DIY Crafts - DIYInspired.com
12th Dec2011

Coffee Filter Wreath

by Dinah Wulf

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So I bought six feet of plumbing insulation tube at Home Depot to make this wreath out of antique book pages.  The project only needed thirty six inches, so I had enough to make a second wreath. I had seen amazingly creative DIY projects made out of coffee filters, including wreaths, and with the holidays and changing season; I decided to give it a try.

This coffee filter wreath was quite easy, I must say.  The only thing (be forewarned) is that I kept burning myself with the hot glue gun. This never happens to me, but out of the 150 coffee filters I used I must have burnt myself 50 times! I even got a glue gun blister (occupational hazard).

Here are the materials you need:

  • Plumbing insulation tube
  • Duct tape
  • Glue gun
  • Coffee filters

The beauty of this project is that the tube and coffee filters costs less than $3.00.  I assume that if you decide to take this project on that you already have a glue gun and duct tape, which are essential materials in any craft closet.

Here is the step by step tutorial on how to make a coffee filter wreath.

First, tape the plumbing insulation tube together with the self-adhesive strips and then duct tape the ends together. It will look horrible, however with a little massaging and maneuvering you can shape it into a circle.

One by one, quarter each filter and overlap the flap.  Using hot glue, attach each filter to your tube.

After the first layer (now the back of your wreath), turn it over and start layering.  I found it easiest to bend the tip of your coffee filter (as shown) and then glue.

Continue gluing and overlapping until you reach your desired fullness.  Here is mine about half way.

There you have it! I used a ribbon to embellish the wreath and to hang it.

 

 

 

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12 Comm
09th Dec2011

Scrabble Christmas Ornaments

by Dinah Wulf

 

So I made this Scrabble art for my guest room and had some left over tiles. After playing around with some words, and with the holidays coming up, I decided to make these Scrabble Christmas ornaments.

These are SUPER simple and you can get creative with them.  All you need is Scrabble tiles, a few craft materials, and your imagination.  If you don’t have an old unused Scrabble game, you can find them at thrift stores.  Sometimes they’ll even have a plastic bag of extra Scrabble tiles and no board that you can purchase for next to nothing! If you have no luck at a thrift store, and you don’t have a friend looking to get rid of theirs, craft stores actually sell wooden letter tiles that look like Scrabble tiles without the numbers. They are only about two dollars for a bag.

 

I used some ribbon and decorative wire for mine. I also used some scrapbook paper scraps. It’s easiest to use hot glue because it dries quickly and adheres very well to the tiles.  I glued both the ribbon/wire and the Scrabble tiles to scrapbook paper and then cut the excess paper using a cutting knife and cutting mat. For the “Noel” ornament I used a craft punch for the circles.

 

Here is how they turned out.

 

 

 

Other Scrabble Craft Ideas:

  • Scrabble letter Wine charms
  • Scrabble letter Keychains
  • Scrabble tile coasters
  • Scrabble jewelry

Have any other Scrabble craft ideas? Please leave a comment!

 

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Category : Crafts, Holidays, Kids Craft Ideas
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9 Comm
08th Dec2011

Paint Stick Crafts

by Dinah Wulf

If you know me (or read this blog) you know what a cheapskate I am…I mean “budget conscious”.  So naturally, anytime I find a craft material I can get for FREE, I’ll find SOMETHING to do with it.

Anytime you buy paint, the guy (or gal) who mixes it will always throw in a few paint sticks.  If you bat an eye, you may be able to get a few extra to use for some craft projects.

I also saw on the Nate Berkus show not long ago (but couldn’t find a picture) was a challenge where one of the guests used paint sticks to reface a small dresser.  It looked great! I was instantly inspired.

Here are some creative ideas I came across when looking for some more inspiration.  I think I’m going to make the paint stick monogram.  I like the idea of staining them a cool color and using hardware for that industrial touch.

Paint Stick Monogrammed Letters

How cool are these? I’m definitely going to take this project on (plus the letter “W” is easy…tee hee).

 

Plant Crate

So useful and creative, you can make a paint stick crate to hold just about anything.

