Tutorial

How to Use a Bulletin Board to Display Jewelry (Tutorial)

| Danielle

When you can see your jewelry, you’re more likely to wear it. That’s why I keep my accessories out in the open. It reminds me to enjoy them every day.

Bonus! I get to see the pretty baubles all the time.

How to Use a Bulletin Board to Display Jewelry

Using a bulletin board to display jewelry is simple. All you need is a few pins and a great looking board. In this example, I customized it with a modern twist on a 90s favorite – splatter paint!

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Time Required: 10-30 minutes

Cost: Free or Minimal

Tools:

  • Paint Brush
  • Toothbrush
  • Drop Cloth

Materials:

  • Bulletin Board
  • White Paint
  • Gold Paint
  • Pins

Instructions

Start with a bulletin board of any size you like. I had previously used this one in an office. So, it was looking a little rough.

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Step 1: Paint it White

Paint the board white. You’ll probably need several coats to get the desired effect. Having done this with both spray paint and acrylic paint in the past, I prefer acrylic. It soaks into the corkboard better.

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Step 2: Protect and Splatter

Pick an area to start splattering the frame. Guard the cork board by putting down paper.

Dip the toothbrush into your gold paint. Then, flick the bristles to create a splatter.

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Step 3: Add Dimension

Drop some larger splatters using a paint brush. Just hang it above and flick it Jackson Polluck style.

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Step 4: Pin and Enjoy

I prefer to use white sewing pins over typical office push pins. They make it easier to hang jewelry. Add your accessories and enjoy.

How do you Display Your Gems?

I’d love to see how you display your gems. Maybe you are using a bulletin board or perhaps, you hang them on a little tree. Whether you keep them out or store them away, I’d love to see how you keep them.

Dream Wedding
Pin Now, Make Later!

Please post in the comments or tag me on Instagram @verderamade.

 

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How to Make Your Own Pom Pom Garland Tutorial

| Danielle

If you’re looking to add a little whimsy to a room, a pom pom garland can do the trick. For my version, I went a little primitive and boho with varying pom pom colors and sizes.

What I love about this tutorial?

It’s easy to make it your own.

How to Make Your Own Pom Pom Garland Tutorial

This tutorial is easy to put together, especially if you already know how to make cute pom poms. You can use up scrap yarn and turn it into something wonderful.

Time Required: 10-30 minutes

Cost: Free or Minimal

Tools:

  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Pen or Marker

Materials:

  • White String
  • Hot Glue Sticks
  • Pom Poms or Yarn
  • 3M hooks

Instructions

If you haven’t already made some, start by making your own pom poms. Then, you are ready to make this garland.

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Step 1: Measure Your Yarn

Determine how long you want to make your garland and the space between your pom poms. For this one, I made it 15 feet long with about 3 inches between pom poms. Cut to length and make marks where you want your pom poms.

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Step 2: Glue Your Poms

Glue Your Pom Poms into place with a single dot. You’ll need to separate each strand slightly. Repeat until you finish.

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My Tip: I decided to make a variety of sizes and do them from large to small going out from the center.

Step 3: Hang and Enjoy

Using a 3M hook, hang your pom pom garland on the wall.

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Show Me Your Garlands

I like light-weight wall hangings that work with 3M hooks. As a renter, you want to avoid putting too many holes in the wall. A pom pom garland is perfect!

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I’d like to see any garlands you have made. Please post in the comments or tag me on Instagram @verderamade.

Make your own
Pin Now! Make Later.

The Easiest Way to Make a Perfect Pom Pom Tutorial

| Danielle

Pom Pom projects are everywhere! These little puffs form the base for so many cute crafts. I’ve wanted to test out the many methods for a while. So, I put together this little tutorial with my favorite tips.

The Easiest Way to Make a Pom Pom

There are many methods to make a pom pom but, I found this one to be the easiest to use. Also, it works best when you want to use multiple colors of yarn and layer them. It’s easy to make the board and then you can curl up with this craft anywhere.

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This may have some of the cheapest supplies ever.

Time Required: 20 Minutes

Cost: Free or Minimal

Tools:

  • Scissors
  • Pen or Pencil
  • Cup

Materials:

  • Yarn
  • Cardboard

Instructions

Putting together these pom poms is easy once you make the weaver. That takes a little time but, you get to use it over and over for each pom pom.

