DIY | Crocheted School Spirit Throw

I came across this pattern on Red Heart last month. It was a nice blanket, and I thought it suited my sister. On a whim, I decided to make it for her. Although they specify the type of yarn you should use, I opted not to use a Fiesta style yarn. Instead, I let my sister choose her own colors. I think that grey and white was an excellent combination. If you are new to crochet, this pattern is definitely for you. You will learn how to hold your yarn properly and it is the same stitch over and over again.

Difficulty: Easy/Beginner
Time: Depends upon experience (took me approximately 48 hours total to complete over the course of 3–4 weeks)
Expense: Moderate ($30+)
Materials: Available in craft stores and online (I bought from Michaels and AC Moore)

Hit the jump for some additional images of the blanket (including a nice closeup).

DIY | Extruded Bracelets

I don't know what it is about February, but I feel extra crafty during this month. Maybe it is because Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Either way, I found a great, easy project that you just might want to try out. These extruded bracelets by syndee holt are inexpensive to make and a great way to accessorize. Believe it or not, these only require Sculpey (modeling clay). While the tools might seem a bit pricey, you can reuse the majority of them, so the cost can be justified.Visit the Polyform website for detailed instructions.


Difficulty: Easy/Beginner
Time: 45 minutes to an hour
Expense: Moderate (I spent $65 on supplies)
Materials: Available in craft stores and online (I ordered through A C Moore)


There is one thing I changed. Instead of getting Jacquard brand inks, I bought Copic Ciao markers to add color to my Premo! Sculpey. That saved me the trouble of wearing gloves and using cotton balls. My results are actually the image above! Not too bad for my first time, right?

DIY | Candles

A candle is such a versatile item. It can be given as a gift, used as decoration, burned for relaxation and much more. What makes a candle more than just any candle? When YOU make it of course! I made candles as Christmas gifts for close friends and you could make them for your friends/loved one(s) for Valentines as well. It was a new experience for me that was made easier by my choice of supplier. I ordered online at CandleScience and followed their guide. Hit the jump for supplies and such.


Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Expense: Moderate
Materials (available in craft stores and online):

• Wax (I used paraffin, but choose the right kind for your project)
• Pre-tabbed wicks
• Dye Blocks or Chips
• Container or Candle Mold (for pillars and votives)
• Wick Bar to hold the wick during pouring
• Wooden Spoon for stirring
• Pouring Pitcher and double boiler
• Thermometer to check wax temperature
• Candle fragrance (optional)
• Decorative materials like glitter or stickers (optional)
• Warning Labels (recommended when giving gifts)

DIY | Sheep's head towel wrap

I believe that I mentioned my love of k-dramas before (Korean dramas for those just joining me). Whenever the actors are in saunas, they usually wrap their towels "sheep's head" style. I decided that I wanted to learn how to do it and looked it up online. If you want a new way to wrap your hair after washing it, give this method a try!



Difficulty: Easy
Time: Quick
Expense: Free/cheap
Materials: A few

NEW to DIY entries beginning August 2010: Difficulty—range is based upon ease [easy, average, tough], how much time you'll need to devote [quick, relatively involved, time-consuming], expense [free, cheap, moderate, expensive] and materials needed [a few, many, a lot]

DIY | Smiley Cake Pops

I often salivated over the oh-so-delectably-photographed cake pops on Bakerella. Since I was already expecting to be snowed in this weekend, I decided to give them a try. They only require a bit of baking experience, so this is easier to do than you might think. All it takes is a box cake (or your own special recipe) and a can of frosting to make the balls that will become cake pops. From there, you need some melted candy wafers to cover the pops making them look like pops. With edible markers, you can add fun faces (even though it is not necessary. For detailed directions, visit Bakerella's blog. Good luck with yours. My own images of the process and the results are after the jump.

Above image via Bakerella. All others via yours truly.

DIY | Hazelnuts Felt Bunny

I have fallen in love with softies. They are not too hard to make and can be as custom as you can imagine. I decided to try making a softie on my own. Nothing seemed like a better start than the Hazelnuts Felt Bunny. The pattern does not require a sewing machine, too much work, or too much money. In fact, I made two over the weekend and it took me four hours for the first one. The second one was only three hours, so practice makes perfect. In addition, the combined cost of the supplies was less than $20. I didn't quite follow the pattern to the letter in terms of the finalized bunny, but I was happy with the result. Hit the jump for my bunny softies. For the pattern, visit the Hazelnuts blog.

Above image via Hazelnuts blog. All other images from yours truly.

DIY | Book with stab binding

Completed Cover, originally uploaded by kate e. did.

I love book arts. Bookmaking has become quite lucrative and popular over the years. If you would like to create a custom gift, consider making books for friends and family. You can follow the tutorial from kate e. did on flickr.

DIY | Ornamentation

Believe it or not, this DIY project is courtesy of yours truly. I wanted to give my coworkers something custom and simple as a Christmas gift this year. I immediately thought about making my own ornaments. I'm not talking about using popsicle sticks or something like that. Instead, using solid ornament bulbs, I decorated them with my own style and preferences. You can do one dozen for less than $20. I bought glitter pens, glitter, stickers and bulbs from A C Moore to decorate. I already had Sobo glue, so you may decide to pick up a small bottle depending on how much of a mess you are willing to deal with. Hit the jump for more images and some decorating ideas.

DIY | Straw ribbons

How often have you decided to decorate a gift box or bag with a touch of ribbon? Well, regardless of whether you do it all the time or not, I wanted to give you another alternative. Straws can be used to create reusable, unique ribbons for your presents. Check out WikiHow for details!

image TOHGIN minako

DIY | Gummy Bears

You are probably aware of the colorful and tasty gummy bear, but have you ever thought about making your own? I came across an article that will allow you to do just that. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan on making these sometime before Halloween. For the instructions, visit WikiHow. Let me know how it works for you and I will update once I've made mine.