Upcycling Ideas - DIYInspired.com
18th Dec2012

DIY Lighting Knock Offs

by Dinah Wulf

When I first started blogging I knew what I wanted my “brand” to be.  I knew that I wanted to inspire people to save money but in a creative and beautiful way.   What I also wanted was to focus on recycling and reuse.  Whether it’d be from transforming a thrift store find, or thinking twice before throwing that glass spaghetti sauce jar away, I wanted people to be inspired.

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The following examples from fellow bloggers are EXACTLY what I’m inspired by.  And I must say there are so many Bloggers who I follow and respect and are SUPER talented (like these fab five).  These five DIY Lighting Knock Offs were once drab and now with some imagination and flare, have transformed into beautiful retail store looks for {much} less.

This is an Anthropologie inspired lamp made with strips of burlap and hot glue. She was also inspired by an original post by Tater Tots and Jello.

This glass jug lamp West Elm knock off was made by The Thrifty Abode from a jug she had for a few years.  It cost her $18, while the original lamp is up to $150!

Tip: If you are thrift store shopping and see two fabulous matching lamps, BUY THEM! It’s very hard to find two of the same lamp for some reason!

This is another Pottery Barn knock off executed fabulously by Musings from a French Cottage.  In her tutorial she finds Salvation Army lamps for $5.00 apiece.

The Family Room Design Studio did a DIY lighting knock off of a lamp designed by Mary McDonald.  I have written a post in the past of getting the look for less of one of her room designs (she’s awesome by the way).

Finally, this one is from one of my favorite retail stores (for inspiration anyway).  The Remodelaholic  did an amazing makeover on her existing dining room chandelier.

So think twice before buying that retail store lamp, drive to the closest Salvation Army and perhaps take on a DIY lighting project yourself.

BTW, please stop by and visit these blogs…there are so many amazing ideas!

 

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Category : Inspiring People, Interior Design Inspiration
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13th Dec2012

Recycled Christmas Card Ornaments

by Dinah Wulf

I don’t know about you but I receive a lot of Christmas cards in the mail.  Don’t get me wrong.  I LOVE receiving them, especially the ones with the family photos.  I love seeing my loved one’s kids grow up, seeing new additions, and even seeing what funny costumes their pets will be wearing.  You can always make recycled bottle cap magnets out of them but that was SOOOO last year!  Just kidding ;)   This year, I decided to make Recycled Christmas Card Ornaments.  This is a fun and easy kid-friendly craft.  Here’s is what you’ll need:

  • Christmas Cards
  • Paper Cutter or Scissors
  • Stapler
  • Hot Glue
  • Embellishments (I used a scrapbook embellishment and plastic rhinestone gems)
  • Ribbon

Step One: Gather your Christmas Cards! I chose by color… red and green of course! Oh yeah… plug in your glue gun.

Step Two: Cut them up.  I cut them in one inch strips.  I cut two lengths just depending on the size of the card. I cut 16 strips all together (8 in two different lengths).

Step Three: To make them easy to maneuver, I stapled four groups of four together.  I also creased a few to make the shape more interesting.

Step Four: Put the four pieces together and pinch with your fingers.  This is the easiest way to apply the glue.  Apply your hot glue and hold it for a few seconds to allow it to harden slightly and then add your embellishment.

Step Five: Add a ribbon.

Step Six: Hang it! So easy AND your Christmas cards don’t get thrown away AND you just made your kid happy by doing a craft with them! P.S. Notice my recycled Scrabble tile ornaments in the background? :)

Bonus!  Guess what?  Here are two other fun ornament tutorials done by my friends and favorite Bloggers over at Pandora’s Craft Box and Chase The Star.

Here is Loren’s DIY Snow Globe from Pandora’s Craft Box!

Here is Barbara’s DIY Ornament from Chase the Star!

I hope you try them out!

 

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Category : Holidays, Kid Stuff, Kids Craft Ideas
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9 Comm
12th Dec2012

DIY Colored Glass Tutorial

by Dinah Wulf

Since I have done so many mason jar crafts, I have always wanted to try DIY Colored Glass.  I searched the web and found some great tutorials, but as always found my favorite one and tweaked it a little. I love these jars because they are so pretty and useful at the same time.  You can use them for craft, kitchen, or bathroom storage.  You can also use them as centerpieces with flowers.  Here is my version of the DIY Colored Glass Tutorial with some tips and tricks along the way.

Step One:

Gather your materials.

You will need:

  • Recycled glass jars (sauces, pickles, dressings, etc)
  • Water
  • Craft glue
  • Food coloring (I used neon because that is what I had, but regular food coloring works well too)
  • Glass ramekins
  • Spoons
  • Wax paper
  • Cookie sheet
  • Paper towel
  • Oven

Step Two:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line your cookie sheet with wax paper.

