Decor It Yourself - Easy solutions for your nesting dilemmas.

Kirigami Flower Template

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:07:49 EDT

Here is the template for making a kirigami flower out of an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper.Even with a template, each one can vary a little bit. Just play around until you get the hang of it, and then start working with different designs and cuts. Enjoy!

Even people who have careers dependant on the internet have it go out on them for days. (ARGH!) That was us before we left town for the MS Walk this weekend. We finally got it working yesterday, thus, the template delay. Thank you for your patience.

String Art Patterns

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:47:45 EDT

In today's episode of Decor It Yourself, 1970's String Art, I showed you a few different designs of retro wall art. You can download patterns of several of these designs for *FREE* from String Art Fun.

Here is the pattern for the diamond-shaped piece string art. You can also just ake it with a ruler, but the patterns will be helpful for the more complex designs. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!

DIY Lighting Round-Up

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:23:25 EDT

I must say, I am really loving how the Structured Blossom Lamps turned out! You can play around with changing the color of the base to go with the new shade, and use different colors of felt to liven it up even more.

This is just one of the many DIY lighting projects there are out there. In the last two episodes of Decor It Yourself, I tried to give you several to choose from. Here are a few more I thought would be fun to try. First off, check out Decor It Yourself's previous shows on lighting like our Lace Lampshade episode, and one of my very first old school episodes, (don't judge!) DIY Lighting.

Last year's Earth Day special was also focused on creating a DIY lighting source, in our Up-Cycled Pendant Lamp episode.

Christiane Hoegners made this preppy and fun Tennis Skirt Lamp.

I found a How-To for a Flowerpot pendant lantern in

One DIY lighting mecca that I recently shared on the DIY Facebook Fanpage, called Das-Rote-Paket featured this Lampe Wollknauel by Michele Hofmann, and the below doiley pendant Lampe Tortenspitzen by Monika Mehlitz.

Um, I think this lamp needs you!

This is a Bird's Nest Lamp from Hermon Hermon. Do you think we could DIY our own version? I think we might have to!

The EASIEST way to re-do lampage you already have? Simply give it a good coat of bright and bold spray paint.

Or embrace your inner nerdom by making your own Dino Lamp from Think Geek.

On the facebook Fanpage I also created a photo album "Lighting". In it is a collection of iconic lamps and lights through the decades of design. Use this to educate yourself on choice pieces that you love, so you can spot a killer deal when you find one in your search for lovely pieces for your home.

There are SO MANY MORE! Look around and see what floats your boat and share with us in a comment below. I hope this helps on your quest for The Perfect Lighting Scheme!

Dishware Round-Up

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:46:50 EST

This week’s episode of Décor It Yourself delves deep into dishware. We made our own 3-tiered serving trays and a cake stand out of up-cycled vintage dishes.

In the episode I gave you a look at and a little info on my favorite dishware collections, vintage Pyrex, Le Crueset, Fiestaware and CatherineHolm. For more on Pyrex, check out my Nest entry Pyrex is the New Tupperware.

And now, a round up of some other adornments for your table top……

Brooklyn designer, Nuno Studio, has some really cool modern designs like The Camp Out and The Cities.

Upon moving to New York, I quickly discovered Fishs Eddy, a local mecca of gorgeous dishware.

I am a little bit obsessed with their Floor Plan Series and their new Pill-popping set.

My girlfriend, Michaela, gave us these Brooklyn mugs a few years ago.

For the nerds out there (and those living in my home) would totally dig these memo pad serving plates.

And I absolutely love this Jadeite Cake Stand they have. It is SO Martha.

The lovely artist Alyson Fox creates incredible illustrations, gorgeous organic clothing, and now adds dishware designer to her resume`.

Velocity carries her new line along with some other cool pieces like this Sea Life set.

Local shop, Branch, has an array of eco-dishware like these modern bamboo bowls.

For more up-cycled plates and serving pieces, check out Viva Terra’s selection. They are a fantastic and take their carbon foot-print very seriously.

What are your favorite dishes and collection? Let me know in a comment, or send in photos or video!

Etched Glass Designs Template

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:53:11 EST

For today's etched glass episode, we show you that you need a small template to tape inside your glass. Here are some of my designs that you can print out and use as your template.

What are some of your designs that you will use? We would love to see them!

Paper Cut Art Round-Up

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:52:54 EST

I am SO into paper cut art right now and there are so many gorgeous creations to find inspiration in. In addition to the work I featured in today’s episode of Décor It Yourself, here are some of my favorites.

RIP Flight of the Conchords. Show your love for the hilarious and genius show with these Brett and Jemaine dolls complete with guitars and amp.

Su Blackwell who I mentioned in the episode has this gorgeous book series that had too many examples for the show, like

Peter Callesen's Looking Back is also incredibly awesome.

To get started yourself, you can find free downloadable toys from My Fantastic Toys.

Download and make your own Panda toy from Toy Lava.

Make your own fun straws from Rock Scissor Paper.

Brooklyn 5 and 10 has a killer selection of Dutch windmills, British double-deckers and more right HERE.

And lastly, look how resourceful Yuken Teruya is with these!

Which paper cut pieces are inspiring you? If you make any of your own be sure to send me pictures. I want to see and feature your work. I was so inspired I made additional cut paper pieces that I will post on the DIY Facebook fanpage.

Meg's Stocking Pattern and Fawn Template

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:03:06 EST

Hey everyone! Here is the STOCKING PATTERN that you can download, print and tape together. Put it together so all the numbers (1,2,3,4) meet together in the middle.

and here is the adorable FAWN TEMPLATE that you can also download. Happy stocking making!

Wine Round-Up

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:09:06 EST

With cocktail parties to attend and host, and plenty of gifts that need to be given this winter, one thing to be well-versed in is wine. Wine is a lovely gift to bring a hostess or give as a Christmas gift, and everyone needs some on hand to serve over the holiday season. As we mentioned in the wine tasting, Gary V is a fantastic guy to go to for wine tips, suggestions and pairings. For tomorrow, he suggests this zinfandel for Thanksgiving.

This chalkboard wine rack was featured in the February/March issue of ReadyMadeand is a great way to haveyour storage serve a second purpose.

ReadyMade also suggest recycling your old mailers to create this simple design.

Kelly Smith from Branch makes these cool collapsable wine racks out of recycled wool.

