Fourth of July Star Jars These transformed mason jars are a fun way to both decorate an outdoor table for a 4th of July celebration or a safe way to entertain the kids during fireworks. Red spray paint Mason Jars Star stickers Newspaper Scatter star stickers onto the mason jar, make sure they’re stuck on very tight Screw on the mason jar lid and cap and place on top of a table covered in newspaper in a well ventilated area Spray with the paint from a nice distance around the entire jar until it’s coated well but without drips. Wait at least a couple hours for the jar to dry and carefully peel off the star stickers Place 2-3 battery operated votive candles in each jar and enjoy your festive 4th of July evening! 21 Ways to Create Your Own Bookends | The New Home Ec By craftyamy | Does anyone have the obsession with books that I do? I have a huge collection – I’m a classics reader personally. nggallery id=’125769′ About craftyamy craftyamy Amy Anderson is a crafty, DIY kind of girl who lives in Atlanta with her pug.
Finger Knitting How-to You know how I just wrote about how I like getting a handmade gift more than just about anything. Well, this is anything. Sitting on the couch on a lazy Sunday, knitting with my kids . . . that beats gift-getting for sure. It is a gift itself. We just sat there side-by-side, for about an hour, feeling the warmth from each other’s bodies, listening to music from my computer and basking in each others company as the sun streamed through the windows. Ahhh . . .the experience was so delightful, it was hard to peel myself away to take the photos. The two kiddos are finger-knitting, which I’ve written about before and again, but it continues to be a favorite activity. You end up with a long coil of knitting like this, that curls itself into a sort of tube. My son is using a finer and less expensive yarn, here. They really do enjoy the process. Some day, I’ll make a coiled rug from the pieces. Materials: Any yarn An eager kiddo Time: However long you want! Now, we’re going to head back again.
DIY: Chalkboard Mug December 14th, 2011 Naturally when I discovered porcelain chalkboard paint I had to grab some. The inventor must be some kind of genius. Now I have the most amusing coffee mug ever, and you can have one too. This is a much easier version of the hand painted mug project—no drawing or painting skills required! you’ll need: a porcelain mug (mine is from CB2)painter’s tape Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Chalkboard Paint (available at Dick Blick or Amazon)(Don’t use regular chalkboard paint. how to: 1. 4. *If baking instructions are not printed on your paint bottle, you are probably not using the right paint. (Check out that extra large marshmallow floating in my hot chocolate. 25 Ways to Refashion a Sweater | The New Home Ec By craftyamy | I truly love sweaters, especially cardigans. I also feel like I am buying a new group of them every single year after I’ve blown them out (or just not worn them) from the year before. This year? nggallery id=’125734′ Want to know more about me? About craftyamy craftyamy Amy Anderson is a crafty, DIY kind of girl who lives in Atlanta with her pug.
Celebrate Every Day With Me: The Best Ever Picture Hanging Tip There is nothing like company coming over for a little motivation to clean your house and take care of those put-off tasks. (I’m sure you are much better than I am!) After painting my daughter’s room this summer, I have been lax at putting everything up on the walls. But out-of-town company will be coming soon and I thought this was just the motivation I needed to get her room finished. Half way through the task of hanging items on her wall, I stumbled on this amazing idea on Pinterest. It is so good, you’re going to love it. What You’ll Need: A piece of wood and a small nail. How to Make It: Drive the nail through the wood just enough that you will leave a mark on the wall when pressed. Hang your mirror/picture on the nail, supporting it as needed. Put it in place on the wall and push. Update: For those leaving comments and not quite getting it, here is a little step-by-step recap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Step by Step Charcoal and Graphite Pencil Drawing Demo :Art Instruction For Beginners - Art Instruction Blog About Faith Graphite Pencil, Charcoal Pencil and Pastels Artist Hello! I practiced every day and for many hours since. Initially, charcoal and graphite pencils were the only mediums I used. I devote many hours and lots of attention to detail into each and every one of my drawings or paintings. Thank you for your interest in my artwork. Please take a moment to visit Faith’s Website and Blog to learn more about her and her products and services. Her Website: Her Blog: Stage 1 (Click Images for Larger Views) The outline on Canson Grain Paper. I try to make the outline as accurately and detailed as I can at this early stage so that I can concentrate more on tones, shadows, and highlights later on instead of the placement of features. I am using the smoother side of Canson paper. Stage 2 I make my own charcoal powder when I sharpen charcoal pencils and then I use brushes to apply the powder to my drawings. Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
Song Lyric Wall Art / D.I.Y. Project A couple weeks ago, I found a paint-by-number at an unbeatable price. I can't pass these things up even though I already owned this particular design. I thought that I could maybe use it to make a fun D.I.Y., but my new rule is that all thrifts that I purchase with the intent of restyling need to get done right away. I have way too many half finished projects in my life. With that little bit of motivation I came up with a fun D.I.Y. to display some of my favorite song lyrcis in our newlywed home. Enjoy.... Here's how I did it... I displayed our piece in our bedroom, on Jeremy's side of the bed. A couple weeks ago, I found a paint-by-number at an unbeatable price.
