101 Free Green Craft Tutorials

One of the reasons I love Chinese New Year, is that I get to dillydally with my New Year resolutions for a month. I try them out before committing. This year’s no different & commit to this New Year …
..Resolution: My new year resolution is to act upon great ideas generated in 2009, and to complete all worthwhile craft projects that I’ve already started. And I have tons of work in process (WIP craft).

To Do: FILE & USE LIST.

Comment: The below list of ‘101 Top Free & Green Craft Tutorials of 2009’ serves as my basis for many of these planned / WIP craft projects. I’ll make my own version based on them. And I will promise not to buy any Amy Butler fabric, as that’s kind of cheating: pretty much everything looks better in her fabric. Even mundane little string bags….. It’s kind of like she’s doing the craft for us.

No, instead, I’ll really, really try to recycle.

Many of the free craft tutorials below upcycle previously-used materials. Often the tutorials imply using new materials, but they would often look just as good, if not better, when using recyclables.  Many of the projects here could be created using recyclable materials, sometimes easily, sometimes not.  The ‘U’  marks in the craft tutorial list below indicate that these tutorials are written with ‘upcycling, refashioning & recycling used materials’ in mind. The other craft projects here could be made using recycled materials, if you so wish. 

Inspiration: If I can inspire you to recycle while crafting, I’ll be really happy.

 Confession: I made this list

as much for me as for you.

101 Top Green Craft Tutorials of 2009

UPCYCLED CRAFT FURNITURE & HOME DESIGN

How to Silver-leaf your Dresser (a favorite!) by Little Green Notebook U

Rag Floor Pillows by Anneli Martin at Crafting a Green World U

Knitted Urchin Pouf by Pickles

Vintage Wall Paper Tree by Sweet Paul U

Hanging Room Divider by Making It Lovely

Beautiful Ways to Re-Use Glass by Re-Nest U

Wreath for Readers by  Shabby Nest U

DYI Sink skirt by  Eddie Ross

Sexy Hexy Love Quilt by Amy Butler

CRAFTED HOME DECORATION

Paper Fall Leaf Lamp by Patricia Zapata on Craftzine 

Hemp Pendant Lamps by Crafty Nest

Ruffled Lamp Shade by Ruffles and Stuff

Beautiful Felt Rosette Clustered Pillow (a favorite!) by Anne K. Quinn on Etsy

Pretty Prints Star Pillow at Sew 4 Home

Knitted Vase Covers  by Leigh Radfords at Design Sponge U

Frame Your Family: Cut Paper Portraits video tutorial by the Craft Dude

Frosted Monogrammed Vases by  Homebody Holly  U

LOVELY CRAFTED BABY ITEMS

Argyle Onsies (for baby boys) by Lu Bird Baby U

Creating Adorable Baby Bums Cloth Diapers by Crafting in a Green World  U

Make it Yourself Jumper (0-3 mth) by Smile & Wave

How to Make to Winter Buggy-bag by Instructables

Diaper Wipes Case by Make it and Love it

Lovely Baby Quilt ‘Elia’ by Crazy Mom Quilts 

Breastfeeding Pillow by Make Your Own Baby Stuff

COOL CRAFTED KID ITEMS

Polka Dot Quilt by And Other Silly Things

Map of the States Blocks Quilt by Oh Fransson

Cloth Baby Shoes by Michael Miller Fabrics

Ballerina Tooth fairy Pillow by mmmCrafts

Child’s Apron, Chef’s Hat & Oven Mitts by Lilac Lane at ModaBakeshop.com

Sweet, Pink flower Pedal Backpack by Oh So Happy Together at U Create

Little Girl Skirt with Applique by Tea Rose Home

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

Making Fabulous Flowers with Tissue Paper by Fine Craft Guild U

Happy New Year garland  by Kaboose U

Printable Valentine Butterflies (Ideal School Valentine Gifts) by SkiptoMyLou

How to Make a Toy Theater out of a recycled Box at Angry Chicken U

How to transfer a kid drawing into a brooch by You Sew, Girl/Nichole Mallalieu Design U

Mother’s Day gift house box by Molly Chicken

Fabric Bonbon Friendship Necklace by J.M. Design & Co

COOL CRAFTS FOR TEENS & TWEENS, SCHOOL & COLLEGE

Tie Dyed Leggings by Martha Stewart U

How to make a Bean Bag tutorials & videos by various contributors at FineCraftGuild.com U

