Category: do-it-yourself
High Flying Fun with DIY Kites
| March 8, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under Create, do-it-yourself, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Projects, Sustainable Living |
This week’s DIY Post is going to be short and sweet (thanks to a nasty sinus infection and a lack of coherent brain power from yours truly). Luckily, the internet doesn’t require sound so you can’t hear my hacking cough and croaky voice. I finally got it back today (sort of). I’m still working on the feeling better part.
When I was thinking of what to write about for my first March post, my mind immediately thought of the old weather adage that my first grade teacher taught me: “March roars in like a lion and out like a lamb.” It has been exceptionally windy in Alabama so far this month so I thought that a DIY kite post was in order.
These kite projects are easy to follow and fun for adults and kids alike. Because kites are easily destroyed (or at least the ones I had as a kid were) I focused on using recycled materials or other items that can be found in almost any household. So gather your string and prepare for some cheap and high-flying fun!
This DIY by GiddyGiddy is perhaps the most adorable kite tutorial (and family) that I have seen so far. The directions are easy to follow, but this one will require more than just a few minutes to assemble. The cuteness factor is upped by using colored wax paper, but you could also use regular wax paper and achieve air-worthy results. GiddyGiddy's blog is good for more than one look through. There are a number of other crafting projects that are totally worth trying out. Click the image for instructions.
We have an unending supply of plastic bags that we keep around the house. We use them for garbage bags for our small trash cans, for bagging up plan trimmings around the yard (and now that I have this tutorial from WikiHow) for making kites! All you need are a couple of sticks, a few plastic bags and some string. You could jazz it up with a Sharpie marker or fly it in it's undressed state. Either way, it's fun for an afternoon of fun (or more, if you avoid crashing it into the ground). Click the image for instructions.
This DIY from LightlyEnchanted isn't a kit in the traditional sense, but it's still fun to make. This is perfect project for younger children and will take much less time to create than a regular kite. Kids don't normally care about the engineering process, they just want to play with the finished product. This one uses the leftover cardboard tube from rolls of toilet paper or paper towels, orange crepe paper, and glue. You could mix up the colors and create rainbow fish, or stick with the plan and pay homage to the traditional Chinese goldfish kite by using orange. I remember flying kites and my youngest sister always had a hard time coordinating the running and throwing actions needed to get a kite off the ground. Even the youngest of children can still have fun waving it around in the yard and it won't fly off into the sunset when the string runs out. Click on the image for instructions.
The kite DIYs above are strictly for the pleasure of flying. However, there are apparently entire sports built around kites and harnessing the power of the wind. Power Kiting, Kitesurfing and Kiteboarding all have their own communities and terminology, and they look like a fun hobby for those who aren’t afraid of taking risks with their body.
Just try not to do it like this guy.
Happy kiting!
Inspired DIY: West Elm Nautical Rope Lamp
| February 23, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under accessories, Create, do-it-yourself, Inspiration, interiors, lighting, Projects |
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward
February’s Inspired DIY comes by way of West Elm, one of my favorite interiors companies. I like their eclectic mix of modern and traditional, especially when it’s paired with an exotic twist. To me, their Round Rope Lamp does just that. No longer am I reminded of the 1980s family vacations in Florida and the less-than-impressive decor found in most condos at the time. Remember the Golden Girls? Coocoon? Now you’re getting the picture. Fortunately, West Elm’s lamp is more chic than cheap, giving me hope for the future of Florida-inspired design.
While it should be said that I love me some Golden Girls, the all-pastel interiors and wicker furniture leave a lot to be desired. If you’re up for a refreshing twist on nautical decor, grab a Mai Tai and join me on the lanai for a super simple DIY. This one’s so easy you can do it faster than it takes Rose Nylund explain a game of Gugenspitzer.
