Upcycling DIY home decor, woodworking and Crafts
If you are obsessed with ribbons like me, you will love today’s round-up. Read on for over 50 ribbon crafts, including holiday projects, DIY home decor, kids crafts and more! If you want your ribbon project included, leave a link to your tutorial in the comments.
Hallo there! My name is Amy – from the blogs Mod Podge Rocks, DIY Candy, and Washi Tape Crafts. Yep, I have three blogs. You could say I really love crafts – and also being busy, apparently. I guess that’s just how I roll! This is a tutorial I haven’t share yet, and am thrilled to show you today. Awhile back I made this initial wall art you see above, and at the same time I made the dress form in the photo. Here’s a closer look:
The tutorial for the easy initial wall art is on Mod Podge Rocks, but I never shared any steps for the dress form. That is what I’m doing today! It uses Mod Podge Crackle Medium, which gives projects a fine eggshell crackle in one step. Here’s how I made it.
Paint your wood candlestick with your lighter acrylic paint color – in my case, light green. Let dry.
Paint your dress form white. This isn’t essential if your fabric is thick . . . but if it’s cotton like mine, the Mod Podge can make it a little transparent and dull down the color. So I always basecoat white because it just takes a few extra minutes.
Paint Mod Podge on your fabric and let it dry. This makes it easy to cut without fraying.
Decoupage your fabric pieces to your dress form. Continue overlapping . . .
until the whole thing is covered! You might have to trim and/or dart some pieces by cutting slits in the middle toward the top. It takes a minute, but you’ll get it. Set your dress form aside and let it dry.
Carefully read the instructions on the package of your Mod Podge Crackle Medium. I know it’s tempting to just re-open the package and begin, but with crackle medium, you need to read to make sure you understand. This is just one step, so it’s not that hard.
Brush the crackle medium onto your candlestick in a medium layer. Don’t keep brushing over and over the same area – just brush it on and try not to overlap. Let it dry.
This step is optional. If your darker paint color is a little thick, adding flow medium to it will help. The reason is because you are going to use a cloth to wipe it off in the next step, so you want the paint to be less viscous (more liquid and not as thick).
Brush the darker color over the lighter color and watch the crackle! Wipe off the excess (not hard, just gently wipe away the extra). Keep in mind it’s a fine eggshell crackle . . . so you can see it, but it’s not going to be huge divots. I personally love the effect!
Once you’re done, glue the dress form to the candlestick and add any embellishments (like my little necklace) to finish. Then display.
Decoupaging dress forms is so fun! Give it a try. For more great ideas, come visit me on Pinterest . . . I also have a Mod Podge Rocks newsletter and DIY Candy newsletter that you should sign up for to get weekly inspiration. Thanks to Johnnie for having me and I’ll see you next time!
Today’s project is a great way to use up those wood scraps leftover from previous projects. I will show you how to make this sturdy wood cross using pallet scraps and pocket holes. You will also learn how to easily create the chippy, distressed paint look seen here.
To start, I cut one scrap wood piece (2×4) to 18 inches and two pieces to 5 inches long.
I attached the 5 inch pieces to the 18 inch piece using pocket holes with my Kreg Jig (see How to Use Kreg Jig). The pocket holes are circled in the photo.
*Place a pocket hole on the bottom of the 18 inch piece for attaching the finished cross to a base. You want to do this before attaching the patchwork pieces in the next steps.
I used Folk Art Home Decor Chalk to create the distressed paint look. It is super easy!
I brushed base coat on thin pallet wood pieces and let that dry.
Using the Layering Block, I added more colors.
Lightly dragging the block across the dry painted board adds color in a chippy, random distressed fashion. Layer as many colors as you want, drying between each layer.
Once I had all the boardws painted, I cut them into random sized pieces and placed them on the cross. I made necessary cuts to the patchwork pieces with my mitre saw until everything fit into place.
I glued the pieces into place and used my Ryobi AirStrike Nailer with one inch brads to secure them.
To finish, I centered the cross on a 2×4 rectangle and attached it with a pocket hole on the back of the cross and wood glue.
I heart creating with dollar store supplies. For one, it is cheap, and it challenges me creatively. When I saw these cute Valentine’s Day erasers over the weekend, I immediately thought they need some resin and ear wires! Follow along to see how I made earrings from dollar store erasers!
At first I imagined making a pendant, but then I realized the erasers came in pairs, just perfect for earrings. This project is super cheap and easy to do. Don’t be intimidated by resin if you’ve never used it.
Especially now that ICE resin has made mixing the two parts so simple.
When working with 2 part resin, it is crucial to mix equal parts A and B. If you are off even just a little, the resin may no cure properly. ICE resin comes in a plunger that extrudes equal parts automatically.
Use a craft stick and mix the 2 parts by stirring for at least 1 minute.
