Skills & Specialties

At first glance, knitting looks pretty complicated. All those hand motions, not to mention an endless number of knots. It definitely takes some practice, but once you’ve got the basics down, it’s really quite straightforward and simple. Not only is it a soothing meditative activity —a break from the outside world — it’s a portal to handmade scarves, sweaters, blankets and other home decor and accessories. Plus, there’s all that beautiful, colorful yarn to buy!

This is one of those adult skills that's really helpful to know: here's your complete guide.

Between beanies, coat hoods, and dry, winter air, my hair always ends up looking like the Cousin It version of itself by New Year’s Eve. As a curly girl, I was getting sick of forking over $20+ for hair treatments and trying DIY hair masks that left a funky smell (I’m looking at you, mayonnaise mask). So this year I started looking into other options and kept reading about how great aloe is for your hair.

Soap is one of those DIYs I thought would be more complicated than it turned out to be. All the soaps on Pinterest are so beautiful — there was no way they could be easy as well! But with my rapidly growing essential oil collection, and need for some quick holiday gifts, I thought this would be a good way to use them. Before even preparing the soap base, mix your essential oils to preference in a non-reactive container (like glass).

Mini cocktail kits make perfect gifts because they’re just the right amount of thoughtful, and can be adjusted to fit both the giftee’s tastes and the gifter’s price range. The added genius of this gift is that, the more of them you give, the cheaper they get per unit — if you buy the supplies in bulk. So gift away, and make sure none of your friends (or 30 coworkers) go thirsty this holiday season. To go high end, use top shelf liquor and beautiful boxes.

Liz Corkery is a Sacramento-based artist who founded and runs Print Club Ltd., an online source for fine art silkscreen prints. Through Print Club, Liz works with other artists to create and sell limited edition works on paper. She has shared some simple instructions for creating your own set of festive greeting cards for the holidays — using a technique that can be used for any kind of design.

Meet Liz Corkery, a Sacramento-based artist who founded and runs Print Club Ltd., an online source for fine art silkscreen prints. Through Print Club, Liz works with other artists to create and sell limited edition works on paper, but she also has a deep love for cooking and entertaining so has combined those interests in this beautiful set of hand-printed napkins.

What do you get when you mix Edgar Allen Poe and a bit of glam? A bewitching style that’s all about rich blacks, candles, and skulls. And if you’re into skulls, you’ll be into this quick and easy DIY. Using silicon skull molds and plaster, you can add the perfect garland accent to your Halloween spread, or leave it up and keep your glam goth game strong all year long. Plaster of Paris Silicon skull ice mold Eye hooks String Bucket Paint stirrer or similar 1.

If you’re the kind of person who loves the look of embroidery, but “can’t even“ with the time it takes to tediously work every single stitch into a project, punch needle might just be for you. Lazy crafter? Punch needle. Can’t ever seem to color inside the lines? Punch needle. Enjoys crafting while sipping a bottle of wine? Pick up a punch needle. Punch needle has been around for a very, very long time.

Sorry Costco, but I don't buy Saran Wrap in bulk anymore.

Activated charcoal and aloe are the two darlings of the beauty world right now, showing up in drugstore products, high-end cleansers and DIY recipes alike. This homemade face mask recipe combines the two star ingredients into the simplest skin detox around. Remember those blackhead-removing strips that were so fun as a teen? Consider this their trendy, grown-up cousin. So, what is activated charcoal, anyway?

Activated charcoal—an ingredient perhaps best-known as those black specks in our Brita water filters—has recently been showing up in everything from trendy ice cream to skincare products. Beloved for its detoxing abilities, this it-ingredient is credited with cleansing skin, whitening teeth and treating acne. To get in on the skin-clearing natural wonder, we picked up some food-grade activated coconut charcoal and put it to work in marbled soap bars and bath bombs that mean business.

This month, Apartment Therapy teamed up with a bunch of talented knitters — like KOEL Magazine — to give you a rich mix of informative posts about this useful and meditative craft, including resources and original patterns. If you’ve never picked up knitting needles before, this is a great time to start. See the entire knitting series right here.

Taking a trip to a Christmas tree farm is kind of magical. It usually marks the beginning of the holiday season — the event that gives the go-ahead to start drinking egg nog and adding whisky to your weekend pancake syrup. To have the best possible experience, check out a few of our tried and true tips for cutting down a Christmas tree. View the tree from all sides, look for bald spots (bald spots can be okay as long as you’re not viewing the tree at home from all sides).

