DIY Ring Display

Today we have a fun art tutorial from my contributor, Brittany! She is constantly coming up with great projects on her blog, brittanyMakes. This latest DIY project would make a great gift!! 

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Hello everyone! I'm so happy to be back with another fun and simple DIY. Today I'm sharing arguably the easiest, most chic project ever! This DIY will certainly inspire you to display your jewels in the  highest of fashions. 

   The supplies are simple: grab a can of your favorite gold spray paint and a polyresin hand form. I picked up my hand form from Michael's, and using a 40% off coupon, it cost me less than $3! I buy my Montana Gold (in Gold Chrome Metallic) spray paint from Blick art supply, but many other art retailers also carry the brand.  

 Apply a few light coats, letting each coat dry for about an hour in between. I waited overnight before piling on the jewels. I love displaying my gold on gold, don't you? This ring display is such a statement in itself, it's really a show stopper! Don't worry, if gold ain't your thang, try Montana Gold Silverchrome spray paint!  And there you have it! 

A very chic ring display for about $10! Think about giving these out as Christmas gifts, you'd surely wow your girlfriends, sisters, mothers and all the other ladies in your life! Every gal needs one, if I do say so myself :)   

Learn about all of my great contributors on my Meet The Team Page. 

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Hi! I'm Brittany from the blog brittanyMakes, where I journal my adventures in DIY projects ranging from everyday home decor to handmade jewelry, from tips in photography to stories of bulldogs, and everything else in-between.   I am a fierce accountant by day and a zealous DIYer by night.  I spend my time balancing my love for home decor and design with the everyday responsibilities of my corporate day job.  My main mission is to inspire my readers to do what they love, take risks, and above all, to exercise their creative muscles!

Holiday Gift Exchange

For the next few months I'll be sharing in the Fiesta Movement by tackling design projects in my home and community. This months' theme is Entertaining. 

This month I hosted our annual Holiday gift exchange at my house. We had the best time! I love seeing all the unique ideas that are out there. We each came home with 11 amazing gifts. I'm sharing a few of my favorites with you today so you can get inspired and do your own gift exchange!! 

Herb Wreath Holiday Signs

You can make a similar version using this tutorial and the chalkboards were bought at Hobby Lobby. 

Dip Dyed Serving Set

Use this tutorial to make these. 

Reindeer Glitter Silhouette. 

A similar tutorial can be found here.  

Make these using this tutorial. 

Burlap and Lace Table Runner

Follow this easy tutorial to make one of these! 

Clay Tags

I made these using a similar technique to this. 

Pine Cone Leaf Garland

Make this using this tutorial.

I feel pretty lucky to have such talented friends!

disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my participation. The opinions expressed are my own.

Marble Contact Paper

For the next few months I'll be sharing in the Fiesta Movement by tackling design projects in my home and community. This months' theme is Style. This month I've decided to tackle finishing up my home office. 

Thank you all so much for your help with my desk chair! I have decided to go with option 2 and I'll be letting you all know how it turns out! Moving along with another project in my office... 

I have had these little side tables for a few months and I knew I wanted to spruce them up. 

I bought them at Target for a steal but they were lacking that expensive feel that I wanted. For a long time I knew I wanted to add marble to the top of the tables but having custom marble cut to this exact size proved to be tricky. After reading this post I decided to try my hand at marble contact paper. 

The paper was super super super easy to use and I love what it did for my side tables. 

I also added these Anthro knobs to each table. 

I am obsessed with marble paper and I want to cover all of my furniture in it! 

disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my participation. The opinions expressed are my own.

DIY Pull out pants rack

When we commissioned the joinery for our walk in robes (my personal favourite room in the house) I thought I would be able to put a pull out pants rack, I was wrong.  The length wasn't standard and my only option was an enormously expensive brand (around $250 for the mechanism) that I would still have to rejig to fit the space.
Armed with my Kreg jig and google I decided to make my own.  I am thrilled with the results, I was nervous about getting a good finish but it fits seamlessly into our walk in robes.  To find out how scroll below the pretty pictures.

