DIY Life

Dye wool yarn with food coloring

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-23T19:00:00 00:00

When I was a youngster, I remember days where I was bored beyond measure. I would listen to the click-clack of my Mother's knitting needles as she would tell me stories of her youth in Germany, while I would unravel the ball of yarn for her.

Most kids won't sit long enough to help with mundane tasks, but I bet you could get yours to sit still on a rainy day if you ask them to help you dye yarn with food coloring. Suse of Pea Soup has a tutorial showing off her gorgeous pictures of yarn that she dyed with the help of her 8 year old son.

You'll need a box of food colors, a microwave-safe bowl, the child(ren), wool yarn, and vinegar, which helps set the dye. Adult supervision is needed when handling the hot water, so that the kiddos don't burn themselves.

For more help dyeing wool and other fabric, check out how to dye with fruits and vegetables, and how to dye with Kool-Aid.

[via: Whip Up]

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Eggshell trinket box makeover

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-23T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Crafts, gifts

I saw some very nice trinket boxes at the thrift store the other day, but I let them go without a second thought. Too bad I did, because I now want to make over one for my daughter for a Christmas present, and maybe a few as gifts for other special people.

Using cleaned and broken white egg shells, decoupage and white paint, Jane Lake over on All Free Crafts, made over a plain trinket box. Jane put the eggshells into a plastic bag and used a rolling pin to crush them into fairly fine pieces. After removing the hardware, she then decoupaged the box lid, sans where the holes for the hardware were.

Jane alternated the decoupage and the broken egg shells, then allowed the box to dry overnight. After the box was dry, she used two layers of shimmery white paint, allowing one coat to dry before she applied another. She says you can apply pearl beads to the bottom of the box. Apply the hardware, and call the makeover finished!

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Fabric-covered kitchen cabinets

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-22T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, weekend projects, kitchen

Having previously used wallpaper to cover my kitchen cabinets, I'm ready to change them for a new look. Since I get bored fairly easily with my decor, I like to spruce things up about every six months, and I am so itching for newly decorated cabinets.

Thanks to help from Tipnut, I found the perfect kitchen cabinet makeover project over on Tres Chic Veronique. Using pretty fabric covered in bees and honeycombs, Veronique cut the fabric an extra inch on each side, then hammered in thumbtacks to secure the fabric to the cabinet door.

I read in the comment section of Veronique's post that Scotchgaurd was used to help eliminate grease and stains when the fabric is wiped down. If you, like me, are unsure of whether or not you want to use regular fabric on your cabinets, then maybe the best alternative would be to use oilcloth, since that can be wiped down easily.

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Turn dinner napkins into an apron

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-22T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Crafts, sewing, gifts

I am in desperate need of a kitchen apron. I have been cooking since I was 8 years old, and I have always absentmindedly wiped my hands on my clothing, even though there is always a dish towel nearby. Yup, I need an apron.

DIY Maven on Curbly has written a fabulous tutorial, complete with awesome pictures, teaching us how to turn large cloth napkins into a kitchen apron using a sewing machine. You'll need several yards of ribbon for tie strings and for the apron collar, and of course, some basic sewing skills.

This apron is perfect, not just for the kitchen, but also for gardening. The pockets in the apron could hold your kitchen gadgets, or your gardening tools. Of course, I always absentmindedly wipe my dirty hands on my clothes when I am gardening too.

Check your local thrift stores for some awesome napkins. Mine always seem to have the prettiest sets of fabric napkins on hand, and for the price they sell at (6 for $1.00), there are plenty available to make as gifts for my gardening and cooking friends.

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Wood-burn a beautiful clock

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-18T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, Crafts, wood working

Every week, I eagerly look forward to Wednesdays and head over to Design*Sponge to see what has been created that day. Derek and Lauren never cease to amaze me, and this week is certainly no exception. Once again they have come up with an excellent DIY project.

A simple piece of wood, a clock mechanism kit, and a wood-burning tool are materials necessary in making this gorgeous little clock. Derek and Lauren provide complete and detailed instructions and pictures describing the process of putting the clock together.

If you read my wood-burned tray post, and tried your hand at using a wood-burning tool, you should have no problem making this easy gift.

I am surprised to see I have almost the same piece of wood hanging on my wall. I think it would look even more beautiful if I turned it into a clock!

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Scrabble tile fingerprint mosaic

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-18T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Crafts, gifts

My two local thrift stores are full of kids' games and adult board games. Most of the games are missing pieces, but that's OK with me, since I like to use them for craft projects.