Looking to add a festive vibe to your home, without all the glitter and lights? Orange pomander balls are quite possibly the quickest and best all-natural, great smelling, non-gaudy decoration you can make this holiday season. And according to our ancestors of yore, they ward off bad spirits and bring strength and fortune —a holiday bonus. Make them around Thanksgiving and, if dried correctly, they’ll last through the entire holiday season, and maybe even longer.

Our Surrealist take on witches’ claws, these Venus flytrap nails are every bit as dangerous, but thanks to sparkle polish and rhinestones, are 10 times prettier. These designs were dreamed up by extraordinary nail artist Mei Kawajiri (don’t miss her Instagram for even more OTT styles), but don’t worry nail art novices, our video tutorial and step-by-step instructions put this look totally within your grasp.

All eyes will be on your nails when you walk into the Halloween party with this peeper-painted manicure. The detailed designs above were hand-painted by nail artist Mei Kawajiri, but even if you’ve never attempted anything beyond a solid coat before, our how-to video will show you how to replicate the look without even batting a lash. White nail polish Black acrylic paint, by Golden, $7 for 1 oz.

Stunning, yet strangely unsettling, the prey-snatching venus flytrap is what Halloween dreams are made of. To channel the creepy-cool vibe, we used liquid eyeliner and magenta lipstick for a look that’s a cinch to recreate—even in your office bathroom before dashing off to the Halloween parade. You can pair this tutorial with a Venus Flytrap Fascinator, but the effect is captivating even on its own.

This Halloween, we’re delving into our dream worlds, crafting simple costumes that present a slightly unsettling version of reality—what if lobsters were hairpieces and eyeballs were as large as our heads? To pair with our Surrealist headpieces, makeup artist Jessica Sanner of Rouge NY schemed up some easy, last-minute makeup looks that take your face from ordinary to extraordinary, without having to blow your entire paycheck at Sephora.

So that Game of Thrones costume you were planning to sew a month ago just never happened? And now it’s an hour before the Halloween party? Don’t panic, procrastinators. Just reach into your makeup bag, grab some lip liner and the boldest red lipstick you own—this Surrealist makeup trick will rearrange your face in 5 minutes flat.

What do you get when you give the contouring makeup trend a Surrealist spin? A defined jawbone, bright red eyebrows, and a look that screams “Halloween!”. You don’t need to be an artist to make this a reality—just use any clean paintbrush you have on hand and let your facial features be your guide. Top it off with a Dali-inspired Lobster Fascinator for a playful, low-effort take on high art.

Now, this is what we call a couple’s costume. You get a cute-yet-creepy Venus Flytrap Fascinator, your pooch gets a sweet set of monarch wings to go along with it. Crafted from lightweight felt that’s looped right onto your pet’s harness, this is a costume your dog won’t mind prancing around in.

If there was ever a good time to suspend reality, All Hallow’s Eve is it. Give gravity the night off and pair your Dali-inspired Lobster Fascinator with sky-high nails dotted with cotton ball clouds, a design created just for us by NYC-based nail expert Mei Kawajiri. Sure, you may not be able to do much while wearing these mini sculptures, but they’ll undoubtedly win you the dreamiest costume award.

You’ve probably seen Dali’s iconic Lobster Telephone, well now we present to you, the lobster bow. Stylishly Surrealist, this fascinator uses an oversized plastic crustacean and excessive amounts of royal blue veiling to full effect. We recommend pairing it with some next-level contouring and a side of butter.

All eyes will be on you when you walk into the Halloween party wearing this oversized peeper. Inexpensive supplies—a styrofoam ball, some felt, card stock, and a fascinator base—mean that the total cost of this costume comes to less than 20 bucks. Add a dramatic lip using makeup you already own and nail art using polishes from your stash, and you’ve got yourself the cheapest-chicest costume in the room.

To accentuate our puppy model Cash’s best features, we created a costume that’s all eyes and tongue. Taking cues from Picasso and Dali, a mish-mash of googly eyes and lip stickers form a Surrealist-style dog sweater. If you have some hot glue on hand, you can whip up this ensemble just minutes before the Halloween parade. Black dog sweater, such as the Flex Fleece Dog Hoodie from American Apparel, $28 Googly eyes, Michaels has a huge selection Patches and stickers from Ban.

