Glue Gun Crafts

5 Ways to Go Christmas Crafting Crazy with a Glue Gun

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:57:19 -0800

Let's face it. Every time you grip the handle of a glue gun, you tap into your deepest levels of artistic flair and desire to create something aesthetically marvelous. Your dream of crafting that perfect addition to Etsy or Pinterest overwhelms your ability to focus on anything else. Before you know it, hours of decorating have gone. Here are some Christmas crafts on which to spend them:

Photo frames

Photo Credit: JuJups Studio

Your most treasured memories can be accompanied with meaningful (or silly) insignias that serve as a reflection of the good times that were had. Commemorating a birthday? Stick a leftover candle onto that frame. Got a Christmas ornament that's just a little too small to stand out on the tree? Stick it onto your holiday photo.

Tea pots

Photo Credit: robynejay

If indecision is a close enemy of yours, this one might be challenge. First of all, there's no end to the amounts of unique items you can glue onto the pot - everything from old jewelry to bottle caps. Once you have that figured out, though, you're still left with the challenge of picking out one of 37 different tea flavors at the grocery store. Then you have to decide whether you can bear to part with it or need to make a second one as a Christmas present.

Wreaths

Photo Credit: The Shopping Sherpa

If you have guests over around the holidays, your wreath is going to be one of their first impressions of the amount of pizzazz you're injecting into your household decorations. This is one you can get really creative with. Ditch the traditional twigs and leaves and plaster it with something unique like buttons. Whoa, your guests will say, are you some kind of abstract artist?

Ribbons

Photo Credit: ishane

Who doesn't love ribbons around the holidays? You can literally put them anywhere. Your gift wrapping. The tree. Mistletoe. One of dozens of cards you'll be sending out. The aforementioned wreath. The opportunities are as limitless as Tim Allen's supply of Christmas films.

Candles

Photo Credit: moonlightbulb

Also a potential participant in the "put a ribbon on it" movement. Candles are practically synonymous with "crafts," and your glue gun can transform that boring slab of hardened wax into something that speaks volumes about the creative genius you are. Want to stick on some antlers and a big red nose to create a Rudolph candle? Yeah? Well, who's stopping you?

So grab that glue gun and express yourself. You have the tools you need; now you just need to get started.

Procrastinating on Pinterest While I Consider a Supply Run

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:58:03 -0800

I haven't had much time to craft lately, but that hasn't stopped me from dreaming. What has stopped me is my apparent inability to get to the store. Here are five projects I'm going to get to, I swear... just as soon as I get the rest of the supplies...

Bottle Cap Magnets from Re Fab Diaries

I came home from a trip to Croatia with a pocketful of unusual bottle caps. I wish I'd brought home enough to create the resin tray, but even we couldn't drink that much beer. I can't wait to turn them into souvenir magnets. All I need to do is order the right sized magnets...

Glue Resist Batik from That Artist Woman

I bought this great little dress from H&M at the start of the summer, but its nude color is a bit sheer so I was going to tie-dye it in navy. Then I saw that I can use glue as a batik resist and I was in love. Except that it requires a very specific glue (that is available in most drugstores) and I haven't made it happen. Navy will still be in style next summer, right?

Salvage Bench from Re-Made It

Re-Made It actually went with a TV stand, but their project is the perfect inspiration for the bench I've been wanting to put into our gazebo. I just need to get some salvaged wood. And cut down that tree so we can start building the gazebo...

Decoupage Easter Eggs from By Wilma

Every Easter we honor the Ukrainian side of my family by creating traditional pisanki. These creations involve wax, dye, and a very steady hand to draw ancient designs on the eggs. I think next time around I'll make it easier on myself and try decoupage eggs. I'm sure to get tissue paper by Easter...

