DIY Elbow Patch



You’ll need:
a wool sweater
a 36 gauge felting needle
a piece of dense foam cut to size or needle mat
some wool roving
a 3″ heart cookie cutter
an iron
With the sweater on, place a piece of tape about half an inch below the elbow. Do the same with the opposite elbow. Remove the sweater and insert the foam block into one of the sleeves.
Align and center the bottom of the cookie cutter along the top of the tape. Pinch off a few tufts of wool roving.
Fill the cutter, spreading out the wool fibers evenly.
t the base of all felting needles are tiny, sharp burrs, which grab and interlock the wool fibers. While holding the needle vertically, repeatedly stab it into the wool roving and through the sweater. I found it easier to work around the outer perimeter of the cutter first and then work my way inwards. Important tip: To prevent breaking the needle, always keep the needle upright and never at an angle. And don’t forget to pay careful attention to your fingers while felting as the needle is extremely sharp. Honestly.
Continue stabbing away until the surface is flat and even. Fun, right?!
Remove the cutter and use the tip of the needle to reign in any stray fibers, if necessary. Don’t worry about the holes as they will be mended later.
Patch up any bare or uneven spots by adding more wool roving where needed.
Carefully peel the sweater away from the foam. Notice that the fibers have transferred through to the backside of the sweater.
To smooth and set the patch, spritz with water and press with an iron on the wool setting.
Repeat the same steps the other sleeve.
Ta da! Your heart shaped elbow patches are finished!


DIY: Personalized Envelope Lining

What you need:
Print outs of your favorite photographs
An envelope
Scissors
A glue stick
Step one: undo one of the envelopes, so you can see it’s template.
Step two: cut the top half of the envelope like so, keeping together the middle center and the top fold over
Step three: draw a 1 cm line around the top fold and half a cm around the two sides and trim.
Step four: place your template on top of your chosen print and cut.
Step five: glue the back of the printed cut out.
Step six: place inside the envelope.
You can create as many different ones as you like, ready to send off for a special occasion or just to send a letter to a friend. It’s fun, try it!

Diy : Beaded Safety Pin Bracelets

Easy and simple way to accomplish the bracelet to the hand is a very beautiful garnet and wires

Sunny Ribbon Sculpture Tutorial (my baby)

Ready to take a closer look at that simplest little sunny ribbon sculpture you could ever make? I think it took me about 15 minutes total to make. Now let’s do this thing!
In order to do this tutorial you will need yellow ribbon (3/8″ wide), yellow felt, a hot glue gun and hot glue, scissors, and an alligator clip.
Start by cutting your circle of felt. This won’t actually show. It is the base that you will glue all of your ribbon onto. Cut whatever size of circle you would like. I wanted mine pretty large, and, as you can see, I used my camera lens as the circle form for measurement.
Cut lengths of ribbon for your sun rays. Mine were just over an inch long. Snip a V in the ends of your sun rays. You may want to use a bit of Fray Check to seal up the ends of your sun rays.
Use dots of hot glue to secure your sun rays to your felt circle.
Now you are going to start your sun’s body. Begin by using a dot of hot glue to secure the edge of your ribbon underneath itself so that you will have a nice, neat end. Now glue the ribbon to the “top” of the sun.
Loop back and forth, hot gluing as you go, until you near the “bottom” of your sun.
At the “bottom” figure out how much ribbon length you need at the bottom and cut it off. Glue the end underneath like you did at the beginning. Secure it down at the end with hot glue. Your sun is now DONE! Easy peasy, right?!
Now all you have to do is secure an alligator clip to the back of your sun. You can cover the clip with ribbon and hot glue if you would like, as shown below. That would be fairly crucial with a smaller sun that may reveal the clip.
Voila! You are all done! If your little lady has hair then go ahead and clip that bad boy on. If not, you can do what I did and clip that sun onto a fold-over elastic headband. Of course, you can also glue it directly to the elastic, but I like to put it on a clip so that it will work as a baby headband now and a hair clip later.

