Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: vintage postcard calendar journal Growing up, I kept a daily journal. I always enjoyed looking back at previous entries to see what had changed over the course of a year. These days, I can’t seem to find the time to journal, but I do try to jot down a little note from each day on my perpetual calendar/journal. The idea is very simple — flip to the current date and at the end of the day, write down something that happened. Some days it is big things like “Annie took her first steps.” Other days it is small, like “needed more than one cup of coffee this morning.” The first year is the least rewarding, but I imagine that in 10 years, it will be a daily treat to be reminded of what happened on that date over the last decade. CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! I’m always trying to give new life to things I can’t pass up at flea markets. Materials Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4.
Charming Window Pillows Hi! I’m Angela from My Three Sons and I was a mechanical engineer in my life before kids. Really an engineer to the core, I’m all about optimized processes and well-utilized materials. I tried to figure out the best way to make the elusive cathedral window block. So I’ll share some things I found for getting nice points and neat windows. We’re going to make two pillows here – most efficient use of materials and all. 1 Just Wing It Charm Pack 1 3/4 Yards Bella Solid Snow 4 Just Wing It Fat Quarters Washable glue stick 2 Square pillow forms – 20″x20″ 2 18-20″ zippers (optional) Pink and Blue Matching thread (optional) Step One: In which you fold fabric and steam it into submission First, from the white yardage cut 5 strips the entire width of the fabric and each 10.5″ wide. Subcut each of those 5 strips into 10.5″ squares so that you end up with a total of 20 pieces. But you do need to make a perfect 9″ square out of poster board. Fold that edge over the poster board and hot steam iron it.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: aunt peaches’ straw cluster chandelier Believe it or not, I have a drawer full of old drinking straws — superfluous craft supplies are an occupational hazard. So I was thrilled to see this straw chandelier project come across my desk, because now I can use them for something beautiful! As those of you who saw Aunt Peaches’ coffee filter flowers know, she is a genius when it comes to creating elegant designs out of mundane materials; so good, in fact, that often you can’t tell what the material is at first glance. This straw chandelier is no exception. CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials one bolt of 24-gauge wire120 drinking straws1 yard of 10-gauge wire (you can also use an old wire lamp shade or heavy gauge wire coat hanger) Cost: $2.50 + light source (depending how you configure your base, this can attach directly to an existing fixture, including an ugly, old ceiling light) Time: 3–5 hours, depending on size and scissor skills (80% of time is spent cutting straws) Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Grommet Drapes I promised a tutorial for our Basement Drapes, so here it is! And it's loaded with pictures - I hope it's not too bad to get through. Supplies: 60" wide Home Dec. or canvas Fabric - 5.5 yards - (purchased mine at IKEA at $7.99/yd.)Coordinating ThreadSeam Gauge (to measure folded edges)12" Ruler (to measure grommet spacing)Measuring Tape (at least 10-ft long to measure length of drape)2 packages of Grommets ($12.99 sets of 8, bought at Joann's with a coupon)Curtain Rod (small enough to fit through grommet holes) IronMarking pencil or penScissorsPins NOTES: Always be consciencious of the direction of your fabric print and/or texture. I'd be sad if one drape print ran in an upward direction and the drape next to it went in a downward direction! Order of Sewing (to get you mentally organized): 1) Top; 2) Bottom; 3) Sides; 4) Grommets By doing the top and bottoms first, the sides will fold over their seams, leaving a long, clean, smooth edge from the side view of your drapes. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » handmade weddings: fantastic new book + diy project! When AC and I got married in 2009 I found myself spending more hours than I would have liked flipping through wedding books on the floor of Barnes & Noble. After weeks of looking and scanning through every book I could get my hands on, I came to the conclusion that there just wasn’t a wedding book written that spoke to my style and my interest in doing as many things as possible by hand. There were a few DIY books on the market but they didn’t quite nail that mix of trend-conscious and classic that I was going for. But now, there’s finally one that does. My wedding may be over, but the new book Handmade Weddings: 50 Projects to Style and Personalize Your Big Day is the dream DIY book I had been hoping to find two years ago. Written by Eunice and Sabrina Moyle (the Hello Lucky! Today I’m thrilled to be sharing one of the projects from the book: amazing hanging pompoms made from cupcake liners! Pretty patterned cupcake liners become festive pom-pom strands with a bit of glue and string.
Reusable Produce Bag Tutorial Paper or Plastic? Neither! We've been shopping with reusable grocery bags for a while now, but I'm still using plastic produce bags when I'm picking up fruit and veggies. I knew the solution was to make my own, and I had two requirements. Supplies: Nylon netting 34 x 14 inches 2 fabric strips 31/2 x 14 inches narrow ribbon, string or cording optional, cord locks Fold the netting in half, matching short sides. Sew fabric strips WST on short sides forming a band. Leave a small opening on one side, back-stitching where you start and stop. (no precision here, just below the half way point) Press seams open. Edge stitch both sides of seam with the opening. Fold band in half and press Open band up and press 1/4 hem on both raw edges Re-fold band in place Matching side seams, pin netting into band, placing raw edge of netting against inside fold of band. Pin all the way around the band. Edge stitch around bottom of band, being sure to catch both top and bottom layers while stitching. There you have it!
