Paper Flowering Spring Branches
To get ready for summer entertaining season, this month we're sharing a mini-series of pro tips and projects from our guest blogger, party planner extraordinaire and designer David Stark. This week, his instructions for a beautiful take on flowering spring branches, usable year-round.
We are delighted to make Paper Tales available for purchase at Bergdorf’s on their iconic 7th Floor. Each world under a glass dome is hand-made in our studio in Brooklyn, utilizing vintage and antique books.
As one of our go-to art ingredients, accessibility is one of the features we love in paper, but we are also are drawn to the transformative magic that is endemic to the material. We recently created “flowering spring branches” for a party with book page blooms, and it hit us that this is a wonderful décor trick for the home. Beauty is one feature, but unlike fresh cut flowering branches from a tree, these last and last . . .
Here’s What you need:
1. 3-5 branches in which the leaves and flowers have been removed.
2. A used book from the dollar bin at your local book store.
3. A scallop paper punch from your favorite craft or office supply store.
4. A hot glue gun to glue the blooms onto the branches.
And here’s how:
1. Pull out some pages from the book and punch 30 or so “flowers”. (You can punch several pages at a time!)
2. After cutting the flower shapes, fold each scallop in half. Then turn the scallop 90° and fold in half again. Flip the scallop over and repeat the above steps, and unfold after, retaining the crease marks that create the cup of the flower.
3. Give a dot of hot glue to the underside of the blossom and affix to the branch tips.
4. Arrange in a favorite vase and enjoy.
Original Post: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com
10 Things to Do With a Plain Picture Frame
The DIY experts at HGTV Magazine show you how to make a boring white picture frame as pretty as a picture with these tricks.
1.
Start With the Frame
A few of our favorites: White Lacquer Emery 2.5" x 3.5", 4" x 6", and 5" x 7" frames, $2 to $3, worldmarket.com; Malden Wide Linear 5" x 7" frame in white, $12.50, aifriedman.com; Nyttja 5" x 7" frame, $4 for a set of 2, IKEA stores
2.
Stick On Fun Tape
Buy patterned washi tape that's about as wide as your frame. Cut four pieces to cover the frame, then press each down firmly, overlapping the corners. Tape: FunTape in argyle, $5 per roll, ginkopapers.com
3.
Options Galore
If you find a pattern you like that’s thinner, just use two strips side by side. Make a mistake? Just peel off the tape and start again!
4.
Put Down an Overlay
Paint the frame with yellow craft paint, and let dry. Cut a white foam overlay into four strips. Attach to the frame with clear-drying craft glue, like Aleene’s Quick Dry tacky glue ($3, craft stores).
5.
Add Flowers
Paint the frame green. Paint the outsides of four toilet paper rolls various bright colors using craft paint. Let dry, then lightly flatten the rolls and cut into 1/2-inch pieces to create petal shapes. Attach the petals with clear-drying craft glue.
6.
Dot It
Press pencil erasers into a multicolor ink pad. Stamp the frame, starting with a few dots at the top and adding more toward the bottom. To prevent smudges, coat with a clear acrylic sealer, like Krylon Crystal Clear ($6, craft stores).
7.
A Rainbow of Colors
Use one pencil eraser for each ink color. Be sure to use an ink pad that’s safe on wood. Ink pad:
8.
Wrap It in Yarn
Put a dot of craft glue on the back of the frame and stick the end of a ball of yarn to it. Wrap the yarn around one side of the frame. (We suggest starting on the inside-upper-left corner.) Snip and glue the end to the frame’s back. Repeat on all sides, leaving the corners bare.
9.
Gold-Leaf It
Brush adhesive, aka sizing medium, onto the frame. Following the package's directions, apply sheets of gold leaf to the wood. Brush off any excess, then coat the frame with clear acrylic sealer. Gold-leaf kit: Speedball Composition gold-leaf kit (includes adhesive, leaf and sealer), $11, dickblick.com
10.
