DIY: Valentine's Day Paint Sample Cards

Browsing the paint aisle at Home Depot and Lowes has become my favorite way to pass the time while K searches for tools, materials, or whatever it is he needs. I always grab a few paint sample cards for my "one day I'll do this in my house" inspiration folder, which has led to quite the collection over the years. So, instead of letting them go to complete waste (I can say with confidence that the desire to paint a room red or pink anytime soon is zilch) I decided to try my hand at these DIY Valentine's Day cards. They were simple to make, took less than 20 minutes, and cost nearly nothing, a triple win in the land of DIY's.

photos by Brunch at Saks

PS. I'm linking up with the lovely Kori at Blonde Episodes for her Valentine's Day round up! Head over there for tons of VDay inspiration :)

Click below for steps.


You will need:
- Paint samples
- Ribbon
- Heart paper punch (I used this one from Martha Stewart)
- Single hole punch

If paint samples are wider than 2 - 3 in. each, you'll also need:
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors

1. Pick out a few paint samples in a range of reds and pinks you like best.
2. If the samples are larger than 2 - 3 inches wide (mine were) cut them in half.
3. To make the heart cut outs, use a heart shaped paper punch.
4. Use a regular hole punch on the top of the card and string ribbon through.
5. Write a note, attach a candy to the back side, or simply pass them out as is.

Creative Ideas: Easy DIY Projects I'm Loving

Makeover your camera with painted chevron stripes in just a few easy steps.

I've always loved DIY projects. Whether I'm cutting up and reworking clothes, buying thread and stones to make jewelry, or simply throwing together materials around the house to see what they can become, DIYing is a big part of my "creative side" life, which is why I enjoy sharing them so much on here. I tend to get a lot of email questions regarding DIY's, mainly asking if I have any fun and easy project ideas, so I thought I'd share a few that I found around the web. All of these are simple yet pack just enough punch to get your DIY ideas flowing. Here are a few of my favorites:

Make these ultra chic paper flowers the next time you have company. They're bound to be impressed.

Decorate your next get-together with these simple and chic paper lanterns.

This paper curtain DIY is whimsy, fun, and budget friendly.

If after all this DIY talk you're feeling a little daring, I'd suggest these gorgeous chiffon and tulle flowers.

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

5 Beauty DIYs: Magnetic Makeup Boards & Brush Holders

If there's one thing that needs a bit tidying up in my life, it's that of my makeup drawer. I am compulsive about cleaning and organizing throughout our home, cars, etc., but the one place that simply falls through the cracks is that little tiny drawer to the right of my bathroom sink. Being an avid mineral makeup wearer, I've grown accustomed to having a cloth or towel nearby to wipe everything down afterward, but I'm still afraid to put the containers inside anything but a plastic bag out of fear they'll quickly ruin the material of a makeup bag. And since I don't have a catch-all bag, I try to (as neatly as possible) lay my brushes and miscellaneous pieces down flat in the drawer, but their organized stance lasts just until the next time I open it, when everything becomes scattered once more. All of this frustration led me to a quick search for DIY makeup holders, which surprisingly turned up awesome results. Here are a few organized solutions I'm loving:

photos 1 & 3 - DIY makeup brush holders with dried beans found here on The Three Little Birdies
photo 2 - DIY makeup brush holders with coffee beans found here on Pink Basil
photos 4, 5, 6 - DIY magnetic makeup board and face/eyes makeup brush holders found here on The Diva Dish
photo 7 - DIY framed magnetic makeup board found here on Liz Marie Blog

Simple Gift Wrapping Idea with Glitter Bow DIY

Wrapping a present for any occasion can be the most tedious part of the entire gifting process, which is why I tend to lean toward simple wrapping techniques to save time, money, and my sanity during the busy holiday season. As a base, I prefer basic kraft paper, allowing the added elements to really stand out. For this gift I chose a left over strand of glitter ribbon, which I cut into two pieces, wrapping each one individually around the gift (creating a cross) and securing in the back with tape. To finish, I placed the bow (DIY below) in the center. From start to finish this took about 5 minutes, a small victory in the game of gift wrapping.

photos by Brunch at Saks

Creating the perfect bow:

1. Start out with an 8-inch piece of ribbon. Loop one end up and over to the center. Secure with double-sided tape. 2. Repeat with opposite end. 3. Place bow on the center of a 3-inch piece of ribbon. Wrap ribbon up and over bow, creating the "knot." Secure with tape. 4. Voila. Use on gifts or anywhere a little pizazz is needed.

