home decor projects

Felted Decorative Basket Tutorial

This decorative felt basket is easy to whip up, costs next to nothing, and can be made to match practically any decor style. When you see how simple this project is, you will have them for every season end every room. Irina from Irina’s Cute Box walks you through the process in the following step by step tutorial that her friend shared with her. Enjoy!

TUTORIAL:

SUPPLIES:
1. A piece of felt 8×8 inches (20×20 cm)
2. Hexagon pattern made of paper
3. Needle and thread
4. Pins
5. Various beads, shells, etc for decoration

Put the hexagon pattern on the felt, pin it, and cut it off. Make cuts as shown on the image below.

Take tree triangles and pin them as it’s shown on the picture.

Stitch them where they were pinned. Take other 3 triangles and stitch them as the first row.

Then, decorate the basket with sea shells, beads, lace, embroidery or some other decorating elements. Here we go! There is a finished basket that may be stuffed with some stones, marbles, or just old spools.

Thank you for the cute tutorial, Irina.

If you are looking for more things you can do with felt, check out this fun roundup:

DIY: Paper Rose Decorative Spheres

by Johnnie Collier

Today’s project is simple, but time consuming and worth every minute! I was inspired by my friend Suzy’s gorgeous quilled flower topiaries to create some paper flower spheres of my own. If you missed the inspiration over at the Sitcom, be sure and visit the link for how Suzy created these:

I was initially going the topiary route, but decided I like them as decorative spheres. For the roses, I used Kraft Core cardstock (thank you Amy from Plucking Daisies for turning me onto my now favorite paper) in shades of orange and book pages. I cut the rose shapes with my Sizzix 3D flowers rose die, rolled them into the flower shape and adhered them to the spheres with straight pins. For the orange sphere, I just used plain straight pins and for the book page rose sphere I used pins with pearls on top.

Here is a great video demonstrating the Sizzix 3D rose die:

I love how they turned out!! It took me about a week of rolling roses and pinning to complete these two.

Want that subway art printable and DIY canvas print tutorial?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you are inspired!!

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful Subway Art

by Johnnie Collier

This print is now hanging in my stepdaughter’s bedroom and she loves it! I made it in Photoshop and you can download the full res 11×14 at Printable Decor; Be Beautiful Subway Art Printable. I had mine printed on regular paper at Staples for less than $1, and put it in a frame I had on hand.

Sunshine Printable Subway Art On Canvas

by Johnnie Collier

I needed to bring some summer into my decor, so I created this love and sunshine subway art printable to fit an 11×14 canvas I picked up from a recent garage sale.

I had the print done at Staples; 2 for just over $1.

Canvas $0.75.

I cut the print to fit the canvas, covered the back of the print and the canvas with a light coat of matte gel medium, then placed the print onto the canvas. I smoothed out wrinkles with my hands from the center of the print out to the edges, then went over it with a brayer to make sure there were no bubbles left.

I went over the entire canvas with a layer of matte gel, let dry and that is it!

For less than $2, I am loving it.

The link at the beginning of the post takes you to the printable at Printable Decor.

Enjoy!

DIY Dollar Store 3 Tiered Craft Organizer

by Johnnie Collier

Here is another peek at my craft room overhaul. I wanted to be able to see all of my buttons in a way that was cute and vertical, since horizontal space is quite the commodity. I thought of a tiered cake stand, and decided to hit the dollar store for supplies to make my own. With the exception of the glue and spray paint (which I had on hand), I got everything needed to create this organizer for less than $4, and I love it! You could even use extra plates in small, med, large, and a couple of wine glasses or candle sticks if you have them handy.

I found these silvery plates in 3 sizes, and some wine glasses, which I spray painted white with Krylon Dual (already has primer in it). Two coats each with 10 minutes of dry time between did the trick.

Next, I just glued the wine glasses in place on the plates with a line of E6000 around the rim and base. Let dry overnight before using.

I love it! I can see all my buttons, it is adorable, and it cost under $4.

To see how I made the marker storage on the wall, visit this DIY craft marker storage post.

Visit my craft magazine/book storage tutorial for how to convert hardware store boxes to cute, essentially free storage.

More budget friendly organizing for those craft spaces to come.

