DIY Life

Fourth of July Crafts Countdown Round-Up

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-03T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

It's not too late to tackle these fab Fourth of July crafts for your celebration.

Fourth of July Craft #6: Free Printable Bottle Labels

Piggy Bank Parties

Custom bottle labels nicely upgrade those store brand bottles of water or soda. If you're not handy with graphic design programs, these free printable pre-designed labels are for you. Get them at Piggy Bank Parties.

Fourth of July Craft #5: Bandanna Party Decor

Wendell T. Webber, Country Living

This patchwork-like runner can be used far after the Fourth and is nearly effortless: Just stitch together bandannas. No sewing machine? Duct tape the bandannas together on the "wrong" side. (It doesn't sound pretty, but hey, no one will look underneath the runner.) Or, use bandannas to wrap small treats for party favors.

Fourth of July Craft #4: Patriotic Punch Game

This game is pretty simple (but kids love it): Pick a number, punch through the tissue, win a prize. Who says family gatherings have to be boring for the little ones?

Fourth of July Craft #3: Banner Bunting

Jessica Wilson

For a twist on traditional bunting, make your own stars-and-stripes banners using cupcake wrappers, streamers and paper. It's another craft that's great for kids.

Fourth of July Craft #2: Fireworks Garland

This spirited swag took less than ten minutes to make. Just wind wide strips of tulle around your hand, cinch, then cut to create each "firework."

Fourth of July Craft #1: Nautical Napkin Rings

Miki Duisterhof, Country Living

These adorable napkin holders are made with a surprising item: Shower curtain rings.

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Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Bandanna Decorations

Brie Dyas — 2011-07-02T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

Today's entry in the Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Festive flourishes made from bandannas.

Wendell T. Webber, Country Living

For me, a bandanna will always recall the album cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." But these kerchiefs can do more than hang casually out of a jeans pocket. Just sew a few together to create a patchwork-like runner, or use a single bandanna to turn a handful of treats into a party favor. For more inventive place setting ideas perfect for the Fourth or beyond, visit Country Living.

Want to catch up with our Fourth of July Crafts Countdown? Check out...
Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Patriotic Punch Game
Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Banner Bunting
Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Fireworks Garland
Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Nautical Napkin Rings

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Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Firework Garland

Brie Dyas — 2011-06-28T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Holidays

Get out your sparklers and strike up the marching band music...it's time for our Fourth of July crafts countdown!

It wouldn't be a Fourth of July crafts countdown without fireworks. But we're staying away from explosions and instead finding inspiration in the ethereal abstract shapes of fireworks with this easy tulle garland. Here's how to make one yourself.

What You'll Need

You'll need thin ribbon (I like 3/8"-wide ribbon), string, scissors and tulle garland. You can find tulle garland in the wedding section of your local craft store, or sometimes at floral supply shops. Expect to pay between $2-$6 a roll.

Step #1: Wrap the Tulle Around Your Hand

Measure and cut out a yard of tulle garland. Wrap it around one hand (fingers closed).

Step #2: Cinch the Tulle

Slide the wrapped tulle off of your hand (it will look like a cylinder). Place the tulle cylinder onto your work surface with an open end facing you. Then, tie the string around the center of the tulle cylinder tightly. The tulle will look a bit like a bow-tie, with looped ends on either side of the knot.

Step #3: Cut Through the Loops

With your scissors, cut through the tulle loops. The tulle will straighten out as you cut it. (Don't worry if the layers are different sizes, that's what gives the finished "fireworks" their explosion-like form.)

Step #4: Create the Garland

Adjust the layers of the tulle firework to create a full, loosely round shape. Next, insert a finger into the center of the tulle firework, through the string knot. Slide your ribbon through this opening. Repeat with more tulle fireworks until the garland is full enough to your liking.

Feeling inspired for more Independence Day DIYs? Here are a few more ideas...
Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Nautical Napkin Rings
Fourth of July Clip Art Crafts
4th of July DIY: 6 Party Essentials
The Ultimate July 4th Party Planning Guide

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Fourth of July Crafts Countdown: Nautical Napkin Rings

Brie Dyas — 2011-06-27T12:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

Get out your sparklers and strike up the marching band music...it's time for our Fourth of July crafts countdown!