DIY: Candy Cane Wreath

Nothing makes my heart pitter-patter more with excitement and joy than a holiday themed DIY. This candy cane wreath, filled to the max with folded fabric squares, was no exception. While it required a good two hours of cutting and pinning, the end result far exceeded my expectations for all things homemade.

To see where I put the wreath (for now) in my house, check out my Facebook here.

Click below for step-by-step instructions.

You'll need:
Styrofoam wreath
350 ball point pins
1 1/2 yards white fabric
3/4 yard red fabric
1/2 yard muslin
scissors
ruler

1. Start by cutting your muslin into long, 5-inch wide strips and wrap it around wreath until covered completely. Secure with pin or drop of glue.
2. Measure and cut both colors into 3-inch squares.
3. Fold each square twice over and secure with pin onto wreath. I filled in one red row, followed by 2 white rows. Repeat until wreath is full. (This takes a while. I suggest a good holiday movie to keep you happy while pinning).
4. Add a bow or looped ribbon for hanging.

original idea from whiperberry here

Holiday Gift DIY: Homemade Vanilla

Giving or receiving a homemade holiday gift truly makes this time of year most memorable. Whether it's a simple card made from scrap paper, or something a little more elaborate, a gift made with love will surely be treasured by the recipient long after the season ends. These homemade bottles of vanilla extract would be the perfect present for anyone on your list, and, if made in larger batches, can be quite cost effective as well (Madagascar vanilla beans can be bought in bulk here).

photos

For full directions, and to print the vanilla labels, go here.

DIY Chocolate Cups + Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipe

How amazing are these chocolate cups? Click here to see the entire DIY.

I love nothing more than a cup of hot chocolate at night this time of year. Below is my favorite recipe, which is gluten free and vegan.

Click below for recipe.

1/4 C. cocoa powder (I use Ah!laska)

3/4 C. sugar

pinch of salt

1/3 C. boiling water

4 C. coconut milk (I use SoDelicious)

3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix cocoa powder, sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Add in boiling water and coconut milk. Stir in vanilla extract. Top with whipped cream (gluten free and vegan whipped cream recipe here)

Adapted from this recipe.

DIY: Branch Candle Votives

After seeing this tutorial on Fossil's website, I've suddenly become obsessed with gathering relatively decent looking sticks/branches to make a few of these candle votives on my own. Since our front/backyard is somewhat void of such materials, I've been on the lookout for them during our morning walks, which has been semi-successful. I think I may need to make a trip to Griffith Park to complete my stick collection for this DIY. One way or another, I will complete this before season's end. It's too cute and simple not to try.

- photos and DIY by Fossil -

A Lovely DIY: Fabric Pinwheels

Nothing makes me happier than a cute DIY, especially one like these fabric pinwheels that can be used in a variety of ways for different occasions. I think they would look gorgeous added to everything from a wool scarf to a gift boxes, and anything/everything in between. I'm off to rummage through my fabric scraps to find a few pieces suitable enough to make these lovely pieces on my own.

- DIY by Karen and Elizabeth of Posh Paperie via Style Me Pretty -

Halloween DIY: Glitter Pumpkins

On Saturday we made our way to the Tapia Bros. pumpkin patch here in Los Angeles and it was the perfect way to officially kick off fall. Upon entering we were pleasantly greeted by chickens, a rooster, sheep, goats, and even a cow; an unexpected yet somehow fitting addition during our trek through rows of pumpkins galore. We settled on three-15 pound beauties for our front porch and a handful of pint-sized ones to adorn our mantel and entryway table. I added a bit of sparkle to two of the smaller pumpkins with the help of Mod Podge (my number one go-to glue for all things DIY) and Martha Stewart glitter.

you'll need: pumpkins - glitter - Mod Podge - paint brush. optional: embellishments and ribbon. also helpful: craft paper/newspaper to work on - paper plate/bowl for mixture. one: mix equal parts glue + glitter. once mixed, add in a few drops more of glue and mix thoroughly. two: paint mixture onto clean pumpkin surface. let dry (about 2 hrs). repeat if necessary once completely dry. add embellishments. three - (alternate version): paint only glue onto clean pumpkin. sprinkle thoroughly with glitter. let dry (about 1 hr). add embellishments.

