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DIY Switch Plate Cover Tutorial

Katar — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:00:18 +0000

My fiance and I wanted all of our switch plates to match, so we literally unscrewed all of the old switch plates and installed brand new ones in our house. I was about to throw away the old ones because I thought making new and exciting covers for them would be too difficult and time consuming. Actually, making switch plate covers are really easy!

Earlier, I wrote a post titled DIY Switch Plate and Outlet Cover Tutorials – which will give you TONS more ideas for making covers! This post is just about what I did with mine.

Materials:

Switch Plate (I used a metal one)
Sandpaper
Primer Spray Paint
Color of your Choice Spray Paint
Images/stuff to Mod Podge your Switch Plate
Scissors/X-acto Knife
Mod Podge and Brush

Instructions:

Step 1: Sand the switch plate all over with your sandpaper, so that the paint will stick to it better.

Step 2: Lay out a big piece of cardboard that you can use to spray paint on outside. I had a lot of switch plates, so I just did them all at once! Spray paint with your primer.

Lay out your switch plates

Spray paint with your primer - I also altered a tin

Step 3: After the primer has dried, take your colored spray paint and spray paint it the same way you did with the primer. Let it dry. For the screws, tape off the “screw” part and paint the tops of the screws the same way you did with the main switch plate part.

Step 4: Pick out clip art or anything else you’d like to Mod Podge to the switch plate. I used a vintage image. Cut it out and place it on your cover to get an idea of where you’d like to place it. Take your time cutting – it will be very obvious if you do it quickly! For really detailed places, try using an X-acto knife.

Step 5: Using spray adhesive, spray the back of the image to be placed onto the switch plate, and then place it. Doing this keeps the clip art in place while you Mod Podge.

Step 6: Working from the back of the switch plate, use your X-acto knife to cut an X in the rectangle where the actual switch will go, making little triangles that you can fold in from the front to the back. If your image covers the screw holes, make X’s there are well, folding them in.

Step 7: Mod Podge the switch plate and the screw tops and let them dry. All done! Easy, right?

Vintage Woman Switch Plate

I made this switch plate specifically for DIYscene’s Black and Metal October swap – the recipient loved it!

Faux Fur: What Can I Do With It?

Katar — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:00:01 +0000

So.. what can you do with it? I see it at Jo-Ann’s all the time, and honestly wonder what the heck could possibly be done with it. This post lists everything that I could find, with tutorials!

Actually, I made this stocking with some faux fur for my fiance’s niece. I hope she loves it!

Monster Stocking Tutorial from Crap I've Made

Click on the photo to get the tutorial.

Accessory Tutorials:

How to Sew a Child’s Fur Muff: Scribd

DIY Faux Fur Neck Warmer: Love Maegan

How to Make a Fake Fur Stole Wrap: ismoyo

Faux Fur Compact: FamilyFun

Beanie: Child's Faux Fur Trim: CraftBits

My Big Red Muff Tutorial for a Vintage style faux fur handwarmer: Laupre

Clothing Tutorials:

DIY Faux Fur Vest: LoveMaegan

Pet Tutorials:

DIY Reversible Pet Bed Tutorial: RedThreadDIY - hey! That's me!

Luxe Dog Bed From a Faux Fur Coat: FineDivingChicago

How to Sew Faux Fur:

Halloween Tutorials:

Six Kids Animal Halloween Costumes, One Pattern: Suite101

Fur Boots/Feet/Paws: FreeWebs User messerschmitt51

Christmas Tutorials:

Faux Fur Lined Christmas Tree Skirt Tutorial: Centsational Girl

Christmas Stocking Card: Kaboose

Greyhound Santa: AllFreeCrafts

How to Make a Fur Christmas Tree: RoxyCraft

Inspiration, Ideas, and Photos:

Fun Faux Fur Bag: U-Handbag

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

DIY Gift Tag Tutorials

Katar — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:00:34 +0000

Yay for gift tags! If only I had the time to make all of these wonderful things. Maybe I should start crafting in July!

