She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

When you cast paper in resin, any white areas turn translucent. The colored designs really stand out, and seem to float inside the pendant.

You will need:

• pretty rice-based paper (this one’s $2.40)
• resin molds ($3.67)
• resin ($10.39)
• a drill

Pick out a cool paper with graphics that really pop. Rice-based papers like fancy origami/chiyogami paper work better than regular paper, which is made of wood pulp.

Mix the resin and hardener according to the instructions. Pour a small amount into the molds, then wait 24 hours for it to harden. Cut out the paper in the shape of the mold and lay it pattern-side down. Then cover it with more resin.

When the pendants have completely dried (after 2 or 3 days), pop them out of their molds, drill a hole in them, and string ‘em up.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

Create a picture frame that says “I know it’s a picture of you, but I still want to look at me.”

You will need:

• mirror tiles ($6.95)
• picture frame
• clear-drying glue

Pick out a picture frame that’s flat or partially flat.  This dollar store frame had a flat area and a beveled inner edge, which I left showing.

Glue the mirrored tiles along all four sides of the front, spacing them evenly. Glue the tiles to the sides of the frame too, if they’ll fit. Once the glue is dry, you can spread tile grout between the mirrored pieces to make it into a true mosaic.

Don’t worry about smudging glue or grout on the mirrored pieces. They come covered in a protective plastic coat that you can peel off.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

Right now I am totally digging resin, a liquid that dries hard, transparent, and shiny.

You will need:

• Easy Cast ($7.79)
• Jewelry molds ($3.91)
• Jewelry bail (10 for $3.75)
• Glitter
• File or sandpaper
• Clear nail polish
• Drill

Mix a small amount of the Easy Cast according to the instructions on the bottle, and pour to half-fill the molds. Wait 24 hours for the resin to cure.

Shake some glitter onto the surface of the molds, which should now be hardened (but still a bit tacky to the touch). Mix up another batch of resin and pour on top to fill the molds. Wait two or three days, until the resin has completely cured.

Flex the molds, and the pendants should pop out easily. If they don’t, you’ve messed up the proportions of resin to hardener and need to start over. You’ll have to stick the whole tray of molds into the freezer to get the pendants to come out.

Finish the pendants’ backs by smoothing the edges with sandpaper or a Dremel. Brush on some clear nail polish to get that clear shine back. Drill a hole in the pendant with a small drill bit. Now, attach the pendant to a chain using a jewelry bail.

Glitter is just one of the things you can sandwich between two hunks of cast resin. More on that in a future post.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

I made a one-of-a-kind version of The Game of Life for a friend who’s about to have a kid.

This’ll work for any big life moment. If your friend is a real estate mogul, however, you might want to use Monopoly instead.

You will need:

• sticker printer paper ($6.36)
• The Game of Life ($6 used)
• life details about a friend

The game’s all about life’s big moments and big setbacks, so it’s easy to swap in your friend’s personal moments. While you’re at it, go ahead and embarrass the crap out of them.

Use these templates to alter the gameboard squares, house cards, and job cards, either in a graphics program or by hand.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

This summer, impress all the other campers with your mad tie dye skillz.

You will need:

• a white t-shirt
• a tie dye kit ($13.64)

I like the Jacquard kit because it comes with all the goods, including soda ash to fix the dye. So you won’t end up with pink everything when you put it in the wash.

Lay the shirt out flat (in T-formation).  Put your fingers on the shirt and twist it into a flat, compact spiral shape. The final result should be about the same size and shape as a one-person pizza. Wrap it in rubber bands to keep the spiral intact.

Apply the dye in pizza-slice shapes and let the colors’ edges bleed together and mix. Use more dye than you think you’ll need, and smoosh the package together a little to make the dye soak into the folds.

Stay away from jam bands and hemp products while you wear it, or you could lose years off your life.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

There’s a whole world of resin art out there and bottle caps are the gateway craft. Use them with caution.

You will need:

• bottle caps
• an old magazine
• clear-drying glue
• epoxy resin and hardener ($9.74)

This craft is a great excuse to crack open a beer and look through a magazine.

Cut out interesting images in the size of the base of the bottlecap, then glue them into place.  Once the glue is dry, mix up the resin in a disposable, non-wax cup.  Pour it into each bottlecap (placed somewhere they won’t be disturbed).

Try to resist the temptation to test if they’re ready yet.  It takes 24 hours for this stuff to fully cure, and you don’t want a fingerprint on it when you’re done.  You can poke the leftover epoxy to your heart’s content, which will be hardening in the cup you’ve used to mix it.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

Q: How do you hide money from a hippie?
A: Put it under some soap. 

You will need:

• clear soap ($9.99)
• soap mold ($2.49)
• object to suspend inside 

I picked up this funny ceramic turtle at the dollar store and just had to put him into some aquatic-themed soap.  After I’ve used up all the soap, I’ll have to figure out another use for him. 

This would also be fun to do with your chatty roommate’s cell phone. 

This project requires two steps.  First, fill about a third of the mold with clear melted soap and wait for it to harden.  Then place your object on top, and fill the rest of the mold with clear soap.  Presto buried treasure.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

Mason jars come with a readymade fruit design — so all you have to do is paint between the lines.

You will need:

• a mason jar
• the Vitrea 160 Discovery Set (about $15)

After you bake this translucent glass paint, it’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe.  Use one coat or two, depending on how transparent you want it to be.

Once your jar is done, you can put a candle inside. Or some homemade jam, if that’s how you roll.

She’s Crafty is your step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects you can do for under $20.

These fluffy critters would look good on your desk, with your pens and paperclips and stuff.

You will need:

• pompoms ($4.95)
• white glue

Start with the biggest size of pompom for the body. Glue on 2 medium sized ones in front for legs, and a little one in back for a tail. You can put them together in stages while you wait for the glue to set.

Use wiggle eyes or the tiniest pompoms for the eyes.

I made it for my mom, but gohead, send it to yours.