 

Starburst Mirror

So cool! I’ve seen the BBQ skewer one, but I like this one better. This black one is from OurHumbleAbowed and the white one from CentsationalGirl.

 

Paint Stick Lampshade

This is G-R-E-A-T! Love it!

 

Paint Stick Art

So colorful and creative!

 

Paint Stick Ornaments

With the holidays coming up, I thought this would be a cute idea for a craft night with the kiddos.

 

 

 

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8 Comm
07th Dec2011

Book Page Bow

by Dinah Wulf

I love being creative with recycled book pages and magazines.  They are beautiful on their own, but when you can create something and upcycle them into something new, it’s even better!   Here is simple picture tutorial on how to make a book page bow out of recycled book pages for your upcoming holiday gift wrapping.  It’s so simple and easy and will add a little personality and flare to your gift!  Who would of thought this was so easy!

All you need is recycled book pages, scissors, and double sided tape or a stapler.  Also consider using, colorful magazine pages, scrapbook paper, construction paper, or ribbon.  This DIY craft is really easy and adds that sweet personal touch.

That’s it! Super easy!  For the bow pictured above, I only used five strips.  It’s the perfect size for a ring box or small gift.  You can make a large bow by cutting longer and thicker stripes.  Play around with the size you wish, depending on your gift size. I hope you try out this simple book page bow!

Make sure you stick around and search for other recycled book page crafts… you will see that I am obsessed!  :)

 

 

 

 

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9 Comm
02nd Dec2011

Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids

by Dinah Wulf

 

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A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Crafting with Toilet Paper Rolls.  I thought the gift tag by All Things Paper was adorable so I thought I’d try and make it.  I thought this would be a perfect holiday Christmas craft to do with the kids… in fact I think I may mention it for my next play date.  It’s really easy and not too messy for little hands.

All you need is: toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls, glue, ribbon, hole punch, embellishments (rhinestones, glitter, paint, etc.)

First, bend the tube and cut out rings at the desired width.  I cut out seven rings with one toilet paper roll.

Next, arrange your design on a flat surface. I chose to make a flower.

Carefully glue each piece together.  In my case, I like to use hot glue because it’s easy and dries very quickly.  I carefully glued every other flower petal.

Embellish the ornament any way you wish.  I used a simple rhinestone because I like the organic look of the brown paper.  Consider painting or glittering as well.

Using a hole punch or craft punch, punch holes for your ribbon.

String your ornament and hang! Tah Dah! Also consider stringing several flowers and use them as a decoration for a party. P.S. Remind me to do my nails before I post a picture tutorial…

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12 Comm
29th Nov2011

DIY Apothecary Jars

by Dinah Wulf

I love the look of apothecary jars.  They are so beautiful and can serve several display purposes.  You can use them for candy, holiday decorations, or even display your collections. They look pretty on a mantel or kitchen island or even a bathroom filled with sponges or shells.  I like to use them for candy on a candy bar dessert table for parties.

Because I’m so cheap, and apothecary jars start at about twenty dollars apiece for the small ones, I decided to try a little do it yourself project.

I found a box of four glass canisters at a discount housewares store for twelve dollars.

On one of my recent thrift store ventures, I found some candle holders for $1.50 apiece.

Additional materials needed are 1) spray paint of your choice, and 2) a strong adhesive.  In my case, I chose a metallic silver spray paint and Gorilla glue.

Before you start, make sure your candle holders are clean and free of wax.  When you spray paint them, every little bump will show (I learned this the hard way).

Spray paint your candlesticks holding the can about 12 inches away in a well-ventilated area.

When the paint is completely dry, approximately two hours, glue the candlestick to the canister. I let the glue set overnight before picking it up, just to be safe.

Voila! Instant DIY apothecary jar! Fill it with whatever you like… pinecones, peppermint sticks, or ornaments for the holidays are perfect for this time of year.

 

You may also like these other crafty eco-friendly centerpiece ideas:

 

 

 

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7 Comm
23rd Nov2011

Recycled Book Page Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

I have done so many recycled book page projects including wreaths to magnets and other embellishments!  This one is one of my favorite.  I saw these paper flowers in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine several months ago and I thought I’d finally try it out. I thought they would be perfect for gift wrapping.  It’s a unique way to add personality to your gift.  I kept all the pages from the Hollow Book Safe I made a while back so it worked out perfectly. Here is how you make these recycled book page flowers in three easy steps.

