I’ve got quite a collection of crafty links for you this week—everything from scrapbooking backgrounds to amigurumi. I think my favorite is the octopus tote bag. I’m itching to give that one a try, perhaps modified with a different kind of animal. Butterflies and tropical fish would make nice appliqués for a bag like that.
Here are my favorite new craft posts from the week ending March 1, 2014.
Leaf Motifs for Digital Projects
The Front Row Society has a tutorial that shows you how to take a leaf from your yard (after the snow melts, of course!) and turn it into a digital motif to use in creating custom fabric designs and other crafts. First, you ink the leaf and press it onto paper. Once the paper is dry, you can scan it and import it into your favorite graphics program. For step-by-step instructions, check out the tutorial.
Octopus Tote Bag
This tote bag is just gorgeous. I love the colors she used, and the appliqué is really cool. I’m not a big fan of octopuses, but I still love this tote.
DIY Watercolor Flower Wall Art
These striking wall hangings were made using Tulip’s I Love to Create neon fabric markers on canvas. The outlining is done with Tulip dimensional paint in slick black.
Chain Mary Janes
My favorite baby shoe designer has a new pattern out. You can get the pattern for these Chain Mary Janes at Mon Petit Violon’s Etsy store or on Craftsy or Ravelry.
Tutorial for Plaid Card Background
In this video, Chari from MossyMade demonstrates the technique she used to create the plaid pattern on this card using a harlequin stencil.
Upcycled Decoupaged Table
It’s amazing what you can do with a little paint and some Mod Podge. Oh, and a poster from Michaels. I might have to start picking up sad-looking end tables wherever I see them.
Amigurumi Lemurs
If you loved Madagascar and you love to crochet animals, you have to check out this Mama and baby lemur pattern. The first part of the page is in German, but don’t worry, just scroll down to the English version. The patterns are in English too. You’ll have to download the patterns for Mama and baby separately.
Abigail’s Beach Dress
This cute little beach coverup is sized to fit a 5- to 6-year-old girl and takes about half a skein of Peaches and Cream.
The Hourglass Star Quilt
Erica from Kitchen Table Quilting made this hourglass star quilt using a fat eighth bundle of Bonnie and Camille’s April Showers fabric collection. Follow the instructions in the tutorial to make your own hourglass star quilt.
Wet-felted Gloves
Sallybea uses household gloves to make wool gloves using a wet felting technique. Since they shrink during the felting process, you’ll need to use gloves that are one size too big for the forms.
The Wonky Star Charm Pack Quilt
In this video, Jenny Doan of the Missouri Quilt Company walks you through the process of making a wonky star quilt square.
Organic Wire-wrapped Bracelet
The wire beads in this bracelet are loosely wrapped to give it an airy look. This tutorial was originally published in Making Metal Jewelry by Jen Cushman, so if you like this bracelet, you might want to buy the book and see what else she has to offer.
Knoppen Hat
It’s not too late to knit yourself a hat. After all, there’s still snow on the ground (at least there is here in Michigan!). The word knoppen is Dutch for “buds,” and this bud-inspired hat is the perfect way to usher in spring—that is, if it ever arrives.
Teddy Bear Granny Squares
Do you know anyone who’s having a baby? A baby blanket made from these teddy bear granny squares would make a cute shower gift.
Embossing with Stencils
Kimberly Crawford at For the Love of Paper has a new video tutorial up showing how to use stencils to emboss a design onto patterned paper.
Are You Feeling Inspired?
I hope these projects have inspired you to get started on one of your own. What are you working on this week? Let us know in the comments!
