Crème de la Craft

DIY: Yarn Wrapped Key Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:00:00 +0000

I know I've made some unique (and unusual) projects over the years including this pistachio shell necklace and these cereal box notebooks, so you can imagine how many times I get asked, “how do you come up with these ideas?!” Well folks, I think it’s time to answer that question! My process is pretty simple: (1) research (2) inspiration (3) create. And since the "key" ingredient (see what I did there?) to finding inspiration is the research phase, I partnered with Bing for a behind-the-scenes look at how I came up with today's project! Bing challenged me to use their search tool, where I'm able to earn credits to redeem some amazing gift cards just by searching! Pretty cool, right?

After meeting the awesome group of ladies from Bing last month (and winning a tablet!), I decided to give it a try. It’s been about 4 weeks and I can tell you that I’m hooked!

Bing’s search functionality is super visual with lots of images, which makes it easier for me to find inspiration quickly. But the icing on the cake is definitely the Bing Rewards program. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! You can earn credits just by searching the web. That’s all! Then you can redeem them for gift cards to some amazing stores like Amazon, Starbucks, Sephora, Fandango and more. Bonus: Bing Rewards just launched on Apple iOS and Android phones and tablets so you can build up your credits wherever you are.

So here is how today's project was born...

I had a bunch of embroidery floss laying around so I decided to use them for my next craft. I used Bing to search for inspirational images of other projects made from embroidery floss. After browsing a few pages, I noticed a lot of accessories like jewelry and pens being wrapped with yarn, so that got me wondering what little object I could jazz up. A few minutes later, it hit me! And that is why all my keys are now color-coded with yarn!

Now let's get started!

Materials:
• Key
• Embroidery Floss (about 5 feet)
• Tacky Glue

• Scissors

Steps:

• Add a thin layer of glue to both sides of the key's bow (aka the top part). It's easier to apply a small amount of glue then add more as you go.
• Find the center of your embroidery floss and place it on the bottom of the key's bow.
• Working your way to the top, start wrapping the embroidery floss around the key cover, alternating between the two sides of the yarn. Add more glue as needed and continue wrapping.

• If your key has multiple holes at the top like mine, you’ll need to individually wrap around them too (see images below).

• Secure the first end of the embroidery floss by gluing it to the rest of the yarn. Cut any access yarn off if needed.

• Wrap the remaining end around until the key is completely covered.

• Glue the end to secure.

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: Mini Instagram Photo Book

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 21:47:00 +0000

I always find that handmade gifts are the best way to show your loved ones how much you care. Did you see my "10 Things I Love About You" Jar from last year?

Lately, we've been taking more and more Instagram photos so I thought it would be fun to create a mini album with my favorite pictures to capture all the highlights from the past year. Since Tony and I are getting married this year, I think it might actually be a fun little tradition to create one of these for every year of our marriage. And since they're tiny, you don't need a ton of materials and scrapbook supplies to make them. Super simple...that's how I like to do things around here!

These would even make a cute gift idea for an anniversary, birthday, or just a way to brighten up someone's day!

Materials:

• 3” x 3” Instagram photos (directions on how to print them below)
• 6” x 3” cardstock paper (you’ll need 1 sheet for every 2 photos)
• Glue stick or tape runner (I used a glue stick, but think a tape runner would have been easier to work with)
• 2 pieces of 3.5” x 3.5” chip board (you can also upcycle a notebook cover or cereal box)
• Decorative scrapbook paper (for the covers)
• Red felt
• Twine
• Scotch tape
• Scissors (or a paper trimmer for super straight lines)

How to Print Your Instagram Photos:

There are many ways to print your Instagram pictures. Here are a few of my favorite options.

• Option 1: You can print your Instagram photos at home with a color printer. You first need to download your photos using Instaport. This will create JPG files of your Instagram photos. Then, you can use this great template (download it here) created by Tatertots & Jello, to add your photos onto a Word document and print. I just simply dragged my photos from my desktop onto the Word doc. Super easy!