The only materials you need are:

  • Recycled Book Pages
  • Water Color
  • Water
  • Paint Brush
  • Scissors

Step One:

Simply water color both front and back of the book pages and let it dry completely.

Step Two:

After the pages are try, cut out petal shapes with scissors.

Step Three:

One by one, shape a rose by bending and folding each petal and pinching the bottom into the desired shape.

I hope you try it out!  The color possibilities are endless!

Other DIY Pretty Paper Flowers:

 

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7 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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16 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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1 Comm
14th Nov2011

Upcycled Gift Card Charms

by Dinah Wulf

Upcycled Gift Card Charms written by Michal Sparks

 

 

Being the Mom to a couple of teenagers our life could not move forward without ipods and itunes so as a result we have numerous itunes gift cards. These cards are particularly brightly colored and my daughter Ivy and I got to thinking……We made heart charms that came out so cute and were super easy, fast and fun!

These are a few of the cards we had, any plastic gift card would work.

We cut each card into 8 squares.

Then using just regular scissors, cut the heart shapes.

 I cut them free form as I think they look cool a little uneven.

Then we”sanded” them with a basic nail file.

When the hearts got roughed up they took on a whole new look!

 

Just punch a hole in one corner with a basic craft small hole punch.

 

Add a jump ring.

 

We added a little glass seed bead on a head pin for an accent color.

 

Put it on a chain and you’re done!!

Too cute!


Great for a party activity.

Go crazy, make two for earrings, cut different shapes, maybe squares that link together for a bracelet!

Have Fun!

 To see more of Michal’s work, visit her Etsy Shop, A Clever Spark!

 

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6 Comm
11th Nov2011

Glittered Pinecones

by Dinah Wulf

My daughter likes to pick the pinecones off the ground when we go to the park.  We decided to collect and keep them this time around and get DIYInspired. We like to pick the “ugly” unwanted ones that are already on the ground; pinecones that have not yet bloomed.  After you keep them for a few days, they open up and spread their pinecone wings.

The easiest thing to do was, of course, glitter them!  After they bloomed, we washed them off (to make sure there were no hidden stowaways), let them air dry, and glittered the tips in white, silver, and blue. I used Mod Podge and a paint brush because I always have those two things handy in my craft room!

We filled two vases (the free ones you get with flowers) and displayed them in the guest room. We saved a few of them to add ribbon and hang on our tree this year.

Here’s a quick picture tutorial, even though this project speaks for itself, because hey everyone loves pictures!

Tip: Keep several paper or Styrofoam plates handy.

Click here for more tips for glittering.

Consider painting or glittering pinecones vibrant bright colors and display them in a glass vase.

[Via]

Attach a pretty ribbon and hang them from a window.

[Via]

 [Via]

Make a pinecone garland for your mantel.

[Via] 

Make cute place card holders for a dinner party or wedding.

[Via]

 

 

 

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5 Comm
04th Nov2011

Decorative Accent Pillow

by Dinah Wulf

Written by: Michal Sparks

Here is an easy DIY decorative accent pillow idea that is great for decorating or giving as a gift. I thought I would share how to use the iron on adhesive that makes your projects look like you really know what you’re doing!!  The design I’m doing here is really simplistic. Just think, it would be really cute to do a letter for a kid’s room kinda off center, or maybe their whole name! Actually now that I’ve mentioned it I think I just might do some custom letters…..Anyway, this is simple enough to get you started and you can go crazy from here. I’m only showing how to do the front of the pillow, I will do a pillow tutorial on super simple pillow covers with piping, ruffle , types of closures and all of that another day.  Oh, I added a little copper charm on top that is tied on with red embroidery thread for an accent.

1.  OK, first you need the iron on adhesive. I bought mine at the local fabric store, no brand in particular, I just like the kind that is a little more heavy duty because I like to fuse heavier fabrics together, even though I sew it too. (I never trust that you don’t need to sew, that’s my old school mentality showing through!!) This was $9.99 for 5 yards and while waiting in line a customer ahead of me passed down some extra coupons she couldn’t use (50%off!!) so it was only $5! Just have to love people like that!! She made my day!