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: peaches’ coffee filter flowers turning humble materials into something beautiful is an admirable skill. whenever you think you’ve seen the prettiest thing, something else comes along and blows your mind! these gorgeous blossoms are similar to the ones sold in kits that are made with tissue paper, but even tissue paper can be kind of pricey, and it doesn’t always come in the full range of colors you want. enter these amazing coffee filter flowers by aunt peaches! a recycled art specialist who works with a healthy dose of wacky fun, peaches makes flowers from materials most people toss in the waste bin. if you’re planning any end of summer parties, consider making some of these colorful flowers to scatter on your table. click here to read more about peaches’ flowers and see some of the other amazing colors she has made. great job, peaches! -kate CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials: for 10 grapefruit size paper peony flowers time: 1 hour to dye and assemble + 3 hours drying time. Instructions: 1. 2.
60-Minute Gift: Herringbone Hot Pads Combine a herringbone pattern with the popular zig zag for a fun, unique pot holder and trivet that is self binding. Or use the blocks to make a quilt! Great for Christmas gifts, teacher gifts and using up extra charm packs! 1 Simply Color charm pack or charm pack of your choice1 yard of fabric for backing or four 14×14 inch squares1/2 yard batting or eight 10×10 inch squares1/2 yard insul-bright Insulating material or four 10×10 inch squares I’m so excited to be here! You’ll start with one charm pack! Cut your charm pack into 1 1/2 inch strips. I prefer to use one set at a time while sewing. Now it’s time to start sewing strips together using a 1/4 inch seam. Alternating sides, continue to add strips. Continue sewing until your first stack is gone! Iron the seams down (toward the bottom of the ‘V’). Square the top and cut two 11-inch sections. Next you will trim off the extra on each side. Pin your rectangles together at each seam. Press center seam allowance open. Quilt as desired.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: halligan’s chalkboard globe I have wanted a vintage chalkboard globe for quite a few school years. Unfortunately, I could never afford one and they are hard to come by. Even these beautiful reproductions are pricey! CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Supplies chalkboard paint, one or two colors1″ paint brushthin liner paint brushoutline paint color of your choicechalkglobe (you can find them at thrift stores, eBay, or you can order a cheap one here or here) Directions Step 1: Paint all the water around the continents. Step 2: Paint all continents with your other chalkboard paint color. Step 3: Use your thin brush to outline all continents. You’re done!
Make an Oven Mitt! I wanted to see a little piece of Heather Bailey’s gorgeous Nicey Jane fabric every day, so I made an oven mitt. Now I have to make an apron to match! Get the free downloadable pattern and full Oven Mitt Tutorial after the jump… DIY Oven Mitt 1. 2. 3. 3. Fold each long edge into the center and iron. Now your tape looks like this. So go ahead and fold it in half again and iron: Set that aside. 4. Then pin the corners, then continue to pin the edges together: Sew in place: Lay your lining pieces right side down, your batting on top, and your outer piece right side up (so wrong sides are facing, with batting sandwiched between), like so: Sew in place all the way around the curved edges. 5. 6. Sew around the edge of that part first: Then pin in down and sew around the outside edge. 7. Se win place along the fold: Turn your mitt right side out and fold the bias tape over the edge, and fold the excess bias tape flat, and pin in place: Start by sewing the excess bias tape closed:
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: karen’s portable fire pit I greatly admire Karen’s penchant for discount shopping; it’s particularly awesome when she shares her results with the rest of us. We’ve posted her tutorials before, but this fire pit might be my favorite. And it couldn’t come at a better time — the leaves are falling outside my window and I am desperate to make a cup of something warm, sit outside and savor the late sunsets while they last. She crafted this beauty from such simple materials as a planter, cheap frames and a can of gel fuel. CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials marine siliconecheap glass frames (these need to fit around the edges of your planter)rocksany kind of metal mesh (available at hardware stores)gel fuelany metal planter with a lip (edge) Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. What makes this fire pit so amazing is the glass. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Flannel pillowcase tutorial I called these pillowcases European style the other day, but I don't know if that is the proper term. I had never seen them until I was gifted a pair from Liberty of London so I figured it might be the style from across the pond rather than American.I made mine with 3 separate pieces but you could make them with one big long piece if it is going to be all the same fabric. I was working with pieces 2 yards and smaller so I just took measurements from the Liberty cases (which were made from 2 different fabrics) and added 1/2" each way for the shrinkage of the flannel. It takes about 40" for one pillowcase, or if you want to make 2, it takes 2 yards. Step 4 - Place the 10" piece on top of the end with the 1.25" hem matching raw edges on 3 sides. Step 5 - Sew all around with a serger or with straight stitch and then come back and zig zag the raw edges. This is what a serged stitch looks like. Step 6 - Turn the 10" piece right side out. this is that the finished end looks like.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: brenna’s secret storage books it seems i am always in need of extra storage space. i have an abundance of art materials and supplies that just keeps growing. i am already storing boxes of paints, paintbrushes, paper, pens and scissors, and a multitude of glues behind a linen curtain beneath our built-in desk. it is a great storage place for the things i don’t necessarily use all of the time, but what about the things I use constantly, like my watercolors and rulers, exacto knives and bulldog clips? as much as i would like to, i can’t exactly leave them out on the dining room table within reach of my almost two-year old. the solution: sightly boxes to store my wares. since we have a lovely built-in bookcase, i thought it would be great to have a storage box disguised as a book, adding charm instead of just utility. so here it is, a bit of unexpected storage. secret storage books…not a secret anymore. -brenna (paper +ink) CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Instructions: