Martha Stewart's Best Crafts -- Ever

The best of Martha Stewart's beautiful crafts.

Martha Stewart has changed the way we think of crafts. From knitted notions to paper projects to shell shenanigans, Martha and her team have made hundreds of crafts over the years. They've taken traditional techniques and given them a contemporary spin.

Earlier this year, Potter Craft published Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts, a collection of the best Martha Stewart crafts ever. We love the subtitle to the book: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration. Endless inspiration indeed.

In the introduction to the new book, Martha reveals that she originally set out to write a "series of beautiful how-to books on a wide assortment of practical, useful and inspiring topics for the home maker...on flower arranging, on collecting, on every holiday, on gardening, on sewing, on embroidery and on a vast number of crafts, beautiful crafts." However, the project was rejected by every publisher she met.




Thank goodness it was. Martha turned around and created the magazine that we all love and know, Martha Stewart Living. Instead of a few books, we've gotten nearly twenty years of crafts. This tome is filled with more than 135 clever craft ideas, while MarthaStewart.com is a seemingly endless supply of D.I.Y. ideas. In honor of Martha's never-ending creativity, we decided to round up some of our favorite Martha Stewart crafts.

Above, two ideas for old, mismatched china: Teacup Candles and a Mosaic Mirror (find mirror instructions in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts).


Two pretty paper projects: Papered Switch Plates and Map Covered Mats (find map mat instructions in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts).



A pair of easy fabric crafts: Tea-Towel Pillows and Felt Tissue-Box Holder.



Not one, but two creative ways to display treasured gallery: Martha's Ribbon Board and Bottle-Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks.



Dot-Painted China and Etched Glasses projects take everyday dishes from so-so to so chic.