DIY Life

DIY Ladder: Clever Uses For An Old Ladder

Jaime Derringer — 2011-09-14T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: home decor, in the kitchen, organization and storage, Crafts, wood working, Storage & Organization, Crafts & Celebrations

Take an old ladder to new heights with these fun craft-it-yourself ideas.

I'm willing to bet that you have an old step ladder in your garage or basement. You know the one -- covered in old paint with the wobbly leg. Too bad it's useless, right? Wrong! You can reuse that old ladder without stepping on a single rung. Here are a few fun ways to re-purpose that ladder and put it to good use around the house, without spending a dime.

Photos: Charles Walton IV for Southern Living/Deborah Ory for Woman's Day

If your ladder is a bit dingy, clean it up, scrape or sand off the old paint unless you're going for that shabby chic look. Tighten up that wobbly leg, and try one of these nifty ideas:

1. Bookshelf. You've seen ladder-shaped bookshelves, right? Well, obviously, they were inspired by the real thing. You can use an old ladder as a bookshelf and save yourself a lot of cash while still getting the same look.

2. Pot rack. How fun is this idea we spotted over on Woman's Day? Just take an old ladder and place it on its side, affix to the ceiling and use it to hang your pots and pans!

Do these photos inspire you to dig up your old ladder? Photos: This Old House/Living, Etc

3. Towel rack. You know those ladder towel racks that run upwards of $50 or even $75? Why not use your old ladder instead and save that money for some new bath salts or a towel upgrade?

An instant purse rack! Photo: Holly Becker, decor8

4. Plant stand. You can actually buy ladder plant stands, but why spend $99 when you have a free one collecting dust?

5. Closet organizer. Ladies, do you want somewhere to hang or rest your purse collection? What about sweaters, or maybe you need somewhere to hang your pants or rest your shoes? An old ladder in the closet is a great place to organize your clothing and accessories.

6. Nightstand. If your ladder has flat rungs that are like small shelves, you can use a ladder as a nightstand. Simply place the ladder next to the bed and use the rungs to place your alarm clock, books or magazines and phone (or whatever else you keep next to the bed).

7. Wall decor. Hang an old ladder on the wall as art! Paint it a fun color to match your room, or affix family memorabilia to the rungs and use it as a wall display.

Want more repurposing ideas? Check out 5 things you can do with an old t-shirt.

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Hardware Store Decor

Kristine Hansen — 2011-09-12T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Living Rooms, Home Offices, Living Spaces, Crafts & Celebrations

Looking for chic, industrial housewares? Look no further than your local hardware store. The new book "Home From the Hardware Store: Transform Everyday Materials Into Fabulous Home Furnishings" shows you how to transform utilitarian items into furniture and accessories that really work.

Machine-Age Candlesticks, as seen on page 106 of Stephen Antonson and Kathleen Hackett's book, require no tools to assemble. Photo: Lesley Unruh

For co-authors (and real-life couple) Stephen Antonson and Kathleen Hackett, it all goes back to a chandelier in Paris. Shortly after they began dating, Kathleen moved to the City of Light for six months. On his first visit, Stephen noticed the peaked ceiling in her rented apartment, thinking it could really benefit from a chandelier.

That day, while Kathleen was running errands, Stephen took a quick trip to the hardware store and picked up four supplies -- a pair of pliers, a single jack chain, a baling wire, and four candles -- which he used to make a chandelier by the time she got home that afternoon.

"I make a lot of things...whenever we need something I make it," says Antonson, who met Hackett when we was a home editor and she was an executive book editor at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Soon after that chandelier was hung, he and Hackett realized they had a book idea on their hands. To come up with enough projects to fill an entire book, Antonson would wander the aisles of local hardware stores (they live in New York City) each morning with a cup of coffee, in search of inspiration.

The end result, "Home From the Hardware Store: Transform Everyday Materials Into Fabulous Home Furnishings" (Rodale Books, $23), was published in early November. It contains dozens of affordable DIY decorating projects, which use common hardware store items in brilliant yet simple ways to create modern, industrial decor. "If you can wrap a birthday present, you can do half this stuff," says Antonson.

