Upcycling Ideas for the Home (Dining Decor)

Lately I've been brainstorming various upcycling ideas for the home.  It's always a little exhilarating when I can make something pretty out of something I already have around the home.  One of the things I have been saving for the last couple of years are glass bottles and jars knowing they would be the perfect inspiration for upcycling ideas.    

For this simple, elegant table decor I took these bottles from hubby's Valentine's Day gift and a couple of mason jars from my canning supply...

And turned it into this.   We have a long dining room table, perfect for entertaining lots of guests.  Our dining room also is joined with our living room so the decor should transition seamlessly through both spaces.  I've got a few different styles mixed throughout the space: Best described it is simply chic with touches of modern.  Don't let the simplicity of these decorating projects fool you, it took several hours to complete all five bottles.    

The first of these simple decor ideas was wrapping a silk bamboo yarn around two of my  Crush bottles. I admit it, I did not have this yarn in my supply stash but I don't typically buy yarn.  The hand of this yarn is so smooth and soft.  I couldn't stop touching it while at the store.  It is easiest if you start at the bottom.  I  used hot glue to glue the first layer around and then would add a drop of glue every few rows of strings until I got to the curve of the neck.  This is where it gets tricky.  I found it best to glue small sections down and not pull the string tight as you get up to the skinniest part of the neck.  Then you can continue adding a drop of glue every few rows.  

Next I wrapped a third bottle with jute, that I did have on hand, to have a contrast in texture both visual and tactile using the same method for adhering the string to the bottle.  

Finally, I used Looking Glass Spray and vinegar/water mixture to create my own Mercury Glass Jars.  There are lots of tutorials online that teach you how to do this.  One of the things I learned from experience though is that it is best to do this on a warm day out in the sunshine and the wider your opening, the easier it is.  My hand started hurting after having to repeatedly shove it into the inside of both  glass jars.

While fairly easy, these upcycling ideas took 5+ hours so make sure and plan accordingly.  The great thing about all three pieces is that they add so much diversity on my table between the shiny metallic  luster to the course neutral jute with and effortless ease.  They answer to the scale of my table and visually carry the long line creating a larger looking space.  I can't wait to show the hubby my latest creation.  What upcycling ideas are you working on?  

DIY Cupcake Stand

This DIY Cupcake Stand is seriously so easy but it's one of my favorite projects.  I had another design friend who made something similar out of all white dishes to replicate a cupcake stand she had seen in a Pottery Barn magazine.  I love the simplicity of all white, I really do.  I also have my kitchen decor themed around dishes and wanted to make a stand I could leave out year round.  My kitchen/dining/living room has some shabby chicish elements and I wanted my diy cupcake stand to be one of those elements.

Materials:
2 Large Plates
1 Medium Plate
1 Small Saucer Plate
2 Mugs
1 Sm Bowl
Ceramic Glue (or something strong like the E-6000 glue)

I went to Pier 1 and found all of the pieces in their clearance section.  Score!  I will admit that I sat on the ground and stacked the dishes until I had the exact look I was going for.  I can't remember exactly how much I spent but I know it was under $20.  Then I came home, washed the dishes and glued them all together.

TA DA.

Obviously I have to wash it by hand but I use it for more than just cupcakes.  Fresh Fruit.  Assorted Candy.  Nuts.  Anything that looks pretty and needs to be on the counter for one reason or another.  It's true that I probably couldn't put blue cupcakes on there and make it look masculine for a boy themed party but that is why I have a set of white cake stands.  It really was meant to not only be functional but be a pretty piece of art.    

To be honest I'm so tempted to do another diy cupcake stand just for the fun of it.  Maybe someone will want one for their birthday.  Any takers?

The Texture Ball Challenge

Remember the texture ball I showed you a few weeks ago?  That was one of my first college projects for Interior Design.  We were learning about visual and tactile texture.  It happens to be one my favorite projects, so much so that I got together with some of my school friends to recreate it.

I have named this baby "Flight."

Originally I was going to use feathers, sequins, and split peas for the varying textures but found that the split peas where the wrong color of green and just wasn't going to fit the bill.  I already had everything else attached yesterday and started going through the supplies I had in my home with Tim Gunn's voice in my head saying, "Make It Work."  While I looked at several different options the hemp was the one that kept coming to mind.

It really wasn't too hard to make.

Here are the supplies I used:

- 6" Styrofoam ball
- glue gun and glue sticks
- straight pins
- feathers
- sequins of various colors and sizes
- hemp rope

1.)  I glued the feathers on first and they in no way need to be in a circle but placed thoughtfully around the ball.