A Living Room Floor Cloth from A Girl With A Glue Gun

Remember when painting your own canvas floor cloths was all the rage? I never got around to finishing one then either. But I do have a roll of canvas and some paint and a floor that needs covering...I think I'll add a little dimension (and texture) with some felt. The minute I come up with the perfect design (hopscotch isn't our thing) and get some felt...

When I complete these projects, you'll see them here first. What obstacle is standing between you and your next project?

All photos for this post were taken by Clayton Cusak.

A Seashell Souvenir For Summer!

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:30:00 -0800

This project was inspired by a scene in the seventh Harry Potter movie in which Luna Lovegood, a spacey chum of Harry Potter's, admires a pretty mobile made of shells. She explains, in a dreamy voice, that shells are believed to ward off evil. Craftzilla isn't especially superstitious, but this shell mobile is really lovely, and it makes a nice clacking sound when disturbed by a breeze, bringing to mind long walks on the beach.

Supplies:

~30-35 Shells (I found mine on the beach at Whidbey Island)
Cordless power drill with a 1/16 in. bit
Safety glasses
Fishing line or thread
10 small decorative beads ~ ¼" in diameter
2 larger decorative beads
1 medium piece of driftwood (~ 10-12 in.)
1 small piece of driftwood (~5-6 in.)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Drill Holes In Your Shells

Find a place to use your drill safely without hurting your furniture. I sat outside and drilled right into the grass. Install a 1/16" bit into your drill and put on your safety glasses, especially if you are as dramatically inept at drilling as I am. If you drill a hole too high or too low, the shell won't hang straight, so be sure to make a hole near the peak of the shell, just under the point where it becomes flat and wide. Drill holes through every shell and then make four equidistant holes in both pieces of driftwood.

2. Thread the Shells

String the shells together however you like. I laid out four groups of 4-6 shells for the lowest rung and 4 groups of 2-3 shells for the highest rung of the mobile. Make sure to leave enough of a tail at the top of each strand of shells, so that you can tie it onto the driftwood. I arranged my shells so that the smallest hung at the top and the largest at the bottom.

I used thread for this project, but fishing line is a more permanent option, especially if you plan to hang your mobile outdoors. If using thread, twist together two strands for extra stability, and then thread them through the hole in the shell that will hang lowest on the mobile. Make a knot beneath the shell to secure its position. Make another knot a little further along this string, and thread it through another shell. Repeat for the rest of the shells on that strand, and then move on to your other seven strands.

3. Thread Through Driftwood

Thread the tails of your 4 large strands through the holes in the biggest piece of driftwood. Thread each strand through a bead, and tie the end into a knot. Repeat this step for the rest of the bottom and tops rungs, tucking the knots into the holes in the driftwood.

4. Establish Point of Balance

Find the point of balance in the bottom rung and mark it with a pen. Do the same for the top rung, and then drill a hole at each marked point.

5. Bring Threads Together

If you are using thread instead of fishing line, braid six strands about 2 ft. long together. Thread one end of the braid through the top of the hole in the bottom rung. Thread it through one of your larger beads and take the end up through the hole again. You can tie the end to the main braid with a simple knot, tucking the ends into the bead.

6. Finishing Touches

Take the main end of the braid and thread it through the hole in the top piece of wood. Thread it back again through the same hole to make a loop. Slip a large bead onto the thread and tie a knot, so the bead doesn't move.

Hang your mobile outside, or put it inside near a window so that it can still catch the breeze, and enjoy! About the Author: A bright-eyed, bushy-tailed freshman at Columbia University, Erin still finds time to make beautiful things. She specializes in culinary crafts that involve ganache and delicious batter.

Recycle in Style With Tin Can Votives

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:00:43 -0800

When I was about 6 I went to a girl's birthday party, and I was overjoyed to see that her parents had laid out a bunch of hammers and nails. At the time, my parents refused to let me touch anything that could be used as a weapon, a rule that enraged me and, likely, enabled me to enter adulthood with all my fingers intact. The birthday girl's mother had planned a wonderful afternoon in which we kids would gently puncture holes in tin cans with our hammers and nails, making beautiful tin lanterns.