 

2.  When you decide the accent fabric you want to adhere to the main fabric, or in this case the front of my pillow cover, lay it on the adhesive, wrong side of fabric on the textured side of adhesive, and cut out the shape. I chose this olive corduroy from an old pair of my daughters pants.

 

3.  Flip it all over. Now fabric is right side down with adhesive on it and smooth paper facing up. Iron on the smooth paper side with setting of medium, no steam. Iron until you feel the adhesive has stuck to the fabric.

 

4.  Let it cool for a minute then pull off paper backing. It feels weird and rubbery but really cool!

 

5.  Since I’m using a 10″x10″ pillow, I have cut my base fabric (my son’s old jeans!) an inch bigger on all sides. This is for seam allowances and also you can always make something smaller but making it bigger usually doesn’t work. I did a rough drawing of what I was thinking for my design, kind of a modern tree, and cut out the pieces.

You can use a ball point pen on the rubbery side of the fabric to draw the shape you want to cut out. If you do decide to do a letter remember to trace your letter backwards so it will be correct when you iron it on.

 

6. Cut out your shapes and lay them on your fabric. My fabric is an old pair of my son’s jeans, (kids sure come in handy!)

 

7. Press with warm iron, again no steam, until everything is fused together.

 

8. I can’t resist stitching, I call it scribble stitching, where I just kinda freehand move the fabric around go forward, reverse, and let the machine stitch up a storm. Change thread color for more interest.

You know if you don’t want to make a pillow you could stretch this on a craft store canvas and have wall art, just like that!! Have fun!

 

To see more of Michal’s work, visit her Etsy Shop, A Clever Spark!

 

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2 Comm
27th Oct2011

DIY Candle Holder

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Candle Holder

DIY Candle Holder

Making this wooden votive tea light candle holder is quite simple, inexpensive, and makes a great gift (I should know; my brother made this one for me!).  I use it as a centerpiece on my dining room table all year round because it is very versatile as each season changes.

Materials Needed:

  • Any size piece of wood
  • Sand Paper (100 – 325 grit)
  • Spade Bit (approximately 1 ½”)
  • Drill
  • Stain (optional)
  • Polyurethane (optional)

Lumber or wood costs less than two dollars per foot and comes in a variety of thicknesses and wood types.  Select one to fit your personal style.

To make a tea light holder like this, use a drill and Spade bit to create each hole in any size block of wood.  A standard tea light is approximately ½ inch high.  Make sure your piece of wood is at least double the thickness. After drilling, use sand paper to smooth out the surface.  Next, wipe your holder clean from dust and stain it the desired color. If you would like, add two coats of polyurethane to seal it.

Tea lights are very inexpensive.  You can purchase a bag of twenty four from IKEA for less than six dollars.  You can also insert glass candle holders as well.

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

 

Feeling Crafty? You may also like:

 

 

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6 Comm
05th Oct2011

Tea Staining

by Dinah Wulf

Tea staining is a great technique for aging or antiquing clothing.  Nonetheless, it comes in handy for DIY Halloween costumes as well.  I am making headless zombie costumes (tutorial coming soon!) this year, and tea staining came in handy to age my zombie attire.  It also works great to dress up those DIY Halloween props such as stuffed scary “visitors” sitting on your front porch.

Here is a step by step tutorial on tea staining. The materials you will need are as follows.

  • Light colored clothing, pre-washed
  • Tea bags
  • Tea kettle
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Vinegar (optional)

Step one: Fill a tea kettle with water, and boil the desired amount of tea bags.  The more tea bags you use, the darker the stain.  For this tutorial, I used five tea bags.

Step two: Fill the bucket with hot water and saturate the clothing you are staining.  Use a wooden spoon to dunk the garments.

Step three: When the tea is ready, pour out most of the water in your bucket, and then pour the brewed tea into your bucket.  Use the spoon to stir and soak the garments.

