So, you’ve picked out your fabrics and accessories and have learned a few tricks from my last fashion post. Now, you’re ready to sew!!!!! Grab some pins. Any kind of pins work, but I prefer safety pins for this project.  And here is my biggest trick of all: You don’t have to cut your fabric. You can rip it.  Yes, I know that’s crazy. But no, you do not need to jaggedly cut strips of fabric and end up with a janky result. All you need to do is cut one small slit into the end of your fabric, and rip in a straight line. It ends up neat, and perfect.  Cut two equal strips of fabric that are about the width of your wrist to your fingertips.  Drape them in a crisscross manner across your mannequin or model as seen below. Pin carefully as you go, so that everything stays in line.  There will be two strips of fabric dangling in the back. Make sleeves by pinning the front fabric with the back, right under the arm.  Repeat on the opposite side.  Fold any loose fabric on the back across triangula

 I am on an organizing buzz! It’s almost the new year, I have lots of crafts to store neatly, and I’m so excited to make homemade labels with my new Cricut machine! I thought my first organizing project could help you tidy a space you use daily, rely on for information as well as entertainment, and help you make your phone a little more aesthetically pleasing. I am all about the aesthetic! ❤️ This activity is also super fun, and quick! I promise. So even if you don’t like organizing, you can still get neat fast and fun.  (This idea should work for any phone-like device.) First, group your apps into folders corresponding to the color. If you’re not sure about a color, use the color-coding app cheat sheet below.  1. Multiple colors. Most apps will have different colors. (Camera is black and gray.) Whatever the background color is, or the majority of the app is, stick it in that folder.  2. Rainbow colors. Make a rainbow folder for apps like Photos.  3. Grays, blacks, browns, and whites.

 Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you had a lovely holiday celebrating Jesus’ birth. I took a two day break from blogging to spend time with family, but now I’m back and craftier than ever!  In fact, I’m in the middle of hand sewing my own clothes! Let me tell you a little bit about my new obsession. Making your own clothes is great for a multitude of reasons. Like:  1. You’re not buying clothes all the time. 2. You can make your own style, one that you can’t find in a store. 3. You’ll feel so proud of each garment you make. 4. You can show the world who you really are on the inside, especially if you’re too shy to fully express yourself.  So, as you can see, making your own clothes is pretty awesome.  I’m currently making a coat/vest/shrug, and I thought I’d show you how to make your own!!!! Yes, soon you’ll have an easily crafted, suuuuper chic vest, that you made YOURSELF!!!! I am so excited.  If you need inspiration for your fabrics and own style, check out my post “Friday Fashion

 I love every animal, but I have three favorites. Find out which one you are by planning a party!  1. What time is the party? A. Midday  B. Morning  C. Night  2. Where is the party? A. At my house B. At a rocking nightclub  C. At my friend’s house  3. What decoration do you use?  A. A balloon maybe  B. A disco ball C. None  4. What clothes do you wear?  A. Something cute B. Something flashy C. Whatever I want. Harrumph.  5. What snack do you serve? A. Fresh fruit  B. Cookies C. Fresh vegetables  6. What drink do you serve? A. Spring water B. Tap water  C. Soda 7. A friend comes early, while you’re still decorating. You: A. Ask them to help B. Welcome them warmly C. Kick them out  8. People are arriving and the party seems dull. Which game do you pick? A. Staring contest B. Freeze tag C. Musical chairs 9. It’s midnight and one friend hasn’t left yet. You’re getting tired and you: A. Ask their help in cleaning up. If they’re staying they might as well be useful.  B. Turn the party into a

 If you’re anything like me, you probably have stacks of paper surrounding you right now. Origami paper, collage paper, glitter paper, construction paper, printer paper, all of these are paper types I use daily.  I am someone who is deeply invested in the environment. I use cruelty free makeup products only, am careful about how much water I use, and for over a year I have been a vegetarian. These are great ways to help the environment.  But I am guilty of using way too much paper. I am a crafter, after all. The problem however, is that instead of using all of my paper, I often end up throwing some away. That’s trees, people! TREES in the garbage.  So I’ll try to cut back on my paper use. I’ll try to save more trees. But the thing is, what if I have some paper left over? I obviously can’t throw it away! So I decided to create a post all about paper home decor. Let me explain about this type of home decor. You can use paper in a number of ways around the house. There are three major bon

