye!

Maybe you’re more of a book nerd than a TV geek? Swing on over to my Geek Crafts: Recycled Book Roundup right here on FaveCrafts!

1. Mad Men Cookies from Not Your Momma’s Cookie

2. Joan Holloway Brooch from Mad in Crafts

3. CRAFT Pattern: Sally Cardigan from Nikol Lohr on CRAFT

4. Mad Men Headbands from BurdaStyle

5. How To: Make Your Own Mod Eames-Inspired Drinking Glasses! from Curbly

6. Mad Men Mittens from Staci Perry on Ravelry

What about you? Are mad for Mad Men?

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