DIY Gift Ideas - DIYInspired.com
17th Nov2011

Scrabble Art

by Dinah Wulf

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

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

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

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

 

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

 

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Category : DIY Artwork
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6 Comm
16th Nov2011

Places To Go: Orange Flea Market

by Dinah Wulf

Old Towne Orange California is a quaint historic district. On the weekends you are sure to see people walking their dogs or strollers, or see families or old friends chatting at a table having breakfast or brunch at one of the nearby cafes.  This one square mile of neighborhood comprises architectural style from 1888 to 1940.

My favorite part of Old Towne Orange is the Orange Flea Market on the second Saturday of every month.  There is always parking and the walk is nice as you can enjoy the craftsman, Victorian, or bungalow style homes, or the old churches and post office.

Although the Orange Flea Market is only a few rows, the selection of furniture, collectibles, vintage clothing and antiques is quite worth the trip. There are also booths selling baked goods where one hundred percent of the proceeds go to local charities.  The vendors are so helpful and approachable and won’t think twice about helping you load your purchases in your car (I know this from experience ;) ).

My favorite vendor, Tyler, has the most amazing industrial style pieces and is there every month.  Here are few pictures of what I purchased on my last trip. The card catalog drawers are perfect for my craft supplies.

The hours of the Orange Flea Market are from 7am to 4pm. It is located at 146 N. Grand Street, Orange California 92866. Admission and parking is free. Check out the website and you will find helpful tips on flea market décor style written by Michelle Davidson.  Oh yeah… they are pet friendly too!

 

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Category : Places To Go
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3 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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Category : Crafts, Kids Craft Ideas, Trash To Treasure
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6 Comm
09th Nov2011

The Beverly Hills Art Show

by Dinah Wulf

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to peruse various local art shows and craft fairs. My family and I attended the Beverly Hills Art Show, Affaire in the Gardens in October.  (I know, I know, this post is a little late due to my obsession with Halloween)  The Affaire in the Gardens takes place over four blocks off of Santa Monica Boulevard from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive.  It is a free event filled with approximately 250 exceptional artists and entertainment. Oh, and don’t forget about the wine garden AND the beer garden.

It was a gorgeous day… not too hot, not too cold.  It was so beautiful that parking was horrendous.  I didn’t mind, however because I was just excited to explore my way through the white tented displays of fine art.  Exhibits showcased talent including mediums in ceramics, drawing, printmaking, jewelry, glass, mixed media, painting, and sculpture.

Before long I stumbled upon food truck row on the Park Way. It smelled fabulous, by the way, and I had to stop for a loaded Philly cheese steak sandwich!

Out of the 250 artists, there were four painters that really stood out to me.  All, I assume, are quite well established, however I wanted to share their work as they served some inspiration to me. Click on the links to their websites to see more.

Here they are… truly amazing.

Steven M. O’Conner – Honored “Best in Show” at the Beverly Hills Affaire in the Gardens Fall 2009. A “blend of street art and Neo Expressionism” Steven’s paintings are one of a kind and not reprinted or reproduced.  They are coated in a high gloss, which requires no frame.

Anja Van Herle – Anja paints in large scale portraiture, beautiful women of high fashion.

Kris Cunz – Inspired by the art of Graffiti, he captures industrial and commercial areas as they are enhanced by graffiti as a “part of a rich visual texture”.

Andy Anh Ha – “His work runs the gamut between Modern-Contemporary, to Dada-Mixed Media.” This includes materials such as metals, texts, acrylics, and spray paint to name a few.

The next Affair will be held on May 19th and 20th.

 

 

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Category : Inspiring People, Places To Go
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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
01st Nov2011

Sweet Gift Idea

by Dinah Wulf

What do you do with all that left over Halloween candy?  Here is a sweet gift idea.

My poor hubby severed his Achilles tendon playing soccer.  He’s in a cast and crutches for six weeks and will be in a boot for another six weeks after that.  Needless to say, it makes his life a lot tougher.