These tutorials will help you make your Christmas gifts even more special. These crafters are so talented! Click on the photo to get the how to.

Looking for more Christmas tutorials? Simply check out my blog archive for Christmas!

Gift Tag Tutorials:

Punched Snowflake Gift Tags: Martha Stewart

Making Christmas Tags Out of Old Greeting Cards: Altered Stuff

Christmas Gift Tags for Bridge Lovers: A Spoonful of Sugar

Quick Christmas Gift Tags: A Spoonful of Sugar

Soap Christmas Tags: The Soap Queen

How to Make Vintage Photo Gift Tags: Nice Package

Personalized Gift Tags: Can't Stop Making Things

Last Minute Christmas Tags: inchmark

Recycled Christmas Cards to Gift Tags: Fat Bottom Bags

Music Note Gift Tags: Blue Cricket Design

Fabric Gift Tags: Brown Paper Packages

Button Gift Tags: Bugs and Fishes

Recycled Gift Tags: Craft

Yuletide gift tags: a blender pen tutorial: poppytalk

Easy Christmas Gift Tags: kelly jo's stamp pad

How To - Mini LP Record Gift Tags: Dude Craft

Funky Gift Tags: Blue Cricket Design

Printable Gift Tags:

Free Lace-Patterned Labels and Gift Tags: Creature Comforts

Make Mini Gift Tags Using Free Clip Art From Soft Flex Company: SoftFlexGirl

Clip Art Gift Tags: Blue Cricket Design

Inspiration, Ideas, and Photos:

Glittered Gift Tags: Susie Harris

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

DIY Outdoor Christmas Decoration Tutorials

Katar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:00:30 +0000

I am a BIG FAN of decorating the outside of the house for any holiday. Christmas decorations are competitive though, so you’ve gotta be willing to put in a lot of time and effort. This is especially true if you don’t want to buy all of your decorations. I LOVE making things, and I LOVE showing them off! I made a ton of stuff for Halloween (my diy tombstones and my diy lighted ghosts) – and I can genuinely say it was worth it! Items that you make are of better quality, UNIQUE, and you can really be proud of them.

I do plan on making some lawn decorations for Christmas, and will absolutely share how I made them with all of you! For now, check out these tutorials that I found online. They look really fun! Click on the photo to get the tutorial.

Looking for more Christmas tutorials? Simply check out my blog archive for Christmas!

Yard Accent Tutorials:

Snowman Yard Accent: Lowes

Wrapped Holiday Presents: GP

Holiday Tree Yard Accent: GP

Sleigh Yard Accent: GP

Making Holiday Yard Art: Lowes

Vintage Christmas Yard Decoration Project: AC

Three Carolers Christmas Display: The Wood Crafter

Building Santa's Sleigh: Rona

Lighted Tutorials:

Holiday Light Ball: Born2Haunt

Santa and Reindeer Display: Do It 101

Happy Lighted Snowman: Better Homes and Gardens

Stuff To Do With Snow:

Outdoor Snow Table: Martha Stewart

Make It - A Snowman Kit: Make It Do

Snowman Kits: Poppies at Play

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

DIY Christmas Wreath Tutorials

Katar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:00:37 +0000

These Christmas wreaths RULE! Don’t go out and buy one – they’re ridiculously expensive! You can get the same or a better look just by following these tutorials.

I’m really interested in making an ornament wreath – I’m sure that thrift stores are loaded with old ornaments just waiting to be saved!

Anyways, just click on the photo to go to the tutorial. Happy crafting!

Looking for more Christmas tutorials? Simply check out my blog archive for Christmas!

