Upcycling Ideas - DIYInspired.com
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.

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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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30th Aug2012

Repurposed Table Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

I have been blogging for what seems to be a while now.  In my search for repurposed furniture I have seen some really cool and creative stuff.  Today, I wanted to write about repurposed table ideas.  I’ve seen a ton of suitcase tables and pallet tables but this time I wanted to find some truly unique pieces.  Here is what I came up with!

I love this wood soda crate coffee table.  I could have sworn I saw it on Martha Stewart show.  She did a short DIY segment with the designer to create shadow boxes atop an old table base, with tempered glass securely placed on top.

This one is very clever and one I haven’t seen before.  Can you guess what it is?  It’s a repurposed fire hose reel!  I love the natural patina and the industrial look.  It also adds a great pop of color to a living, sitting, or family room.  As an added bonus, there is storage underneath as well!

You’ll never guess what this is! The base is from a 1931 stove from a knotty pine cottage.  I love the tri colors with a polished shine.  Very pretty!

This is an upcycled spool top with modern and slick red metal legs.  Love the combo of the two.

OK, so I have seen SEVERAL upcycled suitcase tables, but THIS one is awesome!!!! The storage underneath is fabulous and I love that it opens on both sides and looks like it folds up for easy storage…AMAZING!

Not much to say about this one except I had to post it in honor of my husband! LOL!

OK, not sure about this upcycled aquarium but someone out there liked it because it’s sold on Etsy!

 

 

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22nd Aug2012

Recycled Book Page Butterfly Wreath

by Dinah Wulf

If you follow me on Facebook, you saw this Recycled Book Page Butterfly Wreath I found on Pintrest.

A few of us were commenting on how to make it and inspired each other to take this project on ourselves (Thank you, Elise, Rose, Katie, Jo, Michelle, and Zach & Lois… you all are the best!).  The best part?  This wreath cost me NOTHING!  This is my version.

I ended up making two, a large one and a small one.  Here is my tutorial on how to make a Recycled Book Page Butterfly Wreath.

Step One: Make the butterflies

Materials:

  • Old book, map, magazine, etc.
  • Scissors
  • Pencil

I used an old book I had from another recycled book page wreath I made last year.  At first I used a butterfly stencil that I had but after tracing and cutting the first three, I thought it’d be more fun to free hand them instead.  It’s easiest to fold the page in half and draw half the butterfly so that you have two identical sides.  Use a pencil so that you can erase any lines if need be.

Step Two: Gather the branches and prep them

Gather your branches.   Remove any leaves from the branches and soak the naked branches in water.  This makes it easier to work with and will cause less breakage.

Step Three: Construct the wreath

Materials:

  • Wire hanger (one for small wreath, two for large wreath)
  • Prepped Branches
  • Water
  • Sink
  • Hot glue

Simply unwind the wire and create a circle, twisting the end together. One by one, wrap, twist, and tuck each branch around your wreath until you have the desired width.

Allow your wreath to dry.  (Optional step) Once it is dried, on the BACK of the wreath, use a hot glue gun to secure and loose branches.

Step Four: Assemble the Butterflies

Materials:

  • Pre-cut butterflies from step one
  • Plastic Beads, Pearls, Shells (anything you want to use for the bodies)
  • Hemp string (I found this to work best so that the antennas will stay erect)
  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue

You can use whatever your heart desires for the bodies.  I chose to use plastic beads and hemp string.  Using a hot glue gun, glue your beads together and while the glue s still hot, insert your antennas (as shown).  Next, glue the body onto your butterfly.  Make sure the butterfly wings are folded up so that they appear as if they are in flight.

Step Five: Attach the Butterflies to Your Wreath

Materials:

  • Assembled butterflies from step four
  • Constructed wreath from step three

I placed the butterflies on the wreath and moved them around to arrange them in the order and position I wanted BEFORE I used the hot glue.

Ta Da!

Here are some photos of the large wreath.

Here are some photos of the small version.

You can make these wreaths for the holidays and embellish them as you wish!  I hope you try it!  Email me a photo if you do… oh and say hi! :)  dwulf@diyinspired.com

Here are some more fun trash to treasure ideas and tutorials! In case you missed them!

 

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15th Aug2012

Repurposed Headboards

by Dinah Wulf

A DIY Inspired reader emailed me and asked for some repurposed headboard ideas… here we go!

A headboard in your bedroom or guest room can make a dramatic impact.  Check out these low budget DIY headboard ideas using reused and recycled materials.  These repurposed headboards are made from everything from reclaimed wood to fabulous inexpensive flea market finds.

Pallets are becoming more and more popular!  I’ve written about repurposed pallets before and even shared some pallet headboard ideas, but now there is so much more out there!  If you want to take this project on, don’t forget to check Craigslist in your area because many places are giving away pallets for free.  Yes, that’s right…FREE!  You can also check retail stores that sell large items like appliances for example.  They will often give away their damaged pallets for free.  There are several only slightly damaged ones that will still work well.  If you follow me on Facebook you’d know that I’ve seen pallets laying out on the side of the road too!  Anyway, check out these creative pallet bed frames from Graham & Co.

