Simply Spray Fabric Paint

06th Mar2012

Simply Spray Fabric Paint

by Dinah Wulf

I came across this fabulous upholstery fabric spray paint. Yep… you read that correctly… fabric spray paint!!! Even better, it is eco-friendly! Simply Spray is the only non-toxic aerosol paint for fabric. It doesn’t rub off and it doesn’t harden or stiffen the material. I thought it would come in handy for my DIY upcycling projects. You can use it on furniture, pillows, throws, curtain panels, rugs, and more!

My only issue was that I couldn’t decide what project to do. I did some further research and found Simply Spray’s Facebook page and perused the photo albums. (By the way, for the month of March they have some awesome giving aways planned for their FB followers!) Here are a few of my favorite projects.

Patio Furniture Cushions

I thought this was so cool! The cushions were a boring beige color and they were quickly brightened up with a vibrant color and a beautiful stencil.

Updated Stenciled Bath Mat

Such a great idea! I actually happen to have this same stencil… hmmm…

Stenciled Throw Pillow

This looks like it can right off a store shelf. I love it!

I ended up with a few different colors to play with as well as some spray paint especially for clothing apparel. I am off to do some thrift store and flea market shopping this weekend to purchase some items to upcycle! Stay tuned for my own Simply Spray DIY project!

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Category : Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas, Refurbishing Ideas, Sponsored

4 Comm

23rd Feb2012

Kids Soap Making Projects: Soapsicles

by Dinah Wulf

By: Sandy Simmons of www.supersoapmakingsecrets.com

If you’ve been making soap for a while and you have children, it’s very likely that your kids will be interested in what you always do. While it is understandable that you would prefer your children not to make soap using the cold process or the hot process because of the involvement of lye, they can easily make soap using the melt and pour method. Children below the age of fifteen will probably need your help and supervision even if the melt and pour process is the process being used.

There are many kids soap making projects that you can do with your children and slowly get them into the craft of soap making. Most of the time, kids soap making projects involve lots of colors, interesting shapes, fun ideas, and soap carvings or embossed designs. Kids usually focus more on the aesthetic part of the process than on the process itself. This should help you stretch your creativity.

Some materials you can consider for a kids soap making project that you may not have considered before are play dough molds, sand castle molds, crayon molds, and any other child’s toy that can be used as a mold (make sure it’s heat resistant plastic). Also try out neon soap colors and/or multiply colors so that you can create color swirls or tie-dye soaps.

Here is a kids soap making project that you can use with old popsicle molds. These are usually made with heat resistant plastic because some popsicle recipes require the liquid to be hot when poured in. Remember to add the sticks so that you get the full effect!

Ingredients:

1 bar clear glycerine soap
soap colorant of choice (try to go for a candy color so you get a good effect)

Procedure:

Grate the bar of glycerine soap and place the grated soap in a soap pot or a microwaveable pyrex bowl.
If on a pot, place it over the stove and melt the soap. If using a microwaveable pyrex bowl, place the glycerine in the microwave a few times in ten second bursts of heat till the glycerine is totally melted.
Once your glycerine is melted, add the coloring and mix till the desired color is achieved.
Allow it to cool a little then pour in into your popsicple molds.
Find a way to keep the popsicle molds upright. Watch as the soap hardens. When its a little hard (you can see it solidifying) push in a popsicle stick.
When your soap is completely hard, you can push it out of the molds and you will have soapsicles!

Your kids will surely get a kick out of taking a bath with popsicle sticks. You can also try making tie-dye soaps on rope with them! There are so many other kids soap making projects you can do. It’s a great way to get better at your craft and bond with your kids! So try one soon and have fun!

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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff, Kids Craft Ideas

Tags : Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas, Guest Author, Party Favor Ideas

3 Comm

16th Feb2012

Making Rose Soap

by Dinah Wulf

By: Sandy Simmons of www.supersoapmakingsecrets.com

For generations, roses have symbolized love, passion, and romance. Many consider a rose to be the official flower of Valentine’s day. The flower has been featured in many forms of media, taking center stage in mushy movies and television shows, sometimes even playing a symbolically notorious role, as in the film ‘American Beauty’.

Being such a popular flower, and one that smells good, it isn’t a wonder that roses and their scent have been incorporated into soap. If the flower is associated with the many great love stories of our history, then it is only natural that a rose bath be associated with luxury and love for the skin.

For a while, rose soap was a novelty item, but now you can make your own rose soap!

