In the pursuit of life hacks, one can be consumed by a madness. The whole world becomes both hammer and nail. Is a power cord a jump rope? Is a sponge a pincushion? With enough time, effort, and visits to the craft store, can anything become anything?
The old joke is that there's only one way to get rid of glitter: Move houses. I'm part of the rare breed of parents who don't despise glitter, but my husband groans every time I let our kid go wild with it in her art projects. "The herpes of craft supplies," he says, referencing a Demetri Martin bit. Yes, glitter is a pain to clean, especially when you think you've removed the most of it, and then for weeks later, find stray sparkles in your books, behind your ears, and on the cat. Luckily, there are some ways to get rid of it with items you probably have on hand.
The only thing more divine than floating around in a pool on a hot summer's day is floating around in a pool with a refreshing beverage. But once you're settled in your doughnut shaped floatie, the last thing you want to do is get out to refresh your beverage. Luckily, The Kitchn has a cheap and easy solution for this summertime sadness: All you need is some pool noodles.
I honestly expected these all to be Pinterest fails. There are so many gorgeous Easter egg techniques out there -- and so many Pinterest tricks that fall flat -- that I was shocked these seven actually worked. (Can't say the same for these natural dyes, though.) Six were foolproof and one, the nail polish marbling, gave mixed results -- but when it worked, it was jaw-droppingly good.
I don't know about you, but I am loathe to throw away my empty liquor bottles. They're just so pretty, and tossing them in the recycling bin makes my heart sad. Luckily, Food52 has a brilliant use for your empties: turn them into oil lamps.
If you're looking for a great gift idea, or you're tired of your housemates using your stuff, get some etching cream. It's super easy to make custom mugs, plates and glasses with it.
There is a certain nostalgic charm to stringing popcorn into festive garlands, but it's not the only treat you can decorate with. To add colour (and sweetness) to your Christmas tree, string some lollies up there too.
Maybe you're working on a small hobby project and are looking for a unique way to stain your wood without those noxious chemical fumes. You want your birdhouse to attract animals of discriminating tastes, right? Here are a few wood-staining techniques you can try using items you might have in your kitchen.
If you've ever worked with hot glue, you know how much it smarts when it gets on your skin. You can't even pull it off until it cools. Here's a tick to help with both of those problems.
Sometimes, the best thing about making something yourself is making it to your own style or taste. For example, dying leather yourself allows you to customise the look of a project.
The humble tin can is versatile enough to turn into a Wi-Fi extender or a portable camping stove. And it has uses in your crafts too, as Cupcakes & Crinoline shows how to turn a used tin can into a convenient ribbon organiser.
Why carve a pumpkin when you can decorate it easily with chalk? No, pumpkins don't work like chalkboards by nature but you can change that with a little paint.
If you're into knitting, you know it can be tough to keep your wool under control and tangle free. A center-pull ball of wool eliminates a lot of the hassle, and it's really easy to make your own.
If you want to add a personal touch to invitations, cards and scrapbooks you can create your own rubber stamps by cutting an image into an eraser.
If your pet needs a bed, you can make one yourself, even if you don't know how to sew. All you need are a couple of metres of fabric, a bag of batting, scissors and the ability to tie a square-knot.
One of the most common ways to save a little cash and give a really thoughtful, heartfelt gift to your friends and family for Christmas is to give them something you've made yourself. All you have to do is pretend you don't see the terror in their eyes when they open it and see you knitted them a sweater with one arm longer than the other. It's the thought that counts, right? Before good intentions lead you down the path of a crappy gift, let's talk about when a DIY present is -- and isn't -- a good option.
Love them or hate them, musical greeting cards will almost always bring a smile to someone's face, and the smile might be widened a bit if you create your own music and card. Blogger Jarv shows his easy method to making the music happen.
Having small kids means having to keep track of lots of small toys, both at home and when out and about. Instructables user lizzyastro created a combination play mat and toy bag so that your child has a convenient place to play with building blocks and when finished playing pull the draw cord to turn the mat into a bag.
This simple and cheap project is a good way to teach your kids about weaving using simple things you may have around your home.
