Make Your Own Tote Bag

20th Jul2011

Make Your Own Tote Bag

by Dinah Wulf

Making a tote bag is a great DIY Spring or Summer craft or project. I always have several tote bags in the trunk of my car for groceries or other purchases. No more plastic bags for me! I found these four cute creative ideas to share. The crocheted tote made out of plastic bags is genius! Click on the links for a full tutorial.

A grocery bag tote from Design Sponge. This tote fits any style, as you can personalize it by embellishing it with buttons, brooches, and fabric scraps.

A beach tote from Country Living. Perfect for Summer, this tote is embellished with seashells. Just stitch each shell using upholstery thread in a design of your liking.

Recycle plastic bags and make this tote from Marlo’s Crochet Corner. Using colorful plastic grocery bags and an M hook, crochet this fabulous eco-friendly tote.

A giant flower tote from Tatertots and Jello. This is an old tote from Walmart that was updated with cute ruffled fabric flowers.

Check out these other creative ways to recycle:

Find great links for perfect gift ideas here:

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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : DIY Accessories, Gift Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Storage Ideas, Summer

3 Comm

13th Jul2011

Paul Frank Party Centerpieces

by Dinah Wulf

Paul Frank Party Centerpieces

I am having a Rock N Roll Paul Frank birthday party for my daughter because my husband loves music and I love Paul Frank, and well my daughter’s only turning one so she didn’t have much say. I knew it’d be a tough theme, so I had to get crafty and creative. I made these party centerpieces in purple, green, pink, and yellow. I went with colored plastic grass and paper flowers in “pots” because it is a summer birthday party.

Materials:

Square containers
Scrapbook paper
Wooden sticks from any craft store, or BBQ Skewers
Floral foam
Paul Frank stickers (optional)
Plastic Grass or colored candies
Hot Glue gun
Scissors
Craft punches (optional)

These are very simple to make, as the pictures speak for themselves. Just cut out the desired shapes and glue or tape them to wooden skewers. Insert them in decorative containers to make a decorative bouquet.

You can make these arrangements in any theme you choose. Here are some tips.

Click here to find out how to make pinwheels
Use Google Images to look for your theme’s pictures to use in your arrangement
Use assorted craft punches or cut out flowers by hand
Click here to find out how to make paper flowers
Colored candies, like M&M’s can also be used to conceal the floral foam.
The dollar bins at major retailers like Target, always have cute containers in a variety of colors and patterns.
Use rocks or pebbles at the bottom of your arrangement to weigh it down if your party is outdoors.
Click here for ideas on making matching party favors.

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party, Kid Stuff

Tags : Birthday Party Ideas, Centerpieces, Dinah's Tutorials, Easter Ideas, Paper Flowers, Paul Frank, Theme Party Ideas

0 Comm

01st Jul2011

Fourth of July Craft Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

Fourth of July Craft Ideas

The fourth is in a couple days! It’s a time when we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence declaring our independence from Great Britain. As Americans we love to celebrate with BBQ’s, picnics, parades, and fireworks so why night liven them up a bit more? All of these crafts are quite simple, make a great table scape, and can definitely be achieved by the fourth!

Here are some of my favorite patriotic crafts from Martha Stewart… such inspiring fourth of July craft ideas! Click on this link for how-to instructions.

Star Medallion
Can-Do Cans
Clothespin Pinwheel
Fireworks Table Setting
Patriotic napkin Rings
Red, White, and Blue Medallion

The Can-Do Cans are extremely simple to make and can be made out of old food containers. Cover them with decorative scrapbook paper and double sided tape, and they can fit any theme or celebration. Use pastels for a baby shower or bold colors for a birthday party. Holding snacks like breadsticks or pretzel rods isn’t the only use! These recycled cans make great plastic utensil holders or flower vases.

The clothespin pinwheels also add a whimsical spin on any theme party. Easily crafted out of any colored or patterned scrapbook paper, you can make these in a jiffy. Another creative idea is to use pages of old books to make pinwheels as well. Use children’s books, comic books, or novels, depending on the occasion.

You may also like the post:

Memorial Day Craft: Patriotic Votives

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party, Holidays

Tags : Decorating Ideas, Fourth of July, Recycling Ideas, Summer, Theme Party Ideas

0 Comm

28th Jun2011

Simple DIY Party Banner

by Dinah Wulf

Simple DIY Party Banner

I wanted to decorate the first space where my husband goes after work the minute he walks thru the door on his birthday. It’s the space where he sets down his keys and messenger bag, and then opens his mail everyday like clockwork. I decided to make some banners for him.

This DIY craft is very simple and takes little time. Just print out the message in any font and size you wish. Cut out the words and use double sided tape to adhere the words onto decorative scrapbook paper. Next, hot glue the words onto ribbon and hang. If you choose, add some pictures as shown. For a more whimsical or feminine look, add Japanese Rice Paper Flowers.

