arts and craft Archives - Page 14 of 75

arts and craft, Crafts, Door, pliers, scrapbook paper, wreath

Inserting Spring into My Wreath

Inserting Spring into My Wreath

A few years ago I purchased a simple white berry wreath from Target (I don’t think it’s still available at Target, but this is a similar style wreath.) To save money, I challenged myself to use this one wreath through every season for one year. Did I do it? You bet your little penny pinching fingers, I did! So, today I want to show you how I transformed this simple wreath for Spring.

Inserting spring into the white berry wreath was as simple as pairing a green leaf wreath and some DIY scrapbook flowers.

The best part about it is, this simple wreath can handle new colors and elements throughout the year. Can we calculate how much you’ll save on door wreaths for one year? Subtracting the minimal cost of crafting supplies, you’ll save at least $100 on wreaths (attractive wreaths usually start around $39.99.) If you want to see how I transformed the wreath for the other seasons of the year, be sure to scroll all the way to the end of this tutorial!

Inserting Spring Paper Flowers into your Wreath:

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions:

Start by pairing your white berry wreath with a green leaf wreath to give it more bulk (or just add green sprigs to your berry wreath.)

To combine the two, simply wrap some of the berry branches around the leaf wreath.

That’s it! This way you can separate them at a later date if you decide to use the wreaths independently.

Making Scrapbook Button Flowers:

Begin by cutting flower shapes out of your scrapbook paper.

Lay your flower on top of a coordinating sheet of scrapbook paper and cut a second flower shape larger than the first.

Lay both flowers on top of one another and cut slits in toward the center of your flowers. Be sure not to cut too close to the center.

Fold the edges of your flowers up to give them dimension.

Cut a length of floral wire long enough to wrap around your wreath.

Thread the wire through your button. If you have a four hole button, you may want to thread it in an “X” shape as shown below:

Then poke the wires through the centers of the flowers (it is easiest if you have one on top of the other so you can poke through both flowers at once.)

You should end up with a scrapbook paper and button flower that looks like this:

Make as many as you like and then arrange the flowers on your wreath.

Wrap the wires around the back and twist to secure.

Repeat until you have covered your wreath in beautiful spring flowers.

Add a coordinating ribbon to your wreath. You can tie a bow on your wreath. . .

. . . or use a flat ribbon to hang your wreath. It’s your choice.

Enjoy your new spring wreath!

Although my paper flowers have faded a little, I’ve been able to use this wreath for several years (as evidenced by the change in color of my door.)

Here’s how I transformed the same wreath for Christmas through Valentine’s Day:

For Thanksgiving, I added some feathers to the wreath, (For a fuller wreath, you can add more feathers):

For fall, I paired free magnolia leaves with the white berry wreath:

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you liked this post, you’ll love my round up of 24 creative fall wreaths (because frankly, some of these look pretty enough to hang year round.)

You might also appreciate these 9 Holiday Storage Hacks:

March 19, 2018/49 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, Decorating

Cheerful Hello Spring Plaque

Cheerful Hello Spring Plaque

Hello, Pretty Handy readers! It is Anika from Anika’s DIY Life here with a fun new project to get your home’s decor ready for spring!

While we are impatiently waiting for spring, I thought we could create a colorful plaque to welcome spring with open arms. I love creating seasonal decor, but don’t like spending too much money (as it gets changed out too often.)

This simple and cheerful spring sign is made from scrap wood and the only thing I had to buy were the flowers!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Scrap wood or pre-cut wood sign
Jigsaw (if cutting your own shape)
Paint for base color
Paint for the letters (I chose a coral acrylic paint)
Faux flowers (you can find some pretty ones at the Dollar Store too!)
Hot glue gun
Sawtooth hangers
Ribbon

Instructions:

Step 1 – Cut out your wood shape from scrap wood. I cut a pentagon shape, but feel free to buy your own pre-cut shapes.

Step 2 – Paint the plaque in a base color of your choice. I chose [amazon_textlink asin=’B018HBN2OE’ text=’Americana Decor Chalky finish paint in Refreshing.’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’prett-wp-001-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d466e4bf-272b-11e8-b3c4-9bb32c38ba1e’]

Step 3 – Transfer the “Hello Spring!” onto the wood shape using transfer paper. To make it easy, here is a free printable available for you to print out and trace.

Download the Hello Spring printable here

Step 4 – Paint the letters using a fine tipped round brush.

Step 3 – Attach sawtooth hangers to the back of the wood shape and thread ribbon through them. (If you don’t have hangers, you could staple the ribbon to the wood (just make sure your ribbon is strong enough to hold the plaque and your staples are strong enough to hold both the ribbon and plaque.)

