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You have probably seen people embroidering photographs printed onto fabric, but have you tried embroidering on canvas?  This is a Halloween version of a project from my latest book Creative Crafts For Teens (now available for pre-order on Amazon) because everything is more fun with a holiday twist. No fancy stitching skills necessary....

I’m packing a suitcase for my first summer vacation in over a decade: a family trip to Iceland. What I’m thinking about most is the real estate inside my luggage. Iceland is cold and rainy right now and will require layers ranging from a swimsuit for the Blue Lagoon to a hooded coat for rainy 45F nights. And of course, I need to...

by Faith Hale, staff artist and crafty mom I love watching how my crafts change with the seasons, especially now that I’m a mom. There’s the back-to-school projects designed to grow scissor or handwriting skills, the holiday creations to be gifted, crafts focused on themes and events. But summer is when I feel the most comfortable relaxing...

I recently created a Creativebug class about appliqué circles. Deceptively quick and easy, this technique can be an incredible addition to a quilt. Let me share a few favorite ways to use them with you. Making a quilt with just circles can look awesome. One of my favorite archetypal symbols is that of a calendar. Here you can see them made...

with Abby & Violet Houston Violet and I are thrilled to share some hands-on ideas for getting little bursts of creative engagement into your daily routine while the kids are home on summer break. Our starter activity could be done at the breakfast table before the work day or in the evening after dinner over a glass of lemonade. The point...

Written by Chelsea Rider – Reference Librarian, Cedar Falls Public Library I am not a “crafty” person.  I have interest (and a shelf full of half-finished creations to prove it), but I possess all the skill of a moderately talented six-year old (see aforementioned abominations, I mean, creations).  As a librarian, that’s OK. I’m...

by Lorene Edwards Forkner Anything that encourages us to slow down and pay attention is nourishing. I am an artist as well as a writer who gardens and a gardener who writes, pursuits that require plenty of time and tending, but I have always longed for a personal daily practice. Participating in the 100-day project allowed me to try on the...

Welcome to the season of renewal and creativity! With spring in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to indulge in some crafting fun. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking for a new hobby, we’ve curated an exciting list of 20 spring-themed craft project ideas to spark your imagination. From colorful floral projects to...

Are you looking for a unique way to engage children in the Passover Seder? Why not create a personalized Passover Haggadah in the form of a felt book! Inspired by the Creativebug class, Sew a Quiet Adventure Book for Baby, we’ll walk you through the process of adapting this craft to celebrate the story of Passover. Materials For Felt...

Inspired by jellyfish, unicorns, and pastel rainbows, my 4-year-old and I made hanging party decorations for her park birthday. With simple materials and steps, anyone can help make these fun banner “chandeliers” and enjoy their color and texture! After the party, we hung them up in her bedroom. Materials Needed 1...

I bought my first sketchbook in 2006 as a first-year art student at Carnegie Mellon University. Students were required to work in a sketchbook throughout the semester, but I hadn’t even unwrapped mine the day before our year-end critique. That evening, a few other students and I hastily filled our sketchbooks with quick, half-hearted...

By Creativebug Artist Blair Stocker Quiltcon, the premiere show for modern quilting presented by the Modern Quilt Guild, was held in February in Raleigh, North Carolina this year. If you love modern quilting (or any quilting, really) this is the show for you to fill up on creative inspiration, take workshops, and sit in on lectures from...

A playful, hyper-feminine “coquette” aesthetic is flourishing throughout fashion and social media with an abundance of florals, ruffles, pastels, and bows. Bows are adorning everything from clothing to shoes to jewelry, and the more bows the better. Think ballet, Bridgerton, and Barbie, all rolled into one. While you can make your coquette bows...

Every year thousands of people come together to participate in the annual #The100DayProject. The idea is simple, every day for 100 days starting February 18, 2024, you choose a creative project to do. If you are looking for some inspiration check out some of our crafting journeys below. Each day is intended to be 5-20 minutes of practice. Feel...

Send your best gal pals these adorable, printable, and colorful Galentine’s Day cards by artist Dawn M. Cardona. Celebrating Galentine’s Day has never been easier! Galentine’s Day falls on February 13th and is a day for you to show the women in your life how much they mean to you. But these Galentine’s Day printable...

