Posts filed under 'diy'
Want to spice up your Halloween with a little do-it-yourself costuming this year? Here are a few of my favorite fun (or ridiculous) costume tutorials from around the web… (I think the Inanimate Objects may be my favs!)
Wings, Capes, and Tails
Traditional Costumes
Movie/TV/Book Inspired
Inanimate Objects
photo: Pumpkin Candle by somadjinn
October 19th, 2008
Mother’s Day is Sunday-do you have an armful of flowers, cards, and gifts ready? If not, don’t worry! I’ve got quite a few DIY gift ideas for Mom, so start clicking through (or check out my “DIY Gifts for the Ladies on your List” post from November) and see what you can get done in the next few days!
FOR MOMS WHO LOVE FABRIC GOODIES
Little Owls. Is mama a fan of nature, animals, or even wisdom itself? Whip up a couple of these adorable stuffed owls using this handy photo-tutorial courtesy of Moonstitches. Make just one or get ambitions and sew a whole parliament of owls (did you know a group of owls is called a parliament? Random!).
Easy Peasy Fabric Flowers. These cute fabric flowers are the perfect accent to mom’s jacket, bag, or really anything else-plus they last longer than (AND aren’t as pricey as) real flowers! Templates, photos, and instructions are all included-all you need are your supplies and a little bit of time.
FOR MOMS WHO LOVE CHOCOLATE
DIY Chocolate Magic Shell. True chocolate fans know that nothing is more magical than some quick-hardening chocolate sauce on a bowl of ice cream. Want to know how to make it yourself (and try some yummy new flavors, too)? Looks like it’s your lucky day (and mom’s, too, of course)!
“Better Than Chocolate” Body Scrub. Moms probably need a little pampering more than anyone, so why not whip up this easy chocolatey body scrub for her? All you need is a few ingredients, something to mix with, and an airtight container to store the end result.
Homemade Recipes for Popular Candy Bars, The oh-so-lovely people of Chow have made it super simple for you to make dozens of mom’s favorite candy bars yourself. Their easy recipes for popular candy bars make all that mouthwatering chocolatey goodness attainable and fun. Wrap these up in a cute wrapper or box & give Mom a big smile.
FOR MOMS WHO STILL HANG YOUR ARTWORK ON THE FRIDGE
Jewel Case Photo Frames. These easy photo frames are easy to make, easy to swap photos out of, and a cool new way for Mom to display whatever artwork she wants to eyeball this week. They’re also kind to your pocketbook. : )
Ribbon Striped Bulletin Board. Make all that artwork a little more portable with this ribbon-striped bulletin board-it’s a classier display space than the fridge, and might help Mom keep track of bills, phone numbers, and the dates of your finals weeks a little easier.
Happy Mother’s Day to all your mothers or mother-figures!
photo: new players from Moonstitches’ blog
May 9th, 2008
I’ve been busy making gifts for some of my family (including the Monster iPod Cozy for my brother!), and its actually been surprisingly fun–it seems much more personal. Here is a little assortment of fun DIY holiday gifts you can give to the teens and twenty-somethings in your life:
Redesigned Suitcase Backpack. To keep this unique project inexpensive, scour thrift stores for good-quality suitcases, and embellish with cool scraps you thrift or discover around the house.
Rice Heat Therapy Pillow. Schoolwork, new jobs, and all that comes with this age can mean stiff necks and headaches. This aromatherapy rice pillow will soothe all those aches and pains. This tutorial also includes ways to change the pillow into a cold pack and an eye-pillow.
Toaster Pastry iPod Cozy. This is the easiest iPod case I’ve found yet—just a needle, thread, and a couple pieces of felt. Plus it looks just like a Pop Tart! (Also check out the other iPod cases I posted in this entry and this one. I made the “Monster iPod Cozy” for my brother–it looks great and cost less than $5!)
Lavender Bath Salts. A bottle of these can cost $16 or more in stores, but they smell just as good (or better!) when you make your own.
Paper Lantern. Take your origami skills to the next level by making this gorgeous paper lantern for your friend, sibling, or roommate. It’s very straightforward, but looks stunning when its finished!
Recipe Book. Perfect for anyone taking on the first few years of living on their own, fill this book with favorite family recipes or scour the web for recipes you can make with just dorm supplies (microwave, fridge, toaster, etc.). To cut costs a bit, you can use a regular binder instead of a scrapbook album.
Want more low-cost and DIY gift ideas? Check out my other gift entries, below, or subscribe to keep up on my latest posts!
Photo: Christmas Decorations by alitaylor
December 13th, 2007
A lot of people are pledging to give handmade gifts this holiday season (and by the way, happy Hanukkah to those of you now enjoying the first few days of it!). You may not want to give all handmade gifts, but I personally like this idea because it can be much less expensive to make your own gifts (yay!) than to try to buy for everyone on your list. If you have kids on your list, I have a few fun and thrifty ideas for you!
Build a Cardboard Kitchen. You know how parents always complain that little kids will play more with a big box than with a toy? For only $7 you can buy a pattern to build an adorable toy kitchen out of cardboard! (Check here if the first link no longer works, and check out the creator’s blog for tutorials on making more fun kid gifts, like multi-colored crayon melts).
Harry Potter Wands. Made with just paper, paint, and a glue gun, these wands are surprisingly cool-looking! Perfect for that young (or old) would-be wizard in your life. 
