DIY Life

Thrifty Décor Chick yearned for a Ballard Décor decorative pear ... but she wasn't wild about the hefty price tag. Learn how she made her own version using an $8 thrift store find and a little DIY ingenuity. – Thrifty Décor Chick

Make a pretty little potted topiary for yourself or a friend. Start one now and you'll have a terrific, budget-friendly gift ready when the holidays roll around. – Design Sponge Online

Fishbowl jelly: a guaranteed kiddie-pleaser. Martha tells you how to make this ingeniously simple dessert for your next children's party. – Martha Stewart

Create a stylish bracelet using just elastic and old buttons. Don't you love it when DIY crafts look cooler than the store-bought versions? – DIY Network

Adore the ocean? Check out this chic and very original bedroom setup. It's nautical-inspired yet also refreshingly kitsch-free, with nary a bowl of shells or dolphin poster in sight. – Ready Made

Factory-made headboards are so blah. Let this slideshow of super-stylish DIY alternatives awaken your creative senses. – Casa Sugar

Speaking of inspiring slideshows, this one demonstrates 20 fun ways to repurpose everyday objects you already own. My top pick: scrap wood becomes rustic shadow boxes for a garden wall. -- AOL Home

Prevent kitty from pigging out: make your own smarter-than-your-feline automated cat feeder. Meow! -- Instructables

Dated glass doors urgently needing beautification? Want to conceal -- not reveal -- the disarray of your stuff to the world? Use decorative paper to pretty up your cabinets. -- Craftzine