woven pin board {tutorial} | jones design company The other day I found a large {3 ft x 4 ft} cork board at the thrift store. I figured I could always use another pin board and the price was right, so I brought it home. I was thinking I would cover it with linen like this one from potterybarn: But then while perusing some of my favorite blogs, I came across this photo at Grace Happens: That little woven bench caught my eye and I just knew that was what I wanted to do with the enormous bulletin board. Want to make one too? Here is what you’ll need: :: cork board :: burlap {or other fabric of choice} :: scissors, staple gun, ruler, sharpie, thumb tacks STEP ONE: cut two pieces of burlap to fit cork board. STEP TWO: cut strips of burlap. With a ruler and sharpie, mark equal increments on your fabric piece {mine are 3 inches}. Draw lines with the ruler and cut. STEP THREE: staple strips to the back of the board STEP FOUR: add a row of strips to the vertical edge. When you turn the cork board over, it will look like this: Trim excess, if you wish.
How to Turn a Pallet into a Garden Good news and bad news. I had planned to film a short video showing you how to make a pallet garden, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I was stapling the landscape fabric onto the pallet when it started drizzling and got really windy. That’s the bad news. So keep reading my pallet loving friends, instructions on how to make your own pallet garden are just a few lines away… Find a Pallet The first thing you need to do is–obviously–find a pallet. Don’t just take the first pallet you find. Collect Your Supplies For this project, you’ll need the pallet you found, 2 large bags of potting soil, 16 six packs of annual flowers (one six pack per opening on the face of the pallet, and two six packs per opening on the top of the completed pallet garden), a small roll of landscape fabric, a staple gun, staples, and sand paper. Get Your Pallet into Shape Once you’ve dragged your pallet home, give it a once over. Let the Stapling Begin! Lay the pallet face down. Now for the sides. Caring For your Pallet
Enamel-painted Vases January 11, 2011 | Be Inspired | Projects | The Sweetest | Comments Enamel painted vases – I’m in love! If you like to paint, I have a really fun project to share today! My inspiration for these easy DIY enamel painted vases came from a restaurant in Sonoma called El Dorado Kitchen. I’ve always loved the fresh, modern design of the lobby and the eye-catching green and white enamel painted vases that are displayed on white shelves. I decided to make my own cost-friendly version of this design, which included a quick Martha Stewart tutorial and a trip to the Dollar Store, where I picked up these three vases. Supplies: Three different sized vases from the Dollar Store (here,here and here), dishwasher safe PermEnamel paint in Mediterranean Blue and White (or whatever color you prefer), PermEnamel Surface Conditioner from Michaels Arts and Crafts store, paper towels, paint brush and a mixing bowl. Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Remember these beautiful enamel-painted vases are only for DECOR.
recycling project no. 1 You know those newsprint ads that we all get in the mail? I really really really dislike it when I see those things in my mailbox. They're ugly and a waste of ink and paper. I toss them in the trash the first chance I get. I cut the newsprint into thin strips and randomly glued them onto the same recycled cardstock I use for my cards. When I covered an area that I thought would be enough for the project I cut out a section to use for wall art. Framed and pretty! I left the fringed edge to use for a card and the last two pieces could be turned into anything else but I opted for bookmarks. I'm sure the newsprint will age and the colors will change but that may make it look more interesting. Sorry for the picture quality. I think this project also may have been inspired by the 'green' blogging that's going on this week. Edit: Thank you to Whip Up for mentioning my project and welcome to those of you visiting via their post!
Braided Rag Rug pin your three sewn strips anywhere you can be comfy (you are going to be there for a while! i did mine to my runner on my dining room table) this is the start of your braid. once you get close to the end of your braid you are going to fold over the end of your strip and snip with your a slit. grab the end of your new strip (the end without the slit) and pull through both slits (from behind) this will adjoin your strips and you will be able to continue your braid this is what it should look like, now keep braiding. once you get close to the end of your braid you are going to do the same as you did before and make a slit at the ends of your braided strips and at the beginning of your next strips this time wanted to add color so i took one strip of the honey bun and two of the white strips i cut out. it should now look like this. this will be what you do through out the whole process of braiding your rug. one color in the middle and two whites on the outside. look what you made!
Decorate Jar Lids Today’s projects are ones that use up old bits of paper scraps I can’t bear to throw away. I save these pieces of paper (gift wrap, envelope liners, art papers, origami papers, etc.) and then wonder what can I do with them? I have covered pencils and jar lids to brighten them up a bit here. The jars are ones I have salvaged from the recycling bin and the pencils are just plain ones you can buy at a dollar store. CLICK HERE for the full instructions for both the jar lids and covered pencils projects after the jump! Materials paper scraps Mod Podge in matte finish pencil scissors medium craft brush jars with screw lids plain wood pencils unsharpened Instructions for jars 1. 2. 3. Instructions for pencils 1.