For the full tutorial for this pretty wood tree pallet headboard go to Little Bits Of.

Here are some more budget friendly headboards from HGTV.com using chalkboards, cork, metal, and flea market finds.

This is a cute idea for a chalk headboard.  Change it up as you wish!

BHG has some great DIY ideas and repurposed furniture ideas reusing a fireplace screen, shutters, or doors.

So the next time you see a shipping pallet laying around, pick it up; or maybe you’ll think twice before leaving those garage sale shutters behind!

 

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30th Jul2012

Recycled Coffee Filter Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

I made this Coffee Filter Wreath a few months ago.  I came across my left over coffee filters the other day and thought I’d go online to look for some DIY inspiration.  I found some great ideas and some new favorite blogs.  Oh and by the way, here is how I made this Coffee Filter Wreath for about $5.00.

This is perfect to pin on your lapel as a brooch; this elegant Recycled Coffee Filter Flower is by Design By Night.

An adorable craft for Spring are these lovely and dainty flower baskets from Urban Comfort.  These would make cute bridal shower or baby shower favors.

New York designer Vilma Farrell, designs these gorgeous Coffee Filter Lamps I found on Alternative Consumer.

This beautiful Coffee Filter Pom Pom Garland from Craft Gossip adds whimsy to a shabby chic birthday party or baby shower.

Aunt Peaches made these beautiful rose bouquets by mixing latex craft paint and water to dye the coffee filters.

Believe it or not, this if a milk jug adorned with coffee filters turned lamp!  What a great idea from Make Handmade.

Lastly, this fabulous Dutch Blog, By Miekk, shows you how to cleverly make coffee filter gift tags and gift wrap.

I hope you were as inspired as I was! Now… what to do with mine???

 

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17th Jul2012

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

by Dinah Wulf

Hello everyone!  I’m Barbara from Chase the Star, and I’m thrilled to be a guest here at DIY Inspired!  I’m such a fan of Dinah’s work, so having an opportunity to share one of my projects with you guys is so exciting!  I have a super simple project you can make with what you may already have (or can run to the dollar store to pick up), a Mason Jar Soap Dispenser!   I’d seen these pinned and around the web a while back, so today, I figured maybe I can try to figure out how to make them myself!

What you’ll need:

  1. Mason jars
  2. Glue (I like E6000 for these kinds of projects)
  3. Pumps (I bought some cheap soap dispensers and used theirs)
  4. Hand soap, or lotion, or whatever filler you’d like
  5. Drill
  6. Hammer
  7. Nail
  8. Twine (optional)
  9. Love (mandatory) ;)

Tutorial:

Take the lid off the mason jar and separate its parts.  With a nail and hammer, puncture a few holes on the top of the lid.  Then with a drill and the biggest drill bit you have (ok, use your judgment here!), drill right through the holes to create an opening large enough to fit your pump securely.  Put the pump through the hole.

I glued the lid parts together so they wouldn’t slip, although in retrospect, not sure if that was necessary.  Better be safe than sorry I guess!  Once the glue dried, I made sure to clean the jar and lid/pump, before I actually put the soap in it (oh, the irony!).  I wanted to make sure all the drill, nail, and hammer cooties were washed away.  Then simply filled the jar with the hand soap (also a dollar store find) and added the twine as a rustic and decorative touch.

In about 30 minutes, we went from this, to this:

You can get really creative with what you put in the jars; I love these for any other occasion, or just around your house!   I made 3 of these in half an hour, and spent about $6 for the soap, and the dispensers, the rest came from my good ol’ supply closet.  Pretty simple isn’t it?  Again, a big thank you to Dinah for giving me this great opportunity!  Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at Chase the Star sometime soon!

 

 

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16th Jul2012

DIY Cupcake Stand

by Dinah Wulf

The BEST part of this DIY Cupcake Stand project is that I bought these blue trays years ago for $2.00 a piece on sale.  I have used them MULTIPLE times for baby showers, birthday parties, Super Bowl parties, and everyday entertaining.

I wanted to use them again for my daughter’s birthday party.  This time, however I wanted to create more height and dimension to the table to make the presentation better. I purchased two candlestick holders from a local thrift store for $1.25 each. I added a small wooden circle cut out so that the platters would be more stable and glued it to the top of the candlestick.  I decided to paint them white with paint I already had.  I simply attached the candlesticks with E6000 adhesive.

