Keepin’ It Green: The Week in DIY: Outdoor Sports for DIYers, How to Turn Off Your Heat for Good, and More

The Week in DIY: Outdoor Sports for DIYers, How to Turn Off Your Heat for Good, and More

Each week, we highlight some of our favorite DIY projects from our friends at Treehugger and Planet Green to help inspire your inner crafter.

10 DIY Projects for Skiing and Snowboarding
From building your own roof rack to knitting a custom ski hat, these ten projects let you put your own spin on winter sports.

Make Cookie Valentines for Your Child’s Class
Replace disposable paper valentines with handmade sweets for your kid’s classmates (and don’t forget your coworkers!).

Staying Warm in the Winter Without Heating Your House: It Can Be Done (If You Really Want to Do It)
Turning your heat off for good may be extreme but it’s not impossible: follow these tips for choosing the right clothing and staying alive even in low temperatures.

Baking 101: How Can I Include Healthier Flours in My Organic Baking Without Sacrificing Flavor?
Give your recipes a nutritional boost by replacing white flour with amaranth, oat, buckwheat, or whole wheat alternatives.

Trade Beer for Lift Tickets and 10 Other Tips that Will Stretch an Eco-Skiier’s Budget
Get your outdoor fix in the winter–and on the cheap–with these ideas for spending less while hitting the slopes.

Are You Ready to Raise Your Own Free Range Chickens?
Get farm-fresh eggs from your own backyard by following these instructions for breeding urban chickens.

10 Crafty, Fun, and Functional Reuses for Baby Food Jars
Give those empty jars a second life by turning them into candles, using them to hold homemade lotions, storing small hardware, and more.

Buying “Naked” in a Grocery Store with Zero Packaging
Start by giving up produce bags, and then see how you can cut your waste output even more with just one trip to the grocery store.

5 Ways to Enjoy the Game Plan of DIY Chips and Dip
Stock your parties with homemade tortilla chips and dips that go beyond salsa or ranch with these recipes and how-tos.

5 Gorgeous Faux Fur Wraps and Stoles
Go faux with these DIY wraps that keep you warm all winter–and put your sewing and knitting skills to the test.

Craft Challenge #47, Reusable Shopping Bag Challenge 2 – Time to Vote!

Challenge #47, Reusable Shopping Bag Challenge 2, is ready for your vote! Check out all of the entries here http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=439.0.

Vote now through February 15.

Good luck to all of the entries! :D

Foodie Friday: How to Make Dehydrated Fruit and Fruit Leather

Dehydrated fruit snacks Dehydrated fruit is delicious by itself and it makes a tasty addition to cereal, ice cream and even granola. Tanza shows us how to make dehydrated peaches, apples and nectarines. She also shows us how easy it is to make fruit leather! Check out her scrumptious process here.

To see this project on Craftster click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=336187.0

To see related projects on Craftster click the dehydrator tag here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?action=tags;sa=showtopics;tag=dehydrator

As Seen On TV: The Mighty Boosh

MIghty Boosh Plush The Mighty Boosh is one of those shows that everyone seems to talk about but I haven’t had a chance to see yet! Seeing this adorable “Little Vince” by LaFee makes me think I need to DVR it, quick! You can see more by viewing the Mighty Boosh tag.

Creature Feature: Elephants on Parade

Embroidered Tee Elephants are a big favorite for a lot of crafters. They can be realistic or ultra stylized and they can be incorporated into virtually any craft. A purse in the shape of an elephant, a quilt with elephant fabric, even a cute little elephant charm on a bracelet, the possibilities are endless and a quick look at all the elephant crafts proves it!

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February 03 2010 Featured Projects

Every two weeks we pick our favorite 15 featured projects that Craftster readers have voted for (with the “This Rocks!” button). Here are our latest picks which were lovingly and painstakingly chosen (so many amazing projects to choose from!) this time by sweets4ever. We hope you enjoy them!


Labour of Love – Double Wedding Ring Quilt by kmb007

freaky-ish necklace holder by blupaisan

Ugly bunny pincushion and bag charm (with patterns) by Wayuki


Slap Chop Cross Stitch by beefranck

Another Collage Fish wall hanging (img heavy) by teapotdnky

The amazing feejee mermaid… FROM BORNEO! (with tutorial) by ars_anima


DSLR custom padded camera bag(pic padded) TUTORIAL LINK ADDED by lianatempera

Conger Eel Platter by Tularosa

Nintendo Ensemble. by boingo82


wedding/anniversary quilt (wordy and kinda pic heavy) by mangomerle

Peacock Shrinkydink Bracelet [img heavy with process pics] by gwennie363

Frankenstein watercolor by bonesaw


Star Wars Arc Trooper Poppet (for my brothers 18th b-day)(PDF added!!!) by Eliea

Shooting Star by twoeyedcyclops

Kitchen in a briefcase by Ruby Copperhead

Wear It This Weekend: Necktie Hat

Necktie Hat Have a bunch of old neckties lying around? Craftster member rickrackruby has shared lots of great necktie tutorials but I really love this one that takes just a few old ties and turns them into an adorable hat! You can see the full thread here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=17001.0

If you make one for this (or any other) weekend, let me know in the comments!

