Decor

Print and Paint: DIY Chalkboard Paint Posters

I thought it would be a good idea to combine printable graphics with chalkboard paint to create some custom chalkboard posters. So I headed off to The Graphics Fairy to hunt for the right graphics. I found a bee graphic that I combined with a simple frame. There was also a very decorative French frame that caught my eye.

Both of these graphics were printed on A3 glossy card at a printers. Each print cost around $3. The only steps to creating these posters were 1) get them printed 2) use chalkboard paint. Try and get as thick of a card as you can, since it can warp from the wetness of the paint. An alternative would be to cut out a piece of cardboard, lather the bad boy up in chalkboard paint, then glue that onto the poster.

For the bee poster, I used an IKEA NYTTJA 30×40 frame (just right for A3 sheets). I took out the plastic cover so the board can still be written on while in the frame.

The bee poster makes for a great ‘to do’ board, ideal for the kitchen command center or home office. The French frame one is quite small, and is better suited for events – being used as wedding boards (buffet labels, table labels, etc.).

Making Your Own

To create the French frame poster, you can just head on over to the Graphics Fairy page here and download the graphic to print. For the bee poster, click on the button below to save the graphic to take to the printers. Here is the page where I got the graphic from.

January 11, 2014 in Decor, Made By HtA

Home Decor Ideas: Using Leather

It’s not easy to find ways of adding leather to a home’s decor without making it look tacky or overkill rustic. Here are some simple and modern DIY leather decor ideas:

Chic Storage Containers

A great home decor DIY project to make with leather is a storage container. You’ve got the large tool box design in picture (1) which combines a wooden crate with leather handles. Then you have small leather containers that can be used for holding stationary, letters, or clutter around the house. Follow along with the instructions on how to make the elegant black DIY leather bag in picture (2) by Design and Form. Or there are the folding leather baskets (3) by Between the Lines. Over on the Gildem’s Etsy store you can find the Japanese style leather bins seen in picture (4).

Hanging Up: Leather Wall Decor

Leather does make for great looking plant hangers. Design Sponge has instructions on how to make the ones in picture (5). Or how about taking a round mirror, and using an old belt or a leather strip hang it up for a makeshift sea Captain’s mirror (6).

Sitting in Comfort

Sitting in a plush leather chair is pretty freaking relaxing. On a smaller scale, Mandi from Vintage Revivals bought an old beat up leather couch on Craigslist just so she could ‘skin’ it to make leather pillows (7). Check out the ‘how to’ here. Another project for reusing an old couch’s leather would for creating a DIY leather headboard.

The charming camp stool in picture (8) was made by Wood & Faulk. These would make for great add on seating in the living room, or for a foyer stool to help put on or take off shoes.

Home Decor Leather Accents

I believe the best way to add leather into a home’s decor is with small touches. Just like the closet handles made by The Brick House (9). If you use longer strands of leather then you can make hanging magazine racks (10) just like the ones from Leibal.

Another small leather touch is to have leather coffee or dinner table coasters. The elegant ones seen in picture (11) were made by Wood & Faulk – they sure know how to use leather.

January 3, 2014 in Decor, DIY

Home Decor Ideas: Using Mason Jars

The reason I like Mason Jar craft ideas is because glass is a classic, timeless and premium material. Would you rather drink out of a plastic or glass cup? Because of the vintage feel Mason Jars have, a lot of people have done amazing things with them.

Housing Memories

One of my favourite kinds of DIY projects is finding different ways to create photo stands. Yup, you can use Mason Jars to showoff photos just like the ones from a wedding in picture (1). The more vintage looking the photos the better – how about using black and white photos?

In the Kitchen and Beyond

A great way to decorate a kitchen is to showcase great looking kitchenware in open or glass cabinets. Say you have copper pots – why not hang them on the wall. Or if you use mason jars as bowls (2) or even as a drink mixer (3), have them out on display. You could even attach Mason Jars to a strip of wood to create a storage rack, like the crafting wall in picture (4).

Getting Technical

This next Mason Jar DIY project was an eye opener. Sarah Pease created audioJar, speakers made out of Mason Jars (5). I wasn’t expecting that…

Lighting Up the Jars

Next we come to the lighting section. I really like the rustic DIY Mason Jar chandelier that uses candles in picture (6), created as wedding decor. Pigeon Toe use to make mini ceramic votive lanterns, using the Mason Jar design (7) – which are classy. And what a great way to light up a garden (8) – sticking colored crafting paper inside the jars, then using battery candles to light them up. Then there is always the option to turn the whole Mason Jar into a candle, as seen in picture (9). These would make great gifts or centrepieces.

Customise and Decoration Ideas

You can create your own Mason Jar designs by taking an ordinary jar and using a glue gun you can write your own words. A little spray paint later and you have your own jar design (10).

Or how about taking out some glass paint to colorise the jars to your liking (11). 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11

December 25, 2013 in Decor, DIY

Home Decor Ideas: Using Vintage Glass Bottles

Going Green

One of the easiest and classiest things to do with vintage glass bottles is to use them as planters. Putting one stem in a bottle creates instant decor appeal. How about grouping together 3 of the same bottle in a wire basket just like the bottles in picture (2). Kristina attached vintage soda bottles to some salvaged shutters to create wall planters (3). And outdoors you can wrap some twine or wire around the head of the bottle to create hanging planters (4). For more garden ideas have a look here: Ideas for Vintage Garden Decor and Outdoor Accessories.

Adding Fire

Another simple decor idea is to use vintage bottles as candle stands. Use a bunch of different sizes to create a centre piece arrangement, like in picture (5). If you get larger bottles (more like jugs) then you can place votive candles inside (fill them up with water to have floating candles).

Liquids

The containers we get our liquids in today are not very pleasing to look at. So why not pour them into elegant vintage perfume bottles. This way you can put them up on display. Like the soaps, lotions, perfumes, and other liquids in the bathrooms of pictures (6) and (7). Do the same with liquids and detergent in a laundry room (Style Guide: Vintage Laundry Room Decor Ideas).

In the Kitchen

You can also pour your kitchen liquids into vintage bottles and have them out on display. If you go out and buy in bulk or large volumes, say hand soap or dish liquid, pour some into the glass bottles then store away the rest under the sink (8). For more kitchen storage ideas have a look at my post here Vintage Kitchen Storage Ideas: From Milk Baskets to Wicker Baskets.

Vintage milk bottles make for great cups. If you find vintage glass bottles with lids, or create cork lids for them, you can use them to store homemade drinks (9). Or you could use them as serving containers – like the vinegar bottle in picture (10).

The bottle above and more styles like it can be bought on Amazon here

Creating Vintage

One way to create that vintage look without having to buy vintage is to print out vintage style labels – which you can then paste onto more modern bottles. Head on over to Eat Drink Chic to find the labels in picture (11).

Mason Jars can also be used for a number of decor and storage ideas around the house. Check out my post here for pictures and ideas: Home Decor Ideas: Using Mason Jars. 2/4/5/6/7/8/9/10