DIY Artwork - DIYInspired.com
17th Apr2013

12 Recycled Book Page Crafts

by Dinah Wulf

Hallow-Book-Safe-How-To-4-300x225

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Most of the 12 recycled book page crafts featured in this post all started from a book safe that I made a while ago.  I tucked away all the pages I hollowed out and put them with my scrapbook paper.  Every once in a while I’d get inspired and make something out of them.  Here we go!

12-recycled-book-page-crafts

Book Page Heart Garland {Tutorial}

I made this for Valentine’s Day, however it’s a fun kid’s craft that you can do all year in any color.

DIY Recycled Craft Jars {Tutorial}

I made these out of ketchup bottles that I thought were interesting.  This may be one of my favorites!

Book Folding Art Piece {Tutorial}

This was a guest post by Loren from Pandora’s Craft Box.

Book Page Napkin Rings and Name Cards

Here is an inexpensive way to add character to your table setting.

Recycled Book Page Art

Use book pages as the canvas for your paintings.

Recycled Book Page Butterfly Wreath {Tutorial}

One of my most popular tutorials, this wreath cost me nothing to make!  I made it from book pages, a wire hanger, and branches from my back yard.

Phone Book Origami Flowers {Tutorial}

This is a fun photo tutorial on how to make a flower out of phone book pages.

Paper Flower Magnets {Tutorial}

Use a craft punch and bottle caps to make these sturdy paper flower magnets.

Book Page Gift Bow {Tutorial}

Make a traditional gift wrapping bow out of strips of book pages or newspaper.

Water Colored Book Page Flowers {Tutorial}

Make any color flowers simply by water coloring your book pages.

Book Page Wreath {Tutorial}

Another favorite, this was one of the first wreaths I have ever made.

How to Make a Secret Book Safe {Tutorial}

OK, so this one isn’t really book pages, but you need to start somewhere!  I actually did most of the projects above with the pages I removed from this book!

Do you have a project you’d like to share?  Submit your DIY Projects or crafts for a chance to be featured on DIYInspired.com!

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20th Mar2013

Recycled Clock Watch Display Case

by Dinah Wulf

recycled-clock (2)

I am so excited to have Lilly Meehan back today to share her Recycled Clock Watch Display Case.  Be sure to check out her other DIY Inspired thrifty makeover contributions, her upcycled thrift store penny table and her thrift store chair makeover.  Thanks again, Lilly for sharing!

Recycled Clock Watch Display Case (1)

Written By: Lilly Meehan, Ventura, CA

I used to collect heart shaped watches.  I stopped collecting and wearing them a few years ago.  In cleaning out for a garage sale, I decided to do this project. A small clock was purchased at a thrift store.   The mechanism of the clock was removed and all the inner workings. Glitter paper was placed as a background and a plastic circle was added for strength.  The frame was painted to match.  Each watch had the band removed and was cleaned.

Recycled Clock Watch Display Case (2)

Notice that the watch in the 1:00 position is set to 1:00, the watch set in the 2:00 position is set to 2:00, and so on.  Some unused post earrings were added for even more bling.  The watches in the center are set to my birth date. I was born on July 16, so the top three are set to 7:16.  Now I can enjoy the collection in a visual display despite not wearing the watches anymore.

Recycled Clock Watch Display Case (3)

I was going to make it a working clock at first, and did buy a new clock mechanism for that reason.  However, it was just so busy as is and it seemed unnecessary to add the watch hands.  I made it not to be used in a practical sense but to be a display piece.  In the past I have made several jeweled Christmas trees from old rhinestone/costume jewelry, this is along those same lines.

recycled-clock (1)

 

Do you have a project you’d like to share?  Submit your DIY Projects or crafts for a chance to be featured on DIYInspired.com!

 

************* Giveaway Alert!***************

ENTER TO WIN!

Today, my daughter and I crafted with the dogs on our new kid-friendly rug!

Crafting with the dogs

You can win your own 6’ X 9’ SmartStrand bound carpet rug. Go to the contest page to enter. SmartStrand carpet is rated #1 in consumer satisfaction… Experience it for yourself!

The contest starts Monday, March 18th and ends April 8th. Please see the registration page for legal rules.

A big THANK YOU to Mohawk Flooring for sponsoring this giveaway!

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12th Feb2013

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame

by Dinah Wulf

I am so excited to have Heather guest post today from Rockstew!  She is sharing her DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame Tutorial.  Not only does Heather blog about crafty DIY, she also shares parenting tips, recipes, favorite books, and adventures in raising her daughter, Annabelle.  You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  Here is Heather’s DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame Tutorial. Welcome, Heather!