You can purchase E6000 here: E-6000 Med Visc 1-Ounce Adhesive

Here are some tips when completing this DIY Cupcake Stand Project:

  • Make sure that the platters you choose are food safe.
  • Wash all platters and candlestick holders and remove all stickers before you begin.
  • When aligning your platters, place them against a corner for more accurate alignment (see photo).
  • Place something heavy on top of the top platter until it dries completely.
  • Follow the directions on your glue as directed for drying times.
  • Do not wash your Cupcake Stand in the washer, rather hand wash them.

Here are some more after photos.

 

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09th Jul2012

Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

Recently, I wrote a post on DIY Butterfly Wall Art from items I found in my craft closet.  With my daughter’s garden themed birthday party coming up, I decided to make another craft scrap art piece.  I wanted to use it as part of the decorations at her birthday party, as well as hang it in her room after.

Once again, I didn’t have to buy anything new.  I had every item already sitting in my craft closet.  I even had another ugly painting that I inherited when my husband and I moved in together.  If you don’t have an old ugly painting, blank canvases can be purchased at any craft store.  Also consider going to a thrift store and recycle an old one.  It may even come with a frame you can reuse.

Here is what I used for my Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art project.

  • Old painting or canvas
  • Burlap
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Craft paint
  • Spouncer
  • Stencils
  • Paper plate
  • Glue gun and glue sticks
  • Craft Butterflies

I started off by covering the painting with burlap that I had from my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project by attaching it with a staple gun.  Make sure you pull the fabric taught as you staple it.  Next, I laid out my stencils and butterflies in the order I wanted them placed on the canvas and took a digital photo of it.

I stenciled my daughter’s name on the bottom right and stenciled a butterfly in the center.  Check out my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project for stenciling tips and tricks.  Next, referring back to my digital photo, I hot glued each butterfly onto the canvas.

Both quickly and easily I have a unique and personalized party and room decoration that didn’t cost me a dime!!

 

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02nd Jul2012

Reupholstering a Dumpster Find

by Dinah Wulf
Written by Loren Crane

 

I thank you for Dinah for  letting share my new chair with you guys. If you remember my last chair was done with Ikea fabric.

 

I decided to go in another adventure in reupholstering a chair. The new chair is completely different from the other one I did and it had different challenges. I again found this beauty by the dumpster months ago. It just seating in my porch getting abused by my cat. My kitty and dog love to abuse furniture that does not belong in our home. I believe they smell other animals on fabric and they start just smelling it and stretching their nail on it. Also with the warm weather coming in and the bugs coming out, I decided to start reupholstering process. I really did not want to be outside in 90 degree weather.

 

The first thing to do was to remove the fabric from the frame of the chair. Removing the fabric is my least favorite part because there are thousand of staple to remove. Unlike the previous chair this chair was factory made and there was not as many staples but it took three days to remove all the fabric. It took so long because I was doing it all by my lonesome. I finally convince the hobby to help remove the last of the fabric since I need some muscle to pull it off.

 

Here are the tools you might need:

 

1. Knife
2. Tack lifter
3. Fabric Scissors
4. Pliers

 

You might also want to wear a mask when removing the fabric. The fabric will through up dust that will irritate your sinus, trust me.

 

 

The first thing I did was to find a place where the fabric was no longer attached to the frame. Then I a used the tack lifter to help pull the staples away from the frame enough to where they can be pulled out with the pliers. The foam in the inside of the chair was in good condition so this time around I won’t need to replace it.

 

 

You might find this funny but I use a oven mitten to remove the metal things ( I really don’t know what they are) in one pull. You will need to be careful not to damage the frame. At times when removing staples you can crack the wood.
In some places where the staples were impossible to remove I use a knife or fabric scissor take off the fabric. I really was trying not to damage the frame of the chair while removing the staples. The chair is modern and the wood is not really good quality wood.

 

 

The bottom fabric of the chair needs to be removed by placing the chair upside down and removing the black fabric. I going to keep the black fabric because it helps keep out dust and other things from getting in the chair.
On the top third bottom picture you see a thin rope where the stables there was twice the amount of staples. You will need to remove staples from the top and the bottom of the rope line.

 

 

The inside foam was cut into different panels and each one was inserted in between two pieces of fabric. One fabric was the reupholstering fabric and the other looked like muslin which was stapled to the frame of the chair.
Once the purple fabric was taken off the back of the chair it expose the foam and then I just pulled it up to slip off the foam from both fabrics. Then I just removed all the staples from the inside of the frame of the chair. The foam looks like tentacles…I must be tired.
I am sorry I am repeating the word remove but that’s all you are doing. haha. Trust me this step is super frustrating. Because it seems like the staples never end.

 

 

I finally finished!! All of foam and the batting was in good shape and it did not need to be replace. So I just Lysol the crap out of it  (excuse my language, hehe).

 

 

The only piece of fabric that I did not remove was where the cushion would rest. This piece of fabric is attached to the inside of the frame while the chair was in two different pieces in the manufacturing process. It would be impossible to attach a new piece of fabric. I decide to leave it and I’ll show you what I did with it later on.
Here is the link to the previous chair I did.
 I am so excited to get started on the fabric. As of right now I have $0.00 invested. It great to find a free chair.Come and take a look at the finished chair here!