I went on a sort of rampage, hitting fellow partygoers in the shins with my hammer while yelling "trust me, I'm a doctor." It was only recently that I recalled the incident and thought I'd give tin can lanterns another try.

Supplies:

Tin soup can (soak off the label and rub off any glue residue)
A handful of nails of different sizes
Permanent marker
Towel
Tea Light

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the Can

Once you have washed out your tin can thoroughly, use your permanent marker to draw a pattern on the exterior--if you prefer chaos and anarchy in your life, skip this step and go free and wild with your hammer and nail when you arrive at step 3.

2. Freeze the Can

Fill your can with water and freeze it for two days. After several hours my tin can began making a clicking noise, and when I checked on it later it had a large alien-like growth protruding from the side. I chose to make this a part of my Art, because I was not patient enough to freeze another can.

3. Hammer the Can

At this time, lay your tin can on its side on your towel, adopt a maniacal gleam in your eyes, and go to town with your hammer. At first I began hammering according to the lines I'd made with my marker, but then I became possessed with childish joy and began hammering nails into my can willy-nilly.

Use extreme caution, but also enjoy the whack-a-mole-like satisfaction of this process.

4. Admire the Can

Stick a tea light in your lantern, and use a dried spaghetti noodle to light it. I want to have about 500 of these lanterns at my wedding reception, like a Campbell's fairyland. They have a gypsy-ish charm and I like how they splatter light on whatever surface they are placed.

Do-It-Yourself Paper-Covered Picture Frame (of Awesomeness)

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:49:13 -0800

I have to admit: I'm not much of a crafter. I like to draw and paint, but the last time I tried to make anything useful, I wound up popping myself with a hammer, knocking over a can of paint in the garage and crying. I was 7.

Well, a couple of decades have passed since that seminal experience, and I've decided to give it another go. Rather than trying to create a DIY go-kart (I was 7!), I've decided upon something slightly more manageable: a picture frame. And actually, I'm not making the picture frame itself - I'm decorating an existing frame.

Step #1 - Assemble Your Tools

My crafting odyssey began when I gathered the following...

Glue gun OR spray adhesive
Paint (more about that later...)
Razor blade
Wedge foam brush
Wooden frame
Craft paper

Step #2 - Put on a Trace

Select your favorite piece of craft paper.

Flip the frame onto it and outline the windows with a pencil. You'll want to leave about 3/4" around the outside of the frame.

Step #3 - The Razor's Edge

Using your Exacto, carefully cut out the traced boxes.

Step #4 - Whip out the Gun

Squeeze thin strips of glue onto the face of the frame. (To ensure the glue didn't dry prematurely, I start on one side's outer edge and flatten the pre-cut craft paper as I go along.)

Step #5 - Under Pressure

Solidly press the 3/4" overhang onto the sides of the frame. Hold until fixed.

Step #6 - The Mistake

Going for that aged look, I attempt to "antique" the edges with the brown soy paint, but...

Quel catastrophe!

I obviously do it wrong. Very wrong. SO...

I return to step one, cut a new piece of craft paper and rescue my project (this time minus the "antiquing")...

All in all, it is quite easy and a good project to get me back on the (craft) horse.

Which project I should try next? And keep in mind, my skill-set is still that of a 7-year-old. Please let me know in the comments!

How-To Transform Outdoor Furniture into Mosaic Works of Art

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:19:45 -0800

You may furnish an outdoor environment with the most expensive patio furniture and the most luxurious amenities, but until you instill a bit of your own personality into the space, it won't truly feel like home. DIY home improvements that allow personal expression through creativity help us feel a connection with the places that we inhabit. Taking an ordinary piece of patio furniture and transforming it into a decorative yet functional piece of art adds a unique, distinctive style to any outdoor living area.

