Wrapping up the Holidays

Looking for a simple, non-traditional way to decorate your holiday packages this year?

Try adorning your packages with hand-cut and hand-painted, paper feathers. This idea was inspired by Lia Griffith, who's gold-tipped feather wrapping is absolutely gorgeous and elegant. 

It took me about an hour to create 2 dozen feathers. I choose a set of feathers from Google images, cut from my selected paper—vintage sheet music for White Christmas—and then painted a variety of color accents. 

Paired with clean lines and solid kraft wrapping, the feathers add a whimsical and non-conventional touch to holiday gifts!

Like your feathers too much to give them away? Take another Lia Griffith suggestion and hang clusters for beautiful wall art!

DIY: Santa Bottle Decor

It's just a few weeks before Christmas, which means Santa's Elves are hard at work. If you're feeling a little crafty and looking for a DIY project of your own, here's a very simple way to transform a bottle into a Santa decoration. 

Basic Instructions:
1. Paint a bottle red (I used spray paint as it provides the smoothest coverage)
2. Use a piece of black ribbon as a belt.
3. Cut a square of felt to make the buckle. Cover with silver glitter if you have it.
4. Glue on white buttons
Extra Details: on the tall bottle I wrapped white macrame string around the neck. On the small bottle I painted the cap black. 

A super easy project that has a great effect. I imagine paint colors and details could be altered to be elves or gnomes too!

Note: these look extra festive with my elf wine caps on top!!

Clay Class 101

Clay class was always my favorite, but as an adult, clay doesn't come into play much in the day-to-day. The last time I used clay was during our Weekminds creative experiment in 2009 when I replaced Little Jerry's head with a polymor monkey head.
But a Spring issue of Better Homes and Gardens had me digging out the polymor once again. All you really need is a bit of clay and perhaps a simple rubber stamp to create simple, yet fetching trinket bowls.

My attempt was a bit more freehand, adding a pinched edge and higher lip.

But really, it was a remarkable quick and simple project, and if you have kids to entertain, it's a trick that may really impress them and leave them with excellent gifts for Auntie and Gram.  

See the full instructions and article, pinned here.

Smells like Thanksgiving. Tastes like it too?

Pinterest has turned us all into DIYers. And Starbucks has turned the world into Pumpkin Spice obsessives. So it was a sudden whim of obvious genius when I decided to make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Soap.

I'd never made soap before, and I've got to say, having done so now, it's a weird idea to me. Melting down soap base, adding color and scent (in this case pumpkin spice), and reforming it into soap seems a bit silly and redundant. But it's easy and fun, and it leaves you with something personal and handmade.  

There's loads of links and DIY resources and ideas on Pinterest. The one soap making tip I have... use a plastic silicone mold, don't pour into glass containers to harden. Other than that, it's easier than (pumpkin spice) pie.

DIY: Easy Afternoon Stamping

This is a Pinterest find that I just think is so brilliant in it's simplicity. A quick craft that anyone can do with items they  have around the house–a rubber stamp made from a pencil eraser!

This blogger over at Cut & Paste used the stamp to make simple and adorable stationary, tags and wrapping paper.

If you're looking for a bigger cutting surface or different texture, try a cork! Another reason to drink more wine!

Just Another Snow Day

Sick of the snow yet? If you're like me, you've officially given up and succumbed to full on hibernation. So instead of going outside, where our faces freeze off, let's bring a little bit of the outdoors, snow day fun inside.

Check out these fun and creative paper snowflake templates I found on Pinterest. Time to get sassy with your scissors. 

Star Wars Snowflakes - Matters of Grey

Bear and Owl Flakes - Imagine Gnats

Ballerina Snow Dancer - Modish Space

Elaborate Traditional Snowflakes - DIY Creating

This is a great craft for a snowy afternoon by the fire watching movie. Or if you just need the kids to sush-up for a few minutes. 

Snow filled dreams of Hammock Weather

We tried to make a new hammock a few years ago. After much finagling, we were successful, but Martha (oh that Martha...) has gone and made it so simple!
Check out how she's taken a basic dropcloth and used it as a ready-made hammock. Ingenious really—thick, durable, weatherable fabric, ready to be grommeted and hung. See her step-by-step instructions here.

With all this snow, I'm so ready for hammock weather!

DIY: Simple, Festive Garland

So every year as I collect Christmas cards, calendars and miscellaneous prettiness, I punch 1.5" circles from the patterns and save them. I've taken the circles and sewn them together into a festive garland. 

With the array of colors, it's appropriate for year-round merriment. It's a simple, recycled, DIY! Now I just need to figure out how to store it without tangles!

Simplify Cookies

Time before the holidays is running out! And I have yet to start on any holiday goodies. That said, I love they way Tablespoon has simplified the process of Christmas cookies, while still keeping them beautiful and original. 

Swapping in cookie mix and pre packaged icing, they created these lovely designs in a fraction of the time. Check out their full instructions here.