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (1)

I’ve been obsessed by Pinterest and also monograms for the past month.  So I decided to make baby girl a lovely monogram using Swarovski pearls.  I chose the pearls instead of crystals because baby girl was born in June and pearls just happen to be her birth stone.

This year, my resolution is to use only things I have in the house or material that is upcycled.  Because of my jewelry company that I no longer run, I still have lots of Swarovski crystals and pearls lying in a box unused in the back of my closet.

Time:  6-7 hours

Skill:  Easy to Moderate

Ingredients:

  • Frame (without glass)
  • Size:  15×13 on the outside perimeter.  9 1/2″ by 7 1/2″on the interior perimeter
  • I bought the above frame without glass or a back at a thrift store for $3.99
  • Swatch of linen
  • I bought a linen tablecloth at thrift store for $1.99
  • Transfer Paper
  • Purchased at Fabric Store $4.99
  • Swarovski Pearls
  • approx. 250 3mm Cream Rose Crystal Pearl
  • approx. 20 4mm Cream Rose Crystal Pearl
  • Cardboard (if the frame has no back)
  • Embroidery Hoop *optional
  • Tape

Steps

*These are the exact steps I took using the materials that I had as listed above.  Please modify if needed!

Step One: The frame I purchased had no glass or back, so I improvised a backing using cardboard.  I cut a piece of the cardboard to match the backing of the frame.  Using the cardboard “backing” piece, I cut out a swatch of fabric that was large enough for me to fold down the edges securely in the back.

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (2)

{Created a cardboard backing}

Step Two: I tea dyed the fabric by soaking the fabric overnight in 8 bags of black tea.  24 hours later, I washed and dried the fabric in the washing machines/dryer then ironed the fabric.

Step Three: On the computer, open up Paintbrush.  Using the font LUKE, I selected the text tool and placed in the A.  I could have measured but I eyeballed the appropriate size by holding up the frame next to the computer.  It was approximately 375 pt. font.

Step Four: Place the transfer paper in your printer.  Before printing, read the instructions of Transfer Paper. The directions on the package indicated to print the image in a mirror copy.  I did NOT do that because I wanted the letter A to be on the back as a guide only.  (If the image is on the back, it needs to be backwards so that you can trace it properly.)  If you want this project to be cheaper/more environmental, I would recommend tracing the letter on the back of your fabric.  Iron the letter onto your fabric.

Step Five: Next, get out the embroidery hoop and center the fabric. Be sure that the A is showing from the back of your hoop. (It’s not necessary to use an embroidery hoop, but it makes this project much easier.)

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (3)

Step Six: Double thread your needle and knot it. From the back, pull your needle through the fabric.  Holding the needle, drop a Swarovski pearl through the needle, and then gently pull the needle up.

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (4)

{Sewing Swarovski Pearls onto linen background}

Step Seven: To secure the pearl, push the needle through the fabric in approximately the same place that you came up. The pearl will center above this entry/exit.  Continue “sewing” your pearls to the fabric until you are finished.  Use a variety of sizes to create a variegated look.

Step Eight: Once you are finished, loosen the fabric from the embroidery hoop.  Iron the fabric where the embroidery hoop has creased the fabric.

Step Nne: Center the fabric over the cardboard and secure the edges to the back using tape.

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (5)

{Taped linen to cardboard backing}

Step Ten: Place the cardboard into the frame and secure.  I placed a secondary piece of cardboard over the top to hide the mess, but this is not a necessary step.

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (6)

{Secondary cardboard}

DIY Monogram Swarovski Pearls in a Frame (1)

{Voila!  Pearl Monogram}

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05th Feb2013

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover

by Dinah Wulf

I am so excited to have Federica of La Cianfrusagliera join me today on a guest post and sharing her passion for design.  Here is how she turned an old dresser destined for the trash and turned it into a beautiful Shabby Chic bedside table. Welcome, Federica!

 

Decorating never ends, Written by Federica

Decorating is my passion! It doesn’t matter if it is a dress, a piece of furniture or an accessory; when I find something with a “potential” I do not stop until I obtain the look I’ve imagined.  That’s what happened with this old bedside table.  My mom was throwing it in the trash bin, but I caught it on time!  So I cleaned it, sanded it and colored it of a pale lilac.

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover (4)

But that was not enough. So I enameled the knob and painted some hearts on its front.

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover (2)

But that was not enough: So I added some wall paper on the front door.

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover (5)

But that was not enough. So I finally covered the inner drawer with wall pater too…

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover (3)

And that’s enough…for now.

