How to Make a Giant Jenga Yard Game

If you have ever wanted to make a giant Jenga style yard game, you're in the right place!

This jumbo Jenga project had been on my list for two years - since my husband and I played it at an outdoor bar and decided we needed a giant Jenga yard game set for our house, too. 

But you know how life goes: first we forgot about it.

Then when we remembered we were like, "Oh yeah, let's make that giant jenga game soon!" 

And then "soon" turned into another year. 

Whoops! It's finally done, though. 

Giant jenga (or as some might call it life size jenga) is the perfect yard game to play outside at BBQs, picnics or family get togethers! 

It's a great beginner woodworking project and it's super affordable, too (less than 10!). It also makes a great gift for outdoor, BBQ and tail gating enthusiasts.

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How to Make a Glamping Kids Tent from an Upcycled Pallet

When my first blog was in its infancy, one of my most popular projects was a DIY kids play tent. 

That project and those (terrible) photos are long gone now but I still love a good play tent!

When I was sent a review copy of Upcycling Outdoors by Max McMurdo, I saw his take on a play tent using pallet wood and fell in love with it.

I invited Max to come teach you guys how he made his awesome DIY pallet project into kids glamping tent!

Check out Max's tutorial below and then be sure to pick up a copy of his book, Upcycling Outdoors. You can find it at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Carissa

Upcycling isn’t just for adults – in fact being creative with junk really brings out the child in me!

When I was growing up I’m pretty sure I spent my entire school holidays building dens.

The joy of this design is that you can create a magical space in your garden or a den for the kids using just two identical pallets, some fabric or a bed sheet, a hammer, and nails.

The joy of using pallets the same size is that the wood is already the right length so you don’t even need to cut anything!

That means you can get the kids involved.

What could be better than helping your children create their own teepee out of reclaimed materials and then watching them make it their own, enjoying the great outdoors with their friends.

Of course, if you’re a big kid like me you might consider creating a larger, adult-sized teepee using more than two pallets and a couple of bed sheets.

To add a real magical sense of fairytale glamour, dress it up with lots of scatter cushions, some soft throws and a string of battery operated lights.

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Fresh Avocado DIY Bath Bomb - Inspired by Lush Bath Bomb Recipe

Lush is highly regarded as the makers of some of the best bath bomb recipes. This recipe will teach you how to make bath bombs with avocado and essential oils just like the AvoBath bath bombs at Lush!

The official Lush bath bomb recipe is a little different (and of course top secret!). We do know that they use avocado and extra virgin olive oil along with bergamot and lemongrass scent.

These homemade bath bombs use avacado along with coconut oil and essential oils that still capture the same scent profile as the Lush AvoBath recipe. 

Rumor has it that the real Lush bath bomb recipe uses rosewood essential oil. Even at my favorite provider of essential oils for bath bombs, it's really expensive!

To make our DIY Lush bath bomb recipe more affordable, we use the Love essential oil blend.  It still uses bergamot and other yummy citrus oils. We also add in lemongrass oil for that fresh, avo bath scent.

I start with lower amounts of essential oils in my DIY bath bombs so that they are safe for everybody. If you love a really strong scent to your homemade bath bombs and you know you don't have sensitive skin, go ahead and add more! Sniff and adjust as you go!

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How to Grow Your Own Edible Easter Grass

We started a tradition of growing our own Easter basket grass from wheat berries about six years ago. I hate plastic Easter grass and needed an eco-friendly alternative. We had been using shredded green paper but this real Easter grass (AKA wheatgrass) is super easy to grow in about seven days. The best part? When you are done with Easter, the wheatgrass is edible! 

To eat the wheatgrass, blend it into smoothie, run it through your juicer or feed it to your pet rabbit or chickens! Growing wheatgrass is really easy and makes your Easter baskets look extra fancy. Plus there's no waste, so it's an eco-friendly win all around!

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Natural Easter Egg Dye Recipes that Really Work

Dying Easter eggs is something my family loves to do every year. 

My kids and I don't eat artificial food coloring, though, so it doesn't make sense to dye Easter eggs with a product that will mean we won't want to eat the eggs anymore! 

Dying Easter eggs naturally isn't hard - although it does take a little bit more time than dying eggs with the kits from the store. 

Try coloring your Easter eggs naturally this year with fruits, veggies, spice and even coffee!

You and your kids will love how much fun it is to combine science with Easter egg decorating!

Making natural Easter egg dyes is easy and you will love thinking up new ways to dye eggs that I didn't even list here!

If you have success with a particular way to dye eggs naturally, pop into the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook and let us know!

