Lark Crafts

Father’s Day is only days away, what better way to celebrate Dad’s special day than with felt moustaches that you can make not only for Dad, but the entire family! This project is very easy to make with few materials, and doesn’t take much time either. So grab some felt, thread, and elastic and start making moustaches! Download the free PDF here: Manly Moustaches

The Manly Moustaches project comes from the book Heart-Felt Holidays. If you enjoy making felt projects and things for holidays, this is the book for you.

I hope everyone has a safe and memorable Father’s Day!

Remember the giveaway I announced on May 15? Well, I’ve drawn names at random and these three happy contestants each won a copy of Soutache: Annabelle Besnard, Elena Mary Siff and Tamara Allison. And the super-lucky person who receives both a book AND the Zenith Bracelet  is…drumroll…Anna Beal. Congratulations! (And thanks to author Anneta Valious for so generously donating this project.)

If you’re feeling blue because you weren’t one of our winners, here’s a little something as consolation: a PDF of free instructions for making the Zenith Bracelet. Hope you have fun! And keep checking back—we’ll have more giveaways.

Summer break: It’s the perfect time for kids to unleash their inner artists. Crafty endeavors are a great way to keep young ones entertained (and out of mischief!) during long, lazy afternoons. For creative ideas that will fill up the idle hours of summer, check out Jenny Doh’s Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids. The 20 projects in this delightful book are collaborative and fun—sure to engage the interest of the antsiest young vacationer.

Each one of Hand in Hand’s 20 contributors is a mother, blogger, and crafter. Each one shares invaluable advice about nurturing the artistic impulse in kids and turning craft time into family time. From fun ways to use recyclable materials to ingenious kitchen-craft ideas and creative pursuits for rainy afternoons, (like the free Family Banner project shown above), the activities in Hand in Hand will help kids and parents alike tap into their creativity—and survive the long hot summer ahead. Download the free project instructions here: Family Banner.

Summer break is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about fun and creative things to do with the kids! Making an adorable Sock Monkey is the perfect way to start off summer break. This is a project that your child will enjoy all summer long. Click here to download the PDF of the Sock Monkey project.

This project comes from the book Craft Hope, which celebrates crafting for a cause. If you and your kids are looking for ways to give back this summer, Craft Hope is filled with ideas about creating for a good cause.

Enlist the kids’ help to make a bouquet of cheery poppies to grace the summer picnic table. This is an inexpensive project that besides a pair of scissors, requires only paper, glue, floral wire and tape, and correction liquid. This is a great project to do with children as the glassine blossoms require creasing, which can be accomplished through shaping by hand (crumpling in the fist). Older children can further assist by applying correction fluid to the fringe of the flower center.

This flower design is one of 25 varieties you’ll find in Paper Blooms, by accomplished paper artist, Jeffery Rudell. Click here for the instructions.

Bring a bit of the homemade goodness outdoors! We’ve pulled together a pretty batch of garden-themed projects guaranteed to freshen up your outdoor entertaining space. Happy sewing!

From top left across:

Cozy up your deck chairs with this Siting Pretty Cushion (from 100 Pretty Little Projects).

Got a not-so-green thumb? Make a bouquet of repurposed Blooms (from Craft Challenge: Scarves).

Set the mood with a set of Flicker candle cozies (from Craft Challenge: Scarves).

Pull up a (quite fabulous) Obi Sling Chair (from Fabric Remix).

Create some colorful cottage charm with a set of Fresh & Shabby Pillow Houses (from Stash Happy: Applique).

Snuggle on the porch with this Wonky Cottage Lap Quilt (from Stash Happy: Patchwork).

You’re a good kid. Or maybe not, but you do love your mother. Why else would you have gotten that tattoo? Now make her something nice for Mother’s Day, and tell her we say hi. Here are some recipes we think your mom might like:

This is me with my mom, and I was careful not to put any recipes in this post that she would not like. I might be 500 miles away, but my step dad's not! (Ahem. Hint.)

Momelettes!

Moms have come to expect breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, and they should get it. Your mom has probably prepared at least 12,317 meals for you, approximately. If you are a grown-up and don’t live with your mom, and don’t want to break into her house early in the morning lest you get shot, then you might just have to plan the breakfast thing instead of surprising her with it. She’ll still appreciate it, I bet. Anyway, how about a momelette?! I am going to just give you some delicious ideas because I know you can figure out how to make an omelette.

Spring has sprung, friends! Whether you’re planning to learn a new craft this new season or looking to use all the craft supplies you hoarded over the long winter (guilty!!!), celebrate with this bounty of free projects…and a spring sale! Right now (until April 26), all of these featured books are on sale at 50% off their list price at BN.com.

Pretty Stamped Stone from Making an Impression

Blooming Flowers Bracelet from Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk!

Crocheted Leaves & Berries (a bonus project from Crochet Garden)

Easy Paper Marigolds from Paper Blooms

Mushroom Terrarium from Stash Happy: Felt

Lavender Sachets from Heart-Felt Holidays

Here’s a link for more info…and the full list of books in the sale!