Not familiar with hardware store items? Not to worry; you don't need to know an item's intended use. Instead, look to the lines, materials and beauty in each individual piece.

(Left) The Space-Age Coffee Table uses galvanized elbows (a type of pipe fitting) as an unexpected table base. (Right) The Periscope Lamp turns a crimp elbow (also a pipe fitting) into functional art. Photo: Lesley Unruh

Some of our favorite projects from the book include the Machine-Age Candlesticks (pictured, top), which require no tools except your own two hands. We also love the Periscope Lamp (pictured, above right), which transforms a crimped elbow into display-worthy light source.

The authors were kind enough to let us share with you our favorite project of all, the Space-Age Coffee Table (above left) -- an ideal DIY project for a weekend warrior.

SPACE-AGE COFFEE TABLE
To fasten the tiers together, you need to assemble the base without screwing anything together, and then disassemble it in vertical sections, which is not exactly an intuitive process, given the way the base it stacked.

Materials

Eight 90-degree galvanized elbows, 7" each
Four 90-degree galvanized elbows, 4" each
Eight zine bolts and nuts, 8=1" x 32
Twelve #6 sheet metal screws. 1/2" each
36" x 1" round solid pine panel
One quart primer
1/2 quart paint in desired color (we used Benjamin Moore Soot/#2129-20)
Industrial strength adhesive-backed Velcro, 35" x 2" strip

Tools

Black permanent marker
Drill with 3/16" and 1/8" bits
Phillips-head screwdriver
120-grit sandpaper
2" all-paints paintbrush

Instructions

1. Join four 7" elbows to form a circle. Repeat with the remaining 7" elbows, and then join the 4" elbows to make a smaller circle.

2. Stack the circles on top of one another to form tiers, aligning the ribs and placing the smaller tier in the middle. Find the seams where two elbows meet. On the ribs adjacent to the seams, mark the tiers deep in the middle, where they meet, with a horizontal line.

3. Pull the stack apart in half vertically, making note of the top and bottom of the base. Using the marks as guides, mark an X 1" beyond them, toward the center. Use a drill with a 3/16" bit to drill a hole at each X.

4. Break the tiers into quarters so you can fasten one quarter of the base together at a time. Rest the elbows on a work surface so that the openings of the elbows are facing you. Align the holes, slide the bolt through, and fasten the nut with your hands. Don't fasten it too tightly -- once you put the entire base together, you'll need a little room to play. Repeat with the remaining three sections of the base.

5. Put two sections together to make half the base. Use an 1/8" bit to drill a hole 1/2" from the seam on each tier, through two layers of elbow. Screw in the sheet metal screws. Repeat on the other half of the base. Put the two halves together. Screw them together in the same manner, drilling a hole 1/2" from the seam on each tier, through two layers of elbow, and fasten with the sheet metal screws. Set the base aside.

6. Sand the top, bottom, and edge of the pine round. Wipe it down with a soft cloth, brush with a thin coat of primer on the top and edge, and let it dry. Sand the round all over and wipe it down with a soft cloth again. Apply a coat of paint on the top and edge and let it dry. Apply a coat of paint on the bottom and let it dry.

7. Cut the Velcro into twelve 3" pieces. Separate the hooks from the loops. Wipe down the top of the table base with a soft cloth to remove any traces of grease or residue. Remove the adhesive backing from one of the loop pieces and fasten it 3 1/2" from the outer edge of the base, along a rib. (This is the high point, where the tabletop makes contact with the base.) Repeat with the remaining loop pieces and ribs.

8. To determine where to put the hook sides of Velcro on the underside of the table, set it on top of the base. Use a pencil to mark the underside of the tabletop where the Velcro is attached to the base. This is where the outside long edge of the hook sides of the Velcro should be attached. Place the tabletop wrong side up on a work surface. Remove the adhesive from the hook pieces of the Velcro and fasten them to the table, using your pencil marks as guides. Flip the tabletop over and set it onto the base, aligning the Velcro pieces.