I also included pictures of a similar butterfly themed first birthday party banner I did as well. For this one, instead of glue, I used a sharp knife to cut slits into the sides to weave the ribbon through. Simple, quick, cute, and thoughtful…

Need More DIY Party Ideas? Try:

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party

Tags : Birthday Party Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Party Ideas

1 Comm

22nd Jun2011

DIY Nursery Letters

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Nursery Letters

Naming my daughter was one of the toughest things I have ever had to do (not really but it was very taxing). We asked family and friends and even strangers their opinions, searched online and read baby naming books. My husband and I even had 15 minute brainstorming sessions where we would each write down all the names we loved as quickly as possible and then convened to see if any of them matched. I mean come on, there are countries that have baby naming ceremonies… it’s a big deal! So why not commemorate all your hard work by displaying the coveted name in your little one’s room?

Your child’s name in decorative nursery wall letters is a charming DIY craft to personalize a baby’s room, however are costly at $20-$50 each at a baby boutique. I say, do it yourself for a fraction on the price. The letters shown in this project, done by one of my greatest and dearest friends and fellow crafty mom, Jennifer Hostetler, cost less than $4.00 per letter. Add paint or decorative or scrapbook paper to match your theme for a few extra dollars. Jennifer embellished each letter with wire ribbon and a craft rhinestone to match a brown and pink themed nursery for one of our uncrafty besties (isn’t she sweet?). The letters can be found at any craft store like Joann’s Fabric and Crafts for around $3.00 each. One roll of ribbon works well for three letters and costs approximately $2.50 per roll. The total cost for this projects was less than $30.00 for all six letters!

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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff

Tags : Craft Ideas, Jennifer Hostetler

12 Comm

13th Jun2011

How to make an Envelope Pillow

by Dinah Wulf

How to make an Envelope Pillow

Making your own personalized pillows cost literally a quarter of what decorative throw pillows cost you at retail department store prices. This is what I love about this project! Even at a discount, doing it yourself is a much more creative option that allows you to show off your personality (and your sewing skills).

Pillows are also a simple and budget friendly way to update any bedroom or living room and alter the decor throughout the changing seasons and holidays.

For this project, I decided to use an outdoor/indoor fabric from Joann’s Fabrics due to the durability. Also known as, outdoor/indoor fabric is perfect for dogs and kids!

Just so you know I am not very good at the sewing machine, well, sewing period. These pillows are very easy to make (even for me) because you don’t have to mess with buttons or zippers. This was also perfect for me because I’ve had these old pillows that have been collecting dust in my linen closet. I ended up making four pillows and spent $20.00; AND I had fabric left over!

Materials Needed:

An old pillow
Fabric of choice ( 1” wider and 2.5 times longer than your pillow’s dimensions)
Thread
Scissors
Sewing machine

Directions:

Step one: Cut the width of your fabric to the size of your pillow plus one inch to allow for ½ inch seam allowances. Next, cut your length at 2 and ½ times the length of your pillow.

Step two: With right side of fabric facing you, fold bottom of fabric up about 1/3. Then fold that raw edge back about 1/3.

Step three: Fold the top of your fabric down, covering the fold you made in step two and pin raw edges.

Step four: Sew raw edges, using ½ seam allowances.

Step five: Turn pillow slipcover inside out.

Step six: Insert your pillow.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Decorating Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials

4 Comm

02nd Jun2011

DIY Gifts: Baby Sushi Gift

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Gifts: Baby Sushi Gift

One of the greatest inspirations in my life is my big brother. He has been a Designer for about eight years, but to me he has been designing since he left the womb. For example, when I was in elementary school, my brother would make my Halloween costumes. These were not just any Halloween Costumes; they were amazingly creative and elaborate and made me an instant hit during the playground parades. One year he made be a giant TV out of a cardboard box and my head was the picture. It was complete with a table, table cloth, remote control, and TV Guide. Everyone else was wearing those plastic costumes and a backless mask with a piece of elastic holding it on your face. Remember those? Keep in mind that this was years before the internet and before all these reality how-to shows… oh and did I mention he was about ten years old at the time?

The best way to describe my brother is that he is a cross between Macgyver and Martha Stewart. He made me this gift when he first found out he was going to be an Uncle, and I HAD to share it. I think the pictures speak for themselves. Besides the old sushi container and the chopsticks, he made everything else…the life like sushi design, the label, and the onesie (there were actually two onesies but one of them is packed in a box for future baby). He’s a genius!

P.S. Please check out his portfolio here.

