Black Bag Spider Web Project

Image: How About Orange

On Halloween last year we ended up doing what we normally do for most festive holidays.
In short, leave everything to the last minute and then rush around in a wild panic.

We bought a large jar of jelly sweets, 2 handfuls of  lollipops, a couple of bags of marshmallows, tons of monkey nuts, and made a few big bowls of popcorn. Then we sat and waited for the doorbell to ring.

And we waited.

And we peeked out the curtains.

And we waited.

Nothing.
Not a single Ghost, Ghoul or Goblin.  No Witch, no Pirate, no Cowboy. No Vampire or Mermaid. Not even a single Harry Potter.

Under normal circumstance you might think that this is quite depressing. Two grown adults, sitting in a house all night, surrounded by sugary treats, trying to come up with suitable tricks to play on the children should we be caught off guard and actually get asked by one of these tiny 'fancy-dressers' to prove our worth.

These circumstances, however, are not normal because for the last 4 years running, we had not had any 'trick or treaters' calling to our home. Mainly because we never put up any Halloween decorations. A strong point of contention you might add?

We just assumed that small children would be calling to our home, able to sniff out the junk food inside like some bipedal truffle hunting pigs.

(side note: I really shouldn't refer to small children as 'truffle hunting pigs', although - now that we have a 14 month old who is able to sniff out everything from 'tv remotes hidden behind cushions' to 'all temporary DIY jobs around the house that just need that extra little nudge to destroy them' to 'every electrical outlet in the home not yet childproofed', I figured a few sweets and popcorn were easy pickings and no real challenge.)

But I digress.

This year we will be prepared.

Here are the instructions for your very own, no cost, cheap as chips, black bag spider web courtesy of How About Orange

Image: How About Orange

To make these, lay a trash bag out flat. Trim off the sides and bottom so you're left with two big rectangles of plastic. Cut each piece into an approximate square.

Image: How About Orange

Fold one of the squares in half diagonally to form a triangle. Fold that triangle in half two more times. This is slippery stuff, so use a few pieces of tape to fasten the layers together on the loose side. It will help hold the shape together when you're cutting.

Image: How About Orange

If winging it makes you nervous, use a black marker to sketch some guides on the plastic: draw a "stem" from the folded point out to the end of your triangle. Then sketch some scallops that come off the stem. With a scissors, cut out the negative shapes and unfold your web. Tape several webs together and add extra strips of plastic to connect them if you like.

Alternatively, you can use this video as a guide to cutting out smaller spiderwebs.

DIY Poster Project

I've always said that anyone can draw and if you think you can't, you'd be very surprised how easy it can actually be.

Everyone can draw a circle, right?  Anyone can draw a square?

Well this little project that I found over on poppytalk shows you how to create a poster image sized painting from a smaller sized photograph.

Image: poppytalk

All you need is:
-a photograph
-piece of A4 paper
-large piece of paper 20 x 24 in (try and get thicker paper than normal - it will hold the ink/paint better)
-pencil
-ruler
-eraser
-brush
-black ink (or paint)

Sep 1
Choose your photo. Most photos today are from digital cameras so it will be easy to transfer to your computer. If you are using a printed photo you will need to scan it in.

In Photoshop take your colour photo and turned it into a black and white image.
Next, in Photoshop - go to 'filter' - select 'artistic' - select 'cut out'.
If you don't have Photoshop you can use a free online photo editor like picnik.com

 

Image: poppytalk

Step 2
Print your black and white image onto an A4 size piece of paper.
Next, draw a grid on the A4 print using the pencil and ruler.
1 inch squares will proportion out the image nicely.

Image: poppytalk

Once you have evenly divided up the A4 image, do the same to your blank 20 x 24 inch papersheet.
This time make the spaces 2.5 inches in size.

Important: Try to make the lines as light as possible as this sheet will be your new canvas and you will need to erase these lines after you have finished the painting.

Image: poppytalk

Step 4
Start drawing.
Follow each grid on the photo and how it corresponds to the larger sheet - it's good to look at each image in the grid squares as shapes and not to think too much about the whole picture.

For the more complicated shapes like the eyes you can divide the square to smaller ones - this will help you with the more exact drawing.

