Quick and Easy DIY Desk Accessories

DIY Pencil Holder

The holidays are just around the corner and many people are working on various arts & crafts projects to give away as holiday gifts. I don't know about you, but I enjoy making and receiving handmade gifts! Today's guest post craft project is sponsored by May Arts and features two quick and easy DIY Desk Accessories that you can whip up in a jiffy!

As any seasoned DIYer knows, you can turn drab to fab in minutes with the right products! May Arts is the go to ribbon for arts, crafts and DIY projects because it’s unique design eliminates frayed ends when cutting to manipulate ribbon sizes. You won’t have to worry about your projects unraveling over time, because May Arts ribbon is built to last, built with superiority in mind to hold up to any project your heart desires.

Not only is it a durable and practical ribbon, but you can choose from hundreds of different colors, styles, thicknesses and textures depending on the look you’re going for! This is not your ordinary ribbon company. They have thought outside the box to create a unique variety of ribbons so your ideas can turn into a reality, no matter what the project is!

DIY Silk Ribbon Notebook

Click HERE for the DIY Pencil Holder tutorial!

Click HERE for the DIY Silk Ribbon Notebook tutorial!

May Arts ribbon can be purchased through their new retail website, www.ribbonresource.com, or through one of their many suppliers found in the retail locator.

About May Arts: May Arts was founded in the early 1980’s in Riverside, Connecticut. The original products were high-end silk flowers, which were decorated using quality ribbons. The decorative ribbons proved so popular among customers that the business gradually evolved into a dedicated ribbon wholesaler. The May Arts Ribbon line is distinguished by its superior quality and classic design.

DIY Duct Tape Cell Phone Cases

Got a cell phone or a child who does? If so, check out these in-expensive ways on how you can make a cellphone case by simply using duct tape and a few other supplies. This is a great craft project for the older children to try and I can totally see the teenagers getting into this too. What a great way to make your own DIY cellphone case and really give it a personalized look!

DIY Duct Tape Cell Phone Cases

Materials: fuchsia and multi-colored chevron duct tape, bubble wrap, cell phone

Tools: self-healing cutting mat, ruler, scissors, ball point pen, pencil

1. Cut 2 rectangles from the bubble wrap that are 1/2 wider than your phone.

2. Trim down the height of the bubble wrap rectangles to 1" shorter than height of your cell phone.

3. Fold strips of fuchsia duct tape over the top edges of the bubble wrap rectangles. Trim down the left and right edges.

4. Place one rectangle on top of the other and line up the edges. Starting from the top edge, horizontally place 10" strips of fuchsia duct tape on the bubble wrap rectangles, overlapping the strips along the long edges by approximately 1/8". Flip over the bubble wrap rectangles. Fold the left and right edges of the strips over the rectangles, creating a pocket.

5. Horizontally place a strip of fuchsia tape halfway along the bottom edge of the pocket. Fold the strip under the pocket to close up the bottom.

6. Draw 8 flower petals on the parchment paper.

7. Cover drawn petals with chevron duct tape.

8. Flip the parchment paper so the drawn petals are visible. Using a pair of well-oiled scissors, cut out the petals.

9. Move around the cut petals on the cell phone case until you find an acceptable position.

10. One by one, remove the parchment paper on the back of each petal and adhere it onto the cell phone case.

Richela Fabian Morgan began her duct tape odyssey 8 years ago with a simple bi-fold wallet, before writing the best-selling crafting books Tape It & Make It, Tape It & Make More, and Tape It & Wear It. She is an indie crafter specializing in paper, adhesives, and found materials. Her newest duct tape crafting book, Duct Tape Bags, is available nationwide. For more information, please visit, www.RichelaFabianMorgan.com.

Craft Project: DIY Coastal Beach Photo Frames

Several weeks ago I came across a clearance sale at The Christmas Tree Shop and picked up 5 of these very nice wooden photo frames. Each frame is made out of wood, has a glass front and will hold one 5" by 7" photograph. They have a sawtooth hanger and an easel on the back...so they can sit on a desk or be hung up onto the wall.

These picture frames were on final clearance for $1.99 because each of them had tiny little blue paint or ink marks on the white painted areas of the wood on the front. They were barely noticeable! I snagged all 5 picture frames that they had left.

I brought them home and used one of my White Chalk Ink Markers and touched them up. My chalk ink marker was the perfect shade and now you can NOT tell that those "blue marks" were even there! Yay! Took me less than 5 minutes to fix all five frames!

Next...I purchased a bag of realistic ceramic starfish that came 5 in the bag on clearance at A.C. Moore's for $2.99 for that entire bag. I knew I would eventually find a use for them and I did! I simply used some of my Aleene's Tacky Glue (white but dries clear) and glued one ceramic starfish onto the bottom corner of each photograph frame. I left them dry overnight.

