Welcome to the easiest DIY project ever! Step one: order a set of 48 miniprints from Printstagram. Step two: arrange photos into a heart shape. Step three: tape/glue photos to cardboard (or like me, use two sides of a cereal box). Step four: attach twine with tape. Step five: hang on a nail.
$12 and 30 minutes later, ta-da! A perfect instagram display (in real life). Enjoy!
A few months ago, I met up with some girlfriends to go garage sale-ing. We grabbed coffee and strolled around East Sacramento, chatting and hunting for treasures. I picked up a few books, a picture frame, and this chair;
It was, most certainly, a nothing waiting to be turned into a something. With a fresh coat of paint and some new fabric, my bedroom now has a pretty addition…
Ta-da! Fun fact: this chair was built in 1926, the same year the Cal Western Life Insurance building was built, which is now the ever so glamorous Citizen Hotel, which is where I work! Good times.
As some of you may recall, my dear grandparents are borderline hoarders. And I mean that in the most loving way possible, especially after I left their house last month with a car full of treasures. During our visit, we also stumbled across a few boxes full of old photographs, postcards, and (drumroll please…) report cards! How is it possible that my grandmother kept more school documentation than I did? I loved looking through those old boxes and before we left, I grabbed a few tokens to keep for myself. A couple weeks ago I picked up a $1 bulletin board from Goodwill, lined it with ribbon, and made myself a little vintage family board….
{ this last one is my favorite….I’m such a heathen…. }
If you have a grandparent home to raid, old papers and photos make a pretty timeless collection. If not, you can also purchase vintage scraps (like these) from Etsy. Have you made anything lately?
Last month while treasure hunting, I came across this little gem at Thrift Town for a whopping $2.99. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I knew I could I could turn it into something lovely…
I grabbed some leftover paint, tiny hooks, twine, a few baby clothespins, and voila! Instant instax display:
Now I just need more instax film because I am fresh out. Santa??
Welp, Brett and I had fabulous plans to spend Saturday at Apple Hill, until he learned he was going to have to work ALL weekend to finish a project by Monday. And when I say all weekend, I mean he woke up, planted his butt in front of the computer, and didn’t leave (except to get food) for thirteen hours. BOTH DAYS.
While some wives would have thrown a tantrum, I practiced my self control and decided to choose joy instead. If I was going to be stuck at home all weekend with a working hermit of a husband, I would at least be productive.
And productive I was.
I cleaned the entire house (even the kitchen sink and stove, gross), did all the laundry, washed my makeup brushes, cleaned out my hair accessory drawer (yes, I have a whole drawer for this), organized my shoes, baked banana bread, ordered our Christmas cards, went to Lowes all by myself to find hardware for my craft projects (I didn’t even ask for help!!), annnnnnd, made this fabulous little earring display for a friend who loves jewels. Ta-da!
So, next time you’re at home with a hermit husband, or just home alone, you can turn on some Christmas tunes and make one of these in about 45 minutes.
Supplies:
-Small wooden box or thick picture frame (I found mine at Thrift Town for $0.75!)
-Paint
-Pretty fabric
-Lace (optional)
-Thin cardboard, or if you like to improvise like me, a cereal box
-Ruler
-Fabric adhesive, modpodge, or tape (any will work)
-(4) 1/2 inch eyelet hooks
-Invisible cord or super fine wire
-Pliers
Steps:
1) Paint your box. Brett and I had a ton of leftover paint samples after recently painting our downstairs, so that’s what I used. Craft paint will work just as well.
2) Measure the inside dimensions of your box and cut the cardboard to match, less 1/8 of an inch or so. I didn’t have any plain cardboard so I improvised with Brett’s cereal box. I also ate ALL of the honey nut cheerios as a snack while I worked, but that’s totally optional.
3) Wrap the fabric around the cardboard and secure with glue or tape. If you’re using a cereal box, make sure the plain side is behind the fabric. We don’t need any Tony the Tigers making an appearance.
4) Once the paint is dry, pop the backing into the wood and push down firmly. It should fit nice and tight with no need for glue or additional adhesive. I added a lace strip to mine to give it a little something extra.
5) Screw the eyelet hooks in, two on each side about three inches apart. I used a hammer and nail to start the hole, and then screwed the hooks in with pliers.
6) Tie a tight knot in the cord and loop it over the first hook. Keeping the knot around the hook, tie a second knot in the middle of the cord and use your fingers to slide it over tightly to the other side. Loop the second knot over the other hook and make sure the cord is tight.
Tip: Screw the hooks in about 75% of the way before attaching the cord as tight as you can. Once the cord is attached, finish turning the hooks as tight as they will go, which will tighten the cord as well.
And there you go! Pretty room decor + earring holder = fabulous handmade gift. The whole project costs less than $7.00 and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Add a little Christmas tag, and it’s ready for a new home…
Are you making any gifts this year? I usually do about half and half, but would love some more ideas….