Hi everybody! Hope you’re having a lovely, Christmasy day!  If you have a few minutes, I thought you might like to read a poem I wrote today.  I hope you enjoy it!  WE ARE WHAT WE DREAM We are the stuff of dreams Of incomprehensible birth The ticking clock The winding stops We are the stuff of Earth We are the stuff of swollen hearts Bursting with pride and light  The fading smile  And all the while We are the stuff of night  An eager face An inky page  And all the while we dream To know about To learn about  The things we cannot see The nighttime mind is a school And we, the unconscious pupil With open mind We feel the spine Of every made-up book In the school of stars we learn about  The history of the untold We sit and hear  Of war and fear As the wax melts down to gold We hear of monsters and delicious fairytales Beyond the pages of Grimm And hear the twisted versions As cobwebs lick our skin We are the stuff of dreams And  Dust and mites Noons and nights Blessings and fears And bl

 Ever wonder which Christmas tradition is completely WRONG for you? Take this fun quiz to find out which tradition is your LEAST favorite.  Plan your day for (slightly) accurate results.  1. What time do you wake up?  A. When my dog does B. Between 9 am and noon C. After 7 D. 7 usually E. Super early  2. What beverage do you grab first?  A. Iced tea  B. Coffee C. Lemon water D. Something I make myself (example: smoothie) E. Tap water 3. What Christmas activity do you do first? A. I make Christmas Crafts in my room  B. I respond to Christmas emails and Facebook C. I play games with the fam D. I usually cuddle by the fire  E. I don’t really like any Christmas activities.  4. What chore do you do first?  A. I clean my room B. None, on my ideal day C. I don’t care, as long as it’s not cleaning the kitchen!  D. Gardening E. Laundry 5. Which beverage do you NOT have? A. Coffee B. Regular water C. Latte  D. I like them all E. I hate them all 6. Which craft would you make?  A. Origami B. I don

 Hi everybody! Guess what, this is my hundredth blog post on The Cool Christian Crafter!  Thank you to everyone who has made this blog possible, especially you, my reader!  Thanks for all of your kind comments and thanks for reading my posts. I hope you have found light, beauty, and lots of crafting tutorials on my blog. It is my goal to create a safe space for creatives to come together and worship, craft, and laugh.  On the Cool Christian Crafter you will find funny puns, awesome videos, and lots and lots of love. You don’t need to be afraid of art, you need to embrace it. And I believe in all of you and your creative abilities. Thanks for reading.  My goals for the next season of blogging are to:  Continue to spread light and love through fun posts Make lots of fun quizzes for you to take  Give more book reviews Teach you some of my favorite projects that I use daily  And to always, always say: God loves you.  And so do I! 

Soaps are amazing. Talk about a good pandemic craft, am I right?  Well, to make soaps you’ll need some meltable soap blocks. They come in big bags, usually pre-cut into small cubes.  Take about two cubes for a large soap or one for a smaller soap. Place the soap in a microwave-safe container. Add some colors, scents, and edible glitter if you wish, and melt it for 30 seconds. Pour it immediately into your mold. There are some really fun molds out there - squares, animals, circles. Make sure to not cook anything in your molds after they have been “soaped.” Trust me, no one wants lavender snacks.  Some molds dry quickly (30 minutes), but most take about an hour.  You can do so many creative things with soaps, which I am about to reveal, like: Make two thin soaps, each with a different color. Let them harden. Use a little bit of hot melted soap to stick them together, and make a gorgeous layered soap. You can even make a rainbow tower using all the colors of the rainbow, stacked on top of

 Hi everybody! I just made this sign and I thought you might want to hear a few painting techniques.  1. Blend the colors using straight, horizontal lines. See that ombré effect? 2. Use a sponge brush. I make my own out of battery pack foam insulator, or you can buy one. It adds so much texture!  3. When painting on a wood surface, paint only a thin coat of light brown to retain some of that wood-y texture!  4. Try to paint using light colors. That way if you miss a spot, it doesn’t show up as prominently.  Want to see a picture of my sign using these techniques? See if you can spot the texture and ombré effects!  Merry Christmas everybody! 

