Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: kate’s tin travel frame
here come the last of the altoids tins diy projects, just in time for mother’s day! my mom is a bit of a globetrotter for work, and she has definitely honed her skills at packing lightly. but i hope i can add one more thing to her travel kit with this mini tin travel frame. the nice part is the storage for extra photos inside, so she can switch it up over the course of her travels. i also want to take this opportunity to apologize to my sister for unsolicited publication of this kid picture! enjoy, and happy mother’s day in advance! – kate CLICK HERE for the full project after the jump!
How to Sew a Fabric Bowl
January 14th, 2009 Email 566 users recommend Use your fabric bowl to store notions, buttons, jewelry, or other small trinkets. Linda Permann
diy wednesdays: door organizer
we tend to subscribe to the “a place for everything, and everything in its place” philosophy, but when it came to derek’s running-out-the-door essentials (phone, notebook, pen) we hadn’t quite worked out a solution. this fused felt door-handle organizer was a super simple way to eliminate a frantic and frustrating search from our morning routine. have fun!derek & lauren CLICK HERE for the full project instructions after the jump… Derek and Lauren’s Door Organizer
Food Coloring Markers
Update 3-9-14 -- Thanks to instructabler Conrad3000 for pointing this out, you can buy unfilled markers from Crayola! Saves some steps, that's for sure! I'm retiring my original set this year, so I'll give them a try.
Decorating ideas using wallpaper
I've had wallpaper on my mind ever since Chasing Paper licensed one of my designs for their self-adhesive, removable wallpaper collection (read about that here). I tried out one of the sample pieces on this TV tray. I might stick a chunk on the back of my iPad, too. It's fun to think about ways to add wallpaper to a home without the cost of doing a wall or an entire room. The panels at Chasing Paper are 2 ft. x 4 ft., so perfect for smaller projects like these:
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy wednesdays: wallpapered medicine cabinet
No one wants visitors snooping in their medicine cabinet- but hey, if they’re going to do it (and they are) you might as well give them something pretty to look at. Introducing color and pattern into this normally bland, antiseptic spot might even distract them from scrutinizing your personal stuff. CLICK HERE for the full project* after the jump! *This project is an excerpt from Lauren and Derek’s new book, Wallpaper Projects: More Than 50 Craft Ideas for Your Home, from Accents to Art.
Split Chain - step by step instructions
Tat the first part of the chain in the normal way, to the point where you want the two shuttle threads to meet. Join the core thread to the base of the first ring with a lock join and leave enough thread to work the 5 stitches needed to complete the chain, back towards the last chain stitch worked. Always leave a little less thread, as this will stretch as you work the backward stitches. Using the core thread shuttle, pull a loop of thread, from the back, to the front, taking great care not to twist the loop.
vintage-style book dustcovers
Looking at this picture, can you tell which of these books are actually hardbound? I’m not super fussy over the books on my shelves, but I will admit that sometimes a really garish or unattractive book spine will jump out from the bunch and irritate me every time I walk by. I don’t think I would ever take the leap to cover all of my books, but I really like the idea of using these nifty deceptive hardbound dustcovers by Alex Cobbe to gussy up the real eyesores in my collection. Alex used a few inexpensive materials — construction paper, a ruler, a gold pen — to quickly turn her collection of paperbacks into a library of classics — even the Chuck Norris book looks like a masterpiece :) This would be a fun rainy day activity, and the possibilities for customizing this look are endless.
Upcycle: Pillowcase to top tutorial
I teased some post a go asking what could I make with a pillowcase, ribbon and some lace? Here is the answer =] A pretty vintage top. I loved the flow this particular pillowcase had and since it was one of the last sets Ken had before we moved together, I didn’t think he’ll miss it hehe (it’s for a single bed and there is another one in case we need it) There are so many possibilities and well pillowcases are easy to find right? I really liked the green and mixed it up with some vintage lace I had hanging around, I used ribbon for the straps and even tho there is a lof of pillowcase dresses and t-shirts out there, I wanted to show my version because I made it so to be very loose-fitting and comfy.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: kate’s miniature tin gardens
my house is not a great home for plants because of how little light it gets, but it is earth day and i wanted to bring a little nature to my work desk. these mini zen gardens combine several of my favorite things, including my love of anything miniature. the faux wood contact paper gives it a little todd oldham mod feel too, which i love. these take no time to make and are a good little gift idea for moms, or anyone special. have fun! -kate CLICK HERE for the full project after the jump!