A lot pretty, a little creepy—this Venus Flytrap Fascinator is exactly the look we’re going for this Halloween. Constructing this headpiece is less work than assembling a head-to-toe costume, but the look is still every bit as eye-catching. Watch the how-to video to see how it all comes together.

If you’re donning a Dali-inspired Lobster Costume this Halloween, then your sidekick should be something that brings out your best—that’s right—glorious butter. Painting a store-bought poncho makes this costume completely no-sew, and guarantees a perfect fit. Laid-back pooches, like our office dog Zuzu (above), won’t mind getting topped off with a silly butter pat hat. Combined, you two will make a delectable duo.

Halloween is a night to go all out. Willingly suspend your disbelief for the evening with some eerie and utterly entrancing nail art, then pair it with equally surreal fascinators and makeup for a complete costume. Even if you’re a novice with finger polish, these designs are within reach. Venus Flytrap Nails: Nothing is more captivating and creepy than a carnivorous plant.

We like to imagine that if Picasso decorated more jack-o’lanterns, they’d look a little something like this. To collage your own pumpkin person, just cut out facial features from magazine clippings and decoupage them onto a real gourd or a last-forever Fun-Kin. This has got to be the easiest jack-o’lantern ever. Magazines Pumpkin, or Fun-Kin, from $20 (fake pumpkins you can keep forever!) Matte decoupage medium, like ModPodge, $1.50 for 2 oz.

With so many amazing outdoor activities during the warm seasons, this all-purpose fabric towel is a handy (and handsome) accessory to keep stashed away in your car or scooter bucket. Impromptu cliff diving excursion? No prob, you’ve got a great towel/cover up. Picnic in the park over your lunch break? Bust out the blanket!

Lead paint is nasty stuff. If you live in a home built before 1978, it’s very likely that layers of lead paint lurk on the windowsills, trim around the doorway, or walls. Not knowing if you have it in your home is scary — especially if you are pregnant or have children — so it’s worth finding out. Inexpensive kits are widely available, and testing is easy, so fork over the $10, be the responsible human you are, and put your mind to ease.

Whether Easter’s on its way or you’re just looking to decorate with eggs to add a touch of organic beauty around your home, blown eggs are a great way to utilize both the package, and the contents of the package with little to no waste at all. Raw eggs Thumbtack Toothpick or bamboo skewer Small bowl Straw (narrower the better) or syringe 1. Balance the egg vertically on the table and start by pressing a thumb tack into the very top point and bottom point of your egg.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful and fun gift, look no further. Ioana’s project is a simple, unexpected, and customizable. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 hour Project Cost: $10-20 What You Need Tools Beer coastersPrinted photosClear self-adhesive foilEyeletCardstock, red and whiteBakers twine Materials PrinterCutterRulerEdge rounder (punch)GlueEyelet setterScoring board with bone folder Instructions Cut the photos as big as the coasters and round their edges.

Perhaps Valentine’s Day isn’t your thing. Totally cool. Maybe Valentine’s Day chocolate (and only the chocolate) is your thing. I so hear you. But if you’re thinking of decorating your space for a romantic night in or looking for a fun activity for a Galentine’s Day party, Helena’s easy and adorable garland is a fast and fun way to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit.

Here’s a fast and easy DIY on how to create fun, colorful friendship necklaces for you and your best friend(s). Give them as gifts for Galentine’s Day and tell your girls how much you love having them in your life! Sculpey Polymer Clay Small Eye Hooks Necklace or Ball Chain Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter Small Rolling Pin or Wooden Dowel X-Acto Knife 1. Take off a section of clay and start rolling it with your wooden pin onto a clean, dry surface.

Looking for something to do with all of those online shopping boxes? Stef, of Non Toy Gifts, walks us through this super cute and super simple cardboard town. Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 2 Days Project Cost: $30-$40 1 or 2 cardboard boxes, depending on the size Paper for stencils Craft paint and brush Craft knife Hot glue gun Start by creating stencils for each type of house and use them to cut 6 cardboard pieces for each of the houses.

Keep things au naturale with this easy tutorial.