Apartment Therapy introduced me to these mod racks by Umbra. I love how sleek and modern they are.

Michelle Kaufman showed us how to Green It Yourself in her blog and made a similar DIY version with old cans.

Apartment Therapy gives a few ideas of how to dress up a wine bottle for a gift, and suggests these ideas as well. I love the idea of screen printing your own bags to put a bottle in.

Add a cool wine topper to your favorite bottle to give as a hostess gift. Make your own or find a few on Etsy. Do a little research on good pairings if you know what the hostess is serving for dinner. Bring an appropriate match to show you are thinking about the evening. Food and Wine is a great resource for this. Do you have any favorite bottle/recipe pairings to share? Leave them in a comment below! Be responsible Threadbangers. If you're going to drink, please don't drive. And sweet young Threadbangers, WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE 21! xox, Meg

Thanksgiving Table Decor Round-Up

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:44:42 EST

Your Thanksgiving table decor is a wonderful way to create a lovely, warm and welcoming aesthetic to set the mood for the holiday. Thanksgiving can be a bit more relaxed with Christmas and Hanukkah just around the corner, you'll have plenty of chances to get fancy. Here are a few table decor ideas that I enjoy.

Modern Dose carries this fun mustache napkin rings, but I think you could easily make your own. Cut cardboard mustaches out and attach a ring to it with super glue. Then paint the top with chalkboard paint and add each guests names.

One of the contributers of Apartment Therapy came up with this modern take on autumnal gourds. A collection of white, gray and celadon gourds mixed with a white tray and vase give a clean, mid-century look to the table.

Swiss Miss offers a lesson in organimals, or origami napkin folding, to impress those seated at your table.

The Kitchen is filled with delicious recipes and food ideas, and also offer up a round up of place cards for Thanksgiving. I love this white paper cut pumpkin.

Master of all holidays, Martha Stewart offers endless table decor ideas, crafts and recipes, so do yourself a favor and always check out what she suggests. Put your own individual spin on it of course, that's what it's all about.

Some of my favorite of Martha's ideas are her place cards made out of natural items like pears and those neat little prickly things.

Check out my previous blog posts on leaf mobiles and pomegranate place cards.

For more Thanksgiving table decor, go visit and become a fan of the Decor It Yourself Fanpage where I post photos of inspiration and ideas for each and every holiday, along with helpful articles to make your season a little easier.

This was our Thanksgiving table last year. A rich red handmade tablecloth from a friend, white dishware, with simple red berries as the centerpiece.

I LOVE to see your handmade style, so tell us your ideas and tips and send us pictures of your holiday decor style. Wishing you the very best!

Book Ruffle Wreath

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:57:19 EST

I LOVE this book ruffle wreath that I found while perusing Etsy's holiday decor guide. I love being inspired by independant artists who think outside the box and create such unique pieces. The holiday season doesn't have to look the same in every home, this year let's mix it up a bit and bring a unique spin on the decor we create.

Thanks to you a comment by CroqZine, you can get the tutorial on how to make this here, at Living With Lindsay. Thank you!

What is getting YOU excited for the up-coming holiday season?

Win Domino's Book of Decorating

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:24:53 EDT

This week's episode of Decor It Yourself shows us how to make clocks out of vintage tins, post cards, or anything else we have to recycle into something new and cool. We also learn that one lucky Threadbanger is going to win a copy of the Domino Book of Decorating! Simply send in your photos or videos of your coolest, most inspired DIY projects to Threadbanger by September 15th, Gracie's birthday. Where should you upload them you ask? RIGHT HERE!! I can't wait to see what you have been creating in your home, so hurry up and get thse videos and pictures in!

I have had the pleasure of looking through a copy, and this book is so incredibly beautiful and inspiring. There are endless design ideas and decor solutions in here, it is like a guide to lovely living. Don't miss this chance to win a copy!

Tiki Cocktail Recipes

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:26:10 EDT

In this week's episode of Decor It Yourself, we transformed a backyard into a beach-themed tiki party. You can do the same with the help of these yummy cocktail recipes! BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE 21 AND NOT DRIVING:) If you are under-age, try the last recipe, the virgin pina colada. They are delicious, and my personal fav!

For the Blue Hawaiian you saw Anthony making....

Blue Hawaiian:

1 ounce light rum
1 ounce of blue Curacao
2 ounces of pineapple juice
2 ounces of coconut juice
1 pineapple slice & garnish with a cherry

And the other tiki drink options Anthony mentioned....

Zombie:

1 1/4 oz lemon juice
1 oz dark rum
3/4 oz orange juice
1/2 oz cherry brandy
1/2 oz light rum
1/2 oz high-proof dark rum
2 dashes grenadine

Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai:

1 ounce Dark Rum
1 oz Light Rum
1 oz Orange Curacao
2 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
Dash Orgeat
Dash Simple Bar Syrup

Scorpian:

1 part Brandy
1 part dark rum
1 part fresh lime juice
1 part orange juice
1 part orgeat syrup
2 dashes of sugar syrup

Virgin Pina Colada:

1 cup crushed ice
7 ounces of pineapple juice
2 ounces of coconut cream

Drink responsibly and enjoy!

Dorm Decor Round-Up

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:20:56 EDT

A big congratulations to all of you heading off to college! It is an exciting time for many reasons, one being that this is your first chance to nurture your very own nest. Even if you are just starting off in a dorm room, you can make that space your own with a few helpful hints. In Decor It Yourself's back-to-school episode from last year, we show you how to decoupage your own college or art piece. You can do this to a piece of wood that is the same measurements as the top of your desk. Then place the new decoupaged wood piece on top to give your work space your own look and style. You can decoupage photos of friends and family from home, or a cool college from magazines. Click here to view it!

Click here to watch the episode where we show you the full tutorial on wall decals. And here is a blog post I did to give you more info and inspiration in the decal arena.

Here is the template for the bird decal I made on the show. Mine measured 10" from the tip of the dove's beak to the tip of her tail. make yours whatever size you want!

Design Sponge suggests this lovely vintage window message board. You can use a found object and create a unique way to leave messages for your roommate or friends.

Or take a vintage mirror with a cool, ornate frame. Remove the mirror, or salvage on that has the mirror broken, and paint that back part with chalkboard paper. re-vamp the frame, and you have an awesome area to write out your homework assignments and big deadlines.