An easy and fun way to customize patio furniture is to decorate the piece with a mosaic made from decorative tile. For an easy table top mosaic project, you can replace the glass top of a table with a piece of plywood covered in a mosaic design made from shards of tile. As this type of table is already framed, this will give a finished look to the edges of the mosaic. Home improvement stores will usually cut plywood for you to your specific dimensions.

Supplies:

Decorative Tile Cut-to-Fit Plywood Hot Glue Gun 1/8- or ¼-inch Tile Spacers Hammer Grout Grout Float Sponges Grout Sealer

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Sketch Out the Design

Sketch out your design directly onto the plywood surface. As you'll be using broken pieces of tile for this project, you needn't stick to straight lines. Just remember that tiny pieces of tile require patience and precision to apply. Designs with broad, bold lines are best.

2. Prepare the Tile

When it comes to breaking the tile into pieces, safety comes first. Cover several tiles with a towel and break them gently with the hammer. While the towel should prevent any stray shards from scattering, wearing safety glasses is always a good idea when working with tile.

3. Lay Out the Tile

Lay out the pieces of tile along your sketched-out design. Use either 1/8- or 1/4-inch tile spacers between each tile to help keep the design in place.

4. Glue the Tiles Down

Use the hot glue gun to attach each piece of tile to the plywood base, removing the tile spacers and you go along. To make the table top level, you can place a weighted board over the surface until the glue completely dries.

5. Grout the Table Top

When the glue has dried, spread a thick layer of grout over the entire surface of the design, using the grout float to work the grout into the gaps. Using damp sponges, gently wipe the surface of the tiles clean.

6. Seal the Mosaic

Allow the grout to harden and dry for a full 48 hours, then apply a layer of sealer to the grout. Once the sealer has dried, the mosaic is complete.

Patio furniture with flat surfaces, such as table tops, planters or benches, are easiest to cover, but with some practice, you can use the same basic techniques to decorate just about anything, from a garden fountain to a decorative urn.

About the Author: Patricia is a hobby blogger for Patioshoppers.com, who also enjoys decorating anything she can get her hands on!

Wine Cork Monogram

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:30:41 -0800

Crafts make excellent gifts. They show that you care a teeny-tiny bit more than the guy who bought a bottle of wine on the way to the party (not that it's a contest, but if it was...). Homemade gifts show the person that you were thinking of them ahead of time--that they deserve your unending craftiness. So dust off your glue gun and get ready to crank out some killer letter cork boards sure to ooooh and ahhhh from bridal shower to bathroom wall.

Materials Needed:
-Hot Glue Gun
-Wooden Letter
-Wine Corks
-Hot Glue

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Instructions:
1.Gather all your materials and find a flat work space.
2.Cut corks in half. I used about 55 corks.
3.Line up a row of corks on your letter. Corks are different sizes so it is similar to fitting together puzzle pieces.
4.Hot glue the first row. Tip: Use hot glue specifically designed for wood.
5.Repeat for each row until complete. Be sure to glue the corks close together. This will avoid large gaps in between.
6.Let dry for about half an hour.
7.Give as a hostess gift at your next dinner party, a birthday gift for your best gal pal or hang above your wine rack!

Halloween Glitter Roses

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:39:55 -0800

Black roses are a great decor for Halloween, but so plain. Use some super fine glitter to bring out the glam in your gothic decor this year!

Materials

black silk roses

ultra fine glitter in black and dark blue

Aleene's Tacky Glue

Deco Art Dura Clear Gloss Varnish

paintbrush

Instructions

Brush the Tacky Glue on the outer edges of the petals of the rose. Don't glop it on, but apply evenly.

Sprinkle the glitter on, liberally, shake excess off. Be sure turn the rose upside down to get the glitter that fell in between the petals out.

Let glue dry, about 6hrs.

Take the Clear Gloss Varnish and brush over the glittered areas, lightly.

Let dry.

Decorate!