Here is a sneek peek, hehe

 

 

Till Later,
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26th Jun2012

Upcycled Baseball Themed Dresser

by Dinah Wulf
Written By: Barbara from Chase The Star



Hi there!  I’m Barbara from Chase the Star, a little blog about decorating and crafting on a budget.  I love to take something in need of some DIY love, and make it look fabulous!  I just recently stumbled upon Dinah’s blog, and must say, I’m a big fan already!  I’m so excited to be a part of her blog today!  

A few months ago I updated my kid’s old dresser and shared it with my readers, it was a real labor of love, so I thought I’d share it with you here at DIY Inspired!

In my world there is family and baseball-not necessarily in that order.  My husband has passed his love for the game down to the boys and well in my case, if you can’t beat ‘em…

We’ve recently moved into our new house and I’ve been in a decorating frenzy.  The boys insisted on selecting a theme for their room; yup you guessed it, golf.  Ok, I jest—you were paying attention after all!  Baseball is of course the ‘theme’ for this room, and more specifically the Boston Red Sox (no we are not from Boston; this team is just a random passion my husband acquired in his childhood). 
So in keeping with my need/love for cheap-ness I decided to add a personal touch to their room by updating an old Ikea dresser they’ve had for years.   I decided on what else but a Red Sox, red dresser—get it?  I went with subway style lettering depicting several different common phrases associated with the Red Sox.  Had to consult the hubs on that one (and also our “Fever Pitch” dvd). 

Who knows who #9 Williams is??? Everyone in my house does. Everyone. 

The entire piece was lightly sanded and the drawer fronts were painted in a pale grey that I had leftover from another project (because I’d run out of white).  I bought some vinyl letters at Michael’s, and placed them on the drawer fronts intentionally overlapping some of the words passed the end of the drawers. 

My trusty assistant

 

I enlisted my 3 year old assistant to paint the entire piece Red (Cherries Jubilee by Glidden).  I kid!  He got tired after 4 strokes of the brush. 
Once the entire piece dried overnight, I carefully peeled the vinyl lettering off and sanded the edges, as well as over the letters for a distressed look.

I love the way this turned out!
See the intentional overlapping passed the ends of the drawers?  Love!
This project took lots of patience, and about 2 day’s worth of time, but it was sooo worth it!  The boys are so HAPPY with it, and I’ve even caught them bragging to their friends about it.  

Mom SCORES!

Please stop by my blog Chase the Star for a visit, you’d make my day! :)  Dinah, for letting me share my Subway Dresser your readers!

P.S.  Here’s a quick preview of some of my most popular posts:

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser 
Union Jack Stools
File Cabinet Makeover





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25th Jun2012

Repurposed Plant Hanger

by Dinah Wulf

Oh my! This may be one of my most fun projects to date!

When my husband and I moved into our home, I found this pile of junk lying on the ground on the side of the house.

The first thing that caught my eye was the rusty iron plant hanger.  I didn’t quite know what I was going to do with it, but I knew I wanted it in the “keep” pile.  Fast forward five months later, it hit me.  I would turn it into a chandelier for my daughter’s 2nd birthday party.  I thought it’d be cute, hanging above the food or dessert table for her garden inspired birthday party. Here is a before and after shot of my Repurposed Plant Hanger.

 

But get this… the BEST part is that I spent $10.50 on the entire project.  I ransacked my craft closet and only needed to buy one can of spray paint and some plastic beads.  I had everything else!

The first thing I did was rinsed the plant hanger down with the garden hose.  I brushed it slightly with a wire brush from our metal gate project.  After it dried, I spray painted it a glossy turquoise color. I hung it to dry and touched it up as needed.

 

Decorating it was the fun part. I used green flower gems I had from scrapbooking, wire earring hoops from my DIY Wine Charm project, butterflies from my DIY Butterfly Wall Art project, and I strung the beads I bought on the hemp string from my hanging Mason jar lantern project.  The hot glue gun I used worked fantastically and I didn’t even use two hot glue sticks!

Here are some after photos.  It turned out so well, that I am going to hang it in my daughter’s room!

 

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18th Jun2012

Repurposed Phonebook Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

I don’t know why I get SO annoyed when this shows up at my front door step.

The phonebook.  Every year I get it; it stays in the plastic bag and gets shoved in this cupboard I can’t reach above my stove.  When I get the next one, I throw the old one away (still in the bag).  Since the internet and mobile phones, I don’t even know why they still waste paper and continue printing them.  I mean, will my daughter ever even know what the phonebook is?

Anyway, in mid disposal and very close to committing DIY Inspired blasphemy, I remembered that I could not simply throw out this phonebook rather I would have to do my crafty diligence and repurpose it into something new.