Laura, otherwise known as The Scrabble Gal, is great at re-purposing materials some people would send to their local thrift store. She recently had her fingerprint mini-mosaic tutorial made from Scrabble tiles featured on Junk Creation, and sent us the link.

Laura took some old Scrabble tiles and painted them white. She arranged them in a pattern around the non-painted tiles. She then dipped her fingers in a non-toxic ink pad and transfered her prints onto the white tiles.

The possibilities of what you can create are endless. Magnets, scrapbook keepsakes, wall art: the list goes on. For more ideas on how to use Scrabble tiles, either as a kid project or made to give as a gift, check out M.E. Williams's post on making Scrabble tile coasters.

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Fix annoying chair wobbles

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-17T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: fix-it, home decor, household hacks

Nothing perturbs me more than sitting in a chair and wobbling back and forth because the chair legs need fixing. I get perturbed because once again I spent my money on something cheap, or someone else did, and they just like to be annoying by rocking back and forth.

Over at the Indianapolis Star, our own extremely talented Shelly Leer learned how to fix annoying chair wobbles when a furniture builder showed her how to apply wood glue to the chair using a turkey basting syringe. Genius!

There's a little more to it: please join me after the break to learn how it's done.

Shelly drilled small holes, then injected the glue through the holes. She wiped off the excess glue, wrapped pantyhose around the legs to hold the joints together, and called the job done.

Any sanding and painting that needs to happen can be accomplished after the glue is completely dry and you are satisfied with your now wobble-free chair. Just sit back and admire your handiwork.

Shelly reminds us that we won't want to use this technique on antique or valuable furniture, and I am glad she mentioned that little tidbit. I would have drilled some tiny holes in my antique rocking chair, kicking myself to the curb for having done such a dastardly deed.

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Homemade frozen treats help you chill

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-17T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, seasonal, health

For the last couple of days, the weather has been humid, without much wind to cool it off. It was hot enough outside that I had to split the lawn mowing into two days. I will not complain, though, as I will take the heat, sans humidity, any day of the year.

Unfortunately, it gets pretty hot in my house too, as we don't have much shade or air conditioning. It wasn't enough that I had cold water to drink: I needed something more to help cool down my body temperature. I wasn't prepared, but next time, you can bet I will be with these 6 simple frozen treats I can concoct myself.

The ever-frugal Linsey Knerl wanted to help her family stay cool this summer, so she went on a hunt for homemade frozen treat recipes that could help her to save a little money, and keep her kids from consuming too much sugar.

You can make your own frozen fruit juice bars and homemade ice cream bars. Save yourself some calories this summer: try making your own homemade pudding pops.

I must admit, my favorite of the treats that Linsey shared is the banana dipped in melted chocolate...yum! What is your favorite frozen treat?

[via: Lifehacker]

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Sew a fabric doorstop

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-16T20:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, Crafts, sewing, Crafts & Celebrations

Last week I painted the outside of my front door.

I left the inside of the door alone, so that my kitchen would stay light and bright. I am glad I didn't paint it, since last month I had to move some furniture around to make room for my new freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerator, and the front door is constantly being bumped against the microwave stand. I am desperately in need of a doorstop to keep my door from being marred.

Elizabeth Hartman has a downloadable PDF tutorial on how to make a nine-patch bean-filled doorstop. Choose your fabric, have 5 pounds of dried beans on hand, and sew up that little gorgeous number.

What's really nice about the fabric doorstop is that it has a handle so that you can carry it around and use it for different doors in your house. I also think it would be great to knock out a burglar, should you happen to be so unfortunate as to have one visit.

In any case, I love the doorstop. It's perfect for all my door-opening-and-closing needs.

[via: Whip Up]

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Fabric-covered headboards

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-16T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, kids, Crafts

Fabric: so very versatile, necessary, and perfect for any crafting need. For me, the hardest part of purchasing fabric is choosing which fabric I want to take home. I usually end up going overboard with my purchases, as I can never decide on just one color.

My girls were to share a room, so they each would have had their own twin bed separated by a night table. Since they carry my genes, I know that they'd get bored very easily with their headboards. The perfect solution? Cover the headboards with coordinating fabric that they picked out themselves.

Fabric, scissors, and a staple gun are all you need to have on hand to create your one-of-a-kind headboard. Just staple the fabric to the headboard, working outwards from the center. Don't pull too tight, as you don't want to stretch and tear the fabric. When you are done, stand back and admire your job-well-done.

Looking for more headboard covering ideas? Check out my previous post on covering a wood headboard with fabric, and Brian's post on more creative headboard ideas.