Related:

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Etsy Q&A: Crafter regansbrain

Brie Dyas — 2011-09-11T17:19:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

If you've tried to start up your own online shop, you know that competition can be fierce and it can be hard to get noticed. But in this excerpt from Craftfoxes' interview with designer-and-crafter Regan Saunders of regansbrain, we've learned that tapping into the resourced of the crafting community can pay off. Saunders' shop has had over 500 sales (and counting).

Photos: regansbrain, etsy

How did you come up with the name for your shop?

Do you remember the commercial, "This is your brain. And this is your brain on drugs. Any questions?" That inspired me to think about my own brain - Regan's brain.

What's one important lesson you've learned about your business?

There are a lot of other shop owners and crafters that want to see you succeed. They are willing to help you if you let them. It's a huge "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" mentality out there. Don't be afraid to ask someone else for help, or reach out to other shop owners and bloggers. We are all in this together!

Have a simple tip for other sellers?

Take great photos. I still feel like I need work on this, but I learn new things all of the time. Shoot and re-shoot until you get it right!

For the whole interview (including tips and links to awesome new shops), visit Craftfoxes.

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All-Natural, Homemade Paint

Joe Provey — 2011-09-11T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Essential Skills, Know-How, Crafts & Celebrations

Looking for a gentle alternative to chemical-based interior paint? Stir up this simple, four-ingredient recipe.

Milk paint transformed this old cassette cabinet into a charming powder room organizer for storing towels, tissues, and toiletries. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

Cavemen did it. The early Egyptians did it. American Colonists did it. And even today, many people are rediscovering the art of making interior paint for the home.

In an age of store-bought paints with high performance finishes, you may ask yourself, why make paint? For me, it's the natural, handcrafted look -- along with the satisfaction of being self-reliant. For others, it may be because homemade paint is the greenest and least toxic alternative possible to traditional paint. Homemade paints aren't based upon petrochemicals and they're far less toxic than commercial paints -- even the many zero-VOC paints now emerging on the market.

The ingredients for homemade paints vary. This recipe consists of lime, water, pigment, and milk. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

The easiest to make and least expensive homemade paints consist of milk, lime, and pigment. For additional body a filler, such as chalk powder or plaster can be added. My preferred recipe is simplicity itself:

-- Hydrated lime (available at most home and garden supply stores)
-- Water
-- Pigment (powder or liquid)
-- Whole milk (at room temperature)

Mix lime with water using a putty knife or plastic spatula. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

1. Fill a container with one to two cups of hydrated lime. Gradually add water and stir until you have a thick paste.

2. In a separate container, do the same with the pigment powder. For a small batch like this, 2 to 4 tablespoons of pigment is typically sufficient.

3. Gradually add milk to the lime paste until you achieve the consistency of sour cream. Then add the pigment paste and mix thoroughly.

Safety tip: Despite the relative low toxicity of the ingredients, wear vinyl gloves and a dust mask when working with lime and pigment.

Gradually stir milk into the lime paste until you achieve a consistency of loose sour cream. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

ADDING PIGMENTS TO HOMEMADE PAINT
You can buy pigmentsat many hardware and artist supply stores. Avoid using pigments made from toxic compounds, otherwise you'll defeat the purpose of making your own paint. Some common toxins used in pigments include cadmium, lead, mercury, and cobalt. Here's a good online source for non-toxic pigments. You will have to experiment with pigments to achieve the color you want. Be sure to buy plenty of white pigment, as you'll be using a lot of it. It comes in two forms: titanium dioxide and zinc. The former is a bit more opaque.

You can make many of your own colorants using natural ingredients but the process is a lot more time-consuming than making paint alone. Also, the colors produced through home-brewed dyes are more subtle than store-bought pigments. If you do want to make homemade pigment, try these methods:

-- Add water to steel wool for a red rust coloring.
-- Try simmering everything from berries and vegetables to bark and leaves to create the dyes. Blackberries, for example, make a strong dye.
-- Brew coffee or many tea to create neutral tones.
-- Boil peach or crab apple leaves for greens.
-- Use store-bought juice concentrates, such as blueberry and cranberry, to create pleasing tints.

