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Archive for the ‘Tuesday How-Tos’ Category

DIY How To | Make your own coasters

Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, My portfolio, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , on August 30, 2012 | 5 Comments »

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I’ve been meaning to try this out for awhile now!

Ryan and I love to collect vintage and antique furniture, but part of the problem with that is it needs to be carefully cared for, ie. get coasters. Rather than buying some I wasn’t really all that in love with, though, I thought I might as well just put some fabric scraps to use and make my own. I’m always getting pretty fabric from Goodwill to use in my Etsy shop, and I hate to throw out the tiny pieces that are left after I’m done, so this was the perfect solution. Here’s how I made my coasters…

For supplies you’ll need: Cork board, Mod Podge, a paintbrush, a pencil, scissors, something circular to trace like a cup, fabric scraps, and about fifteen minutes!

First step | Make sure that the cup you chose is wide enough so it will cover the entire bottom of the cups, mugs, or steins that you will be setting on them. I turned this teacup over and used the mouth of it to trace since that’s bigger. Trace as many circles as you want coasters onto your fabric scraps with your marking tool.Second step | Carefully cut out the circles of fabric that you just traced.Third step | Trace and cut the same number of circles into your cork board.Fourth step | One at a time, cover one side of the coaster with a generous amount of Mod Podge. You’ll want it to seep up through the fabric a little, so don’t be shy about your application! Diluted Elmer’s glue might do the trick, too!Fifth step | Place the fabric circles one at a time over the Mod Podge and press firmly so the glue comes through. Make sure you press over every part of the coaster, including the edges so they don’t come up after the rest of it has dried.For some fabrics this may be all the Mod Podge you need (my stripes were fine with just this amount!), but with others you may need to apply another layer of glue on top of the fabric after this first application has dried – such was the case with my floral fabric. So, wait for it to dry just from pressing and test the fabric to see how well it is stuck to the cork board before assessing whether you’ll need to add more.
Sixth step | Let dry! My striped coasters were dry after only a few hours, but the floral ones needed a little longer to dry. Every type of fabric will absorb the glue and dry differently, so just pay attention to yours to see what it needs.

Pretty easy, right? You may also need to trim up the edges of the fabric with scissors if it hangs over the edge a bit. Make sure you wait until it’s completely dry and all of your layers of glue have been added before you do this! Have fun with it!Thanks for stopping by! I hope your scrap pile got a little smaller and I would love to hear your small project ideas for fabric pieces. Even after making these coasters I still have two clementine boxes full of them just waiting to be given life. Think you’ll give this project a try? I’d love to see how yours turn out!

Oh, yes, and these would make great housewarming gifts!

xx.

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Functional home decor: clipboard remakes!

Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, My portfolio, Social Consciousness, Tuesday How-Tos, Upcycling, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , on June 16, 2012 | 8 Comments »

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I always like to pass along links to my Goodwill posts,

just in case you missed them. And another of my posts went live yesterday! So, if you are as inspired by office supplies as I am, you may want to take a look at this one. I share a couple of cute ideas of how you can use a clipboard at home for not-so-official tasks and spruce up some wall space in the process!

Hope you’re well!

xx.

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Chalkboard Clipboard | DIY How-To

Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, My portfolio, Tuesday How-Tos, Upcycling, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , on March 21, 2012 | 10 Comments »

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Here’s an idea: a clipboard turned chalkboard!

Sometimes I need to jot a little note to my honey accompanying the grocery list or some similar document. I decided to paint a clipboard with chalkboard paint the other day so we can quickly and easily communicate on our busiest days. Voila! A message board complete with a clip to hold things in place!

One of my resolutions for Valentine’s Day was to write Ryan more love notes throughout the year, and this will be a fun way to do so. We both work long shifts over the weekend, and it sometimes feels like we only briefly bump into each other from Friday to Monday, so with a little clipboard like this we can remind one another to pay bills, pick something up at the market, or return our movies even if we don’t see each other! Here’s how to make one for your home:

You’ll need to fasten back the clip { or disassemble it } so the paint underneath has time to dry. I used a thick twine to keep it in place, but a lot of things could work. Just make sure that whatever you use is sturdy enough to hold for two days and you’ll be set! I purchased this twine at the hardware store, the clipboard is thrifted from Goodwill and the chalkboard paint is from The Merchant Company here in Portland.

I painted three coats on, letting each one dry for at least an hour in between. Every paint will most likely have slightly different directions, so I’d make sure to read them before starting just in case they differ from the instructions mine gave.

Waiting for it to be completely dry is definitely the hardest part. I was so eager to get this puppy up and start using it today! I can’t wait to see how we’ll use it in the future. It has so much possibility. I’d love to see what you come up with if you should decide to give the project a try yourself! There are so many different colours available in chalkboard paint these days, and there are even instructions online of how you can make it yourself!

Have so much fun!

xx.