Shabby Chic Bedside Table Makeover (1)

If you like this creation of mine, maybe you want to take a look also at:

Heart Photo Wall Art

Heart Photo Wall Art

Wild Bedside Tables

Wild Bedside Tables

Striped Diaper Holder

Striped Diaper Holder

Yellow Dress Tutorial

Yellow Dress Tutorial

Wool Sheath Dress

Wool Sheath Dress

Federica’s Winning Design

daunenstep

About Federica

My name is Federica, I’m Italian but I love travelling all over the world.  I’m a mother, a wife, an interpreter and I work in the fashion field.  During the rare and precious free time I have, I love creating with my hands objects for the people I love.  If you have the same passion I invite you following me on my blog and on Facebook.

 

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13th Nov2012

Shoe Box Lid Clock

by Dinah Wulf

I recently painted my guest room and I wanted to add some DIY wall art so I decided to recycle some shoe boxes and make shoe box lid wall art instead of buying paint canvases from the craft store.  For one of them, I thought I’d turn into a clock using a clock kit from a craft store.   You can turn practically anything into a clock!  Consider using other recycled items like books or paintings.  Here is how I made a shoe box lid clock.

Here is what you’ll need:

  • Shoe box lid
  • Craft Paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Stencils
  • Spouncers (sponge stencil brush)
  • Clock Kit
  • Drill

I started off by choosing my color pallet and laying out my shoe box lid and painted it with two coats.  Allow it to dry in between coats.  It dries fairly quickly (approximately 15 minutes).  Using stencils and spouncers, I added my design by carefully saturating the tip of the brush, removing some excess, and stamping the paint down onto the stencil in an up and down motion.  This helps prevent bleeding.  Allow the box to dry in between stencils if you are using more than one.

Next, drill a hole into that area you want your center of your clock to be.  Follow the directions on your clock kit.  Typically you put the hour hand first, the minute hand second, and the second hand last. Add a battery.   Viola!  There you have it!

I ended up hanging my shoe box lid clock with a thumbtack among other lids that I painted.  You can add rubber putty at the tip of your thumbtack to prevent slipping.

Here are some more after photos.

 

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05th Nov2012

Shoe Box Lid Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

I’ve said it a hundred times and I’ll say it again!  I’m cheap!  Let me add to that; I may have an acute hoarding problem as well.  Wait. Is “acute hoarding” and oxymoron?   Anyway, I recently painted my guest room and I wanted to add some DIY wall art so I decided to recycled some shoe boxes and make shoe box lid wall art instead of buying paint canvases from the craft store.  They turned out great, I must say!

Here is what you’ll need:

  • Shoe box lids (Papa sized, Mama sized, and Baby sized)
  • Craft Paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Stencils
  • Spouncers (sponge stencil brush)

I started off by choosing my color pallet and laying out my shoe box lids in the arrangement I wanted to hang them.  Next I painted each box lid a different color.  I used two coats for each.  Using stencils and spouncers, I added my design by carefully saturating the tip of the brush, removing some excess, and stamping the paint down onto the stencil in an up and down motion.  This helps prevent bleeding.  Allow each box to dry in between stencils.

I ended up hanging each lid with a thumbtack.  You can add rubber putty at the tip of your thumbtack to prevent slipping.  For one of my paintings I added a clock (I’ll show you that tutorial later).

Here are some more after photos.

Tip:  I have used many different brands of craft paint in my day and I have to say that the easiest and best to work with is Martha Stewart’s craft paint.  It goes on like butter!  For these I used the satin finish… oh and I used her stencils too!

Here are some more fun trash to treasure ideas and tutorials!

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09th Jul2012

Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

Recently, I wrote a post on DIY Butterfly Wall Art from items I found in my craft closet.  With my daughter’s garden themed birthday party coming up, I decided to make another craft scrap art piece.  I wanted to use it as part of the decorations at her birthday party, as well as hang it in her room after.

Once again, I didn’t have to buy anything new.  I had every item already sitting in my craft closet.  I even had another ugly painting that I inherited when my husband and I moved in together.  If you don’t have an old ugly painting, blank canvases can be purchased at any craft store.  Also consider going to a thrift store and recycle an old one.  It may even come with a frame you can reuse.

Here is what I used for my Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art project.

  • Old painting or canvas
  • Burlap
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Craft paint
  • Spouncer
  • Stencils
  • Paper plate
  • Glue gun and glue sticks
  • Craft Butterflies

I started off by covering the painting with burlap that I had from my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project by attaching it with a staple gun.  Make sure you pull the fabric taught as you staple it.  Next, I laid out my stencils and butterflies in the order I wanted them placed on the canvas and took a digital photo of it.

