What’s worse than getting caught in the rain? Having to endure the awkward moment when you, bone dry and under your umbrella, must walk past an unfortunate soul who has forgotten his or her own!

There’s a terrific opportunity for April altruism here.

Play the part of the silent hero (bonus points if you have a trench coat) and use the opportunity to hand-out a poncho. Stock your purse with some inexpensive “emergency” solutions and pass them out when you happen to catch someone up the creek without a poncho. (You can find them at many drugstores for under a dollar!)

If you want to go the extra mile, you can customize the labels with fun and inspiring messages. We included a few “Poncho Printable” templates and instructions here to help get you started. But feel free to customize with your own unique words of encouragement!

Here are a few ideas:

· Real men wear ponchos.

· Congratulations! You’ve had a “stroke” of luck!

· Throw ponchos, not punches!

· Went to work without an umbrella and all you got was this lousy poncho…

· Today, you’re the head poncho!

· Umbrellas are overrated.

· Free recyclable shower curtain.

· Well, the rain dance worked.

· Don’t worry. This doesn’t legally obligate you to join my cult.

· Hey Rain Man, don’t be a hero.

Have any more ideas to help brighten someone’s day? Comment below to tell us what your “Rainy Day Rescue” might say!

We love how PubliQue Living transforms plain sheets of recycled paper into charming table pieces for every occasion. (Check out the products on their website.) But in the Pilgrim spirit of “making do,” this Thanksgiving, we just had to try the idea ourselves… DIY-style!

We armed Intern Steph with some Bristol Paper and an X-Acto knife, and told her to re-create the Mayflower for our Thanksgiving table… After a good cry, she got right to work and this was the result!

Say what you will of her historical accuracy (or the judiciousness of giving an intern a knife), we think Stephanie did the pilgrims proud on this one, and here’s how you can create your own!

Materials:

• Large sheet of bristol paper or poster board
• X-acto knife
• Pencil
• Silhouette drawing or clip-art

Instructions:

First, draw or trace a simple line rendering onto your canvas, using your imagination or clip-art. Position the image somewhere around the corner of the page, an inch or two from each edge.

When creating your image, be sure to account for “negative space” by drawing closed, polygonal shapes within the overall outline.

Next, carefully use your X-acto to cut out these interior shapes, little by little, with a cutting board underneath.

After the interior shapes have all been removed, trace the overall outline with your X-acto, leaving the image’s bottom horizontal line uncut.

Finally, fold the image upward (along the bottom horizontal line) to bring your pop-up to life!

Well snap out of it! Halloween is no time to neglect your friends, or your crafting either. You’ve got no time to waste going to the store to buy more candy and party supplies, so you’ll have to make do with the bare essentials…

Don’t just stand there! Grab that old pad of construction paper, and find some scissors and tape, pronto! Today we’re making decorative fun-sized candy bags. Even though you still have a tummy ache, and your tongue has yet to return to its original color, with these cute little favors, your guests might just overlook your stinginesss with the sweets!

Directions:

1.  Cut a standard sheet of construction paper in half, lengthwise.

2.  Fold the longer two sides inward to meet at the middle of the page.

3.  Make a fold (inward) at about 4.5 inches from the edge of the page, on each end.

4.  Cut the paper on the four creases created in the middle, stopping at the edge of the folds.

5.  Glue or tape the outer edges of each side together.

There you have it. You now have your very own miniature party favor bag, in any festive color that you want! Think of it as a blank canvas. Now, using more construction paper, you can customize the bag to look like just about any Halloween character imaginable.

For our motley crew, we created an owl, a mummy, a bat and, of course, Frankenstein. But the possibilities are endless. This Halloween, if you want to save your guests a trip to the dentist, give them these bite-sized party bags. (And enjoy the extra treats ’til Turkey Day!)

Photo and instructions courtesy of

Have you been hit by the travel bug? Here’s an easy but brilliant craft that will help you keep track of all your trips – past, present, and future! Your trips in America, at least. Of course, you can totally make your own templates for other countries! We think color-coding the flags would also be a great idea.

