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. One trip to the hardware store and you’re set! 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.
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! Today I’m sharing a quick and cheap way to get the look with out the hunt or the price! 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!
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: brenna’s paper capiz shell chandelier i love wax paper for packing lunches; i wrap sandwiches in a piece of wax paper and tie it like a present with a little cotton string. it’s so much better looking than a plastic bag. wax paper comes in handy for more things than i realized, like rolling it up to use for a funnel, or how about rubbing a piece of wax paper on the top of your shower curtain rod to cut down on that terrible screeching in the morning…problem solved. but who knew that if you iron layers of wax paper together it looks remarkably similar to a capiz shell? this discovery brought me to today’s project: the faux capiz chandelier. hung over your dining table, or outside at an outdoor dinner party, it is an easy solution to a dramatic light fixture and will look phenomenal in either setting. i hope you enjoy making your own as much i did! -brenna CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials: Instructions: 1. spray paint your planter basket. let dry. 8. once you cover the hanging basket you are done!
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! 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. 4. 5.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: mailing tube wine rack i have a really bad habit of procrastination. the laziness usually extends to all home projects, but none worse than framing artwork; i just can’t seem to get myself through the process of getting things framed, or even buying pre-made frames, and as a result i have a lot of rolled up posters and prints around the house. i know, it’s sad. there’s light at the end of the tunnel however: mailing tubes are such an awesome material to hack into something useful that i couldn’t resist unfurling a print and using its packaging for this week’s project. now, not only do i have a pretty new wine rack, but i have a print flattening on the floor of my studio, demanding to be framed post-haste. way to go, me! i wanted to combine a raw material with a neon color, but i must admit i was skeptical about the look of bare cardboard, felt and neon duct tape (side note: duct tape varieties are officially off the hook! so many colors! camo! CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials: 1. 2. 3.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: bottle stopper menagerie a handful of these found-object bottle stoppers would be the perfect quick and easy host/ hostess gift when paired with a liqueur or other potions in a bottle. they are a joy to make and are rather inexpensive too. begin by looking around the house for random odds and ends, such as dice and game pieces, old coins, shells or beach glass from your most recent trip to the shore. you could even venture into your back yard, or to the park for acorn caps, twigs, and rocks. working with a theme or a color scheme could be helpful, but not necessary- random selection works just as well. they truly make for a charming little mini-bar! have fun. -haylie CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials and Tools: - found objects, preferably ones that are flat on one side, or have an anchor point to fasten securely to cork (buttons, poker chips, gems & costume jewels, small toys, etc.) - corks, found in an assortment of sizes at most craft stores- an assorted pack of 20 averages about $3.
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. It reminds me of the garland light by Tord Boontje — I love the energy of the little straw bursts and the beautiful irregularity of the shape. 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) Time: 3–5 hours, depending on size and scissor skills (80% of time is spent cutting straws) Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: karen’s coffee can lanterns the nights are warming up here in northern ca, so i’m eager to tackle this lantern diy project from karen at maggiemakes. named after her adorable black lab, karen’s blog primarily focuses on crafts for around the home and provides great instructions and photos. i can’t wait to grab a hammer and a can and give it a go. thanks karen! -kate CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! summer may have skipped my part of the globe this year but that hasn’t stopped me from dreaming of those long warm summer nights outside relaxing with friends. when summer decides to come our way i will be ready to enjoy those nights with these rustic coffee can lanterns. inexpensive, fun, simple to make and customize, they add the perfect decoration for a late night BBQ with a group of friends or a night of gin and tonics with the one you love. try our three designs or create your own, with a variety of tools the possibilities are endless. Materials: Process: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: dip-dye lamp & pillow when summer rolls around, i try as hard as possible to freshen up the cave that is my apartment. while the darkness does help to keep rooms cool, the mood can get a little depressing if i don’t inject a jolt of summer here and there. if you have a plain fabric lampshade, pillow, or any scrap fabric lying around, then you can easily create a completely new set of home textiles that have a lovely airiness and fresh color. dip dye is a very easy process; you can adjust the color saturation in a snap by adding water or dye, and you just keep dipping until you like the results! it’s good to have a few scrap pieces of fabric around for color tests, and a nice outdoor spot or some tarp to work on (as you can probably guess, it can get a bit drippy). you can also mix dyes to make an amazing range of hues, so feel free to experiment. have fun! -kate CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! cost: dye: $5-10 buckets:$5 time: 1-2 hours (including drying time)
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 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 fruit box and 12 postcards found at flea markets (my box was $1.00, postcards $1.00 or less each)180 4 x 6″ lined index cardsdate stamppaper cutter (or scissors)twine (for gift wrapping) Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4.
Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » diy project: jessica’s postage stamp coasters I’m getting ready to go running off to complete the zillion post-holiday errands I have on my plate, but I decided I simply must add the supplies for this project to my shopping list. Jessica is a graphic designer by trade, which is clear to see from her choice of prints for these adorable coasters that she whipped up in no time. Jessica found these images on the flickr site of Karen Horton. Karen has amassed a treasure trove of amazing images of old postage stamps and labels. With a few simple materials, Jessica fashioned these “jumbo stamp” fabric coasters, complete with perfectly pinked edges. This is the perfect project for a laid-back weekend, especially because Jessica and Karen have graciously made the stamp designs available for download. CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! Materials: Instructions: 1. (note: images in PDF are reversed so they will transfer properly) 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.