Use a natural bristle brush to apply the milk paint, and allow it to dry for a few hours before recoating. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

ADDITIONAL TIPS ABOUT HOMEMADE PAINT
-- Milk paint is not as scrubbable as its commercial cousins. In areas subject to spills, apply a protective coat of shellac or oil finish. If you choose the latter, stay green with a plant oil-based finish.

-- The shelf life for milk paint is short. Store unused paint in the refrigerator. It can be used until the milk sours. Brushes clean easily with soap and water.

SEE ALSO:
Before & After: Aging Furniture with Milk Paint (Design*Sponge)
Paint Color Trends to Move On From (ShelterPop)
Create a Crackled Paint Finish with Plain School Glue

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The Typewriter Lives On (Through Crafts)

Amy Preiser — 2011-09-07T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Crafts & Celebrations

This week, the last standing typewriter factory in the world closed up shop. But you can still keep the spirit alive with these craft ideas.

I'll admit, it was a blow to hear that that no new typewriters will be produced -- after all, they have a special nostalgic place in my heart next to Polaroid film. But it's not fair to get too hung up over the news: If nothing else, it's highly hypocritical, considering I'm typing this on a computer.

But while you can't expect companies to continue to produce typewriters when the sales have plummeted, you can count on the crafters on Etsy to produce beautiful tributes to the typewriter. As we take a moment of silence, check out the work of these brilliant DIYers.

Clockwise from top left: CuteAbility; NoteTrunk, virginiakraljevic, MeadowTea, iloveinkling, MrPS.

Clockwise from top left:

Typewriter Necklace 18K Gold Plated Brass, $24, CuteAbility

Self Inking Custom Ribber Address Stamp, $28, NoteTrunk

Olivetti Green Fine Art Archival Print, $15, virginiakraljevic

Retro Type Set, $25 for 4, MeadowTea

Just My Type Pillow, $22, iloveinkling

Background: Proper Coffee tea towel, $14.25, MrPS

Looking to create your own typewriter crafts? Check out sites like Oriental Trading and Rubber Nation to buy antique typewriter keys to make your own projects (and don't forget to share them on Facebook!)

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Etsy Q&A: Etched Glass Artisans Bread and Badger

Brie Dyas — 2011-08-30T18:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Crafts & Celebrations

DIY etched glass kits have been selling out at craft retailers, but it can be a little bit intimidating to put brush to glass. (Especially when you realize that you're working with acid.) Not so. After reading this Craftfoxes interview of the talented husband-and-wife etching artisans behind Bread and Badger, we feel confident to try our hand at this project.

How did you get into your craft? When did you start?

I discovered glass etching by accident. I was looking for an unusual way that I could use my love of drawing to create interesting jewelry in 2005. I realized I could draw directly onto glass pieces with a Dremel tool, and then turn them into pendants. That quickly branched out into drawing onto 3-dimensional objects like vases and candle holders, which moved into the more functional world of drinkware. It wasn't until 2008 when demand became too high for me to continue hand-engraving each piece, and I upgraded to a professional sandblasting system that my husband and I could operate together.

How did you come up with the name for your shop?

I'm really inspired by how fearless badgers are, especially honey badgers. I knew that I'd have to face a lot of my fears if I was going to run a successful business, so I adopted the badger as my totem animal. The "bread" part comes from the idea of "bread and butter" - where your money comes from. I knew that I wanted this business to be my bread and butter, so I turned the phrase into something that completely described what I wanted the business to be for me.

What's one important lesson you've learned about your craft?

I've learned to not be so attached to things if they break or don't turn out perfectly. Working with glass means there's always a tiny chance that something you've been working on will just shatter at some point, whether its in your hands at the time, or somewhere in the mail. That's just the nature of the material, so there's no use fighting it. Just pick up the pieces, and make another one.

To see the whole interview, visit Craftfoxes.

