more things to do on a rainy day....

Stumbled across this great, DIY blog tonight. The girl is fearless with her cheap, diy projects. And when I say cheap, I mean, she didn't want to foot the bill for an electric saw to build a pelmet box, so she used FOAM CORE. Foam core and DUCK TAPE. And it turned out amazingly, well:

Oh, and here was the thing that piqued my interest initially,

A small Bombay chest from Homegoods, that she silver leafed. Really easy project. Don't go over to this blog until you have some time. And when you do, search her DIY section. You'll be headed over to craig's list and your local craft store, faster than you can say 'Eddie Ross'

oh, and if you're in that DIY kind of mood and somehow missed Jennifer Boles' {Peak of Chic} bathroom re-do. Go check it out. You'll be warming up your glue gun with a whole new gusto.

and to add to the list, another elegant and spine tingiling DIY project by Patricia {Mrs. Blandings} here

reform school

photo, poorly scanned from the 2/10 house beautiful

Right after I attempt Celerie Kemble's, great idea to dye a silk lampshade, I'm going to attempt this:

But for those of you not as brave as myself, check out the
ABC Carpet & Home's 'Color Reform' rug line. ABC, features discarded imperfect, vintage, turkish rugs that have been bleached {using a lemon juice based bleach -for all of you environmental police } and re-dyed {using something called 'synthetic and non toxic' which a new oxymoron for me - but I love and trust ABC carpet }.

Photos provide by Joe Siscelli/ABC Carpet and Home found at orchid studio.com

.... I've received so many emails, this morning, asking me how I was going to actually dye the lamp shade! You know, the process.

When I wrote that, I was kidding. If I tried this, I'd have dye on my forehead and a smeary mess that looked like I used Magic Markers. So, to answer your questions, I went right to the source. I emailed Celerie Kemble and here are her instructions:

"The only trick I can share on the dying is to wear gloves! It is an ugly mess for weeks if you don't. But it works and is relatively easy. The color mix in the house beautiful story turned out a bit dingier than I had planned so tinker with the colors and test on some papers first -- it is a great way to get a cheap but very custom colored shade. "


ok, I think I can do this. If you try it, will you send me photos? I'd love to see the outcome.

the ipod stand - that you make yourself!

Those brilliant french designers have come up with another do it yourself, "you can totally make that" project......

Download here

>>> [Making Of] the Iphone paper dock

"I can totally make that..."

Famous last words.

Spend any amount of time with me window shopping and before you know it, I'm want to utter that phrase. Or I say something like, "please. don't buy that....you could totally make that. I'll show you!" I'm not sure if it's the girl scout in me or having a mother who was, literally and figuratively, the mother of all DIYers {someday I'll have her scan photos of the Halloween costumes she made for us as kids} but the blog 'P.S. I made this' ranks high on my "frequent visit for inspiration" list.

Many years ago, when I first saw John Derian's work, I made a feeble attempt to reproduce my version of his decoupaged plates. While, my efforts looked more like a Pier one plate smeared with Mod Podge and some clipped photos, it was not remotely in the same realm as the master's work. However, seeing this posting, inspired me to maybe give it another try:

Or what about this affordable, adorable, summer scarf:

This nautical flag sign would be great at a beach themed party, there are so many spin offs of this you could create.

Today over at Refinery29 {a fantastic site } P.S I made this has created a special, sparkly DIY project just for the readers of Refinery 29. check it out here

As a blue eyed man once said, "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere".

Now, go, get inspired and be creative.

catalog your feelings....

Cookies, do gooding, now this. Who has a sugar headache? hang on. Because your teeth are about to start hurting. found: great website to make your own card catalog.

from my own personal card catalog:

DIY place cards from hello! lucky via 100 layer cake

This comes from one of my new favorite blogs, 100 layer cake {a wedding blog that inspires me everyday to be creative, no matter what the celebration } the letterpress company, hello! lucky, sent over this clever, eco friendly, simple idea for elegant affordable, place card settings. I love simple. Simple but clever.

How can you go wrong with the design nature presents us every day.

Using the 'in season' fruit, and gorgeous type face on little 'banners', a few, mixed up, orphaned tea saucers or plates, one can create these lovely little pieces of art welcoming each of your guests to their place.

you see what I mean about inspiring? Imagine how many ways you could turn this idea.

hop over to 100 layer cake for the, down loadable banner templates

more projects for a rainy day

ok, I lied, I'm not done.

That last post begot several emails regarding the Mary McDonald filing cabinet project:

and then there was this one by Casapinka. The Orla Kiely refrigerator. It's like a big present that you keep on opening.

I have no idea how she did this. It's wallpaper.

But how she applied it, is beyond any skill set that I might have. She did mention that she might post a tutorial. In general, if you're not familiar with Casapinka, she does really innovative DIY projects -like this one, so it's worth tooling around over there just for fun.

the wrap-up

I'm on a roll. more re-purposed paper goods. and then I'll move on.

We used to go to town with the modpodge.....B.I.T.D. Everything was fair game, including the basement stairwell of my parents' house which, to this day, remains wrapped in New Yorker covers dating back to the early 70s.

With the revival of hand printed wallpapers that push the creative limits, the two concepts have taken the gluey act of cutting, pasting and plastering to a level of elegance, that seats itself far and away from the hippy vibe of yore.

Using wall papers from such leaders of innovation in the field: Osborne & Little, Cole & Son and Timorous Beasties, Bryonie Porter has created a line of furnishing that appeals to anyone wanting to update their space while recycling a tired looking piece.

The only wah. factor: Porter is based in the U.K. {not an easy get, for those of us in the U.S.}

The bonus thing is that I'm completely inspired by her work. I have a feeling this looks much easier than it is, when it comes to the actual execution {did I ever tell you about the time I tried to make-my-own John Derien plates? } But if Mrs. Blandings can do *this* then dammit, I'm up for the challenge.

the L word

Truthfully, what caught my eye, initially, were the pages used as wallpaper {I've always wanted to do this} but look how clever and simple the bookshelf system is.

L brackets, repurposed.

Do it yourself.

this is how we do it >>here<<

goodie bag goodness

I'm not one to use the term 'crazy busy' {mostly because I've made fun of too many people for using this, over wrought, term} but this week.... i'm sort of really busy. Busy with work/work {as opposed to this blogging stuff} and rounding the week off, I have an 8 year old's birthday party to organize.

In times like these I depend on my fellow bloggers to show me the way. Check out these cute, DIY gift bags posted over at lovely design

learn how to make these here

gettin' your heart on

Remember that 'Real World-London' episode when the 'cheeky' punk girlfriend gives her punk rocker boyfriend a pig's heart for Valentine's day? So gross.

Couldn't find a picture of that charming couple but joel and clementine will do. I'm sure they'd love the idea below, in fact:

This year make your own anatomically correct heart for your favorite valentine.Who knew that a throbbing, veiny organ {did I just really write that?} in your chest, {IN YOUR CHEST people}.... could look this cute. And the ideas are endless.

here's the template so generously created and supplied by cheekymagpie.com

thank you cheeky magpie~