Saturday, August 30, 2014

Bohemian Headboard DIY

My assistant Danielle wanted a new headboard for her room that reflected her bohemian personality, so we put our heads together and came up with something absolutely NUTS!  We used unexpected materials and lots of color.  My friend Vicki O'Dell inspired me to use joiner biscuits from the hardware store which worked perfectly for our vines and wooden clothespins made the perfect trim!
Danielle styling her outdoor boho bedroom
Ready for an outdoor nap!

Watch the video tutorial here!
YOU'LL NEED
4'x6' piece of 1/2" thick plywood
400 wooden clothespins
Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint in Innocence Pink and Serene Blue
Rit Dye in Sunshine Orange, Apple Green and Golden Yellow
Sanding block or sander
Jigsaw
E-6000 or Wood glue
Paintbrush
Unwrap your clothespins
Pull off the spring in the center of each one
Prepare your Sunshine Orange Rit Liquid Dye in a large bowl with hot water
Soak 300 clothespins in the Sunshine Orange Dye for about 30 minutes
 Dye the other 100 clothespins in Golden Yellow Rit Liquid Dye
Place the clothespins on newspaper to dry after 30 minutes
Dye all of the 300 joiner biscuits in Apple Green Rit Liquid Dye
Let them set for 30 minutes and then dry them on newspaper
 Mark the center of your plywood on the 6" wide side
Create the shape of the headboard with large sheets of newspaper
Cut and trace it on the plywood
Carefully cut out the headboard shape and sand the edges 
Paint the headboard in the colors you chose  
*We used Serene Blue for the top and Innocence Pink for the center on this design 
Arrange your dyed clothespins and joiner biscuits in your design
*Play around with them until you get it just right
Carefully glue each piece down with either E-6000 Glue OR wood glue and let dry



Thursday, August 28, 2014

Happy #ThursDIY!

Beautiful things to share this week!  See what my creative friends have been up to and get inspired.  Tweet or Instagram #ThursDIY and show us what you've got.  We're starting to feature other designers so let us know who you are, OK.  Happy #ThursDIY!

BeColorAnd shares a beautiful mobile!  
 Margot Potter shares a hair DO....1920s style! 
I show you how to make Glam Rock Chain Bracelets: 
 Crafty Chica makes puffy paint pencils.....Here's how: 
 Awesome Globe/Bowl project by Kristi Murphy!  LOVE IT!   
 Tissue Paper Poppies by Lia Griffith!  Love her stuff!  
Make sure to enter the Americana Decor Chalky Finish contest on my YouTube page!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVMNnTecFlo&list=UUt4zycubX8BJZ8pZhZ4w8ow
 Cathy Attix makes no sew lace trim shorts....perfect for the hottest month of the year! 
Dollar Store Crafts shares a decoden pencil case!  


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Glam Rock Chain Cuffs DIY

Need something a little bit rock and roll to wear out?  Why not whip up some Glam Rock Chain Cuffs to wear on your next night out!  Mix up gold and silver and they'll match everything in your wardrobe.  Use a little ball chain from the hardware store in brass and silver to really spark it up.  Now get out there and rock out!


Danielle rocking her Glam Rock Chain Cuffs
See the video tutorial here!
YOU'LL NEED
Flat metal cuffs
E-6000 Glue
Toothpicks
Chain in various sizes and metals
Ball chain in silver and brass
Rhinestone chain
Pliers
Wire cutters
Transparent tape
   Measure and cut the chain to the size of the cuff
Add E-6000 glue to the center of the chain with a toothpick
Place it carefully on the metal cuff exactly in the center
The best glue for jewelry making!
Continue gluing the chains to the center part of your cuff and let dry for 30 minutes
When the center part of the cuff is dry, carefully glue down the ends and secure in place with transparent tape
Let everything dry for at least one hour
Done!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

WIN IT!

