Posts Tagged ‘project’

The other day, I accidentally made today’s DIY project. I was planning to make something else entirely and then a little lightbulb went off in my head and I switched gears. Don’t you love it when that happens?

So, today’s edition of Make This will take you through making these modern, painted candle votives for just about any occasion: Mother’s Day, a housewarming party, a wedding. You name it – these DIY votives can adapt to pretty much anything, which is great. But the best part about this DIY is actually the price. About $5 worth of plaster and $5 worth of tealights will make roughly 50 completed votives. That makes each votive $0.20 to make from start to finish. Does it get any better than that?

Supplies:

1. Scoop powdered plaster into a small container and mix with water according to directions.

2. Stir water and plaster mixture until you achieve desired consistency, which should be similar to pancake batter. Plaster sets very quickly, so you will want to work fast.

3. Pour mixture into square mold or gently scoop the mixture in with a spoon.

4. Wait 2-3 minutes for it to start to set up. While it’s setting up, remove the candles from the metal shell they sit in. And place one in the top of each square. Then add coins or other small heavy objects to weigh it down, so it say in place.

5. Set aside and allow the plaster to harden for at least one hour (dry time may vary).

6. Carefully remove the plaster numbers from the mold one at a time and let them finish air drying for a full 24 hours.

7. Now that your numbers are completely dry, you can seal them with matte medium (optional) and then begin painting them.

8. Wait for the votives to dry completely, add the candles back into the tealight shells and you are done.

There are so many uses for these little guys. You could give a set of votives to your mom for Mother’s Day, use them as a housewarming gift for a friend, or turn them into cool wedding favors.

Or keep them all for yourself.

Want more DIY ideas? Click here.

Concept, photography and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff for Paper & Stitch

Well, it’s Friday again and you have the whole weekend to tackle a DIY project or two and relax outside with a book. I have you covered on the DIYs. You’re on your own for the outside reading and lounging. Here are my seven favorite projects of the week…

1. felt foliage party garland from A Subtle Revelry

2. fresh flower gift tags DIY from Studio DIY

3. DIY knit cloud pillows from Making Nice in the Midwest

4. alternative vase ideas from Sweet Root Village for A Daily Something

5. state-shaped memo boards from Britt + Co.

6. DIY rope bag from Style Me Pretty

7. amazing oyster shell garland from Once Wed

And here are my posts elsewhere from the week…

• Totally Type Roundup: 9 DIY Typographic Wall Art Projects
• Before and After: An 80s Kitchen gets a Major Makeover
• A 5 Minute Spring DIY to try this Weekend
• Before and After: Tiny San Francisco Sunroom to Cozy Bedroom Retreat
• How To: Make a Concrete and Copper Bedside Lamp

Have a great weekend. Hope it’s a relaxing one!

-Brittni

I love party garlands as much as the next girl, trust me, but they’re so temporary. And truth be told, I don’t throw many parties. So I created a casual garland that fits more into the home decor category than party accessory. It’s one of the easiest garlands I’ve ever made and as soon as I get my hands on more supplies, I am knotting up another five or six strands to hang in our entryway.

It doesn’t get any easier than this one ladies. Here’s how to make your own…

Supplies: scissors and decorative rope cord or trim (that’s it!)

How-To: Start single-knotting a strand of rope every six inches or so, until you have knotted the entire length. Add additional strands of knotted rope and hang. Easy as pie. Unknot the rope when you are done using the garland and you can reuse the material for another project.

Concept, photography, and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff

Looking for more quick and easy garland ideas? Try this one.

Good morning! I’m back from my trip to DC and I have some cool DIY gift ideas to share – all for the fellas in your life. The guys often get overlooked in the DIY roundups around these parts, but today, I have ‘em covered…

1. leather tie clip diy from Chelsea of Lovely Indeed

2. diy triangle shelves from Josh + Sarah for A Beautiful Mess

3. modern bedside lamp diy from Nimi Design

4. type lovers wood wall art diy from Chris from ManMade

5. how to sew a bowtie by Jessica for papernstitch

6. folded type wall art from Weekday Carnival

7. how to make a leather cup jacket from Matt for Design Sponge

Are you ready to make you man something special for the holidays? If you have any other  ideas or links, I’m all ears (in the comments below). Admittedly, it wasn’t easy finding cool diy ideas for guys.

P.S. If you don’t want to DIY, but still want to get your man something handmade, check out this gift guide filled with cool handmade gifts for your modern man.

I am honored to be a part of the newest issue of A Subtle Revelry magazine, which you may know by it’s previous name, Styled. Victoria always does an amazing job with the issues and this holiday one, The Art of Holiday Merrymaking, is no exception. Such a great read. There are some really awesome projects: modern holiday placemats, paper lantern projects, garland ideas, yummy cookie recipes. Even a project from yours truly:

How to make a ‘party animal’ ornament for your tree. I was inspired by a project I did more than two years ago (this faux gold dino diy pendant necklace) that I wanted to recreate for the holidays this year. My tree is going to be stacked with these little guys.

For more photos and the step by step tutorial, check out the new issue of A Subtle Revelry (my project starts on page 49). Or you can click this link and head straight to the DIY on Victoria’s blog.

Hope the mid-week is treating you well so far!

-Brittni

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