Step four: If desired, leave the tea bags in the bucket for a darker stain.   Let the garments soak for several minutes.  The longer the soak, the darker the stain will be.  Remember, the garment will dry lighter than the color it appears to be when it is wet.

Step five:  When your garment reaches the desired color, rinse it out with cold water.  Another option is to rinse the garment in vinegar to set the stain.  If you are making a Halloween costume, I don’t think the vinegar rinse is necessary. Once your garment is rinsed, dry it in the dryer with warm heat.

You may also like:

 

 

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3 Comm
29th Sep2011

Napkin Tissue Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

For some reason, my post on how to make tissue paper flowers is my most popular post. To put that into perspective, that particular page on my blog has been viewed well over 3000 times in the last 60 days!

I am always looking for ways to save money, even if it is a few cents. I mean, cut me some slack, I like to help my friends and family with parties and decorations and when you have two or three parties a month, the cost adds up!

I decided to experiment with making tissue paper flowers since it is so popular. Man I am such a nerd, but here are my calculations.  A package of 100 sheets of tissue paper is about $10.00.  You need 12 sheets to make one flower, so the final cost of one flower is about $1.25.  If you buy cocktail party napkins instead, which run about $1.00 for 16 napkins (when you can find them on sale), the cost is only 50 cents per flower because it takes only 8 napkins to make one flower because they are thicker.  That’s a savings of 75 cents a flower! See? I told you I was a nerd… a cheap nerd at that! Also, napkins come in a greater variety of colors, themes, and patterns. Using orange and black is perfect for Halloween.

So, here is the tutorial on making COCKTAIL NAPKIN tissue paper flowers.

Step One:

Stack 8 cocktail napkins on top of one another.

Step Two:

Make an accordion fold, approximately one inch in width and tie the end of a ribbon or string.

Step Three:

Gently separate each layer one by one.  If you accidently rip the paper, clear tape can be hidden easily in the ruffles (I learned that the hard way).

Step Four:

Fluff the tissue paper flower to your desired shape.  If you are hanging them and one side of the napkin is white, make sure the printed side of the napkin hangs down. Cut the ribbon or string in to your desired length.

Here are some after pictures.

 

 

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4 Comm
12th Sep2011

Hollow Book Safe How To

by Dinah Wulf

Arguably, “vintage” is anything 50 years or older while “antique” is considered anything that is 100 years or older.  The difference between the two always confused me, so naturally I Googled it.  I tend to Google everything that I am unsure of (which is a lot of things). That didn’t help, because everyone and their mother has a different definition of the two meanings. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, I inherited boxes full of “antique” books.  I had so many and in my diyinspired head, I wanted to do something creative with them.

I know what you’re thinking… so FIRST I tried to see if anyone else would enjoy them before I altered them.  I took them to three different antique book shops and none of them would take any of them because they were in poor shape and were “not worth anything”.  I put them on Craigslist three different times and only sold a handful.  So now I am left with two plastic bins of beautiful antique books in my garage waiting
to be repurposed and given new life.

I recall writing a few blog posts on recycling old books, so I used my own site for reference and decided to tackle the book safe challenge.  How hard can it be to hollow out a book?  Here is the hollow book safe how to.

Materials needed: thick hardback book, decoupage medium or glue and water mixture, paint brush, sharp knife, metal straightedge.

Step One:

I wanted to keep a few of the front pages in tact to show the copy-write date and an illustration. I covered the front cover and those pages plus one page with plastic wrap.

Step Two:

I used Mod Podge, a decoupage medium, and a paint brush to seal the three edges. Make sure you saturate them with approximately three coats.  Allow the Mod Podge to dry (about 15 minutes), meanwhile set something heavy on top of the book to create pressure.

Step Three:

Next, using a straightedge and a pencil, I marked the area I wanted to cut out.

Step Four:

Using a sharp knife and a metal straightedge, I carefully cut out a few pages at a time, making sure to remove small bits and pieces along the way. Take your time while doing this step.

Step Five:

After I reached the desired depth, I sealed the inside edges with Mod Podge and allowed it to dry completely.

Step Six:

I then used Mod Podge around the top edges and glued the extra front page on top.  After a few minutes, I used the knife to cut out the center.  This top page gives it a nice clean look.