Step Three:

Add the ingredients to the ramikins (approximately)

  • 2 tablespoons of glue
  • 1 tablespoon of water

Step Four:

Mix your ingredients thoroughly.  You don’t want the mixture too thick because it will be too hard to cover the glass, and you don’t want it too watery because it will create streaks.  The consistency is similar to Alfredo sauce (that’s the best way for me to describe it)!  Also, because you are using such a small amount of glue and water, you only need one or two drops of food coloring depending on the desired color.

Step Five:

Pour the mixture into your glass and slowly tilt and twirl the jar until the entire jar is covered.

Step Six:

Allow the excess to drip back into the ramekin.  I was able to color two jars with each mixture.

Step Seven:

Place the jars upside down on a wax lined cookie sheet and allow the liquid to drain.  If you notice streaks, your mixture was too thin.  You can start over at this point (without rinsing) and cover the glass again with a new and thicker mixture (I know this from experience)!

Step Eight:

Once your jars are drained, remove the wax paper and wipe the edge of the rim with a wet paper towel.  Be careful not to wipe off the inside of the rim.

Step Nine:

Place the jars upright onto the cookie sheet and place them in the oven.  Let them cure for 45 minutes to one hour.

Handle with care when removing them from the oven.  Once they are cool you can use mason jars for so many things including craft storage or flower vases.

Note: The tutorials that I read said that you can put water in them for flowers, however I found this not to be the case!  Flowers with no water? No problem.   I personally use them for craft storage such as paint brushes, colored pencils, scissors, rulers, markers, etc. Here are some fabulous suggestions from DIY Inspired Facebook friends!

” I just created a girls gift, and put in the jar an entire nail polish kit.” –  Manon Roderick

“Christmas lights make a cute night lite.” - Nicki Etheridge

“Colored hanging tea lights, centerpieces, and potpourri pedal holders. My wife suggested filling them with Jewels, stones, seashells and making them into a lamp base.” – Chris Carl

“Pad the top to make it a pin cushion and inside the jar could be a sewing kit. You can use them as candle holders (attach a glass taper candle holder to the bottom so it has a base). Use them as a vase with coordinating colored flowers in them. Put a slot in the top and make it a pretty bank.” - Frugal Sally

“My momma just converted several of her “old blue glass” ones into functioning oil lamps…they’re great!!!” - Heather Mueller

“We are putting bath salts in them.” - Hope E Barker, Photos Of Hope

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11th Dec2012

Brighten Your Décor with Lamps

by Dinah Wulf

Lighting is so important in room design.  Lamps can set the mood, draw attention to the furnishings you worked so hard to put together, and can even add drama to an otherwise mediocre room.  Oh! And lighting should definitely be both beautiful and functional at the same time as well.   I thought I’d put together three tips to brighten your room décor with lamps.  Here we go!

Upcycle, upcycle, upcycle!

First, you should know be by now, upcycle your existing lamps or a fun thrift store or flea market find to show your personal style.  You can do this by painting it, adding embellishments, or by simply changing out the lamp shade.  I had this black and gray patterned lamp and I added hot pink ribbon and a butterfly to make it more whimsical for my daughter’s bedroom.

Choose a vibrant color.

Holy moly!  Have you seen the Color + Plus hand-crafted glass lamps from Lamps Plus? I’m in LOVE!  There are so many (over 60) fabulous colors in every hue you can imagine.  If you’re afraid of color, a lamp is the PERFECT way to add a little spunk to an otherwise so-so room.  I think my favorite color they have available is the olive green… I mean river blue…No wait… nugget!  I can’t decide! Table lamps like these are perfect for anchoring a bed or an entryway table.

Pantone matched lamps and shades
 

Think outside the boring box.

We recently purchased our home this year and although I LOVE my kitchen, it needed a little oomph.  I bought this pendant light to modernize my kitchen area.  I love it because when the light is off, it looks like a plain white pendant light, but when the light is on, it displays a pretty design that is printed on the inside of the shade.

 

 I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective; the opinions expressed here are all my own.

 

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10th Dec2012

Happy Meal Toy Memory Ornaments

by Dinah Wulf

I don’t know about you but I am guilty of going through the McDonald’s drive thru every once in a while.  My daughter loves it, so maybe twice a month she gets to go.  Just like when I was a kid, she loves getting the toy in each chicken nugget Happy Meal that we order.  Most if the time, the toy sits in a toy bin and eventually gets thrown away.  I have to admit there are some toys that are just too cute to be trashed.  My best friend was throwing a box of Happy Meal toys away and I stole these out of the box to make these Happy Meal Toy Memory Ornaments. .. that’s right… literal trash to treasure!   After all, we ARE big fans of Hello Kitty in this household!

All you need for this is:

  • Drill
  • Frame Eye Hook
  • Ribbon
  • Marker (to write the date)

This works for practically any Happy Meal Toy that you want to keep.  You just have to find the right spot to drill the hole.

The frame eye hook screws in nicely.

