Upcycling fabric and craft materials is a hot trend in the craft world these days.
Crafters are using everything from vintage clothing to old watch parts to make some amazing pieces of work.
But have you ever thought about using old grain sacks in your work?
Fiber artist and jewelry designer Leslie Janson creates gorgeous jewelry and home accents using vintage burlap grain sacks – that would normally just get tossed into the garbage!

This is one of her sewn cuff bracelets, with an outside made from vintage burlap, lined with a soft vintage grain sack on the inside.  It’s accented with vintage crystal …read more

I am so excited to bring you this great contest!
Megan Nicolay, author of “Generation T: 108 Ways To Transform A T-Shirt” has offered one of my lucky readers their own copy of her book.
Generation T is all about using your resources creatively.  Why not transform a t-shirt into another piece of clothing, rather than having to buy it new?
As a special treat, here’s a sneak peak with instructions to create your own “Pin Up Girl” halter top – all you need is a pair of scissors.  This project doesn’t even need to be sewn!

image: Megan Nicolay
If you’d like to enter …read more

This is not only easy and simple for kids to do, it’s also good for the environment as it recycles materials such as CD’s and popsicle sticks.
This video tutorial is on how to make pompoms and pompom maker! Next school year is just several weeks away so you’d be busy waving those pom poms! Better learn how to make them. Saves you money!
Materials needed:
For the pompom maker:

Old CD
Popsicle Sticks
Hot glue gun

For the pompom:

Yarn
Scissors
Pompom maker

**STICKY: Join Bliss Tree’s Arts & Crafts’ latest giveaway: Win 1 of Rand McNally’s Pin Your Journey Maps!’

Are you like who likes collecting and using ribbons on their craft projects? And yes, you want to organize them? You don’t need to buy a ribbon shelf or storage.
You can re-use your old DVD or CD shelves and use them as a ribbon shelf or organizer similar to what Cheryl did above.
This is what Cheryl has to say:
This is my ribbon storage. These 2 units were originally in my son’s room for his DVDs and games. When he needed a larger unit, I got them. To get the ribbon to stay on the shelves, I put the back shelf …read more

On this day, March 17, we can look at “green” crafts two ways….those for St. Patrick’s Day and those that help the environment.  The ingenious parent or crafting adult can combine the two.
Re-using materials has always been fun in our family.  I grew up in an era when there wasn’t lots of extra money for craft supplies.  So my siblings and I created with used materials from around the house and out-of-doors.  I also did crafting with my daughter using “found” items.
“Green” crafts for St. Patrick’s Day:

Cut shamrock from green wrapping and construction paper saved from previous projects.  (Families can …read more