This free printable music-themed Valentine’s Day card was inspired by vintage piano sheet music that I found in a Brooklyn antique store. I originally bought the vintage sheet music thinking they might make nice wedding save-the-dates or wedding cards someday. I tucked this vintage sheet music away in my crazy crammed craft closet and just …
DIY Gift Ideas
My free child-sized messenger bag pattern is the perfect shrunken size for the special kid in your life. You can make my easy DIY kids messenger bag pattern in a couple evenings. Keep reading to get my free kids messenger bag sewing pattern! A mini messenger bag sewing pattern that’s sized for kids My kids …
Etching glass. What a cool DIY way to recycle those generic glass vases from floral deliveries into something that ends up looking pretty darn elegant. And I’m sharing my free monogrammed printable glass etching template (PDF) template with you so you can make your own. This free glass etching template is a monogram inside a …
Tea, coffee and hot cocoa: yes, please! Here are some tea, coffee and hot cocoa-related DIY gift ideas and free tutorials from the Ghost of Crafting Past that are perfect for the tea totalers, coffee lovers and hot cocoa hounds on your gift list. Sew your own fabric tea bags for loose tea {free tutorial} …
See how to make modern tile coaters for drinks using fingerpaint! Make modern DIY tile coasters using fingerpaint. This easy fingerprint DIY coasters idea is the perfect DIY gift idea from the kids. I made these modern tile coasters using square ceramic tiles, glossy Mod Podge and my two-year-old’s fingerpainting artwork. Making your own decoupage …
I made these personalized sugar cube wrappers to go along with a bridal shower gift for my friend Debbie. I bought Debbie’s sugar bowl and creamer from her registry (very pretty btw) and filled it with personalized wrapped sugar cubes in her pink and orange wedding colors with her soon-to-be married name: Ten Eyck (yep, …
I made this ring holder from a recycled cardboard egg carton as a gift for my friend Debbie’s recent engagement. Would you ever guess that this ring holder was made out of a recycled egg carton if I hadn’t told you? Is this crazy or what? I’ve been eyeing our empty cardboard egg cartons before …
I whipped together this easy but clever hostess gift for my friend Wendy’s ‘Welcome Home’ housewarming barbeque: a potted mint plant with a teabag ‘card’ perfect for summer sun tea. Wendy’s new 3-bedroom Chicago condo has a rooftop deck that’s easily the size of a large outdoor beer garden. No kidding, it’s really that huge …
Make your own oven mitt in less than one hour with my free oven mitt sewing pattern. These DIY oven gloves are just the right size — not too big and floppy — and you can choose to quilt the outside of the oven mitt or leave it nice and smooth. I’ve made them both …
Today’s photo frame craft idea is all about recycling. I used masking tape pieces to cover an old red photo frame that I almost gave away to Goodwill and voila! A whimsical, throwback photo frame for Elise’s one-year-old portrait. Anyone else out there make masking tape vases as kids at camp? At Camp Na-Wa-Kwa we …
My friend Jolyn, the Queen of Handmade Burp Cloths, taught me years ago how to turn regular white burp cloths into posh fabric-covered burp cloth sets in less than an hour. Cute, huh? And oh so useful too – my #1 baby gift criteria. Recently it seems like everyone is having babies and I have …
Here’s an original free apron sewing pattern with two built-in potholders and secret iPhone pocket. Aprons have been glued to my body ever since I started feeding Elise – I find it’s just easier to wipe my hands on my stomach than find a dish towel. I need something that would work for me as …
My DJ friend Chad creates free compilation music mixes for anyone who asks. Being the lucky recipient of many said mixes, I wanted to make Chad something to thank him for the tunes. Chad collects bird-related art and of course loves music so I thought that birds from vintage linen calendars framed by old 45 …
As a crafter like me you are probably doing one or more of the following things right about now: (1) making handmade holiday gifts for friends and family, (2) looking to buy creative and budget-friendly gifts, or (3) making your own list to give to your family. Well, the MerrimentDesign.com Crafty Holiday Guide is here …
I made this toy travel blanket for Elise’s first plane flight. We were flying to Maine and I wanted any toys she dropped to stay in our seats rather than fall into the filthy abyss of the airplane floor. Check out the Snag Free VELCRO loops on the blanket border to attach toys. Instead of …