TIP: After mixing, let resin sit for 5 minutes before applying it. This lets the mixture settle and decreases air bubbles.
Apply a little bit of resin at a time, starting in the center using the craft stick. It can take awhile to get use to how much resin to use. Just don’t go overboard. You can always add more to create a dome effect after the first layer has dried, but you are in for a mess if you use to much and it spills over the edge.
Let resin cure for 12 hours.
I picked up these screw eyes at Walmart for $0.97.
Just screw the hardware into the top center of your resin eraser.
Add ear wire and you are set!
Do you love them as much as I do? You can make 6 pairs with the pack of $1 erasers!
Today’s project is a washi tape and resin craft that makes the perfect Valentine’s Day gift! Follow along as we die cut washi tape and apply ICE resin for a quick and easy charm that you can customize to fit your needs.
I was inspired on a recent trip to the craft store by these Valentine’s Day prints on washi tape by Hampton Arts.
I covered white card stock with strips of the tape as shown.
I folded the excess tape over the back of the paper. If you want your charms two sided, you could cover the entire back in tape as well, or use printed scrap book paper instead of white card stock.
I cut the tape covered paper with these heart dies by Spellbinder’s Media Mixage.
Here is what they look like after die cutting the shapes.
I sealed the front and back of the hearts with Iced Enamels Medium. If you don’t seal the paper tape, the resin will darken it and look funny. Let dry.
I used ICE Resin on my charms. You could use any jewelry grade resin, or Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.
Following the directions on the resin package, I mixed the two parts in a plastic dixie cup with a clean craft stick.
TIP: Place the paper hearts on top of sticky contact paper to keep them flat while resin dries.
Use the toothpick to drip the resin onto the hearts.
Hole punch the hearts once dry. The resin instructions say 6-12 hours. I let mine sit overnight and used a jewelry hole punch to place holes for jump rings.
Add keychain fobs and other charms. I went for keychains with the larger hearts. I will be using the smaller hearts for earrings!
I am so happy to be here today sharing a tutorial for these Cozy Christmas Ornaments made from old sweaters. That ugly Christmas sweater you have? I bet it would make beautiful ornaments! This is an easy ornament to DIY, and you can make quite a few ornaments from one sweater, so let’s get started.
You are going to need 3” balls of STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam (you could go larger or smaller, too); an old sweater or two; scissors; a sharp pencil; needle & thread; thick, white craft glue; and ribbon for hanging the ornaments.
To start, mark the center top and bottom of your foam ball with a pencil. Then insert your pencil at each point to make a 5/8” hole.
Cut a piece of sweater fabric, measuring about 4” – 5” high and 8” long. If you’re using a patterned sweater, be sure to plan where you cut to best highlight the pattern. Test fit your fabric piece around the ball to be sure it fits – the size of the fabric you’ll need may vary depending on the stretchiness of your sweater.
Fold your fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch a ¼” seam. Turn right side out. Slip the ball into the center of your tube.
Place a dab of white craft glue in the hole at the top and using a sharp tool such as a pencil, firmly push the cut edges of the fabric tube into the hole. Try to space the fabric folds evenly around the ball. Repeat at the bottom of the ball.
Knot together the ends of a 6” – 8” length of ribbon, and push the knot down into the hole at the top. If you like, add a bow and jingle bell, or any other decorations, to the top of the ball. Let the glue dry before you hang your ornaments.
I want to give a shout out to designer Kathleen George for helping out with these Sweater Ornaments. I have a few more ideas for repurposing old shirts to make ornaments in the Christmas Ornament series “Mad for Plaid & Paisley” over on Crafts ‘n Coffee. Please come by and check them out!
Thank you so much for having me today, Johnnie. It’s a thrill to guest post here! I wish you, your family, and all of your readers a wonderful Christmas season!
Happy crafting.
Sharon
After sitting in my cupboard for way longer than I want to admit, I decided it was time to do something with it. The once table runner became two matching bolster pillows.
Materials Needed:
table runner that is double sided and can be ‘pulled’ apart– meaning the layers aren’t fused together.
pillow form the size you need or polyfil stuffing
1) Lay your pillow form on top of your table runner and figure out where you need to trim the table runner. You will need to remember to add a bit for your seam allowance.
2) Stuff your pillow inside the inside of the table runner
3) Fold the ends under 1/4″-1/2″ and pin in place. Hand stitch the opening closed
You are done!
Now, if you are like me, I didn’t really want the pillow form to be trapped inside. So, I came up with a second closure solution. A foldover end. And, because the pillow is double sided, you are able to showcase the fabric design from the back and contrast with the front fabric.