Add a ribbon and write the date and tah-dah… instant memory ornament!  Happy Meal toys are great because they are typically light weight as well, easy to hang, and won’t weigh down your branches.

OK this one was already a Christmas ornament but here it is anyway!

Consider repurposing other items as memory ornaments like action figures, Legos, small doll accessories, keys, or board game pieces.  You can also glam them up a bit by adding a little sparkle with glitter or gems.

 

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05th Dec2012

Book Folding Tutorial

by Dinah Wulf

I am so excited to share one of my favorite tutorials from Loren Crane of Pandora’s Craft Box.  This book folding art is a great way to upcycle an old book.

Written By Loren Crane of Pandora’s Craft Box

Here’s a new craft idea I learned it’s called book folding. I occasionally saw it in store displays and I found it fascinating.  I could never figure out how they made them, then a couple of days ago I took a class and they showed me how it was done. It can be a very tedious job and mind numbing, but the outcome can be fantastic. I use them as decorations on my dining room table and on my fireplace mantle. They are so easy to make and convenient if you find yourself hating the idea of throwing a book away. I love to read and throwing a book away should never be an option. So here is a great way to keep using those books you no longer want or you can go purchase bargain books at your local bookstore. I love all my books and I just can’t see myself damaging them so purchasing $1 books is the next best thing.

Here I did a simple folding which is just folding the pages in half in the same direction. It’s so easy to make! It only took me about 15 min, but it depends on how many pages the book contains. I would like to mention that a book with 600 pages would be too difficult to manage. The first picture on the page was made with a book of 600 pages, but I had to rip out the last 50 pages because the pages started to rip at the top while folding and the book became very heavy.

Now I am going to show you a very simple fold that has a dramatic effect.

Step 1: First, you want to start with using a paperback book. Tear off both covers from the spine.

Step 2: Fold the first page into a triangle.

Step 3: On the following page, fold the top part to form a 90 degree triangle.

Step 4: Again make a triangle on the next page.

Step 5: Now do a 90 degree triangle from the bottom of the following page.

Step 6: Keep alternating and repeating the pattern until you get to the end of the book.

You can make different pattern depending on the fold of the page. The sky is the limit. I hope you have fun with it. Please do post your pic of what you came up with.

 

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03rd Dec2012

Skeleton Key Crafts

by Dinah Wulf

Every time I go flea market shopping or antique shopping I am always drawn to skeleton keys.  I never buy them but I ALWAYS look at them, touch them, hold them up to the light, and wonder what I could do with them.  The other day I saw some replicas at Michael’s in the dollar bin.  One again, I picked them up, touched them, and held them up to the light.  This time I decided to purchase a few.  Why not, they were only $1.50 apiece.  I chose three and threw them in my basket.  I got in my car, brainstorming my skeleton key crafts, all the way home.

The first thing I do when I think about a craft is I check my craft closet.  What’s in there that I can use?  A long time ago I attempted to make jewelry.  To make a LONG and embarrassing story short, I sucked at it.  So, at the bottom of my closet collecting dust, was some jewelry making supplies.  I took them downstairs and decided that my first skeleton key craft would be a necklace.

Skeleton Key Necklace

This was quite easy and fun, and to be honest I think I’m actually going to wear this necklace!  With some pliers, an old chain, and a Swarovski crystal I had, I created this pretty piece.  The pliers make it very easy to maneuver the little pieces.  I took some photos so that you could see the process.  Easy peasy! I’ve worn this necklace out a few times, and I have gotten several compliments on it… and several requests…hmmm… Esty shop?

Skeleton Key Christmas Ornaments

The next two keys were transformed into Christmas ornaments.  They would also make nice embellishments on a gift.  I used some ribbon, chain, a bead, and a vintage charm that I had.  Here are a few pictures of each.

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Here are a couple more pictures of all three.

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27th Nov2012

CD Tower Advent Calendar

by Dinah Wulf

 

I was so excited to make an advent calendar this year because my daughter is finally old enough.  I searched online for some inspiration and saw some great advent calendar ideas but none that I really wanted to do.  Then one day, I was getting my guest room ready for some visiting friends and saw a CD tower that I had from college.  I currently use this piece of repurposed furniture to house guest room necessities like towels, toiletries, pens, paper, and such.  The cubbies are so useful and would be perfect to hold little wrapped gifts for my advent calendar… and it’s RED!  Here’s how I made my CD Tower Advent Calendar.

This project only costs me $20, including all the little trinkets and presents inside.  I know that’s a little more than most advent calendars, but still budget friendly.  I bought items in the dollar bins that had three or more items in a package and broke the package up to save money.  Some things I bought were pens, erasers, candy, stickers, hair clips, plastic play jewelry, and the last one… the grand finale… a Dora Explorer jump rope that costs $1.50.