They also suggest lining your desk or dresser drawers with bright and bold wrapping paper to add a touch of color and personality to the room.

Just because you live in a dorm doesn't mean you should have to suffer from lack-of-art! Nails or no nails, take a cue from this vintage Knol photograph. Line any shelf, desk, door frame with framed art to give your small space a gallery feel. Apartment Therapy gives this example of one shelf displaying an array of art.

I suggest giving yourself some privacy in a room you share with your new roomie. If you have bunk beds, you can simply drape, tuck or tack up a bold and beautiful curtain around your bed to give yourself a secret little spot.

If you need some space, curl up behind your curtain with a good book or your ipod, and escape the hustle and bustle of the start of a new school year. You can find this lovely Marimekko fabric at Always Mod.

Here is an article on helpful organizational tips for your dorm room. Like adding cement blocks under your bed to add a little more storage room from Rental Decorating.
And lastly, even CBS has a segment on dorm decor with style right here. Christy Ferer gives kids and their parents a lesson on cool dorm decor and helpful organization. I hope these get you off on the right foot for the new year. Congrats, good luck, and let us know how YOU are nurturing your nest while away at school in a comment below.

Candle Lantern How-To

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:21:21 EDT

Apartment Therapy featured this lovely candle lantern how-tp. They must have known that today's episode of Decor It Yourself would be DIY Weddings, Part 2, focuses on lighting.

How pretty would a cluster of these lanterns behanging from the branches of the trees surrounding the reception area. Designate a few people form your bridal party to replace the tealights if it's a long event. What DIY lighting have you seen at weddings?

DIY Wedding Decor Round-Up

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:04:50 EDT

Since June is DIY wedding month, Threadbanger is offering you episodes on the matter. For even more handmade wedding ideas and projects, here is the round-up! To get your start creating a romantic aesthetic, see how http://www.apartmenttherapy.com">Apartment Therapy make your own http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/at-australia/how-to-make-flower-fairy-lights-melbourne-067715">fairy lights. How lovely would those be in a garden wedding?

Why not greet your lovely friends and family with a handmade sign like Amy Merrick did for friend Ginny Branch.

For a personalized and amazing design choice, create a custom paper cut by Made By Julene. You can have a portrait made, or a http://madebyjulene.com/2009/06/01/well-be-together/">sweet message.

CRAFT:zine offers up a ton of ideas in their wedding archives, including this Forget-me-not headpiece.

They also led me to Once Wed's glam nod to the 20's feather headband.

Once Wed is also the source of this http://www.oncewed.com/514/diy/decorations/rustic-wedding-cake-stand/">tree stump cake stand. I must get married all over again just to make that!

Cupcakes are a great alternative for the traditional wedding cake. If you go in that direction, check out http://creaturecomforts.com">Creature Comforts cuter-than-cute cupcake toppers.

What are YOUR favorite DIY wedding tips, ideas or projects? Send in photos of your DIY wedding decor or fashion!

DIY Decor Round-Up

Fri, 22 May 2009 13:53:28 EDT

Here we go for another round-up of some of the cool and unique DIY decor sprinkled around the web. First, from Apartment Therapy, I love this His & Hers Pillowcase tutorial. A nice nod to vintage personalized linens and a fun way to make sure you get your full side of the bed.

Here is a collection of DIY ideas from ICFF. I particularly enjoy this lantern made from an old apple juice container and sweater sleeve.

I appreciate any original idea of how to display a collection of polaroids, photographs, and inspiring images. This is a modern display created with a wire and metal clips. Clean, crisp and totally adjustable.

Design Sponge provides this handy
Tea shelf idea keeps all you need to prepare your tea in one spot. A lovely and simple design that creates a little tea niche.

Wallpaper stationery set is a great way to use vintage wallpaper. If you rent, you can't put something so permanent on your walls, so this is a great alternative. Hand-written thank you notes and letters are so classy, and are sadly less and less likely in this age of e-mail and e-cards. Now we can make our own and bring back this personalized way of communication.

Over at Crafty Nest, I saw some cool DIY ideas like this Ugly Mirror turned bulletin board. This is an awesome way to re-use an old piece, to give a fresh look to an old piece. All it requires is a fresh coat of paint and cork and you are good to go. Check out the tutorial and let me know how it turns out!

By now everyone knows plastic bags are SO 2000. Decorate your own canvas or hemp tote bags following this tutorial. My recommendation for the best place to get totes made from recycled and sustainable materials is EcoBags. And one last re-purposed idea from Crafty Nest, this cupboard door as a serving tray.

I particulary enjoy this yardstick coat rack from DIY Ideas. This would be great for teachers, DIYers, sewers or kids.

Over at Craftzine I saw this awesome

Over at Craftzine I saw this awesome DIY sketchbook so you have a place to jott down your inspiration and DIY ideas!

What projects are YOU working on?

DIY Decor Round-Up

Wed, 06 May 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Here is the round up of some of the cool DIY decor I've found over the last week. On Poppytalk, I saw Studio Violet's lovely new tear-drop wall stickers. You could make your own by following the steps in the wall decals episode. Take a cue from Craftzine and calm your inner-panic by making your own swine flu mask.

RIP Dorothy! Check out this hilarious tribute to the Golden Girls found on Craftster.

These miniature tin gardens are positively precious and would make perfect Mother's Day gifts. I saw them on my weekly/daily read, Design Sponge.

On D*S I also saw this paint sample headboard. They would have to recycled of course, but what a rad, linear and colorful piece.

Speaking of Mother's Day, who does it better than Martha? Here are her top 35 suggestions for gifts and top 35 choice recipes.

I love the photo tray, herb garden, and stencilied tea towel.

The more re-usable hand and tea towels a kitchen has, the less paper towels get used.

Cinco de Mayo DIY Flowers

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:55:25 EDT

Want to know how to make your own flower headband for your Cinco de Mayo celebration? For this look I was inspired by Morgan Hungerford's lovely Pandahead Mag. In the Fall '08 issue, Morgan threw a celebration for Dia de los Muertos that provides a myriad of Mexican inspiration for Cinco de Mayo.

When I asked for suggestions, Morgan led me to a tissue paper flower How-to in Kaboose's craft section.