To make his life a little less miserable, without a thought, I knew exactly what would make him much happier… SWEETS.  So I decided to surprise him and leave one treat with a note with candy sayings in his work bag every day for several weeks.

I made the note from his daughter.  Here are the quotes for candy I put on this sweet gift idea.

  • Mini Chips Ahoy Cookies – For our own special ‘COOKIE’ monster!
  • Butterfinger – We love you so much “BUTTERFINGERS” won’t count that high!
  • Kit Kat – Daddy, we don’t ever want a break from you!
  • Snickers – Daddy, we love how you make us laugh and “SNICKER”!
  • Junior Mints – Daddy, you are worth a “MINT”!
  • Peanut M&M’s – We’re “NUTS” about you!
  • M&M’s – Daddy, you make us melt!
  • Rice Krispies Treat – I think it’s a “TREAT” that you’re my Daddy!
  • Peanut Butter M&M’s – Daddy, we think you’re Magnificent and Marvelous!
  • Hazelnut Chocolate Bar – We love you so much it’s “NUTS”!
  • Milky Way – Daddy, we think you are out of this world!
  • Zero Bar – You’re not a “ZERO”. You’re our hero!!
  • Heath – Sugar and Spice you’re everything nice!
  • York Peppermint Pattie – Daddy, we get the sensation from you!
  • Twix – Just be “TWIX” you and me, we love you!
  • Rolos – Daddy, you’re my “ROLO” model!
  • Slim Jim Twin Pack – Daddy, we hope no one gives you any “BEEF” today! Love YOU!
  • Candy Dipped Fortune Cookies - We are so FORTUNE ate to have you in our lives!

Another option is to make this DIY gift idea and present them all at once in a gift basket for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or any special occasion!

Here are some pictures.

Do you know any other great candy sayings?  Please leave a comment!

 

 

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Category : Sweets and Treats
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15 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
21st Sep2011

Inspiring People: Alison Parks Poland

by Dinah Wulf

I heart blogging and social media.  Let me explain.

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such talented friends and family. Some I didn’t even know about until I started blogging.  Blogging has surly opened my eyes, one of the things I love most about it, and has allowed me an outlet to share the inspiring artists I stumble upon. Social media, on another note, amazes me.  It enables us to be able to connect and reconnect with friends and long lost family. SOOO, when I’m stalking my friends on Facebook to find out what they have been up to, naturally I get to brag and blog.

The first thing I thought about when I reconnected with Alison Parks Poland was how I had a crazy allergic reaction to her five kittens that I insisted on sleeping with (in a tiny sleeping bag) when I was attending a birthday sleep over at her house circa 1988.  The second thing I thought about when I reconnected with Alison was, “holy crap she’s an amazing artist.” I had no idea.

Other than her inspiring works of art, what made me want to write about Alison was what I recall best about her.  Ever since the sixth grade, I remember Alison being strong and sweet at the same time.  She cared about others and was nice to everyone.  It turns out, almost twenty years later; Alison has carried on that altruistic spirit and uses her talent to benefit others.  Her passed events include foundations including but not limited to Make a Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, Hoops For Africa, the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Alison has a graduate degree from University of Maryland, College Park in Architecture. She utilizes various medium including charcoal and paint to bring her urban surroundings to life. The pieces on this post are some of my favorites.  Check out her website, www.paintedwhitecanvas.com and her Facebook page. Her limited edition prints are available for purchase.

Thank you, Alison for inspiring me!

 

 

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14th Sep2011

Do It Yourself Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

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

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

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

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

There you have it! Instant budget DIY wall art!

 

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4 Comm
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
08th Sep2011

Inspiring People: Michal Sparks

by Dinah Wulf

I stumbled upon Michal Sparks, when I wrote the post, Recycled Plastic Grocery Bags. I found her ingenious credit card holders on Etsy.  I thought they were so cute and wanted to share with all of you creative ways to recycle plastic bags.

I first have to say, one of my most favorite things about blogging, is crossing paths with inspiring people.  It’s even better when you establish some sort of communication (emails, snail mail, or face-to-face) and get to know a little more about them.  I get to write about these people, share their stories, and I have an eternal virtual record to look back on and reflect.

