About Dinah Wulf

20th May2013

Creating a Family Backyard Retreat

by Dinah Wulf

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TIKI Brand®. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family and I spend a lot of time in our backyard. We didn’t used to because when we first moved into our house a little over a year ago, the patio was the first thing that needed to be worked on. It was leaning to one side and had been damaged over the years. Because having a big back yard was new to us, we knew wanted to do our best to create a family backyard retreat.

Here is how it looked before.

In a few weeks we were able to enjoy our ideal outdoor space with a seating and dining area. We tore down and built a new patio with lighting and a built in ceiling fan. We added a few small extra decorative touches as well that made a big difference including decorative outdoor pillows that I made.

Since sitting outside during the cool evenings here in warm Southern California is one of our favorite things to do, our TIKI Brand Glowing Torch and Table Torch helped create a beautiful ambiance. They are a MUST HAVE!

TheTIKI Brand Glowing Table Torch TIKI Brand Glowing Torch TIKI Brand Flame & Solar Torch TIKI Brand on Facebook is stunning both day and night and has the options of using a traditional flame or multicolor LED lights. The LED lights are a great option when my daughter Mia and our dogs Pablo and Harley join us. It is safer than having an open flame and as Mia calls it is, “A mini light show, Mommy!”

The TIKI Brand Flame & Solar Torch is a 2-in-1 torch that also has the options of a traditional flame plus a solar LED. It automatically turns on at night and a full charge lasts up to 8 hours! The LED flickers like a natural flame and produces 2X larger flame than a standard torch.

Another great option is that you can fill your torches with OFF!®/BiteFighter® Torch Fuel for proven mosquito repellency. All these items are available at Wal-Mart and Target or log on to tikibrand.com. Don’t forget to follow TIKI Brand on Facebook!

Here is a short video I made sharing five great tips for creating a family backyard retreat. Enjoy!

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Category : DIY Tips and Tricks

Tags : Decorating Ideas, Sponsored

17th May2013

Upcycled Telephone Desk

by Dinah Wulf

I am honored to have the very creative, animal loving, well-traveled, and crafty Kimberly Noelle from Quirky Cool share her fabulous upcycled telephone desk. Inspired by her family and home decorating magazines, Kimberly is a writer and avid DIY’er. She has some beautiful projects including her Burlap Furniture entertainment stand and her most recent beach cottage inspired side table. Be sure to follow her on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Welcome Kimberly Noelle!

Hi everyone! I’m Kimberly Noelle from Quirky Cool. I’m so excited to have been asked to write a guest post on the lovely DIY Inspired about my upcycled telephone desk. I hope you enjoy…..

I love secondhand. There is just something about a well lived, aged, or sometimes even horrid piece that gives me inspiration and drive to make it quirky, unique, and beautiful. I like to think of myself as the Fairy Godmother to my secondhand furniture finds and my paintbrush as my magic wand.

As I went on my weekly thrift store jaunt, I stopped in at the Goodwill which can be a hit or miss. However, I spotted this cute little telephone desk in the corner. It was in perfect shape, had great bones and in fact looked as if it had been painted recently, but the color…. It was questionable. I thought what the heck, and picked it up for 20 bucks. I put it in a few different areas throughout my home, debated on what to do with it and finally after asking myself the question of “should or shouldn’t I paint this?” I decided to go for it and so the process began. During a trip to Wal-Mart I stopped by the paint section and picked up a beautiful spicy banana pepper yellow color. I went home grabbed some sandpaper and “tried” to sand the piece down so I could start painting. The paint was not lifting so I decided to use a paint stripper that I at the time was using on another project. Oh my…….why I did that instead of priming it will forever be a question I ask myself! I don’t care what anybody says stripping paint is not easy, at least not for me. I had failed to realize as I slapped the stripping gel on that the 25 spindles that made up the telephone desk were going to be the death of me. So what happened? I got so frustrated with the massive process of it all that I left it sitting for 2 weeks until I finally had enough mental pep talk to tackle the project…. and tackled it I did.

The Process…Here’s a look at the stages of the desk. I’m glad I let myself take a break from it. I almost gave up completely during the stripping of the paint, but I conquered….2 weeks later of course.

Here is a few close ups…Finally in a spot I like, decorated up pretty, and shining like the Spicy Banana Pepper Yellow that it is!

After I painted the telephone desk I decided on a whim to paint the top of the desk in black Chalkboard paint for an extra touch of detail. Not to mention I am obsessing over chalkboard paint right now. I used sandpaper to ruff up the edges and spindles. It gave it that beautiful aged look with its own unique character. I am so happy with how it turned out. It now fits my style and home décor perfectly.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my upcycled Goodwill telephone desk and to remember to never overlook the ugly pieces sitting in a corner. Even they, have great potential with a fairy godmother and her magical paintbrush at their service.

