Archive for the ‘tutorials + diy ideas’ Category
I found this super cheap ring from Forever 21 (I never go in there, but a friend mentioned it to me at Alt and I thought I would give it another try) and I fell in love with the design. It felt very southwestern / Native American to me, but it was missing something pretty important: color!
So I started fishing through my supplies to fix this little guy up and remembered that my paints didn’t make it in the move (they wouldn’t pack liquids for a cross country move for some reason) and my brushes are in storage – not much need for them without paint is there? So I pulled together the next best thing: nail polish and Q-Tips.
I know it sounds a little silly, but you can’t even tell the difference. Let me show you how to make your own…
Here are the materials I used: 1. nail polish (turquoise + red) 2. Q-Tips® Precision Tips (they’re new + pointy like a paintbrush – which makes them perfect for detail work)
And here’s how you can make your own…
1. Pour your first color of nail polish out on to a clean surface and dip your Q-tip in the polish.
2. Start painting the tiny details. Let the nail polish dry and then do another coat. The nail polish dries very quickly, so it won’t take long.
3. Get your next color out and start painting the same way as the first. For larger areas like the one I painted red, you’ll definitely want to do several coats or nail polish to make sure its evenly covered.
4. Finish with a clear top coat if you have one and you are good to go! Here’s the finished piece…
Oh, and then I added a little more nail polish to the outer edges (so this is more like the finished, finished piece)…
Not bad for items I had around the house already, huh? I am pretty happy with how it turned out and I’m planning to keep a pack of these little cotton swabs handy for future projects. They are great for crafts. Find more ideas on the official Q-tips Facebook page.
And if you have a few minutes, someone created a couple of crazy things out of Q-Tips and then made a video of it (there is a Q-tips sleep mask in there). It’s a really cute video.
Disclosure: I was compensated by the advertiser for this editorial feature. All opinions and ideas, however, are my own.
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This contributor post was written by Patty of P.S. it’s in the details.
I’ve been getting asked how to make paper roses and I thought it would be a fun tutorial to share with you. It’s really a very simple process, however the results are anything but simple.
I’ve featured paper roses a few times on my blog ~ two samples are shown, above. The recycled magazine roses can be found here. The glittered, layered book page roses can be found here.
Paper roses can be made from lots of fun things – scrapbook paper, magazines, maps, book pages, catalogs, calendars… you get the idea. All you need is a square sheet of paper, a pair of scissors, some adhesive and you’re in business!
Here are the materials you’ll need: 1. paper 2. scissors 3. hot glue gun or glue dots
Here is how you make it:
Start with a square piece of paper. Obviously, the larger the square, the larger the rose will be. My tutorial uses a 6″ square which results in a finished rose of about 1 1/2″ across. You can adjust the finished size of the rose, though, and I’ll explain how to do that further into the tutorial.
1. Have a bunch of paper squares cut to size.
2. Start cutting a circle shape, beginning on the side of a paper square.
3. Cut the circle shape all the way around the outside of the paper. When you get close to the starting point aim your cutting line in about a half of an inch.
4. Keep cutting a spiral circle, all the way towards the middle of the paper. It should be a free-hand cut… don’t worry about being precise.
5. The very end of the cut spiral circle should end in a tab shape.
6. Remove the outside square shape by cutting it off where the spiral circle shape begins.
7. Start at the outside edge of the circle spiral and tightly roll the paper to form the rose. Roll towards the top side of the paper.
8. When you get to the very end, the tab will come in handy. Continue to hold the rose very tight, pressing and conforming the tab to the bottom of the rolled shape. (Now you can adjust the ‘tightness’ of your paper rose…. keep it wound tight for a tighter rose, or slowly release your hold on the paper spiral and let it unwind for a looser rose.)
9. Once you have the rose as you would like it, add a drop of hot glue to the tab and carefully press it to the bottom of the rose, catching the spirals on the inside. I have also used glue dots on smaller roses and they work fine, too.
Tah dah! You have made a paper rose!
Play around with different papers to get different looks. Double-sided papers are really pretty (like my recycled magazine roses) because you have color on both sides if they’ll be seen from different angles. Multiple layers give a fuller rose (like my glittered book page roses).
It may take a few practice roses to get the hang of it, but once you make a few you’ll see that it really is a very simple process. The hard part will be deciding what to make with all of your pretty rose flowers!
About Patty: Patty Schaffer is the owner of P.S. it’s in the details, an Etsy shop where you can find creative paper things that will make you ooooo and ahhh! Her shop specializes in paper accents for scrapbooking, card making, gift giving and home decor. Patty also shares DIY and craft projects, news on upcoming shop releases and other fun things on her blog, Capture the Details.
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This contributor post was written by Beth of Parsimonia.