2.)  Next came the sequins.  This part is probably the most time consuming.  I pinned the sequins around my feathers in various thicknesses.  The green and teal were on one side and the silver on the other.  I used different sizes to keep the visual texture interesting and varying.

3.)  Finally I glued the hemp in the remaining areas starting on the outside and working my way in.

I think the reason I liked this project so much is because there are endless possibilities and they can be interesting art pieces for the home at minimal cost.  See the solutions my friends came up with and make sure and check out their tutorials.

(I highly recommend following their blogs, they have some great ideas for home decor, home design, party planning, and other great design tips)

Caley at Design By Caley

Amber at Numbered Street Designs

Andrea at Strawberry Chic

Valentine Decorating Ideas - (LOVE)

Here is another masterpiece my mother-in-law and I came up with for Valentine decorating ideas.  I don't have any pink in my house and I don't put a lot of effort in to Valentine's Day decorations.  I like holiday decor that is simple, classy, and will match what I already have up year round.

I once again turned to Pinterest to find my inspiration for Valentine decorating ideas.  One girl had taken a canvas and place the letters LOVE vertically and in two rows.  It looked so simple and fun.  However, her's had bright splashes of colors for her letters which would not fit my house.  Thus the wheels started turning on how I could adapt this project and make it my own.

The best part is that this tutorial is super easy.

Supplies:

-large piece of canvas (my mother and I found a 2 pack at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% off coupon)
-newspaper or old book pages
-Modge Podge
-lighter
-chip board letters ($1.99 a piece at Hobby Lobby)
-black acrylic paint
-sponge brushes
-E-6000 glue

Step 1:  The Paper

Now had I had my way I would have found an inexpensive copy of Pride and Prejudice and started ripping out the pages.  However I didn't have one on hand.  Thus I took a newspaper and started ripping it into pieces.  I didn't wan't any photos or large titles that would stand out.  It's nice to use different shapes but I suggest trying to make your pieces of ripped paper fairly large.  It will take fewer pieces to cover the board.

Step 2:  Burn the Edges

I took just a handful of my ripped newspaper pieces and burned the edges just slightly.  I did this over my sink so that I could drop the paper if I didn't blow the flame out in time.  Please note the newspaper burns quickly.  Please use extra caution when do this.

Step 3:  Modge Podge

Next comes the Modge Podge.  I would take my brush and put a little bit of Modge Podge on the canvas where the paper was going as well as on the back of the paper.  Then I would place it down, smoothing it out as much as possible.  I would do this to several pieces of paper, layering them on top of one another and had them going different directions.  After I had about half of the board covered I would Modge Podge the top of the newspaper, once again smoothing out the ripples.  Repeat this step until the whole canvas is covered.

I then Modge Podged the burnt pieces on top, strategically placing them on my canvas using the same process.

I let the whole thing dry for an hour or so and then did one final Modge Podge layer on top.

Step 4: Paint Your Letters

This step doesn't need any explanation.  You can seal the paint if you like however I liked the matte look.

Step 5:  Glue

I measured the side of my canvas and my letters to center the L and the E.  I placed some E-6000 glue on the back and stuck them on.  This was easiest as I was able to match the side of the canvas up with the side of my letters.  I was then able to take my ruler and place it on the bottom of these two letter to match up the O and the V and just eyeballed it to make sure they were about the same distance apart.

Step 6:  Find a fabulous place to display your piece.

I would say that total this Valentine's Day project took me maybe an hour and a half (not including drying time) and took very little skill.

Perhaps one of the things I love most about my last couple of Valentine decorating ideas is that they can be used for more than just this holiday.  I could leave the LOVE board or my AMOUR banner up for a while and pull it out for special occasions like anniversaries or date nights.

How do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

The Texture Ball - (DIY Home Decor)

Another favorite school project of mine was the texture ball and was done at the very beginning of my freshman year at college.

The Project:  Take a Styrofoam ball and cover it in whatever material you want that would show tactile texture but also be visually pleasing and interesting.

It was really cool to see what some people came up with.  For mine I used small Christmas Bulbs and took the the tops off (the part where the hook goes).  I glued them on with hot glue and filled the negative space with colored saran wrap.  I didn't have to glue the saran wrap.  I just took a small amount and with a sewing pin just shoved it into the space.  It was so simple to make but made such a statement.

With Valentines Day just around the corner I'm thinking this would have made an excellent topiary piece or one that just stands alone on a mantle.  What do you think?

I also had the thought that this would be a fun "Challenge Project."  The idea would be that bunch of us bloggers would all try to come up with our own texture ball and then in the end have a parade of all the different designs.  If you're interested in participating email me at info@sarahdawndesigns.com .