Hey makers — welcome back to Five Step Studio, your weekly source for simple crafts, creative tools, and handmade inspiration. Scroll down for this week’s finds, tips, and our signature 5-Step Craft at the end.
Tip Of The Week
The No-Fray Thread Tip
Dip the very end of your beading thread into a drop of clear nail polish or super glue and let it dry completely.
This creates a stiff, needle-like point that easily slides through even the tiniest bead holes without fraying.
(Perfect for embroidery floss, thin yarn, and any natural fiber cording used in jewelry making.)
Trend Watch
Trend: Creative Gift Wrapping paper
we’re seeing it everywhere! — hand painted, stamped craft paper and even dyed fabric.
Love this trend? We’ve turned it into a craft you can make yourself! Tap or click the image below to explore the full tutorial in our Craft Archive
Craft Kit Of The Week
Featured Kit: DIY Kintsugi Kit – Gold Pottery Repair, Wabi Sabi Craft Set — MoraApproved
Skill: adult craft | Time: approximatly depends on the chosen pottery
Includes everything you need to get started. Camille has some great examples online at Kintsugi Blog - Mora Approved's Kintsugi Forum & News
Craft Supply Spotlight
Featured Shop: Cinderellaroom (Etsy)
I have lot kinds of beads and craft findings for sale. Which used for DIY jewelry or other crafts.- Cinderellaroom
check out their shop to source materials for this weeks project!
For Makers Who’ve Mastered the Basics
Our crafts are made for all ages, but even experienced makers can find inspiration here! Use each tutorial as a creative spark—switch up materials, colours, or designs to make it your own. If you do a remix, we’d love to see it! Share your creation on social media with #fivestepstudio or send it to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
Inspiration & Mood
Before You Start
Mood boards are important because they visually capture the style, tone, and feeling of a project before you begin, helping you stay consistent and inspired. They act as a creative roadmap, guiding color choices, materials, and overall aesthetic. In short, they turn abstract ideas into a clear visual direction.
Holly Berry Garland
Materials
-Red wooden beads (about 1/2 inch diameter)
-Green felt sheet
-Twine or string
-Scissors
-A marker
-Large-eye
-blunt needle
Step 1
First, draw a simple two-pointed holly leaf shape on paper and cut it out to use as a template. Then, use the template and a marker to trace many leaf shapes onto the green felt sheet.
Step 2
Carefully cut out all the holly leaf shapes you traced on the green felt.
Step 3
Cut a long piece of twine for your garland, about 3 to 4 feet long. Tie a large knot at one end of the twine so the beads won't fall off.
Step 4
Thread the plain end of the twine through your needle. String your first set of 'berries' and 'leaves' by sliding three red beads onto the twine, followed by two of the green felt leaves.
Step 5
Continue the pattern of adding three red beads and then two green leaves. Repeat the end. This until you've filled most of the twine, leaving a small tail at the end
Final Product
As always we’d like to encourage you to take this craft a step further. Try different sized beads, maybe make the beads yourself? Now that you have the “know how” let your creativity run free! The possibilties are endless. If you come up with a creative new version of the “Holly Berry Garland” we’d love to see it.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s craft and our latest craft insights!
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If you have ideas or suggestions for future issues, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. And as always, feel free to share this newsletter with friends who love to create.