I bought red and green paper sacks and different types of ribbon to embellish the packages (of course using my coupons AND shopping on black Friday).  I used circle craft punches and printed numbers and letters on my computer.  I thought the circles were perfect because they looked like ornaments.   I punched a small hole on top and added ribbon for each number ornament.  I also alternated the colors.  With my left over paper and ribbon, I made a “days til Christmas” banner to go down the middle on the CD Tower.

Here are some more pictures.

Hope you like it!

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Oh! By the way! Uncarved (it that a word?) pumpkins last forever!  Geesh!  So I had to turn my Hello Kitty pumpkin into a Christmas Hello Kitty!

Until tomorrow!

 

 

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5 Comm
20th Nov2012

Refurbished Garage Sale Night Stands

by Dinah Wulf

On the same garage sale trip I found my bench I posted recently, I found these two night stands for… you’ll never believe this… $5.00 each!!! What?? I know!  All I knew was that it has great bones, it didn’t smell, there were no major scratches or dents, and the lady was coo coo.  Just kidding about that last part but I seriously couldn’t believe that I walked away with three great pieces for $15.00.  Anywho, here is how I made my refurbished garage sale night stands.

Here is what you’ll need:

  • Thrift store or garage sale night stands in need of some love
  • Sander (I used both block and electric, but just block is fine)
  • Paint
  • Paint brush
  • Hardware (optional)
  • Screwdriver
  • Clean cloth
  • Time
  • Read this to find out if you need primer

The first thing I did was removed the hardware and sanded it.  I used a hand block sander for hard to reach areas, and used an electrical sander for the larger areas like the top and the shelf.  Next, I cleaned the sucker.  It obviously had not been cleaned in a long time, perhaps left lonely and unattended in a garage. There were caked on gooey stains, but nothing that couldn’t be easily removed.

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Once they were clean and dry, I painted them with the left over paint I had from re-painting my guest room.  I used two coats.  I had to order the new handles online because the average size these days is either 3” or 4”.  These were 3.5”.  If you’d rather not order new handles online, you can always putty the holes and drill new ones.  I screwed in my new hardware when they arrived in the mail and I was done!  Here are some more after pictures.

 

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Category : DIY Furniture, Trash To Treasure
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5 Comm
19th Nov2012

Upcycled Thrift Store Penny Table

by Dinah Wulf

I’ve said it several times, and I’ll say it again: One of the best parts about blogging is the relationships; the connections you make along the way.  I have fun everyday posting DIY inspirations, projects, and tutorials on my Facebook page.  I get a lot of questions and emails from FB fans, and on great days I will even get a sneak peek of a project that they did themselves.  Today’s post is written by one of those amazing FB friends I’ve made.  She is going to share her Upcycled Thrift Store Penny Table!

Written By: Lilly Meehan, Ventura, California

I went to the local thrift stores in search of a project and found this funky little table.  It was clearly someone’s shop project; it had a terrible paint job, and lots of blemishes.  Having recently become aware of the trend of covering table tops, counter tops, and even floors with pennies, I realized this was the perfect little piece for the penny treatment.

After filling in the nicks and dents and sanding it lightly, I spray painted it.  A trip to the bank brought home about $10 in rolled pennies, it was a little bit hard to estimate how many pennies were needed.  First I sorted through the pennies to find the especially grungy ones; in a project like this you want the variety of clean, dirty, shiny and dull.  Some of the pennies had greenish copper residue and were set aside so they would not be cleaned.

Half of the pennies were washed in Tarnex, which surprisingly yielded an unexpected irregular rainbow tarnish pattern. All the pennies were washed with soap and water.  Using Liquid Nails adhesive in the small tube with the fine point tip, each penny was applied one at a time, much like applying tiles.  In the very center of the table a group of shiny 2012 pennies were placed, all facing the same direction, to denote when the project was done.

All of the directions for doing penny projects had an additional step of applying an epoxy layer over the pennies, making the surface smooth and waterproof, but since this is only a small occasional table I found that step both intimidating and unnecessary.  It was finished off with a clear sealer.   As is my custom I always write in a hidden area the date of the project and my name.  This project was a lot of fun.

Lilly Meehan, Ventura, California

 

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3 Comm
14th Nov2012

Recycled T Shirt Bunting

by Dinah Wulf

I wanted to spruce up my mantle for the holidays so I decided to make a Thanksgiving banner.  Naturally, I wanted to use recycled materials so I found an old wrinkled cotton T shirt in my husband’s side of the closet (my side is neat and tidy of course!).  There was a huge stain on the front right on the chest so this was perfect for my recycled T shirt bunting.

Here are the materials you will need:

  • Old clothing item
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Paper (to make your flag pattern)
  • Iron
  • Spray starch
  • Fabric paint
  • Spouncer
  • Stencils
  • Ribbon or rope
  • Hot glue

Instructions:

Step One: Grab and old T shirt or any other piece of clothing.  Feel free to play with colors and textures.