Step 1: Trace Your Circles

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Trace two circles on cardboard. I used a cereal box as my base. A cup can be used as a stencil when you trace.

Step 2: Cut Out Circles

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Cut the circles out of the cardboard. Then, layer them and cut into a C shape as pictured below. They must match.
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Once you’re done, you’ll have two identical C shapes of cardboard.
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Step 3: Set up and Weave

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Place one length of yarn in between your two pieces of cardboard. For this one, I left my string about 10″ in length. You need it to be long enough to stick out the sides for easy tying.
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Start wrapping the yarn around the C shape. Once you get a few wraps, it will hold itself in place. Continue wrapping until the yarn gets thicker.
The thicker the wraps, the denser your pom pom will be.
I wrapped this one until it was about 1.5″ thick.
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Step 4: Separate and Cut

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Trim around the C shape, slicing all the pieces of yarn in half. As you cut, tie the interior string into a little loop. Tighten this loop as you cut. Once you finish cutting, you can tighten the knot completely.
Double knot it. Remove the cardboard rings.
Then, you can trim any stray ends to smooth the shape.
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You can trim the interior strings to finish the piece.

Pom Pom Projects  Start Here

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All the cute projects start with a perfect pom pom. Just spend a few minutes on Pinterest and you’ll quickly see all the possibilities. You can string them together to make a garland. Or you can use them as a base for a puffy wreath. The possibilities are endless!
The
Pin it now, Make it later!

Final Tips:

  • Use up scraps from other yarn projects by wrapping them in layers. Just trim the uneven ends after you are done.
  • To make a larger pom pom, just make your ring larger. You can use a bowl or dessert plate as a template for a larger one.
  • Keep the center strings long if you want to tie the pom pom to something. This makes it easier to use on a project like a garland.
I’d love to see what you do with your perfect pom poms. Everyone can find a unique use for these little nuggets. Show me your favorite pom pom projects in the comments!

How to Hack an IVAR (IKEA Hack Tutorial)

| Danielle

If you need slim storage, you can turn an IKEA IVAR into a narrow cabinet with a few simple steps. All you need is the cabinet, furniture legs and some paint. At $70 a cabinet, this is an easy and cost-effective solution to your home organization.

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I put two cabinets side-by-side to make a living room landing space. My husband and I each get our own cabinet. I store art supplies and work files in mine. My husband stores electronics and work files in his.

The best IVAR IKEA hacks transform the cabinet into furniture while capitalizing on the low price of the original piece.

How to Hack an IVAR from Ikea

Hacking an IVAR easily transforms this kitchen cabinet into a unique piece of furniture. You don’t need much to get started.

Time: 1 hr 30 minutes

Cost: $70 – $300

Tools:

  • Screw Driver
  • Paint Brush
  • Hex Key from kit

Materials

  • Screws
  • IKEA IVAR Kit
  • Furniture Legs
  • Paint, Furniture Wax or Polyurethane

Instructions

The best thing about this project? The variations are limitless. All you have to do is purchase unique furniture legs and finish to make the IVAR work in your space.

Step 1: Purchase your IVAR and Assemble

Follow the instructions provided with the kit. The cabinet should be assembled as specified by Ikea.

Step 2: Add Legs

Add your selected furniture legs using the instructions from the leg kit. Most include a metal piece that must be screwed into the bottom of the IVAR cabinet. Then, you can screw the leg into the metal piece.

Step 3: Finish and Style

Paint, wax or polyurethane according to your taste. Mine are currently the raw pine with no refinishing. However there are several cool transformations that you can fine online.

Best IVAR Hacks

I’ve created a board with the best IVAR hacks. Most of these follow a similar design, adding legs to the narrow model. Repin your favorites for inspiration.

 

Show Me Your Inspo!

I’d love to see the IVAR projects that you love most. An IVAR hack is such a great project for any home. Send me links to pins or projects in the comments!

 

How to Make a Felt Star Mobile (Tutorial)

| Danielle

If you are only going to make one project for your baby’s room, this is it!

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Baby’s Eye View of the Mobile

When I thought about decorating my son’s nursery, my DIY spirit tempted me to take on a long list of projects. Realizing that I should focus on simplicity over quantity, I opted to commit to a single project.

What project inspired me most?

I liked the idea of my baby peacefully enjoying a unique mobile that created just for him.