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Ribbon Crafts: 5 Ideas For Your Home

DIY Life Staff — 2011-08-29T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Crafts & Celebrations

Here's how to think outside the bow. Decorating with ribbon has its moment.

Ribbons come in every pattern and style. And you can use a $10 spool of ribbon for many things other than wrapping presents. When I let my imagination run wild, I had some pretty fun ideas for decorating with ribbon. Yes, one little ribbon can help spruce up your home in easy, unexpected ways. Here are five fun ideas to get you tying ribbons all over your home.

Flickr, Muffet

1. Instantly Tied Together: There's no need to be fussy with curtain tiebacks. Use a strip of ribbon you love to tie back your curtains in the morning and let the sun shine in. (Photo below.)

2. Mirror on the Wall: Attach a strip of sturdy ribbon to a mirror or picture frame and hang it off a nail or hanging hardware in the wall. You'll add a pop of pattern with ribbon. We love the look of plaid, a pattern that never goes out of style. (Photo below.)

Jen Jafarzadeh L'Italien

3. All Hung Up: All you need to keep your strappy dresses from sliding off their hangers - a little leftover ribbon. Tie a strip of ribbon on each end to keep those spaghetti straps in place.

4. Wine Markers: The next time you throw a dinner party, cut some ribbons to make wine markers and help your guests remember which glass of wine is theirs. All you need to do is tie small strips of ribbons around the stem of each glass - easy, instant wine markers. (See below, left.)

Jen Jafarzadeh L'Italien

5. Lightbulb Moment: You don't have to go bold with pattern - even a simple white ribbon can complete the look of a DIY lampshade. This lampshade has been made over with wallpaper (but you can really use any paper or fabric to cover a lampshade and give it a whole new look.) Simply glue the ribbon to the top and bottom trim of the lampshade for a polished finishing touch. (See above, right.)

For more great ShelterPop stories, don't miss:
Best Cleaning and Organizing Apps
Creative Centerpiece in a Cinch
Decor Don't: Extreme Decluttering
Decor Don't: Too Much Lighting

By Jen Jafarzadeh L'Italien

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5 Unusual Uses For Place Mats

DIY Life Staff — 2011-08-25T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Living Spaces, Crafts & Celebrations

Give your place mats a second life with these creative ideas.

Who knew? You can use place mats as a wall divider. Photo: Jonathon Fong Style

When I'm shopping for decor, I'm consistently drawn to the misfit aisle. You know, those $3.99 clearance bins overflowing with mismatched items like place mats and hand towels. And since I tend to buy stuff like this all the time, one of my favorite pastimes is figuring out what to do with a set of mismatched items.

Place mats are particularly fun to pull for these types of projects, since you can do so much with them. Next time you come across an odd number of clearance place mats, or maybe just a pair made with a lovely fabric, here are some crafty things you can do with them.

Unusual Use #1: Wall Decor and Dividers
With a few packages of clasps and an eye for arrangement, you can transform square or circular place mats into eye-catching wall dividers and displays. Just drill or punch a hole into the top and bottom of each place mat and link them by hanging hooks or clamps to binder rings or fishing swivels.

Bonus idea: Placed over a clear shower curtain lining, they can double as bathroom decor. Or try waterproof plastic place mats as an outdoor patio or garden wall. Check out your local hardware store or Ball Chain for the supplies you'll need to secure them at top and bottom.

Courtesy of: mmmcrafts

Unusual Use #2: Pillows and Tote Bags
Fabric place mats offer endless possibilities for decorative textiles. Shop the place mat section of home design stores (online too!) and build your own throw pillow at a fraction of the price by stitching the sides together. If the place mat has a complicated design that would be challenging to line up, consider covering a pillow with a bold, solid case and centering the place mat design for a crisp, eye-catching effect. One crafty blogger used Anthropologie place mats to make the stylish throw pillows to the left.

Bonus Idea: Cute cotton or polyester fabric place mats can make great tote bags too!

Unusual Use #3: Pops of Color

When it comes to place mat shapes, who says one size fits all? With a good pair of scissors, plastic or polypropylene place mats can be cut down to all shapes and sizes to make a counter top space more colorful and chic.