PRETTY LACE FLOWER POTS


Hi there! Here's a quick little project we whipped up in our studio today. We've been doing a little decorating and these lace covered pots look so pretty in a group. Do you want to make your own set?
This DIY is so simple it doesn't even really need these photos, but just in case... 1. Supplies Needed: Lace, Glue, Scissors, Terra Cotta Pots, Plants. 2. Brush glue all over your pot. 2. Adhere lace and then brush an extra layer of glue over the top to seal. 4. Allow your new pots to dry completely before you use them.
We will share more photos of our studio soon! xo. elsie

D.I.Y. OVERSIZED FABRIC GARLAND CHANDELIER

Make a statement piece in your home out of supplies you already have on hand! I designed my oversized fabric garland chandelier to fit over our table but you could also use it in a corner that needs a little more excitement, above a reading nook in a child's bedroom, or as the backdrop for your next holiday party.
You'll need: 1 wire cooling rack, 2-3 yards of fabric in different shades, 1 strand of twinkle lights, 1 white extension cord, lace, chenille, embroidery thread, a needle, two hooks that screw into a wall, a drill.
1. cut strips of fabric in varying widths (1/2" - 2") for depth. 2. create texture with strips by stitching loosely through them with embroidery thread and then bunching them up before tying a knot. Spread them out evenly along your thread and leave enough string at the end to tie it to the cooling rack.
3. Starting about 5 rows in from the outer edge, fold the short ends of each strip of fabric over and hand stitch a complete row of fabrics. Vary the shades and thicknesses but use more thick ones than skinny ones on the inside rows. They need to cover your lights and add density. Tie a knot at the end of your row and trim your thread. Repeat until the outer five rows on each side have been covered. Use more thin strips on the outer row. 4. Add three or four strips of fabric along the middle rows just at each end. You're going to leave a big hole in the middle for the lights to hang. Add some thin srip here as well.
5. Use a thin strip and wrap it around the edge of your sheet to cover the exposed metal. Stitch together at each end to secure. 6. It should like this. Repeat on the other side.
7. Carefully attach your twinkle lights. Start with the plug near the back left (or right) corner and tie it near the top with a thin strand of fabric. Continue to tie up your lights in three or four places. Let them hang down but not further than the fabric. 8. Cut four strips of fabric measuring about 2.5" apart and stitch them together at the end as shown.
9. Pull one strand through the corner and continue to braid the rest together. This will be one of the four strands that you hang your chandelier from. You can replace this with chain if you'd like but the fabric disguises the extension cord a bit. Attach your extension cord to the plug in from your twinkle lights and then braid it with the strand on that corner. 10. Draw all four strands up so that they are equal and tie them in a large knot.
Drill a pilot hole in your ceiling and hang a strong hook where you'd like to hang your chandelier. I drilled another above the socket against the wall so that the extension cord could hook into that and not hang down aimlessly. Then I plugged it in and had some lovely lighting! Trim yours up to the height you'd like.

MORE ADVENTURES IN GOLD LEAFING

I've wanted to try gold leafing for a while now too. It's always fun to try something new! After we picked up a gold leafing kit from a local craft shop. I read the instructions (this is key if you're new to something. Even though I am often tempted to skip this step!) and checked out the manufacturers website for any tips.
This is a slightly different application to the Honey Bear vases we created. I wanted to try something that wasn't a full coverage look. Some designs worked better than others, as you can see. Here's what I did and what I learned from it:
1. Supplies: gold leafing kit (this included metal papers, adhesive and sealer), items to embellish (I picked up a mini cake stand and double bowl from TJ Maxx), soft paint brush and sponge. 2. Using your paint brush, add adhesive in the design you choose. Allow to dry until it becomes tacky then lay a thin layer of gold leaf over it. Pat it down with your sponge or your finger. Gold leaf can easily chip or smudge, but don't get frustrated. Have patience. 3. Allow to dry and then gently brush off excess gold leaf with a (clean) soft paint brush or sponge. I tried both and had better luck with the sponge. 4. Apply the sealer over your design and allow to dry.
Tips for first time gold leaf users (like me).
-Choose a design that will look good messy. Gold leaf is not easy to work with so you will probably have a few chips or smudges when you are done. This can add a lot of charm! If you really want clean edges you might try painting instead.
-If the gold leaf sticks to your hands too much stop and go wash your hands. There's a good chance you got a little adhesive on your hands, or the oils are sticking to the leaf. Clean, dry hands work best.
-You can fix holes in your design after by apply a tiny bit more adhesive and adding gold leaf again. So don't despair if your first attempt isn't "perfect."
-Practice on a damaged or thrifted item first. It's best to get a feel for the supplies if you've never used them before. I practiced on a chipped mug I was planning to throw out anyway and this really helped me to see how the gold leafing was going to turn out, so I adjusted my original design idea.
-For this kind of application designs with small areas work best. For example, the small ridged edge of the bowl above (left side) worked much better as a design idea than the long stripes design (right side).
-Items will not be dishwasher or food safe. I created items for my bedroom, to hold rings and perfume. You could also make a fancy soap dish or tooth brush holder. But do not plan to create dishes to eat off of or that need to be washed often.
Thanks for letting me share my first gold leafing adventure with you. It's fun to experiment and find out what works best, and what doesn't. Try something new this week! xo. Emma