I selected this project after some disappointing shopping. I didn’t see a single mobile that I liked. To begin, I wanted something with a nice look both from the side (for me) and beneath (for baby). Also, I wanted soft colors (for my clean aesthetic) but something eye-catching (for the baby). I wanted it to feel organic but, I needed it to be motorized.

The resulting project was my solution.

How to Make a Felt Star Mobile

Time Required: 45 Minutes

Cost: $30

Tools

  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Hot Glue Sticks
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Sharpie
  • Pencil

Materials

  • Mobile Hanger (model pictured)
  • Mobile Motor (model pictured)
  • White paper or thin cardboard
  • White string
  • Royal Blue Felt (2 sheets)
  • Dark Grey Felt (2 sheets)
  • Light Grey Felt (2 sheets)

Instructions

Making a felt star mobile requires a trip to the craft store and a little online shopping.

Step 1: Cut Out Stars

I traced and cut out stars on white copy paper. However, you could buy pre-cut stencils for any shape.

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Step 2: Cut Felt Stars

I cut out the stars from the selected felt colors. You’ll need 2 sides for each shape. So, I cut the following:

  • 20 small light grey stars
  • 20 medium dark grey stars
  • 10 large blue stars

Make sure you keep the fabric scraps in a pile to use as stuffing later.

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Step 3: Create the Blue Stars

These stars hang at the bottom of each strand. Using your scissors, poke a hole in the middle of 5 stars. Then, thread the white string through. Stuff each star using fabric scraps and seal it with hot glue. In the end, you should have 5 strings with a big blue star at the bottom.

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Step 4: Add the Grey Stars

Add the grey stars one at a time. They can be spaced about 2 inches apart. You can measure them evenly or vary them for an organic look.

Keep each star in place on the string with a dot of hot glue. Then, glue both sides together around the edges.

Repeat this until you’ve added all the stars for each strand.

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Step 5: Assemble the Mobile

In the end, you should have 5 strands with 5 stars on each. Hang these from your mobile kit by tying a knot on each end. You can hang them evenly or vary the heights.

I chose to vary the lengths for a more whimsical an organic look.

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I attached the mobile to the ceiling using a 3M hook. The small motor plays music and spins the motor. This light-weight mobile spins with the breeze or when the motor is on.

Let’s See Yours

In the end, I created an simple felt star mobile that my baby loves. You can see how this concept can be changed for different colors and shapes. It’s light-weight and whimsical to perfectly match the feel of the room.

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My Calm, Minimalist Nursery

I’d love to see how you decorated your child’s room. Leave a link to your favorite projects in the comments.

Brown Paper Packages: Simple Gift Wrapping Tips

| Danielle

Brown Paper PackagesBrown paper packages are one of my favorite things! If you are looking to simplify your gift wrapping, consider making the transition to brown wrapping paper. It creates the perfect backdrop for any gift wrapping design. Also, you’ll only need to store one tube of wrapping paper that you use for all seasons. Then, you can just decorate with your favorite ribbons, markers or baubles to match the occasion. Below are three ideas to dress up brown wrapping paper for Christmas.

1. Put a Bow on It

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Supplies:

  • Brown Wrapping paper
  • Sharpies
  • Hot Glue
  • Scotch Tap
  • Wire Ribbon

Wrap your gift box in plain brown paper. Encircle the gift with one, off center ribbon. Overlapping slightly in the back, tack the ribbon with hot glue. Then, make a simple bow and glue to the front. (You can see similar instructions HERE.) Write the recipient’s name in Sharpie marker on the front. Depending on your style, this can be fancy, rustic or whimsical. Your handwriting, marker color and choice of ribbon create limitless options.

2. Color Pop

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Supplies

  • Brown Paper
  • Scotch Tape
  • Hemp or Twine
  • Used Tissue Paper
  • Sharpie marker

Layering gifts by tying them together creates a classic look. It reminds me of old parcels from vintage holiday cards. To start,  wrap the larger present in brown paper. Then, wrap the smaller present in used or leftover tissue paper. Label the brown package with a sharpie marker. To finish, tie the gifts together with some hemp. The overall effect is simple yet, nostalgic. I like how the wrinkles add a carefree, wabi sabi flair. This option can help you organize your wrapping supplies as you use scrap wrapping and tissue paper.

