5 Fun DIY Home Decor Ideas

In the next month or so, my roommate and I will be moving apartments.  Even though apartment-hunting can be kind of a nightmare here in NYC, I am excited about having a brand new space to decorate.  Lately, I've been pinning several fun and fairly easy DIY home decor ideas and I wanted to share some of my favorites here. I think any of these items would add such a sweet, personal touch to your home!

Stencil Pillow

Striped Tray

Numbered Napkins

Paint Swirl Vases

Lace Cement Votives

Tell me: Would you try any of these?

By Nnenna of star-crossed smile

At Home With The {NewNew}

Glass Tile Magnets, set of 4
$6.00 at PurtyBird.

Home Sweet Home Wood Coasters
$28.00 at Peppersprouts.

Vintage Pillow with Eco Insert
$40 at LeisureSociety.

Sterling Silver Tiny(er) House Necklace
$70 at JDavisStudio.

Easy Bake Oven Cupcakes, 1 dozen
$24 at TheChocolateMuffin.

Give the Gift of Luxurious Zzzs

Silk pillow cases are a unique gift. Not only are they indulgent, but they literally aid your beauty sleep. They make you feel luxurious while preventing your hair from breaking and alleviating wrinkles. Here are some instructions to make a basic silk pillow case:

Materials

• Sample pillow case
  
• 1¼ yard silk/satin fabric- basic lining silks cost $6-$8 per yard, while the more ideal heavier satin silks cost $12-$14
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Pins
• Tape measure

Making a Silk Pillow

Measure the sample pillow case by placing the tape measure seam to seam and adding a seam allowance of 5/8" to 1" to all edges. Silk will shrink in the wash, so it is better to measure out the body a little larger (you can eyeball this).

Cut out 2 pieces of the fabric to the chosen size. In laying out your pattern, consider that the selvage (the finished edge of the fabric) will become the opening side of the pillow case.

Now place the fabric with right sides together, pin, and stitch around 3 sides. The pillow opening side, which has the selvage, stays open.

Turn the pillow case right-side-out, iron, and it's done!

For a more feminine look, add a matching, contrasting, or coordinating frill to a simple pillow. Alternative Windows has instructions on adding frills to cushions.

For an additional flair, I included a store-bought pouch and stuffed it with fresh lavender. DIY Life has a more sophisticated lavender sachet recipe. Or you might add other lavender products that incorporate the R&R theme such as scented bath salts prepared according to Nordea's recipe. The NewNew spa products also help pamper the body and soul.

I made a silk pillow case for myself and found my husband clamoring for his own… leading me to believe this is also a great metro-sexual Father’s Day gift!

-Fairywallah

Organizing, A Crafter's Nightmare

I decided I had too much stuff when even my husband, renowned pack-rat that he is, started to complain about the fabric, boxes, even monsters that were everywhere. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of money for fancy organizing mechanisms or a new house or apartment that comes with rooms of shelves and gigantic closets. We live in Brooklyn, and while it's a bit better than a Manhattan apartment, it's only a small step up on the totem pole.

I had to completely rethink how to organize. Craig's List was the best help, providing me with inexpensive shelves and those big plastic drawers. But wanted something fancy if it was going to be out and about. Something that actually felt like it was a part of the rest of the room, not just something functional.

I had this:

It wasn't pretty and it needed to go.

I found a pretty cube shelving system, not too expensive (especially if you get them on sale), but the price starts to go up if you want the baskets for each cube, or the fancy doors and backs. After a bit of internet searching, I found some GREAT tutorials for fabric baskets. Using a combination of this and this, and a few of my own tweaks (hello pockets!) I made enough fabric baskets in fun colors to store that big pile of junk and could use the tubs in a few more out of the way places.





And now I think maybe running my own crafting business out of my small, Brooklyn apartment might just be possible.


By Karen
of Karen's Monsters