Letters and Nature

During these past few weeks, I've been busy making jewelry for the Artists' Market, searching for places to live in South Miami, and searching for jobs! My dear boyfriend and I are moving at the beginning of August, and these obligations leave me little time to blog! I did, however, stumble upon these beautiful rock magnets as I was busy being distracted at work today. I am extremely excited to decorate our new home and make it warm, natural, and welcoming. It's always great to get inspiration from other artists who make the most beautiful accents from nature. These are perfect if you have children, or if you're into leaving your housemate/significant other messages on the fridge! What an easy DIY craft! We live on lake superior and I always gather lake stones to make macrame necklaces, so I'm sure I have enough laying around in my back room to create these!

Rock Magnets

                                                              

Shine On- cheap and easy DIY Lights!

I've been addicted to DIY lights for some time now. Perfect lighting sets the ambiance and mood of a room, and what's better than creating beautiful lighting from recycled material? My idea of a perfect space is one that has dim lighting--even when I am studying or crafting, I enjoy the lights to be dim because I don't like feeling like I am an in some kind of interrogation room at a cop shop. As you've seen with the DIY lace lamp previously posted, it's possible to create your own light for not even a quarter of the cost that you would spend at stores such as Ikea, Pier One, World Market, or any home goods store.

I really enjoy these glowing outdoor orb lights because they're very ethereal and quaint, yet simple and unassuming. To create these beauties, you need a string of white christmas lights (or whichever color you prefer) and opaque glass shades, which can be found at any thrift store or home goods store. For a high end look that costs next to nothing, these lights should shine on in any garden!

 

For this project, all you in are: 

and 

Another set of lights that are very inexpensive and easy to make are egg carton flower lights from Esprit Caban. You can paint them any color and string them along your ceiling, behind your favorite chair, or above your bed for a relaxing glow!

This DIY recycled wine bottle light from Wit and Whistle is very creative and gives a feeling of nostalgia to winos alike! I think it is the perfect addition to a dimly lit kitchen. It brings back happy memories of the many cafes in Paris.

As an avid origami fan, I try to incorporate origami into my home decor whenever I see an opportunity! These box lights will make a great addition to any home! Use your imagination and add color and designs to these adorable string lights! All you need are lights and paper!

Candles are a good way to set a romantic mood. Candle chandeliers are an even better way to create a romantic mood without having to spend a lot of money. You can frost them with spray paint or leave them clear--place them on your patio or inside for a warm, festive setting!

I am in love with this eco friendly and eco chic chandelier from Ecologue.  This easy DIY can set the mood at a wedding or in the home!

 

These cupcake lights are an adorable and festive addition to a party or a child's room!

DIY Bird's Nest Pendants and Rings!

 One day, I was playing around with some silver wire and accidentally made a bird's nest pendant. I'd seen them in magazines and websites before and was always quite fond of them, so I was pretty elated when I discovered how effortless it is to make them. I think they are beautiful, simple, unique, and a perfect homage to spring and summer! I made one for my mom and roommate, and was asked by several friends to design some for them as well! As usual, I was happy to do so! I made a bird's nest wire wrap ring (which went to my mother) using glass pearls. I really admire the rings that have the speckled blue stones, similar to robins' eggs. I will have to make a trip to the local bead store sometime this week and make some with those!
Later in the week, I will post a DIY picture tutorial on how to make bird's nest rings and pendants.

 

 Here are some below from the web!

Silhouettes Inspiration!

 

 As the day of my big move comes closer, I find myself constantly going through a catalogue of apartment decor ideas in my head. I'm starting to become a little obsessed with silhouettes. They're so simple, yet they can really add a lot of personality to a room! They're very easy to make, so you can add this on your list of stylish DIY projects. There's something about silhouettes that's so sexy, classic, and bold. The simplicity is what makes a framed silhouette image stand out! After you're done creating your silhouette, frame it (bring out those thrift store frames!) and hang a bunch up on the walls! These also make perfect hand made gifts, and there are endless themes that you can create. I personally like the colored backgrounds, too!

Add Character to Sterile White Walls!