 Yep, it’s Christmas Cookie time!  Practice makes. . . delicious Making memories!  And in the words of my aunt: “aww” 

 Hi there friends! I’m sorry you feel sad. But feeling sad is boring! There are so many amazing things you could be doing right now, because you are a strong, capable person! You can do all things through God who created you.  Still feeling sad? That’s ok. I created a sort of game below you can play. Just grab some paper and pens. Oooh! And glitter. There’s nothing glitter can’t fix.  All set? Good.  Play the “game” below!  .  . . Project Cheer Up is Underway! . . .  Sadness. Everybody feels it. And it doesn’t feel great. But the main thing that helps with sadness is talking about it. Even if you don’t have someone right there beside you to talk with. Talk with God through prayer, and guess what? I’m here, and you can talk to me. Write down what you’re struggling with from the list below, and I’ll give you a piece of advice. Make sure to use some happy pens, to help put you in a good mood!  1. Someone said or did something mean 2.  Friend trouble 3. Family trouble 4. Money trouble 5. S

 I know I’ve done a lot of tidying posts in the past. But let’s just say it doesn’t stay neat forever, especially when you are a “messy creative.” So this post contains lots of funny lists, humorous photos, and a few tips.  Here are the before photos. (May effect photosensitive viewers, neat freaks, and most of humanity.) So, not great.  As always, I start by grabbing a drink and blaring some music. (Skillet for the win!)  Let’s see. . . Where to start? Bedside table could use some work.  Here’s the junk I found. (Keep in mind, this is only on the surface. I haven’t even opened that drawer!!)  Lamp Sign Notebooks Journals Devotional Necklace Empty drink cans  Scarily huge scissors (#life of the crafter) Packs of dried flowers Charm bracelet Sparkly pop-poms Ten balls of crumpled tape.  I’m going to need a bigger trash bag.  Ok, finally it’s all put away. Jewelry in their box, tape in the trash bag, scissors in my hand-painted mason jar.  But I see a beast looming ahead. As terrifying a

 Yes, it’s almost Christmas! It seems as though we’ve been waiting for years for this happy season to arrive.           Christmas has become about material goods. Presents, candy, stockings, and evergreen boughs. As we plow towards this special day, it is good to remember what Christmas is really about.        It’s about love, mercy, and the birth of Christ. It’s also about being humble. I’d like for us to think about the act of Jesus becoming man. Descending from heaven and all of its glory and splendor to a dirty trough surrounded by animals. So shouldn’t we follow in His footsteps and become more humble ourselves this Christmas? Shouldn’t we focus on others instead of our own gain. Shouldn’t we turn our hearts away from wrappings and bows to hugs and smiles? To comfort and joy? To thankfulness? Thanksgiving doesn’t have to end with the start of Christmas. In fact, Christmas is a time for even more thankfulness.       So this Christmas, let’s focus on being thankful. Grateful. And ev

 Yes, it’s “that time of year!” Which means writing Christmas cards. Some love doing it (my mom), and some, well, not so much.  So here’s a cute tutorial that can make your cards a little more special, and maybe make the writing process a little more fun.  Just imagine the smiles on the faces of the receivers. This cute bird will get them feeling festive!  You’ll need paper, pens, pencils, erasers, and markers (optional).  Watch the adorable tutorial below!  So cute right? And the detail in the hat stitches and knitted feet is optional but recommended. Trace over your lines with pen and erase the pencil! If you want to color, here’s what I did. I colored only the vest with blue and purple colored pencils.  Tip: when using colored pencils, always go in the same direction so your picture looks neat and full.  Happy Card Making! Blare some Christmas tunes to help you get through! 