Easy Three Tiered Dessert Stand

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:47:33 -0800

The three tiered dessert stand has long been a mainstay of dining and formal get-togethers but this quick and easy DIY version can be made to fit in anywhere. Not only is this a space saver for busy BBQ and summer potluck tables but it can also make a unique year-round hostess gift. I chose some bright blues and flowers for a summer feel but you can make one of these for whatever season you choose.

What You'll Need:

3 china or ceramic plates, one each: small, medium and large

2 glass or ceramic candle sticks

Clear drying epoxy glue. Look for quick drying 5 minute setup, I used PermaPoxy 5 Min. General Purpose Epoxy.

A thin dry erase marker

Rubber or latex gloves

An empty cardboard egg container for mixing your epoxy. Disposable bowls or cups work too, just make sure you have at least 4.

Toothpicks or cotton swabs

Overall Cost: $11-20
Approximate Construction Time: 2 hours

Step 1
Find a safe space to work and make sure it's covered. You'll be working with epoxy which can sometimes get a little messy and if you get it on a surface that you care about it will not come off. I chose to work on an old table covered with newspaper outside on the deck.

Step 2
Wash and dry all plates and candlesticks.

Step 3
Mark the center of each plate with a dry erase marker or pencil:

For the largest plate which will be the base of the stand, mark only the top.

For the medium plate which will be in the middle, mark the top and bottom.

For small plate which will be on top, mark only the bottom.

Note: If you're using ceramic candlesticks like I did you won't be able to see your markings while gluing. I recommend trying your candlestick placement without glue, tracing around the base of the candlestick with dry erase marker, and checking your markings to be sure everything was centered.

It's an easy way to see if you've centered everything correctly and if you did, you'll have placement marked in a much more useable way. Once you glue the piece on you can wipe away the dry erase marker and extra glue with a cotton swab.

Step 4
Put on your gloves and mix the epoxy according to the directions on the package. Don't squeeze out all of the epoxy in one large batch, it's quick drying and will set before you get a chance to put it on the next piece. You'll need to mix a small batch of epoxy each time you glue a piece on to the stand.

Step 5
Glue the first candlestick to the middle of the largest plate. Use the cotton swabs or toothpicks to remove any extra glue around the base of each plate or candlestick. Make sure to wait at least 5-7 minutes before gluing on the next piece. Another good way to gauge whether or not to move on in the gluing process is to check the batch of epoxy that mixed for each piece; if it's dried then it's safe to assume that the piece you used it for has dried as well. Repeat step 5 until you've glued the final plate to the top of the stand.

Step 6
You're done! Bake or buy some beautiful goodies to place on your new dessert tray!

9 Step DIY Anthropologie-Inspired Throw Pillow

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:05:19 -0800

It's rough out there. The stores carry the same stuff and when you finally find something remotely unique--it's ten zillion dollars. That's why we have to grab creativity by the torso, wrestle it to the ground and make a pillow out of it. The following tutorial is sewing-free and joy inducing. Grab your down pillows, piles of scrap fabric, and your puzzle-making patience.

Step One: Gather materials to start your pillow

What You'll Need:

White pillow with removable cover (I purchased a pre-sewn one at the craft store)
Steam-A-Seam 2 (the double-stick kind works best)
Stencil (I used an Advil bottle)
Scrap fabric
Patience
Scissors
Iron

Step Two: Trace shapes in the fabric

Step Three: Map out where the pieces will go on the pillow

Step Four: Cut out shapes and stick to Steam-A-Seam

Step Five: Map out more pieces with the help of your stencil (or Advil bottle)

Step Six: Cut out shapes stuck to Steam-A-Seam with precision

Step Seven: Steam iron pieces onto the pillow

Step Eight: Step back and marvel at your progress

Step Nine: Iron again

Step Ten: You're done--high five a friend.