I would never have attempted this project without my fabulous Kreg jig (from Carba-Tec).  With the Kreg I knew I could create the square frame the entire project is based on.  Making the square frame with the Kreg was the easy bit, the rest of the project was a bit fiddly.  Not difficult but time consuming with many trips to the local hardware store.  It cost around $70 (I had some scrap wood) but it looks like it was made with the rest of the joinery, overall it was totally worth the effort.

Measure the dimensions & cut frame pieces:  
I wanted the the front of the rack to run the entire width of the space so that you can't see the drawer mechanism.  So I made the front piece of the frame as long as the width of our space.
The back piece is shorter to allow for the width of the drawer sliders.  
The side pieces are shorter than the full depth to allow the front of the rack to sit flush with the rest of the joinery when the rack is closed.

The Japanese Z handsaw was invaluable for getting the frame perfectly to size.  It allows you to cut a sliver of wood off, a millimeter at a time.  And I find the saw action where the cut is made on the pull towards you, rather than away from you as in a traditional saw, far easier for fine work.  This was a gift from Carba-Tec, they assured me I would find it useful and it truly is.

Mark the position of the dowels:Once you have cut the pieces for the frame mark out the positions of the dowels (see center top below).  Using a straight edge I marked across both pieces of wood to make sure the dowels will line up exactly.  I allowed a gap of 8cm between the center of each dowel and it allows plenty of room for the pants to hang neatly without being crushed.

Join pieces to create the frame:

This is where the Kreg jig comes into its own.  I have bought a right angle clamp (bottom left above) which makes the process even easier as it holds the frame together on the opposite side to the one you are joining.  I am still amazed at how quickly you can put together a really solid piece of woodwork with limited skills.  This is only my second woodwork project and if I can do it so can you.  

Drill holes for dowel sticks:

Use a spade bit for these holes to make sure they are an even width and depth.

We have a dowel jig which allows you to drill straight down into the wood, very useful if you are worried about going straight like I am.  It also held the frame steady while I was working on it.

Cut dowels and put frame together:

Cut your dowels to length with the Japanese handsaw.

Putting the frame together is fiddly!  I found it easiest to loosen the top piece of the frame and then wiggle the dowels into position (very technical wood work language as you can see).  

They fit snuggly so I didn't need to glue them, although glueing one side may have made the assembly process easier.

Paint your product:

I first stained the rack but battled to get the finish even and as dark as I wanted, I was matching to black stained oak.  In the end I used a semi-gloss black spray paint and it worked really well.  I did several light coats and didn't have any drips.  It did mean that I had to create a spraying booth from several cardboard boxes (another trip to the hardware) but the finish was worth it.

Attach drawer sliders to wardrobe:

The sliders were fairly easy to install, they come with reasonably good instructions.  To summarise they come in two pieces.  One piece is attached directly to the wardrobe, the other is attached to the side of the frame.  Then it really is as simple as sliding the two parts together.

What does take a little time (and several trips to the hardware for free boxes) is getting the right screws for each piece.  Your local hardware will be able to advise you depending on the materials you are drilling into and using.

As I said before its fiddly, and it takes a while, but its worth the effort.

All photographs by Eva Burgess.  This post was not sponsored.

See the first Kreg project here.

DIY Falling Leaves Garland

I'm excited about this easy Fall craft from my contributors, Sarah and Emily, from the blog Boxwood Clippings. They have great taste and are always coming up with simple and chic DIY projects. 

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Hi Everyone! It's finally autumn, and today we're happy to share this DIY glittery leaf garland to spruce up your house for the season.

You'll need a bag of artificial leaves, which we bought from the Dollar Tree, but any craft store should carry them. Next use a paintbrush to apply Elmer's glue to each leaf and then sprinkle glitter over the leaf. Let the glue set and then shake off the excess glitter.