Miki Duisterhof, Country Living

Can you guess the secret behind these adorable nautical napkin holders? They're made from a set of white wooden shower curtain rings. Simply draw on the stripes using colored markers, add names using letter stamps and then seal with an acrylic spray. To get that vintage look, sand the rings beforehand.

For more Fourth of July crafts, check out the July/August issue of Country Living, which comes out on June 28th. Since I tend to get my covers confused (ending up with multiple issues of a mag), here's what the cover looks like:

For the full nautical napkin ring tutorial, visit Country Living. (There's also a bunch of other summer crafts that I'm bookmarking.)

Feeling inspired for more Independence Day DIYs? Here's a few more ideas...
Fourth of July Clip Art Crafts
4th of July DIY: 6 Party Essentials
The Ultimate July 4th Party Planning Guide

And to see how to decorate your Fourth of July table, watch this...

How to Decorate Your Table for the Fourth of July

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Father's Day Crafts Countdown: Shirt Napkin Fold

Brie Dyas — 2011-06-13T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays

We're getting a head start on celebrating Dad with this countdown of our favorite Father's Day crafts.

Jessica Jones

This adorable Father's Day crafts idea is by Jessica Jones, the designer behind the blog How About Orange. Though she says that "7 out of 10 dads won't notice" this napkin-goes-collared-shirt, it's definitely worth a try. (And besides, there's always Mom to appreciate the small details.) And if this fold looks familiar, you might have seen it used in dollar origami. To see the full how-to, visit How About Orange.

Want a few more outside-the-box ideas for Father's Day? Check out...
Avant Yard: Father's Day gifts for yardiac dads
Father's Day Gifts From Etsy
A Father's Day Special: Ultimate Man Caves

And to see how to turn your Father's Day party into a fiesta, watch this...

Father's Day Gift Ideas

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Crafty Memorial Day Countdown: Quick Party Decoration Round-Up

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-29T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

Skip the trip to the party store with these quick party decoration ideas that'll seriously impress your guests. (Yes, even fussy Aunt Rita.)

Quick Party Decoration #1: Watercolor Favor Tags

Victoria Hudgens, A Subtle Revelry

Originally designed as wedding favors by genius stylist Victoria Hudgens of the party blog A Subtle Revelry, these hanging tags can dress up any bottle of bubbly. To make them, write each guest's name on a piece of heavy paper with crayon. Then, apply color over the written name with sponge dipped in watercolor pigment. The crayon wax will repel the water, allowing the inscribed name to emerge from the color. Next, simply cut out a tag shape, punch a hole in one end and add a loop of twine. For complete instructions, visit A Subtle Revelry.

Quick Party Decoration #2: Lacy Cocktail Umbrellas

Victoria Pearson, Country Living

Part functional, part fabulous, these lacy drink parasols from Country Living's June issue lets guests stir up a cocktail with style. The secret to making these pretty party decorations? 4-inch lace doilies. Check out the full how-to for creating the lace drink parasols.

Quick Party Decoration #3: Beehive Pinata

Ray Kacharorian, Country Living

This DIY pinata seems time-consuming, but the basic paper-mache process goes by really fast (especially if you have kids pitching in). Simply dip strips of newspaper into a combo of school glue and water, then mold around a balloon. Once dry, pop the balloon, cover the newspaper with crepe paper and add on pom-pom bees. Oh yeah, don't forget the candy. Here's the full how-to for creating your own beehive pinata party decoration.

Want more party decoration ideas? Check out...

Daily DIY: Make Your Party Sizzle with a Swizzle
Easy Summer Entertaining
Update Your Patio Space

And to see how to dress up your patio for your party, watch this...

How to Transforms An Empty Patio Into A Outdoor P

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Crafty Memorial Day Countdown: Make a Pinata

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-26T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Outdoors, Crafts & Celebrations

The June issue of mag crush Country Living has a ton of ideas perfect for your Memorial Day celebration. Get a head start on the celebrating by crafting along with us as we go through our favorites.

Today's idea: How to make a pinata that looks like a beehive.

Ray Kacharorian, Country Living

Kids (OK, and adults) love pinatas, but it just feels silly to spend $15 on something that you're just going to bash open. In the time it takes to look up your local party store, travel there, try to decide between the cartoon character choices and go home, you can make a pinata that looks like an adorable beehive. All you have to do is dip strips of newspaper in a mix of school glue and water, then wrap them around an inflated balloon. (If you have kids, they'll be thrilled to pitch in during these messy steps.) After the strips dry, pop the balloon and glue on crepe paper streamers to create a beehive look.