Chopstick lampshade tutorial


MATERIALS
- Old lampshade wires or thick wire to make your top loop
- 1 or 2 chopstick bags (50 units) depending on the size you want – I used 1 1/2 bags
- hemp twine
- Ruler, pen, hot glue & scissors
Step Uno - First you will need to start marking your chopsticks, I marked 1/2″ on the top and the bottom, do that very light on the back of the chopstick (the plain side without the center crack) but depending on how you want it to look you can do it the other way, I just really liked the pattern left when they were all together.
Step Dos - Cut 4 long pieces of hemp twine, mine were about 3 feet, but I end up cutting a long excess, but I would recommend you to have a long extra than missing so 3 feet is always save =] make a loose knot at the beginning, use the mark in the chopstick to hug it with the hemp, place a tini drop of hot glue in the back of the chopstick to secure the hemp twine to the chopstick.
Step Tres - Repeat the same process for the bottom, I found it easier to do 3 at a time. Tie 3 on the top, then do the bottom and repeat. Remember to always cross your two pieces of hemp twine in the same direction to have a clean look.
Step Cuatro - Now repeat and measure how long you will need your piece to be, I didn’t use all my chopsticks because I was happy with the size I had, if you are using an old lampshade use it as a reference and measure with it.
Step Cinco - Once you have the length you need, untie the knots you did at the beginning carefully.
Step Seis - After that start hot gluing (I would recommend you to start in the center and then go to the ends) your chopsticks to the old lampshade frame or your wire if you want to do your own structure. I did but on my next I will use an old lampshade for sure because I didn’t really like making my own when I can get the structure for a dollar or so at a thrift store.
Step Siete - Once at the end, what I did was double cross my hemp twine from my fist and last chopstick, like shown in the picture. Repeat that in the top and the bottom. for a clean look I cut and hot glued the ends on the inside.
I love the raw feel that the wood and the hemp twine have together, but I was thinking about making a different one and play with bright colors or maybe just a tint for a darker brown.

A DIY Vintage Button Lamp Shade

Scour flea markets and garage sales for some vintage buttons,
pick up some great lamp bases and shades--I got mine at Home Goods,
and grab your glue gun!
 After much consideration and no opinion lended from Husband, I settled on the green/gold/silver buttons--most of which are patina covered, with their edges worn and rusty.
I was afraid to bring in too much color, especially since our bedding has a lot of color.
I used hot glue to adhere the buttons, and to make for a smoother side to apply the glue,
I used my metal cutters to remove any backs of the buttons that wouldn't allow them
to lay flat against the lamp shade.
Then I went to town, rotating various shades and sizes of green, gold and silver.
I am happy that I started with only one line around the base,
because that is all my collection would allow!
I was near the end of my supply

Tutorial: DIY Cord Keeper From Fabric Scraps

Am I the only one that has a basket full of charging cords?  It seems that everything has it's own charging cord, and all of the cords turn into a jumbled mess in the basket.  I decided that some nice little cord keepers were in order.  All you need is a couple of scraps of fabric, some medium weight interfacing, about an inch of velcro, and about 20 minutes.  These make up really quickly, and are the perfect quick project to use up the last bits of your favorite fabrics.
Wouldn't these be so nice to keep your chargers nice and tidy in a bag or suitcase?
Print off the Cord Keeper Template.  Apply medium weight fusible interfacing to the back of one piece of scrap fabric.  Cut one piece of interfaced fabric with the template, and one without.  You will need 2 total pieces of fabric for each cord keeper. Cut two small 1 inch pieces of velcro.
 Place the two fabric pieces with right sides together.  Stitch around the fabric pieces, 1/4" from the raw edges, leaving 2 inches or so open for turning.  Clip the corners close to the stitching line.  Notch the two curved ends of the cord keepers.
 Turn the cord keepers right side out through the open space.  Press.  Stitch 1/8" away from the pressed edges, to both secure the layers, and close off the open turning space.
Attach the velcro pieces to either end of the cord keeper.  One side should go on the front, and one on the back