Supplies:
Lamp
Lamp Shade
Rope (Jute, Sissal or Other Natural Material)
Hot Glue Gun
Several Glue Sticks (I Used Eight)
Scissors
The supplies needed are pretty elementary and can be found in almost any home. I didn't have an old lamp to re-purpose, so I went to the local thrift stores. I found a few that I liked, but none of them had shades. Rather than search all over town for a shade that would work, I decided to try my luck at Old Time Pottery to see if I could find a suitable lamp and shade in one stop. I found the perfect ceramic table lamp with a cute barrel patterned shade for only $12.99. Not a bad deal if you ask me!
I took the lamp with me to the hardware store to find rope that would work in both color, texture and proportion. I found a 7-foot spool of sisal that was not overly rough in appearance. I only paid $7.00 for it and I have enough left over to do at least one more lamp of the same size. Gluing the sisal down was very simple. Starting at the base of the lamp, glue the first few inches of rope around the edge of the base. I started at the back near the cord so any mistakes would not be easily noticeable. Keep gluing around the circumference of the lamp, a few inches at a time, making sure to press on the rope until the glue cools and adheres to the surface. Keep wrapping around the lamp until you have covered the base completely.
After about an hour of wrapping and gluing (I wanted to go slow to ensure I didn't leave any gaps) the entire base completed. I liked the way it turned out so much that I decided to take a close-up. This would work well on a variety of lamp bases. You could even wrap flower pots or vases with sisal or another material. Depending on how you spin it, you could also use this for a country or farm house look. I found a great tutorial here for a DIY pendant made of a wire hanging planter, rope, and a handful of other inexpensive materials.
After looking at the lamp and shade together I still wasn't quite satisfied. There was something missing but I couldn't put my finger on it. Luckily for me, the hubbs has an artistic eye. He suggested adding piping in the form of sisal to the shade. This one simple touch really brought the look together! I glued three pieces of sisal around the top edge of the shade, making sure to cover the edge from the inside, the outside, and the top of the shade. A seamless look is very important in creating a piece with a high-end look.
I decided to add the final touch of a smaller and slightly darker rope around the neck of the lamp for a little contrast and to give the piece some balance. My home is not really right for beach-inspired decor, but I think it would look lovely in a room like the one to the right from Southern Living.
I was so inspired by what a little sisal can do that I decided to check around the internet for more projects involving rope. I found one for a re-purposed basket at Centsational Girl, a set of coasters made of sisal at Shelteriffic, and a flower vase wrapped in…you guessed it…sisal!
The Golden Girls would be totally jealous.
I don’t like Valentine’s Day, but I do like candy
| February 14, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under Celebrate, do-it-yourself, Eat, food, holidays, Projects, Seasonal |
And so, I’ve decided to embrace this holiday and relieve myself of the usual eye rolling this year. I actually think this will allow me to be a lot more productive today – hating on things can be very time consuming and quite exhausting.
Plus, I have already received chocolate cake, gummy bears and a plant (because I told my husband never to buy me flowers because they die and it makes me sad…and then mad. But I may be eating my words on that too, cuz I’m seeing some all over Pinterest that are kind of making me drool.). It’s not so bad, this Valentine thing. I even made a Pinterest board to get me ‘in the mood.’
So what are you doing to celebrate the people you love? I’m doing laundry, he’ll really love that.
I think it’s also important that I tell you how much you mean to me – I feel the love every time I write. So thank you very much!
Ok, if I woke up to this I would definitely brag about it...right after I finished breakfast.
Source: pinkpistachio.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Source: designspongeonline.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Source: papervinenz.blogspot.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Source: mybakingaddiction.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Tweetable Mentions 1.27.12
| January 27, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under art, Body, Design, do-it-yourself, doors and windows, Explore, fashion, Gather, interiors, Nurture, Projects |
Blink, flash, poof – Friday. I’ve had a great week and I hope you have too.
This was interesting:
The Disney Princesses got a makeover from @designtaxi
news from designtaxi.com
If Miss O’Hara can make a dress from curtains, you can make a curtain from your bedsheets – from @ShoutWithJoy
Bees go to the Opera from @PureGreenMag
I almost got a pixie cut. Goes like this.
This is where the cool bloggers go but I’m the geeky girl who hides in the bathroom stall listening to their conversations - RT from @simplygrove, @jasminestar
Happy Weekend. Start it early.