Step 4 – Attach the faux flowers to the front of your plaque using hot glue.

That’s it! You just made yourself a colorful, cheerful sign for spring! It makes a great alternative to a traditional wreath or wall decor.

If you enjoyed this, and are looking for a more traditional wreath on a budget, be sure to check out my simple spring wreath. You might also enjoy this fun spring decor I made from old spice bottles.

~See more of Anika’s tutorials~

If you liked this spring plaque, you’ll definitely love this button flower spring wreath:

or 71 Practically FREE Scrap Wood Projects:

Pin for later!

March 14, 2018/2 Comments/by Anika Gandhi

arts and craft, decor, Decorating, vase

DIY Wall Mounted Test Tube Vases

DIY Wall Mounted Test Tube Vases

Happy Valentine’s Day! Hi all, I’m back again from Anika’s DIY Life. I am sharing this super easy and quick tutorial to make DIY wall mounted test tube vases. The best part is they look really cute on the wall and can be displayed in any room!

Personally, I hung mine in the guest bathroom that is currently being updating. These simple vases bring in much needed color and also ties in with the dark vanity.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Test tubes (20 x 150mm glass test tubes)
2″x 2″ board – A small piece of scrap will do.
7/8″ spade bit
Drill
Miter Saw or hand saw
Paint or stain of your choice
Hot glue
3M Command Strips

Instructions:

Step 1 – Measure and mark 1 ½” on a 2″ x 2″ board. (2″ lumber is actually 1 ½”. To cut out a cube, you need to cut at 1 ½”.) Find the center (at 3/4″) and mark the location for the hole.

Step 2 – Clamp the 2″ x 2″ to the workbench and use a 7/8″ drill bit to bore a hole through the board.

Tip: You may need to make a small pilot hole first with a small drill bit to keep the spade bit from wandering.

Step 3 – Once the hole is drilled, cut your board at the marked location using a miter saw or hand saw.

Step 4 – Paint or stain the cubes in the color of your choice. (I used a Java colored gel stain to match my bathroom vanity.) If you would like to use fresh flowers and water in these test tubes, be sure to add a durable coat of polyurethane on the cubes to protect from splashes.

Step 5 – Add a line of hot glue about 2″ down from the top rim of the test tube. Place the test tube inside the cube to glue it in place.

Step 6 – Trim mounting strips to size if they are longer than the cubes. Mount the vases on the wall using 3M Command Strips (removes without damaging walls when you are ready for a change) and add your favorite real or artificial flowers. These vases are very light so the strips work great! Even if you are using fresh flowers, the command strips make it easy to take them off the wall and dump out the water.

I decided to add 3 of these on the bathroom wall. They are so easy and quick to make. You should make as many as you like to fill an entire wall or gift to friends!

Don’t they look pretty? Come follow along with the bathroom remodel on my blog as I share all the little and big projects that went into it!

If you love easy scrap wood projects, I have a whole bunch of them on my blog. Be sure to check them out!

~See more of Anika’s tutorials~

Also, you might love these simple and creative flower vase projects Brittany created:

These hanging beaded vases are my favorite!

DIY Reclaimed Wood Wall Vase

February 14, 2018/2 Comments/by Anika Gandhi

arts and craft, Decorating, faux finish, mirrored glass, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

Can You Make a Mirrored Window with Spray Paint?

Can You Create a Mirrored Window with Spray Paint

Can You REALLY Make a Mirrored Window with Spray Paint?

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up a can of Krylon Looking Glass spray paint. According to the directions, you can Make Your Own Mirrored Glass with Spray Paint. I decided to give this “magical” spray paint a try, and I’ll let you know how well it works. Luckily, I had the perfect project to use it on: a faux window on the back of our garden shed.

When I built this cute garden shed, I was very concerned about the view from the neighbors’ house. The plans were to build the shed on the side of our property, but the back of the shed was facing my neighbor’s driveway. I wanted to make sure they had something pretty to look at instead of a big gray shed butt. I toyed with the idea of installing a trellis with a pretty climbing vine. But, that side of the shed gets very little sun. Ultimately my decision was helped by a trip to our local Habitat ReStore. While there I stumbled across a pile of old windows that were $10 each. Yes, $10! If you haven’t been to your local Habitat ReStore, you need to go right now. (Well, maybe wait until you finish reading this tutorial.)

