Arts to Crafts

Fun Craft Ideas for All Ages

Fabric & Upcycling

How to Make Crayon Candles

by Leave a Comment

Crayon Candles

What do you do with old crayons that break, or those crayons that get left behind in the box because your daughter will only use pink and purple? One idea is to turn them into candles. This is a great way to upcycle crayons, whether they are old or new.

Supplies for Crayon Candles:

Crayons
Microwaveable Clear Wax
Scented Wax (optional)
Candle Wick
Double Sided Adhesive
Glass Candle Holder
Paper Cups (like Dixie)
Toothpicks

How to Make Crayon Candles

1. Use double sided adhesive to place wick inside the candle holder
2. Remove wrappers from crayons and break up crayon into smaller pieces
3. Put crayon pieces in a Dixie cup (one color per cup)
4. Add clear wax and scented wax to Dixie cup
5. Microwave wax until melted (about 2-3 minutes)
6. Stir wax with a toothpick
7. Gently pour the melted wax into the candle holder. If you use multiple colors in your candle, you need to let each layer dry completely before adding next color.

You can see the complete tutorial by SoCraftastic below.

Share

DIY T-Shirt Scarf

by Leave a Comment

Here’s a great upcycle idea for old t-shirts that you have on hand, or that you find at the local thrift shop.  All you have to do is cut strips of the t-shirt and then braid them together to make cute and cheap DIY scarves.  Here are a few tutorials for how to make your own t-shirt scarf.

Video by Kim Kovelle. Thanks Kim! I love this scarf because it’s a no-sew project that anyone can do.

Another idea comes from Ann Le. This project does require the use of an iron, but by using bonding tape it’s another no-sew project that’s perfect for everyone to try.

Hope you have fun making a few of these cute scarves for yourself, or to give as a gift. It’s perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or for that special teacher.

 

Share

How to Make Duct Tape Roses

by Leave a Comment

Duct Tape Roses

I love roses, but lets face it; They are expensive and they don’t last very long.  So how about making your own so that they never go bad?

I love these duct tape roses.  First, because they are super cute of course.  But I also like this project because they’ve added a little light going up the stem of the rose.  That makes it the perfect choice for a centerpiece for a romantic dinner, or family gathering.  People won’t believe that you made these flowers with duct tape!

Share

Make Your Own Sun Dyed Fabric

by Leave a Comment

I love it when you can take advantage of natural resources to make art.  One of the best resources of course is the sun.  Melted crayon art is great fun for the kids, but what about a more grown-up project that you can use for a DIY project for the home?

Sun Dyed Fabric

This chair was reupholstered with a beautiful sun dyed fabric.  It’s a really easy technique that lets you design any pattern you’d like.  All you have to do is use leaves or other objects to create the pattern.  The sun magically works with the dye to change the color of the fabric that surrounds your pattern.  SheKnows has a great tutorial for this project.

Sun Dyed Fabric

I love that you can use the fabric for any project you’d like.  This fabric was used to reupholster a chair, but it could have been used to make a pillow, handbag, or t-shirt.

How about letting your kids help create a pattern and then using the fabric to make something for them?  I can only imagine what flowery design my 4 year old daughter would come up with.  And of course the fabric would have to be turned pink, purple or orange for her.  I think I see a pretty sundress project on my horizon.

 

Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric DyeingFast, Fun & Easy Fabric Dyeing

Hand Dyeing Yarn and FleeceHand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece

Sewing and Fabric CraftsSewing and Fabric Crafts

——————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Share

Learn to Make Fabric Coil Bowls

by Leave a Comment

What do you do with old t-shirts, bed sheets or curtains?  If you have some extra fabric and you’re wondering how you can turn it into a great upcycled DIY craft, then these fabric coil bowls are something you’ll want to try.

This easy craft uses strips of fabric to build the bowl, and cord is used to hold it all together.  It is simply a matter of wrapping the cord around the fabric strips to stitch it all together.  For those who enjoy embroidery or sewing, this is a fun way to put your needle skills to use.  I love this DIY idea because it is easy enough for crafters of any skill level.

Fabric Coil Bowls

You can see the full tutorial at The Red Thread Blog for these cute fabric coil bowls.

Share