I stenciled my daughter’s name on the bottom right and stenciled a butterfly in the center.  Check out my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project for stenciling tips and tricks.  Next, referring back to my digital photo, I hot glued each butterfly onto the canvas.

Both quickly and easily I have a unique and personalized party and room decoration that didn’t cost me a dime!!

 

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04th Jun2012

DIY Butterfly Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

One of the things I do when I’m bored is stare at my craft closet to see if there is anything I can make without purchasing something new.  I had these wooden frames left over from a Wine Tasting Bridal Shower party I did and these butterflies I bought from a craft store that was going out of business a while ago (I bought 80 of these butterflies for less than $10).  These butterflies are great to adorn gifts, my initial intention for their use.  Anyway, with left over craft paint and scrapbook paper, I decided on DIY Butterfly Wall Art for my daughter’s bedroom.

Here are the materials you need:

  • Wooden frames
  • Craft Butterflies
  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Paper cutter or scissors
  • Craft paint
  • Paint brush
  • Hot Glue Gun

Yet another fun and easy project was complete while my daughter watched her one hour episode of Sesame Street (she LOVES Elmo and Baby Bear).

First, I painted each wooden frame.  By the way, you can purchase these frames in packs of three from IKEA for $1.99… cheap!  Meanwhile, while the paint was drying, I cut out scrapbook paper to fit the frames (4X6) with a paper cutter.

I assembled the frames when the paint was dry and using a hot glue gun, attached the butterfly to the center of the frames.  You have to hold the butterfly in place for a few seconds while the hot glue dries.  I hung them above my daughter’s window in her room.

Here are some AFTER photos.

What’s in YOUR craft closet??

 

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30th May2012

The Things We Do For Love

by Dinah Wulf

Oh… the things we do for love!  My husband’s birthday just past, and with Father’s Day coming up, I thought I’d do something bigger than I normally would.  Here goes…

My hubby and I joke around a lot about turning the downstairs bathroom into a 90’s grunge themed bathroom.  I always laugh and play along, but in my head I’m always thinking, “HELL’S NO!”  Then one day we were talking and he mentioned that he wanted to spruce up the garage, paint it, organize it, and hang pictures up in it.  He said it would be “his” place and that I had the rest of the house. Immediately I felt badly.

This house is pretty big for just the three of us, and my hubby works very hard day in and day out.  He works late almost every night and he works from home on his computer on the weekends. I thought, why WOULDN’T I do a 90’s themed bathroom for him? But that wasn’t enough. I had to go bigger.

So over the past couple months I researched and purchased concert posters and frames online.  I also dug in boxes in the garage and in closets.  I found posters he purchased years ago still rolled up in tubes.  I framed them all and decided to hang them in our entry way… oh yes… the largest wall in the house.

Here is the wall before and after.  I originally had a family photo wall there, but it DID seem small for such a massive area.

 

Here are a few close ups of the new 90’s Grunge Wall (sorry for the glare).  I framed some albums as well.

 

Happy Birthday and Happy Father’s Day to the love of my life…

 

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7 Comm
21st May2012

Eye Chart Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

I love SUPER easy wall art! In the past I have shown tutorials for Letter Wall Art for my kitchen and Scrapbook Bird Art for my daughter’s bathroom. This Eye Chart Wall Art is also very easy, and with my notes, will literally take minutes to complete. It took me a little time figuring out spacing and font size, but I’ll leave you my notes below to make it easier for you to do.

I have seen so many variances of eye chart wall art that you can purchase in several magazines. The thing about doing it yourself is that it’s WAY cheaper and more personal. For my eye chart letters I used our last name, our first names, the dogs names, and words like “family”, “love” and “forever”. It’s up to you on how you would like to customize it!

I simply created a Word document on my computer and printed it on regular paper. Here are some of my notes for this easy Eye Chart Wall Art:

Century Gothic font
All caps
Centered
Varied spacing
Black Ink

Line 1: One letter, font 125
Line 2: Two letters, font 100
Line 3: Three letters, font 72
Line 4: Four letters, font 62
Line 5: Six letters, font 68
Line 6: Seven letters, font 36
Line 7: Space, font 12
Line 8: Eight letters, font 24
Line 9: Space, font 12
Line 10: Six letters, font 20
Line 11: Space, font 12
Line 12: Seven letters, font 16
Line 13: Space, font 10
Line 14: Eight letters, font 10

Hope you try it! It makes the perfect DIY gift!