What I learned about Michal, and what intrigued me even further is our similar story.  Michal was once a stay at home career mom working for her art.  What gives me hope is that she has been doing what she loves successfully for over twenty years now.  Her kids, now 13 and 15, were her inspiration for her credit card holders.

It gets better… After delving into her website, I found that she is inspired by many things. What is so amazing is my little search on recycled plastics, led me to find a true Artist, who not only creates and designs these adorable little holders, but an artist and teacher working in fine art, jewelry, textiles, and illustration (just to name a few).  My favorite pieces are Michal’s eco book art.   Her nature inspired water color paintings are beautifully painted on antique poetry pages.

Please support her art and check out her website, Michal Sparks Art Life and her Etsy shop, ACleverSpark.

P.S. Those credit card holders are sturdy little suckers!! Can you say, stocking stuffer??? LOVE them! Below are pictures of mine…

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2 Comm
01st Sep2011

Recycled Plastic Grocery Bags

by Dinah Wulf

I can’t believe that this is my 100th blog post!!! Wow!

I have an amazingly supportive family.  When I first started blogging, they were probably the only people who even bothered to read my posts. It was their love and encouragement that kept me going.

My talented Mother-In-Law, Jolene, crocheted these lunch totes out of plastic bags after I had posted the idea from Marlo’s Crochet Corner a few weeks ago. Jolene is the one who inspired me to write this post.

One of my favorite websites, Etsy.com was the first place I decided to look.  I always admire the inspiring talent I find on there.  I searched for “recycled plastic bags” and found these awesome Etsy sellers and their unique items.  These are all currently selling right now, so if you are interested, just click on the link!

SarahRacha has this colorful recycled plastic bag basket for sale.  She used a giant birdseed bag with a picture of sunflowers and birds on it.

Planarnstar made this mint chocolate chip plarn bracelet with a vintage button out of green plastic shopping bags from a farmer’s market.

AccentsAndPetals2 made this cute coin purse keychain.

Believe it or not, this necklace by Holly Cline from TwoBranchesJewelry is made out of recycled plastic bags! It’s gorgeous everyday wear and can be worn with anything.

How cute are these credit card holders made our of fused plastic by Michal Sparks from ACleverSpark? Colorful and fun… a perfect and thoughtful gift.

Now THIS is awesome… a recycled plastic bag lap top case by Rebekah Charlston form BirdsByBekah!!  Absolutely genius!

I love the use of color for this recycled plastic fashion bag and this rain hat by ArribaCycle… a true artist!

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely inspired.  Support these talented artist from Etsy and buy one of their handmade treasures!  They make great eco-friendly gifts! Hey Mom, hint hint… :)

 

 

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15 Comm
12th Aug2011

Nancy Nelson Jewelry

by Dinah Wulf

Nancy Nelson Jewelry

I can’t stop. I think I have visited every page… twice.  Nancy Nelson Jewelry is so elegant and timeless and feminine.  My eyes hurt from staring and perusing each piece.  I’ll admit I don’t accessorize as much as I used to since having a baby.  They like to pull things.  But, I’m about to change that and charge up the Discover card.

Her nature inspired line really caught my eye.  Her philosophy of jewelry
telling a story and evoking emotion truly rings through.  She uses sterling silver, copper, and 14k gold-filled materials.  It was difficult to narrow down the pieces I wanted to add to this blog post! I think the Family Tree piece from her Storytelling collection is my favorite if I had to choose.  The In Love With Nature necklace from her Woodland collection comes in at a close second.

Nancy Nelson definitely has an eye for jewelry design.  She launched her line in 2006, and five years later, her dainty and rustic masterpieces can be found in stores across the United States.  Not to worry if there isn’t a store near you, Nancy sells her jewelry on her fabulous website and on Etsy as well.

Subscribe to the newsletter for codes, news, and sales, or check out her blog.  You can enter free giveaways, get the latest on new locations featuring Nancy Nelson jewelry, and learn how to care for your jewelry, or simply learn about what inspires her.

