the ReFab Diaries

Talk about cheap, cheap, cheap and cheerful! These would be great in a kid's room or craft room ... and SUCH a fun way to use up scrap fabric. I would put the magnet *inside* the bird to child-proof it. Then imagine the possibilities: counting, sorting, color-matching ... you could make them different sizes too!  Thanks to Two Girls Being Crafty. 

Another twist on the phone book desk organizer. Make your own with great instructions here.





Great photo right?  Allison, of the 3Rs Blog, was also inspired by the thud (which is swiftly followed by the teetering pile outside the apartment building).  So she created this centerpiece ... for more pics and the how to head over to her blog.




Earth911 asked some of their favorite DIY/craft bloggers to come up with ways to repurpose phonebooks... above are the chosen five projects - I think the coasters are the most interesting! Click through for all the details






Phone book letter, card or mail holders created for Design Sponge by Allison Patrick. Click through for the full tutorial

To opt out of receiving next year's phone book, go here.

Check out Tea Rose Home for more gorgeous upcycling ideas from Suchiko - like the old-cardigan-turns-scarf below:

Wit and Whistle show you how to make a knockoff of a $159 VivaTerra Stencil Pillow for the cost of a blank cotton (or linen) pillow cover, a sharpie and some time.  Love it!

I actually have three old stretched-out sweaters sitting in a box waiting for exactly this kind of repurposing! I also have a small human in my life who tends to wear the things I make too. Handy.



 Don't you wish you were as stylish as this little girl? Thanks to Homemade Ginger for the great tutorial!  (Headband tutorial is separate)

If you've got kids (or work with kids) you've got crayons.  Lots of them. Melting down broken pieces to create colorful "new" crayons is an old idea ... but a good one, so I keep seeing creative versions for weddings, holidays and parties.  If the silicone cookie /candy mould exists, you can make crayons in that shape (gingerbread crayons for the holidays?)

I was inspired to finally feature crayons myself thanks to the amazing "crayon art" tutorial recently posted on 52 Kitchen Adventures.  What a FANTASTIC way to involve kids in making art... never mind the "science" of melting, mixing, cooling etc.

Yarn chandeliers (or mobiles) are popping up everywhere!  They're easy to make, eye-catching and a good use of scrap yarn.  You need yarn, glue, balloons and patience!  Full Tutorial here.


And keeping in theme ... how cute are these little balls decorating every possible corner?  Again, it's yarn, glue and styrofoam balls.  Tutorial right here.

When we have felt scraps, they tend to be really small pieces. I think these leafy accessories are a perfect way to use them up!

Coffee stirrers????  Yes, wood coffee stir sticks ... (stand slowly and applaud, please).  You want this on your wall right?  I mean like, right now!!!  Go make it.