The Crafty Little Gift Basket

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:27:55 -0800

Guest post! We love having guests. If you'd like to write about a craft you love, in this case, making gift baskets, let us know!

Making a gift basket for someone is a great way to show them how much you care for several reasons. A homemade gift basket shows your recipient that you put time and thought into your gift. It also allows your recipient to feel special for all that time and effort you put into making their gift basket. In reading gift basket reviews you'll notice that it's the gifts inside that are the fun part. A gift basket is a gift they can enjoy because the gifts inside were hand-picked for them, like this cake specific gift "basket."

There are two approaches to turning a gift basket into a craft project. The first is to make your own gift wrapping embellishments. The second is to give the gift of craft. If you know your recipient enjoys a particular type of craft give them a gift basket full of supplies to keep them engaged in their hobby. Even if your recipient does not have a particular craft hobby you can give them a gift basket with everything they need to complete a craft project. Make sure it is something they can use in their home or a project they can do with their kids; in other words keep the gift appropriate for your recipient. For example, a great holiday craft basket can include all the makings of a ginger bread house. All your recipient needs to do is have fun assembling it...and subsequently picking off the gumdrops to enjoy.

Making your own glue gun embellishments for your gift basket is the perfect way to put your signature on a gift basket. Take a look at some of the best gift baskets online. One thing they all have in common is their picture perfect presentation complete with a big bow. You can easily achieve this professional look by decorating a plain basket with a ribbon and/or bow. Use a glue gun to attach the ribbon or bow to the basket. You don't have to only use ribbon, you can decorate your gift basket with a homemade felt flower too. Of course, you don't need to confine your craftiness to just the decorations on the gift. If you make some chocolates, baked goods or any treats, consider making a decorative candy box to put inside the gift basket. There is a great how-to on Martha Stewart's web site for making a heart-shaped candy box, the technique can be applied candy boxes for any occasion. Just make sure you have fun with making your gift basket and your recipient will certainly enjoy it as well.

Ribbon and Felt Bookmark

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:58:28 -0800

It's been a little over a week since the official start of summer. Which means it's the perfect time to head to the bookstore and pick up some paperbacks for your summer reading list. Now you could always use your receipt as a bookmark, but that's just so unimaginative! With a few supplies from the corner craft store and a little creativity, you can make your own piece of functional artwork that'll keep you from losing your place as you enjoy your literary retreat.

First you'll need supplies:

3 Pieces of felt
Ribbon
Thread
1 Button
Your trusty glue gun

Instructions

1) Now that you've gathered your supplies, it's time to get to work. Take your ribbon and measure 15 or so inches and cut--you can shorten or lengthen it, depending on the size of your book.

2) Time to cut out the shapes. Sketch a flower onto a piece of paper and pin it to the felt. Cut the shape out and repeat this step with a slightly larger flower and a leaf shape.

3) Arrange the two flowers and place the button on top.

4) Glue and secure the button to the felt pieces, and then glue one end of the ribbon onto the flower.

5) Take the leaf shape and glue it to the other end of the ribbon.

6) As a final touch you can use your thread to embroider the edges, or accent the petals like I did.

All done! Now you have a bookmark cute enough to make any e-reader evangelist jealous.

DIY 4th of July Banner

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:45:08 -0800

There's more than one way to celebrate the birthday of America. Some crack open cheap beer and sit criss-cross applesauce in the back of a used Chevy while watching far-off fireworks. Others dodge death in a game of try not to blow yourself up--but the crafty patriots--they get ingenious! Before you break out the BBQ and spark up the sparklers, check your bottom drawers for jeans ready for an upgrade. Follow these steps and those baby blues will help you celebrate the red, white and blue.

Step one: Gather the right stuff

You'll need:

Patriotic fabric squares
Old jeans
Fresh glue sticks
Thick ribbon
Fabric scissors
Cereal box
Red or blue cardstock

Step two: Make a stencil

Decide how large you would like each triangle to be on the banner. Cut out a stencil using an old cereal box.