Quick how to for the folded end pillow~
1) Cut a piece of fabric measuring 6″ –this size you can custom for your pillow. This is the size I decided to do. Feel free to make it larger if you’d like
2) Fold over one edge and sew in place– you’re making a hem here
3) Open the pillow ends just a bit and pin your foldover piece to the right side of the SAME fabric (remember that after you are done, it will be folded over to the opposite side)
4) Sew across this edge– make sure you don’t catch the other piece with your needle when you are stitching it!
5) Turn the foldover piece to the front, mess with the corners so they lay flat and pin in place along the side
6) Sew directly on top of the original seams on the sides– if you don’t have visible seams you can either stitch it still, or hand stitch along the edges to secure
7) Stuff pillow inside and fold the flap over in place
I seriously love these pillows! The reversible option with them. The removeable pillow form. The extra little detail of co-ordinating designs on top of each other with the flap. Yes, the pom pom ends were already there– double bonus!
Now I am looking at table runners in a whole new light! Can’t believe this wasn’t figured out before…and how much time this saves in making them!
For more easy sewing projects, stop by my blog or facebook.
My friend Jordan will be a momma any day now. I wondered if I would end up delivering the little guy the day she came over to make this nursery wall art, but he is not here yet! Today I am sharing how we created this lovely Psalm 93:4 sign for next to nothing out of pallet wood. It is so perfect in her nautical themed nursery! Download the cut file below and follow the steps to make your very own!
Five pallet wood planks (Here is my video: How to Break Down Wood Pallets)
White chalky paint
Blue acrylic or chalky paint
Black vinyl for your die cut machine and transfer tape if you are die cutting the letters (if you don’t have a die cut machine, you could download the phrase below and transfer the letters to the sign to hand paint it like I showed you here: DIY Hand Painted Rustic Wood Signs)
Die Cut machine and software to trace jpg file provided below (this is not needed if you are hand-painting the sign as shown in the previous link)
Drill and 1/2 inch hole saw bit
Rope
Kreg jig
1 1/4 inch Pocket Hole Screws
2 inch flat paint brush and round stencil brush
Mod Podge Matte Finish
Cut your boards to about 45 inches wide and attach them with pocket holes, staggered as shown – (Here is How to Use a Kreg Jig).
Paint the sign white with chalky paint (we used Folk Art Home Decor Chalk).
Let that dry, then dry brush blue randomly as shown. We used a round stencil brush for this.
Let dry and cut or print and transfer text and anchor. We used a 12×24 inch mat and filled the entire area with the text. We sized the anchor to 5 inches and cut everything in black vinyl.
Center and adhere vinyl letters and anchor using transfer tape. Seal letters and sign with Mod Podge Matte or desired finish.
Mark desired placement of holes and drill with spade bit to fit diameter of rope you are using. (We have the letters covered in this image because the Mod Podge wasn’t dry and the saw dust would stick in it. Don’t judge, we were in a hurry)!
We inserted the rope and hung it from a cool anchor hardware piece that Jordan found at Hobby Lobby for just $3!
We LOVE it!! Jordan did a fantastic job with this nursery, and our sign tops it off perfectly.
We hope you are inspired to create your own!
Display meaningful photos in a unique way while busting through your stash of vintage buttons, ribbons, fabric scraps and found objects. These little medicine bottles can be found in thrift stores, at tag sales and online for cheap. Use them for Christmas gifts, or as photo frames for yourself!
-Variety of antique medicine and food bottles
-Photos sized to fit in bottles and printed in black and white or sepia tone on copy paper
-Glitter, sand or other filler
-Found objects, beads, vintage buttons, old keys and other embellishments
-Decorative ribbon, twine, lace, burlap and fabric scraps
-Corks for bottle tops
-Copper craft wire gauge 20-22
-wire cutter
-scissors
-hot glue
-Bamboo skewer or pencil
Handmade lanterns are all the rage. With adhesive stencils and paints made just for glass, creating fun designs on bottle is easier than ever. This project involves cutting the bottles roughly in half. Frost and glitter paint are used with heart stickers in a masking technique, so that light from the candles shines through the frosty heart shapes. Create a warm glow for your Valentine’s Day dinner at home!
MATERIALS
– Frappuccino bottles
–Martha Stewart frost glass paint in white
– glitter glass paint in red and pink
– heart stickers cut from foil tape or adhesive vinyl
– cosmetic sponge
– Rubbing Alcohol
– Lint free dry cloth
– Protective gloves
– heart stickers that adhere well to glass
-Surface protector such as newspaper or craft sheet
-bottle cutting supplies (See How to Cut Glass Bottles)
DIRECTIONS
EXTRA TIPS
￮ Masking Tips – Foil tape in the electrical section at the hardware store works great for these projects. It adheres well so that the paint doesn’t seep underneath, but doesn’t disturb any base layers of paint when removed. A large roll of it is under $8 and lasts years. Don’t leave the stickers on overnight, or the surrounding paint will peel away with them upon removal. You want to remove them soon after your last coat of paint.