 I love doodling. Especially with a good pen. I don’t know about you, but I find a nice sharp point exceedingly satisfying for all things artsy.  So today, we’re doodling a little vermin. An adorable rat. I know they have a bad rep (and the tail sure doesn’t help their case), but they really are cute. And if you don’t like rats, you can always draw this and call it a mouse.  Though if you don’t like rats I doubt you like mice. . .   I’ll try not to take it personally.  This is the same sketch after tracing the pencil with pen and cleaning it up a bit. If you want to color your sketch, I suggest two shades of gray. A light for the highlights and a dark for the shadows. A speck of blue in the eyes never goes amiss!  God loves you! Bye! 

 People who love brain teasers, word puzzles, and solving problems will love this blog post. No lie. You can solve these with friends or cozy on the couch with some hot cocoa to solve alone. You’ll need to analyze each problem carefully. Reading aloud helps! Let me know how you do! Answers are also included!  1. Agent Agent  2. Pro mise  3. BIRD  4. Stood     Miss  5. Pawalkrk  6. M1LLION  7. Walking       Ice 8. Arrest      Your  9. Stand me  10. Yggip ride  11. Hands hands hands                Deck 12. (Hint: It’s religious) Dddd days  Dddd nights.  If you want the answers you either have given up or are cockily awaiting to be proved right. Either way, scroll down!  Answers:  1. Double agent 2. Broken promise 3. Big bird  4. Misunderstood 5. Walk in the park 6. One in a million. Did you spot that hidden one? 7. Walking on thin ice 8. Your under arrest 9. Stand by me 10. Piggy back ride  11. All hands on deck!  12. Forty days and forty nights!  Hope you had fun and did well! Personall

 We’ve all been there - so bored we think our eyes might shrivel up any minute! Or is that just me??? So I made a bored board, a fun game I play to get an idea of what to do.  I just take a piece of paper and in the center I wrote BORED.  Then all around the Bored Board, I wrote ideas of what I could do.  Here are some ideas:  Write and illustrate a story  Write a song Read Make a movie on your phone Write a novel Play with a pet Make an art journal (my blog can help with that!)  Design a chic outfit for your next big event  Tidy your room Make origami  Write your own quiz!  Bake cookies for a loved one Test out an old recipe Prank someone! (But don’t tell them I told you to! 🤪😂) Make a surprise party  Listen to music Watch a yoga video Fill your board, then grab a pen and watch this video to play!  Spin your pen in the O and wherever the pen points is what you should do!  Well, I guess I’ve got to go write a song!!! BYE!

 I like my makeup as much as the next gal, but I don’t want it to impact my travel activities too much.  Plus, you can only bring a certain amount of liquid/cream aboard an international flight, so you have to get by with only a few favorite products. So, without further ado, here’s how I managed to travel with only THREE products while still having foundation, concealer, mascara, eyeshadow, chapstick, and lipgloss. I bet you’re curious to find out how I managed it, so keep scrolling for some videos!  1. Concealer+Foundation.  What I love about this genius hack is that, in addition to creating more space in that portable makeup bag and being able to go through security, it also works better than all of those contours, blushes, and foundations combined.  All you need is a powder that matches your skin tone, and some water. Watch!  See? Now you have a blush, a contour, a foundation, and a soothing hydrating cream all in one little container!  2. Eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner All you n

We decorate for Christmas the first week of November. Talk about holiday spirit! Here are our decked halls and some great deco tips! Grab the eggnog and blare some Bing cause it’s about to get Christmas-y!  My first big tip is to use Christmas decorations that match the theme of the room. For us that means gray, black, and white. In the basement we add a little color.  A strand of pearls along some houseplants really add a touch of elegance.  If you don’t like the whole green tree thing, a simple fake birch adds real flair. Make sure to use wrapping paper that matches the tree and the room’s aesthetic.  But if you do like those evergreens, here are my top tree tips.  . Use ornaments that complement each other. Example: White, gray, silver, and sparkly touches.  . Fluff out the branches. Using gardening gloves, de-clump the tree to create a thicker effect. This works with a non-organic tree best.  . If you have a tall tree, position it near some stairs. That way, you don’t need a ladder

