Face it -- anything looks beautiful in white; even pinecones! Break out the kids' craft supplies and craft a few of these sweet clay pinecones, courtesy of Design Sponge:

Materials:
1. Crayola Model Magic in White
2. Scissors
3. Credit card, plastic card, or any kind of heavy weight paper
4. Pinecone (for sculpting reference)
7. Toothpick or BBQ skewer

Looking for a sentimental touch to your home? Craft a postcard pillow, courtesy of Gina at ShelterPop! Here are her foolproof instructions!:

What you'll need:
Decorative pillow form, about 9- by 12-inches (about $8)
Natural linen fabric, 1 yard (about $12)
Iron-on fusible web tape, 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch wide
Tape measure
Pencil
Scrap fabric, blue, white, red
Red ribbon, about 6 inches in length by 1/4 inch wide
Iron
White paint
Paint brush
Rubber alphabet stamps
Stamp pad
Indelible black marker

Yep, you read that right --- paperless origami. Read on, friends!:

Your little ones will bowl over for this crafty gift, and you'll have a ball making it!:

ShelterPop is at it again, this time with super easy holiday gifts you can make for less than the cost of a dinner for two. Ready for the round-up?:

My sister asked Santa for an advent calendar this year, and I plan to craft it myself using this easy how-to video. Thanks, Howcast! For handy instructions, read on!:



Step 1:
Decorate a piece of cardboard or poster board large enough to hold 24 small boxes, envelopes, or pouches. Cut the cardboard into a holiday shape, such as a Christmas tree, wreath, or snowman.

This year, I'd love to get crafty with my Christmas tree in hopes of starting a new tradition. What better way to infuse a bit of craft than with felted ornaments? Here's the list of materials a la Purl Bee:

These materials will make at least 12 snowflakes, and can make up to 16 with very careful cutting.

* One piece of Wool Felt in Bright Pink
* One Piece of Wool Felt in Ecru
* Water soluable marking pen
* Ruler
* Two spools of 100% cotton thread. One in color 1040 (ercu) and another spool in color 5980 (bright pink)
* Template plastic
* Download and print the Two Sided Snowflake template here

Once you've gathered your materials, follow the instructions here and get started --- happy crafting!

An oldie but a goodie, Betz White's felted sweater wreath has been on my radar for a few years now and I'm finally ready to tackle it. Ready for the tutorial?:

"I started with a 12" straw wreath form that I bought at Michael's. I didn't even take the plastic wrapping off because the wreath started to shed straw bits all over the floor. I wrapped the whole wreath first with long wide strips I cut from a green felted sweater. It looked a bit like it was bandaged up, but I didn't want any of the straw parts showing from the sides.

I have a giant stash of ribbing pieces leftover from felted wool sweaters. You could just as easily use felted wool that was flat knit and not ribbing. I just rolled them up from one end a few times then secured them to the form with a "greening" pin, which is kind of like a cross between a hair pin and a staple! (also purchased at Michael's) Once the beginning of the roll was secured, I kept rolling the rib around and pinned the other end in. Some of the ribbings I snipped (before rolling) so that it would look fringey, others I folded and snipped to make them look loopy! And of course, some I just left as is for the ever-popular sock ball effect."

Now here's a DIY I could get behind! Wrapped paper vases are chic, simple and more importantly --- entirely inexpensive to make. Better yet? Why not switch out the paper each season for a sweet and versatile decorative touch? Check out the tutorial below, courtesy of the fine folk at Natural Home:

1. Measure and cut handmade paper (available at specialty paper and craft stores or online) to the right height for your tall, straight-sided glass with a craft blade or scissors. You can leave the top edge irregular or cut it straight.

2. Thoroughly paint the back of the paper with white glue or Mod Podge, a nontoxic acrylic découpage medium sold at craft stores. Be sure the adhesive goes all the way to the edge.

3. Smooth the paper around the glass vase. Press firmly as you go to remove air bubbles. Let dry before using.

Happy crafting!

Baby, it's cold outside. Really, really, really cold. So cold, in fact, that my go-to ensemble of jeans and a cardigan simply won't do. Luckily, Craft Stylish has a simple tutorial for bulking up your average layer -- perfect for keeping the winter chill at bay.

An important note before you get started? Don't confuse lining and interlining. Lining is the thin layer of fabric that hides interior seams and finishing details in a garment; it's slick so it slides against other fabrics. Interlining is the insulation layer between the surface fabric and the lining; it traps air and retains body heat. Some of the most popular trademarked synthetic interlining products are Thinsulate by 3M and Primaloft, but natural-fiber interlining materials are also available.

There you have it! Good luck, crafters, and be sure to check out the simple tutorial at Craft Stylish. Happy sewing!