So I am sure all of you, at least once, has rented an apartment or house that was not allowed to be painted any color. I lived in a few places like that, and I couldn't stand coming home to those naked, ugly walls that were so sterile and unwelcoming. Luckily, there are many things you can do to lively up a boring space without the hassle of puncturing holes or secretly painting the place in hopes that the landlord won't notice.

First off, think MIRRORS! There's something about a room of mirrors that gives the area more space. You don't have to spend a lot of money, either-- go to the thrift store, pick out any mirror laying around, and go wild! Sand it, paint it, add sticks or fabric or stones! The possibilities are endless.

Tutorial

Another solution to bland white walls are wall decals. While you can find some rather inexpensive ones at Wal Mart, Target, or perhaps even the dollar store in the craft section, the larger ones will cost a little bit more. They're very easy to remove and won't leave any tacky residue on the walls. ChuckEByrd Wall Art, PedPed, and allwithwall are all etsy sellers with some very original wall decals for reasonable prices!

 
Here's another simple and fun DIY project to distract from the sterility of those walls--picture frames! They're easy to find, very inexpensive, and fun to reinvent! Thrift stores always have picture frames stacked high, and they're oftentimes overlooked because they're outdated and gaudy. White walls covered with various sizes of picture frames look effortless and original, and it's a good way to show off your photography, too!

                                                                                     

Another favorite wall decor of  mine are the fabric panel wall hangings. You can find them at Target, Pier One, Ikea, World Market.... they're usually very cute, but also very overpriced (come on... $40 for a set of three panels?) so why pay that much when you can DIY? You can get the fabric from your local fabric shop or cut it up from an old sheet, garment of clothing, or a thrift store find that is too bold to wear but would look great on the wall! Here is the DIY tutorial. 

 

DIY Lace Lamp shade = Less than $5 to Create!

As I made my way through the courses to complete my undergraduate degree, I realized two things-
1. I loved shopping and buying new things for my apartment.
2. I couldn't afford to do it all of the time.

As I full time student working part time and juggling the funds to pay for rent and "fun," I got frustrated when I'd walk through the aisles of Pier One and World Market and see 1,283,920 items that I wanted but couldn't afford at the moment. I'd see a couch from urban outfitters that totaled a whole month's worth of rent, or a mirror that added up to two week's worth of groceries.


To save some cash, I started doing a lot of DIY projects inspired by decor that I'd see in magazines and stores, and the results were very similar to the original piece in some cases.
When I went to France a few years ago, I recall passing a shop window that had a beautiful hanging lamp made of lace, and I really wanted it but assumed it was ridiculously expensive. It was one of those oh-wow-it's-so-cute-I'm-not-going-to-bother-looking-at-the-pricetag items.  It was still on my mind years later, and it wasn't until a few months ago that I found DIY lace lamp instructions somewhere on the web. It's SO easy and CHEAP to produce. ~salivates~

Constructing the lampshade is very simple--all you need is a balloon, Mod Podge (or Elmer's glue), lace doilies or a lace tablecloth (which can be purchased at a local thrift store for less than $2) and a pair of scissors.

The size of your lamp depends on the size of the balloon. If you go to the party store or perhaps even Target or Walmart, you can purchase singular balloons in various sizes (I personally prefer larger balloons).

All you have to do is:

1. Blow up the balloon to the desired size and tie it (beach balls also work for a very large lamp!)
2. Pour Mod Podge or glue into a blow and add a little bit of water so it's a little runny.
3. Dip neatly trimmed strips of lace into the solution and then cover the balloon with it.
4. Let it dry 
5. When it's fully dry, you're going to pop the balloon and the lace globe will hold it's form
6. Cut a small hole in the top of the globe so you can put the hanging light in it.
7. Voilà!

The same can be done with hemp or cotton string, which can be purchased at your local hardware or craft store. 

After learning about these, I've developed an obsession with DIY lamp fixtures, which will definitely shine bright in my next apartment. The best part is the beautiful and sultry shadow patterns that they make on the wall, making a perfectly quaint and intimate setting!~~~