INGREDIENTS:

1 bar clear glycerine soap
2 tsp. chopped rose petals
1 tsp. powdered milk
3-4 drops rose fragrance oil
2-3 drops vanilla fragrance oil (optional)

PROCEDURE:

Using an old cheese grater, shred the glycerine soap bar. Create a double boiler by placing a Pyrex bowl on top of a pot of water and bring the water to a boil. Put the shreds in the bowl and melt the bar. Once totally melted, remove the bowl from the heat.
Using a wooden spoon or hand held electric mixer, begin mixing the liquid soap. As you stir, add the powdered milk. Stir till you have an even consistency.
Add half of the petals to the mixture and stir.
Next, drop in the fragrance oil and stir the soap again.
Place some petals at the bottom of your soap mold. Then pour your soap into the molds and sprinkle a few more petals on top.
Let the soap harden in their molds. Once hard, pop them out and use your soap!

This rose soap recipe is very easy to follow, and the end product will make a great gift for family and friends, as well as a wonderful soap to put in guest bathrooms and powder rooms. You can also choose to use it all yourself! Just make sure that you store the bars in airtight containers, such as zip lock bags, till you’re ready to use the next bar.

NOTE: The vanilla fragrance will soften the soap fragrance and give the soap a vanilla undertone. Be prepared for some of the petals to turn black due to the heat of the mixture.

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas, Guest Author, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day

1 Comm

08th Feb2012

TerraCycle Upcycled Valentine’s Craft

by Dinah Wulf

LOVE THE PLANET THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

Celebrate with Eco Games and Gifts from Upcycling Pioneer TerraCycle

Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. Some are planning romantic dates with their longtime sweetheart. Some are planning to finally ask out their crush at recess. Regardless of your plans this Valentine’s Day, TerraCycle has sweet ways to celebrate that are good for the planet, good for the wallet and good for you.

While cleaning up trash doesn’t seem like a romantic way to spend the day, you can celebrate the holiday and effect real-world change with special Valentine’s Day items, products and decorations in Trash Tycoon, Facebook’s first upcycling game from Guerillapps and TerraCycle. In the game, you can clean up trash and upcycle it to fun products like necklaces, Valentine’s Day cards and heart shaped wreaths to send to friends or to decorate your town. Players’ hearts will swell because Trash Tycoon creates positive social impact by donating 10% of in-game dollars to environmental projects sponsored by CarbonFund.org.

Next, love Mother Earth and your Valentine by making an upcycled necklace out of Kraft Cheese wrappers or chocolate wrappers, just like the necklace in Trash Tycoon! TerraCycle’s Design Junkies have brought the beaded necklace into the real world with simple, do-it-yourself instructions available for download here: bit.ly/ValentineBraceletDIY. Whether you make one for that special Valentine or one for each of your friends, recipients will be touched that you took the time to give them a heartfelt, handmade gift.

Here is the How-To on YouTube.

Finally, Valentine’s Day and candy go together like peas and carrots, but the packaging can be a real heartbreaker. All those red and pink wrappers left over from sweet treats can be sent to TerraCycle through Mars’ Candy Wrapper Brigade to be recycled and earn money for charity. Signing up is free and easy at www.terracycle.com.

About TerraCycle

TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to recycle-packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products. Founded in 2001, TerraCycle (www.terracycle.com) is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with more than 30 major brands in the U.S. and around the world to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It repurposes that waste into new, innovative materials and products that are available online and through major retailers. The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade programs, which are free fundraisers that pay for every piece of waste collected and returned. For information on how to join a TerraCycle Brigade and on purchasing TerraCycle products please visit www.terracycle.com.

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Category : Crafts, Holidays

Tags : Craft Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Valentine's Day

0 Comm

06th Feb2012

Crafting with Duct Tape

by Dinah Wulf

Walking through craft stores all the time, I noticed there were so many different patterns and colors of duct tape. Intrigued, I thought I’d do some research on crafting with duct tape. Surprisingly I found so many cool projects!

Gift Wrap

It doesn’t get much simpler than this. Use duct tape to embellish your graft wrap. Plus, it’ll be funny to watch the recipient struggle with opening it… tee hee.

Flower Tissue Holder

I did notice several duct tape flower tutorials, however the blue in this particular one caught my eye. What a sweet touch to embellish a simple wooden tissue holder.

Valentine Roses

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s a duct tape bouquet that will last a lifetime.

Rings

There are so many great duct tape rings! Who knew? Heck out these from Living Locurto.

Here’s a great YouTube link for how to make a duct flower tape ring.

Purses

Check out this duct tape purse from Martha Stewart. Yup! Martha uses duct tape!