To make the adorable bees, wrap a yellow pom-pom with a black pipe cleaner and attach wings made from vellum or scrapbook paper. Full directions for the pinata and the bees can be found at Country Living.

Guarantee your perfect Memorial Day bash with these do-ahead ideas...
How to clean outdoor furniture
How to Clean A Gas Grill
Crafty Memorial Day Countdown: Cocktail Umbrellas

To see how to make a pinata, watch this video...

How to Make a Pinata

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Crafty Memorial Day Countdown: Cocktail Umbrellas

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-24T10:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

Victoria Pearson, Country Living

Perfect for Memorial Day parties and bridal showers alike, these lacy cocktail umbrellas prove that small details can make a huge impact. (See how the lace detailing contrasts the sleek lines of the cooler glasses?) Plus, they're useful for stirring drinks and keeping tabs on guests' glasses.

To make these cocktail umbrellas, first craft a "base" by cutting a 2"-diameter out of card stock. Using a glue stick, paste the circle to the solid center of a 4"-diameter doily. (You can usually find these doilies in your grocery store, near the disposable baking pans.) Next, cut the doily from one edge to the center and bend into a cone, with the card stock circle on the inside; secure with glue. Then, hot glue the tip of a wooden skewer into the cone, creating the umbrella.

Easy, right? To see a nice big photo of the cocktail umbrellas and more crafty ideas, check out the June issue of Country Living. Because I always forget what new magazine issues look like (leading to me buying multiples of an issue), here's the cover shot:

Country Living

And to guarantee that all you'll have to do on Memorial Day is sip a cocktail, check out...
How to Clean A Gas Grill
The Daily Fix: Ward Off Mosquitoes
Memorial Day and Healthy Recipes

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Tie a Bow Like a Pro

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-06T10:00:00+00:00

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

For an impressive finishing touch to any Mother's Day gift, tie a bow! Our friends at ModCloth show us how...

ModCloth

If you've gone through the trouble of picking out a present you might as well take an extra few seconds to tie a bow onto the wrapped gift. After all, Mom deserves a little more effort! (Especially because she'll probably take 20 minutes to remove it from the package, to "save for a future occasion.")

ModCloth

To tie a bow into a traditional rosette, it's just a matter of pleating ribbon back-and-forth, then gathering. Using wired ribbon is key, since it'll hold its shape as you tie a bow. For the complete how-to (along with two other alternative fancy bows), check out the ModCloth blog.

Want other ideas for using bows? Check out...

Daily DIY: Make a DIY Ribbon Dispenser

A Decorating Bow-nanza

Ribbon Crafts: 5 Ideas For Your Home

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Cinco de Mayo: Fab Last-Minute Party Decoration

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-05T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Outdoors, Crafts & Celebrations

Turn your patio into a Cinco de Mayo-themed backdrop for the happiest of happy hours.

Natalie Norus, Mint Love Social Club

It's Cinco de Mayo time and you know what that means...themed parties! If you're low on time to craft your own Mexican-inspired decorations, this project is for you. Made using little more than tissue paper, ribbon and staples, she created an amazing garland in no time flat.

Natalie Norus, Mint Love Social Club

As you can see above, the individual Cinco de Mayo flags are just squares of tissue paper that have been shredded. For the how-to, check out the Cinco de Mayo fringe garland post at Mint Love Social Club.

For more Cinco de Mayo fun, check out...
Appetizer and Cinco De Mayo Recipes
How to Make a Pinata
Cinco de Mayo Margaritas for Your Zodiac Sign

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Edible Arrangements: Make a Fruit, Veggie or Cupcake Bouquet

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-03T16:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Know-How

You don't need to shell out to give Mom an incredible edible arrangement! Instead, show your creativity with a handmade version.

kokiri, flickr; exlibris, flickr

To make an edible arrangement featuring fruit, you've got two courses of action. One is to use flower cookie cutters to stamp out floral shapes (pineapple is the best option because you can slice it into sheets that are easy to cut into), which then get placed atop a skewer. This method can be seen in the left edible bouquet.

The other way is to thread fruit segments onto skewers shish kabob-style (as seen in the photo on the right), an admittedly easier route to take. Just make sure the slices are neat and pretty.

