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5 Crafts to Get Your Dining Room Ready for Thanksgiving

by H. Camille Smith November 14, 2012 8 Comments

It’s just 1 week till Thanksgiving — is your dining room ready for the big event? If not, don’t worry, there’s still time for a guest-impressing makeover. From disguising a past-its-prime dining table to an easy way to give stock white plates a high-end look — we’ve got you covered with five easy project ideas, each with complete step-by-step instructions.

A plain white tablecloth is great for covering up a scratched or discolored tabletop. For a sophisticated look, stitch on a row or two of ruffled burlap or linen: Give a Basic Tablecloth a Custom Makeover

Enlist help from the kids to glue real or silk fall leaves onto fishing line to create a magical falling-leaf effect over the dining table or buffet: How to Make Fall Leaf Streamers

Daily Delight: Ombre-Painted Pinecone Ornaments

by Grant Dudley November 5, 2012 8 Comments

Classic pinecones get a modern, ombre treatment in this painted DIY project. Use the finished, colorful pinecones as holiday party favors or to decorate your home for the season.

Pinecone crafts

Also, take a look at this fun pinecone craft that Briana highlighted last November.

And, Even More Pinecone Crafts:

Pinecone Wreath
Pinecone Gift Wrap (Say what? It’s true!)
Pinecone Christmas Ornament

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever said the word “pinecone” so much in my life. Alas, do you have any other crafty crafts where pinecones are utilized? Share them below!

4 Thanksgiving Crafts to Start Now

by H. Camille Smith October 31, 2012 9 Comments

Okay, so I know today is Halloween — and believe me, I thought about sharing more Halloween craftiness; but unless you’re looking for pumpkin-carving templates (here and here) or cocktail recipes, the All-Hallows ship has pretty much sailed.

But, in just three weeks (yes, only 3 weeks!) friends and family will be ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. So, if you haven’t started working on your Turkey Day decorations yet, now’s the time.

Start by putting leftover Halloween decorations to good use. Give faux pumpkins a fashion-forward makeover by covering them with trendy upholstery fabrics: How to Cover Faux Pumpkins in Metallic Leaf

Turn a canvas dropcloth into a custom-fitted dining chair slipcover, perfect if you need to visually unify mismatched chairs: How to Make a Dining Room Chair Slipcover

Faux Halloween Pumpkins: Meet Your New Best Friend

by H. Camille Smith October 10, 2012 8 Comments

When it comes to Halloween pumpkins, I think many of you out there will agree with me when I say that faux can be fabulous. Oh, I know, there are always pumpkin purists who like the squishy sensation of pumpkin innards oozing through their fingertips (You know who you are!) or prefer the look of a real pumpkin or choose real so they can roast the seeds — tasty recipe here, btw — but my personal choice is faux.

Why, you ask? Because, quite honestly, I am a project-aholic. At any given time, I have too many projects started and not enough time to finish them all, so when I buckle down and take the time to bling out a pumpkin, I want my hard work to be displayable for many years to come.

If you’re like me, our Halloween feature is hooking you up with lots of creative ideas for faux pumpkins. Here are 5 of my faves:

For a sophisticated look, add a trendy silhouette:

Coordinate your Halloween decorations to your decor by using scraps of leftover fabric for these decoupage pumpkins:

Designer MacGyver: Wire and Coat Hanger Crafts That Wow

by Briana Mowrey September 17, 2012 12 Comments

My colleague Kayla requested hanger crafts in the comment section of last week’s wood pallet post, and since I’m a people pleaser, I did not want to disappoint. Lucky for me, wooden hangers and coat hangers in particular are a crafting goldmine. Joan Crawford was famously down on wire hangers, but they too can be put to good use as I found out from my Pinterest perusing. (Maybe she would have liked them more if she knew how to repurpose them?) Take a peek at my finds and tell me which you’d like hanging around in your home!

Daily Delight: Pistachio Shell “Succulent Garden”

by Grant Dudley September 6, 2012 12 Comments

What’s the best thing about this “succulent garden” from Addicted2Decorating.com?

You can’t kill it!

You will need lots and lots of pistachio shells for this project.

Creativity at its finest!

Do you have a craft project that involves using something that is pretty random? Let me know what it is in the comments below!

Designer MacGyver: 5 Paper Plate Crafts for Grown-Ups

by Briana Mowrey August 20, 2012 4 Comments

Been hosting some late summer picnics and backyard barbecues? I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what to do with the leftover food (potato salad, mmm!), but you might not be making the most of your other leftovers. Namely, the paper plates. Take a look at these paper plate crafts I found through Pinterest and you’ll see they aren’t just for kids anymore. In fact, some of them could make charming additions to your next outdoor party. Get ready to MacGyver in 3…2…1…

paper plate magnolia napkin ring holder
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Designer MacGyver: Thrifty Chopstick Art and Craft Projects

by Briana Mowrey July 30, 2012 6 Comments

If you’re anything like me, your “junk drawer” is filled with condiment packets, plastic utensils and chopsticks. Sometimes they come in handy — like the one time in college when my roommates and I had an epic dish-washing standoff and we all resorted to eating everything with chopsticks rather than clean our utensils. (Yes, everything. Even cereal. I’m not proud.) Lately they’ve just been taking up space, but no more, thanks to these inventive chopstick arts and crafts. Who knew a free side of cool DIY decor comes with that Kung Pao chicken?

chopstick placemat

Daily Delight: Christmas in July

by Grant Dudley July 14, 2012 6 Comments

Too early to be thinking about Christmas? No way!

Get a head start on the holidays; craft your own handmade gifts, cards, ornaments and decorations.

Christmas in July

What will you be crafting for the 2012 holiday season?

Designer MacGyver: Totally Sweet Cupcake Liner Crafts

by Briana Mowrey July 9, 2012 10 Comments

Nothing says a party like cupcakes, amirite?! But did you know that you can also bedeck your entire shindig with those leftover cupcake liners? Suddenly those red velvet delights are looking doubly sweet to this MacGyver. Check out these cute cupcake liner crafts and decor I scouted on Pinterest.

cupcake liner garland