DIY Yarn-Wrapped Crafts

I've seen these yarn-wrapped letters all over the place lately. So I decided to try making my own. It was very easy. You can find a ton of tutorials online by just googling "yarn-wrapped letters" (perhaps that's what brought you here!). 

All you need is:

- a cardboard letter of your choice. You can find these for very cheap ($1-$3) at almost any craft store. I got mine at Hobby Lobby and used my 40% off coupon so I got it for next to nothing. You can also get a letter made out of wood, paper mache, or styrofoam. Any of these will work depending on your preference. Since you are covering it with yarn you won't be able to tell what it is made out of. If you want the letter to be able to stand on its own, I would suggest a cardboard, foam, or paper mache letter vs. a wood one.

- hot glue gun (oh and scissors!)

- yarn of your color choice. I went with a bright-mustardy color since it fits in with Fall, Spring, and Summer decor. 

First you need to cover the edges of the letter where you won't be wrapping yarn. Simply cut small strips of yarn and glue them on.  Make sure to leave a little extra on both ends so you can glue it to the sides as well.

Then you simply keep wrapping with yarn! I ended up wrapping most of one side then unwrapping it and re-wrapping it in a different direction. I chose to make my letter not look so symmetrical. I liked the "messy" look of it better.

Once I had completely wrapped all the surfaces of the letter, I just wrapped around the entire thing in a criss-cross fashion.

When done, just use a dab of hot glue to secure the yarn to the back or bottom of the letter.

Voila!  A cute statement piece for any home decor!

What I love about this project is that it's so versatile and easy. You could also wrap yarn around letters to spell an entire name, a special word, or wrap yarn around a foam wreath (I think I might try that one).
This would also look really cute in a baby nursery. Or it could be a great wedding or baby gift!

Every letter will be different. You may find that wrapping yarn around an "L" or an "O" is easier than say an "E" or a "Q".

 Let me know what other ideas you've come up with that are yarn-inspired!

DIY Hardcover Book Decor

I recently found out about these beautiful books:

 

They are the Penguin Classics Hardcover collection and the series costs over $200 which is something I cannot afford. Granted, they are wonderful books; classics like Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, etc. I would love to own all of these books not only for their literary value, but ESPECIALLY because of how adorable they would look on my mantle or shelf.

So this got me thinking. How can I re-create something similar to these adorable books but at an affordable price? Here you go: the DIY Hardcover Book Decor Tutorial!

These are the hardcover books I created myself. I think they look pretty good! And pretty cute on my mantle.

The great part? Each book cost me LESS THAN $2!!!! And actually, if you already have hardcover books at home this project can be absolutely free! It won't cost you anything! For that price, I could make 100 decorative books for my home and still beat the Penguin Classics Collection price.

Also, your books will truly be ONE OF A KIND! No one else will have the same decor as you because you made it and personalized it to your taste! Or, you can spend $$$ on the book series above and have the same books on your mantle as everyone else. 

Here's how you start. Get some hardcover books that you don't mind covering. I didn't have a whole bunch just lying around like some people might, so I found a whole stack of hardcover books at Savers for really cheap. And I used a 20% coupon to get them so it was even cheaper. I tried to find a variety of sizes, thicknesses, etc. so they all wouldn't look "cookie-cutter". 

You can also buy some Cardboard Book Boxes like these:

I found these at Hobby Lobby. Small size= $1.99. Large size= $2.99. If you use Hobby Lobby's weekly 40% off coupon they would cost $1.19 for the small size and $1.79 for the large size.

Here are the basic supplies you will need: 
1. Hardcover Books (whether ones you already own, or you can buy them cheap at 2nd hand stores, or at a craft store).


2. Paper- any design that you like! I would recommend cardstock paper because it bubbles up less when using Mod Podge.


3. Mod Podge- most people already own a bottle of this kind of glue. You can use either matte or glossy finish, but I would recommend the matte finish as it makes the hardcover book look more realistic. 


4. Foam brush- you can buy a pack of 4 at Walmart for 97 cents. You may already own one.


Other optional supplies: sand paper and a stamp ink pad (you'll see why later). 




Okay, now for the steps (I don't have pictures for each step since they are pretty basic).


Step 1: Clean each hardcover book using rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. This will clean the cover and spine and ensure a good bonding surface for the mod podge glue. Let each book dry for at least a few minutes.


Step 2: Measure the size of your book cover and the spine. Add on at least 1/4 inch for the book cover measurement and about 1/2 inch for the spine measurement. I liked having the paper I chose for the book spine to overlap a little onto the front and back covers.


