Home and Garden

Ideas For DIY

New Home and Garden category!

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Hi everyone, my name is Amanda Formaro, and I would like to thank Craft Gossip for opening up a home and garden channel so I can share with you some of the amazing things I see each day! There are some extremely talented people out there sharing tutorials on how to jazz up your home, yard, and garden by using your own two hands. From creating a beautiful wreath out of scraps of fabric to refinishing a china hutch, and everything in between, I hope to share with you some impressive projects. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to jazz up something of yours as well! And of course, if you find one that you think fits here, please feel free to send it my way! You can email me at [email protected]

I’ve been crafty all my life, sketching as a teen, painting in my 20’s, lots of different craft projects in my 30’s, and for the past ten years I’ve been making crafts for kids. Since starting my blog, Crafts by Amanda, I have discovered a new world. A world full of talented people willing to share their how-to’s and where-for’s, and so I hope to bring them to you as well.

I have quite a few projects to share in the coming days, so I hope you’ll be following along with me. 🙂

Thanks for welcoming me to Craft Gossip. I hope you’ll tell your friends if you enjoy what you see!

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Comments

  1. Great – look forward to even more great ideas from Craft Gossip on the new home & garden feature!!

  3. This is great! I looked through all of the posts so far and am so glad to see this new category. Came over since one of my favorite blogs (Meridian Road) was featured.

  4. I will be starting my garden soon for the year and look forward to new ideas. I also need storage ideas. I have a large yard with a small area to store items.

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Have you read?

Building with Nature: My Experience with Natural Birdhouses

If you’re someone who enjoys DIY woodworking projects and has a soft spot for garden wildlife, Natural Birdhouses by Maria and Amen Fisher is a must-read. I picked this book up recently and have been completely inspired by the earthy, sustainable approach it offers to building homes for birds, bats, and even beneficial bugs.

What really drew me in was the focus on using found wood and natural materials—think branches, logs, reclaimed boards, and other bits of nature you can often source from your own backyard or a nearby forest. Not only does this make the projects eco-friendly, but it also gives everything a beautiful, rustic feel that blends effortlessly into any garden or backyard setting.

The book includes 25 step-by-step projects, all clearly explained and illustrated, which makes it accessible for both beginner and seasoned crafters. Even if you don’t have a fully-equipped workshop, most of these can be tackled with just a few basic tools and a bit of patience.

I started with a simple birdhouse design, using some weathered fence boards I had stashed in the shed. The instructions were easy to follow, and I was surprised how quickly it came together. Within a couple of days of putting it out in the garden, a curious little sparrow showed up—talk about instant reward! I’ve since bookmarked the bat box project and one of the insect hotel builds for next weekend.

What I really love about this book is that it’s not just about crafting; it’s about encouraging wildlife and creating a more natural, welcoming habitat right in your own yard. It’s a great way to involve kids, too—mine were fascinated by the idea of building a bug hotel and couldn’t wait to help collect materials.

If you’re looking for nature-inspired DIY garden projects that not only look good but also serve a purpose, Natural Birdhouses is full of ideas that check all the boxes. It’s creative, environmentally conscious, and a great way to spend time outdoors while giving something back to the ecosystem.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into sustainable gardening, backyard birdwatching, or rustic outdoor décor. Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear what you build!