DIY Inspiration: Vintage Handkercheif Aprons

Wine Corks Into Cork Board

A while back, I decided that it would be a great idea to make a cork board using a bunch of discarded wine corks. I asked all my friends to save their wine corks for me.  For the past few weeks, they have been sitting around, waiting for me to find the right frame and the right motivation to put them together.

And then I saw this cool wine cork bath mat and felt inspired.

Here's the how-to.

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Gather your corks, a really sharp, non-serrated knife and a self-healing cutting mat.

Be very careful not to cut yourself while cutting your corks in half, lengthwise.

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Arrange them however you like on the back board of your photo frame.  

You can be way more simple than I was, but I wanted something more than straight up and down or side to side lines, personally.  Of course, this required me to cut the corks into a lot of different sizes...

After they're laid out, use your glue gun to glue them firmly in place, one and a time.

I found it easiest to work my way around the edges and then press the middle ones tightly into place.

DIY Inspiration: Books As Planters

Italy's Gartenkulter has turned old books into the most amazing up-cycled planters!

Via Inhabit:

With the recent rise in popularity of electronic readers, thoughts of “book extinction” have really seeped their way into design conversations. Italy-based Gartenkulter pays tribute to the tree with these beautiful planters made from old and disused books. By removing the heart of the book’s cover and pages and then creating a seal, the book becomes a home for a living and growing tree. “As each seed becomes a plant or tree, the book becomes a pot or cradle.”

I absolutely love these!

Now, who wants to hollow out some old books for me so I can get started?

Amy Sedaris Was A Girl Scout

It's no surprise that Martha Stewart was a Girl Scout.
As was Amy Sedaris.
As was I.

It's no wonder we're all so crafty.

Here's a fun clip from last week where Martha and Amy make Girl Scout inspired Merit Badges in honor of the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts.

image via The Martha Stewart Show webpage

Design: Patterns, Motifs and Turning Squares

©Briana Campbell, 2010

DIY Inspiration: Terrariums

I feel like everyone's been talking about terrariums lately.  My friend Dan made this really cute one, filled with succulents and little rocks and posted this photo (filched from his Facebook page), left, of it in progress.

While I haven't gotten around to making my own yet, I have been giving them a lot of thought.

Should I make an open one, like Dan's and the ones I have seen selling for a pretty penny at Sprout Home?

Or do I want to do something more enclosed and traditional - the whole self-sustaining system?

While I figure out what I'm going to do next here is some DIY inspiration to get you started on your own terrariums.

A really simple how-to on Design*Sponge.

Cute mason and jam jar terrariums on CRAFT.
 

A thorough how-to on About.com.

 And, of course, the Fairyland Terrarium that Martha and Julie Andrews made on the Martha Stewart show the day I shadowed the art department.

Upcycled Undies

A couple of weeks ago I posted a link to Colette Patterns cute mini-bloomers pattern with the promise of posting my own, once they were finished.

Over the weekend, I had a bit of spare time to complete the project and added a cute little bra-top to match.  Obviously these aren't really undergarments - more for lounging around the apartment with your hunny, drinking hot coffee and watching the rain (or, you know, feet of snow) fall.  His cardigan or button-down from last night would be a great robe-replacement over this sweet set.

For my bloomers and bra, I up-cycled an old Dwell duvet cover my friend Sarah had given me - I love Dwell's modern designs and color palette and was definitely inspired to make this set when I saw the fabric folded up in my large piece stash!

The finished mini-bloomers with elastic waist and navy grosgrain at the legs.

I finished the seams on the inside of the bloomers with a Hong Kong Seam.

There is a super tutorial on seam finishes over at Craft Stylish.

 

The bra top obviously offers no support, but it's a cute compliment to the bloomers.

I made a pattern for a triangle top and finished with an elasticized ruffle, as opposed to making a string bikini/halter.

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  I finished the back seam of the top with a flat-fell seam (like you see on the side of your jeans).

The top just slips over your head.