DIY Headboard Ideas

One piece of furniture that seems to get a lot of DIY publicity, if you will, is that of the headboard. From home makeover shows to decor magazines and design blogs, creating a unique headboard seems to be all the craze. Whether it's made from leftover wood scraps, recycled doors, or even an array of letter decor pieces, DIY headboards are simple to make and, depending on your desired overall look, can literally costs cents from start to finish. Here are some of my favorite DIY headboard ideas:

Not a true DIY, but I liked the mirror as well:

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4


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DIY: Homemade Beauty Recipes - Allergy Free Hair Mask, Face Mask, and Body Wash

Do-it-yourself beauty treatments can be a great, inexpensive way to enjoy all the benefits of a day spent at the spa without the expensive price tag. I often use homemade recipes that work wonders for skin; my favorite being a dash of table salt + olive oil as a quick exfoliator for my hands after cooking and washing dishes. Recently, I decided to expand my beauty recipe making ways and tried a few treatments that were simple yet made a noticeable difference once finished. These were my three favorites:

{Lavender recipe here. Avocado & Pumpkin recipes are a result of various ingredients from a few recipes I found}



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DIY: Lovely Fabric Flowers

I only had navy, khaki, and red fabric left, but I think any color or pattern would look cute!

A few holiday season's ago my Nana gave me a huge bag of fabric remnants for a project I was working on, and since I've yet to use them all, I'm always on the lookout for DIY's in which fabric is the star. After seeing a tutorial by Emily at Jones Design Co. (one of my fave blogs) on how to make fabric flowers, I knew they'd be the perfect way to use up those last few pieces I had. They were really simple to assemble, and by adding a pin to the back it made them extremely versatile. I tried them out on my necklaces and a scarf, but I think I'm going to add a few to some throw pillows and possibly a cardigan once fall comes around.

- materials - fabric, small piece of felt, hot glue gun, starch, iron, scissors, crafting flat back pins like these
{one} spray fabric with starch and iron

{two} cut out 16 petals - 8 large and 8 small (I free-handed these so mine were a little uneven, but Emily has a print out template here)
{three} starting at the bottom center of each petal, cut upward 1/2 inch to create slit
{four} put a dot of glue on one side of slit. fold opposite side on top, creating the petal
{five} cut a small circle out of the felt and glue the bottom edge of four large petals onto it, creating the first layer
{six} glue the next layer of four large petals on top, continued by 2 separate layers of four small petals
{seven} create the bud by cutting three small circles of fabric. fold each into fours and glue in the center
{eight} glue the pin in back and voila!

*update to answer email q's* the necklaces above are from J.Crew Spring '10 and the white scarf is Banana Republic from last winter. Hope that helps!

Summer DIY - A Jute Twine Wreath

There is something about jute twine that I love. It's rustic, chic, and to be quite honest, I use it any chance I get. So, when I saw this DIY jute twine "summer wreath" tutorial by the always fabulous Emily at jones design company I just knew I had to give it a try. It was so simple, quick, and looks gorgeous in just about any spot in the house.

paper pom-pom flowers tutorial here

4th of July DIY: Mini Ribbon Flags

When I saw this gorgeous DIY via Style Me Pretty my heart skipped a beat. These ribbon flags are so simple, yet they're the perfect finishing touch to any dessert or platter at your gathering.

gather your materials: (1) a few pieces of striped, colored, and patterned ribbons (2) cake sticks - or swizzle sticks…straws…etc. (3) scissors

And voilà! Aren't they lovely?

photos by Jackie Wonders

DIY: A Flower Centerpiece

I've mentioned my love for picking up flowers at Farmer's Market numerous times, but I've yet to admit how I often play florist once home; trying my hardest mix-and-match all of the fresh stems into one cohesive, acceptable centerpiece. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not, but it's still fun none-the-less. This is a great, simple tutorial (found here) on how to make a modern centerpiece. Perfect for parties, weddings, or just your everyday table decor. I am eager to try this!

Tutorial found here
Photos by Chelsea Fuss