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How to Make a DIY Jean Skirt Out of Denim Pants

Have you ever wondered how to make a DIY jean skirt out of a pair of jeans? I can help!

This step-by-step tutorial will show you exactly how to make an easy denim skirt for girls or women of any age or size from a pair of jeans.

Turning jeans into a skirt is easier than you might think. This even works with jeans where the knees have blown out and lets you salvage the rest of the usable fabric.

All you need is a pair of jeans, a seam ripper, scissors and a sewing machine.

Once you make one, you will love how easy it is to upgrade the jeans you decided didn't bring you joy into cute DIY jean skirt that you'll want to do this a few more times!

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How to Make Patches from Recycled Jeans

Hi creative friends, it's Natalie from Doodlecraft here to teach you how to make patches from denim scraps!  

This is a fun upcycled craft that you can make from an old pair of jeans. You don't even need a whole pair! 

It's a great way to use up any scraps leftover from a project you made with recycled jeans like Carissa's really popular Farm Girl Apron from old jeans project or this upcycled denim crown project.

It's really easy to make denim patches using Dimensional Fabric paint (some might call it puffy paint).  

These colorful patches are perfect for adding embellishments to a tote or backpack. They are a fun craft to do with older kids or even as a summer camp craft.  

I have rainbows, unicorns, diamonds, flowers and narwhal patches featured here, but get as creative as you like--the sky is the limit!

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DIY Panda Unicorn Valentine Box with FREE Printable Pattern

Looking for a unique unicorn valentine box?

If you love pandas, unicorns or pandicorns (or is it pandacorns?), you will love my pandicorn panda unicorn valentine box.

I want to help you succeed with your DIY unicorn valentine box so I have also made a FREE PRINTABLE TEMPLATE to help make crafting your unicorn valentines box super easy.

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How to Make an Envelope for a Card from an Upcycled Cereal Box

Hi friends, it's Natalie from Doodlecraft! If you want to learn how to make an envelope from materials you already have at home, I'm your girl!

This fun tutorial will teach you how to fold an envelope from an empty food box. Your kids and tweens will love learning the secret of envelope making from trash!

This DIY envelope is perfect for brightening someone's day by sending snail mail...or a fabulous custom Valentine card!

Or Mother's Day!

Or Christmas!

OR what about Earth Day? How fitting! I think we should all start sending Earth Day cards made from recycled materials. Who's with me?

You can learn how to make an envelope that's just the right size for a card with any paper board (or lightweight cardboard) food box.

Cereal boxes, cracker boxes, you name it - the inside of a paper board food box is perfect for decorating and doodling on.

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How to Make a DIY Non-Christmas Winter Wreath

I love the subtle elegance of white and silvery winter decor.

When I took down my Christmas wreath in January, I knew I wanted to do something pretty and classic that would last through the rest of winter.

This pretty DIY winter wreath featuring snowflakes was my answer!

If your family doesn't do Christmas and just wants a pretty non-Christmas wreath for your door, this is great for this, too!

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How to Make Black Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal

So you want to learn how to make black bath bombs? Want to make your bath water black? I've got you!

Last year, black bath bombs blew up on Instagram (check out black bath bombs on Instagram here).

For the most part, black bath bombs are made black by their use of activated charcoal rather than black dye or soap coloring.

Activated charcoal has been used in traditional health care settings as something you take internally (you swallow it!) to help poisoning or overdose for basically forever (learn more about medical use of activated charcoal here).

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Christmas Cake Mix Bath Bomb Recipe

Bath bombs make a wonderful Christmas gift! Luckily, learning how to make bath bombs at home isn't hard!

This Christmas bath bomb recipe features some yummy smelling essential oils. It might just end up becoming your favorite bath bomb recipe yet!

These DIY bath bombs smell like a vanilla cake topped with candy canes! Of course, you can use whichever essential oils you prefer for your homemade bath bombs but I especially love how these smell together!

You could even make this a family project. Make some bath bombs with your kids for winter break. They make lovely gifts and will make you kids look forward to bath time!

Tell the Lush bath bomb recipes to move over - this yummy cake mix inspired bath bomb recipe is the bomb!

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12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for 2018: Seven Swans-a-Swimming Succulent Planter

A partridge in a pear tree? Four calling birds? Seven swans-a-swimming?

Have you ever wondered how much it would cost to give all the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas?

Today I am partnering with PNC to bring you this post and the 2018 PNC Christmas Price Index® to help you find out!

This year, PNC is also partnering with bloggers to bring you modern takes on the classic 12 Days of Christmas gifts.