Inspired DIY: Pretty Words, Golden Birds
| January 26, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under accessories, art, Create, Design, do-it-yourself, Inspiration, interiors, Projects |
I’m currently finishing my last six months of interior design classes and it always happens. My Muse visits me at random intervals and this time she whispered in the form wall art. I was flipping through a Pottery Barn magazine and I happened upon a layout with these amazing hanging pictures of golden birds painted on pages torn from a book. They were classy but also understated, and I knew immediately that they had to be mine. I’m always up for a creative challenge and they looked simple enough to make myself. I already had some of the materials and I knew that my favorite store was having a frame sale, so I really had nothing to lose. The universe was practically begging me!
The project was devastatingly simple and only took three or so hours. I spent roughly $20 on supplies and plan on doing several variations of this with the aim of using them in the master bedroom. I thought it would be interesting to stain some pages with coffee or to tear up the pages and paste them together in interesting ways, playing up the shapes and textures that the blocks of text make. I also want to try using black paint rather than gold, or maybe using a more tarnished shade of metallic paint for a more bold visual contrast.
This idea could also be geared toward a child by using pages from a classic story (The Velveteen Rabbit, perhaps?) and adding the simple silhouette of a bunny. Or do several iterations using various characters from nursery rhymes or poems, perhaps even painting large letters instead of animals. A colored mat and large white frame would complete the look and make a nursery a very happy place indeed.
Whatever theme you choose to use, don’t forget to make it personal. If it is meant for your own home then incorporate words and images that resonate with you. If it is a gift for someone else make sure the thoughts that are conveyed in the final image are a reflection of your feelings for that person. Those are the most important aspects of giving and they transform a whatever they touch into a something sentimental and lovely. By no means is this DIY meant to be followed to the letter. Be creative and let your inner Muse speak to you. You never know what can happen when you let her words fall lightly upon your ear.
Enjoy and Happy Crafting!
E
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Supplies Needed:
Paint Brushes
Metallic Acrylic Paint
Pencil For Sketching
Pages From A Book
Clear Tape
Glue
White Craft Paper
Mat
Frame
Inspiration!
Most of the supplies were already in my possession, so it was pretty easy to convince myself to get started. I chose specific pages from Love In The Time of Cholera, a wonderful book, but one I am not likely to read again. The pages reflect the stages in the relationship between the main characters and contain some of the more poignant lines. I chose a mat and frame to add an informal feeling to the finished piece.
Step One: Choose Your Pages
Choose pages that speak to you in some way. The meaning of the words and the type used are important factors. Carefully tear them from the book so there are no ragged edges.
Step Two: Decide On The Layout
Take a few minutes to play with the layout and placement of the pages, placing the mat on top to help your eye focus on the desired area. Once you find a design that you like, lightly trace around the inside edge of the mat with a pencil to create a guide for taping.
Step Three: Tape It Down
Carefully tape down the pages to a sheet of white craft paper. Any type of white paper will work as long as it provides some type of thickness and heft. In my case, I used to pieces from a thick sketch pad. Tape down just the portion of the pages that will be hidden under the mat, but not the portions that will be seen in the final image. Be sure to cut off any excess that is hanging over the edge of the craft paper.
Step Four: Sketch Your Design
Using light pencil strokes, sketch our image onto the pages. If you're afraid of making a mistake, don't be. Part of the beauty of art are the little nuances that are unique to each individual's style of drawing or painting.
Step Five: Bring On The Gold
When it comes to painting, less is more. Apply thin coats and allow them to dry before beginning another. A variety of paint brushes are helpful, but I only used three round sizes and got very precise results. To secure the edges that are overlapping, take a small amount of glue on the tip of a brush and apply to the backs of the edges, creating an even and flat surface.
Step Six: Mat, Frame, Done!
Bring it all together by adding the mat and frame and you have a completed piece of personal art that will bring warmth and sophistication to any environment. For extra protection of the image, add a piece of glass to the inside of the frame. Display on a table or on the wall and let your creation do it's thing.
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