Next punch a hole at the top of each leaf and attach a ribbon that you can tie to a large ribbon strand.

These leaves are so shimmery and will add a little sparkle to your home for the upcoming months. It would also be a great project to do with kiddos, a little glitter ending up on their faces is always a good thing :)

-Sarah and Emily

We are sisters whose goal is to have it all…balanced, organized and beautiful lives on a tight budget. Join us on our blog, Boxwood Clippingsfor daily tips on design, organization, bargains, DIY’s and much more

Halloween Decorations with American Crafts & Target

I am all about a simple and easy craft which is why I'm loving the line of American Crafts Halloween products at Target right now. Their products range from kits to individual embellishments and craft supplies.  They sent me three kids to try out - a paper wreath, a banner and mini witches hats. Each kit includes all of the items to complete the project. 

The banner kit was super easy to put together! It comes with everything and literally all you need to do is peel and stick. 

I decided to put my own spin on the project by using the backside of the banner to adhere the letters to and embellishing them with some American Crafts washi tape. 

I also created a little witch hat mobile with their mini witch's hat kit. 

Using jars I already had and their stickers I created some spooky potions to display in my kitchen. 

This was such an easy way to decorate for Halloween. The "crushed newts" are dried coconut and the skunk oil is just water and food coloring. 

If you want to create some Halloween goodness of your own you can find all of these products plus more at your local Target store! 

Pearl Sleeve DIY

Today we have fun tutorial from my contributor, Brittany! She is constantly coming up with great projects on her blog, brittanyMakes. Her latest DIY project will turn any basic sweater into a piece of art! 

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Hey friends! I'm so happy to share this tutorial with you today. I love coming up with easy ways to glam up my wardrobe. I just may or may not have a closet full of bedazzled sweaters, but I sleep well at night knowing jeweled sweaters are currently demanded by the masses this season. While we're in the spirit of glitz and glam I thought it would be fun to create a little DIY version using a casual closet staple - the crew neck sweater. Grab your collection of Forever 21 pearls - let's do this! Here's what you need for this project: sweater of your choice, beading needle, thread, patience, scissors, and a good 2-hour chick flick.

First, I recommend propping yourself up in front of the TV. This bad boy will take a couple hours, but the results are pretty incredible. Keep your loose pearls contained by pouring them into a little bowl.

Thread your needle, tie a knot at the end of the thread, and sew a base knot onto the sweater sleeve. Loop the needle through the bead, back through the fabric, and back through the bead again. I found it easiest to make the finishing knot underneath the top of the sweater right under the bead (rather than turning the sweater inside out and knotting on the inside). If you choose thread the same color as the sweater, the knot under the bead blends in so well it's practically invisible.

It helps to be as random as possible, don't over-think the placing of the beads, just make sure you don't poke your fingers during the meet-cute scene in that chick flick you're watching ;)

Ta-da! And now you have yourself a super cute sweater, my friends.

Like what you see? Find more tutorials by brittanyMakes here.

Hi! I'm Brittany from the blog brittanyMakes, where I journal my adventures in DIY projects ranging from everyday home decor to handmade jewelry, from tips in photography to stories of bulldogs, and everything else in-between.   I am a fierce accountant by day and a zealous DIYer by night.  I spend my time balancing my love for home decor and design with the everyday responsibilities of my corporate day job.  My main mission is to inspire my readers to do what they love, take risks, and above all, to exercise their creative muscles!

Mini Pumpkin Patch Tutorial

I love love love creating miniature little worlds. I feel like every Holiday deserves it's own tiny vignette. For Fall I wanted to create a mini pumpkin patch that captured the whimsy and beauty of Fall. I like my DIY projects to be short and sweet so this project will take you literally 5 minutes. 

First gather your supplies...