Step three: Stencil triangles

Use the stencil to draw triangles on the fabric squares and jeans (I recommend a red Sharpie). Use fabric shears to cut the fabric into triangles.

Step four: Glue the triangle to cardstock

Use the glue gun to outline the backside of each triangle and gently flip over to adhere to cardstock. Allow to dry.

Step five: Cut out triangles

Cut out triangles leaving a thin border of cardstock around each side.

Step six: Glue pennants to ribbon

Glue the top of each pennant to the ribbon leaving about two inches between each one.

Ta-Da

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:20:35 -0800

You might have to request an invite to play, but creating an inspiration board has never been easier with Pinterest! I often find myself crawling the web for ideas and inspiration for craft projects when I stumbled (literally) across the Pinterest board zessie87 on Things to Make and Do. It seemingly goes on forever, but there are a LOT of great ideas and crafts to draw from here and hopefully it encourages you to create your own inspiration board!

Grab images from around the web, "pin" them to your board, share or "repin" from others' boards. You'll be surprised how much time you can spend on this site!

And yes, it's free. Craftzilla is totally on the waiting list.

Fascinating Fascinators

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:03:27 -0800

If you're like Craftzilla, you knew that you liked those little hat things that seemingly "perched" upon the heads of English women at tea and formal events and wondered if there was ever occasion other than the Kentucky Derby to wear one in the states. You also probably thought they were pretty, fancy and you must have one. Or at the very least, substitute one in if you're thinking the tiara at a wedding is passe.

Some "googling" and image search revealed the name of the little "hat thingy" and in honor of the Big Day aka The Royal Wedding that is taking place on April 29th, here's a fun look at fascinators!

What is a fascinator by definition?

A fascinator is a headpiece (i.e. something you wear on your head) that is a style of hatmaking aka millinery.It is also often referred to as a cocktail hat. A "substantial fascinator" refers to the size and bulk of the hat - as in, it's quite giant. A fascinator is typically worn by women and affixed to the hair using a comb, hairpin or band to secure it in place. Material wise it can use feathers, beads, lace, tulle -pretty much anything for decoration.

How is it different from a hat or "tiny hat?"

A tiny hat is exactly that, a regular looking hat, shrunk. Most common is a tiny top hat, seen on occasions like St. Patrick's Day or for cosplay during Anime conventions. Yes, it could technically be defined as a fascinator as well.

Where could I wear a fascinator?

Technically, anywhere you want. Where without looking like a loon? Well weddings for one, especially if you're in England or a previously occupied colony, horse races like the Kentucky Derby or the Royal Ascot (or if you're in a bar watching same), church, tea parties, burlesque shows...the list goes on. You really can't go wrong if you make a friend wear one too.

Where can I get a fascinator?

Online, costume stores, bridal shops, depending on the occasion. As usual, Etsy can provide- here are some of our favorites:

Bridal Cage Veil

Full Feather Headband

How can I make one?

THE question indeed for the crafty types. Craftzilla has been researching fascinators as a possibility for bridesmaids to don and doesn't want to pay $70 per piece. Being a crafty type, surely I could make my own?

Depends on the style- if you're going with the headband/clip/comb only kind, start with that as your base. You'll need gluing and sewing skills on top of a decent idea of what you want before you begin. Check out this video from Threadbanger on how to make your own:

If you're going for the small hat/cap style, you'll need some things like a wire coat hanger (or equally strong/stiff wire) a material called buckram- a still cloth (cotton or linen) which you see most often as a bookcover. Check out Craftzine and All About Hatmaking's tutorials:

Or buy a ready made base from a "haberdashery" and go straight to fun part of decorating, like this Folksy piece:

And of course Etsy for everything- check out SquirrelGirl Millinery for supplies:

Happy crafting and don't forget to stay up till 2am and wear your facinator to watch the Royal Wedding!