The Easiest Pillow Cover Ever

This is the easiest pillow cover ever. No measuring! No sewing! Just fold and tie. You need a piece of fabric 3 times as wide plus a few more inches and twice as tall plus a few more inches as the pillow. Place the pillow in the center, on the wrong side of the fabric.
I used pinking shears to cut the fabric so it wouldn’t fray. Start by folding the bottom half of the fabric to the center of the pillow.
Then fold the top down to the center.
Fold both ends like the picture. Sorry, I don’t know how to explain it.
Bring one side over the top of the pillow.
Then the other side.
Now tie the ends in a square knot. To tie a square knot you take the fabric over-under then under-over.
Ta-Da! Hey, I don’t sew much and this is the perfect no-sew solution.
I love the knot.
And it looks great on the loveseat.
It even looks great on the back if I want to switch sides.
I’m linking to these awesome blog parties:

Use Bookends as Floating Bookshelves

These images are from "Hide" invisible bookshelf from Umbra ago. What looks like the cover is more than that E has a small lip to hold the bottom cover of the book base. There are online instructions for invisible bookshelves, but this example has no parallel
You Should also see :



DIY Craft Stick Puzzle

Here’s a super easy homemade puzzle you can make with your kids – or let them make themselves.
Jumbo Craft Sticks
 Tape
Markers or Crayons
Simply lay 8-9 craft sticks flat and tape lightly together.
Then turn the whole thing over (tape on the back) and draw a simple picture that would be easy to color onto the craft sticks with a black marker, (or let your child draw the picture).
Now it’s time to color the picture!
After your child has colored the picture, you simply remove the tape from the back of the sticks, mix them up a little and you have a very simple puzzle.
Bonus: The whole thing can be stored in a rubber band

Adorable camera case with button [tutorial & image-heavy!]

I got a camera for Christmas
I am, however, extremely protective and paranoid so I got around to making a case right away.
First, I went to the nearest dollar store and bought an oven mitt.  I figured the thick material it was made of would be perfect to protect my camera from any falls
I cut just enough of it off to fit my camera.  Here is what was left:
Next, I took what I had in oven-mitt material and cut it into a rectangle, keeping one of the sewn-sides of the mitt intact, and hand-sewed the other 3 sides, as shown below
I roughly measured how much fabric I would need at cut it out.  I LOVED this print... I got it a longg time ago, probably at Wal-Mart.  It feels like canvas, but is (obviously) much cuter  hehe
As you can see, I folded it in half, and then sewed along 2 sides to form a bag of sorts.  Next I turned this inside out and shoved my oven-mitt thing inside.  I tucked it the remaining fabric into the mitt to make sure it fit, and then took it back out again and sewed up the edge.
Next, I quickly fashioned a flap to close the pouch I made.  You can see the shape below
You Should also see :

Stenciled Mason Jar Tumblers

 We love to entertain outside, so why not make it fun? These are truly easy and really inexpensive to make!
You will need jars of course. I love Ball jars,
Take your favorite stencil and adhere tape it to your jar. I love using these adhesive stencils from DecoArt because they curve with the glass and are reusable.
Dab a thin layer of glass safe paint onto your stencil…just be gentle so you don’t move the stencil or get your paint under the stencil. Once you are finished dabbing your paint on, pull your stencil up while the paint is still wet. If you wait until it dries, you may pull the paint up.
That’s it! Allow time for the paint to dry, slap a cute lid on, and you have instant cuteness! No one else will have the same ones as you!

Simple and cute button bookmarks

Supplies:
paper clips
fancy buttons
hot glue
felt
This tutorial really is so simple and easy enough to get the kids involved with (just make sure to assist with the gluing).
All you do is hot glue your paper clip to the back of your button and then cut a small piece of felt to go on top. The felt will keep the glue sealed in and leave a smooth finish. That’s it! Super simple, right?!
There are so many fun buttons you can use to get creative. I love all of the fun colors! :) These would make great gifts too. Just slip them onto the top of a card and you have your self a fun little gift.
Hope you enjoyed this fun little tutorial. Now can anyone guess which book this is?! ;)

