DIY Life

I love everything artist Nikki McClure creates, and her latest pumpkin carving for Sunset Magazine is no exception. She's kindly provided the stencil for those of you who weren't born with Nikki's mad illustrative skills (which is basically everyone, right?). I can't wait to tackle my own Nikki'o'Lantern! Sure beats the usual Martha Stewart pattern...

Here's how to do it!:

1. After downloading, tape the template to a clean, dry, and hollowed-out pumpkin.

2. Using a pushpin, prick closely spaced holes along the outline of the design, making them deep enough to be seen when you remove the template.

3. Remove the template. Following the pinpricks and taking care not to cut all the way through, use a small carving chisel or linoleum cutter to outline the design. With a larger linoleum cutter, remove the rind within the outlines and scrape out some pumpkin flesh (the deeper you go, the more light will shine through). Add texture and dimension by varying the direction and depth of your carving.

4. Light your pumpkin. A votive candle is traditional, but for more illumination, use a battery-powered or outdoor-rated electric light; carve out a hole for the cord if necessary.

That's it --- happy carving, and thanks, Nikki!

It's never too late to bring some festive decor into your home, and with this easy DIY lampshade update, chances are you've already got the tools to do so! Don't believe me? You have a lamp and some paper, right? Good. Then get to work:

The only materials you need for this tutorial are as follows:
black paper, a pair of scissors, a pencil and double-stick, clear tape

Yep, that's it!

Your instructions couldn't be easier! Try these few, easy steps on for size:
1. Download, print and cut out the black cat template.
2. Trace the template onto black paper with a pencil.
3. Cut out the cat shape from the black paper
4. Use double stick tape to adhere the silhouette to the inside of the shade.

And with that, you've got an instant DIY trick up your sleeve, perfect for surprising last-minute Halloween guests.

Felt screams cooler weather to me, so I can't wait to get my hands on a pair of brightly-colored felt threads and work some magic this fall. For now, I'll be keeping this project from The Purl Bee close by -- I can't wait to try it and have a feeling that even I can't screw this one up!

The following materials will make a set of six 11-inch x 17-inch place mats:

• Six 18-inch x 18-inch pieces of Ecru Wool Flannel (color of 91)
• Two Wool Felt Bundles. This tutorial uses the spring shades offered.
• OK-To-Wash-It Fabric Glue
• water soluble fabric marker

From there, you'll need to cut, weave and finish! The craft couldn't be easier and would make an excellent art project for your family. Why not let your children pick out their own felt colors to give everyone a personalized place setting? Better yet, with holidays coming up fast, consider gifting felt placemats to your favorite families.

Get to work!

I'm quite certain this is one of those DIY tutorials that you're not sure when it will come in handy until it's too late. Perhaps you're planning to throw a lottery-inspired party, or maybe you want a fun spin on holiday cards this year. Whatever the purpose, bookmark this fantastic DIY idea for creating a scratch-off lottery ticket using just dish soap and acrylic paint! I'm flabbergasted!

Why not create a lottery-themed birthday party for the gambler in your life? Take a cue from eHow and decorate with orange and white balloons, a lottery ticket cake, lottery centerpieces and then some! The invitations would be so easy to create with our new scratch-off tutorial, and the possibilities are endless!

Of course, don't forget the gift, which could be a sweet, handmade sentiment expressing that you hit the jackpot when you met your certain someone. Sweet, right? I'm such a sucker for romance.

Etsy is a great source for handmade goods (but steer clear if you're trying to limit your spending--- whew!), and every now and then I come across a tutorial for a product that is so perfect I can't believe it's handmade. Such is the case with Etsy seller Michelle (mtraub) and her felt rosette pillows. Luckily, she shows us how to create our own rosettes with this easy tutorial!

The materials are simple enough:

• felt fabric
  
• feather pillow insert
• zipper
• sewing kit
• sewing machine

My favorite part about her tutorial is the fact that the rosette can carry over into any craft you'd like, whether it be a hat, cardigan, tablecloth or even a paper product. I'd love to use a few rosettes in a table setting, perhaps as a napkin ring or a sweet decoration to brighten up the mood.

Whatever craft you decide to make, your rosette will surely be the talk of the town! Enjoy!