1. Simply stack 4-6 small sheats of tissue paper on top of each other.

2. Attach them together at the base.

3. Pleat and fan out the petals.

4. Attach your flowers to a headband or place in a bowl.

How will YOU celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year?

Chubbycraft's Picture Frame Face-Lift

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EDT

This up-grade is simple yet satisfying. A regular over on Nest, fellow blogger Chubbycraft took some standard frames and turned them into her favorite color with one spritze of her spray-paint can.

Apartment Therapy: Kitchen & Bath Round-Up

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:36:01 EST

March is kitchen & bathroom month at Apartment Therapy, so here are some of my favorite DIY ideas that go along with their theme. This shopping cart island is up-clycled and adds storage to your kitchen.

This how-to and OUR kitchen up-grade cover your chalkboard paint needs.

Here are Ten Kitchen improvements for renters that won't get you in trouble with your landlord.

Check out the comments on this kitchen inquiry and Encino transformation.

This house tour from last year has such a lovely bathroom to use as inspiration.

This DIY toothpaste recipe will cut down your drug store bill and this storage before and after will make you want to up-grade your loo.

To wrap up the Kitchen & Bathroom Apartment Therapy Round-Up, check out how to make a vanity.

DIY Solution for Old Band Tee's

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

My rockstar husband, being in the punk rock/hard core scene for over a decade now, has about a million band tee shirts. There aren't enough days in the year for him to wear them all, and some have gotten tattered at this point or just don't fit.

I think I just spotted the perfect solution for those favorite band shirts you get all emo about.....frame them like you would your records. Of course I spotted this on Apartment Therapy and you can too by clicking here.

DIY Month at Apartment Therapy

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

It's DIY month over at Apartment Therapy and the oh-so-lovely design blog is accepting your DIY projects! Head on over to submit now! Hopefully we'll see some of your projects up there, but to inspire you to DIY-it-up, here are some of my favs. VOTE for the DIY project you want to see on Decor It Yourself by leaving a comment below naming it!

This is a DIY headboard with a linear pattern of interlocking squares. What an up-grade!

I love, love, love this bubble chandelier. That would be a cool piece to make on the show, wouldn't it?

To spruce up some ghetto cabinets, try adding fabric! Who knew?

If you watch Decor It Yourself, you know how much I love gardening. I will make a planter out of just about ANYthing. So, of course, I dig this.

Holy atomic age decor, batman! I now must make this starburst mirror.

Want to make a small space bold and graphic? And some stripes!

Window shades are a simple staple in many homes, and this DIY project customizes them into a unique design piece. These are simple Roman shades made into a graphic pattern that would add to any room.

In a previous 'Decor It Yourself' episode, we explored creating an indie art collection. These DIY gold frames would be the perfect way to display it.

Make your own wall mural with the help of a projector!

Now this makes me want Spring. The last but not least DIY project is a http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/how-to/how-to-make-a-water-gardendo-it-yourself-076308">water garden! This amazing endeavor would bring your backyard to a whole other level.

Top 10 Valentine's Day DIY Ideas

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:38:29 EST

As Valentine's Day approaches, here are my 10 DIY projects for the love-fest.

You can set the mood with these lace votives from Good Housekeeping,

or with these wine bottle candles from Design*Sponge.

This Seed Starter or these cool felt fortune cookies from my homegirl Martha Stewart are great Valentines for the one you love.

On Make:Zine, I found two cool ideas here. A rad LED light kit and this heart lamp.

Real Simple shows us how to melt chocolate for a tasty desert and how to up-grade grocery store flowers.

And the last two LOVE-ly ideas for Valentine's Day come from Apartment Therapy. These hearts or this graphic headboard, both add a burst of love to your bedroom!

What DIY projects are you making for Valentine's Day?

How To Hang a Plate

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:08:34 EST

Forum member hob recently created a thread asking how to hang plates. I have a few vintage plates and platters hung in my kitchen, so I thought I'd answer his question.

First, gather the plates you want to hang on your wall.

Now find some plate hangers in sizes that fit the plates you want to hang. If you want to make your own wire plate hangers, check here to see how Martha would do it.

Carefully put two brackets on the top of the plate, and pull the other two brackets down over the bottom.

Make sure the top of the bracket is centered with the top of the plate and is on securely.

Now hold your plates up to eyeball where you want them on the wall, and mark with a pencil where the nail should go. Hammer in a nail and hook so you can easily slide the bracket over it.

Arrange the plates in a cluster, or create a geometric grid.

Two of my favorite examples is Bird in the Hand's cluster, and surprisingly Country Living's plate collection.

Do you have any plates hung on your walls? If so how did you do it?

How To Organize Your Pantry

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:17:34 EST

No matter what your pantry looks like or is made out of, a common kitchen challenge is maintaining your food storage system. This weekend, Will and I conquered our pantry and have it practically alphabetized. So here is an easy formula to help you create calm in your kitchen.

First, gather your dried food goods and see what you have. Take things like pasta, cereal, oatmeal, coffee beans and rice.

Pour each food item into a container of the appropriate size.

For your containers, you can collect vintage canisters, glass air-tight vessels or purchase these at Ikea.

Just make sure your containers are air-tight to preserve your food.

Display your food items in their clean, air-tight cotainers in a spot where they will be easy to see from where you cook.

This new food display should make it easier for you to see what you have, know when you are running low on an item, and help keep your kitchen more organized and clutter-free.

To keep food organized after you cook it, pick up some new tupperware.

Keep a post-its pad and pen near the fridge so you can label your left-overs, thus giving them a higher chance of being eaten before they go bad. And, as reader Maria suggested in a comment below, add THE DATE to the post-it so everyone in your home knows how long the left-overs are good for. Thanks for the tip!

How do you organize your kitchen and pantry?

DIY Red Carpet

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:25:38 EST

Not all of us have stylists or the ability to rent frocks and kicks from the fanciest designers. So until we do, this is how we fake it. To rock the red carpet DIY-style for the Bride Wars premiere last Tuesday, I gathered some of my favorite classic pieces to choose the right ensemble.

It was actually a blue carpet, due to the entire evening being hosted by Tiffany's. This made me want to go down a more Audrey-road, and go with a cocktail dress. The black cocktail dress was a thrift find that was under $20. The hem-line was awkward, so I altered it to hit me above the knee.