Step Two: Make your flag pattern.  I used a piece of cardstock (8”X6”).  It’s easiest to start with a rectangle, measure the center of one end, and draw a diagonal line from one corner to the center mark for both sides and cut.

Step Three: Cut out your flags.  I chose to spell out “Give Thanks”.

Step Four: Lay out your flags to iron and spray it with starch.

Step Five: Iron your flags.

Step Six: Stencil your letters using a spouncer.  I chose green my favorite color!  Check out my stenciling tips I from my stenciled place mat project. You can purchase these stencils online.

Step Seven: Allow your letters to dry and then hot glue each flag to your rope.  I bought 3 yards of rope they had on sale for the holidays and cut it in half.  It was perfect for my recycled T shirt banner!

Here are some AFTER photos.

I took these during the day…

 

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3 Comm
07th Nov2012

Garage Sale Bench Makeover

by Dinah Wulf

Here is my story about the best garage sale bench makeover ever.  Two weekends ago I got a call from my best friend.  It went something like this:

  • Jen: I just dropped Tiff off at school and am stopping at this garage sale.
  • Me: Ooooh is it any good?
  • Jen: Let me call you back.

<vibrate vibrate> (I never have my ringer on anymore these days)

  • Me: Well?
  • Jen: She’s moving and needs to sell everything this weekend.  She said she’d give you a good deal!
  • Me: I’m putting on my shoes! Text me the address!

In 5 minutes, we were out the door and my daughter was in her car seat.  It was the best garage sale I’d been to in a while.  A lot of stuff for cheap!  I walked away with two side tables and a bench for $15 total!!  I didn’t even have to haggle.  Yeah, I thought she was nuts too but I didn’t argue.

I had no idea what color to do so I posted it on my Facebook page.  I got a ton of great feedback but for some reason I still couldn’t choose. All I knew was that I wanted to add a cushion and upholster it on top.   I decided to go to the fabric store and stare at all the upholstery fabrics until one jumped out at me and I found this fabulous print that happen to match.

Side note: Please let me tell you that if you have a toddler, going to the fabric store to pick out something that is not yet decided is no easy feat.   The entire time I was there my daughter was running up and down the aisles, throwing yarn in the air and yelling out the wrong colors. Put her in the cart you say? Yeah right…

Also, because I am SO CHEAP I went back to the store 3 times on three different days, so that I could use a coupon for each item I bought.  What? It saved me $15! It was totally worth it.  I already had all the other supplies I needed from past projects so technically, this entire makeover cost me $20.00 including the bench! Woot woot!

Before I go on, here are the materials you need:

  • Bench
  • Spray paint
  • High density craft foam
  • Scissors
  • Yardstick
  • Fabric
  • Staple gun and staples

I first attempted to clean the bench and started wiping it down.  But the second a giant spider ran out and attacked me I decided to take this sucker outside and hose it off.  With the highest stream setting on my nozzle, I hosed it down and let it air dry outside.

After the bench dried, I spray painted it red.  I loved the original color and it matched my fabric, so I touched it up with some red spray paint with primer.

Meanwhile, using a ruler, pencil, and the best scissors ever, I cut some high density craft foam to fit over the top of my bench.

I also cut and measured my fabric.

I laid the foam on top of the center of my fabric and laid the bench on top upside down once it was dry.

Using a stable gun and heavy duty staples, I began pulling the fabric taught and stapling it to the bench.  The corners were a bit tricky, but with a little maneuvering and folding, I was able to make the sides look neat.

Here are a couple after photos.

That’s it!  I’m pretty proud of my $20 garage sale bench makeover that will go perfectly in my guest room at the foot of the bed! The best part is that I saw a smaller plain wood bench in a catalog for $149.00!

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

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12 Comm
05th Nov2012

Shoe Box Lid Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

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

Here is what you’ll need:

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

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

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

Here are some more after photos.

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

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

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7 Comm
29th Oct2012

Repurposed Inspiration from Antique Shopping

by Dinah Wulf

I can’t believe this is my 400th post!  Thought I’d celebrate by sharing a lovely event I went to.  Recently, I attended the Socal Social here in Orange County, a local get together for Bloggers.  I didn’t know what to expect, as this was the first blog conference I had ever attended.  All I have to say is, WOW! Well, OK that’s not exactly ALL I have to say.  It was fantastic and far exceeded my expectations.  From meeting the most inspiring women to finding repurposed inspiration from antique shopping all day, I had a blast.  There were lots of swag, giveaways, and even celebrity writer and television personality, Mark Montano. By the way, you have to check out his new book, The Big Ass Book of Bling!  Some of my favorite projects are jewelry made from bobby pins or safety pins.  It’s fabulous!

I spent most of the day with Loren from Pandora’s Craft Box and Jen from Something Turquois.  I was also able to chat with Barbara from Chase the Star, Tara from A Spectacled Owl, Erica from Gee Whiz Designs, among so many other amazing fellow bloggers.  Of course, our hosts were Vivienne from The V Spot and Bev from Flamingo Toes.