Pocketed Binder Cover – sewing tutorial by Lola Again U

Scrabble Tile Pendant tutorial by Make and Takes U

Cartooned Tin Belt Buckle by Adaptive User U

FANCY & FUNCTIONAL BAG TUTORIALS

A real Practical & Fun ‘Purse Thingy’ (favorite) by Thimble Anna U

Mod Podge Handbag tutorial by Dairy of a Crafaholic U

Professional Tote bag Design (favorite) by JCaroline at Fine Craft Guild

Elegant purse from recycled book (favorite)  by Crafting in a Green World U

Adorably Dainty Drawstring gift bag by Little Red Ribbon U

Brown Bag Lunch bag with Owl applique by Weefolkart.com

Notebook Lunch bag with Text of Your Choice by Kate Spruit at Design Sponge

Practical Shopping Bag by Between the Lines

Rag bag ala Anthropologie by Oh So Happy Together

PERSONAL ACCESSORIES & JEWELRY

Artful Scarf from Scraps by ThisIsLoveForever at CraftStylish U

Super Easy T-shirt Scarf by Ruffles & Stuff U

Starbucks Coffee Cup Cozy by Crafty Rose U

Romantic Fabric-covered Bead Bracelet by Tea Rose Home U

Groovy Boots Knitting Pattern  by Canadian Living

Feminine Flash Ruffled Cardigan at Mighty Girl

Long Striped Handwarmers by Purl Bee

Over-sized Poppy Boutonniere by Grosgrain Fabulous

Powder puff by Natural Beauty Workshop

One pattern piece Reversable Sunhat at CraftStylish

RECYCLED ART & CRAFT

Recycled Teapot Lamp by Sweet Paul U

Girly Necklace from Magazine Paper Beads by Fine Craft Guild  U

Trendy Bottle Cap bracelet by Better Homes & Gardens U

Cool Tote Trick, upcycling free promo totes, by Betz White U

Antique Book Art by Keith Lo Blue U

PET CRAFT

Recycled Dog Sweater at CraftStylish U

Embossed Pet Photo Frame by CraftStylish

Cuddly Cat Bed by Crochet Ville at FineCraftGuild

Adorable Puppy Love Scrapbooking Album by Kaisercraft.net

Collapsible Dog Travel Water Bowl by Diane Gilleland at Craftstylish

Colorful Cat Toy Plushies by My Fantastic Toys

EMBROIDERY/QUILTING/APPLIQUE

Falling Leaves Tree Applique by WeeFolkArt

Little Mushroom Girl Embroidery Pattern by One Red Robin

Stitch a Day: Leaf Embroidery by Hand Embroidery Network

Sewing Hexagons by All buttoned up at Sew Mama Sew

Decorative Fall Hand Embroidery Designs by  Sara Jane Studios

ORGANIZING CRAFT

Bed (or armchair) Caddy by Sew 4 Home

Sewing Machine Quilt by Get Your Craft On

Fabric Covered Recipe binder by Our Big Earth

STENCILLING, STAMPING & PRINTING

Carving Lovely Stamps by Geninne Zlatkis (video) U

Stencil and Potato Printing by Lotta Jansdotter at CraftStylish U

VALENTINE, DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING & PAPER CRAFT

Catalog of Love (favorite)  by Poetic Home

How to Make Filligree Pendants by Ann Martin at Folding Trees

Desktop calendar-scrapbooking layout by The Shabby Princess

How to Make your Own Valentine Card in Photoshop by Rose

Love Bird stuffy with heart by Molly Chicken

SPRING & EASTER HOLIDAY CRAFTS

Stylish White Easter Eggs by Pickles 

Stunning Retro Sewn Easter Eggs by Retro Mama

Knitted Easter Eggs (favorite) by Purl Bee

Cutest Tutorial (for Decorated Felt Eggs) by WoolPets

Reuse Silk ties to Tie-Dye Eggs by Crafting in a Green World

Felt Easter Egg Jelly Bean Bags by Chica & Jo

FALL, HALLOWEEN & THANKSGIVING CRAFTS

Really Cool Appliqued-Fabric Pumpkins by the Thompson Family

Pinecone Pompoms by Resurrection Fern U

Halloween Decorating & Craft Templates & Howto’s by Martha Stewart 

Burlesque Bustle Skirt by Becca K at Cut out and Keep

WINTER & CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CRAFTS

Seen-these? Felt Ornaments from My Fantastic Toys

Pie Pops from Luxirare 

Salt Dough Ornaments by Katy Elliott

Ruffly Felt Rosettes Wreath by DomestiFluff

Paper Advent Calendar Tree with Matching Birds & Wreath by The Red Thread

Congratulations

If you and your blog are on this list, congratulations!! You made it in. It took a lot of time deciding which ones are ‘in’ as I had bookmarked a lot more than 101 and there were many to choose from.

So, why not proudly feature our button ‘Featured in Top 101 (green) Craft Tutorials’ on your blog? You deserve it.  As well, we’ll welcome your link juice back. 

But most importantly, thank you for your tutorial and for just being there for inspiration also. We’ll be seeing you on your blog in 2010.