The bold gold cuff and bauble necklace were my Nana's, the patent leather t-straps were the shoes I wore to my rehearsal dinner and were found at (gasp!) Filene's, and the orange mod cropped pea coat was a steal at Forever XXI.

I felt good, was comfortable all evening, and didn't have to purchase one new piece for the DIY red carpet event. What are some of your tried and true red carpet-worthy DIY outfits?

5 Decorating Tips

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:28:15 EST

Domino has a remarkably resourceful website and blog in addition to being one of my favorite magazines. I recently found a great article over there in, 5 tips for decorating your apartment.

Which of these tips do you find the most helpful or inspiring?

3 Steps to Organizing

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:25:24 EST

A couple of days ago, we read 5 decorating tips from Domino magazine, and today we'll read 3 Steps to Organizing.

Starting with a strong floor plan will give your space the structure it needs for you to have creative freedom. Do you guys map out a floor plan before arranging your rooms, or do you just go with the flow?

Pebbles87 Does It Again

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:18:08 EST

Check out Miss Pebble87 who has rocked the blog before. This is one craft lady who gets a gold star for earth-friendliness and makes me proud! Pebbles87 took someone's trash and made it her treasure by spray-painting an old chair neon orange and making a new seat cushion.

This is her viva la vinyl pillow that my record-obsessed husband would appreciate.

Head on over to the thread post and tell her if you dig them.

DIY Stamp Making

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:15:52 EST

In today's episode of Decor It Yourself, I mention making your own stamps to decorate your Birthday Calenders. There are several DIY stamp how to's out there, and here are a few quality examples to check out. Geninne's Art Blog has a very well-illustrated eraser stamp how-to.

CraftZine shows you how to carve stamps out of erasers here.

Etsy Labs offers an easy how to on their blog.

And Make It Mine has a video tutorial for you.

And for more, check back to a previous Threadbanger blog entry for more ideas.

DIY Idea For Your New Year's Corks

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:24:39 EST

Now that Christmas is over and you are recovered from the New Year's celebrations, here's a way to re-use the corks you popped during the holidays season. I found this cool cork how-to over on Design Sponge and made a few as Christmas gifts.

*Simply collect your corks

*Cut them into thin slices.

*Sew the corks together with mix-matched thread.

*Add pieces together until you have a piece that measures about 5" x 5" for a trivet and 3" x 3" for coasters.

Head on over to Design Sponge

to read their Abigail's Cork Trivet How-To.

Our Home Featured in Apartment Therapy

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:05:52 EST

The set of your favorite DIY decor show was just featured in the amazing design site Apartment Therapy as an inspirational interior. Will, Gracie and I are very proud. The incredible photo accompanying the entry is by Wendy Hickok, our fantastic wedding photographer. Reading my quote you can see what a design dork I really am.

The Coolest Christmas Tree

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:21:43 EST

This season has fostered many unique tree alternatives as shown here and here. Perhaps it's the economy, perhaps people are just being way more creative than they have in years past. Either way, Christmas 2008 has provided some really cool alternatives to the traditional tree. My favorite is this tree by ATLITW on flickr.

Pomegranate Place Card Holder

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:56:17 EST

Sticking with the food theme, here is a lovely way to incorporate seasonal pomegranates as part of your holiday table decor.

Purchase one pomegranate for each person who will be attending your holiday dinner. Hold the pomegranate so that the stem is towards the top.

Take a kitchen knife and carefully cut a slit in the stem that is about 1/2 inch deep.

Cut out place cards from card stock paper that measure 3" x 2".

Add a stamp to the bottom of your place cards.

Write, type or stamp out the name of each dinner guest onto the cards above the stamp.

Slide your place card into the slit of the pomegranate stem.

You now how a seasonal and colorful addition to your table and unique place card holder.

After they serve as table decor for Christmas dinner, you can take your pomegranates and use them to make a New Year's Eve cocktail as seen in my blog Nest.

Brussel Sprout Wreath

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:07:53 EST

This is one of the cutest edible objects I've ever seen. I usually don't go for the food-as-decor thing, but this brussel sprout wreath is pretty rad. And tasty looking.

Isabella's Tree Alternative

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:36:49 EST

One of the coolest Tree Alternatives I've seen was sent in by Threadbanger, Isabella. This DIYer took her assignment of thinking-outside-the-box seriously, and came up with such a unique idea. Tell us what you think of her model form tree by leaving a comment below!

DIY Coaster How-To

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:56:22 EST

In today's holiday special, you saw several gift & decor ideas. Here is the step-by-step how-to on recycled coasters.

First, cut circles out of your scraps of fabric that have a diameter of 5 inches.

Place your circles on top of the second fabric good sides together and pin.

Cut out your pinned circles.

Bring the pinned and cut circles over to your sewing machine and sew the perimeter leaving a 3" opening.

Flip the circles right-side out, and pin the opening closed.

Pre-heat your trusty iron, and iron the coasters to create clean, crisp lines.

Bring the ironed coasters over to the machine and sew a topstitch along the circle's edge.

Put together a fun mix-matched or a uniform set of six coasters. Tie a recycled ribbon around them and....voila! You have a nice holiday gift for friends or family.

Recycled Garland How-To

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:27:22 EST

When gearing up for our holiday cocktail party, I wanted to make our apartment feel as magical as I could. With a tight-budget and not a lot of time, I worked with what I had. If you are as into Domino, Martha, Vogue, and a myriad of other magazines that provide ideas and inspiration, than you too must have stacks and stacks of useful material.

Before I sent my stacks out to the recycling bin (note: I NEVER pitch my Martha's. I save each and every one), I decided to use them to help transform our pad into a holiday wonderland.

First go through your STACKS and STACKS of mags, and tear out the pages that have the boldest, most colorful pages. Keep your eyes peeled for weird, quirky patterns and cool typeface, ads and images.

Then, take your stacks and cut the magazines pages into 3 long strips with the page lengthwise. Mix the colors up so that you never have the same colors in a row. I went so far as to hold it out each time to make sure that the colors and patterns were equally distributed, but I was in a holiday haze and was dangerously determined.

Take your first strip, and loop it into a circle elementary-school style. But instead of the clunky staplers I used in my 2nd-grade class, we will use clear tape and tape both the exterior and interior flaps down.This is cleaner, a little lovelier, and the tape doesn't weigh the garland down as the staples do.

