February 28, 2013 Leave a comment
By Guest Maker Theresa Baughman
These rice filled heating pads are great for colds, toothaches, muscle aches, cold winter days, glove warmers, heating pads, headaches and more. They are a simple sewing project perfect for young makers or those new to sewing technique. Plus, there’s tons of room to be creative! Don’t miss
our inventive suggestions at the end.
February 1, 2013 Leave a comment
Kid makers, you are growing all the time, growing right out of last year’s winter sweaters. Transform those old sweaters into cool new slippers – maker style!
Click here for instructions from the Organized Everyday blog.
Sweater sleeves are a great beginning to make other things (like one of our favorite projects, Sweater Sleeve Leg Warmers). By using the existing cuff and sleeve in your design, it only takes a few adaptations to make something new.
That’s what maker mom Jena did to make darling rainbow striped sweater sleeve slippers. She teaches you how to do it, too, over at her blog, Organized Everyday. Click here or on the photo for full instructions and pictures of each step.
You’ll need these materials:
September 29, 2012 Leave a comment
Click here to make this no-sew fringe bag from Tealou and Sweetpea.
On a rainy weekend, nothing is more comfortable than sitting around at home in your favorite T-shirt and jeans. If you’re like us, kid makers, you may have a whole collection of clothes that you don’t wear but dont’ want to throw out … especially favorite t-shirts. Whether you outgrew it, it’s stained or it’s just last year’s style, we have the perfect upcycling fix: BAGS!
We all carry a lot of things this time of year, like a book bags for school, grocery bags for apple picking, and of course, trick-or-treat bags for Halloween! Grab your oldest summer tee and start making.
T-shirt Bag Project Ideas:
T-shirt bags are a great example of one of kid-makers favorite types of making: UPCYCLING! What is “upcycling”?
September 26, 2012 Leave a comment
Fall is here and the days are getting shorter. The sun sets earlier and earlier until it’s dark before supper! Of course, here at The MAKESHOP Show that inspires us to make things – things that gloooooowww in the daaaaark. (And just in time for Halloween!)
We hunted the internet for the coolest Glow in the Dark Projects for kid-makers just like you!
Click here for Glow in the Dark Nail Polish instructions from Cut Out + Keep!
Why do these materials glow?
July 13, 2012 Leave a comment
Kid-makers, we know you like redesigning things to suit your own style … AND you love to be good to the earth. Check out these simple instructions for how to create your own custom sandals from the soles of old or broken flip flops!
Click here to braid your own flip flop straps!
Start by cutting the thong off and removing the ends from the base to start your new flip flops with just the rubber sole. (You’ll want to ask an adult for help with this part, since it requires a sharp blade.)
You can also combine this idea with …
May 21, 2012 1 Comment
Kid-makers, do you want to make an awesome gift for a girl or boy you know? Something that looks tough (but is really kind of easy)? Our newest video will show YOU have to make one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, keychains and more from things you have in your garage, basement or toolbox.
Find some hex nuts, washers or any other hardware with a hole in the center. Find some string, twine, rope or ribbon. Then watch this video to learn how to braid it all together into seriously tough jewelry you made yourself. Maker Rebecca shows you how!
Stay calm and make on.
© 2012 Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
April 30, 2012 1 Comment
T-shirt Flower Ring – Click here to learn how from Homemade Ginger!
Somewhere in the back of your drawers, kid-makers, is an old t-shirt just waiting for you to make an awesome Mother’s Day gift out of it. Surprised? Makers enjoy upcycling tees because the jersey knit doesn’t need to be hemmed, so you can make tons of projects without even needing to sew!
We hunted the internet to find the greatest wearable gifts for mom out of old t-shirts:
April 6, 2012 1 Comment
Photo by Creative Kismet. Click here for how to!
Sometimes, the simplest everyday things have the most potential. Makers are going crazy with pillowcases – and we mean CRAZY! The lowly pillowcase is being upcycled into dresses, shirts, lunch bags, curtains, purses, placemats, boxers and, our favorite, pajamas!
Kid-makers, we think you’ll go just as crazy once you get going. Pillowcase projects are good for the earth because their reuse an existing thing – also known as Zero Waste Sewing. And the best part is that most pillowcase sewing projects are easy for beginners.
Cool Project Instructions:
March 7, 2012 3 Comments
Click here to learn how to make your own sweater sleeve leg warmers!
Kid makers, we know you’re growing out of stuff all the time. Use your maker skills to transform last winter’s outgrown sweater into super comfy leg warmers that are one of a kind! It’s a simple and green way to reuse a sweater that’s not in good enough condition to donate to a thrift store. (Plus, your kid sister would look totally adorable in these on her way to ballet class!)
Upcycle an old sweater into kicky leg warmers with these simple instructions from the I Could Make That Blog. The secret of why this works SO well is … Read more of this post
February 18, 2012 2 Comments
Ribbon roses are a project we just know you’ll find lots of uses for, kid makers. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be attaching them to pencils, headbands, bike handles and wrapped presents in no time. They also make great GIFTS for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and birthdays! Special thanks to maker Christina and kid makers Amberly and Melvay!
MAKER TIP: Try folding these roses out of paper or fabric to find even more uses and styles for folding flowers.
© 2012 Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