SHELL JEWELED POPSICLES

Have you started planning your 4th July party yet? One really popular item is popsicles of course! This year I thought I’d make our ice treats in red, white and blue with the help of some homemade, colored magic shell. It’s easy to make and color, and combined with some glittery candies it makes one sweet 4th July party pop.
Supplies:
1. Popsicles (make some yourself or buy them in packs for savings)
2. Red and blue food coloring
3. White chocolate melts (1.5 cups)
4. Coconut oil (1/2 cup in solid form)
5. Three containers for storing your magic shell
6. Small saucepan
7. Spoon for stirring
Step 1: Melt your white chocolate melts and your coconut oil in a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir gently the whole time. Once you have a smooth consistency, transfer your melted chocolate into three separate containers.
Step 2: Drop a couple of drops of red food coloring into one container and stir. The more drops, the redder it will be.
Step 3: Dip your popsicle into one of the containers and cover the top with the magic shell. Immediately sprinkle some cabochons over the top to make your pop sparkly. Your chocolate will magically freeze in seconds I promise!
This is a great way to get the kids involved after lunch. They’ll love watching the magic of this sweet chocolate shell!

such cute diy crafts

such cute diy crafts

Mini DIYs to Do in 15 Minutes or Less: Key Caps & Succulent Corks

Mini DIY projects are perfect for people who aren't gung-ho DIY but still feel the itch to make a little something from time to time. Making this painted key cap or mini succulent planter is instantly gratifying. Each project takes just 10 to 15 minutes. Seriously!
With just two coats of nailpolish, (voila!) your painted key cap is finished. Make sure to wipe the key thoroughly with window cleaner before starting to paint so that you maintain the longevity of the finished look. The more grime on the key, the more quickly the polish with chip away. Thanks to Laurel from A Bubbly Life for this DIY inspiration.
The mini succulent garden requires a couple of more supplies, but the execution is quick! You'll need a tiny succulent cutting (get one from a friend or neighbor), a bottle cork from last night's wine, a craft knife, a small magnet (cut a strip or corner of a refrigerator magnet you already own), and common household glue (try to use a low fume glue like Elmers). Hollow out the cork with the craft knife. Glue the magnet on. Plant your succulent cutting using a bit of dirt from outside, and you're done! If you're still more of a buy-it person than a try-it person, order this succulent magnet garden at Alissa Rose's shop.

Of colored paper the sweetest bouquet of flowers to the salon

Of colored paper the sweetest bouquet of flowers to the salon

high on EMBELLISHED SKIRT diy

Let’s get started. Here’s what you’ll need:
A skirt (I picked a short fitted black one)
Flat-back acrylic jewels (I got a packet of Bead Landing
Aleene’s Jewel-It Embellishing Glue
Step 1: Layout your skirt on a flat surface and get rid of any major creases or wrinkles. Keep the front of the skirt facing up.
Step 2: Start arranging the round jewels on the skirt following the pattern shown in the picture. Begin from the top or the bottom of the skirt. You might need more/less jewel in each row depending on the size of your skirt.
Step 3: Place the square jewels around the round ones. Of course, you can switch up the pattern if you have another design in mind.
Step 4: Once you finish arranging the jewels on the skirt according to the design, pick a jewel and add a drop or two of glue on the back of the jewel.
Step 5: Let the glue sit on the jewel for a few minutes and then place it back carefully in it’s place on the skirt. Press it down slightly. To avoid gluing the front of the skirt with the back, I put a layer of magazine inside the skirt. If you prefer sewing the jewels on, they come in sew on (with holes) form as well.

Buttons and DIY Crafts-filled Wedding

I decided to not use real flowers so we picked an easy to make origami style flower that Zach and I sat and made together with supplies gifted by my mom
My mother made wire flower sculptures for each table to stick with our craft flower

GLITTER DISCO BALL DIY

I was wanting to make a Halloween disco ball for this year’s festivities, but I’m no fool! That would have taken ages. I decided to go with a cheaper, easier, more time-efficient option: glitter. I’m not usually a glitter fan, but once I saw this orange/pink color combo, I had to try it out. Hung in a doorway or for a party, they add a little sparkle to the season. To really get in the mood you could add a jack-o’-lantern face to it or group them in large bunches.
Materials Needed:
paper lantern (I show a white 10″ and 12″ in this tutorial)
spray glue for glitter
glitter
drop cloth or something where you can let the glitter drop
Here goes!
Step 1. Follow the directions on the package of the paper lantern to insert the light bulb and create the globe shape.
Step 2. With your glitter can, spray the lantern in patches then immediately add a handful of glitter. Let the extra glitter drip onto your drop cloth. You can use the extras as you go along or at the end.
Step 3. Repeat, repeat repeat! The key to glitter is layers upon layers. You don’t want it to look sparse so you might have to go over it again and again.
Pro Tip: Do this in an area where you wouldn’t mind glitter remaining. Glitter has a mind of its own and will stay on whatever is near. And don’t think using a broom will help much. I learned this the hard way.