Next, you'll take your skewers of fruit and insert into a base made from a halved lettuce that's been tucked into a plastic container. Why lettuce? Because its curved surface automatically creates a pretty look, raising some skewers higher than the rest for visual interest. Once it's arranged nicely, pop the container into a prettier vase, or even a hollowed-out melon.

toastforbrekkie, flickr

An edible arrangement featuring veggies is bound to impress...it's just so unexpected. (And brides-to-be take note: This is a fabulous alternative to the typical crudite tray for bridal showers.) And it's definitely not as hard as you'd think, especially if you use pre-cut vegetables like broccoli florets. Harder veggies like carrots should be cut into matchstick shapes, to make them a little easier to skewer. To create the tulip-like radish flowers, cut into the vegetable as if you were dividing it into eighths, without slicing all the way through. Soak the radish in ice water for 1-2 hours, until the petals open. For even more color, incorporate skewered red pepper slices, cherry tomatoes and peapods.

For this presentation, swap out the lettuce used in the floral bouquet for a piece of floral foam that's been cut to fit your decorative container. Then, arrange the veggie skewers.

clevercupcakes, flickr; dotstreats, flickr

Cupcakes seem a little been-there, done-that lately. But a unique presentation, like these cupcake bouquets, put the confections in a whole new light. If you can make an icing rose, then all the better. The rest of us can make do with a star decorating tipped attached to an icing bag (or in my case, a plastic zipped-top baggie filled with icing).

To make the cupcake bouquet, start with a base made by wedging a Styrofoam ball (disguised with a layer of tissue paper) into a bucket or terra cotta pot. Then, insert your skewers about halfway through the bottom of the cupcakes. Then, insert the other end of the skewer into the tissue-topped foam.

Craving more DIY edible arrangement ideas? Check out...

Edible centerpiece
Edible Centerpieces for a Garden Party
How to Make an Edible Centerpiece

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Mother's Day Craft: Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Amy Preiser — 2011-04-29T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

This Mother's Day, show your mom some love by turning a forgotten photo into an eye-catching piece of art.

There's our photo editor Jolie Novak...in her mother's stomach! Photo: Jolie Novak

Every family has their preferred way to display beautiful heirloom photos. But even the most arresting vintage images can be easily overlooked when displayed in the obvious choice for black & white snapshots: A simple black frame with white matting. Elegant, yes. But a little too predictable.

So why not give it a thoroughly modern spin by pairing the photo with not one but two bright, bold prints? And is there a more perfect holiday to celebrate vintage snaps of the ones we love than Mother's Day?

Photo Editor Jolie Novak had this amazing photo of her mom, Leslie, pregnant with her and kindly volunteered it for our project. Want to recreate it at home with a shot of your own mom? Read on...

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=998040&pid=998039&uts=1304029448

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Gather your materials:

-Plain frame

-Two different patterns of wallpaper/wrapping paper

-The photo you're going to spotlight

-Tape

-Blade or paper cutter

-Cardboard, or any surface you can safely cut on.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Cut the first piece of decorative paper to the size of the frame's backing using the blade. Then move to the next sheet of paper. This one should be cut smaller by about 2/3 -- though the actual sizing is up to you.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

If you've printed out the black & white photo like we did here, cut it out completely so that there's no border.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Tape the first piece of paper right onto the frame's backing.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Once the entire backing is covered, bring the next, smaller, piece of paper. Try to get it as close to the middle as possible. Then do the same with the photo.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Tada! Here's Jolie with her mother's day present all ready to go.

Bring Black & White Photos to Life

Looking for more Mother's Day crafts? Check out...
DIY Paper-Cut Mother's Day Card
DIY Mother's Day Corsage
Mother's Day Flower Arrangements
Flower Arranging 101

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Martha Stewart Celebrates Easter and 1,000 Episodes

Nikki Pepper — 2011-04-14T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

It's a big week for Martha Stewart -- the home guru celebrates Easter with an "Eggcellent" special and reaches her 1,000 episode. Here's what to expect.

David E. Steele/Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Martha Stewart is the ultimate housewife, without even being married. She cooks, she cleans, she makes the bed with her own sheets and comforters. And she crafts like no one's watching. Only we are. We're tuned in and ready for the airing of "Martha Stewart's Eggcellent Easter" this Sunday, April 17th. Lucky us, we got a sneak peek at this one hour special, and we have an assignment for you Sunday viewers -- count all the "egg" altered words she beats into her show. Examples: Egg-cellent. Egg-straordinary. Egg-squisite. Get it? The alterations are endless, so keep your bunny ears perked up.

