Marian Parsons

Inexpensive baskets are plentiful at yard sales and thrift stores. Transform them into stylish storage.

Don't toss that old sweater. Instead, repurpose it as custom stockings for the entire family. This project requires no sewing machine or knitting needles and can easily be completed in an afternoon.

Give new life to a tired quilt that's stored away in a linen closet, attic or trunk by making it into Christmas stockings for your family. These stockings will certainly become heirlooms that will be treasured for many holidays to come.

Salvaged wood and architectural remnants are prime candidates to be repurposed as furniture. In the case of this table, pieces of an old rope bed and a beadboard door are upcycled into a functional and one-of-a-kind coffee table. 

Use old book pages, flash cards, scrapbook paper or even sheet music to make these sweet pinwheels that can bring a festive, playful touch to parties and holidays. They're a snap to make so you can whip up an entire bouquet of them to display in flowerpots, baskets, buckets or pitchers.  

Scarves are a great small holiday gift for friends and family. Make a storebought scarf extra special by personalizing it with a playful message spelled out with buttons. This is a quick handmade gift that will keep the recipient cozy for many winters to come.  

A handmade tulle tutu, basic red sweatshirt and felt are all you need to craft this cute ladybug costume complete with a personalized leafy trick-or-treat tote bag.

Personalize simple glass hurricanes with kids' artwork as a sweet handmade gift for Mother's Day. This is an easy project that can be made by children of all ages.

Apply moss to an oversized chipboard letter and embellish with ribbon and artificial buds to create a whimsical monogram with a spring feel.

Stitching up an outdoor pillow to brighten up a porch or deck is a great project for a sewing novice. Select materials that are made to withstand bright sun and moisture to keep these custom pillows looking great year after year.

Trunk-style coffee tables are not only stylish, they also provide practical storage for toys, extra throws and pillows, a movie collection and anything that needs to be stored for a busy family. This rustic trunk-style coffee table is an easy build, but the result will have your friends thinking you're a pro woodworker.

Turn boxwood clippings into DIY holiday topiaries to flank a fireplace mantel, bring some life to a holiday tablescape or add height to a buffet table.

Make this pretty tray for fall with air-dry clay and paint. It's an easy and inexpensive craft project for adults and kids alike.  

Elegant meets humble when a sophisticated gilt frame surrounds an inexpensive DIY chalkboard. Place it in the dining room with a thoughtful greeting for holiday guests, or use it to announce the dinner menu or evening's festivities.

Storage is always an issue in small bathrooms. This quick and easy storage solution puts wire or wicker baskets to work to solve that problem in no time flat.