This DIY decal process seems a little intense, but I really want to try it.

I just need a long artsy fartsy weekend to sit down and take on a bunch of fun projects from my DIY Pinterest Board.

Two chalkboard projects I would love to try for my next vino and cheese party:

Top: DIY Chalkboard Serving Platter

Bottom: Chalkboard Table Runner using $7 chalkboard contact paper

Hot Cocoa in a Jar Gifts

I had a bunch of leftover mason jars laying around, so I decided to get a little crafty with some of my Christmas gifts this year.

For the fixins, I used homemade cocoa mix, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and a peppermint candy cane. I printed these adorable reindeer gift tags with ‘instructions’ on the back, then topped the jar with red/gold paper napkins and green raffia ribbon. Everyone I’ve given one to (coworkers, postman, and dog walker) seem to really like them, so I think it was a success!

Free Christmas Gift Tag Printables

I shared these links with a coworker and thought I’d pop ‘em on Tumblr.

1. Holiday Reindeer Tag
2. Vertical Gift Tags
3. Old World Sepia Tags
4. Vintage Inspired Word Tags
5. Green and Red Circle Tags
6. Jumbo Reindeers Tag

If you don’t have any fancy card stock, you can print these on normal printer paper and glue the tag to a blank flashcard. That’s what I did for #3 and they look great! Enjoy.

Two DIY Coffee Table Makeovers (left, right)

Note to self: Keep an eye out for coffee tables with potential.

Anyone remember the tray I painted a while back?

Well, I’m happy to report that it’s being put to very good use these days.

keylimeliving:

I think I’m going to try and put these little coffee tables together… what do you think?

I dig. Especially those brass corners… very cool way to jazz up the Ikea tables.

This is another fun Ikea hack I posted a while back.

Raise your hand if you’re a wine lover like myself. Keep it up if you’ve collected a zillion wine corks and have no idea what to do with them…

Yeah, me either, which is why I went looking for some ideas.

Here’s what I found:

1. Candle Holder by: Two Twenty One
2. Bulletin Board by: Casa Sugar
   
3. Wreath by: Nikki In Stitches
   
4. Coasters by: Dollar Store Crafts
   

I’m in love with this DIY Dixie Cup Garland!

All you need is a pair of scissors, a pack of dixie cups, double-sided tape, pretty scrapbook paper and some cheap Christmas lights. Think about all the cute ways you could use these as decoration… on a mantle, in a nursery, for an outdoor wedding, a backyard bbq, a bridal/baby shower, etc.

I’m going to make one for Halloween!

Painted words as wall art. I like the idea…

(via Oh Happy Day)

So I’m pretty happy with the way my tray turned out!

All said and done, the whole thing cost me about 7 bucks to make, which certainly beats the $75 price tag on these trays that served as my inspiration. Not going to lie, this was a tedious process that definitely tested my patience, but for someone who is NOT artistic, I think I nailed it. Here’s what I did:

First, I painted the white base of the tray. Then using this pattern, which I blew up and printed off of a fabric website, I made a stencil out of black cardstock. I then traced the stencil pattern directly onto the tray with a pencil. Matching up the design was a little bit of a geometric nightmare, but it worked:

Then, using the traced pattern, I simply painted between the lines:

After doing a couple of coats, I painted the blue sides and then the rim/outer sides using a really pretty antique gold color. And… that was it!

What do ya’ll think? Cheap to chic?

Chevron Shoebox Lid Art

This is a cute and inexpensive idea from Spunky Junky for chevron-lovers, like me, who have extra shoeboxes laying around (or for someone like Katie, who keeps every single pair of shoes she owns in their respective shoebox). It’s a great way to recycle and if you decide you want to change things up after a while, you won’t feel bad tossing these out!

Tip: If you don’t have extra shoebox lids… stop into any Payless. They throw them away all the time.

A girlfriend and I decided to channel our inner artists over a bottle of wine and some pottery painting last night. What do we think of my chevron tray creation?

Loving these Striped DIY Curtains from The Yellow Cape Cod

Best part? No-sew glue!