Here’s a fun little way to keep your kid occupied for a bit, and also use up some of the scraps you have in your stash from various projects. The Boy has been obsessed with the game Spore, particularly the fun of character creation.  (Yes, we’re raising a geek child, why do you ask!?)  And while he has a lot of fun playing it on the computer, he does need a break from ’screen time’ sometimes (not if you asked HIM, of course!).   He’s never really been into arts and crafts – short attention span from too many video games,…

Car Launcher… In Action

Just had a odd experience where someone left a comment on one of my Instructables accusing me of stealing the idea for my Hot Wheels Car Launcher.  At first I was like ‘dude, I’m sure other people have thought of similar things in the vast internets’, then I googled and found what he was talking about.   The car launcher in the video was exactly like mine.   But the video was by Make Magazine, who had published my How To on the Car Launcher last December (the Kids Issue).  So the guy was basically accusing me of ripping…

So, a query for you more experienced parents out there:

The Boy just turned 5, and we’ve been wondering what and how much to do around beginning reading.   He loves to be read to — we read both picture and chapter books to him before bedtime every night, and he has a learning video game that he likes, that seems to have some basic phonics and sight words in it.  But he’s not really showing much interest in reading himself.   He can spell a few words, and is pretty good with letter sounds.  So I’m wondering… do we try to work…

Ok, for all you quilt experts out there, I have a query.

My mom just sent me up 2 quilts that she’s apparently had packed away in the attic forever.  One was made by my great grandmother, and is in pretty bad shape.  It’s fraying around the edges, and was (I’m assuming) a quilt made for using, not displaying.  The other was made by my Great Aunt Lottie, and it in much better shape.  Both smell musty, even after washing.

So, what the heck do I do with these? (Apologies in advance for the poor photos..) I need ideas! Do I try…

Want a cute graduation mortar board cheap and easy for grad parties or kid fun?  Here ya go!

The Boy graduated from Pre-K the other day, and they made these cute graduation caps for them.  So I reverse engineered it (and improved upon it) to make it into a tutorial for you guys!

These mortar board caps are made from poster board and foam core… easy and fun to celebrate a graduation milestone.

Needed:

• Black foam core board – about 12 in square.
• Black poster board (cut to 22 in wide x 6 in tall)
• Gold fringe and gold floss (60 inches)
• 1 gold colored brad
• Staples &…

Joanne, at Ready, Set, Craft!, asked me to do a guest post on her blog today (and she’s done a great one for Dabbled previously–the flower pinata!), so I figured I’d return the favor! So pop on over there and see how to make a business card holder (or mini-wallet) from recycled sweater material!

I had a scrap piece of sweater fabric, which had a lovely beading design, that was left over from the original Ele-purse from way back in 2007… and it was just waiting to have something done with it.  As per usual with my sewing related tutorials, this…

One of The Boy’s bestest buds had a medieval themed birthday party on Sunday, and somehow we decided 3 hours before party time that he needed a knight costume.  I blame the husband!

So, what follows is not exactly the most well crafted costume I’ve ever done, but it was easy to make, and looked great, and the boy was absolutely loving it!  By following these general instructions, and actually taking some time and care, you can have an even better costume!

Also note:  This is a summer costume, so he just wore shorts and a t-shirt under it to avoid heat…

Dabbled Friend Some Art Mama has a great tutorial up on how to make some really pretty fabric flowers…

Fabric Flowers Tutorial at Some Art Talk

Tutorial: Make a fabric flower wreath

While we’re on the subject of flowers..Here’s some paper flowers she did last year.

And no post about fabric flowers would be complete without mentioning Craftypod Sister Diane’s Kanzashi in Bloom
book, and her cool video on making kanzashi flowers.

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Since Cinco de Mayo is coming up, just wanted to remind you guys about the fabulous Piñata tutorial from last year, by Joanne of Ready Set Craft!!  It’s it just gorgeous?

• Go read: How to Make a Flower Pinata, just in time for Cinco De Mayo!
• For more party ideas: Piñatas, Cinco de Mayo, Fiesta ideas, and more!
• And for food ideas: We’re having a Fiesta! Foodwhirl’s Gone Mexican…

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Dabbled readers are so creative!  Here are some of the cool things that I’ve seen recently in the Dabbled flickr group.  (If you’re on Flickr, come join us!)  Several of these have tutorials, so go read the links below.  And if you’re featured here, don’t forget to grab your I Was Featured Button!

1. The Stomach, RIP Pterodactyl Pants is always so creative… a plush stomach?
2. Chair pad Love how the chair pad matches the cute sewing machine cover!
3. Dia de muertos brooch from Penny Dog Accessories (Want to try resin? Her tutorial on Resin is HERE!)
4. Silk Tie Easter Eggs from Tresijas [Related: How to make Silk Tie Eggs |  Tresijas…