Mirrored Window with Spray Paint Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Old window
Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint
Clean rag
Windex
Clear exterior caulk sealant
Caulk gun
Scissors to cut caulk tube

Optional:

Mirrored Window with Spray Paint Instructions:

Clean the window with windex to get rid of any dust, dirt, and grime. Pop out the glass panes (if the glazing is super old and cracked it should come out easily. If not, use a utility knife and/or a 5-in-1 Painter’s tool to cut out the glazing and then remove the glass.) Unsure which side of the window is the glazed side? Look for the smooth side vs. the wood profiled side.

Set up an area to spray your panes of glass. Shake your can of Krylon Looking Glass spray paint for at least 2 minutes.

I finally tried this HomeRight Spray Shelter pop up tent. It definitely helps control the spray and makes clean up easy. Plus, the shelter folds down into a little bag to store in small spaces. (Disclosure: HomeRight sent it to me to try out ages ago. I just got around to using it. But, I’ll be using more often now.)

To get the best results with the Looking Glass spray paint, spray several light coats onto the back side of your glass. While the paint is drying, it will have a mottled look (do not panic.)

When you have finished applying several coats (and you have achieved an opaque mirror finish), let the glass dry completely.

Flip over your mirror spray painted glass. Secure the mirrored panes back into your window. Use a line of caulk on the back side of the mirrored glass where it sits against the window. (Yes, I forgot to take a picture as I caulked the window, this is a recycled picture from my artist inspiration board. You get the idea, right?)

Hang your mirrored glass window anywhere you want a faux window.

Are you wondering how good the looking glass mirror spray works? I placed one of the pieces of the spray painted glass next to real mirror. You can see that they are both reflective. But, the Looking Glass spray has a slightly muted look.

To be completely honest, I actually like the look. It gives the mirror finish an aged appearance.

You can see a good example of the finish here:

It’s still reflective enough to act like a mirror, but isn’t a perfect reflection when you look up close.

What do you think? Will you try the Krylon Looking Glass spray paint on something?

If you still have some mirror spray paint leftover, you can follow this tutorial to make your own mercury glass decor items (using a vinegar and water mixture.)

I am still debating whether to make some shutters to go on the sides of my faux window. What do you think?

Let me know if you have any other ideas for using this fun mirrored glass spray paint.

Have a great weekend, friends.

February 2, 2018/22 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, Decorating, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Upcycling

Upcycle Idea: Turn a Soap Dispenser into a Vase

Upcycle Idea: Soap Dispenser to Gorgeous Vase

Upcycle Idea: Turn a Soap Dispenser into a Vase

Hello, Pretty Handy Girl Readers! I’m Julie from Love My Simple Home and I’m excited to be here as a new contributor and hanging with you! I have a passion for interior design and share affordable and creative home decor ideas. Over on my blog, you will find a variety of quick, simple and original repurpose tutorials. Today I am happy to share with you a super easy upcycle idea using a soap dispenser (of all things.)

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Inexpensive Sources for Soap Dispensers:

You can buy soap dispensers at the dollar store, thrift stores or find them at garage sales. Would you believe I purchased this soap dispenser at a garage sale for a dollar! Seriously you can’t beat that! I fell in love with the mother-of-pearl tiles on the bottle, but not so much with the dull silver finish.

Instructions:

If your soap dispenser needs a little TLC, you can always clean it up and use spray paint to renew the finish.

Before you begin to spray paint remove the pump from the bottle by twisting it off. To remove the metal plate, wedge a thin screwdriver underneath the plate and lift, it should pop right off. If you are struggling to remove the plate with the screwdriver you can wrap the dispenser in newspaper or painter’s tape and spray paint the plate attached to the bottle.

Pro Tip for Spray Painting:

Place your object on top of a tin can, this prevents the edges from sticking or the spray paint from pooling around the object you are spraying.

Spray paint the pump with the same color spray paint. (This is an extra step, but it will allow you to turn the vase back into a soap dispenser at a moment’s notice.) For help holding the pump, slide it inside the lid of a plastic container and spray. This will ensure all of the sides get covered.

After the spray paint has dried you can glue the metal plate back onto the dispenser.

Fill the dispenser with water and fresh blooms from your yard! Or if your flowers aren’t blooming until spring, purchase a bouquet at the grocery store. You can split the bouquet up to use in many different vases in your home.

If you get tired of using the vase, you can always return it back to its original purpose as a soap dispenser.

There you have it, a super easy repurpose project. I’ll be back again next month sharing another one of my simple projects. In the meantime, you might like this repurposed glass block clock turned into picture frame.

~ Read more of Julie’s Tutorials ~

If you liked this tutorial, you’ll love creating your own mason jar foaming soap dispenser:

January 24, 2018/3 Comments/by Julie at Love My Simple Home