So, laundry is my MOST hated chore, and I’m sure some of you can relate to loathing that awful, tedious chore. So here’s how I make it fun!  1. First I put on PJs. Why get dressed for doing laundry??? 2. Blare music. I sometimes have a dance party as I do my laundry!  3. Have a reward in mind. It’s great to have something to look forward too!  4. Create mini-rewards. After putting away a certain amount of garments, read a page of your favorite book.  5. Hang everything. So easy! You don’t have to fold at all!  And lastly, 6. Comment any other ideas you have to make laundry fun and I’ll add them! Thanks for your help everyone!  7. Thanks to a commenter, we have another great idea for you! Watch movies while you fold your clothes.  8. Thanks, Sarah! You gave me an idea! Review the bonuses of doing your laundry, so you feel motivated! Thanks, comments!  9. Here’s another good idea thanks to a commenter! FaceTime with a friend while you do laundry and have a folding date! 

 Have you ever wondered what kind of superpower you would have? I personally would love flying.  Answer some questions about your dreams to find out your power!  1. Which classic nightmare have you had? A. I’m hiding somewhere B. I’m running from something  C. I’m in my underwear  D. People are gossiping about me  E. A monster is eating me 2. Which good dream have you had?  A. I’m wandering around a mysterious place B. I’m in a hot air balloon C. I’m saving people I love D. I’m at a huge party with all my friends E. I’m petting a dog (I have that dream a lot!)  3. Which almost always happens in your dreams?  A. I’m hiding  B. I’m being chased C. I turn into a giant  D. People are being mean to me E. There are always animals.  4. What do you day-dream about?  A. Being safe B. Floating in the middle of the ocean C. Beating someone up D. Hanging with my friends E. Puppies  5. What is your biggest fear?  A. People knowing my secrets B. Having no imagination C. Being bullied D. People hatin

 All you need are some basic paint supplies - paint, brushes, rinsing water, paper towel square, and for this tutorial, washi/masking tape. And you can experiment with textures like cork and bubble wrap, or simply keep it plain.  Your choice! I love freeing art.  step one Now, for step two!  And finally, step three! Taking off the masking tape!  So fun, right?  Goodbye! I love you all! 

 Who doesn’t love painting?  If you follow along through my tutorials you can end up with an amazing piece of artwork you can use as a present or a piece of home decor.  You’ll need some basic painting supplies - Paint (obviously), paintbrushes, a cup with rinsing water, a scrap of paper towel, and a canvas. You’ll also need masking tape or decorative tape to complete the cool effect! Have fun everybody!  Step one: The background  Step 2. Stars and sunsets The star technique is also good in many paintings.  Step 3. Final touches  Take off the washi tape now!  Final ideas:  Try this washi tape stencil idea in different ways!  Reverse it: have the night sky in the triangle and the sunset all around!  Why I like this painting:  Two reasons.  1. You can make it as abstract or as sharply defined as you want.  2. It symbolizes the ability to see light in darker times, which is basically the whole motto of my blog!  Have a lovely artsy day! 

 Do you want to spruce up the appearance of your presents with an easy, DIY hack that really packs a punch? Watch my tutorial. All you need is your safely wrapped present, some paint, a paintbrush, a cork, and a cup of water.  Talk about making the most out of those old wine corks!  Cover the whole package with these cute yet classy stamps. I really like the texture that the cork makes on the parcel.  Cool right?  Try adding glitter or using a different cork or wrapping material. I find plain tissue paper works best. Make sure to use at least three sheets so the damp stamp won’t seep in!  Love you all! 

 Enjoy this colorful, easy, and adorable tutorial! All you need is a square piece of paper. Origami paper is preferable, but you could also cut a square out of copy paper.  Wouldn’t that little guy look so cute in a devotional or Bible?  Happy reading! 

 Take this quiz as your latest batch of Gingerbread Men are baking!  As always, answer honestly to get the accurate, and adorable results!  1. It’s your friend’s birthday. You:  A. Get a little mushy. #Happy Tears  B. Get her a nice gift  C. Probably forget, if I’m being honest  D. Throw her a small party  E. Throw her a huge party! I want her to like me, after all!  2. How do you feel before a big performance?  A. A little fragile.  B. I just try to do my best. Always.  C. I never preform.  D. I am excited E. I know I always do fine, so no need to worry. 3. You need to earn money. You:  A. Make a lemonade stand  B. Have a bake sale  C. Ask my parents for money  D. Mow lawns E. Clean my friend’s house 4. You want to give your Dad a gift this Christmas. You:  A. Make him a sentimental card  B. Make him a gift  C. I don’t usually give gifts  D. Buy him something special  E. Buy him a very expensive, wonderful gift  5. What do you wear to prom?  A. A modest dress  B. A voluminous skirt an

