It’s been awhile since the last swap and I know I’m ready to change up some of my stash! And here’s where I go into info-mercial mode: Are you tired of working with the same fabrics, papers, and yarn? Is your stash a little “blah?” Could your fabric use a […]
diy wedding - organize - redress
Wedding Update + Weekend Woodworking!
We are just 9 days away from the big wedding day, which means just 6 days away from the first wedding guest arriving. We really want to have the all the wedding related things done + the house prepared before those first guests start arriving. Of course Jason and I […]
profile
ArtVend: The newest, smallest shop in town!
Today I wanted to share with you something a little different. It’s a project that has literally been keeping me up at night and last Friday I finally sent it off into the world. Our main contact at the location asked, “Does it feel like you are leaving your kid […]
clm - journal - vol 3
Late Summer Issue: Craft Leftovers Monthly Zine + 4 years of zine making!
The newest issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly is in the shop today and it happily marks 4 years of making this fun zine! Can you believe that? Four years of zine making and I’m still loving it as much as that first issue. To mark this great event, get 40% […]
diy wedding
DIY Wedding: Garage Saling Decor & More!
Earlier in the year Jason and decided that “something this fall” we’ll get married. When I started talking to my sister about the reception, she found so many wonderful ideas on backyard weddings and how the wedding couple had thrifted, garage saled, and found all the decor, wine glasses, plates, and silverware! I loved the idea! Who want’s everything the same standard size? Not me!
little woods homestead - thrift kitchen
Thrift Kitchen: “face scorching” Garden Nachos
Last week I thoroughly enjoyed cooking, eating, and canning my tomatoes and peppers except when I ate too many over ripened jalapenos and just about scorched my face off. I was literally under the faucet it burned so much. I’ve never ate something so hot that it made me cough […]
patterns & tutorials
How to: Matchbook Notepad “Drawing All the Time!”
I was going to write up a how to on making a matchbook notepad for today, and then I realized that “hey, this feels familiar”. A quick search through the Craft Leftovers archive and I found this sweet little tutorial (circa 2008) on how to make one for drawing – […]
diy wedding - howto - patterns & tutorials
DIY Wedding: How I made my own invitations
There’s a common misconception that you have to have good drawing skills to make your own amazing invitations, but that’s not necessarily true. I *sheepishly* did absolutely no drawing for these invites. First I’ll take you on a little tour around my invites, then I’ll tell you how I got […]
journal
New Look, new Series, and new shop items!
Hi all! Thanks so much for bearing with me while I updated the look and feel of the website. I had a couple of css explosions and some fun php screw ups. If you notice anything funky going on, please shoot me an email at kristin [at] craftleftovers [dot] com. […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
Cardboard Box Looms: DIY Weaving at it’s finest!
Weaving is one of the best ways to use up buckets of yarn scraps. And, it turns out, cardboard boxes too! This is a super fun project to take up a few hours and end up with a mountable little tapestry at the end of the day. You can make it with your kids and have them take turns weaving.
journal
Site Update
Hi all, it’s about that time of year again where I get fidgety and want to revamp the site. But instead of just being fidgety about the way the site looks, this revamp it’s comes with additional exciting news. Starting this week, Craft Leftovers is my one and only blog. […]
little woods homestead - thrift kitchen
Thrift Kitchen: Put ’em Up!
I know many of you have gardens just like me. Once you finally cleared away the weeds in that mid summer purge, there was a whole lot less going on in there than you thought, than I thought. There are bald patches that feel like a lost oppertunity.
journal - patterns & tutorials - round up
Crafting for those in Need: Pencil Clutches
I’m part of a really great local arts group called Ames Collaborative Art, we like to call ourselves Ames C.art. Each month we get together for what we call Creative Collision. Basically, we flood a local coffee shop, bring some kind of portable project, and hang out for a few […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
How to: Paper Cranes!
For my wedding, we are making a back drop of paper cranes to take pictures with. I was really inspired by this photo, which I now have no idea where I collected it: and this: (A Walk in the Closet posted this wonderful photo) So I have about 200 of […]
little woods homestead - redress
Little Woods Homestead Update
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated you on the status of the “farm”, so I thought I would take this week where I’m focusing all my creativity on getting the next zine finished and out the door, to show you around a bit and give you the updates.
Backyard Chickens
round up
Cycling Crafts: Summer crafting to fancy up your two wheel buddy
I’ve been doing a lot of bike riding lately. Not only has it become my primary transportation for around town, I’ve been training for a triathlon and some long distance rides called brevets. Each week I ride my bike to get from here to there, and then once a week […]
Crafty Business - journal - wips
Mend it Better: Coming Soon!
I didn’t even know it, but my book is officially up on Storey’s site as “coming soon!” as of last week. Thanks to @staciemakedo who clued me in to this exciting news. Here is the run down on the book according to their site. Those marketing folks at Storey sure […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
How to: Mat your work!
Getting your work matted and framed adds a level of professionalism to your work. It gives small intimate pieces a more dynamic presence in a large room. But… it’s expensive! Last month I showed you how to take an old beat up frame and really make it shine through fixing […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
Using Oil Paints Responsibly: Tips, ideas, and how to filter paint thinner so you can use it again.
We are detouring to the other side of my studio this week. Today, I’m going to take a look at how my craft leftovers sensibility applies to the artwork for my upcoming show. Next post, I’ll show you how I mat my prints and how you can to. It does […]
nosew - organize - patterns & tutorials - redress
FiloFax Printables: Get Organized!
Here are the filofax printables that I laid out in InDesign. You can download them by clicking here. I like to plan out the main things that need to be done each week. I try to space them out so I don’t feel like I have to do everything on […]