January 14, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Gifts, Me Time, Valentine's Day
Last night was a smorgasbord of television—the Golden Globes plus the 2 pre-shows, episode 2 of Downton Abbey, then the season premiere of Girls on HBO. It was a hunkered-down, DVR-set, Indian take-out kind of a night. Yes, it is totally permissable for a mother of 2 babes (okay, a toddler and a baby) to zone out for a night in front of good television, but it’s also fun to take to some couch crafting. Yes, there are crafts you can do beyond knitting, sans glue and paint, that can be done cleanly in the comfort of your living room. Let’s explore the options, shall we?
Pom-poms are the perfect couch craft. Yes, they leave a little fuzz behind, but all you need is yarn, scissors, and your hand to make awesome pom-poms. These gorgeous gems are by Fox & Owl.
Origami is another ideal project for sofa crafting. Here is a great project that you can tackle to get you ready for Valentine’s Day! These orgami-heart bookmarks make a perfect Valentine craft for the kids to give out at school. By Oh Dear!.
A tiny needle craft is a fabulous activity to keeps your hands moving during tv time. Plus if you can make something utilitarian, even better! I love this cross-stitch iPhone case spotted on The Purl Bee. It’s tradition and technology all in one. You can buy the blank kit here (it comes in 6 colors).
Dear readers, what are other good, clean couch crafts? After all, Smash starts up again soon!
{cardboard tv via pinterest}
January 11, 2013
Grown-Up, Uncategorized
If you challenged yourself to document everything that you bought, do you think you’d spend less money? And by document, it could be any format…a typed list, a phone snapshot, a voice memo. What if you told yourself you were going to draw everything you buy on a daily basis? Enter Kate Bingaman-Burt, a dedicated (gross understatement) illustrator who has been drawing every last purchase, from baggage check fees to a new hair brush, since Februay 2006. Here are some of her drawings from December 2012. Crazy or cool? You decide.
Spotted on Flavorwire.
If you had the brilliant idea that she should make a book, well, she already has, and a new one is due out in the Spring. You can buy it here.
PS…Check out this post from 2 years ago about a guy who photographed all of his possessions!
January 10, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Gifts
Can you call faceted a trend? Or maybe it’s called the facet trend. However you say, I’ve been seeing it everywhere for a while and I love it! Here’s a mix of some DIY and products I’ve spotted…
What a gorgeous way to display place cards for a daytime wedding! Via Design is Mine.
I love the unpredictable colors of these gem-shaped holiday cookies. Via The Jewels of New York.
There’s nothing wrong with a little bling inspiration in the kitchen. These are too cute to keep in a drawer! Via Design*Sponge.
This vase is made out of paper. For real. Via Curbly.
How elegant is this faceted clock? As the light changes during the day, the tones on the facets will transform. It’s a shape-shifting clock. Via RawDezign on Etsy.
I heart the jewel tones of these ceramic magnets. Get it? Jewel tones? By Pigeon Toe.
If you have a budget of $12,000 for a chandelier, then here you go. This is just beyond. Via Matter Matters.
Fun for kids to hold, these Crystal Crayons come in a set of 6 for $10 at Kikkerland.
January 9, 2013
Decor, Everyday Crafts, Preschool, Toddler, Toys
Now that I have a toddler, I am starting to experience the “everything-is-a-toy/playspace” concept. Shoeboxes, bubble wrap, paper towel tubes…all viable objects to play with. We spent a week with friends in New Hampshire over the holidays and the space under the dining room table became an ant home. So the kids (and adults) cozied up with pillows down there (as all ants do, naturally). That empty space has so much potential, as exhibited by these amazing ideas…
I don’t even know where to begin with this amazing table by Dennis Drouet. Children can hide under the table and pull the strings, which creates a moving pattern on the table’s surface above. Found via Inhabitat.
This is beyond the beyond! Who wouldn’t love a little R&R time in an under-the-table DIY hammock? Found via Handimania, by Joyful Abode.
I saw this DIY idea in Country Living years ago, and it has stayed with me since. Decorate some cheap roller shades with windows and doors and install them underneath your table. If your table has a lip that over 2″ tall, it will hide the rollers nicely. It’s an instant play house, and a retractable one at that! (I can no longer find the CL link, but here it is on Pinterest.)
January 8, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Gifts
No, these aren’t made from melted crayons. They are literal 3-dimensional representations of your child’s artwork. Send an image to Crayon Creatures and you will get a resin figurine in return.
Now you can uncover that lovely stainless steel fridge!
Found via Design Mom.