Continue this until you are satisfied with the length of your garland. What sets these apart from the ones we all made as kids are how bold and colorful they can be.

With magazines like Antenna, Vice, and Bust, you'll find way cooler, more interesting ads and pages to use. Also, the sheer volume of what I got myself into really made a world of difference.

I did the entire garland in a few hours while watching HGTV, and it completely transformed the room. Mine literally circles the ENTIRE circumference of the living/dining room.

And then when I finished at 2am and my husband looked at me as if I were insane, I made one for the kitchen!

Threadbanger Coupon for Capes

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:17:50 EST

All Threadbangers recieve a BIG DISCOUNT on Enderby capes. Simply send a convo through the Etsy shop mentioning coupon code THREADBANGER, and you will receive 20% OFF! So start sewing and shopping for the holidays!

The Nesting Bible

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:47:15 EST

This is the ultimate nesting bible.

It is the amazing Martha Stewart book I was reading in the opening of today's Threadbanger episode. It's called Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, and boy is it ever. It was a bridal shower gift form my man-of-honor, and it hasn't left my hands or bedside table since. Filled with tips for the home, easy clean-up remedies, check-lists for every host or hostess and a myriad of ideas and how-to's for the home. This book does for the home what The Joy of Cooking does for your kitchen.

This would be a great gift for a friend or family member, or add it to your Christmas list! Until you find it under the tree, you can check the Martha blog for daily inspirations. Thank you once again, Martha. Thank you.

Christmas Tree Alternatives

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:28:03 EST

Are you feeling green-guilt for thinking about buying a Christmas tree this year? Or are you just too broke like the rest of us to fork over the dough? Well, Re-Nest has some great tree- alternatives that might inspire a new, creative idea to replace our old tenenbaums. Items like an antique drying rack, step-ladder or house plant can be easily transformed into a re-purposed tree to put your handmade presents under.

What are you using to decorate your nest for the holidays? What does your tree look like? Send photos in to Meg@threadbanger.com and the decor that catches my eye will be posted on the blog. Ho ho, ho!

Holiday Special

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:43:09 EST

You sweet, loyal Threadbangers thank you for the support, comments and enthusiasm on the forums. I read each and every one of your responses, and really appreciate the computor love coming my way. I am very excited to return once a month to fill your nesting needs, starting with a holiday special jam-packed with DIY gifts and decor. Last night we welcomed in the winter season with a holiday cocktail party. You'll see more in the up-coming special, but until then here's a taste!

Thanksgiving Table Decor

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:09:08 EST

Happy Thanksgiving Threadbanger!

It's Meg here, returning to give you a DIY decor idea for your Thanksgiving table.

The autumn leaves are falling to the ground just in time to make a cool centerpiece mobile just in time for the holidays.

Bring home several colorful fall leaves and gently wash them off with water. Allow to dry before you start your project.

You will need clear nylon thread, scissors, a branch or hanger to hang the leaves from, and twine.

Take your branch and thread, and tie the end of the clear thread to your branch. Repeat until you have several pieces of the thread hanging down formt he branch, varying in length between 1 1/2 feet and 2 1/2 feet long.Then tie the end of the thread to the stem of the leaf.

Once the end of each strand of clear thread has a leaf tied to the end of it,take your glue gun and add a dollop to the knot.

Measure out to pieces of twine to be the same exact length, around 2 1/2 feet long. Tie your twine around the end of your branch 4" away from the end.

Do this with both pieces of twine, and tie the other ends together, creating a triangle to hang your mobile from.

Take your mobile and lay it on a piece of newspaper, and spray an acrylic coatingon the leaves tokeep them tear-free.

Hang your mobile above the center of your dinner table from a ceiling hook.

Enjoy your colorful, all natural DIY decor!

DIY & Vintage Wedding

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:35:11 EDT

Adding vintage pieces to your wardrobe or wedding is a great way to cut down on mass consumerism. At least vintage pieces have been used before and you aren't contributing to big business costs. Most of them are collected by individuals and small business owners like these Etsians. A combination of earth-friendly vendors and a few special vintage pieces make for a lovelier and greener wedding.

Collecting smaller vintage centerpieces like this Compote piece cuts down on the amount of cut flowers you will need to use.

Jen Star 68's pretty Breakfast at Tiffany's Hat is pretty and unqiue enough that no one will show up wearing the same piece.

Harmonious Posh is one of the many sellers who have a myriad of vintage wedding gowns to choose from.

I Spy Vintage has this retro Olive Guest Book

A bride, bridesmaid or wedding guest would look quite classy wearing a vintage lace shawl like this one by Vintagous.

What vintage pieces do you think would look lovely at such an event? How would you create more eco-conscious nuptials?

Published in Venus Zine

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:50:05 EDT

For those of you in need of a DIY Paint Guide, today is your lucky day. The ultra-hip, fierce and feminine magazine, Venus Zine asked me to contribute to the Fall issue of their quarterly. Venus is a rad and up-to-date, stylish source on women, art, music and the DIY movement. I was totally stoked and incredibly honored to write their DIY Paint Guide.

SUBSCRIBE or get your own copy HERE!

DIY Terrariums

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:39:02 EDT

We recently took on terrariums in an episode of Decor It Yourself. Terrariums can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Check out Terrarium Man to see how to turn your beach relics into a home for your succulents. You can even make a terrarium out of a recycled soda bottle.

Click here for a list of plants that do very well in terrariums. Have fun with your glass gardens!

Bamboo Contest Winner!

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:10:42 EDT

A few weeks ago we announced our Decor It Yourself Totally Bamboo Contest! Today we announce the winner. There were a lot of really cool projects submitted, and it's always hard to choose just on. But this mom blew me away with how much DIY decor she does in her home, and for her kids. If you want to see a cool DIY mom, jsedai_77 from the forums is your gal.

She has been very busy making her daughter's room into a lovely space. From mobiles to headboards to quilts, this mama is going all out-DIY style. Read abotu her process here.

Jsedai_77 has also worked very hard on a request from many forum members in her Slip-Cover tutorial.

Thank you so much for that! Now we all know how to make our own slip-cvers for our couches. Rad. Full photos are here.

Bravo jsedai_77! You deserve the bamboo place setting, and much more.