Notes:

Save the book pages for other craft projects. Also, consider using ribbon to cover the inside edges or decorative paper to cover the inside back for a more finished look.

 

 

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7 Comm
06th Sep2011

Learn to Decoupage

by Dinah Wulf

Learn to Decoupage

Decoupage is a simple and easy to learn DIY craft project. Decoupage is the creative way of decorating any item or piece of furniture or even a blank canvas by simply adhering pieces of paper with glue or decoupage medium, like Mod Podge. It’s a unique way to update furniture or create a personalize a gift.

Materials Needed:

  • An item to decoupage such as a box, tray, or lamp; or a piece of furniture such as a table, wooden chair, or dresser;
  • Paper such as, photos, magazine cut outs, maps, sheet music, book pages, postcards, posters, wallpaper, etc.
  • A decoupage medium such as Mod Podge, or diluted Elmer’s School Glue
  • Foam Paint Brush
  • Scissors or utility knife to cut out your images (tearing paper is fine too)

 

Five Quick tips:

  • Make sure the item you choose to decoupage is clean and completely dry
  • Think outside the box, for example decoupaging wallpaper remnants onto dresser drawers
  • Apply medium to both the object and the back of the paper
  • Continue to add coats of the decoupage medium until you get the desired results
  • It usually takes about six hours for your project to dry

 

Click on the links for additional tutorials of the photos shown.

 

Sources: Tip Junkie, Craftzine, DIYIdeas, Martha Stewart, J Caroline Creative, The Nate Berkus Show, About.com

 

Other DIY Tips and Tricks:

 

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3 Comm
30th Aug2011

Dollar Bin Picture Frame Collage

by Dinah Wulf

Dollar Bin Picture Frame Collage

I bought these frames simply because they were cute and cheap (music to my ears) and decided to make a mini family picture frame collage for my daughter’s play area. I purchased these frames at an arts and crafts store like Michaels for one dollar each.  Here is how to make your own mini picture frame collage.

The materials needed are: mini frames, paint (optional), glue gun, ribbon, key rings.

Step One: Arrange the Frames to your liking and take a digital picture so that you can easily refer back to it.

Step Two: Remove the stand on the back of the frame. They can easily be snapped off.

Step Three (Optional): Paint each frame the desired color.

Step Four: Print and add your pictures to your frames. I used both black and white pictures and fabric. You can also use, gift wrap, or wallpaper to add to your desired design.

Step Five: Using a hot glue gun, refer to your digital photo and glue each frame together in the desired arrangement and let it dry completely.

Step Six: To make the picture hangers cut ribbon and loop it thru a key ring. Hot glue the ribbon together and then hot glue the hangers to the back of your collage.  Because the frames are so light weight, hot glue and ribbon are sturdy enough to hold the collage.  I used two key rings for even weight distribution.

 

Here are some After Photos:

 

 

Feeling Crafty? You may also like:

 

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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff
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2 Comm
22nd Aug2011

Accordion Flowers How To

by Dinah Wulf

Accordion Flowers How To

Accordion flowers are a very inexpensive do it yourself party decoration that adds a little whimsy to your theme and decor.  Perfect for a spring, summer, or garden tea party, these accordion flowers are very simple to make. They would also look great mixed with paper pinwheels.

This particular tutorial is for an accordion flower about ten inches in diameter, however play with different sizes to achieve the desired look.

Materials Needed:

  • Paper (desired size)
  • Wooden Dowels or BBQ Skewers
  • Double Sided Tape
  • Scissors
  • Glue

Step one: Fold two pieces of paper like an accordion (approximately a one inch in width) and fold in half. If you are making a smaller sized accordion flower, then shorten the width size.

Step two: Use scissors to cut a scalloped edge, or use craft scissors.

Step three: Adhere both pieces together with double stick tape.

Step four: Glue to a wooden dowel and add a center embellishment if desired. I found that a glue gun works well for this size and the wooden dowel and glue remains hidden. Consider using a craft punch and decorative paper or a button for your center embellishment for both the front and back. Another option is to use string or ribbon to hang each accordion flower.