Step 3: Apply mod podge to the book spine and slightly onto the front and back covers. Press the paper onto the spine and both book covers. Allow to dry.


*Tip- use a credit card or something flat to rub over the paper to smooth out any bubbles. 


Step 4: Apply mod podge to the front and back book covers as above and press paper onto each cover. Allow to dry. 


Step 5: One the paper on the book has dried, apply another coat of mod podge over the paper on both covers and the spine. Allow the book to dry.


The final steps are optional:

Take some sand paper and rub around the edges of the paper on the book. This gives it a more finished look.

Then, with a stamp ink pad (you can use any color you want, but I would suggest a brown or black color), gently brush the edges of the paper all around the book to give it a slightly weathered and used look. I like how it made my books look more vintage.

The final product!

As I did this project, I found that I liked using real hardcover books versus the cardboard book boxes simply because the actual hardcover books have real pages.

However, what I do like about the cardboard book boxes is that they open up and you can use them for a myriad of things. You could keep little treats inside, pencils, stationary, or best of all, give it as a gift to someone! Include a cute neighbor gift, girlfriend gift, or anything inside the cardboard book box then the box becomes the wrapping! Include some cute ribbon or any type of embellishment on the outside for an authentic and individualized look!

I LOVE how these books turned out. I am excited to try other paper combinations!

Baby Banner

Here is a great idea for a baby's first birthday banner (or a baby shower banner)! All I did was take some twine string and loop it through the arm holes of my baby's onesies and outfits from when she was a preemie/newborn. It was easy as pie!

Then I just added some small hand mittons using colored paper clips. It took me all of 10 minutes to get it put together and hung.

 

You could easily add anything onto this banner and make it longer or shorter. Other items you could use on the banner are:

Baby beanie hats

Baby socks

Ribbon

Pacifiers

Pictures of baby throughout their first year

Baby shoes/slippers

Footprints/handprints on paper

The possibilities are really endless. And if I'd had more time, you could also hook these items on using clothes pins (you could paint them any color to coordinate with other items), or diaper pins (like the ones for old cloth diapers).

Re-finished Entry Way Table

I refinished and painted an old entry way table that belonged to my husband's Grandpa. It was in great condition, but I wanted to change the color and update the hardware for a fresh look.

 And waaala! I love how it turned out. The color is called "heirloom white" and I love the cottage-esque look of it.

There comes great satisfaction with fixing up something yourself. The whole project cost about $20 (the table was free but I had to buy primer, spray paint, and new handles; we already had the sander and related tools).

For this project, I used spray paint. But I have re-finished old wood furniture before using regular paint like in this post.

It was much less time-consuming using spray paint. However, I had to apply a few more coats with spray paint vs. regular paint to get an even tone throughout the table. I also had to start with a primer, then use spray paint, and finished with a spray-on clear protective coat of polyurethane to protect against nicks and scratches.

The supplies you will need are:

Sandpaper

Drop cloth

Spray paint

Primer

Polyurethane spray

The steps are almost the same as painting furniture with paint like in this post, however instead of applying paint, you will use spray paint. Be sure to follow the spray paint can instructions for how long to wait in between applying new coats. Also make sure you shake the can vigorously before spraying and hold the can at least 8-10 inches away from the furniture so the paint is spread evenly.

Old Things Made New

This dresser/changing table is 25+ years old, but I was able to make it look brand new with some easy steps!

Now a days, changing table/dresser combos cost $200-$400+ which is an expense I personally couldn't afford.

The changing table actually wasn't in bad condition to begin with, but I wanted to spruce it up a little with some new paint and new hardware, so I went to work.

Here's the old dresser (still in great condition however!):

And here's what I did to it:

The supplies you will need are:

Sandpaper 

Paint

Paintbrush or foam brush (I prefer a foam brush)

Drop cloth

Mask (optional but recommended)

Tools for removing/replacing hardware

Steps:

1. Choose your paint color- make sure it can be used on wood (or whatever medium you are using). I recommend buying a sample size paint can and trying it out before committing to buying a huge can.
2. Remove any hardware from the furniture.
3. Use sandpaper to buff down the wood and and smooth out any rough spots. It's easier if you have an electronic hand-held sander, but doing by hand will also work.
4. Clean the furniture with a damp cloth. Let dry completely.
5. Apply coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry completely in between new coats. Once finished, allow furniture to completely dry for 24 hours before moving it.

This kind of DIY project is very easy, quick, and affordable and makes any piece of old furniture look brand new!