The event was held in the historic Orange circle if Orange, California also known as the Orange Circle Antique Mall.  Needless to say, I found some fabulous repurposed and upcycled antique finds that I wanted to share with you.

Baskets turned Wall Storage

Utensil Chandelier (Check out the spooky picture at the bottom…ew!)

Umbrella Pendant Lamp

Vintage Suitcase Vanity

Chair Swing Flower Pot

Mason Jar Glasses (love these!!)

OK, these bottles aren’t necessarily repurposed, but I thought they were pretty!

Last but definitely not least… MY FAVORITE… Bird Cage Chandelier

I can tell you how great it was to meet like-minded ambitious women that knew EXACTLY what I do day in and day out.  Thank you ladies!  I had the time of my life… until next year!

 

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Category : Inspiring People, Trash To Treasure
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10 Comm
15th Oct2012

Add New Life to Everyday Objects with ‘Upcycling’

by Dinah Wulf

If you are looking to upgrade but don’t want to discard, it’s possible to add new life to everyday items by “upcycling” them. Whether they are boring, broken or just taking up unnecessary space, here are three easy Do-It-Yourself crafts using materials you already have in your home.

Problem: Drab Light Control

If your living area needs a face lift but you don’t know where to begin, think lighting. That paint in the store may look perfect under the fluorescent lights of a warehouse, but it will undergo a dramatic transformation in your home’s natural light. You can control how much sunlight streaming into your home will affect your decor by using Blinds.com window blinds and other window treatments. Shutters help regulate light and offer privacy, but all that fancy light control can sometimes be pricey. Why not revamp what you already have?

Solution: Paint Your Curtains

Yes, it’s possible. All you need is fabric paint, tape and a small roller with a thin sponge. If you don’t have fabric paint don’t fret; using that regular wall paint you have stored in the garage will work too. All you need to do is add textile medium to the paint. Its a $2- $5 acrylic paint additive that allows for proper adhesion and permanence on a fabric. AKA it helps them not flake or fade. Now just tape off whatever design you want – stripes and chevron are bold choices – and get sponging.

Problem: Glass Overload

When you’re creative or crafty, a common problem is having a shelf, closet or pantry full of items you can’t bear to toss out. These items aren’t keepsakes, but materials that could someday come in handy when creating. So if you have a closet such as this, here’s a solution for something that’s bound to be in your collection: glass jars.

Solution: Upcycle Old Jars

You’ll need your jars of all sizes, yarn, masking tape, white spray paint, ribbon and tea lights. Tightly wrap yarn in a crisscross pattern around a jar, then tape the ends on the underside or inside of the jar. Don’t place tape anywhere you’ll be painting. Lightly spray the jars with three coats of white paint and let dry. Remove the yarn, wrap the tops with ribbon and add your tea lights for a chic twist on DIY candles and light.

Problem: Outdated or Broken Frames

You probably have some outdated or broken frames somewhere in your home waiting to be used or thrown away. But instead of wasting or willing them away, upcycle them into something new. Whether they are cracked, an awful color or outdated design, this crafty tip will transform them in no time. And bonus, they don’t necessarily need to be used as frames, but maybe trendy wall décor instead.

Solution: DIY Yarn Frames

Mkae sure you have enough yarn knowing that one skein would probably cover five 8-by-8-inch frames. Besides yarn and your frames, the only other thing you’ll need is a light-duty staple gun. Start by stapling the loose ends of the yarn to the top left corner on the back of the frame. To prevent unraveling, loop the yarn around the frame twice, pulling it tight. Then start wrapping, working in a clockwise motion and every so often scrunching it toward the wrapped end to make the effect more substantial. Once you’ve covered the frame, staple the end to the backside of the frame, making sure it doesn’t unravel.

Getting crafty to reuse common items around your home doesn’t have to be hard and it doesn’t have to be pricey. By recycling something the average person would throw away you are revamping your space in a spunky, eco-friendly way.

Authored By: Justin Greig A self-proclaimed “21st century hippie,” Justin studied Journalism at Berkeley and freelances for many environmental publications. He has a special interest in conservation, and he and his wife recently added solar panels to their home.

 

 

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1 Comm
01st Oct2012

Recycled Plastic Container Crown

by Dinah Wulf

This year for Halloween my family is going to be the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and Alice from Alice in Wonderland.  As you know I preach recycled crafting and I made a DIY Mad Hatter Top Hat out of a cardboard box and hanger (among other things), but this time I decided to make my Queen of Hearts crown out of a recycled plastic container, specifically an old (but clean) sour cream container.