The humble cardboard carton: the perfect vessel for holding milk or juice. Alas, even with the rise of recycling, squillions still end up in the nation's landfill each year where they wait for Mother Nature to do her thing.

So how about putting them to good use around the house and garden? Here are a bunch of clever, thrifty, crafty and downright surprising uses for the humble cardboard milk carton.

INDOORS

Mega-sized ice cubes. Clean cartons thoroughly, fill with water and freeze. Remove cardboard and use them in the cooler for your next party, or let kids and pets play with them outside.

So by now you're officially in the swing of things, right? Wrong. Chances are, you and your family are still struggling at the idea of 6am wake-up calls, mounds of paperwork and the ever-so-present extra-curricular activity schedule. There never seem to be enough hours in the day, and definitely not enough cash in the bank. Perhaps our list of top back-to-school tutorials will make your adjustment process a tiny bit smoother... and a whole lot more stylish!:

For the cafeteria:

1. DIY Reusable Lunch Set
   
2. Martha Stewart Lunch Labels
3. Magnetic Cafeteria Chart

Your kid will be the cat's meow in the lunchroom with these easy (and super cute!) tutorials for a lunch set and labels. Of course, you can always score brownie points with your child's teacher by creating a magnetic cafeteria chart for classroom use! You know... in case your kid isn't already brown-nosing enough for the both of you.

In the classroom:

1. Apple Print Backpack
2. Martha Stewart Book Covers
3. Handmade Owl Backpack
4. Quick Pocket Organizer

Send your kid to school prepared with DIY book covers, backpacks and pocket organizers. Who knows? Maybe they'll be the future DIY Founding Father of their class! They'll certainly be one of the more stylish munchkins...

In the craft room:

1. Egg Carton School Bus
2. Roll-Up Pencil Kit
3. Tree Bark Pencil Holder
4. Binder Pencil Case

With crafts for all ages, back-to-school can be a bit more fun. Tackle a school bus created out of egg cartons with your pre-schooler, or create a nature-inspired pencil holder for your tween. The key is, have some fun with your child before they're swamped with homework and they start locking you out of your bedroom forever!

For the teachers:

1. Leather Day Planner
2. Marbleized Pencils
3. Kate Spade Downloadable Book Cover
4. Old Pants Laptop Sleeve

Teachers deserve a bit of back-to-school love, too... right? Surprise your favorite teacher with a handmade, well-crafted gift, or even send a few of these fun ideas with your kid. Remember --- you can never be too nice to your child's teacher. After all, as far as education is concerned, the teacher is boss.

Inspired yet? Incorporate a few of these fun tutorials into your weekend and welcome school season with a bang. Enjoy, and happy crafting, school bees!

These could possibly be the cutest shoes I've never owned. But don't worry --- I'm fixing that. Earth and Living attempted a tutorial for these cuties last year, and I thought the pair would be perfect for fall weather. Naturally, the year got ahead of me and here I am, craving the pair yet again. It's time I get down to business, don't you think?

I love that Earth and Living attempted to re-create the look with no prior knowledge of how the shoe was made or a pattern to work from. What a braveheart! The result is gorgeous and soooo beautifully crafted. Here's what you need:

• Good piece of leather between 2.5 - 3 mm thick.
• Ruler
• Pencil and pen
  
• Xacto knife
• Leather hole puncher
• String or hemp

That's it! Follow the pattern provided (along with a separate tutorial for the heel) and add a bit of creativity where you'd like. After all, they're your shoes for the wearing!

Enjoy!

If DIY was a dessert, Curiosity Shoppe owners Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith would be creme brulee. Filled to the brim with great DIY projects (that keep getting better!), the duo recently took their advice to the books in Wallpaper Projects. What amazed me most about this book was the incredible amount of information available, from prepping your walls for paper to removing the tough stuff.

As with most DIY projects from Fagerstrom and Smith, the design is in the details. Ideas for using wallpaper scraps that may otherwise be trashed are plenty in this book, including tutorials for notecards, paperweights, magnets and brooches.

My favorite tutorial? Picture frame mats using wallpaper. I honestly hadn't thought to use wallpaper for this purpose, but after seeing the results, I'll never go basic again.