Fiber Thursday: Clipboard Loom

Don’t leave your fibers behind! francorios made this great little loom using an old clipboard. It’s small and lightweight, which makes it so easy to take everywhere you go. Never leave home without a project!

To read more about this loom on Craftster, click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=335814.0

Rock Paper Scissors: Valentine

Just in time for Valentine’s Day: kinipayla has taken paper cutting to a new and beautiful level. This gorgeous heart cutting is only one of several she shared. Look at the incredible detail she achieved with a simple piece of paper and an exacto knife. Thanks for sharing your lovely work, kinipayla!

To view more of kinipayla’s  paper cuttings on Craftster, click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=322974.0

Gamer Wednesday: Mega Man, Mega Project

This week for Gamer Wednesday, we are featuring this huge fused bead Mega Man project, posted by redherring. Approximately  60 hours of work and over went 60,000 beads went into the creation of this project. It’s simply amazing; definitely a “mega project”!

To view this project on Craftster (including individual pics of each “screen”!), click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=335702.0

Mr X Stitch Presents: Beefranck’s Emporium – Movies Part Deux

Over at Mr X Stitch we’re blessed with the services of Beefranck, the Queen of Ironic Stitching, who curates the terrific “Emporium of Embroidered Excellence and Splendiferous Stitchery”. Each week, these posts explore themes expressed through embroidery, and they’re ace. So without further ado, I welcome you to…

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Hi everyone! This week I wanted to take a second look at movies in stitch – a sequel, if you will. Let’s get this thing rolling!

Penny Nickels made these pillows featuring Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog. She pointed me in the direction of this clip from the movie My Best Fiend, Herzog’s documentary about their relationship. Now, even though Kinski is no longer with us, they can be together forever in pillow form!

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Felton John


Randomly Spotted on the Galactic Interweb…

Felt Elton John While at a LOST premiere party tonight a friend showed me Felt Alive’s Flickr pool. I must say, it’s an awesome find! She has made a number of needle felted celebrities including the felt Elton John pictured here, Conan O’Brien (being attacked by a polar bear), Willie Nelson, and the Beatles! Check out her Flickr for all of her celebrity felt-a-likes!

Tute Tuesday: Bubble Mailers

bubble mailers So you are out of bubble mailers and the shipping deadline for your swap is today. But you have wrapping paper and bubble wrap! The only logical option is to make your very own bubble mailers and RagnazIdnar did just that! Check out this tutorial for making stylish bubble mailers from your stash.

To see this project on Craftster click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=264781.0

Keepin’ It Green: The Week in DIY: Delicious Beauty Treatments, Sustainable Super Bowl Snacks, and More


The Week in DIY: Delicious Beauty Treatments, Sustainable Super Bowl Snacks, and More

Each week, we highlight some of our favorite DIY projects from our friends at Treehugger and Planet Green to help inspire your inner crafter.

Be Happy, Be Authentic, Make a Bamboo Bike
Trade four wheels for two with a bicycle handmade (by you!) at the Bamboo Bike Studio in Brooklyn.

Cause Crafts: Can a Crochet Hook Combat Climate Change?
See how handmade crafts can bring attention to global warming, reef devastation, and more with the Institute of Figuring.

The Home Ice Advantage: Make an Eco-Skating Rink
Bring the winter Olympics to your own backyard with this do-it-yourself backyard rink that doesn’t require a plastic liner or wooden edges.

Does Your Dog Need Boots? DIY Dog Booties!
Keep your pup’s paws warm and protected during winter walks on cold, salted sidewalks with these fleece boots.

Creative Reuse: Eco-Art Inspired DIY
Give thrift store finds and yard sale treasures a new life with these inspirational re-do techniques from artist Joseph Heideker.

Grow Your Own Herbal Tea Garden
Add chamomile, mint, lemon balm, and thyme to your garden and keep your cups overflowing with delicious brews.

How to Digitize and Shrink Your Entire Music Library
Free up space in your home–and put your old cds back into circulation–with these tools for creating an efficient digital collection.

The Saints Versus the Colts: Get Planning for Your Super Bowl Party
Put out a starting lineup of vegetarian appetizers and snacks for your guests at this year’s big game.

Say Goodbye to Fried Hair with this Homemade Buttermilk Deep Conditioner
Winter styling can be hard on your locks; keep them shiny and soft with this simple treatment made from ingredients you already have in your refrigerator.

Save Time with a Quick Honey-Sugar Face Scrub
Perk up your skin with this super-simple recipe for a face scrub–it’s just honey and sugar–for a sweet pick-me-up.

Home Sweet Home: Paper Wall Art

Paper Wall Art Hearts With just a few pieces of paper, scissors and tape, you can create striking and beautiful decor for your home. MsJeshka shared with us her living room adorned with Valentine’s Day Wall Art. I’d love to try this with huge polka dots in vibrant scrapbook paper designs.

To see this project on Craftster click here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=336331.0

To see related projects on Craftster, check out the Interior Decorating: Completed Projects
board here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=115.0