If you’re like most pet people, your special little furry friend gets a stocking of his own for the holidays, right alongside everyone else. They’re always fun to fill with treats and chew toys, so this year, why not make your own? Sure, he might not get the warm fuzzies when you tell him it’s handmade — but you can be proud of the fact that you made it out of 100% recycled materials! 12 strips of t-shirt yarn (apx 36″ long) Scissors 1.

This simple little strap is just as useful as it is cute -and it takes just minutes to make. No sewing machine? No problemo! We constructed this beauty out of webbing found at the craft store and specialty fabric tape. So as long as you’ve got an iron and an embroidery needle, you can easily tackle this cheerful little stocking stuffer. Or combine it with a yoga mat for a more substantial gift.

Solid perfume is a handmade gift that is just about as fun to make as it is to receive. Channel your inner chemist and blend oils to create your favorite wintery scents. You can shop for fun little jars, or repurpose old lockets and storage containers. Just make a stop at the health food store for quality oils and beeswax and you’re ready to start creating a personalized gift. 1 1/2 oz tins 1 1/2 heaping tsp. beeswax pellets (or shreds) 1 1/2 tbsp.

These rice and lavender hand warmers are a cozy winter treat. They may seem to lack a certain high powered, high priced, in-demand shiny Christmas present quality, but believe me, they are magical. Because nothing is more comforting when you just can’t get warm. Make them for your office mates, your aunt, your dog walker — everyone will love them. Guaranteed.

Personalized temporary tattoos make the best little stocking stuffers or secret snowflake gifts. Create your own artwork, or find clip art online, and simply print them out on specialized temporary tattoo paper. It’s a fun way to spice up the holidays and pull a fast one on grandma. Temporary tattoo paper (we used this brand) Digital art Design software (Photoshop or software provided by paper company) Color printer Water Washcloth Scissors Burnishing tool ( a spoon works great!) 1.

Save some dough by taking care of loose or missing buttons yourself; there’s no need to pay the dry cleaner to put them back on for you. All you need is a sewing kit and five minutes of concentration to do it RIGHT, so they’ll stay put and work well. And if you think you already know how to do this, you might want to read up on it anyway, unless you already know about the toothpick trick, and the proper direction to stitch your buttons… ThreadButtonNeedleScissors 1.

We've rounded up six common stitches that can be used on a myriad of projects for home decor, complete with step-by-step photo tutorials.

Knowing how to correctly thread your sewing machine opens up a world of creative possibilities. The process might seem intimidating, but once you get the general idea you can apply what you know (give or take a loop or twist or two) on any machine you come into contact with in the future. It’s a two-part process in which you’ll learn how to wind the bobbin and then thread the machine. So dust it off, plug it in, and start practicing! Most sewing machines basically look the same.

You never know when you’re going to need a slime recipe- and this one’s a good one- so pin it, bookmark it, copy it, do whatever you have to do to get it in your craft armory. The oozy green gunk will bounce, blow bubbles, drip, and splat with the perfect combination of gross and awesome. The most important part: it uses three simple ingredients and will be ready for play in mere minutes.

Handmade soap is an easy and effective way to add a personalized touch to your bathroom. Whether you’ve got sensitive skin and want to know exactly what ingredients are going into your soaps, or you want to give your guests that ’boutique hotel’ experience while they’re staying with you, it’s fast, fun and totally worth the investment. You can purchase soap making kits that come with everything you need, or gather your supplies individually.

Maker: Liz Skill Level: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Project Cost: under $5 per potholder Handmade linen potholders are handy for last-minute host/hostess gifts, and make great presents for the cooks in your life. If you have a sewing machine nearby, it’s easy to whip up a set or two… Sewing machine Linen Fusible Batting Thread Iron Chalk Ruler Cut two pieces of linen 9 inches by 9 inches and also two pieces of fusible batting in the same dimensions.

Step up your gift wrap game.

Maker: Freutcake Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 Hour (then drying time) Project Cost: Roughly $1 per bar 1 lb. Goats milk soap base Scissors Spatula Bubble wrap (to create the “honeycomb” pattern) Non-stick cooking spray Soap molds 1/4 cup organic honey Chop soap base into cubes and place pan over low heat. Stir soap with heat-proof rubber spatula or wooden spoon until completely melted and no lumps remain. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup honey. Set aside.