Please check out my blog at Quirky Cool for tons more Goodwill finds, Upcycled furniture and DIY’s. I also have a blog with my sister and mom where we talk about our pieces we upcycle and DIY for our Flea Market Booth at Prairie Sisters Boutique.

I hope this has inspired you to DIY…

Kimberly Noelle

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Category : DIY Furniture, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Guest Author, Refurbishing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

16th May2013

Hand Painted Wooden Bowl Knockoff

by Dinah Wulf

After I painted this set of bowls the other day, I couldn’t help myself when I found this wooden bowl at the Salvation Army. I loved the shape of it so much that I decided to take it home. I decided to do a hand painted wooden bowl knockoff project on some bowls I had seen in the past. This set of bowls is one of my inspirations as well as these fun and funky various dipped wooden household items.

Here are a couple of before pictures… I love the sleek lines and sexy curves!

As with the bowls I painted last week, I used Martha Stewarts Multi Surface Acrylic Craft Paint. I used this because it is good for wood, for indoor and outdoor use, and after the project cures (which is approximately 21 days), you can wash it in the dishwasher! I would recommend hand washing it prior to then.

I decided to hand paint it rather than dip it because I would use less paint.

I ended up painting three coats.

I also added a gold trim with a metallic gold color to glam it up a bit.

Here are a couple more pictures. I love how a few simple coats of paint can make this old wooden bowl look more new and modern. I tried to be fancy and take a photo of it in a mirror so you could see it better

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Gift Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

15th May2013

Recycled Food Container Gift Wrapping

by Dinah Wulf

Who says cereal and cracker boxes can’t be pretty? I don’t know about you, but I hate spending money on gift boxes. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that most people do to, because at every party I’ve been to in the last few years have gift tables, filled with gift bags with tissue paper hanging out the top. Am I right? So, I decided to use what I already had available and came up with recycled food container gift wrapping.

A very special birthday came up recently for my beautiful twin baby God Daughters. Since it was their first birthday, I went all out and bought matching clothes and a couple other things. Since the clothes are still so very cute but tiny, food boxes are the perfect size for their little outfits.

Oh yeah… I better wrap them. I made some coffee filter paper flowers and decided to die the paper flowers as well. After they were dry, I trimmed the ones that went on the smaller boxes with scissors. It was sort of like trimming a real flower. I cut out green leaves out of card stock and hot glued the flowers on, and added ribbon.

Here is a photo of the gift assembled all together. My God Daughter, Jamie is the pink package and her sister Brooklyn gets the purple package.

I bought the chairs at one of my favorite stores, Homegoods. They just happen to have one purple and one pink so I couldn’t resist! Here is the back.

The actual party isn’t for a few weeks, but I can’t wait to show you the Alice in Wonderland extravaganza that I know it’ll be!

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Category : DIY Budget Party, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Baby Shower Ideas, Birthday Party Ideas, Gift Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose

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14th May2013

DIY Design How-To: Making Textile Dreams A Reality

by Dinah Wulf

Who says that DIY creativity has to stop at textiles? Bohemian and hipster fashion trends have inspired fashionistas everywhere to take their passions to the craft tables and design their own unique fabrics for clothing and home designs.

Many great fashion blogs are showcasing DIY textile projects, even students and Academy of Art fashion designers like Patrice Yagen are creating original textiles using their own unique techniques and getting notable industry acknowledgment. Be your own designer with these crafty solutions to textile design.

Spoonflower

Making fabrics is as easy as point and click with fabric design sites like Spoonflower. Upload or take an image of a fabric pattern through iPhone or camera and scan it to the site. From there you can replicate the image any way you want (horizontal, vertical etc.) creating a unique and personalized fabric pattern. Be sure to use a quality image with a high resolution—you don’t need to be a pro to get this.

According to a Wall Street Journal article about designing your own fabric, “a photo taken with an iPhone 4′s 5-megapixel camera can create a high-quality 12×17-inch pattern. (To go larger, use a higher resolution camera.) Take several photos of your pattern and select the best one. Or, if possible, scan the original image or material.”

Other points to consider are how large you want the image to be in comparison to how big or small the original image is. Also, be sure to consider what you will be using the fabric for. Upholstery? Curtains? Bags? Clothes? The possibilities are endless!

Inked Up

Use textile ink to hand design intricate geometric shape and line patterns. Use transparent contact paper to cut stencils and use a foam sponge to apply ink. Masking tape can be used to make sharp lines.

PoppyTalk is a blog on handmade items and featured a post that shows you how to make your own customizable prints on practically any fabric. This method is relatively simple and considerably less expensive and time consuming than searching for and purchasing your desired printed fabric.

Shibori and Tie-Dye

When most people think of tie-dye they think of rainbow colored fringed bohemian style but tie-dye goes far beyond that. You can also use the effect of tie-dye with bleach on darker fabrics. But be cautioned, a lot of bleach can eat through thin fabrics so apply miserly with a paint brush.