Chop and Revive: T-Shirt Restyle

As the sun descends earlier, and we're faced with more time in the dark and indoors, it's becomes time to tackle the piling pile of To-Do List items. 

First up for me, a little T-Shirt Restyling I'd been meaning to try, as suggested by Nic Howard on her blog, It's been one of those days. 

I took her basic idea and turned a favorite tee that I wanted to refit, into a halter top. I used an old drawstring as the tie instead of the sleeve edges. And I also made the shirt tie in the back center like a halter, rather than attaching at each shoulder. You can follow the original How-To here.

This is a great way to put new life into pieces of your wardrobe that you may have abandoned or forgotten. Click here for more "Trash to Couture" ideas.

Dear Photograph: A Picture to the Past

So a few weeks back I was enchanted by the work of Christopher Moloney. A friend and reader sensed my delight and told me to immediately visit Dear Photograph.

Much like the Filmography collection of Moloney, Dear Photograph holds a snapshot so that past and present blend into a new image. The collection is compiled via the contributions of site visitors.

I love the nostalgic feelings these images evoke, and I cannot wait to salute my own life and past with a few montages. The idea is so simple, yet the result is a rich visual experience.

See the compilation in Taylor Jones' new book or submit your own photo online!

Chic Out of Convenience

Circa 2003, as I was preparing to move into my first college apartment, I built a coffee table in one of my studio art classes. The assignment was to make a tile mold, make tiles of a repeating shape, and then produce a piece of art. I was tired of project that didn't really serve an ultimate purpose and my roommate and I needed a place to eat our TV dinners. Thus, the table was conceived.

I knew the table top would be heavy, on account of the tiles and grout. And as my construction skills are limited, pipe became the most practical structure for the table legs. It was a simple build, setting the tiles around a small inlay that originally housed photos of friends under the glass. The table has moved with me, from apartment to apartment, and now sits in my home living room, still tying in seamlessly to the room aesthetic. So much so, you'd think it was planned. 

Turns out, I accidentally hit on something that would become a trend. Industrial furniture. The January Martha Stewart Living, outlines a DIY project that evolved from a very similar situation as mine: A first apartment in need of furnishing.

The article outlines the How-To for a bench, a desk, end tables, and a storage unit. All at minimal cost and with easy to secure materials. Like Legos, the plans can easily be converted and adapted. The result is nothing short of a beautifully unique, and sturdy piece of handmade furniture.  

Tied up and Delicious

Back in June of 2011 on one of my very early Burger of the Weeks (#7), I showcased Ed Bing Lee's macrame burger which is part of his delectable series.

But it wasn't until recently that I actually saw this video which showcases Lee's knotting process. The artistic details and patience required in his work is both admirable and beautiful. I like how he compares his technique of combining multicolor knots to Seurot's pointillism.
The way Lee explores the design and concept of 3D form is intriguing in this overrun computer age. I love the idea of creating something simply with your hands. Maybe it's time to try a little macrame myself. I did make a macrame owl once as a teenager—if i recall it looked a little bit like one of these.

Want to try macrame yourself? Pinterest has lots of resources for beginning macrameers. 

Foldable Cheer

It's holiday time and it's likely you've got that crafting itch! Now I haven't had time to get to my holiday crafting yet, but no worries— Martha has your back. 

Here's some simple, foldable charming decorations from December's Martha Stewart Living. Download the template here!

Call Me Quirky

This past Thursday we went to the UICA's Tiny Terrariums because what's better on a fall evening than digging in the dirt (and gold-painted animals)?

This is part of the Adult QuirkShop's at the UICA. Great new programing at the UICA!

Want to build you're own Terrarium—here's some great inspiration from Pinterest and DIY Instructions!

Feeling Crafty?

If you've got the bug, and you're itching to channel you're inner Martha, here's a project that is so simple, yet looks so impressive, you'd fool even Martha herself. 

Adapted from this project found here on Pinterest, where they took rubber bands, wrapped a vase and then spray painted it. It's the same basic concept, except with a etched glass effect. 

I used a plain vase, created a pattern using tape, then generously applied Armor Etch (purchased at Hobby Lobby). Wait 5 minutes and wash off. The design is completely permanent and washable – dishwasher and everything!

It's that simple. 

Five Inspiring Pins

Pinterest went fully mobile this week launching apps for iPad and Android. Pinterest is officially the third most visited U.S. social network and is no longer by invite only, and is open to all.  

In  honor of the app debut, here's 5 Pinworthy Pins for the week.

An Inspiring Pyrex Collection

Kevin & Robin's – Pyrex Obsession

An Inspiring Library 
Christine Martinez – Interiors I Dream Of

An Inspiring DIY
Bright.Bazaar – Crafting & DIY Ideas

An Inspiring Smoothie Palette
Josie Goldberg – food glorious food

Some Design Inspiration

Jamie Wagnor – Design Inspiration

Got time to kill? Join Pinterest and consider it killed (or pinned).
Follow my personal pinning habits here.