Candy Wreath Tutorials:

Goody Goody Gumdrops Wreath: A Pretty Cool Life

Fabric Wreath Tutorials:

Burlap Christmas Wreath: Diary of a Craftoholic

Fabric Scrap Wreath Tutorial: Spoonfull of Sugar Girls

Ice Wreath Tutorials:

How to Make Ice Wreaths: Resurrection Fern

Ornament Wreath Tutorials:

How to Make a Christmas Ball Ornament Wreath: Christmas Gifts

Christmas Ornament Wreath Out of a Wire Hanger: Eddie Ross

Ornament Wreath Tutorial: J-A-Girl

Cheap and Easy Christmas Wreath - (Sorry Pottery Barn!): Our Suburban Cottage

How to Make a Glass Ornament Wreath: eHow

Sesame Street Wreath: Collectibles.About

Paper Christmas Wreath Tutorials:

Paper Christmas Wreath Tutorial: The Red Thread

Reused Wrapping Paper Wreath: Instructables

Ribbon Wreath Tutorials:

Making a Ribbon Wreath: Home By Sunset

Christmas Ribbon Wreath: The DIY Show Off

Shaped Wreath Tutorials:

DIY Faux Boxwood Letter Wreaths: Living With Lindsay

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

DIY Christmas Card Tutorials

Katar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Don’t buy Christmas cards! Make these instead. They are so much more personal. Click on the photo to go to the tutorial.

Have old greeting cards that you want to do something with? Check out my previous post: Old Greeting Cards: What Can I Do With Them?

Looking for more Christmas tutorials? Simply check out my blog archive for Christmas!

Christmas Card Tutorials:

Painting Cards: Painting.About

The Easy Technique for Painting Handmade Christmas Cards: Painting.About

Santa's Sleigh Christmas Card Tutorial: Cheeky Magpie

Starbucks Coffee Sleeve Christmas Card: Aileen's Musings

Make a Greeting Card with Scrap Fabric Applique and Buttons: Crafting a Green World

Make a Collage Window Card from Recycled Papers: Crafting a Green World

A Simple Recycled Paper Greeting Card: Crafting a Green World

Ribbon Tree Holiday Cards: CraftZine

Goofy Holiday Cards: Cheeky Magpie

Glittered Holiday Cards with Fold-In Shapes: Martha Stewart

Gift-Wrapped Cards: Martha Stewart

Holiday Digital Photo Cards: Martha Stewart

Stand-Up Figure Cards: Martha Stewart

Button Snowman Cards: Martha Stewart

Embossed Holiday Cards: Martha Stewart

Ribbon Trees Card: Martha Stewart

Rickrack Cards: Martha Stewart

Snowflake Cards: Martha Stewart

White Christmas: Sweet Greetings: Martha Stewart

Glittered Cards with Melissa: Martha Stewart

Ornament Cards: Martha Stewart

Hankerchief Cards: Martha Stewart

Punched Snowflake Photo Card: Martha Stewart

Monogrammed Cards: Martha Stewart

Puzzle-Cut Pine Tree Cards: Martha Stewart

Doily Stencil Cards: Martha Stewart

Mirror Image Silhouette Cards: Martha Stewart

Christmas Tree Photo Cards: Martha Stewart

Button Cards: Martha Stewart

Candy Cane Rickrack Cards: Martha Stewart

Reindeer Pop-Up Card: Martha Stewart

Punched Holiday Cards: Martha Stewart

Sparkling Holiday Cards: Martha Stewart

Cookie Cutter Cards: Martha Stewart

Magnet Cards: Martha Stewart

Photo Holiday Cards: Martha Stewart

Stamped Holiday Cards: Martha Stewart

Seasons Greetings Simple Stanzas: Martha Stewart

Christmas Cards You Can Print for Free:

Christmas Card Patterns: Scrappin’ Out Loud

Mini Greeting Card and Letter Writing Set: Eat Drink Chic

Free Christmas Clip Art:

Vintage Family Number Christmas Cards: Just Something I Made

Glittered Clip Art Deer Cards: Martha Stewart

Glittered Clip-Art Bird Cards: Martha Stewart

Clip Art Holiday Gift Cards: Martha Stewart

Clip-Art Craft: Snowman Card: Martha Stewart

Glittered Clip Art Bird and Berry Cards: Martha Stewart

Holiday Newsletter Tutorials:

Envelope-Fold Holiday Letter: Martha Stewart

Holiday Newsletters: Martha Stewart

Inspiration, Ideas, and Photos:

Cherry’s Jubilee has some AMAZING Christmas cards – they are truly a work of art!