According to an article in Sewdaily.com, Shibori is “a technique in which cloth is tightly compressed by tying, clamping, folding, and stitching, so that fabric resists paint and reveals wonderful designs and patterns. The Japanese word Shibori comes from the verb root Shiboru meaning ‘to wring, squeeze, or press.’”

Shibori is essentially the Japanese version of tie-dye that uses a different technique for creating line patterns. Shibori uses a large rope or long hollow cylinder with open ends to create elongated line patters, unlike the technique of creating circular patterns in traditional tie-dye.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas, Decorating Ideas

Burlap Stenciled Place Mats

13th May2013

DIY Rope Vase 15 Minute How To

by Dinah Wulf

I recently wrote an article for GMC Trade Secrets on Bringing the Outdoors In. In writing the article, I had so many ideas jumbled in my head. I looked around at my own home to see what I had done myself to get closer to nature. I have a lot of natural elements displayed in my home décor and one of my favorite “chores” is to cut fresh flowers from the garden. I did decide to take my own advice and make a couple new vases. Here is my DIY Rope Vase How To. The best part? It only takes about 15 minutes to make!

Materials:

Glass Vases
Rope
Scissors
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Step One: Choose your materials.

I had a successful trip to the Salvation Army the other day and I found some nice glass vases for $2.00 each. In choosing a vase, look for the desired shape and choose a heavier more sturdy weight. Sometimes, especially while thrift store shopping, you come across light weight vases that break easily. Those are likely the vases that your flower arrangements come in and collect dust in your cabinet. I chose wide hurricane style vases.

For the rope, I went to the hardware store and found manila rope (3/8 inch X 50 feet). I chose it for the thickness and the color. There were a few options in sisal, but I wanted a darker color. Fifty feet will make at least three vases of this size. I purchased it for $8.00.

Step Two: “Measure” the desired length.

The best way to measure the amount of rope you need, wrap it around the vase without gluing it until you reach the desired height and cut it. This is easy to do with a thicker rope like the one I chose.

Step Three: Unwrap & Glue

Unwrap the “measured” rope and glue the end to avoid fraying.

Step Four: Wrap and Attach

Start wrapping and gluing as you go!

Here is the finished look.

If you are interested in reading more of my weekly articles for GMC Trade Secrets, feel free to come over and visit!

A big THANK YOU to Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts and Angie from The Country Chic Cottage for allowing me to participate in this weeks Craft Lightening 15 minute crafts Be sure to stop by their amazing blogs and say hello!

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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Gift Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

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10th May2013

8 Fun and Easy Ideas for Stencils

by Dinah Wulf

I must say that stenciling is one of my favorite craft projects to do. It’s a fairly simple task, especially when you know a few tips or tricks. It is also very versatile in that you can use it for small and large projects, from place mats to furniture. Here are eight fun and easy ideas for stencils I’ve done in the past. All of which have complete step by step photo tutorials. I hope you try them out!

Stenciling with Burlap

Recycled Jar Tea Light

This is a tutorial for stenciling a monogram on a lantern made from a recycled food jar. I still have this displayed in my living room today. It also makes a fun personalized handmade gift. Fill it with tea lights or candy and give it to Mom for Mother’s Day!

Stenciled Wall Art

I made this initially as a prop for my daughter’s birthday party one year, but now it hangs in her room by her bed.

Also a great handmade Mother’s day gift idea, these stenciled burlap place mats are a hit every time I bring them out to use for my guests. Make a set of four to eight to give to Mom or Grandma. Consider using words that remind you of her!

Stenciled Furniture

Stenciled Dresser

This is one of my first DIY projects I posted on this blog. In hindsight I may have done it differently but you learn as you grow, right???

Upcycled TV Tray Table

One of my more recent projects, stenciling TV trays gives them a little upcycled flair.

Other fun Stenciling Projects

Stenciled School Spirit Shirts

I made these shirts with my best friend, Jenny for her daughter’s school spirit shirts. Check out the post and Jen shares how she made he own stencil!

Recycled T-Shirt Bunting

I made this for Thanksgiving last year, but it’s a great tutorial for any type of banner or bunting you need for parties or holidays. Make a “Happy Mother’s Day” one for mom!

Shoe Box Lid Wall Art

My thriftiness at its finest, I made this SUPER cheap wall art for my guest room!

I hope you try these projects! Feel free to share some of your ideas in the comments! Happy stenciling!

Ideas for stencils, easy stencil ideas, stenciled furniture, stenciling on fabric

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Category : Crafts, Holidays, Special Occasions

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, DIY Burlap Crafts, Gift Ideas, Mother's Day, Upcycling Ideas

09th May2013

Master Bedroom Design Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

OK, this is more of a “thinking out loud” post. My master bedroom needs help! Our bedroom is probably the most neglected room in the house because, frankly, no one sees it but my husband and me. I have focused all my attention to the rest of the house and yet it seems your bedroom should be your sanctuary. So, I decided I needed to do some research and come up with some master bedroom design ideas.