This was quite easy and fun and I have to admit I got a little carried away with the plastic gems.  I happen to have everything in my craft closet already, so I didn’t spend a dime making this.  The materials you can use are endless but here’s a list of what I used:

  • Clean plastic sour cream container
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Glitter
  • Felt
  • Foam craft hearts
  • Even More Glitter
  • Plastic craft gems
  • Hot glue
  • Clear glaze spray paint (optional)

I started off by cutting off the top trim and the bottom of the container.  Next I cut a jagged edge at the top, using the first triangle I cut out as a pattern to cut out the rest so that they would be even.  Next I glammed it up!  I glittered the entire crown gold and added red felt trim.  I also sprayed the entire crown with a clear glaze to seal in the glitter.  It helps to minimize months of glitter hair!  I decided to glitter foam craft hearts in red and add plastic gems.  I kept adding and adding… I couldn’t help it!  Oh well, it IS a Halloween costume…it can be a little gaudy.

I think these would be fun to make for a princess themed party or even an Alice in Wonderland tea party.  There you have it! A low cost (or no cost) DIY crown.

 

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Category : Crafts, Holidays, Kid Stuff, Kids Craft Ideas, Trash To Treasure
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10 Comm
26th Sep2012

DIY Pumpkin Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

It’s officially fall and I can feel it in the air.  I love it!  I have so many fond memories growing up in the changing seasons.  I think they are even fonder now since I have been living in Southern California with essentially no season change at all!  I thought I’d put together some fun DIY pumpkin inspiration.  There are so many unique and creative ideas out there!  Here are a few of my favorites.

This adorable upcycled pumpkin made out of a book is by WhimsyWorkshop.  They’ll make it made to order or you can try it yourself??

I think these crushed velvet pink pumpkins are fabulous.  They are Pretty In Pink!  I don’t sew very well, but I think I could give these a try!

Leave it up to Martha to come up with this one.  Make a lace pattern on your pumpkin.  I don’t know about you, but if I decided to take this one on, I’d do a craft pumpkin instead of a real one so I wouldn’t have to do it again next year!

Chevron is all the rage…it’s everywhere!  Carpets, pillows, even furniture and walls; why not chevron pumpkins?

Check out this pumpkin cooler perfect for a Halloween party.  Simply cut, hollow, and insert a glass bowl with ice.  Brilliant!

How cute is this autumn bunting made of burlap flags and a cute little linen pumpkin applique?

This chenille pumpkin is lovely.  I say, try making it out of a thrift store sweater or blanket!

Glitter those pumpkins up!  Simple and fabulous! If you are taking this one on, I have some glittering tips of my own.

 

 

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Category : Crafts, Holidays
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6 Comm
19th Sep2012

Summer 2012 Project Round Up

by Dinah Wulf

September 22nd is the first day of fall!  I wanted to end the summer with a recap of some of my favorite DIY Inspired’s summer projects and party inspiration.  Here is my top eight summer 2012 Project Round Up.

  1. Recycled Book Page Butterfly Wreath – Full step by step photo tutorial for a wreath I made out of an old book, a coat hanger, and branches from my back yard.
  2. DIY Cake Stand – Make your own cupcake stand or party serving tray with thrift store finds.
  3. Owl Themed Invitations – A detailed step by step tutorial and YouTube video on how to make these adorable invitations with moving wings for an owl themed party. This is perfect for a baby shower or kid’s birthday party.
  4. Summer Birthday Party – A butterfly and garden inspired birthday party complete with a cupcake decorating station and stacked hot dog bar and hot dog recipe suggestions.  Also check out a short three minute YouTube video of the complete party details.
  5. Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art – An easy way to upcycle an old unwanted painting with burlap, stencils, and butterflies perfect for a little girls bedroom.
  6. Junk Drawer Crafts – Make magnets out of bottle caps, paint color swatches, Scrabble tiles, and old plastic gift cards, perfect for stocking stuffers or a fundraising event.
  7. Repurposed Plant Hanger – A whimsical butterfly inspired chandelier made out of a unwanted plant hanger.
  8. Recycled Jar Tea Light – Make your own tea light lanterns out of recycled jars and burlap for less than $1.

I had so much fun this summer creating these projects.  These were just eight of my favorites.  I’m looking forward to the fall and the upcoming Holidays!

 

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2 Comm
18th Sep2012

Recycled Plastic Container Pencil Box

by Dinah Wulf

School’s here!  I know my little one isn’t quite ready just yet, but she does love drawing and coloring.  I don’t think a day passes that she doesn’t (she must take after her Mama).  I have a trip coming up to visit my parents back home in Maryland and I have a long(ish) plane flight with a toddler to prepare for.  I need to keep her busy on the plane.  I was about to throw away my Crystal Light container when I realized it’s the perfect size for pencils, markers, crayons, and such.    I decided to alter it a bit and make this recycled plastic container pencil box for our trip.