DIY Shrinky Dinks for Adults Here’s a cool DIY that puts the shrinky dinks you used as a child to good use! Why should kids have all the fun? All you need to get started is shrink plastic (google for sources), a pair of scissors and stamps to apply your design. June Gilbank of PlanetJune has the full tutorial available on her website. Visit PlanetJune for the full tutorial! Check out other articles by Rachel here! radical possibility: Zero-Effort Tie-Dye Pillows As you may remember, I'm a fan of going into Anthropologie, walking around looking at all the beautiful goods, and walking out crying. Every time one of the associates asks if I need any help, it takes everything to resist just blurting out - So I go home and rip them off. Its okay, they're a major corporation, and contrary to increasingly popular belief, corporations aren't people! Today, let's visit the Five Palms Pillow. Today, for our ~Anthropologie inspired housewares~, you will need: Sharpies - I used brown, blue, yellow and green Rubbing alcohol Q-tips After cutting the fabric down (I laid my old pillow down and cut around it, leaving about an inch around around the edges), I started mapping out the palm trees. Once thats done, take your q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol, enough so that you get little droplets coming off. I ended up liking this technique a lot, because scribbling and then dousing it in rubbing alcohol is a really simple process that has a really pretty payoff. xo,
Valaan villapaita: Tee se itse -valas You can find the tutorial in English here. ETA in February 2012: Hi! Nice of you to stop by! In the meanwhile, I'm sorry to put up this disclaimer: It's OK to link back to this post, but it is not OK to copy all the photos and the tutorial, or translate it to another another language. Ja mainittakoon sama myös suomeksi: valaitten ompelu omaan käyttöön tai lahjaksi on OK, mutta kaupallinen käyttö ja kopiointi on kielletty. Denimvalaan ohjeesta tuli useampikin kysely, mikä ilahdutti kovin ja kauhistutti vielä enemmän – en nimittäin tule kovin hyvin juttuun ohjeitten kanssa. Valaaseen tarvitaan laje vanhoista farkuista, pikkutiplu sinistä puuvillaa silmiä varten, täytevanua, ompelukone, lankaa ja hiukan kärsivällisyyttä. Aloitetaan leikkaamalla farkunlahkeista valaan selkäpalat (2 kpl), vatsapuoli (2 kpl), pyrstö (2 kpl) ja evät (4 kpl). Vatsapuolen muodon voi kopioida selkäpalasta. Ommellaan selkäsauma. Ommellaan vatsakappaleen saumat kankaan nurjalle puolelle. Ommellaan silmät. Tadaa!
Utility Cord Bangle ANNOUNCEMENT: A select number of these bracelets are available for sale here. I know, I know. ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE UTILITY CORD AND BRACELETS! I couldn’t resist! I had extra utility cord lying around from last week’s project, and was highly inspired by these Orly Genger bangles. Materials: Utility cord Crochet hook (sized according to utility cord thickness) Metal chain (optional) Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart
How to Paint Cabinets or Furniture What To Do: Step 1: Wipe cabinet surface with liquid sandpaper Step 2: Using 1/4-inch nap roller or paintbrush, apply primer. Let dry. Step 3: Sand with 220-grit sandpaper. Step 4: Brush, roll, or spray cabinet surface with paint. More for You: Get ideas for new do-it-yourself projects and helpful how-tos delivered to your in-box every week. Sign up now.
Art and stuff Tutorials Stars Tutorial: There's a lot of manual labor in store here (if moving a pen a round in a repetitive motion can be called that) but also a bunch of tips and tricks how to both speed up the process of drawing a sky full of stars and how to make it all look so much fancier. Water Tutorial: Contains three different tutorials consisting of five simple steps each: how to draw flowing water, rain and surface reflections. Most of the tutorials below already have a few years on their backs, and I'm not completely happy with everything presented in them anymore. From left to right: Fur tutorialGrass, scales and rocks tutorialClouds tutorialLightning, snow and fire tutorial A walkthrough of an older piece, "Two of a kind"