This year, our Creativebug team decided to switch up our Secret Santa gift exchange from store-bought to handmade. While this change may have delayed our gift exchange to February, to accommodate the additional holiday crafting our team was engaged in, it also resulted in so many thoughtful handmade gifts. Liberty Fabric Napkins by Faith...

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we invite you to embark on a journey of heartfelt expressions and artisanal wonders. In this curated collection, we unveil a treasure trove of handcrafted delights that transcend the ordinary, offering unique ways to convey your love. From charming DIY projects to personalized creations, each gift is a...

Groovin’ High- Faith Ringgold 1986 Black art and artists have inspired me throughout my life. Through picture book illustrations I wondered over as a child, to fictional stories I read for the first time as a teen, to works of art I’ve stood in front of in awe at museums. The Black experience is one often overlooked in the dominant...

When I saw Faith’s puff quilt, I knew I HAD to make one. All those squishy puffs were calling my name. But I was feeling a bit daunted by the time it would take to patchwork and stuff a quilt. For a week I dreamed about my very own puff quilt… I even had “the perfect fabric” for it, Phoebe Wahl’s Garden Jubilee...

Celebrate your love of books with the Creativebug staff as they share their favorite DIY bookmark ideas. With bookmarks, you can explore all kinds of materials and mediums. Plus, their smaller canvas size can allow for a quick, satisfying, and unique project. Corner Bookmarks with Paper – Cobrina, Content Producer & Instructor...

Delve into the fusion of art and nature with our guide to painting and drawing your birth month flower. In this exploration of floral representation, discover the therapeutic joy of expressing yourself through vibrant strokes and precise lines. Join us on a journey through the twelve months, transforming each canvas into a unique bloom that...

It’s never too late to create a daily habit… When I set out to start my small business as a professional artist at age 40 I didn’t actually set out trying to create a business. I set out trying to create a daily habit. Flashback to 2020 (yes, we’re going there) four years ago I found myself looking for a way to cope with the demands of...

Learn how to make your own scratch-off cards and start a new tradition for your New Year’s resolutions. Our printable art includes a small weekly booklet to keep track of your weekly wins and a 52-week chart for the whole year. When you complete one day of your daily practice, scratch off a dot on your pocket-sized chart to reveal a gold star....

Spin your way into the new year with a handmade paper calendar wheel. Move the dial each month to see dates for the moon cycle, astrological sign, and what foods are in season. This project includes beautiful, hand-painted artwork for you to easily print out, cut, and assemble. To make this wheel extra nice, laminate each page before cutting, or...

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and what better way to infuse the spirit of the season than with thoughtful, handmade gifts? In our fast-paced world, there’s something undeniably special about a present crafted with love and creativity. This holiday season, we curated a sensational DIY & Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas Guide...

Crochet your own red and white mushrooms with these two free crochet mushroom patterns and give your holiday decor a cute and rustic handmade touch. If you’re wondering what to do with them, I’ll also share my ideas for how to use crocheted mushrooms in your gift-giving as well as fun places to put them in your home. For those...

Welcoming your furry friend to your wedding ceremony can add an extra layer of joy and love to your special day. To make sure your dog is dressed to impress, we’ve put together a guide on creating DIY dog accessories that are not only adorable but also personalized for your wedding theme. Let’s get crafting! Embroidered Wedding...

These paper fruits and vegetables would be fun in a fruit bowl or an autumn tablescape. Consider hanging them from a string to make a bunting or mobile. They also fold up nicely to tuck into a letter or card. Make five or more printouts of the artwork. You can see how the pomegranate looks with five or ten pieces and decide how many is best for...

Diwali, derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali (meaning row of lights), is one of the most celebrated Indian festivals. Hi, I am Mou Saha, and I still remember my anticipation for Diwali each year growing up in India. Two of the most fun components of Diwali are decorations and food. I’m going to show you how to turn yarn and craft foam...

Indigo has been used to dye textiles for thousands of years, traditionally using a fermented dye vat. Freshly harvested Japanese indigo, sometimes known as Dyer’s Knotweed, produces a luminous mermaid blue to seafoam green color with minimal processing. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to dye silk with fresh indigo leaves....