I have experience with creatively recycling old books.  I have made a book page wreath, book page water colored flowers, book page magnets, and I even hollowed out an old antique book to make a book safe.  Since I get so vexed with its arrival, I decided I wanted to turn this phonebook into something pretty.  Paper flowers were my answer.

There are several origami flower tutorials online.  I decided on a variation of a Kusudama flower tutorial from Folding Trees.  For origami tutorials, I think it’s best to just show the pictures of this repurposed phonebook flowers.

 

It’s quite simple.  I used 6”X6” pages using a paper cutter.  Each flower uses five square sheets.  You can make them any size you wish.  Consider using them to adorn gifts, make a garland, or make an entire bouquet.  Here are a couple after photos.

 

Ok, so that’s two down, at five pages per flower and 1000 pages in the phonebook…uh…

 

 

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06th Jun2012

Repurposed Coffee Cans

by Dinah Wulf

Not that long ago, I posted on my Facebook page, “What can I repurpose a large coffee can into? Hmmmm…” Joann said a flower pot. Flomo said a centerpiece. Charlotte suggested baking apple bread in it!  Such great ideas!  After some thought, here are some ideas I came up with for repurposed coffee cans.

Craft Organization

You can use a coffee can to store miscellaneous craft supplies in your craft closet.  Use it upright or turn it on its side for multiple utility.  This is what I ultimately ended up doing with it… for now. Note my repurposed spice rack and mason jars in the picture too… tee hee.

 

Flower Pot

Thank you, Joann!!!

 

Gift Wrapping

Use a coffee can as a clever way to wrap a house warming gift of kitchen supplies.  Also consider painting it or wrapping it with gift wrapping paper or decorative scrapbook paper.  Embellish it with ribbon and make a personalized gift tag.

 

Guest Room Necessities

Use it to store necessities for any visitors staying in your guest room to make them feel more welcome.  Fill it with magazines, travel guides, maps, towels, shampoo, soap, q-tips, cotton, candies, or razors. By the way, check out my Scrabble art work tutorial if you’d like!

Have any other ideas?  Please leave a comment!

***Would love your vote for Top Eco-friendly Blog! You can vote once a day! Thank you!

 

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23rd May2012

Repurposed Bottle Cap Magnets

by Dinah Wulf

The other day, I was reorganizing my drawers and found some Christmas photo cards from last year.  I love these cards because it showcases my friends and their families as they grow over the years.  The whole family is dressed up and looking their best.  The only problem is that the cards sit in a drawer, get tucked away in a box, or even get tossed in the trash.  Looking at these photos, I wanted to recycle them into something that I can look at daily, so I made these Repurposed Bottle Cap Magnets.

 

This project takes some time; days in fact. It takes a while because I, of course, took the cheap route! I chose to use decoupage medium because it was already in my craft closet.  For quicker results, you can use resin.

Here are the materials you need:

  • Bottle Caps
  • Decoupage medium like Mod Podge
  • Old pictures
  • A half inch circle craft punch
  • Magnets
  • Strong adhesive, like E 6000
  • Time

First, fill each bottle cap ¾ of the way with decoupage medium. Gently lift and tap the cap on your counter to even and smooth out the glue.  This also helps eliminate small air bubbles.  Set them aside (I waited 24 hours).  Meanwhile, use the craft punch to punch out pictures that you would like to use.  You don’t have to use pictures for this.  I have also tried patterned scrapbook paper and small stickers.  You can even use magazine photos as well.

 

Once the glue has hardened (it doesn’t have to be COMPLETELY hardened), put another small dab of glue on top and insert your photo.  Add another layer of glue.  Again, gently tap the bottle cap to a hard surface to even and smooth out the glue.

 

Allow the second layer to dry.  This time, I waited 48 hours.  This photo shows the 24 hour mark.  Next, attach the magnets to the back of the bottle cap using a strong adhesive.  The glue will dry completely clear over time (approximately 48-72 hours).

 

Consider packaging these cute magnets in a small treat bag with a personalized label and give as homemade gifts!

 

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22nd May2012

Repurposed Shadow Box

by Dinah Wulf

 

I am very happy to be a guest here at DIY Inspired! I want to thank Dinah for the opportunity.  I am Loren over at  Pandora’s Craft box. I am a full time mom and crafter. I hate to cook but love to make messes. I am clumsy and hot tempered but I love with all that I have in my heart  to give. I am hoping you all enjoy my journey in making my dreams come true and make a difference.
I am so excited to show you what I did last weekend. I was up to 2 am doing this project all by myself! It almost sounds like a song, haha. Yep, I am a little corny.
I am rating this post

 

 

I have had this shadow box for a couple of years and it has always been in the way. Its to big and bulky and it would never stay in place. Finally on Friday night I pick it up to place it somewhere else and it came to me. I’ve been looking for a footstool on craiglist, by the dumpster and The Salvation Army and I can’t find the right one. Why not make one? The stool is sturdy enough to handle the weight and big enough for my cute little tootsies.
The first thing I did was run to home depot and get stool legs which I then stained. One piece of advice don’t start staining in 90 degree weather because the wood won’t have enough time to soak in the stain and will dry to fast.