Image: poppytalk

Image: poppytalk

Eventually, before you know it, the entire image will be complete.

Image: poppytalk

Step 5
Take the black ink (or paint) and fill in the drawing.
When you're finished painting you can erase all of the pencil grid lines.

Image: poppytalk

You'll wonder why you never thought you could draw in the first place.

Cardboard Star Project

Continuing my obsession with reusing packaging I found this little idea over on grey luster girl.

Image: grey luster girl

All you need is an empty cereal box, some glue and paint colour of your choice.

I think this is a great, cheap alternative to the giant metal star (which is £120 ) that I saw over on Rockett St George, a website selling unique homeware and accessories for your home. 

Image: Rockett St George

So, here's how to make it.
On the cereal box, draw and cut out two stars.  Score both stars from their tips to the indented parts (5 times each star). Push the stars out on the score lines by the tips and push in by the indented parts. There is a tutorial on how to do that here.

Image: grey luster girl

Next, glue the stars together.

Image: grey luster girl

Image: grey luster girl

Once the glue is dry, paint them your color of choice. Distress with ink or the edge of a pencil lead to get that weathered look.

Image: grey luster girl

Not bad for an empty old cereal box.

Painted Jigsaw Project

Image: Alisa Burke

Here is a fantastic way to reuse an old Early Learning jigsaw and turn it into a fun craft project for your kids.

Start with a plain jigsaw that has run its course.

Image: Alisa Burke

Apply a base coat of white to cover the image before applying the new colour for your personalised jigsaw.
Most of these jigsaws are made on cheap cardboard so keep your paint brush as dry as possible when painting. Don't have too much water in the brush as this will cause the cardboard to warp.

Image: Alisa Burke

Once the paint is dry, take the puzzle apart to check that none of it has stuck together. Try and remember where each part goes when taking it apart as you now just have one solid colour jigsaw.

Image: Alisa Burke

Decide what you are going to draw on the jigsaw and use a permanent black marker to apply it.

Image: Alisa Burke

You can then start colouring in and painting your design any way you like.

Image: Alisa Burke

Image: Alisa Burke

Image: Alisa Burke

Once you've completed your jigsaw, you need to seal it.
You can pick up a jar of Mod Podge in most craft shops or you can use a Gel Matt Medium found in most art supply stores.

Image: Alisa Burke

And there you have it. A one of a kind kids puzzle.

Image: Alisa Burke

Image: Alisa Burke

And the great thing about this jigsaw is that when you get bored of that image you can just start the process all over again and create a new one.

Subway Art Family Rules - Shop

Rules every family should live by.

A fun way to remind the family of important house rules.

Be Honest.
Laugh, Giggle, Be Silly.
Listen.
Say I Love You.
Speak Kindly of Others.
Dream Big.
Work Hard.
Hug.

and all to be done as often as possible.

Hand painted on pine board, sanded to create a vintage feel, each piece is coated in a satin varnish and then a final coat of wax is applied to protect the wood.

Recommended for indoor use.

Available in 4 different colours.


1. Dark Green
2. Light Green
3. Tangerine Orange
4. White Linen (with Dark green text.)

 



There are sawtooth hooks attached for easy hanging but would also look great propped up on a shelf or mantle piece.

Size : 58 cm x 48 cm







The cost of each sign is 45 euro

Details on how to purchase over at my shop.

Transforming a Dresser Project

About 4 years ago we moved house.

We moved from a nice, homely, small apartment to a nice, homely, small house. The only major difference was now the stairs, at least, were inside the home.

We didn't have much stuff and everything went in one van. With a couple of friends helping out we were all done and dusted in an hour or two.

Except for one thing. The dresser. Which would not fit up the stairs.

A few years earlier we had bought this huge dresser. 5 big drawers for her, 5 big drawers for me. And now it stood slap bang in the centre of our 'parlour sized' living room like a big sore thumb. That's if your idea of a big sore thumb was 5ft x 4ft x 2ft and made of solid wood.

There were late night discussions. "Do we take a window out?" "Should we remove the banister rail?" and of course the dreaded, "I could cut a bit off and try and put it back together?"