 

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25th Jan2012

Felt Wreaths

by Dinah Wulf

Ever since I made my Recycled Book Wreath and my Coffee Filter Wreath, I became obsessed with wreaths. They can look great all year round.  Also, lately I have noticed many cute do-it-yourself projects made out of felt, so naturally I thought… felt wreath! As I did my DIY inspiration research I came across so many beautiful felt wreaths. So many, that now I am confused as to which one I’d like to pursue. Maybe you can help me choose.  Here are some of my favorites.

This one from ProjectNursery stood out because of the colors.  Although I’m not really a pink type of gal, the gray wreath and pink ribbon just caught my eye.

Check out this one from PurlBee. It’s a wreath and wall hanging in one… very feminine and pretty.

TheBerry showcased this wreath.  I like how the entire wreath is not felt, rather just the embellishment.

GREEN Peace sign!!! Need I say more? (Source Unknown)

Perfect for Valentine’s Day, this one from TheIdeaRoom is so sweet.

Another pretty gray felt wreath that caught my eye from KristenEliseDesigns.

Love, love, love this all white felt wreath from Domestifluff.

Here are a few more that I found from Pintrest. Ugh! There are too many felt wreaths to choose from! In the meantime, I should probably master the felt flower. Perhaps, I can do a combo of all of the above! Any suggestions?

 

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7 Comm
20th Jan2012

Six Ways to Recycle Maps

by Dinah Wulf

Maps are so beautiful.  I’ve been looking for some ways to use them because I see them everywhere (including my glove box).  Just like CD’s, record albums, and books, they are becoming obsolete due to the emergence of electronics like the GPS and the internet.  But what I do love about maps is that they tell a story and simultaneously serve as a work of art.  Here are six great ways to recycle maps.

One: Art Work

Check out these heart maps by Tcktyboo.  Each heart represents a special place.  For example, where you were married, where you went on your honeymoon, or where the kids were born.

 

I also saw a great idea on Pintrest (I can’t find the picture or source anymore) where a map was framed and the route to a special trip was stitched in a coordinating colored string… so cute! Update! Thanks to Adri, here is the link for that map! http://www.marthastewart.com/375160/map-artwork Thank you, Adri!!!

 

Two: Pillow

This is a pillow from Etsy inspired by a vintage map.

 

Three: Pinwheels

Another Etsy find, these cute pinwheels make a whimsical vintage wedding favor.  Click here for different pinwheel tutorials.

 

Four: Upcycle Furniture

Here are three great examples of using decoupage on maps to turn an old piece of furniture into a unique and beautiful conversation piece.

Cover a wooden chest

Inspiration from Nate Berkus

Revamp an old Dresser

Add new life to an old Vanity

 

Five: Gift Wrap

Just in time for the holidays, use an old map as gift wrapping paper.

 

Six: Monograms or Letters

Use decoupage to commemorate a trip on craft letters (source unknown).

 

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10th Jan2012

DIY Ribbon Board

by Dinah Wulf

DIY-Ribbon-Board-19-1024x768 (560x418)

I always see these cute ribbon boards at gift shops, catalogues, and craft fairs.  They are great for organization for an office or (in my case) my daughter’s room.  I made this DIY Ribbon Board for items such as her hair bows, clips, and photographs.

Another reason I wanted to make this DIY Ribbon Board is because the my daughter’s first baby blanket was getting worn out by the washing machine and I wanted to preserve it somehow, without hiding it in a keepsake trunk where no one would see it.  Here is how I made it.

Materials:

  • Old painting or frame and canvas
  • Fabric
  • Ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Staple Gun
  • Paint (optional)
  • Pliers (if you are using an existing painting)

I had this old painting that was sitting in a box in my garage.

I turned it over and discovered that I needed to use pliers to remove the staples. Remove the canvas.

I took my daughters first baby blanket, trimmed it, and stapled it taut to the canvas.

I decided to paint my frame. I used two coats of paint plus a touch up.

In the meantime, while waiting for the paint to dry, I cut out my strips of ribbon, laying them out in the desired pattern.

One by one, I stapled each ribbon bottom to top and left to right (or vice versa), and then weaving bottom to top right to left. I also stapled the ribbon to the edge of the canvas to make it more secure.

Finally, when the paint is completely dry, (I waited overnight), insert the canvas.

Here are some close up and after pictures.

Thank you for reading!