Here are some other cute purse ideas from Second Chances.

Lamp

Last but definitely NOT least…rather this one takes the cake. This lamp is made out of duct tape and plastic 2 liter bottles!!! What????

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas, Repurposing Ideas, Valentine's Day

3 Comm

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?

**Don’t forget to vote for DIYInspired.com on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on the “Vote For Us!” icon on the right sidebar of DIYInspired’s home page. One click and you’re done! You can vote once a day! Thank you in advance for your support!**

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Category : DIY Artwork, Holidays

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Valentine's Day, Wreaths

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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Category : DIY Artwork, DIY Furniture, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose, Repurposed Furniture, Repurposing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas, Wedding Ideas

10 Comm

17th Jan2012

Recycled Magazine Bowl

by Dinah Wulf

Awe man! This project was a lot tougher than I thought. Ever since I made that recycled magazine frame, I have wanted to make something else out of magazine pages. When I first had this recycled magazine bowl project in my head I pictured a large shallow fruit bowl. Let’s face it, not all DIY projects turn out exactly like you want them to. In this case, my fruit bowl turned into a… ummm… key/change holder thingy? LOL!

I do have to admit, however, that this little sucker is VERY sturdy. Although it didn’t turn out quite like I expected, it is still very cute and useful. Here is how I made it.

Using a paper cutter, I cut two inch thick strips from an old magazine. Each page gave me three strips and I used about 75 pages for this project. See? Now you know why there was no way I was making a larger bowl!

I folded each strip twice lengthwise to create a half inch thick strip.

Next I began rolling each strip, securing it with a tiny piece of scotch tape. Make sure you pull your roll taut as you go.

When the base was completed, I applied two coats of decoupage medium, allowing it to dry completely in between each coat.

Next, I continued adding strips gradually layering each round upwards. When I reached the desired height (actually when I was tired of folding and rolling strips), I added another two coats of decoupage medium to the inside and outside of the bowl.

Here are a few after photos.

**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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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Mod Podge, paper crafts, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose, Upcycling Ideas

5 Comm

12th Jan2012

Paper Flower Magnets

by Dinah Wulf

After making a Hollow Book Safe out of antique books that I inherited, I kept the left over pages in case I wanted to use them to make other craft projects. I ended up making these cute Paper Flower Magnets out of a few of the recycled book pages and beer bottle caps.

I actually made these book page flowers a few months ago but I wanted to wait to post the tutorial to see if they would pass the test of time. So far so good! My toddler has tugged and pulled and played and they remain intact… phew!

So here is a quick picture tutorial on how I made them. The materials needed are:

Pages from books (colorful children’s books would work nicely too)
Flower Craft Punch
Bottle Caps
Decoupage Medium
Paint brush
Magnets
Glue
Rhinestone Embellishments (optional)

The photos are self-explanatory, so here are a few tips.

Tip One: Make sure to decoupage both sides of the flower.

Tip Two: If you are using layers, let the coats of decoupage medium dry completely in between coats and layers (approximately 15 minutes). Use two coats.

Tip Three: When adhering the magnet, use a strong glue bonding agent.

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Category : Crafts, Kids Craft Ideas, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Mod Podge, Recycled Book Pages, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose, Repurposing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

7 Comm

10th Jan2012

DIY Ribbon Board

by Dinah Wulf

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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Category : DIY Artwork, Kid Stuff, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Repurpose, Repurposed Furniture, Repurposing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

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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Category : DIY Artwork, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Gift Ideas, Mod Podge, paper crafts, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose, Upcycling Ideas

9 Comm

04th Jan2012

DIY Door Hanger

by Dinah Wulf

Do Not Disturb!

One of my best friends asked me if I would make her a door hanger for her office. I love when my friends ask me to do little projects because a) it’s an opportunity for a blog post, b) I love a quick and creative challenge, and c) I love making my friends happy!

She wanted something that looked professional, as it would be used in a Real Estate Office and she wanted it to match the décor. Because I am a DIY geek, I happen to have all these supplies already in my (messy) craft room. I wouldn’t doubt that many of you fellow craft junkies have these items as well. Because of this, I made this project in less than an hour and she was able to pick it up right after work the same day. (BTW, it only took that long because I had to wait for the paint to dry)

This would make a cute gift idea for the busy professionals in your life. The materials needed are:

Wood frame, 4X6 (I got this one at IKEA, 3 frames for $1.99)
Two Screw Eye Picture Hangers
Two Split Rings
Chain (approximately 6 inches)
Craft Paint
Paint brush
Scrapbook Paper
Paper Cutter or Scissors
Computer

Step One: Remove the backing and paint both front and back of the frame in your choice of color.

