DIY Life

Last week we kept busy with low-key sick day activities, and thankfully, we've recovered and are itching to get outside.

My boys are curious, and with that comes endless questioning about the world around them. If your usual walking path is losing its luster, and you're getting tired of questions about the same rotten log, it might be time to mix it up a little. I've gathered together some crafts that celebrate nature and use materials found in their environment.

After the break, I'll share some of these nature-based activities and crafts that will cater to their outdoor interests.

There are so many dish towels out there with adorable prints. I collect Halloween-themed ones, but know lots of people that collect dish towels in general, or with unique prints. But what to do with them?

I happened upon this tutorial, and thought it would be the perfect thing to make for my twin two-year-old nieces, when helping their grandmother out in the kitchen.

The author of the tutorial says that the apron winds up fitting an eight to eleven year old, so if you are making these for toddlers, like me, you will need to make it shorter, and the neck hole a tad smaller.

For this project you'll only need one dish towel, one package of extra wide double fold bias tape, pins, thread, and ribbon or trim.

The project itself is pretty simple, (the hardest part is getting the bias tape right) and an experienced sewer can turn quite a few of these out in no time for gift giving.

Your little one will love this apron so much they will want one for every day of the week.

This paint swatch weaving project is attractive, simple, and best of all, super thrifty. Head down to your local paint store and pick up a bunch of paint swatches. If you're like me, and have a hard time envisioning how things will look when they come together, take a tip from the pros, and follow their suggested color themes. Choose something that complements or contrasts with the current color palette in your room.

Basically, all you have to do is cut the swatches into strips, lay your base, weave it, and glue the back with rubber cement. Add some bold focal points, maybe with a color drawn from the accessories in your room or your focal wall. Framing the woven swatches can take on a variety of forms, depending on the look you're going for. A bold wooden frame would add dramatic impact, where a thin basic frame gives an understated impression.

This would also make a great project for children. You might want to ask the paint store if they have leftover swatches from discontinued colors.

The cool thing about creating paint swatch art projects is that you get the exact colors you're looking for, instead of settling for something that doesn't quite match your current decor. Have you created any other projects with paint swatches?

I'm excited about the new season, and all the glorious things that come along with spring. In Vancouver, this means April showers, and lots of them. This is when we pack up our winter boots, and pull out the good old rubber stompers. Both boys wore the same tiny boots, and now my youngest has outgrown them. I wondered how I could re-purpose the boots and preserve the memory.

This week's Kiddie Craft does exactly that. The color splash boots make a fun flower vase. Having them painted by your little ones, and using their old boots, make a great keepsake. Even if you're not looking to hold on to yesterday's tiny feet, these boots make a creative addition to any front door-step.

Materials

• Rubber boots
• Soap and water
• Acrylic paint - waterproof
• Paintbrushes
• 2 jars or cups
• Flowers

Follow me through the break for step by step instructions. As you can tell from the gallery pictures, my boys had fun smearing the paint. If you're working with older kids, ones who actually follow instructions, or working on your own, I'd suggest applying less paint and letting each color dry before working with the next.

Every sewing room I have ever laid eyes on has been a big mess. To the person who owns the room, it looks exactly as it should, because they know where every pair of scissors, every piece of felt, and every bit of yarn and string is located.

Secretly, I think they are too freaked to even start cleaning up their mess. Most sewing rooms I have seen are small, with barely enough room to work, let alone a place to store all their crafting necessities. Everyone wishes they had a way to end the mess and become more organized.

Craftster user StephaniePrice had an issue with accessibility in her sewing room too, so she decided to go to her local Lowe's and buy a pegboard. Her husband drew the tomato pincushion on the pegboard, and she got happy with a jigsaw. Several coats of primer, and red, black, and green paint for the tomato, completed her new board.

I think the pegboard is a fantastic way to end the clutter in any room. If you decide to do this project, be sure to read through all the reader comments; Stephanie tells how she hung the pegboard and the vinyl "pins" on the wall, as well as how she removed any excess paint from the holes.

As soon as the stores take down their boxing day signs, Valentine's day decorations will line with malls and before we know it we'll be heading into February full steam. We'll be rushing to find that perfect Valentine's day gift or instructions for that special craft. I know it seems a little early, but if you're feeling motivated and have scrap fabric hanging around from your Christmas projects, then get a head start on these fabric coated wire hearts.

These make great door hanger decorations and such sweet little heart day gifts. Basically you'll take an old wire coat hanger and form a heart shape. You can cut it down to make them in various sizes. Cove it with fabric, attach a ribbon and you're done. It's a simple, attractive decoration that will look great in any space. Get your children involved and make some as grandparent and teacher gifts too.

Like so many of the best crafts, this one is a great way to use materials you already have around the house. If you finish making all the hearts that your heart desires and you still have piles of wire coat hangers, check out some of these other great uses for wire coat hangers.

Here's a fun and very cool decorating tool: Etsy's Colors. Maybe you're scratching your head, trying to choose the perfect color scheme for your home. Or perhaps you want ideas for home decor? Organizing a party and need decorations or party favors cutely color-matched to the occasion? Check it out! This is a wonderful conduit to color inspiration. Okay, I'll admit it, it's also a fun way to kill (or waste?!) a little time.

Just let your mouse coast around the screen. As it wanders, it'll magnify very small dots into big, brightly colored dots. Click on a dot with a color that appeals to you and -- presto! -- the site will pull up a few suggested objects available for purchase on the site that share that specific hue. Emerald green glass beads, pretty aqua drop earrings, a lemon yellow hand-dyed t-shirt, or how about a skein of fine merino sock yarn? Don't like? Click and drag to toss the suggestion aside into your Rejects pile. Genius! Okay, Etsy's goal here is to encourage you to buy their hip and wonderful items. But I think this page is super-useful as a source of inspiration, too. Give it a try!

It all started with a Purl Soho, a beautiful (if trendy) yarn store in New York. Then there was the wildly popular knitting book Last Minute Knitted Gifts (just check out the number of Google results for "Hourglass Sweater" if you doubt my use of the phrase "wildly popular").

Then, sisters Joelle and Jennifer Hoverson opened Purl Patchwork, a drool-worthy (if not exactly affordable) quilting store, down the street from their yarn store. Next came Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, a book of quilting patterns to match.

But why stop there? Joelle (the better known of sister pair) recently partnered with Moda Fabrics to produce Purl's very own fabric line. The patterns are inspired by naturalist history and come in 5 color families. The line won't be available at retail outlets for another few months, but I'm guessing when they are, they'll be kinda pricey. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that eventually they'll end up on sale at Hancock's of Paducah; at least some fabrics from every new quilting collection seem to end up on their discount pages at some point.

Meanwhile, I'm taking bets on what the Purl empire's gonna get its crafty little fingers into next...