[via: Craft]

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Make a no-sew pillow

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-15T20:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, kids, Crafts

I love to cuddle, so I can usually be found hugging a pillow if my 3-year-old or my husband are unavailable to be squeezed. Pillows are so comforting, and I just can't own enough of them.

Any project that requires time sitting at the sewing machine gets put on the back burner for me, especially in Summer. I found the perfect no-sew pillow project over at Craft Bits. All that is needed to make the pillow is fabric, filling, scissors, and plenty of patience.

You can use down feathers or other loose filling to plump up your pillow. Polar fleece is a soft, super cuddly material that doesn't fray. Lycra and knit fabrics do not fray, either. Young kids who know how to make knots would be helpful for this project; keeping them occupied on a rainy day.

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Paper table lanterns make inexpensive centerpieces

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-15T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, seasonal, wedding, outdoor

Summer is in full swing, as are outdoor picnics, parties and wedding receptions. If you haven't taken your turn at outdoor dining, then it is time to pretty up your patio or picnic table, and sit down to some char-grilled delicacies.

Evening dining is tops; nothing beats watching the sun set on a glorious summer day. Since you probably love to sit outside after dark, and do not relish the thought of having to go in the house right away as twilight comes, you can stay outdoors a little while longer with homemade paper table lanterns.
Derek and Lauren at Design*Sponge measured tall vases and glasses, adhered double-sided tape to each glass, then covered the glass with colored tissue paper. They cut colored card stock and adhered it to the glass with double-sided tape, then put a lit candle inside the glass. The result is an easy, breezy homemade lantern.

If you live in an area with many mosquitoes, and you use Citronella candles to keep them at bay, you can pretty up the container with card stock and tissue paper, and no one will be the wiser. Your decorating possibilities are endless!

For the perfect outdoor dining experience, with or without paper table lanterns, check out Heather's post on how to make a condiment caddy that will keep all your dining needs in one place.

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Open a locked door with a credit card

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-14T20:00:00 00:00

Filed under: household hacks, miscellaneous

What happens in the movies can't always be accomplished in real life. For instance, jumping out of a window in a movie looks easy, but if you try it for yourself, you might not walk away like that cute actor did.

If you have seen someone (whether in reality or not) open a door with a credit card, then you may want to keep that particular ability in the front of your memory, as it really can help you to get in your house if you have misplaced your key.

Keep in mind that you really have to work hard to make the credit card open the lock, so you may want to use an old beat up credit card or gift card that is no longer valid.

Patience is the key to getting the door opened, so be careful that your neighbors don't call the police if they happen to see you jimmying the lock.

Follow the instructions wikiHow provides, and you should be back in your house in no time. If you happened to lose your key to your combination lock, Francesca can tell you how to figure out the combination, and Brian tells you how to crack a Master combination lock.

[via: Lifehacker]

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Recycle light bulbs into Christmas ornaments

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-14T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, seasonal, art, staying green, painting

I realize it is only July, but it is never too early to think about Christmas, or at least to get a head start on your decorating this year. If you are into recycling items some people would rather just throw away, then release the artist in you, and paint yourself some one-of-a-kind ornaments.

Since you probably throw away your old burned out light bulbs, I invite you to recycle them into handpainted Christmas ornaments, courtesy of Kraftykristen over on Craftster. Kristen cleans the bulbs with rubbing alcohol, uses acrylic paint to make a snowman, gingerbread man, or a Santa onto the bulb, and finishes up with an acrylic sealer.

In the comments, fencerows tells how she has her kindergarten class paint dots on the light bulbs, using an egg carton as a holder for the bulb. She then ties some wire around the screw-in part of the bulb, then attaches a paper clip for a hanger.

I am not great at painting small detail, but I think the ornaments would be great to give as gifts, especially for the kids.

If you need other ideas for burned out light bulbs, Debra gives you some unusual uses sure to get your creative juices flowing.

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Starched fabric decals fix up boring walls

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-09T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor, weekend projects, Crafts

Starch and laundry get along really well, and you can also use corn starch to thicken up homemade gravy and other homemade delicacies, but did you know that you can use corn starch to "paint" fabric onto your walls?

Jessica at How About Orange made homemade starch, sketched out her plan, cut out fabric, then applied the homemade starch to the fabric. She then applied the fabric to her door, smoothing out any air bubbles she encountered along the way.

Jessica used double-stick tape to see how the fabric would first look arranged on her door. She advises that when taking the fabric off the wall, all you have to do is peel off the pieces and wipe off any leftover starch with a damp cloth.

I love the decals, as they are perfect for times when hammering nails into a wall just isn't appropriate, such as in dorm rooms. They can also cover up any nail holes left by previous tenants, or you can just simply have fun decorating your walls at your whim.