We'd also like to egg-on all you DIYers to try some Martha projects: "Eggcellent Easter" features recipes for coconut cupcakes and bite-size citrus cookies. Creative decor incorporates moss and lots of eggs. From Emu eggs to ostrich eggs, all are decorated, dyed and displayed with techniques you can do at home! We love the look of the marbled eggs.

Not feeling festive but still want to celebrate Martha? Tune in three days later on Wednesday, April 20th: It's Martha's LIVE 1,000 Episode Celebration. What does a 1,000 episode celebration entail? We're glad you asked. Get ready for the following:

Celebrity
Seth Meyers -- you know, from SNL -- will be making an appearance. (His second one of the season.)

Cooking
Guest chef Mario Batali will be whipping up something delicious.

Comedy
Yup, Martha is going to be funny. She will be reviewing the best bloopers and funniest moments of her 1,0000 episodes. We're hoping she'll revisit her pole dancing episode as well as the time she baked brownies with Snoop Dogg.

But that's just us. We'll have to tune-in Wednesday to see what she shares!

Our other Martha-related stories:
Martha Stewart's Painting Tool Kit
Refinishing Furniture with Martha Stewart Living

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April Fools' Pranks For Every Room in Your Home

Amy Preiser — 2011-04-01T08:00:00+00:00

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

Think April Fool's Day pranks are for kids? You probably haven't played a good one, then. We've rounded up our favorite DIY pranks from around the web to help change that.

There's a lot of attention paid to office pranks: Cubicles filled with balloons, switched office chairs and staplers suspended in Jello (thank you, The Office!). But we suggest that you take your April Fool's Day antics straight home. Yes, to your family. Because they have to love you no matter what. Your boss? Not so much.

Find out how to use a "For Sale" sign for an April Fools' prank. Photo: Getty.

April Fool's Day in...Your Front Yard
Get a "For Sale" yard sign from a hardware store and stick it in front of your home before your kids and spouse get back. Try to position yourself at the window to see their confused faces.

April Fool's Day in...The Bathroom
Before everybody goes to bed, sprinkle salt on all the toothbrushes but your own. The salt won't actually hurt anyone but it'll make for some funny faces once they start brushing.

April Fool's Day in...The Bedroom
First step: Wait until your family members are asleep. Then sneak into the room in the middle of the night and swap their drawers. When they groggily reach for a shirt in the morning of April 2nd and find only pants, delight in reminding them there's no harm in an April Fool's day prank that lasts until the next morning.

April Fool's Day in...The Kitchen
Fill a cereal bowl halfway with water and freeze it overnight. In the morning, pour your spouse/kids/roommate a bowl of cereal on top of the ice block. Once they dig in and their spoon hit the hard ice, that's your cue to start cracking up.

April Fool's Day in...The Living Room
Tape down the phone button on your family's landline so that whoever picks it up will think it's dead (and shout "hello?!" at least three times).

Looking for more April Fool's Day jokes?
Top 10 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Video: Knowledge/Others
April Fool's Day pranks to play on your kids
Fool your co-workers with these April Fool's Day pranks
Booby trap your coworker's office chair

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Rose Care: Make Your Valentine's Flowers Last

Kristine Solomon — 2011-02-14T19:30:00+00:00

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

They may not last forever, but your Valentine's Day flowers can stay vibrant for quite a while with these DIY cut flower tips.

Getty Images

Score a bouquet of Valentine's Day flowers? Lucky you! Now, before you just plop those babies in a vase, take note: there are a few tried and true flower care tips -- and some not-so-ordinary ideas -- that can keep cut roses and other buds looking as fresh as a daisy for a week or more.

As soon as you receive a bouquet of flowers:

1. Use garden shears or a sharp knife to cut about one inch off of each stem at a 45-degree angle. Do not use a regular pair of scissors; the pressure will damage the stems.

2. Fill a vase (or try an unexpected vessel like a metal bucket or a pitcher) two-thirds of the way with lukewarm water.

3. Remove any leaves and foliage from the stems before placing them in the water. Decomposing leaves can contaminate the water.