 

 

While doing this project I learned something new which was the thread rod extends. I was not told that by the associate. Don’t get me wrong I like the the HD associates and they are very helpful and knowledgeable but this little piece of information would have sped up the process. Another associate did recommend a T-nut to be used to hold the stool legs in place. I was so happy he recommended it, forgive the blurriness as i intended to take a better one but… well you’ll see.

 

 

The T-nuts have little teeth at the bottom to dig in the wood to make sure the legs stay in place. First you will need to make the hole and then hammer the t-nuts in the hole. Then you can attach leg bottom.

 

 

I cut a piece of airtrex foam chair pad to fit the top of the shadow box and then cut the Ikea fabric to cover the foam.

 

 

Second piece of advice make sure you fold in the edge of the fabric so you have a nice hold. If not you will need to take out the staples and do the hold thing all over again, like I did. I had already started gluing the trim when I figured out what I did wrong. The glue I used was fabric glue and it dries clear so it was not a big problem.

 

 

At the center of the box I decide to use Ikea fabric to cover the T-nuts.

 

 

Ta-Da!! I finished my footstool. If I wanted I could even attach the stool to the wall so it would not move. I have not decided if I want to remove the mounting hanger from it.

 

 

I know you where wondering what book I am reading, right? Are you reading any of the same ones?
I hope you liked my journey from shadow box to footstool. Now to go read a book. If you want to see my tutorial on the matching chair Here
Link Parties I attend

 

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09th May2012

Recycled Water Bottle Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

Repurposed DASANI Water Bottles

DASANI believes in not only promoting the recycling of its bottles, but also promoting the many cool items the recycled bottles can become.  That’s why they partner with companies with similar mindsets, such as New Balance.

DASANI and New Balance have partnered together for the launch of newSKYTM, a line of footwear made from recycled plastic bottles. Together, they are working to both show consumers that there can be all kinds of exciting ways to recycle materials into new uses, and that we all need to do our part in protecting our environment.

I decided to tackle another Repurposed DASANI Water Bottle project (check out my Recycled Water Bottle Butterflies I made recently).  This time, with Mother’s Day coming up, I wanted to create some eco-friendly gift wrapping by making Recycled Water Bottle Flowers.

I started with the small 12 ounce bottles.  These were the perfect size.  There are several ways of making flowers, just use your imagination.  First I cut the bottles in half and started cutting.  Use both the top and bottom for your flowers.

Paint or decorate your flowers any way you wish with craft paint, spray paint, and/or glitter.  I used a metallic paint.  For the center, I folded colored scrapbook paper lengthwise and fringed it with scissors.  Next, roll the fringed paper as shown and insert it into the center of your flower. I used hot glue to attach the flowers to my gift wrapped packages.

Wait! There’s more…

New Facebook Photo App

Get creative with Facebook’s new timeline feature and support a good cause by ‘recycling’ your Facebook photos into an eye-catching image to top off your profile. For each photomontage created through the app, DASANI® will make a donation to the national non-profit organization, Keep America Beautiful in support of recycling initiatives on college campuses throughout the U.S.

Fans who have ‘liked’ the DASANI® Facebook page can access the application on the Photosynthesis tab of the Facebook page.  First, fans will select a photo from either their Facebook albums or a design from DASANI®, to create into a photo-mosaic. The Photosynthesis app will ‘recycle’ all of the fan’s existing Facebook photos into a stunning mosaic that fits perfectly as a cover image on their profile. Each time a fan participates, DASANI® will donate $1 to the nationally recognized nonprofit, Keep American Beautiful, in support of their Bin Grant Program on college campuses.

In addition, the fan’s profile photo will be added to the DASANI® mosaic of supporters, which will be featured on the Photosynthesis tab.

Thanks to DASANI for sponsoring today’s post!

 

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08th May2012

Recycled Mason Jar Lantern

by Dinah Wulf

Twine DIY Lantern (7)

I’ve seen so many great Mason jar tutorials. I’ve even posted a few Mason jar projects like the Candy Mason Jar and Frosted Mason Jar. As you may know I heart Martha Stewart.  I was inspired by one of her episodes the other day. One of her guests made a Knotted Hanging Lantern. The second I saw it I thought, “I’m SO making that”.  In fact, I already had all the materials (for the most part).

Twine DIY Lantern (8)

My FIRST mistake was that I watched the show while doing 100 other things, and did NOT read the tutorial online before I attempted this.  All I knew is that I had an old spaghetti jar and some twine and I was ready to craft. I tried two type os twine, and the one pictured below worked THE BEST by far! This project was so hard to take pictures for, so forgive me for showing you pictures with both types of twine!