candle holders cute diy crafts

There are many kinds of candle holders saluting shape and sight of them made ​​of copper and silver there, carved out of wood like this shape arises before you mutilation the trees appearance mile and a new occasions Alrmensah and others I hope to appeal to the idea

Spring Decor: in two parts

With Easter passed, it’s time to de-bunny the house.  While a lot of your existing decor will still work for the next couple months, there’s a good chance a lot won’t.  It’s easy to put your bunny blinders on preparing for Easter festivities.  Now is the time to simply focus on what Spring is offering: bright colors, fresh blossoms, and lots of light. Remember how I hounded you in the past to start growing wheat grass?  Well now is a better time than any to get some fresh grass growing indoors.  It is a simple and healthy way to bring in a light and bright Spring feel.  …but that is for part two.
Speaking of Easter, have a lot of dyed eggs lying around?  Perhaps you overbought and have a fridge still stockpiled with them.  Well Easter can’t hog eggs because they are also a symbol of birth, and a symbol of Spring.  Good thing there are so many great options for using (and reusing) those Easter eggs!  Here is part one: eggshells

DIY Painted Heart Jeans

Here’s the really simple how-to, so you can make some for your little gal, or for yourself!  First gather your supplies.  You’ll need to cut out a heart stencil out of a thicker type of paper, like a cardboard cereal box. Make sure your stencil is equally square so that you can use it as a guide when placing your hearts.  You’ll then need some fabric paint (I prefer Tulip fabric paint for projects like these as opposed to multi-surface paint like the one the Martha Stewart line makes), some sponge brushes and of course your canvas.  I found these jeans so great to work with because there was minimal smudging on the fabric and when I made a mistake, it washed off very easily.  I have never had good results trying to wash fabric paint off of knit cotton or canvas.
A few tips and tricks.  You’ll want to make 2 stencils because you’ll notice that after you complete the first leg, the paper will start to break down a bit from the moisture of the paint, and some bleeding and smudging will occur.  So cut two stencils so they stay fresh.  When you place your stencil on your denim, make sure to hold firmly in place, and then apply paint in a blotting motion as opposed to brushing or filling it in.  Then lift the stencil up in one swift clean motion so it doesn’t smudge your heart.  Keep a moist rag on hand for mess ups.
As far as a pattern goes, I tend to be a little willy nilly with planning and pattern placement.  I like to eyeball, and initially took out my ruler to try and make the hearts all perfectly symmetrical, but that just isn’t my style.  Instead I decided to just go for it and started with one heart up top towards the waist, and then, using my stencil as my guide, spaced each heart out from corner to corner of each heart (as shown in image 2), and then staggered them down, always using the stencil as the guide and just going corner to corner.  If you notice, there are four rows of hearts just staggered but going straight down the entire length of the pant.  It worked out perfectly and I didn’t drive myself crazy.
Taylor is pretty much in love with these, and I pretty much want a pair for myself now. Because honestly, the only thing better than faded neon denim, is faded neon denim with hearts painted on them. Am I right, or am I right? Enjoy, and please let me know if you make a pair!