OK, here is a photo of our bedroom now. I like the blue hues… they are calming.

My husband and I have two different styles as well, which has also been a problem. He has more of a modern type of style like the designs of wren bedrooms, while I’m more of a glamorous ZGallerie type of gal. So, I decided to ignore my husband’s style (hee hee) and go out and get some inspiration at ZGallerie.

Not a huge fan of the fur, but I do like the pattern on the bed, and the natural colors. The nail heads on the headboard are a nice touch as well. I think there’s a bit of masculinity in it that my husband would like as well.

I like the colors of this one and I love the tufted headboard; again, the same pattern on the three pillows in the back shows up here which I like even better in blue.

I love the headboard in this one. Its height is nice and makes a statement. With both the tufted and nail heads combined, I think it’s a great balance of masculinity and femininity that we are both looking for.

Now… I just need to convince my husband to buy it!! OR I need to come up with a plan to make it!

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Category : Interior Design Inspiration

Tags : Decorating Ideas

08th May2013

Upcycled Wooden Bowls

by Dinah Wulf

I went thrift store shopping last week and I found a set of wooden bowls for $6.00. The shape of these bowls is what interested me, so I decided to buy them. I wanted to update them a little because to be honest, they reminded me of the wooden bowls, spoons, and other knick-knacks my relatives would bring us from the Philippines… maybe that’s why I was drawn to them. Although I have fond memories of those souvenirs, they don’t exactly fit my style today. Here is how I made my upcycled wooden bowls.

Here are the bowls before.

Although this craft project is self-explanatory, I did want to mention that because of the type of paint I chose, they are still washable and easy to care for and even dishwasher safe! So, with that said, the materials you need are:

Wooden bowls
Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Paint
Paint brush
Paper plate

I wanted to keep the inside and the rim of the bowl wood, and the outside of the bowl white, a classic modern color. I first painted carefully around the edges.

I painted three coats total, allowing the paint to dry for an hour in between coats.

The craft paint instructions indicate that the paint is weather proof. It is good for indoor and outdoor use and cures in about 21 days. You can also do a top rack dish wash…which is fantastic!

I plan on using these bowls for entertaining. Here are a few after photos.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Dinah's Tutorials, Gift Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

3 Comm

07th May2013

Mom 2.0 Summit 2013

by Dinah Wulf

Sometimes as a Mom Blogger, you feel alone. Friends and family who are not Bloggers really have no idea how much work is entailed with running a business like this from home, while running your household as well. This is why, when you ask another Mommy Blogger, rather Influencer or Publisher, they’ll admit that a blog conference is equivalent to a “weekend vacation getaway”. I was given the honor of being sponsored by Clever Girls Collective to attend Mom 2.0 Summit 2013 at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California. “Holy crap” was the first thing that came to mind. I couldn’t believe that I was chosen. This was a HUGE honor for me, one that was worthy of going on my resume. So, I wanted to share my experience.

I have attended many trade shows and conferences across the nation in my last career however this would be my first large blog conference. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but in my gut it would be greatness…and it was.

The opening guest and key note speaker was Lisa Ling. This was exciting for me because I have followed her career since she was on The View because she is a smart, young, beautiful, and successful Asian-American woman on TV. There weren’t a ton of Asian-American women role models at the time when I was a vulnerable high school and college student so this was a real treat.

Surrounded by blue skies, crashing waves, and local surfers, the atmosphere was exhilarating. This “conference” was more than just that… it was an experience. I was able to speak with large brands like Honda, Whirlpool, Lowes, Treetop, and many others. Did I mention you could get your hair and nails done by stylists from Dove and get your makeup done by Starbucks ReFreshers. The food provided by the Ritz Carlton was fabulous as well.

Even though I was there alone, everyone was so nice an open to talking to me. I met so many interesting and talented women. I ran into a blogger friend, Kara Noel from Elies Lids, whom I had met one time before and we spent a lot of the time together. It was fantastic getting to know her better and I look forward to our new found bloggy friendship. Here are the two of us messing around and in action.

There were so many amazing and inspiring speakers. Nia Vardalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding spoke about her preparation or lack there-of for becoming a mom through adoption. Her personal story was both heartwarming and hilarious! Others that stood out for me were Katherine Wintsch on her presentation and poem about why moms refuse to be honest with marketers and Rachel Faucett from Handmade Charlotte where she turned 10 pounds of beeswax into her own crafty empire. The panels were great as well. I was able to hear some producers of the Today’s show give tips and tricks for video strategies.

I will never forget this Mom 2.0 Summit 2013. My only regret? I should have taken more pictures! Gah! A huge THANK YOU to Clever Girls Collective for making this happen for me!