What are your favorite creative organizing solutions?

Craft Storage Solutions Continued…

by Johnnie Collier

As far as craft book and magazine organizing goes, it doesn’t get much more frugal than free. For this organizers, I simply collected boxes on various trips to local hardware stores. They gladly gave me them for free. If you don’t see empty boxes while browsing the aisles, simply ask an associate.

Here are what mine looked like before spray painting them…

I used Krylon Dual in white and coated each box. Then I added adhesive scallop border to the upper row. Eventually I plan to make some cute labels. I love how it came out. Now I can see all of my inspiring books and publications without digging through piles of randomness!

DIY Name Art Under $10

by Johnnie Collier

I was asked to make wall art incorporating the name Morris, and I remembered a photo letter art project from around Christmas time by Shanty 2 Chic. Here is my version, inspired by the lovely tutorial from Whitney! I made it using a piece of hardboard left over from another project, 6 Dollar Tree frames, some spray paint, E6000, 2 washers and a rope for the hanging mechanism. The photo letters are available for free on Flickr (thanks Whitney).

To finish, I drilled 2 holes on top, glued washers over them and ran canvas rope through for the hanging mechanism. I am digging the industrial look of the final piece. This is the first time I have ever used the Krylon Stainless Steel spray paint… love it.

Monogram With Recycled Plastic & Paper Die Cut Flowers

by Johnnie Collier

Easily make flowers from plastic packaging and old greeting cards! Now that I have entered the world of Sizzix, no material is safe from getting cut. This project is all thanks to my friend Amy, of Plucking Daisies. I inquired about Kraft core paper used in one of her projects. The next thing I know, I have a box of the stuff, and other goodies from her stash, with tips and tricks she took the time to write out for me. Sweeeet!! You will be seeing the supplies she sent me popping up in future posts.

Here, I made flowers from the packaging containing a Tim Holtz embossing folders (Amy’s idea) and a greeting card, both from Amy’s stash. I used them to embellish a monogram corkboard hanging wall plaque I made for my niece’s graduation gift.

Here is how I did it:

I held the plastic die cuts over a flame to curl them and give dimension. Walnut Distress Ink was used on the paper flower edges. Then I layered and sewed on a button for one set, and inserted a brad for the other.

The leaves, I cut from velure, also Amy’s idea. I sprayed them with “Stiffy” fabric stiffener to give form and prevent fraying. The rose is leather cut with Sizzix and the 3D rose die. The piece is a cabinet door I picked up at Habitat from Humanity Restore ($1.25), spray painted, and adhered cork board to using hot glue. I drilled holes for the purple ribbon hanging mechanism. The letter is layered chipboard painted with Adirondack acrylic paint.

I love how it turned out! Perfect for Ashlyn’s dorm room… not to mention how dang cool it was to get an awesome box of goodies from a fellow craft blogger. Amy was organizing her studio and threw in a bunch of things for me to use. What a great idea. My studio is jam packed with supplies I will never get to, that someone else would love to have. That is why I am passing on the love, and sending out a box to a reader who asked about clay. I won’t even know it is gone, and if she is like me, the act will make her day.

Thanks Amy!!! Here Amy shared a project using plastic packaging and alcohol inks, like I did from her tips for my flowers. Be sure and visit Plucking Daisies for some rockin’ tutorials and creativity.

Thrift Store Trinket Box Revamp

by Johnnie Collier

Anyone out there that hits the local Goodwill on the first Saturday of the month, when everything in the store is 50% off? I am guessing yes. This old little chest was a find from one of those trips. I always get more than I would were it a normal price day, and often my bounty sits untouched in the garage for months on end (resulting in the occasional eye roll from hubby).

50+ Wood Pallet Projects

by Johnnie Collier

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It is no secret that wood pallets can be repurposed into impressive furniture and decor, still this list will leave you wowed. It is amazing what people have created from these abundant, often discarded resources that can usually be found for free with little effort. Browse for inspiration, how to’s, and see what you can make of pallet wood!

Before the 50+ roundup, check out SBLCs ever growing list of woodworking projects, the majority of which include, or can be adapted to include, shipping pallet wood:
Woodworking Project Gallery Page