The Latest: Dec 19, 2019

Hanging traditional wallpaper is daunting, but you can breathe a lot easier when you’ve got the removable and repositionable kind. The fear that you’ll screw up is minimal. Still, it’s helpful to know what you are getting yourself into before you get started. And tips and tricks are always handy! For this project, we used wallpaper tiles from Hygge & West designed by Laundry called Andalusia in Blush.

Whether Easter’s on its way or you’re just looking to decorate with eggs to add a touch of organic beauty around your home, blown eggs are a great way to utilize both the package, and the contents of the package with little to no waste at all. Raw eggs Thumbtack Toothpick or bamboo skewer Small bowl Straw (narrower the better) or syringe 1. Balance the egg vertically on the table and start by pressing a thumb tack into the very top point and bottom point of your egg.

A shoe rack is a great way to keep high traffic areas from getting cluttered with piles of shoes. To make one for the fancy footwear in your household, all you need is a free afternoon, power tools, and a can-DIY attitude! Personalize your rack by scaling up the length of the dowels for big shoes and boots, or scale down for those little pitter patters.

In Brittany & Jordan’s newly renovated camper, a lot of DIY went a long way. To take the living space from floral to fabulous, Brittany proudly designed and built this storage futon herself. When she couldn’t find the right futon/couch/storage solution for the camper, she used her knowledge from years of working in her dad’s shop to come up with the design, cut all the pieces, assemble, rework and reassemble the structure.

The first time I visited Thomas’ home, he told me not to focus on the light hanging in his dining room—he had plans to make a custom fixture. After it was completed, I came back to take a look and was so impressed by how he was able to implement his vision while waiting patiently for all the pieces to fall into place. I often have an idea of something I want, in my mind. An end table, a dresser, a piece of serving ware, etc.

Who says Valentines Day has to be all about flowers and perfume, and delicate things? Sure, those are nice, but if your snookums fancies craft projects and lovely artwork instead — well, this project is for them! 3′ wood dowel rods (I used 2 3/4″ diameter rods) String or twine Wood, styrofoam, or clay beads in all sizes Craft paint Power drill Saw Drill bits Scissors Sandpaper Small level (optional) Wood clamp (optional) Packing tape (optional) Craft needle (optional) 1.

Sheepskin and flokati rugs are everywhere these days — they add texture to a room, and instantly add comfort to a hard plastic or wood chair. But if you’re looking to make your sheepskin stand out from the run of the mill, or just need a little change, fabric dye is the ticket. Fabric dye 1 cup salt Rubber gloves or stir stick Soaking bucket or bathtub Water 1.

We’ve featured Amanda’s DIY projects before and she’s a bit of a DIY master. Skill Level: Moderate Time Required: 2-3 Hours Project Cost: Varies depending on mirror size Plate glass mirror Flat wooden boards, 1 inch thick by 3-4 inches wide Wooden boards, 1 inch thick by 1-2 inches wide Sheet of OSB or plywood, four inches wider and taller than the mirror size Tools Table saw Nail gun and nails Set OSB on a large flat surface, lay mirror on top, centering to fit.

When my wife was pregnant I started looking for inspiration for the nursery. I found some nice designs for a cradle, but really fell in love when I found images of a moon shaped cradle. This cradle was made by someone in France and also featured on Apartment Therapy. I decided to try and make this myself based on the images I could find online.

There’s definitely no shortage of holiday ornaments out there to buy, but there’s something so satisfying about making a few. It’s always nice to give/receive something handmade—and one-of-a-kind—and by making a few for yourself, you get to create a little memory that you can revisit every year when you pull them out to decorate the tree. These ornaments are fairly easy, adorable, and—bonus!—you’re recycling.

Stars are a major theme at Christmastime. Crafted after the Star of Bethlehem, the star-shaped, ornamental parol is said to encourage hope and goodwill during the season. Hope and goodwill? We can totally get behind that theme, so we decided to make ours in the most colorful papers and maybe even keep it up in the house throughout the new year.

Ready to up your paper snowflake game? We’re going to let you in on a little secret: it’s all in the fold. No more of that “fold any old piece of paper in half one time and cut” business. If you want a really intricate, graphic design just follow our easy step-by-step guide to get on the path to paper snowflake glory. Lightweight craft paper Sharp scissors Bone folder (optional) 1. To make your snowflake you’ll need to start with a perfectly square piece of paper.

Project by: Sabina Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania We moved into our house three years ago and it was love at first sight. We loved everything about it—except the fact that it was incredibly outdated. So, after putting up with our dated, depressing kitchen for three years, in June of 2015 we finally started our dream kitchen renovation. We had replaced a few of the appliances with our own when we moved in, so we didn’t opt to get all new appliances during this renovation.