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Category : Inspiring People, Places To Go

Tags : Everyday Inspiration

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06th May2013

Alice in Wonderland Theme Party: Red Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

My best friend is having an Alice in Wonderland theme party for my twin God daughters for their first birthday. Needless to say, I wanted to help her decorate for the festivities. The twins have two older sisters and their birthday parties were amazing. Check out this Candyland themed party and this circus themed party. So, we started brainstorming ideas. I recently made these coffee filter paper flowers (see below) and I thought they would be perfect for the painting red roses scene when Alice meets the Queen of Hearts.

Dying coffee filter paper flowers is extremely inexpensive and easy to do. Here are the materials you need:

Bowl
Red food coloring
Water
Coffee filter paper flowers
Rubber gloves
Newspaper

To make the actual paper flower, check out the tutorial here. Once your flowers are made, here are the two easy steps to dye them.

Step One: Depending on the hue of red you desire, mix several drops of food coloring and about three tablespoons of water in a bowl.

Step Two: I tried two different ways. Dipping the pre-made flower and dipping the individual filters. Wearing rubber gloves carefully dip the paper flower (or individual filters) into the color mixture and set it aside to dry on the newspaper.

Here are pictures of each. I let them dry overnight.

When they were dry, I noticed that the dipped flower had a nice deeper red color on the edges while the filters that were dipped individually were not. Here is a photo. It’s very subtle, but I like the former better.

Here is a photo of the coffee filter rose and a real rose from my garden next to one another. Not too shabby! Can you see the difference?

Here they are in the bush that we will use for the party.

Feeling inspired by Alice? Check out these posts!

Do you have any Alice in Wonderland party ideas for us? We’d love to hear them!

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Alice in Wonderland, Birthday Party Ideas, Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Jennifer Hostetler, Paper Flowers, Recycling Ideas, Repurposing Ideas, Theme Party Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

03rd May2013

Infused Tequila and Cocktail ideas for Cinco de Mayo

by Dinah Wulf

Written By David Edessa

Infused tequila is very simple to make and needs just a few ingredients. Today I want to share how to make a roasted pineapple and jalapeno tequila recipe in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Then, I will share four cocktail recipes that include your freshly made infused tequila! These recipes are: 1) Roasted Pineapple Margarita, 2) Blood Orange Margarita, 3) Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita, and 4) Mango Jalapeño Margarita. These fruit inspired cocktail recipes are perfect for your Cinco de Mayo party! Enjoy!

How to Make Infused Tequila: Roasted Pineapple & Jalapeño Tequila recipe

Ingredients:

750 ml Reposado Tequila
3-5 jalapeños, washed and whole
6-8 Fresh Pineapple (½-¾ inch thick spears)
1 clean jar

Instructions:

Peel and slice the pineapple in spears about ½-inch thick or thicker. Don’t discard the core; just slice it along with the rest of the pineapple.

Grill the whole peppers and pineapple spears. Over medium heat, lay the peppers and pineapple directly on the grates. Grill until peppers have grill marks and are beginning to soften, taking care not to overly char them. Keep pineapple on grill until they’re nice and brown. Flip both the peppers and pineapple over to grill the other side. Grill another few minutes and remove from grill and into a clean glass container.

When cool, remove the top of the stem part from the pepper. Slice the pepper in half. Place the pineapple spears and jalapeños into the jar. Pour the tequila over the top and cover. Let rest for two weeks in the refrigerator. After the first remove the peppers and discard. I would avoid shaking mix while it sits.

If you prefer less heat, remove the seeds from peppers before adding into the jar. Also, there is no need to spend too much on your tequila choice. I used a reposado, the vanilla and cinnamon notes was what I was looking to add. However, silver tequila will work wonderfully.

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Infused Tequila Cocktail Recipes:

Roasted Pineapple Margarita recipe:

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Infused tequila
½ oz. Grand Marnier orange liqueur
½ oz. Fresh Lime juice
½ oz. Fresh Orange Juice
2 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions:

Build drink in glass you will be serving cocktail in. Add Grand Marnier, lime juice and tequila to the glass. Then, add ice, sour mix, and orange juice. Transport all ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a salted rim highball glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Blood Orange Margarita recipe:

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Infused tequila
½ oz. Solerno Blood Orange liqueur
½ oz. Fresh Lime juice
½ oz. Orange Juice
2 oz. Sour Mix
Dash of orange bitters

Instructions:

Build drink in glass you will be serving cocktail in. Add Solerno Blood Orange, lime juice, bitters and tequila to the glass. Then, add ice, sour mix, and orange juice. Transport all ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a salted rim highball glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita recipe:

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Infused tequila
½ oz. Grand Marnier orange liqueur
½ oz. Fresh Lime juice
½ oz. agave nectar
2-3 Strawberries, muddled
Dash of grapefruit bitters
2 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions:

In a shaker muddle berries.