 

So, I remember that Martha’s guest said to measure across lengthwise times ten and then cut eight pieces, so you’ll end up with eight REALLY long pieces of twine.  Lay them across one another in two bundles of four.   Attempt to make a lanyard knot.  Below is my attempt with the crappy twine… (Don’t worry there is a diagram on Martha’s site). By the way, my second and third time doing this with the Hemp twine, I only measured lengthwise times six… much better!

OK, now what they DIDN’T tell you was that this part was so hard and frustrating because your string is SO long.  I practically broke a sweat trying to do this part.  On the show, they made it look so easy, but they only used short pieces for demonstration purposes. Ugh!

Measure out the desired length (in my case 2 inches) and tie a knot with each adjacent string.

Continue tying knots…below are a few pictures using the Hemp twine.  Insert your Mason Jar or whatever vessel you choose (recycled is best!).  I tied a knot, a few inches above the lip of the Mason jar, and a second one closer to the top.

I inserted a tea light and some pebbles.  Here are a few pictures.

 

If you want the actual Martha Stewart tutorial, here it is.  It’s WAY better than mine!!!

 

 

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02nd May2012

DIY Recycled Colored Glass

by Dinah Wulf

DIY Colored Glass (560x420)

Mother’s Day is right around the corner!  I wanted to share a simple, quick, and inexpensive Mother’s Day gift idea.  This project is great for decorative purposes, or you can also make them for wedding or party centerpieces.  Here is how I made these decorative glass bottles.

Here are the materials you need:

  • Glasses, bottles, or vases
  • Enamel ceramic glass paint, any color
  • Paper Plates

The glasses pictured have been sitting in my cupboard for years!  I found them when I moved.  If you don’t have old glasses or bottles, I recommend purchasing them at the dollar store, thrift store, or craft supply store.  Depending on the size, you shouldn’t have to spend more than $2 per bottle. I find that old oil based dressing bottles work well. A great online resource for inexpensive glass jars and bottles is Sunburst Bottle.

First, put a generous amount of paint into your bottle. I chose white because I think it’s a timeless color, but these turn out beautifully in any color.  I think a pastel blue or pastel green would be pretty too.

Slowly twist and tilt your bottle.  This takes some patience, depending on the size of your bottle.  I didn’t really put enough paint in this particular bottle and it took forever to cover it. Don’t ask me why I just didn’t put more paint in it… duh!

Place your bottles upside down on a paper plate. I used Styrofoam because it does not stick to your glass.  After several minutes, lift the bottles carefully, let them drain, and transfer them upside down onto another clean paper plate.

After the paint has thoroughly drained, let them dry right side up.  After they are completely dry, use a damp paper towel to remove any unwanted dry paint on the outer surface.  Here are some after shots.

 

Tip: If you use water base acrylic craft paint, you can easily wash it off and start all over to fit your next party theme or change in your home decor.   I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy Mother’s Day craft tutorial! Repurpose, reinvent!

 

 

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30th Apr2012

Recycled Water Bottle Butterfly

by Dinah Wulf

Recycled Water Bottle Butterflies (23) (560x420)

I was originally inspired by this great post from Instructables, one of my favorite websites. I am throwing a garden themed party this year for my daughter’s birthday and thought that these would be perfect. They would also make cute adornments for gifts.

Here is how I made these cute Recycled Water Bottle Butterflies.

Materials:

  • DASANI water bottle
  • Utility knife and scissors
  • Sand Paper (I used 100 grit)
  • Craft paint
  • Glitter
  • Plastic Beads
  • Twine
  • Hot Glue

Make sure your DASANI water bottle is clean and dry. Using a utility knife, cut off the rounded top and bottom of the water bottle so that you have a perfect cylinder.  Next, cut that cylinder in half, lengthwise to make two pieces.

 

Next, cut each piece in half to make four pieces.  This will now be four butterflies.  Fold each piece in half as shown. Cut a “V” shape on the top and bottom, and then another on each side.  You can cut and shape the butterfly wings as you like.  Gently sand each butterfly.  This will help the paint to adhere nicely to the plastic. Make sure you clean off any debris before you start to paint.

 

I used craft paint and glitter to decorate each butterfly.  For the bodies, I hot glued black plastic beads together and then hot glued twine in a “V” shape for the antennas.  IMPORTANT: When hot gluing the body to the butterfly, place the hot glue on the bead and then glue onto the plastic.  Do not put hot glue directly onto the plastic or it will melt.

 

Here are some after photos. The tutorial is for the liter bottle; however I made some with the small 12 oz. bottles too! Check them out (bottom right photo)!  If you add a few more beads, the 12 oz. bottles make perfect dragonflies.

