artsncraftblog

Searching for the right feel can be tough, here are some thoughts.

Seems like there’s a lot of great new fabric lines coming out lately, which is nice to see that the major fabric producers are putting out designs that respond to different sensibilities.

Like the new chocolate lollipop line from Anna Maria Horner at free spirit.

[from thimble]

Tie dying is not just for shirts anymore. It’s for paper too, follow the link and head to the tutorial.

DIY Maven at Curbly writes:

“Tie-dying” paper is a fun and easy project. And, chances are, you already have everything on hand you need to do it.

Check out her fun tie-dying paper tutorial here.

[link via Craft]

Here’s another project, how to make your iPod a home.

PopSci shows you how to make a pretty spiffy music tote -

You know those iPod tote bags that were all the rage on the morning news shows a couple of years ago? Costing around one hundred bucks, most of those bags seemed more suited for a fashion show rather than slogging music through your daily life.

After that high-societal craze died down, a more fanciful iPod tote bag emerged. While reasonable in cost, some of these bags would be tough to imagine toting around on the street.

Today, edgy designers like Burton have taken the iPod + speaker system concept and wrapped it up in a stylish bag that is both practical and functional. This is snowboarder chic. Unfortunately, these “x-treme” totes can cost near $200.

There has to be a better (read, cheaper) way. And here it is. Your own iPod tote bag for less than sixty bucks. You can take it to the beach, you can pimp your bag, and you can crank it up.

[Link via Make]

Check out this tutorial on making something special out of a simple gold chain.

Pam Conway says, “Here’s a tutorial on how to turn an ordinary single gold chain into a 3 strand beaded necklace with a pendant. Great for using up old chains you don’t wear or ones you got as a gift that are still sitting in the box! Really easy instructions and very pretty photos.”

[Link via Craft]

Check out these pieces made from recycled drums.

Francois Royer, a graphic artist and teacher, creates furniture from used oil barrels. Hit the jump to see more of his beautiful and unique furniture designs transformed from trash.

[from Spluch]

You can make sock puppets out of almost anything and get as creative as you want. Here’s how from eHow.

If the mysterious “Sock Eater” has left you a pile of single socks, then let everyone make puppets one day. Puppets are a good way for children to talk about their world to adults without feeling pressure or embarrassment.

Hand Puppet

Instructions

STEP 1: Save a single clean sock. The sock needs to be large enough to fit loosely over a child’s hand.

STEP 2: Gather craft supplies such as construction paper, permanent marker, wiggly eyes, felt, yarn, pipe cleaners, craft glue, cotton balls or batting.

STEP 3: Place hand in sock with thumb and fingers working like a mouth.

STEP 4: Mark lightly with a marker - areas for mouth, eyes, nose, and ears.

STEP 5: Cut ears and mouth from felt and glue in marked areas with fabric glue or craft glue.

STEP 6: Glue wiggly eyes in place. However, make eyes with a black permanent marker if puppet is going to be using by small children.

STEP 7: Use yarn cut into small strings and glued to sock for hair or horse’s mane.

STEP 8: Make antlers, horns, or antennas from pipe cleaners.

Stick Puppet

Instructions

STEP 1: Use an adult-sized clean sock.

STEP 2: Gather craft supplies: Styrofoam balls, 3/8-inch dowel rod, plastic cups, wiggly eyes, felt, yarn, pipe cleaners, craft glue, craft pompoms, and cotton balls.

STEP 3: Push the dowel rod at an angle into the Styrofoam ball.

STEP 4: Cut four ear shapes for your puppet from felt.

STEP 5: Lay a pipe cleaner bent in half on one felt ear shape and glue the other felt ear shape on top - leaving about 1 inch of pipe cleaner sticking out of the bottom of the ear. This is what you will stick into the foam ball.

STEP 6: Place foam ball with dowel rod inside sock.

STEP 7: Glue on wiggle eyes, or draw eyes with a permanent marker.

STEP 8: Glue or draw on nose. Pompoms found in a store’s craft department make cute noses.

STEP 9: Cut a small slit in the sock on the side of the head for the ears. Poke the pipe cleaner through the slit into the foam ball. Make pipe-cleaner antennas the same way.

STEP 10: Stuff the neck with batting. You will need to use enough batting to make the head stand up.

STEP 11: Cut a hole into the bottom of the plastic cup. Turn cup upside down and slide over dowel rod up inside the sock neck.

STEP 12: Move puppet by holding the cup and moving the dowel rod.

Tips & Warnings

Stick puppets are good to use with a stage or puppet box.

Overall Tips & Warnings

For young children, do not use any small pieces such as wiggly eyes or buttons that they can remove and place in their mouths.

[from eHow]

They’re making paper from anything.

The Elephant Poo Poo Paper company makes stationery and related goods out of dried, odorless elephant shit:

We can make about 25 large sheets of paper from a single piece (or turd) of elephant poo poo!!! That translates into about 10 standard sized journals including the front and back covers! Neat, huh!?!?!?

[link via Boing Boing]

As the weather changes it’s a great time to think of the birds.

This is a great and festive way to attract birds to your yard.

Instructions

STEP 1: Buy or bake a twisted bread ring.

STEP 2: Loop a 2-foot length of twine or thin wire through it to make it easy to hang from a branch or eave.

STEP 3: Spread creamy peanut butter over one side of the ring.

STEP 4: Pour birdseed into a pie tin or shallow dish large enough to accommodate the bread ring.

STEP 5: Press the ring peanut butter side down in the seeds. Make sure it’s covered.

STEP 6: Bake, seed side up, at 200 degrees F for 10 minutes.

STEP 7: Tie a bow to the top and hang your wreath.

Tips & Warnings

This wreath may attract squirrels as well.

[eHow]

If you have time, you can make your own detergent, and know what’s going into it. But follow the link and read the comments, there’s quite a bit of discontent about this topic.

This is neat, how to make your own phosphate free laundry detergent Gowithflo writes -

I wanted to

A. Save money
B. Be ecologically phosphate free

If you learn from my mistakes your results will surpass mine in both respects, I am sure.In addition to my clothes coming out “so fresh and so clean, clean” it was a very satisfying and aesthetic making process!

You will need:

Food processor

1 bar laundry soap like Fels Naptha “or” Zote, “or” Ivory - Zote can be found in hispanic grocery stores

1 Box Borax - found in the laundry aisle

1 box Washing Soda or Oxi Clean, or Baking soda - (Washing Soda AKA soda ash AKA sodium carbonate available in some grocery stores made by Arm and Hammer or you may find it art supply stores in the dyeing section)

OPTIONAL- essential oil of your choice, I didnt do it but I think tea tree might be nice.

[link via Make]

Here’s how to dress it up.

A company called iAttire produces cute and adorable hand-crafted costumes and accessories for iPods. Prices range from just under $10 to $59.90. I want one of those. More cuteness after the jump!

[Link via Spluch]