Add in agave syrup, bitters, and fresh lime juice. Then, stir items in shaker with a spoon. Add Grand Marnier, sour mix and tequila to the shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Mango Jalapeño Margarita recipe:

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Infused tequila
½ oz. Grand Marnier orange liqueur
½ oz. Fresh Lime juice
½ oz. agave nectar
3-4 Mango cubes, muddled
Dash of grapefruit bitters
2 oz. Sour Mix

Instructions:

In a shaker muddle mango.

Add in agave syrup, bitters, and fresh lime juice. Then, stir items in shaker with a spoon. Add Grand Marnier, sour mix and tequila to the shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a salted rim highball glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

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DRINK RESPONSIBLE & DRINK SMARTRock 2013!!Be Safe!!DON’T DRINK & DRIVEHappy Cinco de MayoViva Tequila 

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Category : Cocktail Corner, Holidays

Tags : Cinco de Mayo, David Edessa, Guest Author

02nd May2013

DIY Pedestal Bowl

by Dinah Wulf

One of my thrifty obsessions is to walk through the local Goodwill shop on the weekends, particularly because of the half off sale. Throughout the day, they announce a color and the price tags labeled in that color are half off. It never fails, each time the make the announcement they assure you that you will find that color label in every department. Naturally, you will always find me by the home goods and furniture section. This trip I found a nice white ceramic beaded ramekin and a short pewter candlestick all for less than three dollars. I had to marry the two together and make a DIY Pedestal Bowl.

I’ve made something similar to this for my daughter’s birthday party last year. For her cupcake decorating station, I made party platters made out of plastic serving trays and candlesticks. I still have them today and have used them several times since then. This project is quite simple and doesn’t really need too much explanation, so here are just a few tips that may help you out.

Tip #1: When looking for candlesticks, look for the shape you want. You can always paint them.

Tip #2: The wider the candlestick the sturdier.

Tip #3: Consider wine glasses or champagne flutes instead of candlesticks.

Tip #4: Use a strong bonding agent like E6000 and let it dry for 24-48 hours.

Tip #5: Consider spray painting them to fit your theme or décor. Protect the surface with a doily or decorative paper if you are using it for food.

There are several uses for this easy project. Use them for displaying desserts or appetizers for parties and entertaining. Use a small pedestal bowl for jewelry or a larger one to hold toiletries in your bathroom. You can also use them to display flowers or favorite collections. Make several in different heights and group them together for a unique display.

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Category : Crafts, DIY Tips and Tricks, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Baby Shower Ideas, Birthday Party Ideas, Bridal Shower Ideas, Centerpieces, Recycling Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

01st May2013

Easy DIY Projects For Modern Homes

by Dinah Wulf

If you’re looking a beautiful modern home décor with just the right amount of personal customization, then easy DIY projects are perfect for you. When you make these projects yourself you’re able to not only make exactly what you want how you want it, but you’re also able to usually save a bit of money and be quite creative for a weekend or two. If you want some ideas for DIY projects that are both fun and modern, check out some of these projects.

1. Lighting: lighting is one of the easiest ways to give your house a nice upgrade without a lot of work and it can be done completely by you in most cases. One of the most popular modern looks in lighting right now is under cabinet lighting like the kind you can buy from ProLighting.

Although it’s called “under cabinet” you can actually use this lighting anywhere there’s a flat surface and a place to run the wires, so go ahead and put them under your desk or under a few shelves if you can manage it. When you replace the bulbs and place them strategically, you can achieve some really nice ambient effects.

2. DIY Glasses: it might not come to your mind immediately, but you can make your own glass designs if you don’t mind drawing a little bit on some contact paper. It’s a great and easy way to have some customized drinking glasses that you’ll be sure no one else has.

You’ll need some contact paper, glass etching mask (or cream), and something to cut the design out with. Once you’ve decided on the pattern or design you’d like, you simply cut out of the contact paper (like you would with tracing paper) and apply it to the glass, making sure it’s firmly placed. Use the etching material and layer it liberally on the design, leave it sit for a few minutes, and rinse off. You’ll have a new glass design that you won’t find anywhere else.

3. Flower Vases: indoor plants already look great on their own and can really do wonders for any space, but an awesome flower vase can do even more for your décor than the plant can. Consider making your own flowers too.

This is one of the easiest modern DIY projects you can do because all it takes is a little paint, a few hours, and a steady hand depending on what you’re doing. Choose paint colors that match your home’s décor and set to work, giving the pot a very classy design or perhaps splattering the paint on it to create an artsy effect. The nicest thing about this project is that if you decide you don’t like it, you can simply paint over it with white and start again.

4. Mason Jars: mason jars can be used for pretty much everything and although they’re typically associated with a rustic appeal, they’re creative enough that they can be made modern with the right touches.