Tip: To make smaller ornament sized flowers, cut one inch strips of paper, fold like an accordion, adhere the end, lay flat and fasten the center with an embellishment. Hang each paper flower by a string on branches to create a cute centerpiece perfect for a wedding or bridal shower or baby shower.  Make several color variations and sizes to complete your party look.

You may also like these other Paper Flowers:

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party
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8 Comm
17th Aug2011

Clever Coat Hangers

by Dinah Wulf

Clever Coat Hangers

One of the best parts of blogging, is visiting other  blogs and being a part of the blogging community.  There are so many interesting and unique projects and not to mention, creative blood out there to inspire us!

I’ve noticed so many cleaver coat hanger projects lately, and I had to share a few. My ABSOLUTE favorite, the vintage trophy coat rack is from Design Sponge. I’m going to have to recreate this one for sure! Anyone want to part with some old trophies?

Here are some cool ideas for coat hangers from some of my favorite websites that double as wall art!

  1. Babydoll Coat Rack from Craftzine- OK, so this first one is a little odd, but I’m sorry… I think it’s absolutely ingenious!
  2. Rustic Coat Hanger from Calfinder – perfect the way it is, but also try painting it in bold colors to modernize the look
  3. Vintage Trophy Coat Rack from Design Sponge – favorite!
  4. Autumn Coat Rack from Casasugar- so simple and pretty, this would look cute in a nursery or kids room
  5. Cassette Tape Coat Hooks from Ready Made- repurposing at it’s finest!
  6. Pretty Paper Coat Rack from Design Sponge – perfect for any decor, choose a paper to fit your style

 

Check out these other DIY Projects:

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

 

 

 

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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure
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3 Comm
28th Jul2011

DIY Crafts: Party Pinwheels How-To

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Crafts: Party Pinwheels How-To

These whimsical party pinwheels were found on non other than, (one of) my idol Martha Stewart’s, website. These are perfect inexpensive and easy to make party decorations.

Here is how you make them.

1. Cut four 2 1/2″ circles for each pinwheel from solid craftstock. Cut each circle in half.
2. Cut two 2″ circles from coordinating patterned paper. Cut each circle in half and adhere to the solid half-circles.
3. Arrange into pinwheel shape as shown and adhere to wooden skewer using tissue tape. Adhere candy sticker to the center of each pinwheel.

Cute and simple in three easy steps!

Also check out a post from Shindig Diva. She shared a how to on flower pinwheels by Gwynn Wasson. You get get the template needed to make this adorable pinwheel on her blog.

 

 

 

Use different colors and patterns to fit any themed party.  Here are the materials you will need:

-Pinwheel Template
-Xacto knife or scissors
-Cookie Stick or Drilled Dowel
-Wooden Beads
-Button
-Wire
-Small hole punch
-Ribbon
-Hot Glue

In eight easy steps, this cute pinwheel will add whimsy to your party decor.

Need More DIY Party Ideas? Try:

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party
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4 Comm
21st Jul2011

DIY Beach Towel Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Beach Towel Ideas

It’s Summer time, which means it’s time to go to the beach… or the pool!  This time of year I often reflect on the times our family would spend a week in Nags Head, North Carolina. We did it every year for a good five or six years. I would spend hours playing in the sand or swimming in the ocean.  I had no fear and no wave was big enough. I have no idea when or how it happened, but now I’m completely afraid to go in the water! I’ll gladly go to the beaches here in Southern California, however now I’m content sitting on my beach towel blanket and soaking in the sun.

Here are three creative Summer craft ideas for your beach towels, a beach tote blanket, a beach towel mat with handles, and a cute towel sarong. Click on the link for full DIY instructions.

Beach Tote Blanket

This beach blanket tote by Ready Made holds all your sun block, sunglasses, books and magazines and cleaverly unwraps into a beach blanket.

DIY Beach Towel Blanket with Mat

An inexpensive DIY tote made out of one bath towel and two hand towels. Use colored or patterned prints to match your beach gear.

Beach Towel Sarong

A great way to repurpose an old towel.  Embellish it with ribbon and buttons. Make mini sarongs for the kids or make his and hers for the shower and bathroom.

 

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