Step Two: While the paint is drying, design, print and cut out your 4X6 sign. I chose to put “Do Not Disturb” on one side and “Client Meeting” on the other. I used two different boarders to complement the frame color.

Step Three: Attach the one split ring and screw eye picture hanger to one side of the chain only. Attach the second split ring onto the end of the chain. Do not attach the second screw eye onto the chain yet.

Step Four: When the paint is dry, screw in the picture hanger into the frame that is already attached to the chain. Next, screw in the second screw eye picture hanger into the frame.

Step Five: Attach the second split ring onto the second screw eye. Use pliers to help.

Step Six: Insert your sign into the frame and hang!

Here are a few pictures.

Front

Back

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Category : Crafts

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials

2 Comm

12th Dec2011

Coffee Filter Wreath

by Dinah Wulf

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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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, paper crafts, Repurpose, Repurposing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas, Wreaths

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

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Recycling Ideas

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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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Repurposing Ideas

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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Category : Crafts

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Gift Ideas, paper crafts, Recycled Book Pages

9 Comm

05th Dec2011

Frosted Mason Jars

by Dinah Wulf

Mason jars are so beautiful in their own rustic way. There are so many ways you can recycle glass jars. Mason Jars in particular can be useful to store craft supplies, hold flowers, dispense soap, or use as illuminaries.

These Classico Sauce jars are my favorite.

I have a cupboard full because I know I’ll find a place for all of them! I decided to try frosting a few to see how they would turn out. Here is what I did.

First clean and rinse your jars with soap and water (that is, after you eat the sauce!). To remove the label, soak them in warm soapy water for about an hour. Jars may vary with soaking time. Most labels come off very easy. Use the rough side of a sponge to gently scrub off the label.

Next, dry each Mason jar thoroughly.

If desired, you can use stickers or decals to create a design. I used simple curling ribbon and wrapped the jar, securing it with tape.

Spray paint the jars in a well-ventilated area holding the can approximately 12 inches away. Allow them to dry.

Remove the ribbon, sticker(s), or decal(s). There you have it!

So easy! Mix them with unfrosted jars and insert tea lights for a pretty glow or consider making mason jar centerpieces for a wedding. Just add flowers!

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Category : Trash To Treasure

Tags : Centerpieces, Craft Ideas, Mason Jar Crafts, Recycling Ideas

7 Comm

02nd Dec2011

Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids

by Dinah Wulf

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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Category : Crafts, Holidays, Kids Craft Ideas

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, paper crafts, Paper Flowers, Recycling Ideas

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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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Baby Shower Ideas, Birthday Party Ideas, Bridal Shower Ideas, Centerpieces, Christmas, Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Repurposing Ideas

7 Comm

22nd Nov2011

Simple Place Card Settings

by Dinah Wulf

Here are some simple place card settings that you can make in a jiffy.

This pear place card is perfect for a Fall party or for Thanksgiving and extremely easy to make. I bought inexpensive foam pears and pinned a black and white picture of each guest at their place setting. I embellished them with ribbon and scrapbook paper. There’s no need to spend money on photo paper, as plain white paper works well. Additionally, your guests can take them home as a favor.

Tip: If you are lacking photos of your guests, look for recent photos of them on Facebook or other social media sites.

For all you winos, you can also use recycled wine corks and scrapbook paper. I cut a slit on top and cut off the rounded bottom with a sharp knife so they will stand straight… super simple and inexpensive! I used them as food labels for a Wine Tasting Party, but they will also work nicely for place card settings.

Using natural elements makes a great table scape at this time of year. Use fruit or vegetables from the refrigerator tied with twine or foliage or flowers from right your back yard. Use a festive pretty ribbon from your craft or gift wrapping closet. Also consider using a branch of berries. For some pictured below, I used a craft punch for the tag.

Repurpose Holiday ornaments like this one from Btter Homes and Gardens

Use cardboard and twine to make these adorable eco-friendly pumpkins

Photo Sources: BHG, Design Sponge, Providence LTD Designs

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Category : DIY Budget Party, Holidays, Special Occasions

Tags : Craft Ideas, Dinah's Tutorials, Thanksgiving

2 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)

Have you signed up for my emails? I’d love it if you did!

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Category : Crafts, DIY Artwork, Holidays, Trash To Treasure

Tags : Christmas, Craft Ideas, Recycling Ideas, Repurpose, Repurposing Ideas, Upcycling Ideas

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.