Christmas Wishes Card: Scrappin Out Loud

Season's Greetings Card: Scrappin Out Loud

White Cards: Ruffles and Stuff

Merry Little Christmas Ornament Card: Stampin Up

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

DIY Ring Bearer Pillow Tutorials

Katar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:15 +0000

By now, everyone should know how I feel about overpriced stuff that can be easily made on your own.

Making your own ring bearer pillows will be so much more personalized than buying a mass-produced one. It will be a lot cheaper too! You want your wedding to be original, right?

Lucky for me, I have two ring bearers, so I get to make two! Yay!

Here are some great tutorials that I’ve come across in my search for making my own. When I get around to making my own, I will be sure to post my tutorial and plenty of photos! For now, just click on the photos below to go to a tutorial that interests you.

Tutorials:

DIY Ring Pillows: Martha Stewart Weddings – this link has a collection of 17 different ideas!

My DIY Ring Pillow: Wedding Bee

Ring Bearer Pillow How To: Sewing.Today

Wedding Ring Pillow: LilBlueBoo

Ring Bearer Pillow: Apple Bride

Ribbon Ring Pillow: Martha Stewart Weddings

DIY Project Ring Pillows: Wedding Bee

Ring Bearer Pillow - a DIY Tutorial: 12K Wedding

How to Make a Something Old Something New Ring Pillow: CraftStylish

How to Make a Ruffled Pillow: Kelly and Olive

How to Make a Ring Pillow with Vintage Lace: CraftStylish

Monogrammed Felt Pillow: JCarolineCreative

Inspiration, Ideas, and Photos:

Wedding Ring Pillow: Eleen

My DIY Ring Bearer Pillow: Bridgettes Detroit Wedding

My DIY Ring Bearer Pillow: Bridgette's Detroit Wedding

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

The 2009 Gift Making Guide from Cathe Holden

Katar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:53:56 +0000

Wow – I am in AWE! Cathe Holden just posted her 2009 Gift Making Guide on her Just Something I Made blog.

She has listed over 40 of her very own tutorials in the guide, and I want to make everything!

My all-time favorite is the vintage globe bowl.

Be sure to click on the photo to check out the guide for all of her gift making tutorials!

The 2009 Gift Making Guide: Cathe Holden - Click the photo to see over 40 of Cathe Holden's amazing tutorials!

Wire Hangers: What Can I Do With Them?

Katar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:10 +0000

Spoon gets all of his work shirts dry cleaned every couple of weeks, and when we get them back, there’s a white wire hanger on each one. We have accumulated more wire hangers than the clothes we have, so I started thinking about what could be done with them.

So far, all we’ve done with them involved cutting them and bending them to make stakes to hold down our Halloween decorations into the ground. They worked really well and none of our stuff blew away. Yay!

But hey – I still have a TON left, and more are coming. I did my homework – here are some fun and awesome things that you can make or do with your wire hangers. Yay!

Click on the photo to go to the tutorial.

Contents:

Home Decor Tutorials
Hanger Cover Tutorials
Mobile Tutorials
Toy Tutorials
Baby Shower Tutorials
Valentine’s Day Tutorials
Easter Tutorials
Halloween Tutorials
Christmas Tutorials

Home Decor Tutorials:

iPod Dock from a Metal Hanger: Instructables

Hanger Lamp: Instructables

Make your own vintage Wire Basket out of Coat Hangers: Associated Content

Tissue Box Hanger: Instructables

Tissue Paper Butterfly: San Diego Zoo

Wire Hanger Lamps: Cut out and Keep

Coat Hanger Wine Rack: Guardian.co.uk

Wire Coat Hanger Toilet Roll Holder: Instructables

Lion Face: San Diego Zoo

Wine Glass Dryer from Coat Hanger: Instructables

Simple Book Light: Instructables

Ergonomic Laptop Stand Made from a Coat Hanger: Instructables

Dream Catcher: San Diego Zoo

Multi-Purpose Clothespin Hanger: Instructables

Make Your Own Razor and Shaving Brush Stand: Instructables

Recycled Wire Hanger Yarn Dog: Thrifty Fun

Denim Jeans Windsock: Craftbits

Wire Hanger Book Rack: Someday Crafts

Hanger Cover Tutorials:

Yarn Covered Hangers: Exploring Womanhood

Handsome Hangers: Family Fun

Braided Coat Hanger: All Free Crafts

Stylish Cardboard Clothes Hangers: Instructables

Coat Hanger Cover: Craftbits

Personalized Wire Hanger for Baby Clothes: Instructables

Mobile Tutorials:

DIY High Contrast Baby Mobile: Instructables

How to make a stable Airplane Mobile: How Stuff Works

Pac Man Paper Mobile: Instructables

Whale Mobile: Enchanted Learning

3-D Fruit Craft: Enchanted Learning

Butterfly Mobile: Craftbits

Toy Tutorials:

Make a Whirligig in a Box: ThinkingFountain

Baby Shower Tutorials:

Baby Shower Room Wreath: Craftbits

Baby Shower Announcement Wreath: CraftBits

Baby Shower Baby Towel Pram: Craftbits

Valentine’s Day Tutorials:

Wire Hanger Fabric Wreath: San Diego Zoo

Key to My Heart Hangup: Craftbits

Easter Tutorials:

Baby Bunny Baby Basket: Craftbits

Halloween Tutorials:

Making Halloween Corpse Hands: WetCanvas

LED Spiders: Instructables

Wire Hanger Pumpkin: San Diego Zoo

Ghost Halloween Decoration: Cut Out and Keep

Recycled T-Shirt Door Witch: Craftbits

Fall Scarecrow Decoration: Family Crafts

Bat Mobile: Family Fun

Butterfly Wings: Cut out and Keep

Halloween Fairy Wings: Knitting

Fairy Wings: Cut Out and Keep

More Fairy Wings: Cut out and Keep

Bat Wings: Cut out and Keep

Wire Hanger Bow: Instructables

Christmas Tutorials:

Wire Hanger Christmas Ornament Wreath: eddieross

Glow Ball Ornament: Instructables

Recycled Coat Hanger Christmas Tree: All Free Crafts

Coat Hanger Christmas Tree: Kaboose

Christmas Card Mobile: How Stuff Works

How to make a Christmas Coat Hanger Wreath: Do It Yourself

Make a Christmas Wreath: Little House in the Suburbs

Wreath from Recycled Bags: Craftbits

Wreath from Fabric Scraps: Craftbits

Coat Hanger Christmas Wreath: All Free Crafts

Candy Wreath: Family Crafts

Pine Cone Wreath: Family Crafts

Wire Santa Mini Wreath: Family Crafts

I <3 the vintage wire basket. I must try it!

And, OMG – the corpse hand is genius. I mean.. how freaking creative! I will definitely mess around with that project for next Halloween

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. As I’ve said above, I have hangers coming into the house every week, so I need to keep up with them in crafts – thanks!

Photo Credit: SilverFuture on flickr

Paper: Printable Projects, Free Clip Art, and What Can I Do With It?

Katar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:15:55 +0000

Paper is awesome. No seriously. You can do anything with paper. I mean.. it may not hold as well as metal or anything like that, but it’s still possible. That was such a lame opening. I am so sorry. I’m not so good at openings, eh?

Um.. well, here are some fun paper links that I’ve collected.Whether you’ve got fancy schmancy card stock, old magazines, old books, scraps, construction paper, newspaper, or you name it, there’s so much you can do!

If you haven’t seen it already, please check out my other posts: Books No One Wants: What Can I Do With Them? Blank Notebooks, What Can I Do With Them? and Paper Bags: What Can I Do With Them? because those, of course, involve paper. Of course, there are misc. paper items involved in other posts, so if you’re really hardcore, you can just search for the term ‘paper’ and find a bunch o’ other stuff!