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Blackberry // Rosemary // Honey Cocktail | DIY How-To

Posted in Good Eats, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , , , on March 11, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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We call it Berry Picking In The Woods.

It’s a cocktail our friend Kaylon developed for my mid-century camping themed ModSwap last month, and it was such a crowd pleaser then that I’ve decided to make it again to share with you! Try it out for your next hosting event, or just for a Friday night at home. Here’s what you’ll need:

We used 2 bags of frozen blackberries, two generous squirts of honey, plain soda water, and four sprigs of rosemary in the original recipe. Kaylon suggests Beefeater gin because of its especially pine-y taste, but we’ve just got Gordon’s here and it’s quite tasty. Make sure you have a medium sized pot, a fine strainer, a stirring spoon, a shaker { we just used a mason jar }, gin, and some ice, as well. Now you’re ready to get started!

You’re done with the cooking part! The rest is easy - ha! After transferring your berry syrup into a container of some sort, you may begin mixing the drink to enjoy.

A mason jar will work just perfectly in place of a real drink shaker. We haven’t got one, so we just make do, but it’s great to have tools + utensils that serve a dual purpose anyway. One day we’re storing soup in our mason jar, the next day we’re mixing drinks in it!

We didn’t have any soda water tonight, so Ryan + I just had the berry syrup and gin. He thought it was actually even better because the flavours were more pronounced! Play around with it to see how you like it, and any time you’re in Portland look up my friend Kaylon { the creator of the cocktail } who cooks at 555!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx.

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Painted Snow | DIY How-To

Posted in New Hampshire, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , , , on March 10, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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What could be more exciting than a gigantic white canvas?

In fact, that’s what a fresh blanket of snow is to me! My Mom came up with this idea when I was little, and I spent the rest of the day outside “painting” the house that I had made for myself out of snow! I made short walls to encompass my little home, then built chairs, beds, + tables out of snow, painting them as my mother had showed me to reveal a very colourful little snow den!

Here’s what you’ll need for supplies:

Step 1 | Drop two drops of your desired colour into the spray bottle. Step 2 | Fill all the way up with water. Step 3 | Swirl around until the colour is evenly mixed in. Step 4 | Set bottle to the mist setting. Step 5 | Paint the biggest picture of your life!

I’d love to see your finished product!

xx.

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The Perfect Cup of Cocoa | How-To

Posted in Good Eats, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , , , on March 1, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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It’s been snowing madly in New England for almost 24 hours.

I couldn’t be happier! Maybe it’s because I don’t have to shovel or maybe it’s because I don’t have to drive. But while others grump + groan about our winter weather, I simply adore it. It’s so beautiful to look outside and see swirls of white dancing about in the air, and the hermit in me secretly loves the fact that I will be discouraged to leave the house today. So, in celebration of this weather, I thought I’d share with you our recipe for the most perfect cup of cocoa you will ever enjoy. It’s super easy! Gather your plain cocoa powder, milk, honey, vanilla extract, and even a dash of salt, and get ready to warm up from the inside out.

Also, marshmallows are always a good idea. I’ve been vegetarian for four years, but I still occasionally find myself eating marshmallows. They’re my only animal-product weakness! Usually I’m alright in the winter { except for when I have hot cocoa }, but once summer campfires roll around I just have to give in!

While it’s warming, add just a dash of salt to bring out all of the flavours. You don’t have to heat it for very long, and I always make sure that it doesn’t come to a boil. Just bring it up to temperature by watching for it to steam. If you’re not sure whether it’s warm enough, dip in a spoon to find out!

I just know that Dumbledore would be proud. I also firmly believe that the quality of your finished product depends heavily on the quality of your ingredients. Enjoy this cup of cocoa knowing that you have put only whole/simple ingredients into it and that you’re not getting any “fillers” or preservatives that would be included in many store bought mixes.

Let me know what you think!

xx.

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Rolling Clothes Rack | DIY How-To

Posted in Home Decor, Style, Tuesday How-Tos, Upcycling, tagged , , , , , on February 26, 2012 | 4 Comments »

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When I saw Kate’s rolling coat rack DIY, I just knew I had to give it a try.

My honey and I spent longer looking for the parts in the hardware store than we did putting this together as a pre-Valentine’s Day project. It truly was very simple and I was able to take plenty of photos of him constructing it because it turned out to be pretty much a one person job. Once it was finished, it came in incredibly handy — especially when I hosted my ModSwap! Here are some more photos of the rack that I couldn’t keep to myself any longer:

We plan on eventually painting the whole thing one solid colour { like Kate did to hers }, but we’ll probably go with a surf green or a yellow rather than something as bright as is in the tutorial. Tax return time is definitely a good time for this project seeing as plumbing pipe is pretty expensive. Although it seems like it would be, this is not a budget project unless you happen to have these bits + pieces already hanging around your garage or workshop.