Seeing that it’s Feb. 10, I’ll give you one guess as to what this week’s roundup is going to involve. Yep…the day of love is upon us, and the Internet is abuzz with aphrodisiacs, love poems and song ideas to “set the mood.” And while those are all well and good, I like to take the romance out of February 14 and concentrate on love instead. And not just love for your “other,” but for your friends, your family and anyone else who makes your world better. Because, let’s be honest: Where would we be without them? So get to making one of these cute Valentines, and let those in your love nest in on what they mean to you.
1. (above) Medallion Heart Pins by Aesthetic Outburst
6. Spray Painted Bouquets + Bouts Project
7. Melting Heart Valentine DIY
9. Crayon Heart Valentines by Whipperberry
10. DIY Liquor and Hearts Valentine by Mr. Kate
12. “Heart Attack” in a Box DIY Idea
13. Make Your Own Heart Sweater and 14. Paper Heart Garland
Beth is the writer behind Parsimonia: Secondhand With Style, where she blogs about her first love (thrifting) and her second love (cooking), as well as DIY projects, sustainable style and other bits of inspiration. She lives in St. Louis with one husband, one fuzzy dog and lots of dreams, and recently launched an online vintage store.
You know I will come up with any excuse for a new diy project, right?
So when I was asked to participate in the Pendant Project (an idea cooked up by AesaLina Compton of Love Lovely), I jumped on it. I’ve been wanting to give these little stitchery wooden pendants a try anyway. So this seemed like the perfect excuse.
More info about the Pendant Project…Each week in the month of February, one blogger is chosen to create their own pendant, using AesaLina’s handy wooden pendants and what ever other materials they can dream up.
I am the first of four muses to reveal a finished piece and to keep it interesting, I am showing you exactly how I made it…PLUS I am giving away my finished piece along with a blank pendant for you to make another necklace on your own.
Materials: stitchery wooden pendant from Love Lovely, gold Sharpie paint pen, embroidery floss, needle, leather cord, and scissors
How To (instructions): I’ve laid the whole thing out in photos below…
I am not an embroidery person, so I decided from the start I would approach my design in more of a haphazard way. Starting with paint…
1. Paint both sides of your pendant, unless you prefer the look of the wood on its own, which is actually pretty nice. I used a Sharpie paint pen for mine. It is quick and easy, and (bonus!) is dry to the touch in seconds.
2. Choose your colors and start stitching. I selected three colors to limit my palette, but I didn’t want to box in my design, so I made no plan for it at all. I just dove right in.
3. After one color fet completed, I tied it off and moved on to the next. I knew I wanted to keep the design abstract and random, but I also wanted to bring some order to the overall design. So I started adding horizontal and vertical lines into the design, which you can see popping up here.
4. Then I moved into my third and final color, before adding a few finishing touches with the fuchsia thread I started with. Once the design was complete, I tied off the loose ends in the back, cut off the excess string, and added a leather cord.
Such an easy project! And definitely addictive… I want to do more of these, for sure. Thank you to AesaLina Compton of Love Lovely for inviting to be a part of the Pendant Project!
And now for the giveaway!
If you want a chance to win the necklace I made along with a blank pendant and additional supplies to make one of your own, enter this giveaway today.
All you have to do is leave a comment below and tell me the color or colors you would use for your own pendant if you win. That’s it! Simple, dimple. This giveaway will close Wednesday, February 15th at 11:59pm EST. International entries welcome. **Bonus entries for tweets and facebook shares (just use the buttons below)!
The winner will be announced on the blog Thursday, February 16th.
This guest post was written by photographer + makeup artist Jeanne & and designer Lenna of Enna Anne.
But before I let these lovely ladies break down this diy…I just wanted to mention that this one is near and dear to me for a couple of reasons. Of course the project is amazing, but more importantly than that, it features 2 adorable people from my family (Amanda + Tim). PLUS it was shot by Jeanne Ciasullo, who was the photographer at Jeff and I’s wedding. AND I almost forgot, another friend of ours makes his way into a few of these photos too. Kind of special, huh?
Anyway, I’ll let Jeanne and Lenna get right down to it…
Supplies: 1. Vintage button down collared shirts and vintage scarfs 2. Design Master Spray Paint (Found ours at Michaels) Colors Holiday Red and Raspberry 3. Rubber Bands & Miniature Clear elastic hair bands 4. Straight pens (which can also be spray painted) 5. Assorted Flowers (We love picking up fresh flowers from our local supermarkets but we always go picking from our local area too. Yards, parks & roadsides are some of our favorite spots. You’d be surprised what you can find in super market parking lots! Picking a little bit of the nature around us makes the bouquets look effortless, not perfect. We love that. Just make sure you are not picking on private property!) *We highly recommend using gloves when spray painting. Its a step we often forget because we’re so excited to start the process.
Here’s how you make it: 1. Let your flowers soak for one or two nights in water and flower food so that the flowers are happy and hydrated and the blooms open up.