3. Get Dimensional

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Supplies

  • Brown Wrapping Paper
  • Scotch Tape
  • Sharpie Marker
  • Tissue Paper
  • Craft Glue
  • Pencil

This option utilizes an old-school crafting technique. Start by wrapping the gift in brown paper. Then, cut used tissue paper into small squares, 1.5″ x 1.5″. Use a round item, like a drinking glass, to trace three, staggered circles onto the front of your gift. Then, draw on the wires and tops for your ornaments. Using craft glue, slowly add your small tissue paper squares to the circle. (Step-by-step instructions for this method are HERE.) Once you fill in each circle, the design is complete. Finish by writing the recipient’s name with a Sharpie marker. The options for this design are limitless! You can trace and fill any Christmas shape.

Simple Gift Wrapping Tips

By cutting your gift wrapping paper back to one color, your storage should go down significantly. It creates a blank slate to design new gift decorations for every occasion. With time, you’ll find this method helps you use up old bows, ribbons, flowers and tags because everything matches the simple background. Then, you can switch up your decorations from season to season using whatever supplies inspire you. Below is a roundup of some of my favorite ways to wrap brown paper packages.

Do you use brown paper to wrap your gifts? Comment with your photos.

100 Ideas to Use Beads

| Danielle

“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” ― Albert Einstein

Over the past year, I have been purging my beads, bobbles, and buttons. They accumulate over time with a broken necklace here and an unfinished craft there. To the maker’s eye, each little bead has value. So,  you put it in a box or a jar for later. Then, they pile up to a resounding nothing as you don’t know how to use them. This week, I cleared out a large amount of my bead and ribbon hoard with a sunday school craft. We spelled the student’s names in modge podge and they decorated with all the beads and ribbon desired. It was wonderfully fulfilling and fun to see those meaningless random faux pearls and brass buttons catch the eye of a child.

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Jersey Headbands

Similarly, I grouped my beads by color and shape to create a host of fabric flowers to adorn my floral crowns and jersey headbands. In my pursuit to use up these little plastic bits and bobbles, I collected a variety of clever ideas to use these spare sparkles.

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Bead Projects for Home

  1. Fruit Bowl via Vikalpah
  2. Bead Bunting via Paper and Pin
  3. Candle Votive via MinnieCo
  4. Woven Planter via The 3 Rs Blog
  5. Perler Bead Coasters via Brit + Co
  6. Wood Bead Garland via Little House of Four
  7. Beaded Wind Chime via Garden Therapy
  8. Beaded Dog via Cut Out and Keep
  9. Artist Trading Blocks via Mark Montano
  10. Mixed Media Scrap Wood Dolls via Mark Montano
  11. Beaded Frame via P.S. I Made This
  12. Bead Art via Cut Out and Keep
  13. Beaded Trees via Cut Out and Keep
  14. Tetris Magnets via Moms Crafters
  15. Bookmark via Happy Hour Project
  16. Suncatcher Ornaments via Chica Circle
  17. Napkin Rings via Crafts by Amanda
  18. Suncatcher via The Artful Parent
  19. Ibiza Style Buffalo Skull via By Wilma
  20. iPhone Case via Color Made Happy

Bead Projects for Fashion

  1. Beaded Bandana via Quiet Lion
  2. Pom Pom Tassel Sandals via Little Inspiration
  3. Wood Bead Keychain via Be Crafty
  4. Fabric Wrapped Bead Necklace via My So Called Crafty Life
  5. Safety Pin Necklace via Who What Wear
  6. Cactus Earrings via Kittenhood
  7. Beaded Bangles via Cut Out and Keep
  8. Pearl Embellished Heel via P.S. I Made This
  9. Hair Pins via Do It Your Freaking Self
  10. Pearl Sunglasses via P.S. I Made This
  11. Pearl Patch Earrings via P.S. I Made This
  12. Beaded Cuff via Cut Out and Keep
  13. Gold Bead Bracelet via P.S. I Made This
  14. Beaded Rings via Cut Out and Keep
  15. Crystal Tube Bracelet via P.S. I Made This
  16. Wish Bracelets via Happy Hour Project
  17. Stud Earrings via Smart School House
  18. Hair Tie Bracelets via Curly Made
  19. Head Phone Wrap via Imagine Hearts
  20. Super Soft Headbands via Verderamade

So, here’s to pulling out those excess beads and turning them into something new. Let me see your projects!