You can use mason jars for drinking glasses, small flower pots, or even use them to store candles. If you’re the type to make your own candles, mason jars are amazing candle holders and look great.

You don’t need to sacrifice the modern décor when you choose to go the DIY route and with a little bit of out-of-the-box thinking you can create some amazing things that are both personal and chic.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas

30th Apr2013

How to Make a Citrus Floating Candle

by Dinah Wulf

My brother was on Facebook the other day and a friend of his posted a picture of how to make a candle from an orange. I thought that several of these citrus floating candles would be perfect for an evening summer party centerpiece. We were visiting our dad recently and decided to try it out in his kitchen. Here is a quick tutorial on how to make a citrus floating candle.

Materials:

Orange
Knife
Cutting board
Spoon
Cooking oil
Water
Bowl or vase
Lighter

Step One: Cut an orange in half.

Step Two: Using a spoon, scoop out the orange leaving the center pith of the orange is intact. This will be used as the wick.

Step Three: Pour cooking oil into your orange. Any cooking oil like vegetable, canola, or olive oil will work.

Step Four: Carefully light your “wick”. It may take several seconds to light (longer than a regular wick). Note: We sliced the bottom of our orange so that it would not roll. Be careful not to pierce through the bottom. You do not have to do this if you are going to place it in water.

Step Five: Place your floating candle in the desired vessel with water.

Ta-dah! We used a medium sized orange. We were able to burn the candle for about three and a half to four hours. Be careful if you are doing this project with your kids!

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party, Holidays, Special Occasions

Tags : Centerpieces, Christmas, Dinah's Tutorials, Repurpose, Repurposing Ideas, Thanksgiving, Upcycling Ideas, Wedding Ideas

29th Apr2013

Creative Curtain Accents: Making a Statement With Drapery

by Dinah Wulf

As we wave goodbye to winter and welcome warm spring weather, we are ready for change. Heavy sweaters are packed away for next year while colorful tank tops and floral frocks hang in the closet. Afternoon poolside BBQs replace indoor lounging around a blazing fireplace. Create new energy as sunshine breaks through dreary clouds by making over an interior space in your home as well. Remodeling the look and feel of a room doesn’t have to be an expensive makeover that includes brand-new furniture, lighting and decor. Since spring and summer are all about the sunshine, focus on your window treatments and creative curtain accents and make them the aesthetic focal point of your interior space.

Boldly brighten your bedroom or create a fanciful ambience in the living room with these drapery ideas:

Dueling Hues

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Accent a spacious living room by hanging floor-to-ceiling curtains in two different bold, complementary colors. For a cheery and vibrant atmosphere, lean toward warmer colors or soft pastels. Shimmery tangerine gold drapes paired with bubble gum pink or muted pistachio green curtains hung beside robins’ egg blue can confidently add personality to a space. Home decor store West Elm offers selections of sheer linen window panels in coral rose and linen cotton grommet window panels in desert marigold that can serve as an aesthetic duo for your new home decor.

Black and White

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Stark colored contrasts can also draw attention to your window and create a contemporary look. Hanging solid black and white, striped black and white or checkered black and white drapery achieves that modern interior-design theme and invites colorful decor to accessorize the space. Once you’ve established your black-and-white focal point, work on incorporating colorful accents like a velvet fuchsia chair, mustard-colored throw pillows or an orange-crush vase.

Eclectic Curtain Rods

Even if you prefer more neutral hues and subtle colors, your window treatments can still be an eye-catching display. BHG.com provides creative window treatment inspiration with DIY curtain rod ideas. Create a whimsical rustic look by installing a branch curtain rod and use spray paint to color it an earthy tone. Draperies from The Shade Store in stone, willow or olive will add to the organic theme of the window. Other creative ideas for curtain rods include an oar or canoe paddle for a nautical or beach theme. A bamboo pole complements a feng shui interior design.

Pretty Patterns

Take a style risk with your drapery and adorn your windows with patterned curtains full of character and pizzazz. Your walls will radiate with personality by hanging vintage, whimsical curtains from Anthropologie, such as the Nests & Nectar Curtain adorned with flittering hummingbirds and sweet sparrows. Sweep your curtains back with rope tie-backs or a bronze branch tie-back. Create a retro feel by hanging Anthropologie’s Climbing Vines curtains in chartreuse or go for a clambering floral theme by accenting windows with Ink Garden Curtains designed with soft forest green foilage and discreet blue blossoms.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Decorating Ideas, DIY Tips

26th Apr2013

Jala-Piña Margarita Cocktail

by Dinah Wulf

Jala-Piña Margarita Cocktail, Written by David Edessa

{Via}

Cinco de Mayo is around the corner. It’s time to reacquaint ourselves with tequila. Last year I wrote a post called Save the Water and Drink Tequila. I shared some fun tequila facts and also some tips for making the perfect margarita. Today, this recipe, Jala-Piña Margarita cocktail, will be the focus. It’s a drink with a Mexican flair.

