{ Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category }

diy baby shower gift idea

It’s that time of year again – you know, April showers, spring flowers and all that jazz. The birds are back, the sun is shining and gardens are growing. And on the family front, bellies are getting bigger and additions are being made. The season of rebirth is also, it seems, all about birth… At least if you’re in my circle of my thirty-something friends.

So here’s an easy and inexpensive spring shower craft – inspired by the one and only Martha Stewart – that I adapted to welcome an old friend’s new baby.

 

IMG 7204 768x1024 diy baby shower gift idea

Bucket of joy for a bundle of joy!

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easy coffee table diy project

If you’re trying to decorate your home on a budget, DIY projects are often the way to make it happen. After desperately looking for the perfect coffee table for a few months, I couldn’t seem to find what I wanted at my price point. Living without a proper coffee table has its own set of challenges so it was time to find a solution. I stumbled upon a great roundup that listed a variety of ideas to embellish IKEA furniture on Apartment Therapy – I was immediately sold!
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diy holiday decor

The holidays are a perfect time to try out a few DIY projects: they are usually inexpensive, creative and allow you to really achieve the holiday look that suits your style. The first DIY project I’m sharing with you couldn’t be more simple but I find that it adds a simple and festive touch and makes you look forward to having the rest of your house decorated. It all begins with a re-purposed glass jar, pretty labels and some painted pine cones.

DIY holidaydecor diy holiday decor
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diy grid paneling

I’ve always loved paneling, especially grid paneling. It seems to elevate a home by adding depth, class and interest. But as many of us already know, it can be pricey!

Lately, I’ve been inspired by so many beautiful rooms out there that I had to try it myself. But to do it in a way that would cut the cost, not the impact! Here’s what I came up with.

grid10 1024x682 diy grid paneling

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trend: dipped is in…

I’ve been seeing this trend popping up everywhere I turn. It’s a fun and fresh way to add a splash of colour and contrast to your furniture and accessories.

dipped is in trend: dipped is in...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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vintage mason jars diy

If you’re like me, you probably love the beautiful colours of vintage glass. I’m not a big antiques collector, but I do happen to love old mason jars. So simple, yet so beautiful. Especially the ones that have gorgeous blue and green tones! However, they can be pricey or hard to find.

mason14 460x306 vintage mason jars diy

Here’s a great DIY project for creating them yourself! Spaghetti jars never looked so good!

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upholstery up-cycled artwork

A wood board, that was lying around my apartment and taking up space, was given new life with an easy peas-y upholstery up-cycle project!

Floral DIY Art011 upholstery up cycled artwork Read the rest of this entry »

unique vases

The other day I came across a box of discarded tarnished silverware in front of a neighbour’s house. I couldn’t resist picking out three little pieces to bring home to try and bring back to life.

sah unique vases

The bucket was my favourite item - I love finding little pieces like this that will work as a vase. I think it adds much interest to an arrangement.

sah unique vases

I cut some peonies from my garden and delivered it to my Mom. icon smile unique vases  The dark spots on the bucket are still showing, even after a lot of elbow grease but I think they add beautiful patina to my free, cardboard box find. Just always keep your eyes open for fun things like this, that will work as vases throughout your house. xo Lindsay

Lindsay Stephenson is our guest blogger who has her eye on all things fabulous in Toronto. When not scouting out the coolest stores and the fabbest finds in the city, Lindsay runs a graphic design business (Penny People Designs) and blogs about her life and home decorating projects on Aubrey & Lindsay’s Little House Blog.

diy floral arrangements

Two years ago, my husband and I had a wonderfully small and intimate wedding in the backyard of my parent’s house. Due to the fact that the day we chose was the busiest wedding date of the year, and that we planned the whole thing in only a few months, there were no florists available. My mum, who has always had a keen design eye and a crafty nature, decided she could take on the task herself. She went to her favourite florist, Sweet Violets, ordered all the flowers and asked a few questions. From there she got to work, designing and executing all of the floral arrangements for the big day.

I asked her to disclose her method for anyone who might be interested in creating their own floral arrangements – whatever the occasion!

For the small arrangements that would be used at the dinner, she cut out a circle of sheer, green organza and pulled it around a small glass vase, using a piece of cream-coloured organza ribbon around the neck to secure it. She trimmed ten ‘super green roses’ and arranged them in the vase tightly, like a bouquet:

dinnerfloral diy floral arrangements

For the larger arrangements used in the ceremony, she ordered green spider mums, green al chamilla, white dahlia, white hydrangea, decorative cabbages and a collection of filler greens. She took 1 ft tall vases and made a grid on the opening using floral tape. First, she filled the grid with the greens, packing them tightly. She arranged the large hydrangea and cabbage and then filled in the rest of the vase using the spider mums, freesia, dahlia and al chamilla:

ceremonyfloral2 diy floral arrangements

ceremonyfloral diy floral arrangements

entry diy floral arrangements

ceremony diy floral arrangements

What do you guys think? Anyone have any great tips for creating your own floral arrangements?

how to paint wall stripes

There’s really not a whole lot that I don’t love about our June 2011 issue. It’s so bright and fresh and filled with amazing decorating ideas. And that cover? Oy. Our design editors amaze me on a daily basis.

dressing room how to paint wall stripes

One interior I particularly fell in love with was the high/low feature of the dressing room. I mean, what woman wouldn’t love to come home after a long day and get changed while surrounded by a sea of Tiffany blue? The stripes are what really stand out in the room, and you can get the look with paint instead of buying pricey wallpaper. Contributing design editor Christine Hanlon gives her top 6 tips for painting perfect wall stripes.

paint stripes how to paint wall stripes

1 Pick your colours. Aim for high contrast hues, advises Christine.

2 Use high quality painter’s tape. It will ensure less bleeding and smudges as well as avoid bubbles.

3 Paint the full wall in the lighter of your chosen colours.

4 Measure the width of your entire wall and divide into equal parts to determine the width of your darker-coloured stripes.

5 Use a pencil to mark each stripe at the top and bottom of the wall.

6 Place the tape on the outside of your markings for each dark-coloured stripe.

Paint colours: Cabbage White 269, Arsenic 214; Farrow & Ball.
{Photography by Nina Texeira}

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