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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?

 

Stay Warm with DIY Clothing Ideas!

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Brrr…it’s cold outside! Don’t sacrifice fun times in the snow because of frigid temperatures, bundle up the DIY way! If you look forward to venturing outdoors this season, you and your loved ones can stay toasty warm this sampling of super-cozy hats, headwraps, and sweaters from AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com. Let your little ones join in the fun with some wearable winter crafts for kids. The whole family can get creative with these seasonal projects and make memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re strapped for cash or short on time, don’t fret. These winter wearables are easy and inexpensive. You and your family will be fashionable even in the most frigid temperatures.



 

DIY Clothing Projects for Kids

A darling headband is the perfect accessory for your newborn to wear to a family gathering. One of our many free crochet patterns will teach you how to make insanely adorable earmuffs for your toddler. Plus, these winter crafts are as affordable as they are charming.

 

DIY Winter Hats and Scarves

Beat the winter winds with a handmade knit hat pattern or crochet scarf pattern. These warm winter accessories are just the thing to keep Jack Frost from nipping at your nose!

 

DIY Clothing for Adults

Whether you’re going out or staying in this winter, this collection of tops has something to suit you. You can learn how to knit a sweater that is perfect for lounging around the house, or how to decorate a tee so that it’s seasonal and chic.

 

Wintery DIY Accessories

Nothing completes your winter-ready outfit quite like a sparkly accessory. We have a selection of snow-themed DIY earrings that will teach you how to turn a few beads and some wire into a pair of cute earrings.

Warm and Toasty Winter Craft Ideas (Plus Coookies!)

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This post is brought to you by Mary Egan of CraftFoxes.com.

Now that brisk winter weather is here, you may be feeling a bit of cabin fever from being all cooped up in your house. Why not put a positive spin on all that time you have to spend indoors? With these winter crafting ideas from CraftFoxes, you can spend some snowy days making delicious winter-themed snacks, holiday decorations or winter clothing like sweater knitting patterns and boot cuffs. When it’s blustery outside, snuggle up in a sweater and do some crafting! Here are four ideas from the CraftFoxes website for awesome winter crafts.

Winter Maxi Skirt

When I think of long, flowing maxi skirts, I tend to think of summer outfits. But this winter maxi skirt can be worn with thick tights or leggings underneath for some extra warmth and a fashionable flair. To make this maxi skirt, you’ll need a section of stretch knit fabric about 60 inches wide, as well as other assorted sewing materials. Using your measurements, cut and sew the fabric as directed in this tutorial. This is a great statement piece to have in your wardrobe, and should keep you warm when paired with some tights or leggings. You can make your maxi skirt whichever color you’d like — a frosty, winter blue or some holiday red and green!

 

Snowflake Ornament

Even if it doesn’t snow where you live, the snowflake is often recognized as the quintessential symbol of winter. This embroidered snowflake ornament makes use of the snowflake in a really cute and commemorative way. To make this ornament, which you can hang on a Christmas tree or anywhere in your home during the winter holidays, you’ll need the template from CraftFoxes, an embroidery hoop, fabric, needle and thread, and other sundry materials. In addition to the snowflake, you can also embroider the date on your ornament. It might be a cute idea to embroider one of these ornaments every year, to commemorate your family’s celebration of the holiday season.

 

Knitted Nordic Mittens

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s easiest and most comfortable to just stay indoors. But sometimes you have to leave the house when it’s downright freezing! If you have to go out and brave the cold weather, you might want to take along a pair of these Nordic mittens. To make these knitted Nordic mittens, you’ll need some yarn in red and white (or any colors of your choice), as well as a stitch marker and one set each of sizes 3 and 5 (3.25 and 3.75mm) double-pointed needles. You can follow the knitting pattern on CraftFoxes. This pattern makes mittens for a hand circumference of 7-1/2 inches /19cm, but can be adjusted.

 

Bacon Banana Cookies and Melted Snowman Cookies

These absolutely delicious cookies are the perfect treat for your kids when they get home from school, or when they’ve just started their winter break! How can you go wrong with bacon banana and cinnamon cookies?

For another creative wintertime snack, try out this recipe for melted snowman cookies. The cookies are made from regular, old sugar cookie dough, so you can use any recipe that you have on hand. Then you’ll need lots of icing to add in your melting snowman. You can use a piping bag full of icing or edible icing pens for this step. When you’re finished, you’ll have an adorable, wintery snack!

 

What’s your favorite wintertime craft?

5 Creative Ways to Stay Warm this Winter

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Snuggly Christmas Character Rice BagsWe’re halfway through October, and you know what that means: Winter is coming! It’s time to break out the big duvet blankets and heavy crocheted sweaters. Personally, I’m looking forward to finally having an excuse to drink hot chocolate every day.

Probably my favorite thing about winter is figuring out new ways to keep warm (hence all the hot chocolate). As I was trolling through the Winter Projects category on AllFreeSewing to learn how to sew easy projects to keep cozy, I realized that we had some super creative, fun projects that totally deserve their own blog post. So, whether it’s a DIY scarf, a homemade heating pad, or a free fleece hat pattern, I present the most creative ways to keep warm that the internet has to offer.

Hats You Will Love

Keep those ears covered!

Whatever your style, it’s important to keep your ears warm and toasty this season. If you’re the type that loves cutesy headgear, then the Adorable Owl Fleece Hat is perfect for you.

