CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

DIY: Paper-Covered Pens

casasugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:30:57 -0800

I just came across this great tutorial for making paper-covered pens that would make a fun and affordable stocking stuffer for the holidays, so I thought I'd share. You most likely will have all of the supplies in your home, so this DIY is certainly budget beautiful! All you'll need is some clear ballpoint pens, scissors, a ruler or paper trimmer, pliers, double-sided tape, and some scraps of thin paper (try magazine or wrapping paper). To learn the steps,

How-To: Make a Popcorn Tray From a Netflix Envelope

casasugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:30:06 -0700

If you're a Netflix member like Yours Truly, you've probably got a smattering of red envelopes lying around your house. And not the romantic, love-professing kind from your sexy valentine. Although, who knows, maybe you have both! In any case, there's a way you can put that tear-off slip of paper to good use without just sending it to the recycling bin, or heaven forbid, the trash!
Using ancient origami techniques, you can transform that petit papier into a tray to hold your popcorn while you're weeping over The Notebook (Netflix's ninth most popular film). All you'll need is your hands and the tear-off Netflix flap. To learn the steps,

Casa Verde: Poo-Pourri and Sheep Poo Paper

casasugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Spotted on Re-Nest, Creative Paper Wales is a Wales-based craft paper mill that makes paper and air fresheners from sheep poo! No, you didn't misread that, from poo! Sheep Poo Paper is made by collecting the finest, freshest sheep poo in Snowdonia and "just about anything else [they] can think of that has good-length cellulose fibers in it," sterilizing it in a pressure cooker, washing it repeatedly, reducing it to a pulp, and then using traditional papermaking techniques to turn it into paper — without the use of any trees. Poo-Pourri ($2.93), made with this paper, is the world's first air freshener made with, um, poop, and uses an innovative Wave 'n' Waft folded fragrance technology that infuses the air with a scent (daffodil, fresh-cut grass) the more you wave it around. How about that? I'm truly impressed. What could be next? Recycled paper from trees is sooo last season, isn't it?

Before and After: Bistro Table

casasugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:00:52 -0700

Inspired by this table, I decided to give my white bistro table a bit of a makeover. I liked the table as is, and liked my Saarinen Tulip-esque chairs as is, but the white on white was looking a bit bland (especially with the bare walls and floor). But clearly, I'd never think about covering my beautiful chairs in paper. So, I scooted over my to favorite local craft resource and picked up some decorative paper, along with some clear contact paper from the hardware store. To see the results,

Before and After: Why Paper Companies Are Cool

casasugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:00:31 -0700

At first glance, these images look like they might be a snapshot of Michael Scott's office, or perhaps any mundane office space across America. But, you'll soon see that this table of office supplies is actually a trompe l'oeil of sorts, and there's more fun to it than the boxes of printer paper reveal. Can you guess what's hiding behind them? To find out,

Before and After: Pirouettes Redux

casasugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:15:33 -0700

With a Pirouttes tin left over from my gingerbread house project, and decorative paper left over from my Ikea hack, as well as some scissors and rubber cement, I revived something with a brief shelf life. To see my cookie jar redux,

Before and After: Bye Bye Aneboda

casasugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:15:44 -0700

This Ikea Aneboda Chest ($49.99) is pretty basic and nondescript, and its transparent drawer fronts are borderline, if not definitely, tacky. But, its three drawers are the perfect size for my knick-knacks. I pulled off a transformation of the chest that's more my style in under 10 minutes, with only three supplies. To see and hear about the results,

Weird Furniture: Kraft Paper Softseating

casasugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:00:49 -0700

Molo's Softseating ($130- $2,390) is made entirely from kraft paper with 50% recycled content. The paper is cut into a honeycomb-like structure that flexes to fan open into stools, benches and loungers. Not only is it flexible, it's versatile and compact; you can compress it like a book for easy storage. It was also recently acquired by the New York MOMA for their permanent collection. I can see the appeal of Softseating in a public space — it's fun, eye-catching, and memorable. But would you want this in your home?