Free Projects

Growing up in California, I always dreamed of winter wonderlands. We would visit my grandfather in Ohio and we would romp in the snow for hours. With our cheeks red and our fingers blue, we would still refuse to come inside for dinner. Have you ever...

  It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but you know what isn’t wonderful? Wrapping. I hate it. My corners end up crooked and the paper tears — not to mention the year that all my gift toppers came untaped and all the gifts got...

Growing up we had two Christmas trees: a large one filled with all sorts of ornaments and a much smaller one on which my mom hung her handmade ornament collection. That tree was absolutely bursting with ornaments she had purchased from artisans over the...

There’s just something about snow. It inspires fond memories of digging out Grandpa’s driveway and building snow forts with the freshly shoveled powder. It reminds me of snowball fights with cousins and playing until our cheeks and noses were...

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, How lovely are your branches! These mixed-media tags can be used to top a last-minute gift, or they can decorate Christmas cards, canvases, and more. O Christmas Tree! Mixed-Media Tags Directions: Cut a tall triangle...

In order to be a little greener and save some trees, I made each of my sisters a coffee cup cozy last year for Christmas. It was an instant hit. They got compliments every time they went to Starbucks and they kept their cozies in their purses so that...

I cannot wrap gifts. My packages don’t just lack the sharp corners or finesse of finely wrapped presents — my gifts are disastrously decorated. They are a train wreck of wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape. I once gave a gift to my sister that...

Everyone knows what Christmas smells like. It reminds me of spiced cider, pine trees, cinnamon, hot cocoa, and sugar cookies. For this project, create a fun and festive reed diffuser that can disseminate the scent memories from Christmases past. Project...

I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. This salt scrub is an invigorating way to kick start your routine and leaves your skin feeling revitalized and baby soft. Coffee House Salt Scrub Directions: Blend 1 part Dead Sea Salt, 1 part...

DIY soap is a super simple gift to give this holiday season. Take it a step further by packing it with pretty lace and twine, adorning with a grubby tag, and tying on a Christmas token. Jolly Holiday Soap Gift Project Instructions: Create custom soaps...

For years I’ve wanted to try my hand at wood burning. I love the look of it, but I always felt a little intimidated by the process. Would I totally screw it up? Would I burn my fingers off? Recently more and more images of beautifully wood-burned...

I’ve been dreaming of the holiday season since August and it has finally arrived! I am already starting to see holiday ideas flooding Pinterest and the pops of red and green are appearing in store windows. This project is a great way to add a...

Pocket watches always make me feel a bit nostalgic. For this project, I decided to play on the motif of nostalgia as a writer. I dropped in an antique pen nib and a token that said “story” to remind me of the fundamentals of writing and art...

Inspired by Niki Meiners’ woodburned spoons from the cover of Somerset Home Autumn 2016, this project is a fun and simple way to create a heartfelt housewarming gift, or to add a fun accent to your kitchen. The unfinished spoons are perfect for...

If the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, then that first step usually takes me hours — especially when it comes to artwork. I like to ruminate on what it will become before I dive in. I like to think through the process and the...

Tim Holtz’s Crazy Cat stamps are the perfect all-year-round stamp set. They can be mixed with all color schemes to create unlimited combinations. For this project, these gift bags for Halloween were a great backdrop for these “Scaredy Cats...

There are two things I just can’t get enough of right now: feathers and the color gold. I’ve gotten into the habit of taking some gold paint or a gold marker and adding my own doodles or designs to pre-made journals, note cards, coffee mugs,...

There never seems to be enough time to get everything done. Time is easily our most precious commodity. For this page, I wanted to pay homage to time and how quickly it moves. The vintage ephemera is a reminder of how quickly time passes and age sets in...

This can be a fun idea for a drink display at a Halloween party. Simply display the little shadowbox at the drink table/counter and have the party drinks and cups available for the guests to serve themselves. It's a fun way to add some festive Halloween...

I am always looking for new ways to freshen up my bookcases. As an English major, I have created quite a collection of books on every subject imaginable. From Jane Austen to Jane Eyre, I love and cherish my books, but I needed a way to artfully display...

Just about everyone I know has gotten swept up in the essential oil craze, and I can’t say that I blame them. Those who have played around with essential oils know that a little goes a long way, so my friends and I are always talking about...

Fall is now in full swing, and it’s time to bring out the pumpkins again! Halloween is just around the corner and Thanksgiving is already on the horizon, so get ready for the season with this simple tutorial for transforming ordinary paper mache...

According to Greek mythology, Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was taken by Hades against her will to be his bride. She mourned the loss of her world until she was able to return at the beginning of Spring. A fitting tale for the coming Halloween...

      The only thing I like more than buying organizational supplies is making them. This time of year always finds me at the local office supply stores, scouring their back to school sales hoping to score on some great deals...

Around the same time that I was working on the Good as Gold Project, I started thinking about what else I could do with resin. I love all the bezels and jewelry that I’ve made with resin, but I was ready to branch out and try something new. This...

I love the smell of lavender, but I can’t stand to wear perfumes that are full of chemicals and never smell like the real thing. This DIY project is an all-natural alternative to traditional scents. You can also mix different essential oils to...

These darling bud vases can be hung in a window to catch the light and to decorate your home with a spare blossom or bloom. Blossoms and Bud Vases Project Directions: Attach a strip of decorative paper to the top of the test tube with gel medium or a...

This quick and easy watercolor banner can be done in any color to suit your party and adds an instant pop to any décor. The resist paper used for this banner allows the script pattern to burst through the gelatos, creating an effortless design...

One of my favorite pieces of art is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The piece looks like it is in flight and makes the marble appear as if it is delicate chiffon rippling in the wind. For this project I decided to create some whimsical wings of my own...

Growing up, one of my favorite sections of the craft store was the aisle that held all the unfinished wooden shapes and cutouts. All they needed were a bit of paint, maybe some stencils, and they were instantly transformed. I loved all the possibilities...