Stripe It With Straws
Cut paper straws into equal pieces about as wide as the frame. Attach them with clear-drying craft glue.Straws: Summer Sunshine Stripey Straws, $4 for 20, shopsweetlulu.com
11.
Add Metal Detail
Paint the frame with blue craft paint, and let dry. Arrange two sizes of metal washers around the frame. Once you’re happy with the design, attach the washers with clear-drying craft glue. Paint: Martha Stewart Crafts satin acrylic craft paint in surf, $1.50 for 2 ounces, Michaels stores; Washers: Crown Bolt …
12.
Glue On Letters
Paint the frame and a mix of chipboard letters with two shades of blue craft paint. Let dry, then arrange the letters on the frame. Once you're happy with the placement, attach the letters with clear-drying craft glue.Paint: Matte acrylic paint on (frame) blue medium and (letters) blue light, $2 for 2 ounces, …
13.
Belt It
Use a utility knife to cut an old belt into four pieces to cover the frame, trimming each end at a 45-degree angle to match the frame’s mitered corners. Attach the belt with heavy-duty craft or hot glue. If your belt won’t completely cover your frame, paint the frame first with brown craft paint, and let dry.
Original Post: http://www.hgtv.com
How to Make a Recycled T-Shirt Rug
Don't throw away those old T-shirts — they can easily be turned into a one-of-a-kind doormat to decorate the inside of your dorm room.
Materials Needed:
- flat doormat
- 5-8 old T-shirts
- scissors
- hot glue gun and hot glue
Cut T-Shirt Strips
Starting at the bottom hem, cut T-shirts across into 2-inch strips (Image 2). Then cut the 2-inch strips into 4-5-inch long sections (Images 3, 4).
Tie T-Shirt Knots
Tie a knot into the center of each T-shirt section. Note: Prepare all the knotted pieces before you start gluing.
Add First Row of Knots to Rug
Place a strip of hot glue along one side of the doormat (Image 1). Stick each knot into the glue (Image 2). Continue the strip of glue and add more knotted pieces (Image 3). Glue the knots with 1/4 inch between them (Images 4, 5). Tip: If you're using a variety of colored T-shirts, glue the colors in a random pattern. It'll create a nice multicolored effect on the doormat.
Continue Gluing Knots to Mat
Keep gluing T-shirt sections in one straight line along an edge of the mat (Image 1). Continue to glue knotted T-shirt sections all the way up the edge of the mat. Move onto the next row. Place a strip of hot glue 1 inch from the previous row. Stick the knots into the glue strip, leaving 1/2 inch between each knot (Image 2). Continue to add glue and knotted sections until the full doormat is covered (Image 3).
You're Finished!
Use your personalized doormat to wipe off your shoes when you walk in from class.
Original Post: http://www.hgtv.com
10 Ways to Transform Your Space With Washi Tape
Washi tape comes in a rainbow of patterns and is easily removable without leaving damage or residue. It's the perfect material to use to decorate a dorm room and personalize college belongings.
1.
Space-Saving Jewelry Storage
Create a funky place to show off your favorite necklaces by taping a tree onto your wall with washi tape. Use small pieces of tape to create each branch, then attach necklaces with thumbtacks. This jewelry tree is completely flat against the wall and saves precious counter space in a small room.
2.
Dress Up Paper Lanterns
Coordinate a basic paper lantern to the color scheme of your dorm room by applying strips of washi tape. Pick a coordinating color scheme, like teal and gold, or go crazy and create a rainbow. Either way, everyone will want to know where you purchased that custom hanging light.
3.
No More Standard Doors
Rid your room of boring closet doors with a few strips of colorful washi tape. Extra-wide washi tape makes a big impression on large areas. Create a dynamic look by placing different washi tapes on the diagonal in a crisscross pattern. Each piece is easily removable without damaging painted or wooden doors.
4.