As you can see, we’ve already put it to several different uses. I’m not quite sure what purpose the rack will hold in the future, but I love having it around. The wheels make it super easy to move about, and I can’t wait to get this baby painted! If you decide to give the tutorial a try, I’d love to see how yours turns out!

Happy building!

xx.

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Clothespin Refrigerator Magnets | DIY How-To

Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, My portfolio, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , on February 8, 2012 | 2 Comments »

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There’s no rule that says your fridge face has to look messy.

I love the look of a structured aesthetic and where better to practice this than the refrigerator? It’s a focal point of every kitchen, so I thought I’d work a little at redoing mine. Today I spent some time decorating clothespins and adding a magnetic strip to the back so I could further organize my kitchen space. This was a great way to use up some of my tiny fabric scraps that are leftovers from various sewing projects, and it hardly took any time at all.

I tried a couple of different methods out. The one that worked the best was washi tape. It’s super simple to apply and sticks well without any drying time. You can get lots of different patterns and colours online, on Etsy, or in paper supply stores. I’ve had mine for about a year now and I use it all the time.

Since I really wanted to vary my clothespins and use up some of my fabric scraps, I also mixed some glue with a little bit of water to make a sort of a mod podge with which to apply some fabric. This was a little more trying since it took drying time and more attention to detail, but I’m pleased with the overall look of the clothespins.

As for the magnetic backing. I had a big sheet of it left over from when I made polaroid images into magnets, so I traced the shape of the clothespin onto that and trimmed it carefully. Some magnetic sheets are self-adhesive, but mine was not so I affixed it quickly with hot glue.

I love the versatility of these magnetic clips! So far I’ve got some photos, a post card, and a nightly checklist hanging with them, but I’m excited to do more in the future! I thought about changing out images, newspaper clippings, and lists as needed { even according to the seasons! }. I know they’re really just the same as regular old magnets, but somehow they seem like a lot more fun!

I also considered mod podge-ing magazine clippings onto the clothespins, but never got around to it. If you decide to give it a try, I’d love to see what you come up with. I bet there are plenty of amazing variations to be thought up, too! Have fun making your house a home.

Good night, all!

xx.

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Jar Dispenser | DIY How-To

Posted in Crafting, Environmental Consciousness, Home Decor, Tuesday How-Tos, Upcycling, tagged , , , , on January 15, 2012 | 2 Comments »

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Ryan wowed me with this honey jar turned lotion dispenser!

And I immediately knew I had to share it with you all. This is a fun way to fancy up your lotions or hand soaps, and could be made with any jar — jelly, honey, or mason! Don’t you just love the quaint look of it?

The whole process only took Ryan about 15 minutes. And most of that was measuring. Step 1 // He looked carefully at the circumference of the screw-on section of the pump { which we removed from a lotion container that we had at home }, and centered a sketch of that measurement on the lid of the jar.  Step 2 // He cut that circle out of the jar lid and inserted the plastic pump. Step 3 // He used a strong glue to keep the lid firmly attached to the pump.

After that was all set, there was but one thing to do: fill ‘er up! I decided to put lotion in because we prefer bar soap to liquid hand soap. But, it’s totally up to you. You could even use it for hand sanitizer! And decorating your jar with indelible ink or paints isn’t out of the question either! Get creative!

This is also an eco-friendly option for those who buy in bulk. Getting large containers of soap, lotion, and hand sanitizer is not only cheaper in the long run, but you’re also consuming less packaging and making a slightly smaller effect on the planet. Buy a big jug of your choice product, then stash it under the sink and fill up this tiny jar from the big one.

I love the look it adds to my boring counter top, too. I hate this whole tile/faucet combo, but since we’re renters we have little control over the appliances and counters. At least by adding little touches like this, it makes the space feel a little more like home.

Have fun crafting!

xx.

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A Bow Tie Display | DIY How-To

Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, My portfolio, Tuesday How-Tos, tagged , , , , , on January 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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I’ve been making a lot of bow ties lately.

So, naturally, I had to come up with a way to display them. The modern gentleman that I envision will most like my ties probably also likes the rustic aesthetic { if he’s anything like Ryan + friends }. Thus, the twig bow tie holder is born!

It was so easy to make this — took me about 15 minutes. I stopped by the park to gather up some sticks, got my hot glue gun ready with plenty of spare glue sticks, and borrowed Ryan’s pocket knife to use the saw option. Once I was set up at the table with some newspaper under my work space, the process was easy!

I cut all of the sticks up into equal lengths with the saw, then starting with the biggest ones I hot glued them together. I added more and more to the outside until I had used up all of my sticks and was satisfied with the size. The stick bundle on its own could be a neat display piece if you wrapped a length of twine or burlap around part of it. I bet you could even fit a tea light in the top if you cut the middle sticks a half inch or so shorter than the rest!

Ties will be up in my shop this week for purchase if you have someone in mind! I’ve given them out to a few of our friends here, and the reactions have been very gratifying.

See you again tomorrow!

xx.

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