Locate a Stud

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:58:16 EDT

When hanging your DIY shelves, it is important to anchor them properly. First, you'll need to locate your walls studs. A stud is a vertical member in the light frame construction of a building's wall. It is important to know where your wall studs are located when hanging heavy objects like shelves. They provide the strength needed for such DIY jobs.

You can go the old fashioned way and locate the stud by knocking on your walls, looking for an area that doesn't echo. Here is a more detailed description of this knuckle & ear method. This is something I swear only dad's can do safely, so if you want to be a little more accurate you can buy tools that do the same thing.

You can purchase handy-dandy tools like the electronic scanner or the Black & Decker electric Alkaline Stud Finder.

Now you'll need anchors and drywall screws to secure your new shelf set. The anchors prevent your screws from stripping or falling out of the wall when weight is addede. Here is a step-by-step guide to putting anchors into your drywall.

Now you should be all set to hang even the heaviest of shelves. Let me know how it goes and send in pictures of your finished projects!

DIY Shelving

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:02:11 EDT

This week's Decor It Yourself answers many of your forum requests and tackles DIY shelves. Organize and create new design elements in your home with a few helpful tips from our newest episode.

Here are some Threadbangers who have already started solving their storage problems. Forum member Poundcake made a shelf and storage bin with cardboard and old newsprint. A very rad re-use of newspaper, Poundcake. This project is practical and looks cool too!

Ayme Loves Trees found these old shelf pieces in someone's trash, spruced them up, and made a pantry for her kitchen. The mason jars give this a nice, clean look. Keep your eyes peeled over onthe forums for this crafty lady. Ayme Loves Trees is always creating new projects and pieces. They always look really lovely and professional.

The very top image is from Amy Merrick's kitchen in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I love how she attached hooks to the underside of her shelves for extra storage. Very clever, Miss Merrick. You can see Amy's lovely home in this episode of Decor It Yourself.

Braids on Etsy

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:44:12 EDT

For more braiding inspiration, check out how these Etsians interpreted the technique.

Top by Pretty Raccoon

Dress by Victorian Bird

These rad headbands are by Spiffy Me 43 who makes all of her creations with recyced materials.

Now the question is, who will make the first DIY braided terry cloth sweatband, reminiscent of Olivia Newton John's "Let's Get Physical" video? Anyone?

Get YOUR Decor

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:23:59 EDT

You can now have some of the pieces from Threadbanger's Decor It Yourself for your very own! I need to make room for more decor projects and tutorials and am selling some of the previous episodes in my Enderby Designs shop on Etsy.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
Enderby

*Mention Decor It Yourself and you will get an additional 10% off!

Decor It Yourself Yard Sale

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:30:52 EDT

COME BY AND BE ON THE SHOW!

Ever wonder how I make room for all of the new home decor projects I create? Well, so far I haven't and am getting lost in a sea of fabulous antiques, cool new pieces, and tons of DIY projects. I need to purge myself of A LOT so I can keep on making stuff for you guys.

So, this SATURDAY we are having a big ole' garage sale in front of our apartment building. With lots of cool, hip new and old clothing, furniture, appliances, ART, BOOKS, you name it. We are open to bargainers and will offer good deals for those of you who stock up. You just might end up on the show!

*We are right by the Giglio festival, so come by for a day of fun!

8:30 AM

N. 7th Street and Meeker Ave. Right by the BQE. Click for a MAP!

Some of the items we are selling:

-brand new sewing machine
-clothes
-crafts
-furniture
-wall art
-2 tvs
-RECORDS, lots of rad vinyl, LPs and more
-craft supplies
-beverages
-kitchen supplies (TONS of kitchen dishware)
-pillows
-dog accessories
-jewelry
-fabric

EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE! So come on by to stockup on cool accessories for you and your home, and find a few supplies to start on your DIY projects.

DIY Pillows

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:48:30 EDT

In this week's episode of Decor It Yourself, we look for a perscription for style ADD. Making your own pillows to fit your decor to your mood is one way to shift the style of your sofa. It's an easy thing to change-up in your home to alter the aesthetic.

Curbly shows you how to make your own envelope pillow that you can add an applique, lace or embroidery to. Over on the lovely Design Sponge, there is the perfet DIY applique tutorial right here.

Over on Apartment Therapy they featured these rad pillows made out of recycled clothing tags and they give us a really cool Top 10 Natural Pillow Alternatives which is very helpful when making your own.

For more pillow inspiration check out Etsy shops My Imaginary Boyfriend, Olive and Jam Tart Baby

"Totally Bamboo" Plate Set Contest

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:29:19 EDT

In today's episode of Decor It Yourself, we announced our bamboo contest! Simply submit a video or photos of your home decor. Send all photo entries to tips@threadbanger.com and upload all your videos to the upload section of our website by August 13th for a chance to win a 2 person place setting from Totally Bamboo. I love seeing your homes, so get shooting and clicking and send your nest my way. The winner will be announced on the August 19th show.

***ADDED BONUS: Watch the episode for a COUPON CODE that will get you 10% off the entire website of Totally Bamboo.

Where: upload your videos to threadbanger.com's "upload" section

All entries must be received by 12:30PM ET, August 13th, 2008.
Drawing to be conducted by Next New Networks on or about the Monday following the deadline set forth above.
No purchase is necessary to participate.
Void where prohibited by law.
We are not responsible for lost or misdirected entries.
You must be 13 years of age or older to enter.
Taxes are the responsibility of the winner.
The winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility.
Odds of winning vary based on the number of correct entries.
The estimated value of the prize is less than $30.00

The winner consents to the use of his or her name and likeness for promotion.
Entries must be a video of a contestants favorite sewing tip.
Only one entry per household.
Decisions of the judges are final.
No substitution of prizes is permitted.
Employees and the families of Next New Networks, ThreadBanger and any of their related or associated companies are not eligible to participate.

Pebbles87 Jewelry Display

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:54:51 EDT

Pebbles87 is one forum member who has been busy DIYing. She is going to college soon and has made a few cool items to pack along with her. One that was really awesome to see was this jewelry display.

Awww. You're welcome, Pebbles87.

Have you visted the forums yet? It's super-easy and really fun to write in asking for something you want to see on the show. Just sign up here!

Pirate Flag How-To & Goonies Contest

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:22:57 EDT

Do we have many Goonies fans in the house?