Personalize Colorful Frames
Tape up inspirational magazine clippings, pictures of friends and artwork with washi tape that can be easily removed and changed on a whim. Create funky geometric shapes with the tape around a few of the images.
5.
Give Personality to a Plain Table
Create a custom side table by covering a plain one with a variety of washi tape. In a diagonal pattern, place tapes in various sizes next to each other. Washi tape won't ruin a tabletop, but if you'd prefer your new piece to be permanent and water resistant, paint a few layers of clear gloss lacquer over the tape to seal it.
6.
Add Pep to Your Flowers
A dorm room will feel more like home with fresh flowers around. Personalize clear glass vases with layers of colored washi tape to match the decor of your room. Stick stripes of patterned and solid tape on top of each other to create quirky vases that your friends will love.
7.
No-Damage Wall Messages
Bare dorm room walls can be bland and boring. Fill your room with a few uplifting quotes by taping them directly onto the wall with washi tape. Try spelling out each word in a different color of tape for a true splash of color.
8.
Decorative Electronics
Never confuse your chargers with your roommate's again by personalizing yours with a funky tape design. Wrap small pieces of tape around the cord, and you'll always be able to find your chargers with ease.
9.
Lively Nightlight
Update an old lampshade with layers of patterned washi tape to create a hip, colorful new decoration for your room. For the most variety, use different widths and colors of washi tape that all have something in common. For example, these tapes are all a white pattern on a colored background.
10.
Create a Colorful Desk
Basic storage boxes are given an update with modern washi tape. Choose one main patterned tape to be the centerpiece, then choose three or four solid, dotted and striped tapes that are similar in color to those found on your main tape. This will create a cohesive look that still appears fresh and trendy.
Original Post: http://www.hgtv.com
Faux Metal Wall Art
This faux metal wall art project was originally published on The Sitcom in December 2010, and was recently featured in the August issue of Crafts ‘N Things Magazine along with my free patterns. Who knew that a bunch of toilet paper tubes and an idea would become so big? Yep, I said toilet paper tubes. If you aren’t already familiar with creating from those little rolls that you would normally throw away, then stay tuned!
Anyway, I decided to try my hand at mixing some quilling techniques and toilet paper tubes to come up with some faux metal wall art to spice up my Southwestern theme kitchen.
For this project I used:
A large amount of toilet paper tubes
Several Paper Towel Tubes
Aleenes Tacky Glue
Krylon Spray Paint- Metal look
3/8″ Balsa Wood strips
Click here to go to my free pattern page
Several Paper Towel Tubes
Aleenes Tacky Glue
Krylon Spray Paint- Metal look
3/8″ Balsa Wood strips
Click here to go to my free pattern page
 |  |
I started by cutting the 3/8″ balsa wood strips into 10″ long pieces to form my squares and then glued them together with tacky glue.
The paper towel tubes were used for the straight pieces. I simply cut along the length of the tube, flattened it out and used a scrap of the balsa strips to measure 3/8″ strips cut lenthwise from the tube.
The toilet paper tubes were cut in 3/8″ strips across the width of the tube to keep the curl. Simply cut along the length of the tube, flatten out and mark 3/8″ strips across the width. This will result in 3/8″ curls.
 |  |
Using some examples that I found on the internet of wrought iron wall art, I created four 10″ squares. I curled the cardboard with the end of a paintbrush where I wanted curls and used the tacky glue to glue it as I went.
 |  |
With these squares, I started by dividing it into four equal parts and then creating the same pattern in each part. I simply created as I went and used the end of the paintbrush to make any curls needed.
Once they were completed and dry, I then spray painted them with metal-look paint. Unless you get up close and personal and actually touch them, they look totally like metal. But didn’t cost nearly the price.
 |  |
I now have fancy looking wall art and spent next to nothing to make it. In fact, my toilet paper loving family actually provided most of the materials. You can’t beat that!
Original Post: http://suzyssitcom.com