After examining endless short, tall, lumpy, skinny, and funny-looking specimens, you finally picked out that perfect pumpkin and are now ready to take it home and carve it. But before you get started, take a look at our materials list and stop by the hardware store to pick up a few important tools that will help to get the job done safely and accurately. Compass saw Fleshing tool (an ice cream scoop or ladle will work too!

There are things contractors do that we all should take note of, and electrical cord storage is one of those things. It’s important to properly store your cord to elongate its lifespan- plus, it will save you the headache of having to unwind 100 feet of tangles and knots. The Over Under method is quite possibly the most popular way to store cords.

One of the best things about House Tours is ogling all the interesting decor the homeowners have collected together in their spaces. We often fall in love with a piece of art, or a pillow- and just gotta have it! Sometimes the pieces are new and easy to source, sometimes they are vintage or one-of-a-kind, and sometimes they are the best kind: homemade and easy to DIY. This adorable pennant pillow from Leila’s Vintage Cocoon made our “Gotta Have It” list.

Q: I promise this isn’t a relationship issue! I’m moving into my boyfriend’s massive Harlem apartment. It’s a big one bedroom with a spacious living room and lots of light. He has a ton of great art, furniture and… stuff. More stuff than he needs (he’s a music photographer and he has a tendency to just acquire stuff). I don’t want to force him to get rid of things (okay maybe some), but something about the place doesn’t feel home-y enough to me.

No matter how clean your space actually is, a tangled bundle of wires can instantly make the room appear messy and unorganized. Make your space clutter free and ready for its close-up with one of these helpful hints. Before you start: Turn off and unplug all your appliances and do a quick sweep to remove any dust bunnies that may have taken up residence in your wire pile.

The art of paper folding has been around since the 1700s, is a simple process involving a piece of paper and patience (no batteries required!) and is an enjoyable way to pass the time when you just need to step away from technology for a while. While learning this process won’t actually grant you the title of Boatbuilder, it’s a great party trick to have in your back pocket-especially at pool parties! 1. Start by laying an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper horizontally on a flat surface. 2.

Poor ceiling fans- they’re the household appliance everyone loves to hate. Their design, no matter how trendy or modern, just doesn’t cut the mustard in most homes. If we have one, it’s because we need it- and on hot summer days, staring at that ugly household appliance is a heck of a lot better than swimming in a pool of sweat. Here are a few creative options for making the most out of our current ceiling fan situations.

The ability to crochet is a skill set that comes in handy more than often than you might imagine. It’s an inexpensive hobby that helps pass the time, is great for handmade gifts, and the repetition can be quite relaxing. The foundation chain is one of the most important techniques to learn, as it serves as the base on which your projects are built. The chain will hold your stitches and all succeeding rows. Yarn Crochet hook 1.

Save some dough by taking care of loose or missing buttons yourself; there’s no need to pay the dry cleaner to put them back on for you. All you need is a sewing kit and five minutes of concentration to do it RIGHT, so they’ll stay put and work well. And if you think you already know how to do this, you might want to read up on it anyway, unless you already know about the toothpick trick, and the proper direction to stitch your buttons… ThreadButtonNeedleScissors 1.

Knowing how to correctly thread your sewing machine opens up a world of creative possibilities. The process might seem intimidating, but once you get the general idea you can apply what you know (give or take a loop or twist or two) on any machine you come into contact with in the future. It’s a two-part process in which you’ll learn how to wind the bobbin and then thread the machine. So dust it off, plug it in, and start practicing! Most sewing machines basically look the same.

A pair of matching lamps can be a large investment, and it’s not always easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. A cheaper alternative is to roll up your sleeves, pull out the power drill, and make your own perfect pair by using twin vases and lamp kits. You may be surprised at how straightforward the process is – and, of course, this tutorial works for anyone who has a solo vase they’d love to upgrade, too!

Tutu skirts are a great stand-in when you don’t have a costume planned for a party or you need something fun to wear to a race. This fabulous, totally customizable tutu-orial is easy, inexpensive, and takes hardly any time at all, so grab your measurements, your toddler’s measurements, or your dog’s and have a blast with this goofy costume idea! You can purchase tulle off a bolt or from a spool, depending on how wide you want your strips to be.

Widowed pillowcases are just as common around our house as single socks. I have no idea what happens to them, but apparently the same monster that eats socks also has an appetite for pillowcases.

Are those chevron print seat cushions just not doing it for you anymore? Before purchasing a new set and forking over a large wad of cash (seriously, even cushions at the big box stores are pricey!), check out this handy DIY for drawstring seat covers. They’re easy to remove and wash, and can be changed out as many times as you like throughout the seasons. Now, there is a bit of sewing involved but it’s nothing fancy so don’t be intimidated.