Tools

• bandsaw (optional)
• Xacto knife and blades
• scissors
• tape
• wood glue
• drill and drill bit
• computer printer and paper
• paint brush

Materials

• 18″ x 24″ piece of thin plywood
• 22″ piece of 1″ x 2″ wood strip
• 2 eyehooks and picture hanging wire
• 20″ x 16″ piece of 1/4″ cork
• ball headed pins
• water slide paper (optional) - http://www.decalpaper.com/category-s/8.htm
• paint

Templates

• Template 1
• Template 2
• Template 3
• Template 4
• Template 5
• Template 6

Instructions

1. Cut out a 24″x18″ rectangle of thin plywood.  If you don’t have a saw you can ask the nice folks over a Lowes to help you out.  I rounded out my corners on the bandsaw for an extra aesthetic detail.
2. Paint your board desired color.  I went with a traditional blue.
3. Print out map templates.
4. Trim up map pages, tape together, and cut out paper America and circles.
5. Tape paper America and circles to cork. Using an exacto blade in a sawing motion cut out cork America and circles
6. Glue down cork pieces using wood glue.
7. Print and cut out compass and mod podge onto the bottom left hand side of your board.  I used a water slide image transfer paper, which creates a translucent image. (Find transfer paper here)
8. To hang your map, cut one 18″ piece and two, 2″ pieces of 1″ x 2” wood.  If you don’t have a saw, you can ask the nice folks over at Lowes to help you where they cut moulding.
9. Drill holes in the 18″ piece about 1 1/4″ from the end and screw in eyehooks.
10. Glue all three pieces to the back of the map, and lace picture hanging wire through two eyehooks.
11. For the flags, print and cut out flag patterns and fold in half.  Insert pins into crease and glue shut.

Pick those long-forgotten buttons out of the craft box and turn them into a piece of jewelry!If you’re a crafster, you probably collect your share of cute buttons that are just sitting around waiting for a project like this. To make something that goes with any outfit, we recommend using different sized buttons but staying with one color palette, like this Victorian-inspired bracelet is truly greater than the sum of its parts!

Materials

• Buttons (shank buttons are easier to attach, but any will work)
• Beads or smaller buttons.
• Jewelry pliers and wire cutters
• A few headpins and jump rings
• A ‘charm’ style bracelet or chain with sizeable links and a closure fitting

Instructions

1. Start by counting the number of links on your bracelet chain, then choose a corresponding number of beads and buttons. Lay them out along the bracelet chain – without attempting to fix them in place. Re-arrange the beads and buttons until you find the arrangement pleasing to your eye – it may help to start with a large focal bead or button in the centre.

2. Open the central link of the chain using the pliers and attach the button directly onto the chain link by ‘threading’ the chain through the shank fitting. Close the link securely.

3. Continue to attach your buttons to the chain using the same method, leaving empty links between the buttons if necessary. (Sometimes, the shank fitting of the button may be a little too tight for the chain link to pass through easily. Don’t force it through or you may risk damaging your buttons. Instead, ‘thread’ a jump ring through the button and then attach this to the chain link)

4. Once you have buttons attached along the length of the bracelet, try wrapping it around your wrist. Check the drape and ‘fullness’ of the bracelet and, if you feel that it needs extra beads or buttons, spread it out and decide where to add your extra beads and buttons.

5. To add your beads ‘thread’ the beads onto a headpin.

6. Using your pliers, form a loop at the top of your headpin and then snip off the excess with your wire-cutters. (If you don’t have any wire-cutters, instead of forming the loop first, grasp the headpin firmly with your pliers about 1cm above the topmost bead. Bend the wire back and forth until it snaps. Now use your pliers to form a small loop closure)

7. Open the loop closure slightly and add the headpin to a chain link. Close the loop securely.

8. Continue to add additional beads and buttons to the chain until you are happy with the drape and fullness of the bracelet.

Photo and instructions courtesy of Tipnut

Ingredients

1/2 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup oatmeal (ground, uncooked)
1/4 cup flaxseed oil
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
8 drops geranium oil

Directions

Mix ingredients then massage over your body to exfoliate skin, it’s best to do this in the tub after a bath or shower

Photo and directions courtesy of Design*Sponge

This cute mini-project is not only green for the environment, but appropriate for St. Patrick’s day! Fill your room or car with the natural smell of flowers or pine instead of the chemical stuff you buy at the gas station!