HANGING BASKET GARDEN DIY

We have a sweet little backyard at our new house but with a rambunctious puppy and a curious two-year-old, many of my efforts to plant things in the ground have been thwarted. Well, more like dug up, chewed up, and pulled apart. I was determined to have some sort of herb garden so I got smart and came up with my own version of a vertical garden. I used supplies I already had on hand and bought herbs and flowers that would take the same amount of sun. I put this together on a Sunday afternoon and have enjoyed it from my kitchen window all week!
1. Supplies: Three sturdy, woven baskets in similar or equal sizes in a rectangular shape. Remember you're going to need them deep enough to plant something but not so big that they're too full and heavy to hang. Braided polyester rope (similar), 1-2 small bags of potting soil, herbs and flowers. Herbs will flourish with a little more room but I squeezed my flowers in for more color. Scissors, and 2 screws appropriate for where you'll hang your baskets. 2. Arrange your plants in your baskets to make sure they'll fit. Take into consideration how tall your tallest plant might get and use that to evenly space your baskets. 3. Cut your rope so that it's long enough to double up on each side and then add another 3 ft. (see rope on right side of basket) 4. Thread one end of your rope through the front corner of the top basket and pull through making sure to leave about 3' above for hanging. Tie a double-knot and then thread it through the front corner of the second basket. Be sure to keep your baskets evenly spaced as you're threading and knotting. You might want to use chalk to outline where they should go. Repeat as you go back up the back corners of each basket. Repeat on the other side checking to make sure both sides are even. 5. Hang your basket to be sure it is even. Make adjustments. 6. Place plants inside to make sure they're in the order you want. 7. Take plants out and fill your baskets with potting soil (on the ground). Plant your plants. 8. Hang and water.
This is a great project for renters, apartment dwellers, or anyone who wants to enjoy just a little bit more greenery. It's a low risk project as you don't have to dig up any bit of ground and it'll keep your plants safe from any number of antagonists. Keep in mind where you want to hang your vertical garden when choosing your plants to give them their best chance. Check plant tags for watering and sun requirements.
Use this same idea in your studio to house crafting supplies, store your fruits and vegetables where you can see them in your kitchen, or add it to your bathroom to store toilet paper and washcloths. It's an attractive way to reclaim some space!

Colorful DIY Flower Baskets

Make some pretty flower baskets, very feminine and making you think of summer! The supplies are paper plates, ribbon, glue, scissors, a hole punch, paint. Paint paper plates, let dry, trace a glass around in the center, make a mark dividing the paper in half, then in quarters and so on until you’ll have 12 sections. Put the glass back on the paper and fold up the tabs, against the glass. Fold up the first two tabs, and bringing one half over the other, punch a hole at the center point of the overlap. To read the detailed instruction, look here, craft to the end and enjoy!

diy, diy projects, diy craft, handmade, diy ideas

FILED UNDER: DIY PROJECTS TAGGED WITH: BLOOM, DIY, DIY CRAFT, DIY IDEAS, DIY PROJECTS, HANDMADE, SPRING

DIY Ring Bearer Pillow

Materials
-small pillow
-lace doilies
-embellishments (pearls, brass buttons) to sew onto the pillow
-a brooch, for the pillow’s centerpiece
-ribbon
-needle & thread
-pins
-scissors
Steps
one
You can either buy a pre-made pillow, or make your own. Whatever you decide, make sure the doily will fit.
I made my pillows from fabric, instead of buying them. One of the doilies was way too big for my pillow, so I tucked the edges of into my fabric and sewed them inside my pillow to make it fit. Here it is, prior to sewing.

DIY Clothespin Vase

FILED UNDER: DIY PROJECTS TAGGED WITH: CLOTHESPIN, DIY, DIY CRAFT, DIY PROJECTS, HANDMADE, VASE

DIY Leather Bracelets for the Jewelry Novice

I am NOT a serious jewelry maker.  In fact, big boxes of beads and findings and such kind of scare me.  So when I was tasked with a jewelry project for jewelry month here at Crafts Unleashed, I started sweating a little bit.  Good thing there are jewelry projects that even THIS novice can do!  Join me today as we dive into jewelry creation!  Today we focus on that pretty leather and bar bracelet on the right.
To start, attach the thread to the bracelet with a knot, then begin threading the barbells onto the top, alternating directions.  Loop the thread over one side of the barbell, go underneath the bracelet and then loop the other side.
The back will start to look like this with an alternating pattern:
Here is the looping process showing one side of the barbell, going underneath and then looping the second side.
Keep looping and by the end of an episode of Survivor, you are finished with your DIY leather bracelet!
To finish the ends, simply knot or secure with a tiny dab of glue.

Carpet placemats, napkin rings

the tape
1. Four soft wool carpet placemats in coordinating warm colors (peach, rust, beige, mauve) with bright-colored (red, orange, hot pink, light pink) pom-pom trim.
2. Four coordinating felt napkin rings.
3. Two pom-pom covered plastic Easter eggs.
Also makes a great Valentine's Day table setting for two. (Dishes, napkins, candlesticks, etc. are not included.)
Everything I make for CraftyNest.com is a prototype. I only make one, then move on to the next craft, which makes this item one-of-a-kind. I price my crafts close to what I paid in supplies. You get a deal, and I get to clean house for the next project. Win-win.
From a smoke-free, pet-free home. Shipping prices are First Class/Parcel post. Please convo me if you have any questions.