A couple of ideas:
- Cut out individual pieces of place mat to line the surface around your kitchen sink. Place everyday items like sponges or scrub brushes on top -- the fabric will absorb excess water and you can easily toss it in the washing machine as needed.
- Skip the boring contact paper and line your cabinets with modern prints.

Unusual Use #4: Decorative Odds and Ends
- Transform one sturdy plastic or cork backed-place mat into a whole stack of decorative drink coasters.
- Size down a plastic place mat into a custom-designer mouse pad.
- Play with place mats of different shapes, colors and textures to infuse a garden space with different designs beneath standard planter pots.
- Pick a simple place mat print and frame it with brightly-colored frames for instant wall art -- great for the kitchen!

Unusual Use #5: Quick Tips for Mastering Place Mat Chic
- If ordering online, always check the fabric and dimensions of the place mat before purchasing and make sure the fabric matches the project. Cotton fabric place mats are better for bags and pillow covers while plastic, lacquered and polypropylene place mats are better suited for cutting, crafting and cleaning.

Now, ever wonder what you could do with Velcro? Check out our story on unusual uses for the hook-and-loop tape.

And check out some of our favorite stories from around the web!
Exclusive Interviews and a Tour of the Showtime House 2010!
Banter Banners To Set The Mood
Troubleshoot Your Coffee Grinder
Money 101: How To Buy Your First Home

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Random Recast Round-Up: 4 New Ways with Egg Cartons

Brie Dyas — 2011-08-14T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Know-How, Living Spaces

In this week's Random Recast, we took a look at a few unexpected uses for egg cartons.

Day 4: Egg Carton House

Goldenhen

It's not coming to a development near you, but it's nice to look at isn't it? This art installation by the Australian studio Goldenhen turns egg cartons into ersatz bricks. A wry commentary on the dream of suburban homeownership, this piece is based on the Howard Arkley painting "Family Home: Suburban Exterior" (1993).

Want to see the rest of this week's Random Recast? Visit ShelterPop.

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First Look: Design Sponge At Home

Brie Dyas — 2011-08-05T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Know-How, Living Spaces

We recently caught up with amazingly talented Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, who is coming out with a new book full of inspiration and projects in September. Here's a peek of what you can expect from the much-anticipated guide.

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

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Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 4

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-30T14:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Popsicle sticks.

suzyssitcom.com

Did you know that you could bend Popsicle sticks into bracelets? Yep, it's true. All you have to do is soak the sticks inside a few glasses of water. (And then add some paint and gemstones.) This would be a great project to keep kids occupied. For the full tutorial, visit Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom.

Want to catch up with this week's Random Recast? Check out...
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 3
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 2
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 1

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Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 3

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-28T15:20:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Popsicle sticks.

pureandnoble.blogspot.com

When is a refrigerator a canvas? Not when your little one starts finger painting with ketchup, but when you add "paint palette" magnets made from Popsicle sticks. Just dip the ends of each Popsicle stick in paint, then glue on a magnet. For the complete instructions, visit the fab blog Pure & Noble.

Want more uses for Popsicle sticks? Check out...
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 2
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 1

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Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 2

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-27T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Popsicle sticks.

HarmonicMama.com

You can never really have enough trivets, especially if you entertain a lot. They're a bit tricky to find in the store, so it's a good thing that you can make one inexpensively. The secret? You guessed it, by using this week's Random Recast candidate, Popsicle sticks. We love how Harmonic Mama used a natural color palette in this Popsicle stick trivet, which furthers the vintage feel. In color, it's adorably whimsical. To see the tutorial for putting the trivet together, visit The Small Object.

Want more uses for Popsicle sticks? Check out...
Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 1
Make a popsicle stick purse

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Random Recast: Popsicle Sticks Day 1

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-26T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Popsicle sticks.

IkatBag.com

These baskets made from Popsicle sticks will add a delightfully nostalgic touch to your office desk. And really, who doesn't need more desk storage? The tutorial is super-simple: Just cut a hexagonal base from cardboard, then layer Popsicle sticks to create the walls (holding it altogether with glue). For the full how-to, visit Ikat Bag.