Don’t forget to check out last year’s Cino de Mayo cocktail recipes like the Strawberry & Rhubarb Pulco Cocktail or my recipe for Margarita Spiked Watermelon. Still craving some tequila? Check out this tangerine margarita recipe.

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Jala-Piña Margarita cocktail recipe:

Ingredients:

1½ oz. Reposado tequila
½ oz. Grand Marnier orange liqueur
1 oz. Pineapple juice
1 jalapeño pepper, muddled
½ oz. Fresh Lime juice
Dash of orange bitters
Splash of agave nectar
Jalapeño pepper for garnish

Instructions:
In a shaker muddle a jalapeño. Add in agave syrup, bitters, and fresh lime juice. Then, stir items in shaker with a spoon. Add Grand Marnier, pineapple juice and tequila to the shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with a jalapeño.

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DRINK RESPONSIBLE & DRINK SMART!!

Rock 2013!! Be Safe!! DON’T DRINK & DRIVE!!
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Check out all of David’s FANTASTIC cocktail party recipes! Find the perfect one for any holiday or special occasion.

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Category : Cocktail Corner

Tags : Cinco de Mayo, David Edessa, Guest Author

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25th Apr2013

Follow Me!

by Dinah Wulf

My name is Dinah and I’m addicted to Social Media. It’s a necessary evil and I have a love hate relationship with it. With the tremendous growth of DIY Inspired over the last year, I thought I’d put together a list of how to follow me and what you can expect by doing so. There are so many social media platforms out there, and I use them all for different purposes.

Follow me on Facebook.

Facebook was my first love and it is relationship I cater to at least four times a day. You will find inspiring photos and for DIY projects, crafts, home décor, and entertaining. Typically there is a focus on repurposing or upcycling. The photo albums are organized by subject like, Home Organization Inspiration, Clever Craft Ideas, and Upcycled and Repurposed Furniture. You can always check the albums in case you missed something.

Follow me on Twitter.

I have to admit that I used to hate Twitter. I didn’t understand it; but now that I decided to take the plunge and immerse myself into it, I have to say I tweet at least four or five times a day. It may take me a day to respond, but I will! You will typically find links for contests and giveaways, or tweets about the causes I believe in.

Follow me on Pinterest.

My boards on Pinterest are more organized than my closet. You will find all kinds of photo inspiration, all of which inspired me first. If I don’t like it, I don’t pin it. You can peruse through boards like, Repurposed Bathroom Ideas, Recycled Craft Tutorials, Wedding & bridal Shower Inspiration, or Activities for Kids.

Circle me on Google+.

Probably my most recent obsession, Google+ for me is about an online community of like-minded people. If you’re a fellow Blogger or entrepreneur, I’d likely connect with you here. If you leave a comment, I will ALWAYS comment back!

I have been trying to do more video tutorials and man, it’s tough! Watch me (and feel free to laugh) as I try to figure it all out.

Follow me on Instagram.

If you want to see the projects I’m working on before they are published or you want to see the new shoes I just bought, follow me on Instagram.

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Like for many others, LinkedIn is my virtual resume. You can find out what I did before DIY Inspired and see some of my accomplishments.

That’s about it! I hope this helps and I’d be honored if you followed me!

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Category : Inspiring People

Tags : Everyday Inspiration

24th Apr2013

How to Remove Wax from Glass

by Dinah Wulf

I cannot tell a lie. Sometimes I purchase items because of the container it comes in. There. I said it. In particular, candles are a splurge for me because they are often “expensive”, so I have to wait until they go on sale. One thing I CAN count on is that I KNOW I will reuse the glass candle container for other things. I searched online for how to remove wax from glass and the one I liked the most was from Aunt Peaches. She had a fantastic tutorial (and funny too) and it worked great! Here is my version of how to remove candle wax from glass.

Here is what you’ll need:

Used glass candle containers
Boiling water
Plastic utensil
Paper towel
Warm soap and water

Here are the glass containers I started out with. Don’t worry about the label and soot, I’ll address that too.

First, boil water in a teapot and pour it into your container.

Next, wait. Wait until the remaining wax floats to the surface. And the water cools. I am approximating about 45 minutes. It will look something like this.

Next, take your plastic utensil and scrap off the wax and wick base onto a paper towel and discard. That’s it!! Easy!

To remove the label and soot, I soaked the containers in warm soapy water and gently scrubbed until they were clean.

Here is what they look like after!

I’m using these particular vases for craft room storage, but consider using them for flowers in a centerpiece or holding make-up brushes or toothbrushes in your bathroom.

Make sure you check out Aunt Peaches original post on this because she has some other great tips and tricks!

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Category : DIY Tips and Tricks

Tags : Centerpieces, Dinah's Tutorials, Recycling Ideas, Upcycling Ideas