2. Select a variety of flowers and lightly mist the buds with the spray paint. Slowly build on the color so you do not accidentally over saturate your flowers. A little of the natural flower color showing through is ok, in fact we prefer it!
3. Alternate paint colors to get a variety of results. Experiment with the colors. The paint colors on different colored flowers yield unique results. Have fun! Place wet flowers back in water and let dry.
4. Shirt collar boutonniere & Bouquet. We loved the idea of using a man’s button down shirt as a wrap for both the boutonniere and bouquet because it seemed like a great way to make it more masculine (even though it was pink and red heaven). To do the same, cut the collar off of the button down shirt. Save that for the groom’s boutonnieres. For the bridal bouquet cut the button down shirt down the middle leaving the buttons in the center of the fabric. Cut the remaining fabric into strips. We wanted her bouquet to look like a shirt when it was wrapped.
5. Making the boutonniere. Bundle a group of painted flowers together. We like to use interestingly shaped greenery and small wildflowers. Once arranged secure with a small clear elastic rubber band.
6. Utilizing the shirt collar from step 4, wrap the shirt tightly around the boutonniere and secure with short floral pins.
7. Making the Bouquet. Bundle a group of painted flowers together. We like mixing big blooms with wild flowers and berries. Keep adding flowers until you get your desired bouquet size. Secure with rubber bands
8. Now that the bouquet is arranged we like to step back and see if the color works. If it doesn’t we lightly mist the areas in the bouquet (with gloves!) that need some extra attention/love.
9. Use the shirt fabric from step 4 and place the front buttons of the shirt down the center of the bouquet. It’s easier with an extra set of hands. As one person holds the flowers the other person can tightly wrap the bouquet. Trim the excess fabric and secure with floral pins. Use the fabric strips and wrap the bouquet like a ballet slipper and tie off at the top in a knot and trim.
Using spray paint on flowers was a great way for us to achieve the saturated look that we wanted. We couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, we wanted over the top color so the flowers would pop in person and in photos. Spray paint was our solution! Whenever we approach a project we always try to think about how we can make it special or unique. We believe that the small unexpected touches make all the difference.
Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial ladies! You are an inspiring duo.
For more photos from this V-Day inspired wedding shoot (there are so many more to take a look at), visit this photo set on Enna Anne now. And if you don’t have a wedding in your future, you can easily translate this project into a tabletop centerpiece for any room of your house.
About the Jeanne and Lenna. ENNA|ANNE is a budding design, photography & makeup company that caters to the west coast of Florida and more. Business partners and childhood friends, Lenna and Jeanne formed the company after years of honing their talents in their respective fields, Lenna in graphic design and Jeanne in photography and makeup. These two ladies combine forces to create amazing projects through collaboration and their strong vision, bringing a fresh perspective for their clients to benefit from.
This contributor post was written by Beth of Parsimonia.
For those of us in the four-season states, the temperatures are really starting to drop! I finally broke out my mittens, scarves, hats and other cold-weather accoutrements this week, thus adding a whole new level of accessories to my wardrobe. But, I have to be honest: There are several pieces I acquired years ago that I know aren’t going to see the glint of snow. Just like most women, my tastes change with the seasons, but replacing winter wear always seems a bit more expensive. So instead of browsing online stores, I’ve been hitting the blogsophere for ideas, and these five DIYs are just the ticket for keeping me (and you!) warm, head to toe.
(above) Sew Your Own Mittens by A Beautiful Mess
DIY Leg Warmers by Split the Lark
Snowy Day Hat Pattern by See Kate Sew
Long Pom Pom Cowl via Purl Soho
Yellow Bow Ear Warmer by Delia Creates
(Note that tutorial is for personal, not commercial, use)
Beth is the writer behind Parsimonia: Secondhand With Style, where she blogs about her first love (thrifting) and her second love (cooking), as well as DIY projects, sustainable style and other bits of inspiration. She lives in St. Louis with one husband, one fuzzy dog and lots of dreams, and recently launched an online vintage store.
Yesterday, Jeff and I strolled down to Barnes and Noble at lunchtime because (surprise!) I’m in the February 2012 issue of Women’s Day magazine. Yay!
Of course, I always get excited about magazine features, but I have to admit it’s partly because I like to send a copy to my grandma every time it happens so she knows I’m legit (she basically has no idea what I do for a living because she has never been on a computer in her life so its kind of difficult to explain it to her. but magazine features she understands).
Anyway, this year is the 75th anniversary of the mag and I am honored to be a part of it. My project for a lacy frosted glass mirror is on page 46. You may remember the original mirror project from the blog a couple of years ago if you’ve been around for a while.
If you’re interested, you can pick up a copy at your local book store or head to the Woman’s Day website and get the full tutorial online to make your own.
Big thanks to Woman’s Day for featuring my project. Really a pleasure to work with them.