Project by: Julie and Laura Location: New York State Without further ado, another inspiring camper transformation! Take it away, Julie and Laura: We are identical twin sisters, are both registered nurses, both married, and we are mothers to three little boys collectively. Ever since we were teenagers and we watched the cult classic The Long Long Trailer with Lucille Ball, we have dreamed of having a little camper turned glamper to call and make our own.

Project by: Meg Location: Colorado If this project doesn’t convince you that just about any sow’s ear can be turned into a silk purse than I don’t know what will. This funky old, water damaged, faux woodgrain and formica-filled caravan is now a super sweet spot to hang out in. To top it off, he transformation was quick and the budget was lowlowlow. The perfect makeover!

Beautiful wood tones in no time.

Coffee filter flowers are positively the simplest paper flower to make—and quite possibly the prettiest. Their thin, delicate texture allows light to pass through the “petals” similar to those of real flowers, making them all the more ethereal, and causing you to do a double take. We had a bunch of unbleached coffee filters hanging out in our pantry that I decided to use (although I have no idea how they got there!

Paper flowers are a creative and economic way to add color and cheer to your space. These particular flowers are a favorite because they don’t come across as overly “crafty” and you can make large quantities in hardly any time at all. As an added bonus, construction is simple and requires nothing more than scissors and quick-drying glue. Cardstock or construction paper Floral stem wire (or something similar) Glue gun + glue Scissors 1.

Making your own terrarium is fun and surprisingly easy – and equally easy to maintain. Whatever the climate may be in your large, expansive home or your teeny tiny apartment, a terrarium—given a healthy dose of indirect light and an occasional spritz of water—will be happy as a clam. You can usually find gorgeous, hand blown glass terrariums at any design store, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for them!

It can be difficult to pull the trigger on a large scale wall art purchase. When you calculate the cost of the piece, transport, and hanging, the whole process can be pretty expensive -not to mention it’s a huge commitment. So in the mean time, there your wall stands, lonely, empty, bare… while you wait (and save up for) that perfect piece.

There are plenty of bicycle baskets on the market that are both affordable and attractive, but if you’re a “ride or DIY” type —this project is for you. It’s easy, super affordable, and the best part: your look will be one of a kind! I usually retreat to flea markets or thrift shops when shopping for baskets because they are really easy to find, but for this project I wanted to be able to provide my source just in case you wanted the same basket.

If you’ve ever thought, “what was I thinking when I picked out that color?” while staring at your kitchen mixer, this DIY might just be for you. For around $10 you can repaint to freshen up or completely change the look of your mixer —a pretty sweet alternative to shelling out a few hundred bucks for a new machine!

Paper mâché is an art form usually reserved for kids and camp goers, but why should they have all the fun? Whether you’re prepping for a fiesta and need to make a piñata, or you’re just looking for a fun creative outlet, paper mâché is a great way to get your hands dirty creating cool art.

A cyanotype is a photographic process that produces a cyan blue print. The print can easily be made on a large variety of materials, so I wanted to see what would happen when experimenting with fabric. It worked! The process wasn’t that much different than if you were to use paper, so if you’ve ever tried that method, you’re a step ahead of the game. The best way to come by the chemicals needed for the process is to purchase a kit from Photographers’ Formulary.

Handmade soap is an easy and effective way to add a personalized touch to your bathroom. Whether you’ve got sensitive skin and want to know exactly what ingredients are going into your soaps, or you want to give your guests that ’boutique hotel’ experience while they’re staying with you, it’s fast, fun and totally worth the investment. You can purchase soap making kits that come with everything you need, or gather your supplies individually.

Dying textiles is a great way to give new life to an old blanket or pair of jeans. If you’re working on a small item, a plastic bucket is ideal, but if you’ve got something sizable like a quilt, a large enough container to properly cover and agitate the item in can be difficult to come by. You already knew you could use a top loading washing machine, but did you know you can also use your front loader? Well, you can!

Homemade candles are fun to make and are great gifts that can be personalized by picking out specific containers and scents. Don’t want to fuss with a double boiler and a bunch of candle-making equipment? Don’t have to! Make thoughtful, personalized, homemade candles using just a microwave. I made my candles two ways: with color, and scented (both ways are illustrated below).

No matter how much effort is put into a well decorated room, an old yellowed light switch can totally distract from the overall design. At less than $2 a pop, you have no excuse not to replace them! It’s an easy, low budget fix that can add major appeal to a room. Screwdriver Needle nose pliers New light switch Okay, so before you do anything, get to your circuit breaker or fuse panel and shut off all electric in the room where you are working.