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Woodgrain oilcloth lunch bag

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-09T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, staying green, sewing

Now that you are wrapping your sandwiches in an eco-friendly vinyl wrap, you can go a step further and carry those wrapped sandwiches in a neat woodgrain oilcloth lunch bag, courtesy of Derek and Lauren over at Design*Sponge.

To make the lunch bag, you'll need 1/2 yard woodgrain oilcloth, scissors, a sewing machine, thread, a ruler, and Velcro sticky dots. Derek and Lauren cut the pine woodgrain into three pieces, then sewed the pieces together. After turning the bag right side out, they attached the Velcro sticky dots, and the job was complete.

While many of the commenters like the oilcloth bag, a few think that the lunch bag really isn't eco-friendly at all. I think the bag is awful cute, and would argue the fact that if you use the bag every day, then it really is environmentally friendly, simply because you aren't using and tossing a paper bag every day.

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Sticky notes books make great gifts

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-08T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: scrapbooking, papercraft, gifts

Are you looking for last minute ideas for gifts, or party and wedding favors? Or perhaps you never have a piece of paper in your purse or briefcase when you need it.

Help is here, with this tutorial teaching us how to make sticky notebooks. Michelle made sticky note books for her daughter's kindergarten classmates, using 3M Post-it Notes in Ultra Colors, and scrapbook paper.

With a knitting needle, she scored the scrapbooking card stock so that it would fold where she needed it too. She placed the sticky notes on the card stock, taking off the last page so that the notes would stick to the paper. She then made circle closures for the notebook, closing the notebook with embroidery floss.

Customized to your specific needs with the appropriate paper and colored notes, these sticky notebooks could be used for grocery lists, notes to yourself (or family members), wedding and party favors, or even as gifts for the person who forgets everything. I think they would also be nice for little fingers to stay occupied on short trips.

[via: Whip Up]

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Unusual uses: Plastic soda bottles

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-01T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: household hacks, organization and storage, gardening and plants, staying green, Unusual Uses

As I have said many times before; almost everything has more than one use, and I believe it is our duty as inhabitants of this planet to recycle as many items as possible, sometimes reusing the same item over and over again.

Plastic soda and water bottles are items that can be reused. Join me after the break, as I give you a list of things that you can reuse plastic bottles for, which I found over at Green Home.

Make a fly trap and a wasp trap.
Punch some holes around the bottom of the bottle, and use it to water your plants when you're away for a few days.
Cut the bottom off the bottle, fill it with homemade potpourri, and cover it with lace and a ribbon for a nice potpourri holder. Use the top of the bottle for a funnel.
Cut a slit near the top, and use it as a piggy bank. Have the kids decorate their bank if they wish.
I cannot live without my coffee, if my percolator ever breaks and I'm in a pinch, I can cut a bottle in half and use the top of the bottle as a funnel, put in a filter and coffee grounds, and pour hot water to make coffee. Proceed with caution, as I think the bottle could get really hot, and hot liquids aren't meant to be used in plastic soda bottles!
Make a "motion ocean" bottle by placing water and oil in a bottle, adding glitter and some shiny items to the bottle and hypnotizing yourself to sleep with the motion. (Find more instructions for a project like this at Francesca's post about "lava lamps" for kids.)
Make an ice pack by filling a bottle 2/3 full of water and freezing it.
Can't find your candle holders for your romantic evening dinner? Cut off the top half of the bottle, and place a taper candle in the hole. I must say that I would not want to see this on my table; however, with a little gold craft paint, I would be pleased to see the reuse of the bottle. Let the romance proceed.
I wish I had thought of using the bottom half of a bottle as a paint tray before I decided to ruin one of my Tupperware dishes earlier this week when I painted my door frame.
Make your climbing vines happy by making a garden trellis out of plastic soda and water bottles.

We love to recycle things here at DIY Life. We know how to reuse everyday household items, paper and gift wrap, pantyhose, milk jugs, and a whole plethora of items that some people would just throw away. If it has one use, chances are likely that it can also be used for something new-to-you. Please, tell us how you reuse your plastic soda and water bottles.

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Say goodbye to your soda addiction

Anna Sattler — 2008-07-01T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, miscellaneous, preventative maintenance, health and wellness, health

When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to drink soda. Even back then, my dad was pretty smart. He said the stuff would make me fat and rot my teeth. Seems research studies are proving him right about the unhealthiness of soda.

When I was old enough to move out of the house, I started drinking soda like mad. My dad was right; I did indeed gain some unneeded weight and I had to go to the dentist because I had cavities.