 

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13 Comm
06th Jan2012

Recycled Magazine Frame

by Dinah Wulf

My brother and I decided to make Christmas gifts this year to exchange.  Naturally, I had to do a recyling project. I have always wanted to try making something out of recycled magazine pages so I finally sat down and made this frame.  I have to say, although slightly tedious, it was quite fun, especially when I looked at the results.  My only regret is that I wished I didn’t use such a cheap wooden frame mainly because of the cardboard back.  I should have shelled out a few more bucks for a nicer one.  Even a thrift store one would have been better. Oh well.  Anyway, here is how I made a recycled magazine frame.

Materials:

  • Any frame (again, I regret using the crappy one from IKEA)
  • Old Magazine
  • Tape
  • Paper Cutter
  • Decoupage medium
  • Small Paint brush

Gather a few magazines that you’ve already read and no longer want.  I say a few, because for this project I used four different Rolling Stones magazines to get the colored pages I wanted.

I chose to cut my strips to the width of the frame.  For example, the frame pictured here is for a 3X5 photo and the frame is a one inch wide, 4X7 frame.  I ended up cutting 1”X7” stripes (approximately eight pages).

Next, start rolling your strips.  The toughest part is the beginning; however it’s easy to get used to!  I used a small narrow piece of tape to secure each roll.  It was cleaner than attempting to glue each roll; and the tape can be easily hidden when attached to the frame.

For each roll, I laid it onto the frame so I knew when to stop. It helps to do this while you’re watching your favorite shows on TV.

After rolling all the strips, I glued each piece with a paint brush and decoupage medium one by one.

When you are finished adhering each roll, allow it to dry completely (about 15 minutes). Then, I used 2 coats of decoupage medium on top.  Allow it to dry between coats.

Insert your picture, and there you have it! The perfect handmade gift!

By the way, I had to show my little plug to recycle. If you look closely on the top left side of this picture, you will see what I mean!

 

***I heart comments! If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions, please feel free to comment below.  Is there a craft project you want me to try? I’ll gladly do my best to take on your craft challenge and I’m always looking for new ideas! Just let me know! Also, if you have a project you’d like to share, please email me at dwulf@diyinspired.com.

 

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9 Comm
29th Dec2011

Letter and Number DIY Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

I did a post on table numbers a while back and one of my favorites was from Martha Stewart.  They were digital pictures of house numbers printed on cardstock. I thought these were so cute and creative.  Pictures of numbers and letters would be cool to make DIY wall art… maybe frame a special date like a wedding anniversary or birthday as a gift.

In my head I thought, OK, I’ll bring my camera with me everywhere I go and try to take pictures of letters and numbers.  I didn’t want to limit it to house numbers because I had no idea how I could walk up to someone’s personal property and take a picture.  Well, actually I do because I used to do appraisals, but legally speaking… I couldn’t pull it off for a simple craft project.  So I thought maybe I could take pictures of any letters or numbers I see including license plates, signs, whatever.  Well, it never happened.  Probably because I would forget or I’d tell myself I’d just come back.

Low and behold, one night my obsession with Pintrest made life easier on me yet again! I saw a pin for a link on digital numbers and letters! Yay!

A Flickr account by Leo Reynolds has a selection of hundreds of letters and numbers. Click on the links to check them out!

My one year old daughter says, “MMM” and “YUM” almost every time she eats something. Anything. I decided to make this YUM, EAT, MMM design for the kitchen. I did it in minutes simply on Microsoft Word.  The photos are square, so used a square frame from IKEA to make it easy. Personal, cute, and simple!

Close Up (sorry for the glare)

 

 

 

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4 Comm
21st Nov2011

Book Page Wreath

by Dinah Wulf

I’ve been looking for the perfect book page wreath to make because I have a damaged antique book with beautiful gold leafed pages.  The book is a book of poems by Keats, however it is falling apart and some pages are missing.

There are several book page wreaths out there for inspiration.  I finally came across one at this little boutique in Tustin (of course I didn’t have my camera on me at the time to take a picture).  Because I’m such a cheapskate, of course I didn’t buy it rather I did peep at the fifty dollar price tag!  Ha! I’ll make it myself for much less!

I wanted to get some tips before I tried to make it, so I did a little research.  I couldn’t find an exact tutorial on the one I wanted to make, but I did find some good tips from Living With Lindsay and The Penny Parlor.

Believe it or not I had everything I needed already, so I only spent a total of $1.04 for this project!!!  Here is what you need.

The Penny Parlor had a brilliant idea of buying a “foam tube” from Home Depot. I had no idea what department a “foam tube” would be in and after research, it’s in the plumbing department.  Here is a picture so you know what to ask for.

I chose the thickest tube for $1.94 ($2.08 with tax).  It is six feet long, the perfect size for two (maybe even three)wreaths, hence the $1.04 TOTAL I spent for this Book Page Wreath.