 

Why I chose DASANI:

DASANI has partnered with a variety of organizations to promote the importance of recycling:

• Coca-Cola Recycling: Since 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling has worked with the Coca-Cola system and community partners to increase the collection of beverage packaging for use again in North America. They currently manage 30 dedicated recycling centers, a commercial brokerage network, an online recycling bin fulfillment site and the execution of hundreds of local recycling programs around the country.

• Recyclebank: Since 2006, Coca-Cola has partnered with Recyclebank, a meaningful rewards program that motivates people to recycle by rewarding them for their efforts. Recyclebank Points are earned based on the weight of the recyclables and are redeemable for valuable discounts, free products, gift cards and movie tickets, to name just a few.

Keep America Beautiful/Bin Grant Program: The Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Bin Grant Program donates recycling bins to kick-start recycling programs for local organizations. Through your support, you’ve helped us grant bins to non-profits, government, civic organizations, schools and for profit corporations.

Check out this quick YouTube video!

DASANI’s PlantBottle® Saves Energy

Thanks to DASANI for sponsoring today’s post!

 

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29th Mar2012

Upcycled Sweaters

by Dinah Wulf

Spring it here!!! It’s time to put away all those winter sweaters, or in my world upcycle them!  Upcycling is taking something old and repurposing it into something new.  As you may (or may not) know, I love promoting Etsy handmade sellers because I respect their craft and I just think it’s amazing all the ideas that these talented folks come up with. Here are a few of my favorite items for sale that are currently on Etsy.  All of them are hand-crafted from upcycled sweaters… so awesome AND eco-chic (hey, that’s a new term I am officially coining today)!

These cupcake pin cushions made out of felted wool sweaters are a must have for every crafter.  Complete with a cherry on top, it doubles as an ornament too!

I found some SUPER cozy pillows from Pams Warm Creations and Fancy Marmot.

Spring also means Spring cleaning and organizing!  Check out these adorable upcycled hangers made from wool and cashmere by Folk City.  What a great idea!

I don’t care how nice it is outside, every cup of coffee needs this eco-friendly coffee cup cozy made out of vintage upcycled sweaters.

Display your Spring flowers in this clever sweater vase made out of the sleeve of a vintage sweater.

And last but not least, just in time for Easter, the Easter bunny is bound to fill up this eco-friendly sweater Easter basket full of goodies made by Seasons of Wool.

 

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22nd Mar2012

Repurposed Mailbox Ideas

by Dinah Wulf

So, our new house is coming along.  We’ve been doing a lot of small things like changing light fixtures, cleaning carpets, and updating the old mailbox.  Here is a picture of the old one.

My husband, for some reason hated this mailbox.  Probably because it still had the old owner’s names engraved in it.  So we decided to replace it.  Ta Da!

Although plain and simple, to us it’s much better!  On a side note, if you decide to replace your mailbox, don’t get a plastic mount, spend the extra five bucks for and get a metal one.  The plastic one is not secure enough… at all!

Anyway, after replacing the mailbox, I thought it’d be cute to put a little one by my daughter’s playhouse outside.  Along the way I found some cute inspiring ideas for repurposing mailboxes that I had to share them.

This playroom mailbox is absolutely adorable.  Posted by I Am Momma Hear Me Roar, I can’t think of a better way to repurpose an old mailbox!

Another Play Room Organization idea; one of my favorite sites, Apartment Therapy featured this one.

How cute are these Personalized Mail Boxes by fellow bloggers, Anderson Family Crew???  These would be so cute for Valentine’s Day or organization for a little girl’s room.

Lastly, I love this idea for a wedding; an old tin mailbox for all the cards and gift cards.  It’s so simple and beautiful!

******

And the winner is… SABRINA!!! Thank you to all who entered the Simply Spray giveaway!! For those of you who haven’t, “like” Simply Spray on Facebook and they will donate a $1 to Project Linus!

 

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22nd Feb2012

Repurposed Spice Rack

by Dinah Wulf

The other day I was doing some spring cleaning and purging. Although I feel like I’m ALWAYS cleaning, I noticed a little bit of dust on my spice rack.  Then it dawned on me.  I have had that spice rack for over five years and I have NEVER used it.  Why do I have a feeling that many of you can relate?  Anyway, here it is. Even in the picture you can see how full they are!

Naturally, my next step was to Google “shelf life of spices”. I came across some interesting links. After a little research, I found out and answered the following questions:

1. Are your spices older than three years old? YES

2. Have they lost their color? YES

3. Have they lost their aroma? YES

4. Do you even know what the heck some of them are used for? NO

There you have it… time to get rid of it. Just kidding! Being the hoarder that I am, I could never throw it away! I would repurpose it; but into what? I looked around my craft room and found two containers and two drawers of craft items that I thought would fit perfectly.

I dumped out each container.

And washed and dried each bottle.

My beads, shells, stickers, pins, charms, and the like are all now organized in one place and can easily be seen! Here are some pictures of my repurposed spice rack.

 

 

 

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