If so, let's take this week's episode of Decor It Yourself and add a pirate spin to it. You can take the technique of making the Gay Pride flag and make it more in One-Eyed Willie's style. Just find a cool image of a skull and crossbone, and create an applique. Add the applique to fabric to make your flag front, like the rainbow I made out of fabric strips. For a full applique tutorial, watch this episode of Thread Heads. Then follow the rest of the steps in the tutorial, replacing your skull and crossbone appliqued flag-front, for the rainbow flag front. Hang your flag with pride, but be sure to watch out for the Fratelli Brothers!

****BONUS TRIVIA: Whoever can find the TWO Goonies shout-outs in previous episode of Decor It Yourself gets a TREASURE! ARRRRRRRG! Just comment below on the two episodes you see Goonies paraphernalia in. Whoever names both of the episodes correctly, will get some booty. Pirate booty, not mine.

DIY Your Bathroom

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:17:18 EDT

Our restooms are the rooms in our home that sometimes get left out in when it comes to style and decor. There are plenty of projects you can create out of something as simple as old towels. This week's show features some ideas for you to get started. One great project for you and your loo is August Cannibalism's rad robe made out of extra bath towels. Here is the step-by-step instructions to creating a cozy robe.

Don't forget to recycle your toilet paper rolls when they are done.

They go in with the paper and cardboard recycling. Keep a little bag or bin under the sink to make thie green habit easy. You'll be AMAZED at how fast they accumulate.

TOOLBOX CONTEST WINNER!!!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:19:19 EDT

Mad props to Viva la Ruthless from the forums who WON the Toolbox Contest. Her rad tutorial for her stencil projects can be seen in today's episode of Decor It Yourself. The final product of her hard work was so cool, AND the tutorial sharing how she did this was so helpful, that the judges all agreed that Viva la Ruthless deserved to win.

Jewelry Organization

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:44:59 EDT

My jewelry collection is made up of beautiful vintage pieces handed down to me from my mom and grandmother, and new, fun pieces I have found on my own. My fantastic fiance` has given me a fair share of bling through the years, and I have found some favorites at flea markets and antique stores. My problem is always how to store and organize these lovely pieces in a way that does them justice.

Your vintage dishes and tea cups work wonderfully as a way to keep your treasured pieces from getting into a mangled mess. Colored glasses and Mason jars that are varying heights are great to hang your earrings on. You can see them all, and keep them together in pairs.

How do you organize your baubles and bling?

All Up In Your Grill Piece

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:37:46 EDT

This week's episode of Decor It Yourself is a tribute to our dad's and a grilling 101 Guide. However, there are a few fun elements that are required for a good grill-out that must not forget.

#1- A cool and cute Summer outfit. You get EVEN hotter over an open flame and want to look your best while sweating it out over your veggies.

#2- A protective ovenmit that matches same-said Summer outfit.

#3- Dogs. Dogs are a requirement in all of my social or non-social activities. I highly recommend them for all occasions.

If you can not rescue your own, you can watch other people's animals at Ultra Kawaii. But this will only convince you more to adopt your own.

#4- Quality Meat or "fake" meat. Our friends brought over some really quality burgers from Trader Joes that were delicious. We picked up some Smart Dogs and Morning Star classic garden burgers that were just as good, and 100% vegetarian.

*WARNING: Gracie is TOO CLOSE to the gril. She got in trouble right after this photo was snapped. Make sure ALL furry friends and kids are far away from the grill at all times. Naughty Gracie!

DIY Succelent Planter

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:17:20 EDT

Giant Jeans Parlor! is a rad craft & DIY blog based out of L.A.

Here they make an up-cycled bread pan into a planter for a succelent garden. Another way to re-purpose an item you may otherwise throw away when old or rusted.

You can use this method of adding drainage to lots of household items. What re-used housewares have YOU used as planters or indoor gardens? Send pictures to tips@threadbanger.com to be featured on 'Decor It Yourself'!

Inspiration for your Backyard Overhaul

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:25:41 EDT

I just love this red patio lounge in Todos Santos in Baja was found in Apartment Therapy. This month is garden month over on AT, so head on over to find inspiration for YOUR patio/deckbackyard revamp. Take pictures before and after and send them to tips@threadbanger.com

They also feature this recycled and refreshing "canned" garden. I just LOVE how this family took old tomato sauce and coffee cans and reused them in such a creative way.

They just took off the labels, added a coat of blue spray paint, and..................

VOILA! They have a brand new, colorful garden. What is your outdoor inspiration? How are you re-purposing used objects to serve your plants? If you need some more ideas and inspiration, check back to Decor It Yourself's Earth Day Special where we take a glimpse into a Brooklyn backyard filled with recycled planters and accessories.

Placemats

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:57:23 EDT

In this week's episode of 'Decor It Yourself', we accessorize our kitchen or dining room tables with homemade placemats. For more aesthetic inspiration for what shapes and designs your placemats could be, here are some of my favorites.

Kat Nouri and indie artist Matte Stephens teamed up to create these rad designs. Do you have any pieces of art you have created that would make cool placemats? Perhaps you could find your way to a laminater and create your own!

Maurizio Meroni designed this cool piece found here. Use these cool designs as inspiration for ideas to make your own.

These are the coolest recycled paper cut-out placemats.

You could totally make your own version of this. And if you do, please send your video or photos into tips@threadbanger.com

No-nail, non-paint Wall Decor

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:03:07 EDT

For more wall decal inspiration and options, be sure to check all of the independent artists over on Etsy for their designs. Take a gander at Enough Said's shop and take a peek at this perfect wall decal for your sewing room. These little chickadee's by Elephannie are adorable.

Miss Elly Nelly has a fantastic selection as well with a great dog decal, which Gracie is a big fan of.

Make an Apron Out of a Pillowcase

Tue, 13 May 2008 13:19:12 EDT

This week's episode of 'Decor It Yourself' shows you how to make an apron out of your recycled jeans. I just saw this cool article about how to make an apron out of an old pillowcase from curbly. Very innovative, refreshing and totally recycled. I always find lovely Vera pillowcases without a matching sheet and now I know what to do with them.

You can find the whole tutorial at Craft Chi. What aprons have you made out of unexpected materials? How do you recycle old sheets or jeans to create something new?