Start by cutting the tube in half.  Set aside one tube for another project. Carefully and gradually peel away the adhesive strip and stick the two sides together.  I say “carefully and gradually” because this sucker’s extremely sticky.

Next, tape the two ends together with duct tape.  It will look something like this.

Don’t panic like I did!  If you pinch and massage the tube, it will form into a circle and end up looking like this.

Next, cut your pages out of the book.  I found that the fastest and cleanest way is to use a sharp knife.

One by one, roll each page to make a cone shape and flatten the bottom part.

Using a hot glue gun, glue the cones onto the foam wreath. After your first layer, turn the wreath over.  You have just finished the back of the wreath. I used approximately 35 pages for the first layer.

Start your second layer as pictured below (approximately 30 pages).

For the third, fourth, and fifth layer, you will glue the cone over the ring as shown below.  After the fifth layer, “QC” your wreath and fill any open gaps with another cone.

Here is a picture of the back. Use a glue gun to attach a ribbon to hang it.

Here are some after pictures.

 

 

 

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Category : Crafts, DIY Artwork, Trash To Treasure
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16 Comm
17th Nov2011

Scrabble Art

by Dinah Wulf

I’ve seen a lot of Scrabble craft projects like ornaments, key chains, and jewelry on Pintrest and Etsy, which gave me inspiration to do this project.  We had an extra old Scrabble game sitting all alone in our closet ever since we got… wait for it… the Scrabble Diamond Addition! Yes, I am quite the Scrabble geek.

I made this Scrabble tile art piece for our guest room.  I used an 8X10 frame and was able to fit the words, welcome, sleep, trip, dreamers, travel, guests, and getaway from the tiles of one Scrabble game. Make sure you lay out your words to ensure proper fit into the frame.

I used hot glue to affix the letters on decorative scrapbook paper to match the colors of the guest room. I inserted it into an inexpensive wooden frame from IKEA that I painted. Voila!

This would make a great DIY gift as well!  Consider making one with themed words for other rooms in the house like a kitchen, bathroom, playroom, or game room.

 

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

 

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6 Comm
15th Nov2011

Crafting With Toilet Paper Rolls

by Dinah Wulf

Today, November 15th, is the 13th annual America Recycles Day! What better way to celebrate than to get some craft inspiration for recycling something EVERY American family has in their home?

I have become obsessed with the website, Pintrest, especially the DIY and Crafts section.  It has become a part of my daily routine just like this blog or Facebook. Check it out when you have time, you’ll get addicted too!

Because of my interest in crafts and recycling, I noticed some ingenious repurposed toilet paper roll projects that people were “pinning”. For example, I saw a pin that creatively turned a toilet paper roll into a gift box.  It was adorable and instantly made my craft to do list.  Embellished with ribbon and paper, you would have no idea it was a cardboard toilet paper roll.

I decided to do a Pintrest search on toilet paper rolls and found these very artistic ideas.  They are definitely worth checking out.  Recycling toilet paper rolls into art, one would never guess, seems pretty hip. These designs, some simple and some complicated are all beautiful and definitely inspiring!

 

Owls by Kerrys Paper Crafts

 

Pink Starburst Wall Art by A Subtle Revelry

 

Circle Paint Stamp by Recycled Lovelies

 

Hip Holiday Wreath (my favorite) by See You There Designs

 

Flower Ornament by All Things Paper

 

Flower art on Canvas by Just A Girl Blog

 

Sculpted Faces by Design Swan (Amazing!)

 

Blue Flower Wall Art by Tali Schiffer Oren

 

Intricate carved tree (source unknown)

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Category : Crafts, DIY Artwork, Holidays, Trash To Treasure
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1 Comm
14th Sep2011

Do It Yourself Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

When it comes to budget decorating, do it yourself wall art is the way to go. I don’t really see myself as an artist, maybe more of a crafty “ish” person.  This DIY wall art I came up with was fun and easy and if you decide to take it on, it’s VERY inexpensive. It also makes a great gift!

I love the silhouette of birds and trees because they are beautiful and modern, so I decided to make these do it yourself art pieces for my daughter’s bathroom.  I wanted them to be whimsical and feminine.  I already had the frames and the colored scrapbook paper so this project didn’t cost me a dime! By the way, a great source for inexpensive cute frames at IKEA.   You can purchase traditional to modern frames starting at 99 cents!

