Talk Crafty To Me Dedicated to all things handmade

Don’t forget your furry friends this holiday season… they’re part of the family too! Pamper your pets with these adorable handmade gifts.

1. Pet Food Canister: Recycle and old tin into a handy and stylish pet food container.

2. Stamped Metal Pet ID Tags: Mentioned this technique in the gifts for her post, and think it works just as well for pet tags. Check out this great tutorial on stamping metal to create your own.

3. Cat Nip Mice: A great way to use up fabric scraps and a perfect toy to keep your cat entertained this holiday season.

4. Dog Paw Stocking: Who says stockings are just for people? This cute dog paw stocking is a great way to include your furry friend in the festivities.

5. Dog Bed: Tired of sharing your bed or couch with your pooch? Why not make him his own comfy bed?

6. Rope Toy: This is a super easy gift and cheap too! All you need are a few dish towels and a couple minutes of time, and you’ve got yourself a new rope bone perfect for tug-of-war!

7. DIY Dog Collars: Is your pup in need of a new collar? Here’s a great tutorial for a cute collar sure to put a little bounce in your pups steps.

8. Dog Bowl Stand: You dine in style so why shouldn’t your pooch? Why not make him his very own dining table?

9. Cat Scratching Pad: Keep your cat away from your furniture and give her this cute fish shaped scratching pad.

10. Doggy Rain Coat: Pamper your pup and keep him dry on your winter walks with his very own rain coat.

Why not skip the expensive, battery operated, mass-produced plastic toys this year, in favor of something more unique and personal. Handmade toys are a great way to encourage creativity and activate your children’s imagination. These great ideas are inexpensive and easy to make, plus they’re sure to provide hours of entertainment.

1. Felt Alphabet Letters: Help your little ones learn there ABCs with some cute felt letters.

2. Homemade Play Dough: Create a rainbow of colors and watch your children’s imagination run wild with this easy to make play dough. This is also an easy project to do with young kids and would make a great gift for their little friends.

3. Crayon Art Folio: Perfect for that budding artist on the go!

4. Car Caddy: Another great gift for little one’s on the go, that also helps encourage them to pick up their toys so you’re not stepping on them.

5. Felt Tool Box: Put your little helper to work on the home repairs with their very own tool set.

6. Molded Crayons: These fun crayons can been made is any shape or size, all you need are some fun molds and a bunch of crayons. How about spacemen & rockets or ballerinas and zoo animals.

7. Felt Stuffed Animals: Who wouldn’t love a cute and cuddly little friend for the holidays?

8. Snowman Kit: This is such a cute idea for little ones who love to play in the snow.

9. Painted Wooden Blocks: Build em up and knock em down. Your kids will have endless hours of fun, and may even learn to spell.

10. Fort Kit: I love this idea. This kit includes everything you need to build a fort, like sheets, close pegs, suction cups, rope and even a flashlight for when it’s all built. Perfect rainy day fun!

11. Buttoned Baby Boots: Help keep those little toes warm this winter, with this adorable little baby boot pattern.

Lets face it… when it comes to giving handmade, girls are easy. It’s the men on the other-hand that are a little more difficult to make for. But, never fear, we’ve got some great gift ideas you can make for the special men in your life.

1. Bacon infused Vodka: I don’t know a man alive who doesn’t like bacon. Combine that with booze and you’ve got a winner on your hands.

2. Bay Rum Aftershave: Give your man a manly smell with this Bay Rum Aftershave. Get the recipe here.

3. Mustache Etched Pint Glasses: These would make a great gift for the beer lover on your list. Check out this tutorial on how to etch glass to see just how easy it is.

4. Beef Jerky: Another classic manly gift. Package it up in a nice jar and you’ll surely put a smile on your guy’s face.

5. Bicycle Brake Clock: Does your guy love mountain biking and all things out doors? Why not make him this bicycle brake clock for his office so he can count down the hours till he can hit the trails.

6. iPad Sleeve: A handmade iPad Sleeve doesn’t have to be cutesy or girly. Use rugged and durable fabrics like wool and leather to create a sleeve that’s functional and masculine.

7. BBQ Rubs: Does your guy love to grill? Here are some easy recipes for yummy rubs, complete with downloadable labels.

8. Black & Tan Beer Soap: No lavender and rose petals here… this soap is all man.

9. Typographic Coasters: Skip the lace and doilies in favor of cork and plywood with these typographic coasters.

10. Screen Printed Tie: Spruce up a plain tie with unique screen printed designs like these ones from Etsy seller 20twenty. Or check out this screen printing tutorial to learn how to make your own.