Thank YOU, Nancy for the inspiration!

 

You may also like, Other People Who Inspire:

 

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1 Comm
03rd Aug2011

Creative Clocks: How to Make Your Own Clock

by Dinah Wulf

Creative Clocks: How to Make Your Own Clock

Learn how to make your own clock in an inexpensive and creative way to add your personality to your décor. It also makes a nice personalized gift.  I have recently noticed unique clocks in magazines and at department stores like Target. There was a great piece, a clock made out of colorful forks, knives, and spoons for your kitchen.  Why not do it yourself for half the price?

A clock kit can be purchased for about $8.00 at any craft store. Here is some inspiration to get you started.

If you just use your imagination, you can make a decorative wall clock with almost anything! It is a very simple DIY project.  Just follow the instructions on your kit.  Depending on your chosen timepiece, you may need to use a drill for a hole or you may need to attach a picture hanger as well. Consider making a clock out of an old book, a decorative tin tray, an existing painting on canvas, cooking utensils, or an old record album (is “old record album” an oxymoron?).  There you have it… an inexpensive and unique piece of DIY wall art and another great idea to turn your trash into treasure.

 

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

 

 

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1 Comm
01st Aug2011

Floral Artist: Joan Mercer

by Dinah Wulf

Floral Artist: Joan Mercer

Since I started blogging, I always have my eyes open for local Artists and Craftsmen. I think it is a great honor and privilege to meet talent in person and learn firsthand about their creations.

I just got back from an amazing vacation in Maui with my husband. We rented a car, but stayed on the south side of the island in Wailea.  We traveled and explored the entire island.  Along the way, we found handmade jewelry makers, sculptors, painters, and carpenters. I met a Sculptor in Kapalua and a Carpenter in Lahaina.  I ended up finding my favorite right in our hotel during a midafternoon arts and crafts fair in the lobby on our last day.

The first thing I noticed when I met Floral Artist Joan Mercer, owner of Kula Jungle, was the fabulous necklace and matching earrings she was wearing.  Of course, a product of her own design, this set was one of many beautiful pressed flower leis among her collection. Her booth was filled with beautiful window ornaments, earrings, leis, and framed art that were constructed and artfully designed from very own garden.

Joan informed me that, with twenty years of experience, she mastered a technique to preserve the natural colors of her flowers.  Over the
years, she has developed a following of collectors.  Each year she creates a new lei design, and expires the piece after one year.  Each unique piece, fashioned from the plush garden in her back yard.

Thank you, Joan for the inspiration!

To find out more about Joan click here for the Maui Crafts Guild website.

 

Support Other Artists:

 

 

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1 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.

 

Feeling Crafty? You may also like:

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1 Comm
20th Jul2011

Make Your Own Tote Bag

by Dinah Wulf

Make Your Own Tote Bag

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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3 Comm
08th Jul2011

Ways to Repurpose Record Albums and CD’s

by Dinah Wulf

Ways to Repurpose Record Albums and CD’s

With the emergence of the internet and the ipod or mp3 player, we had to have known that just like eight tracks, records and tapes, CD’s would become obsolete too!  Not too long ago, I drove by an old Tower Records building which was about three blocks away from a vacant and empty Virgin Records store. Most of the Blockbuster Video stores around town are boarded up as well.  Yikes!  At least, I have noticed, that all three still have somewhat of an online presence.

Here are some more inexpensive crafts from recycled old record albums, DVD’s, and compact discs.  They make great DIY gifts too! If you  don’t have any old LP’s, you can buy them for about $1 at almost any local thrift store.

 

 

Tip: Some old record album covers have beautiful artwork on them.  Frame and arrange a few in coordinating colors to make interesting wall art.

Check out these other creative ways to recycle:

Find great links for perfect gift ideas here:

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Category : Trash To Treasure
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17th Jun2011

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is this Sunday! Here are some great Father’s Day gift ideas. OK so some of these DIY gift ideas may take some work and definitely wouldn’t be ready by Sunday as the Fire Pit and Brick BBQ Grill are quite adventurous projects, but wouldn’t they be the best Father’s Day gifts EVER?

