Lately I've been thinking a lot about DIY crafts (Do it yourself) and crafts on a budget. Partly because it helps save our resources so we don't bleed the planet dry, and partly because if you've been doing crafts for over forty years like I have, you end up with all kinds of scraps and bits and pieces left over that are too good to toss but cost money and space and time to store and organize.

One of my favorite sites for DIY crafts is http://www.threadbanger.com. I've already done several of the projects from that site.

Pick any craft and odds are good you'll find many sites on line with free instructions, illustrations and videos.

I particularly enjoy making quilts out of leftover bits from sewing clothing, items made from worn out denim jeans, and reusing old t-shirts. There is no reason any of these need to go to the landfill.

Even if you have none of your own scraps, if you put the word out, things will come to you. If you know people who sew put a bug in their ear that you can use any scrap no matter how small. If you knit or crochet, take it out to the park or lunchroom with you. You'd be surprised how many people have bits of yarn from aunt so-and-so hidden away in their closet that they really want to give to someone who will do it justice.

As far as t-shirts go, at least in the USA, every time you enter a run, or work at a festival, or have a company picnic, you seem to be given a t-shirt. You can use t-shirts cut into a long spiral strips to make t-shirt yarn or you can cut the front and back off to make a blanket or a pillow or many other items. There is a whole new wave of books out now on just how to do that.

Right now I am making a postage stamp quilt out of bits and bobs of fabric. Each square is just 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" so I can use pretty small scraps for it. Just like our foremothers did, these quilts were designed to make the most of worn family clothing to make blankets to stave off the freezing winters. Even in a small family, you can probably find enough discarded clothing to make at least one quilt.

I also enjoy making small fabric postcards and brooches (pins). Those take the tiniest snippets of fabric, lace, buttons, charms and ephemera. It's a good way to use up leftover beads & trim after your main project is finished.

Don't be afraid to trade. If you have piles of leftover yarn trade it with someone that has piles of leftover fabric. I know http://www.etsy.comhas a category for supplies where you can post your leftover craft items & someone else can snap them up for whatever price you put on them. I'm sure other sites do that as well. I've seen people devote a page on their website to items they have to trade and 'destash' from their personal stash.

These projects are a lot of fun and give you a warm feeling inside. It's a great way to teach your children about thrift and creativity. And you'll save money because you will be using things you already paid for years ago instead of buying new.

T-shirt yarn:

1. bathroom rug

2. throw pillow

3. wall hanging

4. comforter

5. picnic table tablecloth

6. body pillow

7. sewing machine dust cover

8. replacement for canopy cover

9. picnic blanket

10 retro skirt

Old t-shirt fronts and backs

11. picnic blanket

12. headbands

13. backpack

14. laundry bag

15. halter top

16. paint smock

17. garden 'bras' to support fruits and veggies

18. shop rags

19. cat toy

20. dust mitts

Worn denim

21. quilts

22. bellbottoms

23. pants converted into skirts

24. hat

25. table runners

26. hot pads

27. place mats

28. pins and necklaces

29. camera case

30. guitar case

Fabric Scraps

31. postage stamp or string quilts

32. fabric postcards

33. pins

34. earrings

35. house slippers

36. potholders

37. hats

38. aprons

39. skirts

40. ties

Found Objects

41. collages

42. decoupage

43. papier mache'

44. jewelry

45. greeting cards

46. journals

47. shadow boxes

48. time capsules

49. found art

50. puppets

Scrap Wood

51. atlatls

52. birdhouse

53. folk art

54. dollhouse

55. dollhouse furniture

56. whirly gigs

57. whittled animals

58. walking sticks

59. jacob's ladder

60. change dish

61. bowls

62. spoons

Out of Gourd scraps

63. earrings

64. marionettes

65. play armour

66. mask

67. doll

68. wind chimes

69. planter

70. nick-nack dish

Mismatched Socks

71. doll clothes

72. beanie (skully)

73. sock monsters

74. sock monkeys

75. catnip mousies

76. fingerless gloves (mitts)

77. draft stoppers

78. sleeves to protect jewelry while traveling

79. tied to your belt for a quickie 'purse'

80. to hold your juggling balls or any small object you don't want to lose in a giant bag.

81. dog tug of war toy...stuff with rags and knot the end

Leftover Paper

82. Blender paper

83. origami

84. greeting cards

85. paper flowers

86. rolled up newspapers can be used to make furniture

87. paper airplanes

88. shredded paper can be used as packing material

89. confetti eggs

90. papier mache masks

91. love letters

92. gift wrap

93. party hats

94. party favors

95. garlands and leis

96. use old phonebooks for pressing flowers

97. compost shredded paper

98. paper dolls

99. kirigami

100. crowns

If you don't know any of these terms, you can research them using your favorite search engine or the public library. This list is by no means exhaustive, but a jumping off point on a new craft adventure.