Missed last week's Random Recast? Catch up now!
Random Recast: Corks Day 5
Random Recast: Corks Day 4
Random Recast: Corks Day 3
Random Recast: Corks Day 2
Random Recast: Corks Day 1

And for more office organizing ideas, check out...
Easy Home Office Organizing Tricks
How to Get Rid of Work Baggage from Your Home Life

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Random Recast: Corks Day 5

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-22T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Know-How

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Corks.

aileenrae, etsy

Love to scrapbook? Then you'll love this new use for old corks: Stamps. Simply draw a design into one end of the cork using a craft knife, carve away the surrounding cork, then get stamping. Or, to get a pre-made set, visit etsy seller AileenRae.

Want more ideas for re-using wine corks? Check out...
Random Recast: Corks Day 4
Random Recast: Corks Day 3
Random Recast: Corks Day 2
Random Recast: Corks Day 1

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Random Recast: Corks Day 2

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-19T11:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Know-How

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Corks.

urban woodswalker, flickr

Here's another use for old corks: As a craft tool holder. It's a little more useful than your typical pincushion, because the corks can handle holding craft knife blades. And, the increasingly popular rubber corks can also be used. The rubber material is almost self-healing, making them perfect for holding blades. For the complete instructions, visit Urban Woodswalker.

Want another idea for using corks? Check out...
Random Recast: Corks Day 1

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Random Recast: Corks Day 1

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-18T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Know-How

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Corks.

sarahracha, flickr

If you frequently entertain or just really like wine, you can put a collection of old corks to use with this genius trivet. Corks are fantastically heat-safe, will stand up to the elements if you accidentally leave them outside and also have a rustic-chic look. This particular trivet was made by drilling through each cork, then stringing them together in an abstract diamond pattern. But for an easier alternative that uses only hot glue, try this tutorial from CraftyNest.

Missed last week's Random Recast: Maps? Check out...
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 4
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 3
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 2
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 1

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Random Recast Round-Up: 5 New Uses For Map Pages

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-16T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In this week's Random Recast, we found new ways to use map pages.

Day #5: Map Luminaries

CzechPub.etsy.com

Turn hurricanes into luminaries by wrapping the glasses with map pages. No hurricanes? Just pop a candle into a glass tumbler or vase. The look is inspired by the map lamps designed by etsy's CzechPub.

Day #4: Hanging Lantern

Give a paper lantern a little more character by adding embellishments made from map pages.

Day #3: Drawer Liner

For a new take on drawer liners, use map pages.

Day #2: Custom Envelopes

As if receiving an actual piece of mail wasn't surprising enough, an envelope made from a map page furthers the wow factor.

Day #1: Coasters

Map pages glued to plain white tiles (and sealed with decoupage medium) create a lovely set of coasters.

Want to catch up with previous Random Recast projects? Check out...
Random Recast: T-Shirts Round-Up
Random Recast: Streamers Round-Up
Random Recast: Wallpaper Round-Up

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Random Recast: Map Pages Day 4

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-15T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Map pages.

Zipper8Lighting, etsy

To add a tremendous amount of personality to basic paper lanterns on the cheap, look to map pages. Simply cut the map into circles (my cheat: using a circle cutter, available in the scrapbooking aisle of most craft stores), then glue on rows of map circles, overlapping each for extra texture.

Want to catch up with this week's Random Recast? Check out...
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 3
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 2
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 1

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Random Recast: Map Pages Day 3

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-14T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Crafts & Celebrations

In Random Recast, we find new uses for ordinary things. This week: Map pages.

mod pieces, flickr

For an updated take on drawer liners, use map pages. The oversized pages of a road atlas are a good choice for this project, but you can cut a folding map to fit the dimensions of your drawer. To secure the map into the bottom of the drawer, use double-stick tape or glue.

Want more uses for map pages? Check out...
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 2
Random Recast: Map Pages Day 1
Map Art: From Old Maps to New Decor

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