Felting wool from old sweaters is a wonderful way to give something old a new life. If the sweater is out of style, out of size or even if it has been attacked by moths you can give it  a new use by felting. Do not be intimidated by this process. It is fun and really easy. Remember that the process is irreversible. Felting wool sweaters: 1. Select your sweaters. If you notice any holes, you can repair them now by closing the holes with a few stiches. …

When I was a kid, my Mom had a little basket for socks that had either temporarily or permanently lost their mates. I was sure that I would never have such a basket and that my socks would always match.  Well, my poor lone sock basket is even bigger than my Mom’s. Some of those socks have been in there for years and I still hold out hope that one day I will find it’s mate hidden in the corner of a fitted sheet or tucked deep down under …

This tutorial is genius! Take a book with a cool cover and turn it into this neat activity center or satchel. I think this would make a great gift and the tutorial is easy to follow. So, go check out Cosmo Cricket and this cool tutorial.  

Here is a great kid-friendly tutorial for making a menorah. The flames on the candles are felt so it is perfect for little ones that you don’t want near a real flame. It would also be a great craft for a preschool classroom where real candles are definitely off limits. You can get the complete tutorial from Creative Jewish Mom.

Are you inundated with catalogs this time of year? Why not upcycle a few?  We found two great tutorials for making these cute trees. You can leave them as is or embellish ’til your hearts content with paints and other fancies. Check out “Just Like Martha”s picture tutorial here or “Family Fun”s video tutorial here.

I am a huge fan of Anna Maria Horner and her gorgeous fabrics. No wait, that may not be accurate. I LOVE her stuff and really enjoy reading her blog. When I saw her post yesterday, I knew our readers would love it too.  Here is her step-by-step tutorial for making garland from yarn and fabric scraps.  It is now on my “to-do” list for this Christmas. It is so cute and I really love the fact that my kids can help with the project. Happy Upcycling, Jill …

I love luminaries or luminarias (depending on where you are from) . In some neighborhoods in our area,  families will set our luminaries on Christmas Eve.  When there is snow on they ground, it is so pretty.  The tradition goes back many years when families set out the lights as a way to guide the Christ Child to their home. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for making upcyled luminaries: These are durable and can be used year after year. Made from vinyl flashing, they are perfect for …

Thanksgiving is almost here! Try this quick and easy idea to decorate your Thanksgiving table. Upcycle any kind of glass jar you have on hand.  Here we have used popcorn, cranberries and dried beans. You could use a variety of different fillers to form a grouping in the center of the table or consider using all the same and make a line down the table. You can use whatever candles you have available or don’t use any candles at all. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Aren’t these turkeys cute? A perfect project to try with the children in your life this week. The creative folks at Plum Pudding posted this project. They have included detailed instructions and a full tutorial on their site. We love that they are upcycled from cereal boxes. If you save your Popsicle sticks, then those are upcycled too! Now, go get those boxes out of the recycle bin and start crafting! Happy Upcycling, Jill

This is the easiest sewing project ever! You can upcycle a men’s  white hankie into a little girl’s pilgrim hat in about 5-10 minutes.  The end result is the cutest little pilgrim at the Thanksgiving table. Materials: 1. Plain white hankie, washed and ironed with a little starch. 2. Length of white ribbon, about 24 inches depending on your child’s size. 3. Iron and board 4. Sewing machine and ability to sew a mostly straight line (though you could easily get away with just a needle and white …