Illustrating with Thread and Pins The images within post are from various art installations and projects by Debbie Smyth. View more of the artist’s work at her blog. Notes about Smyth (from bio published at New British Artists): Debbie Smyth graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Contemporary Textiles in 2008. She has exhibited widely since then, selling her work to the public as well as being commissioned for a number of corporate projects from the New York Times to the Dorchester.Her playful yet sophisticated artworks are created by stretching a network of threads between accurately plotted pins. Artwork © Debbie Smyth Link via Designaside
The Magic With Corks If you enjoy in good wine and you didn’t trow away the old corks you can create interesting home gadgets that are both interesting and creative. Home decorating can be improved using one of the 25 home ideas with corks we presented here. You don’t need to spend money for your home, you can easily recycle and reuse the old corks for coasters, maths and much more. Stamps Thread Spool Corks Wreath Magnetic Cork Planters Cork Ball Key Chains Coasters Cork Letter Placecard Holders Trivet Bathmat Plant Marker Cheese Knives Cork Candles Cork Candle Votives Simple Cork Necklace Embroidered Cork Necklace Wine Corkboard Champagne Cork Knobs Wine Charms Lampshade Fridge Magnets Animal Sculptures Cork Pen Journaling corks arts, corks usage, diy corks
Painted Mason Jars Yes, they are everywhere. Yes, I have posted on them before. And yes, I am still smitten! How could I not be? They are affordable. Sometimes free. I should note...I'm a little obsessed with how the matte black came out and have more outside drying as I type this. Then, in my Pinterest crazed obsession, I found this little DIY image. This led me to trying my own version with a milk jar, fabric marker and glue gun.... She's not perfect, but I love that about her. For all you DIYers with questions on how to or the materials used for this project...I did a follow up post that can be found here. Wipe Off Weekly Menu Board I am a meal planner. I refuse to go grocery shopping without my week’s worth of meals planned out and list made. (It’s either that or wander aimlessly around the grocery store for two hours and then make ten more trips back during the week to get things I forgot.) Once I get the groceries unloaded, I usually forget what I planned for, so I put together this super easy wipe-off menu board to keep track of what’s for dinner each night! Wipe-Off Menu Board Tutorial Supplies: Picture frame with glass front (I love these 12×12 frames I found at Ben Franklin for only $7!) 1. 2. 3. 4. Now everyone in the family knows what’s for dinner each week! I decided my frame would look better black in my kitchen, so I spray painted it black. Little Birdie Secrets are regular contributors to Make and Takes and was born from the crafting obsession of three friends living in the Pacific Northwest.
What can you do with an old pallet? So many things! If you ever come across the opportunity to pick up a few pallets take a look at some of the ideas I have come across for recycling old pallets into furniture and other practical and decorative pieces. I would like to mention that the designs below were found at various sources on the Internet. Where possible I have mentioned the original source, but unfortunately too many do not. If you are the original designer for any of the furniture below, please let me know so that I can add your details. Make furniture for your home ABOVE: Mobius Living take pallets to a new level, offering clients the opportunity to buy ready-made coffee tables. ABOVE and BELOW: Who would have thought that a humble pallet could be transformed into so many practical pieces. ABOVE: All it takes is a few reclaimed timber pallets to make up your own living room furniture In the kitchen ABOVE and BELOW: Don't stop there... In the bedroom In the garden Pallets for pets Find and prepare your pallet
Turquoise Glass Jars Lately I've been intrigued by those lovely vintage blue glass jars you see on the tables of chic outdoor weddings. I did a little bit of research on these, to see how economical they were in bulk, and found that they can range anywhere from $5-$15 per jar, depending on how rare they are. I was a bit surprised by this, and thought there had to be a better way to achieve the same look, so I went in search of a way to "dye" a regular quart sized jar, to mimic the look of the old Ball Perfect Mason Jars. Here's my photo recap: I used a product called Vitrea 160, which is a transparent color for glass, in a shade called turquoise. I flipped my jar upside down and placed it into another plastic tupperware container, then brushed the outside of the jar with the mixture in thin, even strokes from top to bottom. The best part of this project (besides the fact that it's super easy) is that it's cheap. NOTE: This project is best suited for use with flowers and water, rather than with candles.