The first thing I did was look online for inspiration, because let’s face it, I’m not THAT creative.  Google images is the way to go. I ended up googling “retro bird art” to find my inspiration.  I copied and altered a few silhouettes of birds and trees and first cut them out of white card stock.  I wanted to arrange them first and make sure I had the right scale to fit the frames. I had to cut and trim them a few times to get it perfect.

Next, I traced and cut out the final images out of decorative scrapbook paper.  I used several contrasting colors and patterns to match my daughter’s bathroom and arranged them to my liking. Double sided tape (one of my best friends) worked well to attach each image.

There you have it! Instant budget DIY wall art!

 

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4 Comm
13th Sep2011

DIY Scrollwork Mirror

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Scrollwork Mirror

I could spend hours inside of Home Depot, but who knew they had some cool DIY projects online? I didn’t until I found this tutorial on making your own scrollwork mirror in seven steps. The best part about it is that you can purchase pieces of scroll work that are in-stock at Home Depot and paint it any color you wish. It’s fabulous!

Step 1: Sand, prime and paint the 4 pieces of scrollwork that will make up the frame.

Step 2: Assemble the frame and measure to determine the size of mirror required. They used a 20″ x 24″ bevel-edged mirror.

Tip: You can purchase inexpensive mirrors at Habitat for Humanity Restore in many different sizes. It’s an awesome resource for DIY’ers!

 

Step 3: Position the framing sections on the mirror and mark where the frame will sit.

Step 4: Apply clear silicone to the parts of the scrollwork that will be in contact with the mirror.

Step 5: Line up the guide marks and fit the frame to the mirror.

Step 6: Once silicone has dried remove any excess with a razor knife or scraper.

Step 7: Touch up with paint, if necessary, and hang in your preferred location.

For more cool DIY tutorials, check out Home Depot’s website.

Source: Home Depot

 

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

 

Also, check out these other Before and After DIY Projects:

 

 

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2 Comm
11th Aug2011

Create a Fabric Wall Hanging

by Dinah Wulf

Create a Fabric Wall Hanging

I have collected fabric wall hangings in my travels in the past. I remember the first time I really was introduced to them was when I was in Greece with my mother and brother. I recall walking through the marketplace alleyways of Athens and I saw this beautiful purple patchwork wall hanging. I purchased it immediately without even haggling. From that point on I began collecting them. My mother bought me one from Saudi Arabia (she lived there for 12 years) and bought a second Kurdish Rug she found in an old antique shop that we had framed.

Wall hangings add life and character to any space and can brighten up your home.  I saw a DIY decorating idea on the Nate Berkus Show on how to create a fabric wall hanging on your own. Such a great idea… Here it is!

Materials:

Fabric
Curtain Rod
Wooden Dowel (Select a dowel that’s the length of your wall covering)
Sewing Machine
Straight Pins

Directions:

1. Lay your fabric face down on a flat surface, and pin two side edges and run seams down the sides of the fabric.

2. Fold fabric over allowing about two inches of pocket space at the top and the bottom of your wall hanging. Pin the folding, making sure the curtain rod and wooden dowel will fit, then sew.

3. Slide the wooden dowel through the bottom pocket of your wall covering, and the decorative curtain rod through the top pocket of your wall covering. The wooden dowel at the bottom of your wall hanging will give the piece added weight to ensure it lays flat.

4. Mount your curtain rod, hang your wall covering, and admire your work!

Tips: When choosing a place to display your wall hanging, choose a space that’s brightly lit, away from heat or air conditioning ducts. When deciding on a fabric, choose a pattern that contrasts with the color of your walls. A wall hanging works well behind a sofa or bed headboard.

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1 Comm
08th Aug2011

Trash to Treasure: Record Album Art

by Dinah Wulf

My husband collects old record albums and has about 150 sitting in the garage in a huge plastic bin, some he collected himself and some were given to him. So many of them had beautiful artwork (and bad hair) on the front or back covers. I had to break them out and give them a better life!  I decided to pick a few in coordinating colors and frame them in our dining room to make record album art. The “Sounds Terrfic” cover I don’t think is even a music album.  It’s an album that came with an old record player. Oh well!

You can pick up Album frames at Michael’s craft stores or Urban Outfitters for about $10-$15 each. Goodwill or the Salvation Army are great places to find old albums for practically nothing! Most thirft stores sell records around one to two dollars a piece.  By the way, has anyone ever heard of the band, Hot Tuna??

You should also consider adding paint and altering an album cover to fit your home decor and personality as well.

Simply framing an album of a favorite band makes a great DIY gift too!  Another great way to reuse and recycle and turn your trash into treasure…

 

Check out these other creative ways to turn trash into treasure:

 

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