This project is very easy, as the pictures are self-explanatory.  Here are the materials you need:

  • Crystal Light Box
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint Brush
  • Decorative Paper

Simply remove the existing plastic and cut your scrapbook paper to size.  Using a paint brush apply the Mod Podge in even strokes to the back of the paper and carefully wrap it around the container.  This is the trickiest part in order to align it correctly.  If you work quickly, it is fairly easy to lift and adjust if you make a mistake.  Next apply an outer layer of Mod Podge
and allow it to dry (approximately 15 minutes).  I thought one coat sufficed however you can apply another if you wish.  Consider embellishing it with stickers or plastic gems.

This container can hold anything!  I actually may use it for my daughter’s toothbrush and toothpaste for when we travel.  You can use it to hold hair accessories or even use it for craft supplies.  This is the perfect project to do with your kids.  Now they will have a one of a kind pencil box to bring to school and show their friends.

 

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3 Comm
11th Sep2012

DIY Recycled Jar Tea Light

by Dinah Wulf

I’m pretty sure I save every single jar after it’s empty.  Pickle, spaghetti sauce, salsa… I don’t discriminate.  The Mason jar is beautiful but I think it gets too much credit (don’t get me wrong, I’ve done several Mason jar crafts in the past and I still LOVE them).  For this DIY Recycled Jar Tea Light, I decided to use a pickled beet jar.  Yes, I eat pickled beets…yum!!!

Materials:

  • Jar
  • Burlap scraps
  • Scissors
  • Wire or a wire coat hanger (I used 20 gauge because it’s easy to work with)
  • Spouncer
  • Craft paint in the color of your choice
  • Stencil of your choice
  • Wire cutter
  • Pliers
  • Hot glue
  • Tea Light

First, cut your burlap so that it fits nicely around your jar.  Next, stencil your burlap and set aside.  Wrap your wire around the mouth of the jar several (4-5) times depending on the desired thickness.  Cut another piece of wire for the handle wrapping each end securely around your wire circle as shown.  Place the wire circle with handle around the mouth of the jar.  Locate the ends of the wire circle and pull taught.  Pliers may help.  You may have to massage the circle accordingly.  Tuck in the ends of the wire.  Finally, hot glue the burlap around your jar and insert and light your tea light.

I thought six of these spelling out “boo” and “eek” would be really cute on the mantel for Halloween.  Hope you try it out!

 

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6 Comm
06th Sep2012

Repurposed Shutters

by Dinah Wulf

Shutters are probably the one item that you can find in every flea market, garage sale, salvage yard, or recycling stores like Habitat for Humanity Restore.  Not only are they abundant, but they are usually inexpensive. With a little paint and creativity, you can literally turn trash into treasure.  Here are some great ideas for repurposed shutters.

In my search to find DIY inspiration for repurposed shutters, I found that most were used for organization.  Shutters could be used for organizing everything from mail to potted plants or from family photos and post cards to kitchen utensils.

 

Here is a great idea using shutters for decorative display from 221 Vision.

Make a big impact in the dining room with these beautiful ideas.

 

This repurposed furniture idea is an outdoor table is from Goodhouskeeping.com.

I LOVE this free standing headboard from a display at Anthropologie.  Once again, GREEN is my color!

This crafty shutter shelf is from BHG.com

Shutters work well for bathroom organization as well.

Additional Photo Sources: Etsy.com, Goodhousekeeping.com, Pintrest.com, Dwellinggawker.com

 

More Ways to Repurpose! 

Thirty creative ways to recycle, reuse, and repurpose:

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8 Comm
05th Sep2012

Repurposed Storage Ideas to Update an Entryway

by Dinah Wulf

The foyer or entryway to a home is usually the first impression your guests have when they come over.  It’s often an inexpensive and budget-friendly area to remodel, since it is typically a small area.  You may consider installing a durable wood or slate floor as a DIY idea to freshen this high traffic area.  You can even repaint your front door an unexpected yet inviting color.  Other simple and extremely low-cost updates are these repurposed storage ideas to update an entryway.  These are my favorite ideas from BHG.  Recycling or upcycling a flea market or garage sale finds is a fantastic way to add character and interest.

Use a collection of old mailboxes to help organize mail.  Paint them in fun bold colors to add charm and personality.

This shabby chic mail storage idea is an upcycled porch railing.  I wish I thought of this! What a beautiful way to organize an otherwise unsightly pile of paper (at least that’s what it is at my house).

I have an assortment of glass apothecary jars I use in my kitchen.  This is also a great idea for an entryway.  It’s a fabulous and beautiful way to display a collection. Apothecary jars are great investments because they are so versatile.  You can use them in a bathroom or atop a mantel to display holiday decorations throughout the year.

Repurposing molding as a shelf is an unexpected upcycling idea.  I love the thickness and detail of this particular piece.  It adds character that a normal shelf would not have.  You can find molding like this one at an architectural salvage or antique flea market.

Finally, use old shutters adding decorative brackets as a shelf for an entryway.  Add hooks underneath for coats and hats for added storage.  Shutters can be found at most flea markets and recycling centers like Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Photo Source: BHG

 

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