Adding a preservative to the water is a smart way to keep it bacteria-free, and to provide the cut flowers with enough nutrients to hold out a bit longer than they might otherwise. If you don't have store-bought flower preservatives on hand, try one of these DIY preservatives:

Add a few tablespoons of sugar to a vase filled with lukewarm water. The sugar acts as the plant's food, long after the root supply has been cut off.

Add an aspirin and a penny to the water to keep the flowers bright and perky for a few extra days. The aspirin lowers the water's pH level, warding off bacteria, and the penny serves as a fungicide.

Add a bit of bleach to the water. Yes, this last one sounds dangerous, but lots of people swear by it. Be conservative: about 1/4 tablespoon of bleach per quart of water is more than enough. If used in moderation, the bleach helps purify the water and kill bacteria.

Need some guidance for arranging your Valentine's Day roses in the vase? Check out this video!

Got any tips for keeping Valentine's Day flowers fresh? Share your ideas in the comments below!

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DIY Links: Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

Cheryl Thompson — 2011-02-11T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

Haven't picked out a Valentine's Day gift yet? No sweat. Celebrate your love with these last-minute homemade gift ideas from around the web.

Apartment Therapy

Get back to basics this Valentine's Day with a simple arrangement of flowers, but punch them up with creative packaging. Turn recycled plastic and glass bottles into colorful vases with nothing more than primer, paint and ribbon. Then head back to grade school and craft a homemade card out of construction paper. Do you like me? Check yes or no. [Apartment Therapy]

Martha Stewart

These stamped soaps add a touch of romance to any shower. Just like those iconic candy conversation hearts, each soap heart features a personalized message you can create with metal letter stamps. Dare we suggest, "Wash You Up in My Love"? [Martha Stewart]

Nate Berkus

Don't let the bling fool you, magnet brooches are inexpensive and easy to make. You can turn your old jewelry into chic, decorative magnets by simply using a wire cutter and glue. Remove the pin hardware and add a magnet with a glue gun or Gorilla Super Glue. These magnets are the perfect touch of love for your sweetheart's fridge. [Nate Berkus]

Real Simple

One man's trash is your sweetie's treasure. Random household items make for cute greeting cards, such as the pictured sponge, dead AAA batteries ("I get a charge out of you") and stray keys ("the key to my heart"). Couple your DIY cards with custom candy hearts made with the help of food-coloring markers. [Real Simple]

Country Living

Repurpose an old frame into a message board. Add photos, nostalgic items and messages of love. [Country Living]

Crafts by Amanda

Use egg cartons, paint and cupcake liners to make these cute lollipops treats. This is an excellent DIY project to complete with the kids this weekend. [CasaSugar via Crafts by Amanda]

Instructables

Sometime's a store-bought card can't convey how you feel. For these moments, grab an X-Acto knife to carve any message your heart fancies. Instructables has step-by-step instructions to create a cutout card that says it all. [Instructables]

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DIY Chocolate Flowers for Your Valentine

Kristine Solomon — 2011-02-08T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Holidays, Crafts & Celebrations

What's even better than flowers and chocolate for Valentine's Day? Flowers made out of chocolate, of course! Design duo Larry Abel and Raymond McAllister teach us all about this unlikely art form.

At last last month's InStyle Golden Globes Godiva lounge, celebrity guests were dazzled by floor-to-ceiling chocolate flowers, arranged in modern acrylic vases. And last year, the same DIYers who made those flowers designed an entire set made from Godiva chocolates -- from ornate chandeliers to fireplace logs to, of course, flowers. Both displays were grand -- the kind of thing you'd think would take years of intense training.

Oversized chocolate flowers at the Godiva lounge at the 2010 Golden Globes. Photo: InStyle

But the event designers behind these works of candy art are actually self-taught crafters. Larry Abel and Raymond McAllister, who now run the event design company "abel mcallister de-signs," were your average 9-to-5-ers before leaving their day jobs to pursue their passion. Abel, formerly the Senior VP of Brand Marketing for Mars, Inc. -- yep, the chocolate company -- and McAllister, who's worked as the Visual Manager for the Chicago Old Navy flagship store, now plan and execute elaborate designs for bold-name events ranging from the People Magazine Grammy Party and Entertainment Weekly's Upfronts to the upcoming Piaget Lounge at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Godiva Bar at the Elton John Oscar Party.