Beaded wire jewelry holder

Jewelry holder made as a sample for a 2013 girls camp craft project. Made of hardware mesh, wire, turquoise wire, beads, and seashells. About 9 inches wide x 13 inches tall. Ten handmade s-hooks for hanging necklaces and bracelets included. Jewelry shown in photo not included.
Everything I make for Crafty Nest is a prototype. I only make one of each project then move on to the next craft. As they say, practice makes perfect. And without practice, these items are rarely perfect. You will probably find minor flaws in all of them, which is part of the beauty of handmade. With that in mind, I price all my handmade items near what it cost me in supplies. You save money, and I get to clean house and buy new supplies for the next project. Win-win!

DIY: Holiday Wrapping Paper From Paper Doilies

Materials: 
•  Roll of craft paper
•  Paper doilies
•  2 colors of glitter paint (acrylic paint will work too)
•  Glitter glue
•  Small container
•  Foam brush
Steps: 
• Lay out craft paper on a flat surface. Cut to desired size and place a doily on top.
• Pour the first color of paint in a small container. Dip your brush in and lightly dab over the open holes of the doily, using it as a stencil.
• Peel back the doily to reveal your pattern.
• Continue to randomly place the doily on the paper and paint until most of it is covered.
• To add an accent color, grab a new doily along with your second color of paint and continue painting until you've reached your desired look.
• Add dots of glitter glue to add dimension and extra sparkle.

DIY: Mosaic Ornaments from CDs

Materials: 
•  Glass ornament
•  CDs (choose ones that are silver underneath and not blue/purple. It takes about 1½ to make 1 ornament)
•  Ribbon
•  Scissors
•  Glue gun
Steps: 
• Cut CDs into various small shapes and sizes. It's not the simplest material to cut through, but can be done with a decent pair of scissors.
• Glue a small dot onto the ornament and press a piece of mosaic on top with the shiny side facing up. Be sure to wipe away any remaining "spiderwebs" from the glue gun. I find it much easier to clean as you go then to wait until the end.
• Continue gluing until the entire ornament is covered. Tip: You can also place the ornament on top of a small cup to hold in place as you glue.
• Place some ribbon inside the ornament. Since you can see through the glass ornament, this will cover up the glue dots on the inside and the back side of the CD pieces. Tip: Use bright ribbon to add some extra color.

DIY IPHONE CASES: REPURPOSING HOLIDAY GLITZ

Materials
glitter
tinsel or streamers
Mod Podge
brushes
paint
scissors and/or hole punch
clear iPhone cases

diy : beaded wrap bracelet

Materials:
Makes a triple wrap bracelet. Lengths may vary depending on the size of your wrist
• 5-6 feet of waxed cotton cord (1mm or 1.5mm thick)
• 10 feet of embroidery floss
• Beads (I used 30. Make sure the holes are large enough to fit the needle and embroidery floss)
• Threading needle
• Button
• Safety pin
• Scissors
• Optional: Needle threader (embroidery floss may be difficult to thread)

DIY Easy Felt Rose

diy, diy projects, diy craft, handmade, diy ideas
FILED UNDER: DIY PROJECTS TAGGED WITH: DIY, DIY CRAFT, DIY IDEAS, DIY PROJECTS, FELT, HANDMADE, ROSE

Charger holder

Use an old purse or wallet and hang it from your charger socket to store your charge-ables.
4. Soap Container Cell Phone Holder — When you’re done with a bottle of soap or lotion, transform it into the perfect cell phone holder. You’ll never lose your phone again!
Then I held my phone up to the bottle, starting at the bottom…..and decided how high I wanted the front of the holder to be.  Then I made a line with a pen across the front at that point.  Then I turned the bottle around and continued the line to the back but curved the back upwards.
 Then, I turned the phone holder with the front facing me, and applied a generous layer of Mod Podge to the front.
When you get to the back, overlap one of the edges over the other.  Make sure the fabric is smooth all the way around the bottle……and then cut a straight line up the back of the container, trimming off the excess fabric.
And that’s it.  Your phone holder is ready for use.

Glitter glassware so it’s washable!

The only added step that you need to do to make stemware washable (hand wash only) is to spray 1 or 2 coats of clear sealant over the top of the glittered area (enter ‘how to glitter’ in the Search the Site section at the top of this website). I use a glossy top coat.  Tape plastic over the part of the glass that you don’t need to cover with a clear coat.
Make glasses to match your wedding colors, any holiday, or a whole set of just black or silver glitter for a posh look
Tips Gardening Clairvo