WIN IT! Happy Saturday, everyone! I'm giving away a HUGE prize package from DecoArt this week! Check out my short video and see how to enter to win TONS of Americana Decor Chalky Finish, Waxes, Varnishes, Stencils and Brushes......It's easy!
Here's the link
BOOK DOWNLOAD LINK: http://bit.ly/XG90ha
See the contest video here
GOOD LUCK! 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

It's #ThursDIY

Happy #ThursDIY everyone!  As always, we have some gorgeous projects to inspire you this weekend.  Cathy Attix is rocking Chanel and my friend Amy made chic Hama bead bracelets.  I'd even wear them.  All of the links are below so hop around and make some new friends, OK!  

 Cathy Attix makes runway ready Chanel inspired sunglasses! 
Make beaded pillows without stitching on a single bead with this special technique:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aabNA4J88o
 The gorgeous Margot Potter makes a faux enameled bracelet!  
 Kathy Cano-Murillo is all about hand lettering this week!  
I show you how to recycle shipping boxes and make constellation organizers for your locker or desk!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_L1wZZoXWs&list=UUt4zycubX8BJZ8pZhZ4w8ow

 Cathie Filian makes a comfy faux quilted pillow!  
 Heather Mann shares the cutest paper clips ever! I think this looks like Beaker the muppet!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/08/tutorial-funny-face-bookmarks-for-back-to-school/
My friend Amy made gorgeous bracelets with Hama beads!  LOVE THEM! 


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Beaded Pillows (without beading) DIY

I love the look of beaded pillows but let's face it, even with my obsessive compulsive tendencies I'm not going to spend 40+ hours beading a pillow!  Enter E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and an awesome stencil!  Beaded pillows can now be made in the time it takes for the glue to dry.  Here's how!

I love this flower pillow!  
My fancy beaded denim pillows!
Watch the video tutorial
YOU'LL NEED
1 yard heavy cotton
1 yard heavy denim
1/3 cup seed beads per pillow
Spray adhesive
Sewing machine
Straight pins
Pillow stuffing
Cut two pieces of fabric 19" x 19" 
Pin and stitch together using 1/2" seam allowance and leaving a 5" long hole
Clip the corners at an angle
Turn right side out and press flat 
 Spray the stencil with a light coating of spray adhesive
Center it on the pillow
Fill the stencil with a generous amount of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse
 Remove the stencil and sprinkle the beads on the Fabri-Fuse
*gently press down the beads if you need to
Repeat with the other areas of the stencil
Add a coating of clear acrylic IF you feel you didn't use enough glue
*This will insure that you don't lose any beads
For larger, more intricate stencils stick your stencil to the fabric
Squirt a generous amount of glue along the side of the stencil
Spread the glue with a piece of cardboard like a squeegee
Remove the stencil 
Sprinkle the beads and let dry overnight


Saturday, August 16, 2014

Constallation Organizers DIY

Spaced out at your desk?  Need to get a bit more organized?  Why not recycle a standard shipping box from the post office and make these awesome CONSTELLATION ORGANIZERS!  
My favorite part of this project is the stars made from stick-on gems.  These are perfect to spruce up your office or organize your locker.  
My trio of constellation organizers
These would make Captain James Kirk jealous!
Watch the video tutorial here!
YOU'LL NEED
Print out of constellations 
Paintbrush
Priority shipping boxes from the post office (or recycled)
Glue
Stick-on gems
Ruler
Craft knife
Assemble the box 
Draw a line from corner to corner with a pencil
Intersect the line 3 1/2" up from the base of the box on each side
Draw a curve where the lines intersect on each side
Repeat on the other side
Connect the 3 1/2" lines on the sides of the box
 Cut along the lines with a craft knife
*This will give you two organizers
Cut an extra piece of cardboard 3 1/2" by the width of your box plus 3"
Score 1 1/2" in on each side and bend to create flaps
Glue the flaps to the inside of the mouth of the box to create an area for pencils
Print in gray scale to save ink
Paint the entire box with Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint in Black Tie
When dry, lightly draw your constellations in pencil
Mark over the lines with a silver Krylon Short Cuts metallic paint marker
Connect the lines with stick-on rhinestones 
Make hundreds of dots with the metallic paint pen to create the night sky

You're done!