- Galvanized Pot

 - Styrofoam 

- Reindeer Moss

- Terrarium Pumpkins 

- Deer Figure (optional)

For the pedestal base I bought the large and medium sized Smith & Hawken Scalloped Edge pot from Target. I flipped them both upside down to create a unique stand for my pumpkin patch. You could really use any pot that had some sort of edge with a lip on the bottom to hold all the stuff in. 

You will want to put some type of styrofoam disc at the bottom of the pedestal before you layer the moss in.  I used chartreuse reindeer moss and just placed the moss on top of the styrofoam. I plan on bagging up all the pieces of this project when Fall is over and reusing my planters for other things so I didn't glue any of this down. You definitely could if you plan on making this a permanent decoration. I just filled in all the spaces with the moss. It stays in place really well. 

After the moss is laid down you can stick your pumpkins anywhere you'd like. They should stick right into your styrofoam. I wanted to add some height so I stuck in a little deer. You could also add a tree or even mini tombstones if you wanted to take this from a Fall decoration to a Halloween decoration. 

These mini pumpkin patches are so easy and so cute. You could also use these year round and just add different miniature objects like birds, flowers, people, eggs, Christmas trees etc. The possibilities are endless! 

Three Ways to Customize your Ikea Frames

Today we have a fun art tutorial from my contributor, Brittany from the blog, brittanyMakes. This project is so creative and easy! You are going to love it. 

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Hey everyone! I'm so happy to be back! I was away in July, you know, just getting married and stuff, but I'm finally back from all the wedding shenanigans and here today to share another easy DIY.

Ikea frames are fantastic, they're perfect for the budget-conscious decorator. Ikea's frames are super affordable, and you can pretty much find a style and color that suits your tastes. There's nothing wrong with how Ikea's frames look, but sometimes grouping too many together can look too "Ikea". I think you know what I mean. There are literally thousands of ways you can customize a frame to make it more "you" and to better fit your tastes, but for today's post, I wanted to share with you 3 ways to spruce-up your Ikea frames using household supplies you probably already have lying around!  

Polka Dots!

 

 These definitely aren't your average polka dots. These polka dots were made using two ingredients: adhesive dots and glitter! Adhesive dots come equally spaced on a strip of tape, all you need to do is lay a long piece of the tape on the matting, apply a little pressure on each dot to make sure it's secure, then pull off the back side of the tape to leave perfectly placed adhesive dots.  

The adhesive dots are super sticky, one quick shake of glitter and you're covered! I used a plastic container to catch the glitter.

 

I chose Adhesive Dots over Glue Dots because Adhesive Dots are perfectly round, Glue Dots are kinda misshapen, and I knowing how OCD I am I needed the polka dots to be perfectly round and equally spaced.

 

Voila!

Stripes

You will always go right with black and white, am I right? Ha! I give you permission to make fun of me now :P Anyway, instead of drawing or painting stripes, just grab a roll of electrical tape! First, I 

grabbed an Ikea Virserum frame... 

Then, some electrical tape....

and started taping off stripes. I just eyeballed the spacing of the stripes, but you can use a ruler if you don't trust your measuring skills. But seriously, this project took like 5 minutes and looks crazy good!

 

Chalk it Up

Chalkboard paint isn't just for walls! Using a little artist brush you can turn the matting from your Ikea frame into a chalky doodle board in about an hour.

 

You can draw a cute boarder like I did, or do something crazy like draw thought bubbles and insert captions to pictures. Literally, the creativity is yours!

Learn about all of my great contributors on my Meet The Team Page. 

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Hi! I'm Brittany from the blog brittanyMakes, where I journal my adventures in DIY projects ranging from everyday home decor to handmade jewelry, from tips in photography to stories of bulldogs, and everything else in-between.   I am a fierce accountant by day and a zealous DIYer by night.  I spend my time balancing my love for home decor and design with the everyday responsibilities of my corporate day job.  My main mission is to inspire my readers to do what they love, take risks, and above all, to exercise their creative muscles!