Glitter Playdough. Easy, pretty playdough you can make with simple grocery store items. Give them with some cookie cutters for maximum fun!
Stuffed Felt Monster. My little cousins (a pair of energetic little boys) love anything “scary”—from ghosts to monsters, and anywhere in between. This clever photo tutorial shows you how to make one yourself.
Quick & Easy Snow Globes. Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a way to make snow globes yourself! These aren’t super fancy, but you can customize them to include favorite cartoon characters, dinosaurs, anything your little buddy loves.
A Recycled Dollhouse. Check out this cool dollhouse you can make using things from around the house—these ideas are just a start. Get creative and see what else you can come up with!
Paper Mice. A free downloadable pattern helps you make some teeny mice and a piece of cheese for them to play in! Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of cash to make a little kid happy–they’ll love playing with these little guys with you, so start a game of pretend.
Is there anything else you’d like to read about? More gift ideas? Finals tips? Tips on making money over the school break? More holiday posts? Let me know!
I’ve got more ideas for you, so don’t forget to subscribe or sign up for email updates if you want to keep up!
Past Holiday Posts:
Photo: fourtytworoads
December 6th, 2007
Need to give some fun gifts this holiday without spending a lot of money? Check out these fresh, fun DIY gifts for the guys in your life—be they dads, boyfriends, roommates, or brothers.
Monster iPod Case. Definitely not your typical iPod case—this one takes some sewing, but it is so worth the effort. I’m thinking of making my brother one for Christmas. **UPDATE** I made this for my brother over the weekend, and it came out great AND cost less than $5! I’ll try to post a picture soon.
Ski Cap with Integrated Headphones. Perfect for snowboarding or skiing, these caps cost about $40 to buy, but this tutorial teaches you how to make one for as little as $10!
Apple Puff Pastries. I have yet to meet a guy who didn’t enjoy free food—these apple puff pastries are a fun gift because they’re a little fancier (and they sure beat a Pop Tart). These simple directions will have you baking in no time.
Make Your Own Journal. This is my only repeat from my past DIY gift post (for the ladies on your list), but it would be a fun gift for any guy who writes or draws. Perfect for beginners, this video tutorial shows you how to make a journal using paper, glue, and some 4×6 photos.
Coin Cufflinks. Make some cool cufflinks out of coins in just two easy steps!
Hollow Hiding-Place Book. You know those hollowed-out books where people hide their most treasured possessions? Well this tutorial tells you how to make one yourself. Talk about the perfect gift! Make it even better by filling it with something fun (or delicious).
Etched Drinking Glasses. You have to be careful making these because the etchant can be dangerous, but the finished result looks really classy.
I’ll have at least one more of these gift roundups in store, so check back (or you can just subscribe via RSS or get email updates if you want to make it even easier!).
Past gift posts:
Photo: Gifts? Already? by mysza831
December 3rd, 2007
College usually means a tight budget, and that can be especially difficult during the holidays. If you’re worried your gift list will outweigh your wallet, read on!
Buying Great Gifts for $5. If you’ve only got $5 to spend, you can still give surprisingly fun gifts—the trick is to be both thoughtful and creative. Shop the bargain section at the bookstore, scour eBay for inexpensive original art, pick up a small scented lotion at Bath & Body Works, or browse IKEA for inexpensive kitchenware, candles, and other home décor. WiseBread has a great list of 25 great gifts for $5 or less with ideas ranging from Star Wars key chains (Emperor Palpatine is on sale for only $1.98) to photo albums.
Do it Yourself. If you have a creative streak, try making some gifts yourself! Check out my recent list of DIY Gifts for the ladies on your list (and keep your eye on the blog, more of these lists are coming up!). If you crochet or knit, whip up a scarf, hat, or mittens. If you paint, make small paintings for family and friends. If you enjoy writing, fill up a small journal with fun memories you have with the gift recipient. Use your talents!
Coupons and Discounts. If you’re shopping online, websites like Coupon Mountain, DealCatcher and RetailMeNot offer free coupon codes for great deals. You can even get a RetailMeNot Firefox Plugin that will tell you which coupons are listed for whichever page you are visiting. Also, if you haven’t yet discovered the joys of shopping at discount stores like Ross or Marshall’s, you should head over there before the big Christmas rush hits. It’s a little like a treasure hunt, but you can find some great brands at discounted prices if you take the time to look. Finally, don’t forget that a lot of places (including online stores like Apple.com) offer student discounts!
Give the Gift of Food. Want to give something to everyone in your hallway without breaking the bank? Try gifting some cookies or sweets! My mom and I used to make “Peppermint Bark” for people every Christmas—it is so easy you can even make it in the dorms! All you need is some melting chocolate (this is different from regular chocolate—you can sometimes find it in the baking aisle, or in craft stores like Michael’s), some saran wrap, a plastic bag, a microwave-safe bowl, and some candy canes. Follow these directions to melt your chocolate in a bowl. While the chocolate is melting, crush up the candy canes in the plastic bag. Pour the crushed candy cane into the melted chocolate, and mix. Spread out strips of saran wrap on a flat surface, and spread a thin layer of chocolate mixture. Let cool and harden. Break it into pieces, and wrap it up!
photo: gift by modish
November 28th, 2007
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