This simple folding technique makes a classy and clean gift wrap from plain old paper! To be honest, I don’t always have the perfectly patterned wrapping paper on hand, but even craft or tissue paper looks sophisticated with rows of tiny folds. Repeating the pintuck folds at right angles creates a plaid pattern – perfect…
We are all busy during the holiday season, so as much as the craftiest among us want to toil over every package, sometimes it’s nice to be able to make a gift unique in a quick and easy way. Thankfully, the craft supply gods are making it easy on us with the advent of wired…
We all have our own ways of showing our friends and family how much we love them when it comes gift-giving time. My way: gift wrap. Honestly, I sort of enjoy wrapping gifts more than actually shopping for them. Don’t get me wrong. I try my hardest to pick out gifts that will be loved…
I’m still in shock that next week in Thanksgiving. I know we say that every year, but seriously. If you have any time on your hands, before next week, here are a few easy DIYs (most of them can be done while you’re catching up on Homeland) to add a little handmade touch to your…
With so many holidays right around the corner, it’s about time to start thinking about ways to dress up our tables. These velvet ribbon place cards are embossed with each guest’s monogram, bringing a touch of opulence and dash of color to the table. They were inspired by our own wedding photo shoot and work…
My first international trip ever was a month-long backpacking adventure in Europe when I was in grad school. Our last stop on the trip was Amsterdam, an amazing city filled to the brim with museums. Perhaps the best among them is the Rijksmuseum, which houses all things Dutch. I’m certainly no art expert, but it…
Transforming an outdated wall sconce with paint is about the simplest way to create a truly one of a kind statement for you home. I created this stop motion animation to show you how to make on of your very own. Click ‘play’ below to watch and learn. You can also check out the full…
Today, we’re launching a brand-new series of super short videos called “10 Second How-Tos.” The series, which is pretty much what its name entails, aims to equip all you readers with simple, effective tips for daily life. From the proper way to cut flowers to how to create a simple household cleaner, we’ve got you…
These leather coasters are inspired by the geometric patterns of Islamic tile design. Three beautiful traditional tessellating patterns have been converted to easily followed paper patterns for you. The coasters are double sided and can be used individually for drinks or in a group as a lovely trivet. A quick and easy project, they make…
My husband and I recently moved from a 600 square foot condo in DC to a 3-bedroom house in Nashville. In our old place, all of my DIYing happened exclusively in the middle of our living room floor, so while I think I’ll always have a place in my heart for small-space living, I’m certainly…
I am crazy about pendant lights because they are uber versatile and super easy to customize. Whether you use a pre-wired cord and socket set or assemble one yourself, the process is simple and the possibilities are endless.With the right materials an a little bit of consideration it’s easy to create a bespoke lighting looks…
If some of the products we’ve been featuring recently are any indication, we here at Design*Sponge love the opportunity to embrace in our darker sides—especially when Halloween is involved! As we all prepare for our Halloween parties and late-October dinners, we decided it would be a nice treat to share some printable Halloween-themed table decorations, perfect…
I’ve got a major soft spot for paper crafts. Mainly because they feel infinitely accessible. They’re not cost-prohibitive (for the most part), you can so often re-use paper you have around the house and they are easy to practice at any skill level while you relax at home. This simple but clever project comes from…
This week, we’ve been sharing some non-traditional takes on one of our favorite parts of Halloween: carved pumpkins! On Monday, we featured blogger Molly Madfis’ glamorous gemstone-patterned jack-o-lanterns. On Tuesday, we shared the embroiderer extraordinaire, Jessica Marquez’s carved pumpkin, a design inspired by a Danish pattern. Today, it is with great pleasure that we present…
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of showing my friend Matthew Robinson’s art as part of our Sketchbook Sneak Peek series. In addition to being a wildly talented painter and art teacher, though, Matt is also enviably adept at all manner of hands-on skills, from carpentry to crafting. Last winter, while he and…
One of my first memories of running Design*Sponge is getting to know talented local artists like Rena Tom and Lena Corwin. They were one of my first podcast interviews and Lena was the first artist who really made me curious about, and excited to research, the history of textile and pattern design. Early in 2009,…
This week, as part of the D*S Pumpkin Project, we’re sharing new takes on the traditional jack-o-lantern, courtesy of some of our favorite designers, artists, and bloggers. Yesterday, we shared blogger Molly Madfis’ gemstone-inspired carved pumpkins. Today’s fabulous pumpkin project comes from Jessica Marquez, the artist and embroiderer-extraordinaire behind Miniature Rhino, Stitched Gifts, and last spring’s embroidery DIY…
My good friend, Sarah, lives in an amazing loft space in Brooklyn. The only downside: shabby-looking old factory floors with about a centuries worth of grime imbedded in them. I decided to lend a hand and upon inspection, painting seemed like the perfect solution. All it takes is one look her home’s collection of mid-century…
These sweet potholders are a great way to experiment with simple stitches and dashing color combinations. Sashiko is a decorative running stitch used in Japan to reinforce fabrics while forming tessellating geometric patterns. Following that tradition we will use the oldest stitch in the book to quilt a vibrant and utilitarian collection of potholders –…
It’s easy to dress up a standard clutch purse with a cascade of knotted fringe. It may look complicated, but we’ll follow the most basic pattern of this age-old technique. Warp-knotted fringe is practiced on woven textiles all over the world, with beautiful variations springing out of local traditions from South America to the South…