Including a section for wallpaper improvisations (where you can scan your own photos to create the look!), the book ends with a bang. Certainly a resource any DIY lover will want to keep on their [wallpapered!] shelves for years and years.

Wallpaper Projects
Authors: Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith
Chronicle Books

If you love shabby chic, this is your tutorial. Yesterday, I was browsing Velvet Brown, a hot spot for feminine decor in the U.K., and stumbled across this lampshade. Could be super cute in a girl's bedroom or nursery, or perhaps a Victorial entryway. Although this lamp skirt sells for roughly $40, you can create your own version with a considerably less alternative.

Search for a toddler's skirt, preferably layered (I've found a lovely black alternative that I may love even more than the beige!). Fit to the shade, and make accommodations as necessary. You may need to tighten the waist with elastic, or add another layer with filler fabric.

Don't have time to shop the toddler's section? You can create a similar look with an old skirt in your closet by sewing a few extra layers.

Whichever you decide, it's important to remember how easy it is to create stylish alternatives for the same items in big box retailers. With a bit of creativity, you can own a one-of-a-kind lampshade that would make Velvet Brown melt!

It seems everyone I know has a birthday in July and I've been searching for the perfect gift for my girlfriends who love to entertain. Because nothing is more summery than a cold glass of lemonade, I love this sweet [and tangy!] gift idea...

Why not download a few of Creature Comforts' free recipe cards and lined labels? I'd love to fill out a label with this recipe from Times Online and affix it to a mason jar with some pre-made lemonade mix.

Lemonade not quite your thing? This lemon bar recipe from Recipezaar is both easy and surprisingly delicious. Lemon muffins are also a big hit around my household and would be easy to package in a country basket, perfect for gift-giving.

A sweet idea with an even sweeter price.

I've been planning my cousin's feminine baby shower for a few months now, and I've been tossing around centerpiece ideas in my head. I stumbled upon this cutesy DIY centerpiece yesterday and am quite sure it will make the perfect girly statement for the event!

The tutorial is pretty self-explanatory and seems easy as baby-shower-pie. Simply thrift an old candelabra, gather a few teacups and purchase plenty of craft glue (my favorite is Elmer's). I think it'd be fun to spray-paint the entire centerpiece a bright teal or yellow lacquer so the look really pops.

If you can't find any candelabras or teacups at the local thrift shops, eBay is always a tremendous resource. Just be sure to bid on inexpensive designs if you plan to spray-paint it.

When you've finished your project, fill the teacups with nuts, chocolate-covered strawberries, mints, or even candles. Your guests will love your ingenuity, and the best part? You've finally found a use for all of your mismatched china!

My scented candles began gathering dust immediately after the birth of my daughter in 2006. Having a child around, I was way too distracted and sleep-deprived to be supervising an open flame in my house -- no matter how sweet the smell!

Happily, I soon received a reed diffuser as a gift. Decorative, yes. However, it also brought delicious and natural citrus and floral fragrances back into my life. Best of all, I discovered reed diffusers are a worry-free alternative to scented candles.

The diffuser consists of a small glass vase or bottle containing perfumed oil or an oil blend, plus other mixers. The fragrance contained therein wends its way towards your olfactory cells via tall reed straws placed upright in the oil.

OK, I usually don't go for the "household item" craft projects... oftentimes, they look just like what they are. The pasta necklaces? They're nothing but macaroni on a string.

Better Homes and Gardens has changed my mind, though, with their pasta tree centerpiece project. This fancy little number is hip and funky, and doesn't look like old pasta at all.

All you need are a few simple materials; BHG promises that the project will cost less than ten dollars.

I know, paper cups are bad, and I am bad if I use them. What if I reuse them? Can I redeem myself just a little?

If you've got paper cups kicking around, there are all sorts of ways that they can be re-purposed into cool Kiddie Crafts. Just this afternoon, I went to the pantry for some dried pasta and realized that there was only a very little bit left. I also came across some leftover party cups that I'd stashed away. What do you do with pasta and paper cups? Make maracas of course!

After the break I'll tell you how, share another paper cup craft that we tried, and point you to a few more that I think pass the kiddie craft test (simple, inexpensive, fun, and easily modified for different ages).