Top Your Cake With These Easy Recycled Newspaper Pinwheels!

Top Your Cake With These Easy Recycled Newspaper Pinwheels!

I made these paper pinwheel for today's New York Times, perfect for topping a cake or cupcakes! This is part of the series of crafts I've been contributing to the incredible At Home section of the Times where the newspaper itself is the starring art supply!

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Tell Us a Story!

Tell Us a Story!

When Lindsay Volle was growing up in early-90s Phoenix, her dad would wake her up early once a month for what they called Donut Patrol. “We would drive down to the local donut shop,” Volle remembers, “and buy anywhere from three to seven dozen from a local shop where they packaged donuts in beautiful bright pink boxes. Then we’d drive to friends' houses and leave a box on their doorsteps. I would get to ring the doorbell and run -- like ding-dong ditch but with breakfast. We didn’t leave a note or anything, so first-time recipients wouldn’t necessarily know who brought them. That was so exciting to me! My dad understood that because my dad understood fun. Donuts are fun. Surprises are fun. Surprise donuts? Extra fun.”

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Tasty Spring Project: Make These Pretty Watercolor Cookies!

 Tasty Spring Project: Make These Pretty Watercolor Cookies!

Are you looking for a pretty, springy Easter treat, or a crafty food project for spring break? These super easy and fun “watercolor” decorated cookies that I made for the current issue of Reveal Magazine are the thing! (You can use egg-shaped cookie cutters if you have!)

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Hooray for Spring! Newspaper Seedling Pots in the NY Times

Hooray for Spring! Newspaper Seedling Pots in the NY Times

As I've mentioned here, for the past few months, I’ve been contributing craft ideas to the incredible At Home section of The New York Times. Because we’re not all able to get to stores like we once did, they have asked me to create crafts where the newspaper itself is the starring art supply. For *today's* paper, I show a super easy technique for making the classic newspaper seedling pots, so easy!!

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Interview in new Knoll Newsletter, Shu!

Interview in new Knoll Newsletter, Shu!

Knoll has just introduced a seasonal online magazine, Shu, named after their founder, Florence "Shu" Knoll. (I just learned that she was nicknamed Shu by her childhood friend, Eero Saarinen!). Florence Knoll is, as she is to so many, a longtime design hero and I was thrilled that they popped by for a visit to see how we live and work amongst our favorite Knoll pieces. (This is *not* a sponsored post.)

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The Easiest Homemade Card for Valentine's Day..or Any Day!

The Easiest Homemade Card for Valentine's Day..or Any Day!

As I've mentioned here, for the past few months, I’ve been contributing craft ideas to the incredible At Home section of The New York Times. Because we’re not all able to get to stores like we once did, they have asked me to create crafts where the newspaper itself is the starring art supply. For *today's* paper, I show a super easy technique for making collaged cards for Valentine’s Day or any day!

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Leave Your Sweetheart a Handmade Valentine Message

Leave Your Sweetheart a Handmade Valentine Message

In our house we have a tradition of leaving surprise messages for each other. They're usually in the form of garlands or banners, strung across doorways or along the edge of the mantel. These tube letters, from our book, Paper Goods Projects, are a fun way to display a message, no tape or string required! And they marry type and cardboard tubes, two of my favorite things! (See a “happy birthday” tube message here!)

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Simple Printed Valentines Made With Stuff You Probably Have!

Simple Printed Valentines Made With Stuff You Probably Have!

This little pile is from a printed Valentine card class I taught online last week. Before the class, I was afraid that it would be too simple, not enough steps or ideas, but since I was teaching a few little-littles (and it was over Zoom), simple seemed safest. As it turned out, the hour flew by, and when I ended the class, the kids were still going! We focused on printing with items from around the house: potatoes, sponges, and our fingers! When I suggested that the kids could make anything (flowers, butterflies, balloons!) out of their printed and stamped hearts, they were off! A lesson I need, over and over again, not to overcomplicate things!

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Last Minute Gift Idea: Turn Your Favorite Book into a Kit!

Last Minute Gift Idea: Turn Your Favorite Book into a Kit!

I tend to be a last-minute holiday gift shopper. When my last-minute panic starts to set in and I’m blanking on clever gift ideas, I just need to remember my favorite trick for coming up with a personal, not right-off-the-shelf gift idea. I start with a book, usually a craft/cookbook/some kind of activity/DIY book, and I assembler a kit, wrapping it up with some tools, materials, or ingredients. So, after a trip to the bookstore, I can often find what I need at the supermarket or stationery store! These kits feel custom and personal but are so easy to put together! This year, I thought I’d round up all the posts (below) and share a couple of new gift entries! Le Big Manual is a GORGEOUS kid’s craft/activity book by my friend, Sophie Glasser. Since there are 182 projects in there, you can give almost any simple art or craft supplies with it, like a nice pair of scissors, and you’ve got a “kit”! (Full disclosure, this particular book is not the best example of a last-minute gift as you have to order it from France, but it’s so great that I had to share!)

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Make a Recycled Cardboard Menorah this Hanukkah!

Make a Recycled Cardboard Menorah this Hanukkah!

Cardboard is one of my favorite craft materials, especially in the form of a tube! I came up with the idea for this menorah as a kid, I thought it would be fun to have something to put our gifts around. A few years ago I (finally) made it, for our book, Paper Goods Projects! A sturdy tube like the kind found inside a roll of aluminum foil or wrapping paper is ideal for this project, though a paper towel tube works fine too!

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3 Easy DIY Recycled Newspaper Gift Toppers!

3 Easy DIY Recycled Newspaper Gift Toppers!

As I've mentioned here, for the past few months, I’ve been contributing craft ideas to the incredible At Home section of The New York Times. Because we’re not all able to get to stores like we once did, they have asked me to create crafts where the newspaper itself is the starring art supply. For *today's* paper, I made gift toppers out of newspaper.

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6 Easy Ways to Decorate a Holiday Gift Bag!

6 Easy Ways to Decorate a Holiday Gift Bag!

Gifts are made even more special when you present them in a hand-embellished reusable bag! On Oriental Trading's Fun365 site, I shared six easy techniques for decorating plain canvas bags! For most of these gift bag ideas, you won't need much more than acrylic craft paint and a few household items like masking tape, freezer paper, or even vegetables! Acrylic paint is permanent on fabric when dry which makes it a great choice for these projects. Your gift recipient will think of you every time they use their cute and custom bag!

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Easy Folded Paper Leaves for Your Thanksgiving Table!

Easy Folded Paper Leaves for Your Thanksgiving Table!

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been contributing craft ideas to the incredible At Home section of the New York Times for the last few months. Because we’re not all able to get to stores like we once did, they have asked me to create crafts where newspaper is the main “art” supply (like these newspaper crows, this newspaper flower wreath, rolled newspaper beads, and paper mache animal masks! This month, I made accordion-folded paper leaves to decorate your holiday table!

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Easy DIY Paper Mache Halloween Masks

Easy DIY Paper Mache Halloween Masks

For the past few months, I’ve been contributing craft ideas to the incredible At Home section of the New York Times . Because we’re not all able to get to stores like we once did, they have asked me to create crafts where newspaper is the main “art” supply (like these newspaper crows, this newspaper flower wreath, and rolled newspaper beads).
Probably the most one of the most classic craft uses of newspapers is for paper mache. This month, I molded the paper mache over a balloon to make simple animal masks!

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