I scavenged all the blogs for great DIY ideas to add to my to-do-list!! Here are some of my recent favorites!
1. DIY MOSS LETTERS
Her amazing directions!
Supplies
1 – 15 X 84″ piece of floral foam (bought at Micheal’s)
3 – packages of preserved moss (bought at Jo’Ann’s)
1 – serrated kitchen knife
pins
hot glue gun
printed out letters
1. Print out your letters on large pieces of paper. You can really do any font that is pretty easy to trace. I liked verdana because it was basic enough but had nice curves. You can do just about any size and lower-case or upper-case. Whatever you want!
2. Pin the letters to your floral foam. Leave edges around your paper letters to trim later.
(picture of letters pinned to floral foam)
3. Using straight cuts up and down, cut the foam in the shape of the letters.
(picture of cutting)
4. Open the moss which comes in sheets. Start laying and gluing it around the flatter parts of the letters first (like the tail of the “B”) Save the curves for the end. You can trim the pieces smaller and glue them for the curved portions. If the seams are showing, you can clean them up with smaller loose pieces of the moss. Trim off the excess.
(picture of moss sheets in packaging)
5 Ta-da! You have your moss letters! Hang them with your favorite ribbon like I did.
(picture of me and Billy with “B”)
2. How to make Reproduction Mercury Glass www.getyourmarthaon.blogspot.com
Supplies:
1.Assorted glass vases and containers with mouths wide enough that you can comfortably get your hand inside.
2.One jar of Metal Leaf Adhesive Size.
3. One or two packages of silver leaf paper.
4. Package of small sponge paintbrushes.
5.Sealer.
STEP ONE:
Clean and dry your containers. Apply a thin coat of adhesive to inside of glass container with sponge brush. Avoid puddles, although it’s not a huge deal if you get them. When you’re done, it will look like this:
Wait about 20-40 minutes for the adhesive to turn clear. It stays tacky for about 24 hours, so you really can’t screw this part up. If you do, we need to chat. It will now look like this:
STEP TWO:
Apply a foil sheet to the inside of the glass container and keep going with foil sheets until you’re satisfied. Imperfection is key here. Don’t smooth the sheets perfectly down on top of the glass. Crinkle the sheets up a bit to get into the curvy areas. Rub gently with your fingers as you go and eyeball it, applying the silver leaf in whatever way pleases you. You don’t want it to look uniform. Leave some spots untouched. It applies so quickly and easily that even a jellyfish could do it.
STEP THREE:
Gently wipe away any loose silver bits with a dry, clean sponge brush.
3. Paper Mache Letters
I love the sparkly noel. check out her blog to see more of her place and decor ideas for the holidays!
just grab some paper mache letters from your local craft store and get glittering..or painting..go wild!
inthefunlane.com got hers for 2 bucks each at michael’s! i almost bought them the other day but i was like hmm i don’t know… i’m for sure going back now that i see this finish product. love it. the options are endless!
4. TIN TRAY MAGNET BOARDS
I love this idea..because sometimes i am out and see tin trays and wonder how to use them in the house..i might try this idea out next time! or have my hubby serve me bon bons on them while i relax….haha. either way.
She saw this idea in country living..and then did herself using trays she found at the store…and these mounting strips! love it! check out her blog for other great ideas and inspiration!
Hope you are inspired and try some of these diy ideas out! pass along any good ones you have come across!
Lavender and Lilies
December 6, 2009 at 9:39 amI am in love with those ideas! I really want to try the moss letters and the mercury glass project. I love it!
sara@augustfields
December 6, 2009 at 1:17 pmnatalie…thanks for linking my magnet boards….we have been using them a lot for reminder lists of things to grab at the store….milk, stamps, etc.
i am going try those letters with some sparkles i purchased but never used…thanks for the fun ideas! :)
abri chilelli
December 8, 2009 at 7:49 pmi love the moss letters! i’m thinking in the next nursery over the curtains??? i’m not describing it well, but I have it envisioned in my head!! :)
MsAnnieBelle
December 10, 2009 at 1:46 pmthe moss letters are super swanky.. perchance i may have to make one for my own home! great blog– love your signature. makes me want to design one too!
Living With Lindsay
December 11, 2009 at 6:18 pmAll of these ideas are so great! I love the concept of your blog. I was one of those mom’s nursing with one hand and surfing the web with the other, too. :)