Eventually, a friend commented, removing one or two of the threads in our staircase might give the extra half a foot needed to maneuver it up. Luckily, when removing the carpet and underlay we found we had just enough room to force it up with minimal damage to wall and dresser. I would be painting the wall in time anyway but I would have to repair any damage to the dresser.

That was 4 years ago. I still haven't fixed it.
But now, I think it's time.

I've found 6 great ideas to transform different types of dresser.

Below are the Before & After photos followed by a link to the website on how to achieve the look.

1. Distressed Dresser

                        Before                                                                                               After

Image: Miss Mustard Seed

Image: Miss Mustard Seed

Jump over to Miss Mustard Seed for the details.


2. Ikea-hack Dresser.

Image: Gravy Train

Image: Gravy Train

 Jump over to Gravy Train for the details.


3. Adding Fabric to a Dresser.
                                                                             Before

Image: 508 Restoration & Design

                                                                            
                                                                              After

Image: 508 Restoration & Design

Jump over to 508 Restoration & Design for the details.


4. Stencilled Dresser

                            Before                                                                                        After

Image: 508 Restoration & Design

Image: 508 Restoration & Design

This is also from 508 Restoration & Design


5. Chalkboard Dresser

Image: homelife

Jump over to Home Life for this and lots of other ideas using chalkboard paint.


6. Nursery Dresser
                                                                           Before

Image: Domestic Adventure

                                                                          
                                                                            After

Image: Domestic Adventure

Head over to Domestic Adventure for the details.

There are plenty of ideas to choose from but if none of them suit you can always try the traditional route and tackle a full on restoration. There's some great tips on TLC home about how to restore wood furniture.

Origami Lights Project

Image: freshlypicked

Traditionally in Ireland you can never count on the Summer to be:
1. Warm
2. Sunny
3. Warm and sunny at the same time

This is why September and October are my favourite months in the year. With the low sun casting a warm glow and with everything turning orange, red and golden yellow it gives the veiled impression that there is a warm feeling in the air.
That warm feeling could also have something to do with the fact that you are now wearing extra clothes like jumpers, scarves, hats and gloves but still, those late evenings are slightly magical as the day begins to wind down and the sunsets become more spectacular.

It also seems that more and more people are having BBQ's later into the year. I think people are getting fed up with uncovering their hibernating BBQ's mid June in the hope of a great cooking summer. Only to cover them up again late June in an attempt to ward off any rusting from the July and August rains. It seems we've had enough and said "To hell with it".

So what better way to add some atmosphere to a BBQ on a late Autumn evening than homemade origami lights.

First of all this is a great use for your Christmas lights which only get the chance to shine once a year. Out they come, tangled up beyond all hope, strung around a tree for 2 weeks before being packed away for another 11 1/2 months and thrown back up into the attic.

For the paper, why not use up any scraps of waste paper like old faxes, misprints, magazine pages - anything that would normally get thrown out or recycled.

Now for the origami part.

                                Start with a square piece of paper,  8 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in for these lights.

Image: freshlypicked

                                                                       Fold diagonal.

Image: freshlypicked

                                                        Again on the opposite diagonal.

Image: freshlypicked

                                                                        Fold in half.

Image: freshlypicked

                                            And again, in half. You should have folded 4 times.

Image: freshlypicked

              Pinch the flat edges together to form this point. If you can't form it, try flipping the paper over. 

Image: freshlypicked

                                                  Your piece should now look like this.

Image: freshlypicked

                                               Then fold all of the corners up to the middle.

Image: freshlypicked

                                                                            Like so.

Image: freshlypicked

                                             Then fold the edges into the middle, all four sides.

Image: freshlypicked

Image: freshlypicked

Image: freshlypicked

                                     Then take the four loose ends + tuck them into the pockets.

Image: freshlypicked

Image: freshlypicked

                                                       One end should have a little hole.

Image: freshlypicked

                                                Blow air into that hole, inflating your lantern.

Image: freshlypicked

                                        Using the hole, attach the lanterns to the string of lights.

Image: freshlypicked

There's a bit of work involved in it but the results are great. 

Being able to sit out in the late evening, watching the sun set surrounded by twinkly outdoor lights.

And perhaps a scarf or two.