Welcome All!

In this weeks blog round up I bring you creative craft ideas, interesting way to thing about your food, and resources to start your own handmade craft business.

I love to feature small craft blogs that come from the everyday person. If you have any friends or family that write awesome craft blogs and post great content and pictures send me a link!

As I said in past round ups I really appreciate your comments and input. If there are specific topics you like featured in my round up be sure to let me know!

Step 1: Gifts

Anyone who likes to reuse and recycle would appreciate this gift! Create a garbage can made of garbage found on craftster. This would look great in a dorm room and will put all those magazines that have been piling up in your bathroom to good use!
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A two in one reuse and cooking project.

Fill an old glass jar with cupcakes and frosting...I think YES!

I'm always trying to think of easy to make gifts. These Mason Jar Cupcakes are perfect gifts for co-workers, a sick friend, or just to say thanks.

Step 2: Repurposed Furniture

This industrial looking ottoman is made from a washing machine drum. It is small and would fit perfectly in the corner of a living room or bedroom. Check out garage sales or junkyards for unused washing machines.
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Here is some more sleek furniture make out of milk crates. So many ways to arrange these crates ranging from light fixtures to bar stools to tables. There are hundreds of ways to use these boxes if you think outside the box!

Step 3: Random Crafting

Dry Ice Air Freshener - Michael Natkin writes a culinary blog Herbivoracious which includes hundreds of recipes for a vegetarian diet.

This, however, is an experiment using dry ice to create beautiful clouds of smoke while filling your home with sweet scents.

Step 4: Food Art

This unique twist on food and nutrition will give you a visual queue to help you remember what body part is benefiting as you snack! Foods That Look Like Body Parts They're Good For found in Women's Day.

Can you think of any other foods that would fit this category?
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Here are some more creative ways to think about your food.

FOOD ART!

Food art on a stick?

Step 5: Weekly Challenge

Every week, as part of this round-up, I want to pose our crafty community a challenge.
Take the inspiration I provide and make your own Instructable from it. Everyone who participates will get a special patch!

This week's challenge is: Salvaged Barbie Doll Parts

This is one of the more unique re-purposed jewelry ideas that I have seen. At first I thought the faces and body parts were photos or maybe paintings. However, the interesting and comical compositions are created using Barbie parts! The Plastic Body Series designed by Margaux Lange is a jewelry line that combines salvaged Barbie doll parts with sterling silver and pigmented resins.

Create your own instructable that uses salvaged barbie doll parts in a unique way (doesn't have to be jewelry but can be!).

Once you've made your instructable, be sure to add it to the Check It Out! Challenge Group, so I'll know to give you a patch.

Previous Challenges :

Transparent Trends: Watch your toast while its toasting! Super cool. For this challenge create a project/product transparent that is not normally transparent.

Wacky Memo Pads. I found these adorable fruit slice memo pads on gallery nucleus while looking for a gift exchange project. There are so many wacky memo pad possibilities!

Lego Jewelry by JacQueline Sanchez
I heard about this high-end lego jewelry from a woman I met at MakeSF event. I decided to check it out. It is beautiful jewelry but I'm a DIYer and I don't think I could shell out this kind of money for something I think I could make myself.

Peel-away wallpaper made by ZNAK as seen on dornob.com is still open. HINT: think shelf liner, vinyl contact paper, etc...

I can't wait to see what you make!

Step 6: Resources - Handmade Business

If you're an avid crafter I'm sure you've thought about turning your hobby into a lucrative money making business. Here are are a few resources that can help you get started or at least get the wheels turning.

Selling the Handmade Way - is a 7 week e-course that starts this fall (sept. 6 – oct. 22). The course is intended for beginner and intermediate sellers who want to learn how to improve and build a business in the handmade market. Cost is $140.

Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs (CCE) - small business conference in Seattle, WA (August 13 - 15). It is three days of seminars, interactive discussions and hands-on workshops to help you expand and start a creative business.