If you are trying to kick the soda habit, try jazzing up water with natural flavorings. You can make your water super cold with ice chips, then add in some lemon or lime juice, along with a couple slices of the fruit. Keeping water refrigerated at all times will get you reaching for the jug instead of the can.

More tips include: not keeping any soda in the house, and switching to seltzer water if it is the bubbles you think you will miss. When I am thirsty I put a couple drops of lemon juice in my 16 oz cup, then add a couple sprinkles of Crystal Light to give a hint of added flavor. I am kept hydrated and sugar-free. I do the same with juice and iced tea, because I can no longer tolerate the taste of a full-strength sweetened beverage.

I stopped drinking soda a number of years ago because it was just too sweet, and, well (blushing here)... the main reason is because it gave me acid reflux, and would cause serious pain to my nose if I happened to burp. Once in a while I have a craving for a sip of soda, but I usually have to chase it with a healthy slug of water just to get the sugary taste out of my mouth.

Feel free to leave a comment and let us know how you have broken your soda addiction.

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More do-it-yourself wedding centerpieces

Anna Sattler — 2008-06-30T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: wedding, weekend projects, Crafts, entertaining

So your wedding day is near, and you still haven't made up your mind about table centerpieces.

Last year, I wrote a post with ideas for 8 do it yourself wedding centerpieces. It's been very popular since it was published, but I know that there are hundreds of additional impressive ways to go about making a beautiful visual feature for your guest's tables.

Let's face it: you want your wedding day to be perfect, and saving money on your centerpieces will give you a sigh of relief. Knowing that you and your wedding party made them yourselves will also give you great satisfaction. "Inexpensive" does not necessarily mean "cheap"; anything that you can do for your wedding day or even your day to day life to save money will make you happier in the long run.

Follow me after the break, as I try again to give you some inexpensive ideas for creating your own beautiful centerpieces.

Find some pretty long-stemmed ice cream dishes, and fill them with colored gel beads. Place the dishes on glass trays. Place candles in the colors of your wedding into the center of the dishes, and surround the stems with potpourri or other fragrant decorations of your choice.
I'm with blogger Debra McDuffee and her love for painted terra cotta pots. You can often find small pots at chain stores for pennies. While you're looking for the pots, check out the flower center too; you may be able to find discounted plants. Transfer the plants to the terra cotta pots. You can use peat moss, potpourri, baby's breath or colored marbles to hide the dirt. Add a large ribbon and/or streamers to the pot, and you now have an inexpensive centerpiece.
By placing colored sand or sugar in votive candle holders, and placing two or three holders on a mirror, you can make a small centerpiece look dramatic. Stagger the height of the votives, and arrange and intertwine ivy or baby's breath around the votive holders. Give the arrangement some color with flower heads in the colors of your wedding.
Fruit baskets are colorful and elegant. You can find nice sturdy-yet-cheap urns at the dollar store. Just fill the bottom with foam or packing peanuts, arrange apples, oranges and lemons in the urn, place some twigs and leaves sporadically around the fruit, and finish by placing potpourri or flower petals around the base of the urn.
Empty champagne bottles can be the start for great centerpiece decorations. Simply put long-stemmed flowers in the "vase", then grab some floral wire and your shorter-stemmed flowers. Place the short stems in floral foam, and use floral wire to hold the flowers to the bottle, while effectively hiding the foam. Don't forget to keep the foam moist. An alternative is to use un-opened champagne bottles for your guests to enjoy when they get home.
You and your bridesmaids do not have to carry your bouquets around all night. Rather than going through the trouble of finding someone to hold them, use the bouquets as centerpiece decorations. Also, consider having some decorated baskets ready and waiting on the tables for the corsages and boutonnieres to be placed in them; they can be decorative, too.
Another way to use colored sand and candles: Draw designs on the candles with a craft glue pen, and dip the candles in colored sand. Then you may arrange the candles on decorative trays or mirrors, or place them in short-stemmed crystal dishes.
I saw some really beautiful candelabras at the thrift store the other day. They didn't look the best, but the wheels of my imagination started turning. Candelabras can easily be painted in your wedding colors. Intertwine some ivy, baby's breath, moss, or ribbon to the candelabra stems, and place some rose petals around the base.

Now that summer is here, peruse garage and estate sales, not to mention thrift stores and dollar stores. You can often find great bargains on candles, baskets, and other centerpiece accessories.

Even if your wedding day is coming this weekend, you'll be amazed how quickly you can arrange a beautiful centerpiece. Enlist the help of your bridesmaids, use your imagination, and when you're done, you may still have time to sit back and relax before you say "I do."

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