I try to get my hands on every material I can think of, and sadly, that means I can never make a quick trip to the hardware store. Even when I plan to rush in and grab a packet of bolts or a can of paint, I always leave three hours later with those things,…
After creating many projects for the site, I’ve noticed a DIY spectrum emerging. Some projects can be instructed down to the last inch, every material sized and sourced. Others are much looser, with a large element of chance and personal touch involved, and entirely dependent on what you can find and how the materials mold…
The way antique glass alternates between absorbing and reflecting light always catches my eye, even on a small piece like a votive or a frame. This awesome tutorial from Ashley Brown features a simple, inexpensive way to create an aged-mirror look out of any glass object. If you have old jars lying around, this would…
this mirrored planter reminds me how much i like dollar stores, where it seems like every aisle calls out with its potential for creative projects. karen at the art of doing stuff is well aware of this goldmine; her projects often utilize inexpensive materials to create something rad. this time she managed to score these…
in a bout of spring cleaning energy, we attacked our cluttered mess of cooking oils and vinegars in the kitchen. we love to have inspiration while cooking, and now that we’ve re-bottled and relabeled these, they are an attractive arrangement pretty enough to sit out on the counter! this took almost no time, no money,…
Regardless of the fact that I work full-time at a spectacular flower shop, elbow deep in stupidly fancy and pretty flowers, deep down I’ll always be a wild violet girl at heart. Each spring the yard of my childhood home would fill with little purple gems and my sister and I could hardly contain our…
![made with love: rose body lotion [updated]](http://www.designspongeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/lotionicon.jpeg)
We’ve reached that time of year when off go the heavy coats and thick tights and on go the sandals and sun dresses. I don’t know about you, but the first day my bare legs are exposed sans tights to the world is rough. Winter tends to leave my skin not only deathly white, but…
i have eyed ikea’s celeber jars for some time now, but something has always prevented me from buying them. i realized that i while i love the mix of white ceramic and dark wood, a row of them on my kitchen shelf seems like too much white. i love any project that involves image transfers,…
before we jump into our regularly scheduled diy projects for today i wanted to share two great projects from d*s readers. brittni of paper n stitch‘s lace plate project (above) is a great way to dress up thrift store plates or dishes in need of an update. want to give it a shot? click here…
every week i pour through our before & after submissions and get excited about the scores of upholstery and paint projects people have done. but when i see something like this in my inbox, my excitement meter goes off the charts. inspired by bddw’s captain’s mirror, d*s reader lucy gunawan decided to get crafty and…
My love for plants growing under glass knows no bounds and I was extra excited to find a way to incorporate a little terrarium love into my holiday repertoire this year. These ornaments are actually fake terrariums, by using dried sheet moss or reindeer moss , the ornament isn’t technically growing so it requires no…
i just want to say that i envy all of you out there with a working fireplace. i have very fond memories of sitting around a crackling fire in maine, and watching my dad place freshly chopped firewood in a huge pile outside. that being said (anyone else watch curb your enthusiasm?), i am glad…
illustration by julia rothman So for my first column after my little hiatus to finish up some d*s book projects, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the history of a craft room staple – decoupage! The art of decoupage is thought to have its roots in East Siberian tomb art. …
inspired by erik’s recycled wine bottle torches, lindsay and taylor from purr design decided to create these beautiful wine bottle vases in their home’s dining room. i love the way they set off the area with a painted square, and today you can learn their full how-to steps for the project! thanks so much to…
today’s first diy project comes from margie of resurrection fern in ontario. she created these stunning crocheted lights using twine and a little spare time. i love the final result and the way the light glows through the fibers. CLICK HERE for the full project steps!
Want to have your own Audubon print? This blue heron hand-colored engraving from 1837 could be yours for $80,000.) There has always been a relationship between interiors and nature. In light of the current and (seemingly never-ending) John Derian-esque craze for all things nature, I thought it might be fun to take a look at…
this clever faux-pottery project comes from diy queen erica domesek of p.s. i made this. inspired by mid century porcelain from west germany, erica decided to create the look of white porcelain using bottles, cans, spray paint and an elementary school flashback- puffy paint. this is a seriously fun- and simple- project that anyone could…
this clever outdoor diy idea comes from erik anderson of gerardot & co.- a creative branding and design agency in indianapolis. erik was kind enough to share a fantastic project that turns an everyday bottle into a modern backyard tiki torch. i love the way these torches look and am dying to find a backyard…
last week we were introduced to a fantastic new creative arts cafe in manhattan called moomah. i was immediately blown away by the concept- and the fabulous interiors- at moomah so i decided to drop tracey and jacqueline a line to see if they’d let me pop by for a quick DIY project. thankfully they…
when it comes to gardening, i’ve got a pretty black thumb. so i’ve always been intrigued by the idea of terrariums- those little glassed in worlds where plants seem to thrive within their own self-contained environment. but after a few unsuccessful tries, i gave up on being able to create and sustain my own indoor…