I must say, the Mini S’mores Grill from Ohdeedoh is my favorite because it is simple, cute, and creative. It’s easy to make and all you need is a cedar plank, 4 nuts, 4 bolts, 4 washers, and a stainless steel condiment cup.  Just use the wood from a box of matches and you have a cute grill that is safe to use indoors!  The grill cover is also easy to make for those of you that sew. Not quite the Seamstress? Try the no sew BBQ apron for dad and purchase a pre-made canvas apron and use the images provided by Tenth Muse Studios.

P.S. And if anyone reading this decides to take on the fire pit or brick bbq grill, please email me because I just want to personally commend you and bow at your feet for taking on these DIY projects…

  1. Build a Fire Pit
  2. Make a Mini S’mores Grill (This one’s my favorite!)
  3. Make a Brick BBQ Grill
  4. Put Together a Car Wash Kit
  5. Make a Grill Cover
  6. Make a BBQ Apron

You May Also Like These Gift Ideas:

Find great links for perfect gift ideas here:

 

 

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Category : Holidays
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06th Jun2011

Places To Go: Irvine Studio Arts Festival

by Dinah Wulf

Places To Go: Irvine Studio Arts Festival

One of my favorite things to do is peruse for craft and art fairs. I think it is extremely important to support local artists so I decided to explore the Irvine Fine Arts Center’s 17th Annual Studio Arts Festival this past weekend.  It showcased many talented local artists exhibiting original works of art including ceramics, mixed media, glass, painting, printmaking, wood, and metal arts. The exhibits started inside with several artists showcasing their photography and jewelry. Friendly faces distracted me from the crowded hallways. As the path led us outside, I was not expecting to see so many white tented displays.  It was sunny and beautiful and the scenic view of the lake at Heritage Park made me even happier that I decided to come.

A few artists definitely stood out to me. My favorites among over 100 artists were:

Chuck & Helen Benes Photography- stunning photos including Old Gas Pumps and another of the Cerrillos Museum in New Mexico

Jill Dufau- gorgeous jackets made of vintage textiles

Jared Millar – printmaker of Tasty Americana, a suite of relief prints inspired by vintage fruit crate labels

Carol Tripp Martens- ceramic artist, including beautifully made teapots and other works of art

Laura Catlin – One of a kind stone art, including end and accent tables

Please take the time to visit their websites and support their talent. As I did not even get the chance to meet or speak to most of them, I think the artwork speaks for itself.

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Category : Places To Go
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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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Category : Crafts, Kid Stuff
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3 Comm
01st Jun2011

Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

by Dinah Wulf

Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

My husband, daughter, and I decided to go online to OCWeekly.com out of sheer boredom this past weekend and we stumbled upon the Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival in Santa Ana. There were only two hours left until closing, but we decided to go anyway (it WAS free, after all). I am SO glad we did.

The festival was filled with brilliant and innovative local artists, crafters and designers. I noticed many of them were Etsy sellers.  I was in heaven as I was surrounded by unique handmade items such as, repurposed wine bottles into lighting fixtures and children’s books into notebooks, cool personalized bike bells, and whimsical wooden wind chimes to name a few.

Bombarded with the sights and smells of live music, sweet treats, and creativity, I immediately signed up on the emailing list. Click here for future events.

Here are some of my favorite booths. Click on the link to check them out.

Love Nail Tree – Apparel, Accessories, and More

Loschy Designs – Hand stitched Costume Jewelry

Kelso Doesn’t Dance – Handmade Upcycled Accessories (The children’s books repurposed into notebooks were adorable)

Bottle Hood – Repurposed Glassware reclaimed from local restaurants (Loved the light fixtures)

SpokeNWheel Designs – Bike Bells and Other Accessories

The Poster List – Posters, Cards, and More (Definitely buying a few posters from here, but there are too many cool ones to decide!)

The Urban Craft Center – Studio Rental, Crafting Materials, & Craft Classes

 

 

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