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Find great links for perfect DIY gift ideas here:

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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff

Tags : Baby Shower Ideas, Gift Ideas

3 Comm

27th May2011

Memorial Day Craft: Patriotic Votives

by Dinah Wulf

Memorial Day Craft: Patriotic Votives

Memorial Day is coming up on Monday. Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is when we honor Americans who have died for our country in all wars. Over 100 years ago, it became a widespread practice to decorate the graves of soldiers by friends and family.

With no surprise, Martha Stewart has come up with two ideas that I love; a table top patriotic votive and glowing hanging votives that I thought would be nice to make and to light in honor of our soldiers.

Click here to make these table top votives.

Click here to make these hanging votives.

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Category : Crafts, DIY Budget Party, Holidays

Tags : Craft Ideas, Fourth of July, Theme Party Ideas

1 Comm

17th May2011

DIY Crafts: Spring Craft Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Crafts: Spring Craft Ideas

Country Living magazine is a great resource for home decorating, antiques, and collectibles. They have some quick and simple Spring DIY craft ideas to brighten up your home that are fairly easy and inexpensive. Here are a few of my favorite craft projects. The mugs and mason jar would make fun personalized gifts.

Click here for a full tutorial on any of the crafts shown below.

Stenciled Animal Mugs

Dress Up a Mirror

Bamboo Shade Art

Mason Jar Soap Pump

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Find great links for perfect gift ideas here:

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Gift Ideas, Spring

2 Comm

13th May2011

Paper Flower Week: Japanese Rice Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

Paper Flower Week: Japanese Rice Paper Flowers

Don’t buy paper flowers for your scrapbooking. Make these Japanese Rice Paper Flowers from Our Fun Life.

These are so cool! They can be used decoratively on cards or scrapbook page.

Materials Needed:

Paper
Waxed Paper
Watercolor
Styrofoam Egg Carton
Fine Tipped Marker
Embellishments (optional)

1. Cut Japanese rice paper into random flower shapes

2. Place one cut flower on waxed paper and watercolor

3. Carefully pick it up and hold it from underneath

4. Pinch the center while twisting and overlapping the petals.

5. Place flower in a styrofoam egg carton to help hold the shape while drying

6. When dried, add details with a fine tipped marker

7. Embellish center of flowers with glitter, buttons, beads, rhinestones, etc.

Paper Flower Week: Hanging Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

Here are some elegant Hanging Paper Flowers from Martha Stewart. They make whimsical and colorful decorations for any shower or birthday party, or even a DIY wedding idea.

Step 1

Fold the bottom of a bag in on itself. Cut above the lower fold, removing the bag’s bottom. Trim the top into a petal shape.

Step 2

Punch a hole about 1/4 inch from the bottom. Repeat process with five more bags. Apply double-sided tape to the front edges of a bag. Place another bag on top, and repeat to stack all of the bags. Draw a length of string through the hole in the stack; knot it loosely.

Step 3

Pull the top and bottom bags around to form a flower shape and join the end petals with double-sided tape.

Step 4

Suspend your completed paper bag flowers by string.

Paper Flower Week: Double Fringed Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

Make these beautiful Double Fringed Paper Flowers by Inna’s Creations. Group a few together in different colors and make a flower bouquet. It is the perfect DIY Craft!

Materials Needed:

- Double-sided colored paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- A ready-made or a do-it-yourself slotted tool, or just a wooden toothpick.

Directions:

1. Cut a paper strip about 1 inch wide and 4 inches long. Fold it lengthwise.

2. Create a fringe by making small cuts at 45 degrees along the closed edge.

3. Attach to its end a regular — 1/8 inch wide and 10 inches long — quilling strip. This will make the center of the flower.

4. Roll tightly using a toothpick or quilling tool, starting from the tip of the narrow strip.

5. After the fringe is rolled up, glue its tip and hold for a couple of minutes to let the glue dry a little.

How to Make a Lamp Shade Better

by Dinah Wulf

Here are easy instructions on How to Make a Lamp Shade Better. I bought this lamp for my daughter’s room and wanted to dress it up a little.

Being the cheapskate I am, five bucks was my limit on this do it yourself project. So I bought a $3.99 roll of hot pink ribbon and a butterfly and came up with this.

Materials Needed:

Lamp Shade
Ribbon
Hot Glue Gun

Simply wrap the ribbon in a criss cross pattern and use hot glue to secure it along the edges of the shade. Embellish it with a butterfly or rhinestones. It looks great both on and off!

Inspired by this post? You may also like, Updated Baby Storage Bins.

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Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff

Tags : Decorating Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials

8 Comm

24th Apr2011

Cute Easter Egg-O-Gram

by Dinah Wulf

I found this cute Easter Egg-O-Gram on Poppytalk Blog and HAD to share it. You can stuff it with a personal message. It’s abolutely adorable! If only I found it earlier… Happy Easter!