Paper clip chains

Tags

chain, diy, magazineart, paperclips, room decor

Setting:

The past three years of college, various apartments

Characters:

Me, BFF Lauren, various roomies

Plot:

This decoration was first created years ago by myself and my BFF.  We took what seemed like a million paperclips, linked them together, and then wrapped them with strips of colorful magazine (with tape to hold the strip).  Throughout the years and my many moves the pattern of chains has changed.  They started off hung in descending length order along the stairs.  At the next apartment they made a nice front door decoration hanging in random length order.  Finally, they are hung on my wall in this fashion.  Easy project, with lots of mileage!

-R

Sun Jars

Tags

diy, garden, outside decor, solar light, sunjar

Setting: A sunny day in Denver

Characters: Myself and some sunshine

Plot: So Urban Outfitters sells these super fun solar jars for $45 each. They say things like “Sunshine is free!” “Collect it for later!” on the box. Awesome, but expensive. I thought they would be so perfect to have on my deck at camp, and knew there must be a way to diy them for a more affordable price. There are a few online tutorials on how to make your own (like this one), and after reading a few I just kind of winged it.

Buy some $3 solar garden lights from Lowes. Take them apart and cut the top down so that it can fit snugly in the lid of a jar. I bought mine from World Market, but I’m sure you could find some at Goodwill or something. Many of the tutorials call for frosting the glass, and I tried that, but thought the light looked too cold. I wanted some nice warm sunshine. I took to handy Modge Podge and some orange and yellow tissue paper and kind of “stain glassed” the outside of the jar. I was sure to spray them with sealant afterwards so they would hold up on my deck at camp.

I really love them!

-H

Toilet Paper Roll Wreath?

Tags

diy, toilet paper roll, wreath

 

Setting: My birthday week, Bonefish Grill

Characters: People who think I am crazy but love me enough to save their toilet paper rolls for me, or not judge me when I steal them from the Bonefish Grill bathroom because I only NEEDED like THREE more!

Plot: Everyone at camp knows to save the toilet paper rolls. WHY THROW THEM AWAY? Hello free crafty bus supplies? I have a crate of them sitting in my office. This wreath is the latest of my toilet paper roll adventures. I made it at the end of February, and was able to finish by finding three empty rolls at my birthday dinner at Bonefish Grill. My friends thought I was nuts, but it was my birthday so they let it slide.

Cut the rolls into thirds, then cut the thirds into spirals. Hot glue them into flower-ish things on a foam wreath form. Spray paint white, add some buttons and extra details, and viola! Spring-tastic wreath.

-H

Plarn Grocery Bag

Tags

diy, grocery bag, knitting, plarn, tote bag

Setting: Well, a long time ago. Maybe in Michigan?

Characters: Me and a lot of plastic bags

Plot: Remember that plarn tutorial from a while ago? Well, the reason I posted it was because I was hard at work, knitting plarn into a reusable grocery bag. Somehow, it never made it on the blog. After using it several times, I will admit that the plastic does stretch quite a bit, BUT it is surprisingly strong and can hold quite a bit of weight! Plus, you get lots of nice compliments in the check out line — I swear one time the employee had to show the whole store before she could finish putting my groceries inside.

Maxi Skirt

Tags

clothing, diy, fashion, maxi skirt, sewing, sewing project, style, yoga style

Setting: Warm weather spell in Denver — getting excited for a little mission trip to Honduras at the end of the week!

Characters: My beautiful friends Talene and Katie, plus Madonna (Talene’s sewing machine), and some dogs

Plot: While dog sitting for some friends, I invited Talene and Katie over for some sewing fun! Talene was so kind to bring her sewing machine (and even let me borrow it when I didn’t finish my skirt), Madonna.

This being my first major sewing project, I am happy with the results! I didn’t follow one exact pattern, but I wouldn’t have figured it out without help from my friends and these tutorials online: this one and this one. Attaching the waistband meant sewing with elastic thread in my machine, and that was the trickiest part to figure out.

I love the fabrics, LOVE the yoga style waistband, and the best part is its reversible! It will be a great addition to my summer @ camp wardrobe, and I am excited to rock this skirt in Roatan this upcoming week!

-H