December is officially in full swing, and it’s time to start talking gift ideas! First up in our handmade gift ideas series are gifts for her! Whether that’s your mom, or your sister, your girlfriend or your bestie. We’ve put together a list of easy gift ideas you can make yourself that are sure to impress any woman on your list.

1. Personalized Coffee Sleves: Cute and reversible, the perfect gift for your coffee loving bestie!

2. Rosette Bracelet: A great accessory to dress up jeans or any outfit for your fashionista friend.

3. Stamped Metal Jewelry: A crafty yet stylish way to express yourself, and your friendship.

4. Handmade Lip Balm: Got lots of girlfriends on your list? Lip balm is an inexpensive gift you can make in bulk.

5. Homemade Bath Salts: What girl wouldn’t love some homemade bath salts to help unwind after a busy holiday season.

6. Stenciled Mugs: Dress up plain dishware to reflect your friend’s style and color pallet.

7. Monogrammed Tote Bag: Encourage your family and friends to say goodbye to plastic with this personalized tote bag.

8. Knit Cowl: Spread the love, and warmth this year with a cozy knit cowl.

9. Matching Apron & Tea Towels: Got a foodie on your list? Why not make them an apron with matching tea towels. Check out this screen printing how to.

10. Ruffled Throw: Give someone a bedroom makeover with this unique ruffled throw.

11. Spoon Rings: Looking for a way to recycle extra silverware? How about turning them into rings?

12. Paperclip Earrings: Super simple and super cheap, these paperclip earrings are also super cute.

13. Fabric Clutch: A girl can never have too many handbags, and this easy to sew fabric clutch is no exception.

More often than not Halloween decorations can be pretty tacky, or over the top, but I love this subtle tone-on-tone bat pillow from Ameroonie Designs. Check out the tutorial and make your own. While you’re at it, why not try a white one with ghosts, or an orange one with pumpkins!

Where does the time fly? I can’t believe it’s already the middle of October and I’m just getting started on my Halloween posts! Ooops…. Well, hopefully to make up for it, I’ve got a great project to share with you from the fabulous people at Alpha Mom!

This Halloween Fun-House is perfect for those of you with little ones, but it also makes a great prop if you’re throwing a party or just want to decorate your lawn.

All you need are a couple of cardboard boxes, some paint, and your imagination! With the help of this tutorial, you can have your own spooky haunted house in no time!

Looking for a way to get your little ones excited about sewing? These cute printable sewing cards are a great way to teach your kids how to sew, without worrying about small sharp needles. You can download these templates and print them from your own computer. Then simply cut them out, punch some holes and your kids will be learning to sew in no time.

- Download the PDF here

It’s no secret that I love garlands and bunting, and will take any chance I can get to post about them (as evident here, here, here and here). So when I saw this fabulously fun pompom garland I just had to post about it!

Check out it out at Honestly…wtf and learn how to make pompoms quicker than you can blink, with the help of this handy pompom maker from Clover.

Step 1: Gather materials

• 2 wooden dowels (one about 1/4 smaller)
• large piece of paper or fabric
• tape
• thread
• lightweight string, twine, or fishing line
• craft knife
• ruler
• pencil, pen, or marker
• scissors
• ribbon

Step 2: With the craft knife, carve a notch into both ends of each wooden dowel.

Step 3: Place the shorter stick crosswise over the longer stick, 1/4 of the way down. When the sticks are laying down, all the notches should run parallel to the ground. Take the string and wrap it tightly around the center of your sticks, making an “X” shape, binding them together. Double check that the notches remain parallel to the ground.

Step 4: Thread the string through the notches, creating a diamond shape. Wrap it around a couple times, making sure the string is taut. This is will be the frame of your kite. Tie the string back towards the center of your kite and tie it off with a knot.

Step 5: Cut your paper or fabric so that it is slightly larger than the kite frame.

Step 6: Fold the paper or fabric over the string frame, and either tape it down if using paper or sew it if using fabric.

Step 7: Reinforce the top and bottom ends of your kite with strong tape. Then, punch a hole through these reinforced ends.

Step 8: Cut a of string, and knot one end of the through the top hole and the other end through bottom hole. This will form the bridle of your kite. Take the remainder of your string, and tie one end of it to the bridle, about 1/3 of the way down. This will be your flying string.

Step 9: Using string and ribbon create a tail for your kite, about 2 meters long. This will help stabilize your kite when flying.

Step 10: Fly and have fun!

Who says art has to be expensive? If you’ve got a blank wall in your house calling out for a large scale piece of art why not make it yourself. Jessica from happy together, shows you how to create inexpensive textured wall art with just a few supplies.

- Check out the full tutorial here.