Our family took a big family vacation down to the Jersey Shore back in June and I took a lot of photos of the family on the beach. I printed off some of my favorite photos and will be placing them inside the coastal & beach themed photo frames & giving them as Christmas gifts this year.

Total cost per frame: $2.75 each (including tax). Wow...they look beautiful and certainly were affordable! Gotta love that!

When you see bargains on nice picture frames...pick them up! You can easily decorate those frames in a wide variety of different home decor styles for pennies on the dollar. You can get a really unique and customized look.

DIY Garden Stepping Stone Kits with Solar Lights

I love doing crafts...all kinds of crafts. In addition to crafting, I love being outside working in my garden or on our various landscaping projects. Today, I am going to tell you all about these fabulous DIY Solar Light Garden Stepping Stone Kits from HomenYard.com.

HomenYard sells all kinds of DIY Garden Stepping Stone Kits in a wide variety of different designs. Some of them come with a solar light that you embed down into the stepping stone when you make it and others are without the solar lights.

What I really love about these DIY kits is that everything is included except for the water! That's right, everything is included! You will get the plastic mold, the cement mix, stirring stick, the colorful jewels, broken glass pieces, solar light (in those type's of kits), full step-by-step instructions and a color photograph of the completed project.

We got a few of these garden stepping stone kits and have been making one every few weeks when our grand daughter comes over to visit. She loves arts & craft projects so this is one that she can do with our assistance. Basically, we do all of the mixing and pouring into the mold and she does all of the decorating with the included faux jewels, stones and glass pieces that come in your kit.

Once you have it made you will let it sit out in the sun on a nice warm or hot day. Let it sit out for a good 24 hours and then you simply pop it out of the plastic mold. We found that these plastic molds are reusable too...so save them and get some additional supplies to make more!

I was really impressed with the quality of these completed stepping stones. Once completed and hardened they are super-weighty and about 2 to 2 1/2" thick. These are not cheesy, thin and flimsy stepping stones at all. A really nice quality!

The solar light that is included comes with the solar rechargeable battery already in it. You will follow the directions to activate it and it will need a good day or two in the sun to fully charge up. I was amazed at how much light is given off with just one of these stones! It's not too bright and not too dim, it's just perfect in my opinion!

Head on over to HomenYard.com and take a look at all of the DIY Garden Stepping Stone Kits that they have to offer. They are really affordable kits and very nice quality too!

Disclaimer: Shelly H. received a complimentary stepping stone kit to review and feature on her craft blog. No monetary compensation was received. Her opinion, thoughts and words are 100%  unbiased and are true. Your opinions may differ.

DIY How to Repaint Metal Patio Chairs

Finished New Patio Chair Set

We picked up two black wrought iron patio chairs at the flea market for $5.00 each. They were in great condition but I didn't like the black color since I decorate in a beach and coastal theme. I brought them home and decided to give them a nice paint job and paint them white!

I hosed them down with our garden hose and towel dried them. I left them sit out in the sun for a good 2 hours to make sure they were 100% dry. I picked up 3 cans of white outdoor spray paint that included primer at my local Lowe's store.

Re-Painted Chair - Black to White

I lightly sprayed one coat on the chairs and left them dry for 12 hours. The next day I hit them with a second coat and left them dry for 24 hours. I also picked up 2 cans of a clear outdoor sealant and sprayed a coat of that on each chair to protect the paint finish and left them dry for another 24 hours.

At my local Christmas Tree Shop I picked up 2 round coastal print bistro chair pads which I just love! If you have never shopped that store, I highly recommend it! I get all kinds of beautiful home decor items and garden items for an affordable price every time I go in there!

New Patio Coastal Chairs!

Overall, I am very pleased with how my DIY re-painting patio chairs project turned out. For less than $40.00 I got brand new looking (and sturdy) patio chairs and chair pad cushions! Like the bird bath? Well, check back in a few weeks to see how I turned that into a patio table!!!

DIY - Turn an Old Bird Bath into a Patio Table

A few weeks ago we went down to the local Flea Market and I picked up a 2-piece heavy cement bird bath (used) for $5.00. This bird bath had some wear & tear since it had sat out in the elements (unfinished) for the past 2 years. Regardless, I thought it was a "steal" for $5 bucks!

My original plan was to refinish it and put it out into the yard as your typical bird bath. However, my plans quickly changed and I decided to turn it into a small patio or porch table. The reason I decided to do this was two things: it's on the smaller side and second...it has a flat bottom (in the bowl portion) which makes it a great table!

