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Before and After: From Dull to Punk

casasugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:15:43 -0800

For some home decorators, music is a way of life, and that means that music must become a part of their home decorating scheme. Take Craftster member Anarchy_Onions for example. As you'll see, she isn't shy about incorporating her musical tastes into her home. I love it when people have a definite idea about what they like and dislike, so I admire Anarchy_Onions's moxie!

Anarchy_Onions started off with this plain-Jane dresser.
To see how she switched it up,

How-To: Make Your Own Cardboard iPhone Dock

geeksugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:50 -0800

I was a little irritated when Apple didn't include a dock for the iPhone 3G. That, the $30 price tag, and general laziness are the reasons I still haven't bought one. I've been able to improvise when I need one, but these DIY instructions on how to make your own cardboard iPhone dock have made my day.

Get your cardstock or thin cardboard, download the provided (free) PDF, and watch the video to make your own too. The other perk besides the whole free thing? The design possibilities are endless — I'm already perusing the pretty cardstock at Paper Source!

Source

A Three-Ingredient Softening Scrub For Dishpan Hands

bellasugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:00:33 -0800

If you did a lot of cooking over the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm sure you did a lot of dishes. And if you did a lot of dishes, I'm sure your hands are feeling the effects. Even if you weren't scrubbing away, the cooler months often produce dry hands that need some extra TLC. So, if you're looking for an easy do-it-yourself treatment, I learned this great combo while holiday shopping at an Aveda store last year.

In your hands, mix the following, work in for an invigorating massage, and rinse away: about a quarter-sized amount of Hand Relief ($19), a scoop of Soothing Aqua Therapy ($28.50) bath salts, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Currently, I'm really digging Patchouli Oil ($13). Psst — you can use drugstore ingredients, too. The results are still luxurious. Aaah.

Source

How-To: Make a Simple Thanksgiving Garland

casasugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:45:47 -0800

If your family is anything like mine at Thanksgiving, there are likely a few kids running underfoot who'd love a planned activity. That's why this Thanksgiving leaf garland is so perfect: it gives kids a meaningful task, and is a quick enough project that you can make it before turkey hits the table.

Here's What You'll Need

This leaf template
Colored paper/construction paper
Twine, yarn, or string
Scissors
Double-sided tape
Pens or Pencils

To find out how to make it,

Let's Get Crafty! DIY Place Card Holders

partysugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:40:05 -0800

Let's Get Crafty! DIY Place Card Holders Even when it's just my family at Thanksgiving, I always find it fun to seat everyone by using place card holders. They are simply festive and make it feel more like a holiday.

Cool Idea: Soda Tab Table Lamp

casasugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:09 -0800

Craftster member Tashaduckman recently shared a very cool upcycled project. She writes, "We had to make a lamp for class using a recycled material . . . for some crazy reason, I chose to use pop tabs. It took forever, but here it is! I call it the tree hugger:"
She used almost 500 soda tabs to make the tree light, and as you might imagine, it took her quite a while to construct it! The tree is woven together with ribbon and wire to maintain its shape. I love the way the light plays through the metallic trunk. Have you tried to make any creative upcycled projects like this?
Source

A Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gift: Pillbox Lip Palette

bellasugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:39 -0800

What's bigger than a breadbox — er, pillbox? Why, a pillbox filled with some awesome lipstick shades — all chosen by you, of course. If you're on a budget for the holidays, why not go the route of DIY by making friends and family their own lipstick palettes?

Here's what you'll need:

A pillbox — Try this festive green Inventures Product Pill Box ($4.99) or head over to your local drugstore to seek out varieties that cost even less.
Inexpensive lipsticks — Seven or more, depending on how customized you want to get and how many palettes you want to gift. Pick a few neutral colors and some bold or unexpected ones, too. I recommend NYC lipsticks or Wet 'n' Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks ($1.16). Try to choose colors that fit your friend's own unique personality and shades that correspond with days of the week. Saturday deserves a bold red, don't you think?
A cutting object — A butter knife will do.
A microwave — To melt the lipsticks down.

To see how to make 'em,

Thanksgiving DIY Ideas

casasugar — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:30:23 -0800

When it comes to what's in the oven on Thanksgiving day, most of us will be keeping our hands busy, be it with a 25-pound bird or an easy green bean casserole. But that do-it-yourself attitude needn't only to apply to the eats: there are other things on the table that could use some of that same homemade finesse. To learn some ways you can DIY your Thanksgiving décor this year, check out this slideshow! Source

Cool Idea: Frank Lloyd Wright in Thread

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:30:37 -0800

Craftster member PencilNeck's embroidery creativity has bowled me over. She made this embroidery of a Frank Lloyd Wright blueprint as a Christmas gift for a family member who works with architectural design. She embroidered almost exclusively with backstitching for the project, and found blue floss to match the blueprint color.

For more images of this project, including her cool Frank Lloyd Wright signature,

Before and After: Thrifted Headboards Get Glam Update

casasugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:30:44 -0800

When Country Living editors Larry Bilotti and Robin Long Mayer discovered twin headboards at a garage sale, they grabbed them for $10 total, with the idea of transforming them into something new. Taking a cue from the indented panel in the headboard's design, they brainstormed ways to highlight this feature.

To see what they did,