But if you’re of the New York hipster variety, try the Faux Fur Floppy Ears Hat, which will keep you cozy while reminding everyone that you wore hilarious hairy hats before they were cool.

And of course, everyone will look cute as a bug in the Fleece Halloween Ladybug Hat, which can be used as part of a costume or just a fun twist on typical fleece beanies!

If you like these, check out 17 Sewing Tutorials to Make Hats You Will Love!

The Snuggie 2.0

Red Riding Hood Cape TutorialWinter capes are seriously underrated. They’re super warm, snuggly, and comfy—it’s like wearing a blanket around all day. Who says capes are only for Halloween? Make one of these awesome DIY cape patterns and make everywhere feel like your cuddled up on the couch!

I love the Enchanted Forest Fashion Cape for its over-sized sleeves and warm hood, but the striking Red Riding Hood Cape will definitely get you noticed. Of course, if you’re not into capes, winter is also the season for sweatshirts like the DIY Basketweave Hoodie, or the adorable Dinosaur Hoodie for kids who haven’t given up on the dream of growing up to be a T-Rex.

 Rice Bags and Hand Warmers

Keep It Cozy Rice PadNothing is cozier in the middle of winter than cuddling up with a warm homemade rice bag. Bring a taste of Paris to your house with the La Petite Tour Eiffel Rice Bag or snuggle up to Santa with a Snuggle Christmas Character Rice Bag.

For a smaller hand warmer that fits into your gloves, make some DIY Flannel Hand Warmers to keep your hands feeling great all day.

For more creative winter ideas, try one of these AllFreeSewing projects:

  1. Bunting-Inspired Winter Gloves
  2. Adorable Dragon Shoes
  3. Cashmere Mitten Pattern for Grown Ups
  4. Quick and Simple Hooded Tube Scarf
  5. Perfectly Polished Armwarmers

What’s your favorite thing about winter?

Cozy Projects to Warm Up Winter Nights

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Well, it looks like winter is finally here.  The mild 50 degree days are nearing an end as Mother Nature and Jack Frost get down to business with snow, sleet, and freezing rain.  Luckily, I have my handy-dandy sewing machine to help me make it through these blistery winter weekends…and with this collection of cozy simple sewing crafts, you’re sure to find something to help keep you warm and comfy throughout the cold winter evenings still to come.

One of my absolute favorite things to do in the winter is to curl up with a book, a blanket, and a big cup of hot cocoa and relax by the fireplace…so I’m really excited to make this Minky Ultimate Couch Blanket.  BONUS!  The pattern even includes a little pocket for your feet so your toes stay nice and warm!

If you have to get up and refill your cocoa mug, be sure to have a pair of slippers ready at your feet.  A few months ago I moved into an older apartment with hardwood floors, and let me just say that the floor gets mighty cold!  I have been searching around for patterns for handmade slippers and I finally discovered this Cozy Slippers Tutorial.  How cute are these?  They’re so easy to make and would also make great gifts for any holiday or birthday!

For those who like to snuggle up with a laptop or a journal, there’s always The Snuglet, an easy-to-make fleece blanket with sleeves!  Now you can read, write, or surf the Web without sacrificing warmth!  I wish I could bring one to work sometimes!

Looking to snuggle up with your Valentine next month?  The Happy Couple Blanket is the perfect sewing craft to make this weekend.  This cozy blanket delivers the ultimate cuddling experience for both of you…a warm side and a cooler side.  Now you don’t have to worry about tossing and turning to get comfortable…this cuddly blanket is the best of both worlds!  So pop in a movie, light the fire, and cuddle up with your sweetie under this Happy Couple Blanket.

Now, I’m not a pro when it comes to a needle and thread, so I’m always looking for fun beginner sewing crafts.  When I came across these Winter Warmers, I literally ran to get my sewing machine.  These microwavable lavender packs are great for soothing your aching muscles after shoveling the driveway or a day spent sledding.  You can make them with leftover fabric you have on hand or you can upcycle a pair of flannel pj’s you no longer wear.  If you happen to be a sewing extraordinaire and are looking for some intermediate sewing machine crafts, check out this Snuggle Snowmen Quilt.  This would be a great project for a weekend where you’d rather build snowmen indoors than outdoors!  And unlike real snowmen, these little guys are great to cuddle with!

Now, you may find that you have to brave the winter weather and run to the store for more hot cocoa.  If that’s the case, don’t forget this Scraper Mitt for Winter.  It’s a great weekend project that will last you for years to come!  Nothing is more annoying than having to scrap ice off the car, but at least this little mitt will keep you hands nice and warm.

And we all know I’m all about easy sewing crafts, so this Wool Sweater Hat caught my attention immediately.  The thing I love most about this project is that I can make it with stuff I already have in my home…so I don’t have to run out in the snow to buy anything!  Speaking of stuff you have already, everyone has at least one piece of clothing that’s been sitting in the closet for years…why not turn it into these super cute Upcycled Embellished Mittens?  They can be made with a tee-shirt, a hoodie, or a sweater you no longer wear!  Plus those little flowers are just the cutest!

So if you find yourself snowed in over the next few months, warm up some cocoa and plug in that sewing machine!  These easy and quick sewing crafts will not only keep you busy, but will keep you warm and cozy during the chill of evening.

 

What’s your favorite warm and cozy sewing project?  I love my sweater mittens I made with an old sweater I shrunk in the dryer!

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