Materials

• wool fabric
• scissors
• needle and thread
• fabric marker or pencil
• 2 ½ inches of thin ribbon of choice
• 15 inches of ribbon of choice
• dried lavender
• printed template (download here)

Directions

1. Cut along outside of tree shape. Lay paper tree on 2 layers of fabric and trace with fabric marker. Cut out fabric trees.
2. 2. Sew a loop of ribbon to the top inside of one tree
3. Line up trees and sew edges using a blanket stitch leaving bottom tab open
4. Fill tree with herb of choice. You may need to roll up a small paper cone to help get your herbs all the way into your tree. You can also use your fabric pencil to push them in.
5. Sew bottom tab closed
6. String ribbon through top loop. Tie in bow around the rear view mirror of your car. Ride in sweetly scented style!

photo and instructions courtesy of Design*Sponge

Want to impress your date with a twist of the wrist? Save the tops of your champagne bottles for this party-trick that turns them into a mini bistro chair! Little crafts like this that both recycle your garbage and are easy enough to drink even after a bottle of champagne are the best!

Materials

• wire cage from a bottle of champagne
• wire cutters or heavy duty scissors

Instructions

check out the website for step-by-step pictures!

1. Cut the center back of the lower loop on you cage.
2. Remove bottom wire fully and straight as much as possible. This is pretty heavy gauge wire, but you’re tough, you can handle it.
3. Twist your straight piece of wire to form a back. Remove the seat.
4. Twist the back of the chair onto the legs and trim excess.
5. Replace seat and bow the legs slightly so the seat remains in place.

Photo and directions courtesy of Homemade Simple

Materials

• Large piece of tightly-woven, 100% wool
• Batting
• Strip of hook and loop tape
• Buttons or other accents

Directions

Felt the Wool: Put your 100% wool sweater, blanket, or coat in the washing machine and wash it with a little bit of soap on the longest, hottest wash cycle. Then dry on high heat for as long as possible, but don’t forget to clean your lint filter several times throughout this step

Cut Patterns: Using this pattern, trace the outer edges of each of your feet, twice for each foot, on the felt. Cut out with scissors. These are the “soles” of your slippers, so leave a little bit of room on the outside edge to allow for seams. Cut two of these same-sized pieces from the batting. Then cut two “over-the-toe” pieces and two “strap” pieces.

So Sole-ful: Place one of the soles right side up on a flat surface. Top this piece with another sole lying right side down, and top this with a piece of batting. Using a needle and embroidery thread, whipstitch these three pieces together, or, if you feel like a tighter stitch, use a sewing machine. Leave space near the toe open, with enough room to turn the entire piece right side out. Once the right sides are facing out and the batting in is the middle, use a pen or pencil to shape the batting into place. You won’t have to close the top, since you will do that when you attach the top piece to the sole. Repeat for the other foot.

Top It Off: Fold the right foot over-the-toe piece in half, right sides touching, so the piece looks like a candy cane. Pin together at the toe and heel, and sew the heel edges together with a gradual curved line. This will start the heel.

Next, pin the hooked edge of the “candy cane” to the center of the right foot sole at the toe (the hook should be facing in toward the slipper). Flip the over-the-toe piece inside out, and pin the heel of this piece at the corners at the sole. This shapes the heel of the slipper.

Tip: To add some decorative reinforcement to the heel of the slipper, cut off the ribbed cuffs of your sweater, trim to fit around the heel and stitch on.

Using a tight whipstitch, sew together the touching edges of the top piece and the sole. Repeat this process for the left foot pieces.

Attach the straps across the tops of the two slippers with hook and loop tape and garnish with a button or two.

Materials

• 1 silver cloth napkin
• 4 large decorative buttons
• Thread to match napkin
• Needle and pins
• 1 yard coordinating ribbon

Instructions

1. Fit cozy to bottle. With right side out, pin the napkin into a tube shape around the desired bottle, overlapping the edges to fit. Remove bottle.
2. Secure fabric with buttons. Beginning 5 inches down from the top of the tube, secure the edges by sewing 4 buttons, evenly spaced, through both napkin layers.
3. Sew bottom. Turn tube inside out and flatten, keeping overlapped edges centered on the side facing up. To fit bottom of napkin to bottle, fold a 1-inch pleat on each side of tube at bottom edge. Machine-sew across bottom of tube, catching pleats in seam. Turn cozy right side out.
4. Slide the cozy onto the bottle. Tie the ribbon around cozy at neck of bottle.