 This is by far the cutest Christmas treat ever. You should serve them for Christmas Day and deliver plates to your neighbors. I promise, everyone will love them! And all you need are some pretzel rings, Rolos, and some M&Ms.   Here’s the adorable recipe:  Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.  Grease a piece of parchment paper with butter spray. Like a baking sheet with your parchment.  Fill the baking tray with rows of pretzel rings.  Put a Rolo in the center of each ring. You can also use mini peanut butter cups, or Hershey Kisses.  Bake for 3 minutes in the preheated oven.  Take out the tray. Press a red M&M in the center of each Rolo. Pop the belly buttons in the fridge for half an hour to let the melty chocolate harden.  Enjoy! 

 Trying to pick out the perfect gift for someone in your family? Scroll through this list to pick one that matches their personality!  For:  The cozy one - warm socks  The new boyfriend - always peanut butter cups  The artsy one - glitter paint/brushes The makeup fiend - lipgloss, nail polish, and body scrub  The dog lover - treats/toy  The chef - oven mitt with slogan that matches their personality  The worker - tool box  The alcohol drinker - bar glass  The stressed one - bath bombs/candle  Yourself - a little alone time goes a long way.  Merry Christmas! 

 So I have to tell you a secret -  I am a terrible wrapper. I know crafters who do huge, ornate things with gift wrap, like making washi tape patterns and origami bows. Yet I still struggle to actually wrap a gift. So here’s a hack for anyone who hates wrapping.  There is also room for your own flair regarding ribbon and tags. Personally, I like to use classic silver ribbon and make my own poem tags.  All you need for this hack is tissue paper, ribbon, scissors, and, of course, a gift.  To attach a tag, simply poke a hole through the tag and loop it onto the ribbon.  Here are the written instructions if you’re not a video fan. Place your gift in the center of two or three sheets of tissue paper.  Using your hands, gather the tissue paper at the top of your gift. Twist.  Tie with ribbon!  Add a tag.  Happy wrapping! 

 This is a super fun quiz that you can use as an activity in a party or take with a friend. Especially if you like Lost.  1. How do you end up on the island in the first place? A. I crashed a plane there  B. I wanted a vacation from my life  C. I don’t think I would have ended up on the island in the first place D. I swam there  E. I built a canoe to travel there  2. What is the first thing you do on the island?  A. Go to the woods  B. Find some deer to eat C. Get a tan  D. Find some edible berries E. Make a shelter 3. Where do you spend the night? A. In a secluded cave  B. In a hollowed out tree  C. In the safest place, which I shall find!  D. On the shore E. In a tree house  4. What do you eat for food? A. Some mushrooms  B. Animals C. Something edible! Obvi  D. Some leaves and berries  E. Something I cooked from dirt and feathers  5. What do you wear? A. Nothing. It’s a deserted island for goodness sake!  B. Animal skins C. Something chic!  D. My old clothes. I’m still wearing them!

 1. Rhymes App  This will help with poetry and composition  2. Music App To create and listen to your own songs! 3. Writing app To keep track of all those little notes 4. Sketch app Doodle whenever!  5. Interior Design app I have two!  6. Fashion design app 7. Movie making app So fun!! 8. Diary  Fun and portable  9. Crossword  To keep those brain juices flowing  10. Photography  Regular camera works too Hope these helped!  God loves you! 

Take my fun quiz to find out!  1. Pick your pic of clothes A.  B.  2. Pick your pic of books  A.  B. 3. Pick your pic of flowers A.  B. 4. Pick your pic of nature!  A.  B. And lastly, 5. Pick your pick of drinks!  A. B. If you answered more: As: You are logical. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative! You think with your head and can man-splain with the best of them!  Bs: You are sooo creative! You are different but only in the best way! Welcome to the world of the unique creatives.