DIY - Turn an Old Bird Bath into an Outdoor Patio Table

We hosed it down and took some scrub brushes & bleach to it to remove all of the debris and moss/mold that was growing on it. We left it sit out in the hot sun for 24 hours to thoroughly dry. While it was drying, we headed over to one of my favorite stores...Lowe's.

At Lowe's I picked up 2 cans of outdoor spray paint that has that textured rocky finish to it in a natural color. I forget the brand but it's really nice spray paint at $10.00 a can. I also picked up 1 can of clear acrylic sealer at $7.00 a can.

When spraying your projects don't stand too close to the item when spraying or you will get drip & run marks. Make sure you stand back a bit and spray lightly!!! We covered both pieces of the bird bath with one can and then waited to the following day to add the second coat with the final can. It did indeed take BOTH cans!

We left the pieces dry for 24 hours out in the sun and then sprayed them with the clear acrylic sealer. I only used one can of sealer because the new bird bath table will be sitting under large front porch where it is partially sheltered from the elements. If you are sticking it out into your yard, I would suggest adding 2-3 coats of the clear sealer to it.

Since it has a flat bottom (in the bowl portion) I can use it as-is as a small patio side table. However, I decided to order a piece of thick clear glass cut into a round shape and I will be placing that glass on top of the table once it arrives. I am also thinking about adding some beach sand, seashells, sand dollars, coral and a star fish underneath the glass top to give it that coastal and beachy feel.

I will update this blog post once my glass top arrives and let you know how I decided to finish off the look...in other words, I might just add the glass top or I might add the glass top & the beach accessories underneath it. Overall, this was a fun project to complete!

Tropical Dinner Party DIY Palm Frond Balloons and Centerpiece Ideas

Palm Fronds and Bon Bons Tropical Dinner Party for Balloon Time
DIY Projects, Styling + Text by Studio DIY
Photos by Mary Costa

We’re taking a classic tropical theme and turning it on it’s head! We kept the palm trees and pineapples, but added balloons, cocktails and an elegant color palette to make this theme appropriate for all your summer dinner parties. A “Palm Fronds & Bon Bons” bash is the perfect way to show everyone that balloons and luaus can be modern and sophisticated, too.

DIY Palm Frond Balloons

Who knew you could “decoupage” balloons? We added a fun palm print to plain white balloons with photos of palm fronds and spray adhesive.

Supplies:

Free Printable Palm Leaves (Download here!)
Tissue Paper (That matches your balloons) 8.5” x 11” Cardstock
Inkjet Printer
Masking Tape
Latex Balloons (We used a mix of 11” and 17” balloons)
Balloon Time Helium Tank
Ribbon or String

Cut out several rectangles of tissue paper, about 8” by 10". Tape one of the rectangles (glossy side of the tissue paper DOWN) to a piece of cardstock with masking tape on the top and bottom of the paper (see photo). Feed this through your printer to print the palm leaves, one sheet at a time, onto the tissue paper. Be sure you are feeding the paper through the printer the right way (each printer is different) so that the image prints onto the tissue paper. Remove cardstock and let dry for about 10 minutes while you continue printing additional images.

Cut out the leaves. This doesn’t have to be perfect as the tissue will blend in with the balloon, just a rough cut around the perimeter works.

Inflate balloons with helium and tie with string or fishing line.

Spray the back of each leaf with spray adhesive and let dry slightly until tacky. Adhere the image to the balloon, tacky side down and smooth over with your fingers. Repeat with as many images as desired.

DIY Dinner Party Balloon Centerpiece

If you need an easy way to add a statement to your dinner table, create a balloon centerpiece! This is a great alternative (or addition!) to flowers and adds just as much color, depth and drama.

Supplies:

Latex Balloons (We used a mix of 11” and 17” balloons)
Balloon Time Helium Tank
Fishing Line
Balloon Weights (We used mini pineapples from the grocery store!)
Scissors

First determine how long you’re table will be. To ensure you have one cohesive centerpiece, you’ll want to place clusters of balloons about 12­-18” a part. After you know how many clusters you'll need, start inflating balloons with helium. We had one 17" and five 11" balloons per cluster.

Tie each balloon with fishing line and tie clusters, as desired, to your balloon weights. Place the weights down the center of your table and adjust or fill in balloons as necessary.

Tropical Party Lounge + Treats

Change up a typical dessert bar and incorporate your sips and sweets into a lounge area at your party. We arranged plates of different chocolates, truffles and bon bons on a coffee table in-front of lounge furniture, making for an intimate post-dinner treat! Make a couple extra clusters of balloons and use them as decor flanking each side of the seating area. To take the tropical theme even further, pick up various palm leaves at your local floral supply or garden center and use them as decor on the tables. Happy Luauing!

Disclosure: This is a guest post by Balloon Time. You can connect with Balloon Time on Facebook.