I love wrapping Christmas gifts, but nothing brings out the holiday stress more than a tangled mess of ribbons and bows. This year, I'm going to stop the stress before it starts and take a few minutes to create a handy DIY ribbon dispenser. The steps couldn't be easier!:

Materials:
Heat-in-the bowl soup container
Ribbon or paint or paper or fabric
Craft glue

Instructions:
1. Empty your soup container, wash and dry it. (I use containers from Progresso soup but any variety that offers a plastic, snap-on lid will work.) I remove the paper label that covers the outside of the container.
2. Attach a length of cute ribbon around the upper edge of the container using craft glue. You could choose to paint the outside or cover it with paper or fabric.
3. Roll elastic into a loose ball. Make the ball small enough to fit inside the container. Thread the loose end of the elastic though one opening in the lid and attach the lid back onto the container. You can then pull out the required length of elastic needed for your project and snip with scissors.

Amazing, right? A genius tip that will go a loooong way for holiday stress-proofing!

I love packaging that doubles as a gift, so I'm a massive fan of totes, baskets and tins when it comes to wrapping my holiday gifts. This year, I can't wait to try out this fabric bag tutorial and fill them with fun, inexpensive gifts for my nieces and nephews. I'd fill them with playing cards, jacks and then some. Want to try the idea yourself?:

Pick some festive fabric.
Cut a piece the width necessary for your bag, and twice as long, leaving a 5/8″ seam allowance.
Cut two long strips of fabric, the same length as the finished bag and 4″ wide. The strips will be your ties.
Fold the strips in half to make a 2″ wide piece, with the right sides together, and sew the long open side and one of the ends. Turn the strips right side out and press.
Fold your bag fabric in half, lengthwise, right sides together.
Insert 1″ of the tie into the bag, about 1/3 of the way down the bag.
Pin the seams, pinning the tie into the seam.
Turn the top edge 5/8″, press and pin down.
Sew the sides shut.
Hem the top of the bag.
Turn the bag right-side out and press.

Watch the video for more a visual! Go, handmade!

Laura from ShelterPop is queen of the seasonal craft, so naturally, I couldn't wait to see what she planned for Thanksgiving. Check out her cutie homemade branches, including the tutorial below!:

You will need: a vase, a bare branch, an assortment of colored and patterned papers, scissors and a hot glue gun.

Cut your branch down to size for whatever vase you plan to use. If your branch is heavy, you may want to put stones, marbles or some other heavy material into the base of the vase to keep it from toppling.

Trace leaves onto various colors and patterns of paper. Cut out your leaves. Place branch into vase. Let your hot glue gun heat up, then place small dabs of glue at the base of each leaf and attach it to the branch. Follow the branch's natural outcroppings to determine your leaf placement and try to vary the colors as you fill each section of branch. Remove any excess strings of hot glue once it has dried.

Sooooo easy, and too cute for words! Thanks, Laura!

It's time to break out the scissors and glue and get started on your holiday craft. With this easy-to-follow tutorial, you can use your average cotton swabs and transform them into a wintery wonderland craft! Ready for your instructions?:

Materials:
Elmer's Glue, 1 small bottle per person
Q-tips, 30-60 per person, or more, depending on the number and size of snowflakes you want to make.
Waxed paper, one 18 inch sheet per snowflake
Glitter, optional (glitter glue also lends a neat effect)

Instructions:
Spread a sheet of waxed paper on the table surface. Using Q-tips, design a snowflake on the waxed paper. Q-tips may be bent, broken in two, or used whole for different effects. In general, the end with the cotton swab should create a corner with a neighboring swab.

When you have finished your snowflake design, squeeze a puddle of glue over each joint. Do not skimp! A large puddle is needed to connect Q-tips together. Don't worry if the puddle spreads and loses shape-it will harden clear and contribute to the overall crystalline effect of the snowflake. For a sparkly effect, shake the snowflake with glitter before the glue dries.

Set the snowflake on the waxed paper aside until the glue dries. This will take several hours, and maybe even overnight. Continue making more snowflakes!

When the glue has dried completely, carefully pull the snowflake away from the waxed paper. Use clear fishing line to hang from the ceiling.

I love everything artist Nikki McClure creates, and her latest pumpkin carving for Sunset Magazine is no exception. She's kindly provided the stencil for those of you who weren't born with Nikki's mad illustrative skills (which is basically everyone, right?). I can't wait to tackle my own Nikki'o'Lantern! Sure beats the usual Martha Stewart pattern...

Here's how to do it!:

1. After downloading, tape the template to a clean, dry, and hollowed-out pumpkin.

2. Using a pushpin, prick closely spaced holes along the outline of the design, making them deep enough to be seen when you remove the template.

3. Remove the template. Following the pinpricks and taking care not to cut all the way through, use a small carving chisel or linoleum cutter to outline the design. With a larger linoleum cutter, remove the rind within the outlines and scrape out some pumpkin flesh (the deeper you go, the more light will shine through). Add texture and dimension by varying the direction and depth of your carving.

4. Light your pumpkin. A votive candle is traditional, but for more illumination, use a battery-powered or outdoor-rated electric light; carve out a hole for the cord if necessary.

That's it --- happy carving, and thanks, Nikki!