As I find more links and tutorials, I just add them to this post. Really, none of my posts are complete. I’m ALWAYS adding when I find new links if they fit under the post’s subject! Enjoi!

Misc. Tutorials (because I didn’t know what to categorize them under)
Paper Technique Tutorials
Clothing Tutorials
Accessory Tutorials (oh yeah!)
Home Decor Tutorials (because you’re that awesome)
Free Clip Art to use in your own projects (vintage clip art that is freaking unique – and I love it)
Halloween Clip Art (that looks awesome)
Printable Projects (that you can assemble, or print out and be done with!)
Halloween Printable Projects

Misc. Tutorials:

The Making of an Origami Koi in Stop Motion: Mabone Origami on flickr

How to Make Japanese Paper Dolls: Kimono Reincarnate

La Calavera Lino Cut Memory Cards: AZCentral

Scalloped Note Card: Andrea Walford

Russian Nesting Doll Card: ZakkaLife

Paper Witch Shoe Favor Box: Skip to my Lou

How to Make a Gift Bow from a Magazine Page: How About Orange

Paper Boxes for Holiday Gifts: Softflexgirl

Triangle Box: Split Coast Stampers

Easy Christmas Baskets: Small Fry and Co.

Paper Technique Tutorials:

Herringbone Technique: Scrappin’ Out Loud

Clothing Tutorials:

Sew a Newspaper Dress: Instructables

Accessory Tutorials:

Paper Bag Purses: Small Fry and Co.

4x6 Accordion File Purse Tutorial: Stampin Inspirations

Paper Bag Purses: The Creative Boutique

Recycled Newspaper Pin: The Crafty Chica

Home Decor Tutorials:

Paper Silhouette Art: Lisa Freedman

Mexican Paper Flowers: Mad in Crafts

Paper Tree Tutorial: jodireeves on flickr

Tissue Paper Pom Poms Tutorial: Blue Cricket Design

Susan's Tiger Wallpaper: Design Sponge

Decorative Chair Backs: Martha Stewart

Album Cover Tutorial: Freckled Nest

Magazine Paper Doll Magnets: Ruffles and Stuff

Paper Christmas Wreath Tutorial: TheRedThreadBlog

Making Woven Paper Baskets: Gingerbread Snowflakes

Making Perfect Boxes: Lovely Design

Free clip art to use in your own projects:

Thrift Store Paper Cutouts: CraftZine
The Graphics Fairy is an excellent blog that uploads vintage photos for you to download!
I can’t forget to mention The Vintage Moth – which has free antique and vintage images for mixed media artists
Oh yeah – check out Vintage Printable too!
Why not? You’re on a roll, right? I know I am! Grab some ideas and some clip art from Just Something I Made

Halloween Clip Art:

Thanksgiving Clip Art:

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard: The Graphics Fairy

Printable Projects:

How About Orange has an excellent variety of printable crafts that you can print out right at home!
Printable Chore Chart for Kids: Mod Eco Kids
Printable Moving Announcement: How About Orange
Full Bloom Flower Card: Aileen’s Musings
NaniBird Birdie Projects: NaniBird
Bun Box: Super Cute Kawaii

Halloween Printable Projects:

Halloween Toe Tag Invitations: Brooklyn Limestone
Haunted Paper Toys: Ravens Blight
Halloween Boxes: HelloHappyBlog ah so cute! Perfect for packaging little things in for Halloween!
Jack o’ Lantern Seed Orange Jelly Bean Labels: Can’t Stop Making Things
Chocolate Covered Witch Warts Raisinettes Labels: Can’t Stop Making Things
Halloween Pop-up Card: Can’t Stop Making Things

I’m really just a huge fan of the clip art – not gonna lie. You can basically do anything with that – so your options are endless. I <3 Paper. Glad I saved my magazines, too!

If you know of ANY other examples or tutorials, please comment below so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

Photo Credit: razorfrog on flickr