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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?

 

Link Love: Crafting With Empty Wine Bottles

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Go ahead – crack open a bottle of wine tonight. Enjoy in our favorite vino and when you’re done, save the bottle and create wine bottles, vases and other decor crafts.

For these crafts, you can not only recycle old glass bottles but also make use of leftover yarn, paint or tissue paper. You can paint the bottles, decoupage them or even wrap them up. You can display them indoors on a table or outside on your porch. Wine bottle crafts are some over the most versatile projects on Earth. Don’t believe me? Check out our roundup of 10 Things to Do With Old Wine Bottles and discover creative new ideas. Make a Faux Dichroic Glass Recycled Bottle that will help you stay organized and neat in the new year. If you’re planning an outdoor party, consider creating your own Wine Bottle Candle Shelter to light up the night.

Whether you’re planning an evening in with the girls or want your nightly dose of anti-oxidants, a bottle of delicious wine can really set the mood. In 2013, make it a point to recycle your empty bottles and make cool decor crafts for all seasons. Say goodbye to guilt and “cheers” to fun wine bottle craft ideas in 2013.

 

  1. Wine Bottle Vases Decoupaged With Tissue Paper from Creative Jewish Mom
  2. Ombre Frosted Wine Bottle from Saved By Love Creations
  3. DIY Upcycled Wine Bottles for Entertaining from Lipstick and a White Tee
  4. Upcyled Wine Bottles from Totally Green Crafts
  5. DIY Yarn-Wrapped Bottle Vase from Inside My Hideaway
  6. Repurposed Wine Bottle Tutorial from Julie Ann Art
  7. Chalkboard Wine Bottle Table Numbers from Bayside Bride
  8. Bottle Lamp from Lana Red
  9. Wrapped Wine Bottles from Crave or Create

Restyled Jewelry Ornaments, Fun and Funky Pendants and more on Cool2Craft TV!

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Cool2Craft TV - Restyled Jewelry

This week, the Cool2Craft design team is digging into their jewelry boxes to restyle jewelry! 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 Fun and Funky Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendants, Tiffany Windsor is creating Restyled Jewelry Ornaments, Candace is sharing an easy technique for transforming a Pin to Pendant and Savannah Starr is upcycling a Chain Necklace into a Headpiece.

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 22, 2012 – 9 am Pacific/11 am Central/noon Eastern.

 

This Week on Cool2Craft TV: Fabulous Felt

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Cool2Craft TV - Fabulous Felt

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

EcoHeidi is crafting a Floral iPad Cover, Tiffany is making a Felted Flower Headband, Savannah is going stylish with Red Lips Felt and Water Bottle Earrings, Heather is sharing how to make Felt Strawberries and Candace is crafting a Stuffed Whimsical Felt Crow.

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. 9 am Pacific/11 am Central/noon Eastern.

 

Link Love: Crafts with Water Bottles

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Ahh, the dreaded water bottle. We all enjoy the taste of filtered water, the convenience of vending machine beverages, and the ease of travel with a grab-and-go bottle, yet we all also feel guilty about our water habit’s effect on the environment. If you really must drink your water from a plastic bottle and you feel bad thinking about overflowing landfills, never fear! We’ve rounded up some amazingly clever recycling craft ideas for water bottles from around the web. You can turn water bottles into cute home decor, pretty packaging, kids’ activities, and even trendy fashion statements. Just check out these genius craft ideas we found for you this week:

  1. Water Bottle Chandelier from Oh Happy Day
  2. Water Bottle Snowmen from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
  3. Water Bottle Octopus from Crafts by Amanda
  4. Recycled Water Bottle Flowers from Crissy’s Crafts
  5. Game Day Noisemaker from Under the Table and Dreaming
  6. Bike Wreath with Plastic Bottle Flowers from a Subtle Revelry
  7. Spring in a Bottle from Family Fun
  8. Water Bottle Treat Packaging from Paper, Plate, and Plane
  9. Bracelets from Bottles from DIY Home Sweet Home

Top 5 Crafts of May

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It’s about that time again, eh? Let’s take a little peek at what was most popular on FaveCrafts during the month of May, including some new projects you might not have seen before. But first, refresh your memory by catching up on the Top 5 Crafts of April, and don’t miss the FaveCrafts Most Popular Craft Projects: May 2011, where you’ll also see what was HOT on AllFreeCrochet, AllFreeKnitting, and AllFreeSewing last month!

5. The Coziest Crochet Baby Blanket Ever
cozy baby blanket Top 5 Crafts of April

Do you recognize this one? This cozy crocheted baby blanket is a repeat offender–it made the cut last month as well! It slid from 3rd to 5th most popular project this month, but that’s still an amazing feat. If you haven’t checked out this pattern yet, what the heck are you waiting for? It is super soft and cozy, perfect for a baby shower gift…

4. 14 Water Bottle Crafts

Who doesn’t have a bunch of empty water bottles lying around? Relieve your guilt by recycling them into fun craft projects–we’ve got a whopping 14 in this collection! If you use reusable water bottles, you can still try these fun ideas by using other kinds of plastic bottles and bottle caps. You won’t believe some of the stuff you can make with bottles!

3. 20 Minute Ruffle Dress

We added a bunch of new sewing patterns for girls’ dresses recently, and this was one of my favorites. It was one of your favorites in May too! I know what you’re thinking–this doesn’t look like it only takes 20 minutes to make. But the secret is in the pre-ruffled fabric. All that’s left for you to do is cut and sew.

2. Dollar Store Petal Skirt

I’m so glad that this project made it into the top 5 last month. Why? Because it’s mine! You may recall that I showed you how to make it during National Craft Month in March. The popularity of the petal skirt, which is both easy and thrifty, really shot up when I featured it in a newsletter in May. This skirt may not be for everyone, but it sure is fun to look at (and you really won’t believe how cheap it was!).

1. 11 Free Birdhouse Designs

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this spring, it’s that you guys LOVE birdhouses! This collection features 11 of our favorites, some of which can be made with plastic bottles (your other favorite)!

Among the runners up were the Net Stitch Camisole, the White and Cream Ruffle Dress, and the Crochet Angel Shawl. Which was your favorite? Don’t forget to check out the full collection of May’s heavy hitters in FaveCrafts Most Popular Craft Projects: May 2011!

This Week on Cool2Craft TV – Beach Crafts

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Join host Tiffany Windsor and her special guests for a new episode of Cool2Craft TV. This week’s show theme is beach! EcoHeidi Borchers celebrates beach with a fun seashell necklace created from water bottles, tiny seashells, no hole beads, pearls and more!  Candace Jedrowicz captures the look of sea glass with shrink plastic and rubber stamping to create an embossed look and Tiffany creates a seashell plaque with Cool2Cast and a crackle finish.

It’s easy to watch Cool2Craft TV right from your computer. It airs Monday June 13, 2011 9am Pacific/10am Mountain, 11 am Central, noon Eastern.  Go to http://cool2craft.com and find the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday!

Click here to sign up for the Cool2Craft FaveCrafts newsletter for easy links to the projects featured on this episode of Cool2Craft.

Watch live streaming video from cool2craft at livestream.com

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