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How to Make DIY Unicorn Pumpkins with No Carving Mess!

If you love all things unicorn, you will absolutely love this DIY pumpkin craft that is perfect for Halloween!

Hi Creative friends, it's Natalie from Doodlecraft sharing a fun no carve pumpkin craft featuring everyone's favorite animal: unicorns!

I have two different ways you can make this easy unicorn craft for Halloween:

You can make a cute unicorn girl pumpkin or a cool unicorn boy pumpkin with sunglasses. Easy and adorable!

If you hate the mess of carving pumpkins, this is an especially wonderful solution to decorating pumpkins. No sharp tools or goopy mess required!

I made these with fresh white pumpkins but if you want them to last forever, you can buy convincing looking fake pumpkins online.

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How to Make a Unicorn Christmas Ornament

If you are obsessed with unicorn crafts like I am, it only makes sense to carry that obsession over into Christmas!

This easy unicorn DIY project lets you turn a humble wood slice into a unicorn Christmas ornament.

This unicorn craft is super easy and perfect for kids to make. You could even personalize the unicorns by painting the back and then writing the creator's name (or a gift recipient's name).

You can make your own wood cookies from trees that fall down during storms or buy them online.

Besides the wood cookies, If you are crafty at all, you likely have all the craft supplies you need to make these easy unicorn Christmas ornaments.

Ready to get started on this fun unicorn Christmas craft? 

Let's do it!

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How to Make Halloween Luminaries from Recycled Glass Jars

If you're looking for an easy Halloween craft to do with kids, look no further than your recycling bin! 

With a little help from Mod Podge and tissue paper (or napkins) you can transform empty glass jars to adorable Halloween luminaries. 

These recycled glass jar luminaries are easy to make and a perfect first Mod Podge project. 

This Halloween luminary project I designed was featured on Hands on Crafts for Kids in December of 2015. 

While the version of my Halloween luminaries aired by Hands on Crafts for Kids is a little different than the way I designed it (they used Elmer's glue instead of Mod Podge for example), watching the video below will give you the basic technique for making them.

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DIY Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Tabs

So you're looking for a homemade dishwasher detergent that actually works? I've got you!

If you are tired of buying chemical and dye laden dishwasher detergents that aren't great for your family or the environment, try these easy peasy DIY dishwasher detergent tabs on for size.

They really work to break up grime on dishes and they're inexpensive to boot!

Using today's prices on Amazon for all the supplies used, you would pay about $0.33 per load for these homemade dishwasher tabs.

Now, I did link to the organic versions of the essential oils I used because I assumed you might want to use your essential oils on other things at home beyond washing dishes.

Only want the essential oils for washing dishes? Have some of these ingredients on hand already? Your tabs will cost even less!

Are you ready to get started making your very own homemade dishwasher detergent? Let's go!

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How to Make a Layered Watermelon Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting

Have you ever needed to have a dessert for your gluten free, grain free, dairy free, processed food free friend or vegan family member and had NO IDEA what to make? 

Or maybe you're the one with dietary restrictions and you are tired of not having dessert. 

Whether you or a friend is a vegan, paleo, or gluten free, you can still make a fun "cake" that everyone will enjoy. 

It has the added perk of being no-bake, which means no heating up your home during the summer!

It's just as pretty as a normal cake made with flour but with better-for-you ingredients. A watermelon cake truly without guilt!

This delightful gluten free dessert really takes advantage of the bounty of fresh fruit you can get during the summer.

The star of this show stopping dessert is watermelon, of course. The toppings let you get creative with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.

The coconut frosting is sweet, creamy and to die for.

Seriously, everyone will love this fresh watermelon cake dessert recipe!

The red, white and blue colors make it perfect for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, Veterans Day or Memorial Day. It's sure to be a hit at any BBQ or potluck you bring it to this summer.

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DIY Lush Inspired Bath Bomb Recipe (Smells Like Bubblegum!)

Looking for a Lush inspired bath bomb recipe that's perfect for your kids? 

You're in the right place!

Learning how to make bath bombs isn't hard to do and the results are magical! Let me show you how to make a fun bath fizzy that smells great and is perfect for gift giving.

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Easy Dill Pickle Recipe from Fresh Cucumbers

This dill pickle recipe is so easy - I can't wait to teach you how to make it!

One of my favorite parts of tending a garden during the summer is a seemingly endless supply of fresh cucumbers! I grow regular salad cucumbers and a smaller, pickling variety because I love making fresh cucumber pickles for my family.

This pickled cucumber recipe is super easy. Because these are lacto-fermented dill pickles, you don't need any fancy canning equipment to make them.

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