• Option 2: There are various companies that will professionally print your Instagram photos including Prinstagram, FoxGram and PostalPix, just to name a few.

Steps:

• Cut out your Instagram photos using scissors or a paper trimmer.

• Fold cardstock paper in half. Attach all the pieces together using a glue stick as shown above.

• Attach Instagram pictures to the cardstock panels using a glue stick.

• To create the front and back covers, cover the chip boards with your favorite decorative paper using a glue stick.

• Lay the twine over the cardstock paper and tape in place, as shown below.
• Attach the chip boards to the front and back of the cardstock using a glue stick.

• Decorate the cover as you wish. I attached some ribbon and cut out a heart out of felt.

• Tie a bow with the twine to close.

My DIY Cereal Box Notebook Business Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Hi folks! I just got back from an amazing week in Salt Lake City for the Cricut Explore launch event and the Alt Summit blogging conference. I'm feeling so inspired after being around a group of 700 incredibly creative people!

I knew that exchanging business cards was kind of a big thing at these events, so I wanted to make mine extra special. I decided to turn one of my most popular DIY projects, the cereal box notebooks, into my business cards! Thanks to the custom logo stamps that Twin Soul Art Studio made for me, I think these came out awesome.

With 25 cereal boxes from the 99¢ Store, I was able to make 200 cereal box notebook business cards. And to answer the question that I got asked the most...they took 2 weeks to make, a few paper cuts, and an assembly line of happy helpers. And to answer the second most asked question...the cereal definitely did not go to waste!

You can find my original cereal box notebook tutorial here, but I created a modified version for these extra mini notebooks below. I think these would be a cute gift idea too! Here we go...

Materials:
• Cereal box • Paper trimmer (since I was cutting several boxes, I used my heavy-duty Fiskars ProCision Rotary Trimmer) • Custom logo stamp (Twin Soul Art Studio makes fantastic ones!) • Ink pad • Hole puncher • Notebook paper • Scrapbook/Decorative paper • Glue stick • Stapler • Paper fastener • Embroidery floss • Optional: Mini hanging tags and twine

Steps:

• Using the paper trimmer, cut out a rectangular piece from the cereal box. Mine was 5" x 3.75" and I was able to get 8 notebooks from 1 cereal box.
• Fold in half with the blank side facing out.
• Stamp on your custom logo or add any other embellishments to the cover.

• Trim notebook paper slightly smaller than the notebook cover. I used 7 sheets at 4.75" x 3.6" each.
• Fold paper in half, place it inside the notebook cover, stapling the two together.
• Optional: Add a mini hanging tag, by running twine through the tag and knotting around the notebook to secure.
• For the notebook's spine, cut out a small piece of scrapbook paper and fold in half. Attach it to the notebook with a glue stick.

• Punch a hole in the center of the top cover.
• Knot a piece of embroidery floss to a paper fastener, slide it through the hole, and fold back the prongs to secure.
• Wrap the embroidery floss around the notebook and tuck it under the paper fastener to secure.

DIY Wine Bottle Wraps with Ladies' Home Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000

It's finally here! Ever since Ladies' Home Journal approached me six months ago to create a craft project for their November issue, I have been anticipating to see the final product. I've been reading Ladies' Home Journal for years and it is such an honor to turn the page and see myself featured inside!

This is my all-time favorite issue of LHJ, not only because I'm featured in it (ok that's 95% of the reason), but also because one of my favorite chef's, Giada De Laurentiis, shares some of her delicious healthy recipes. I'm not much of a baker, but those mini carrot-apple cupcakes are tempting.

Check out the November issue on newsstands now or head over to LHJ.com for the full step-by-step tutorial!

photos by Anais & Dax

The photo shoot itself was such a fun experience! The very talented photography team Anais & Dax came to my home and captured the project just beautifully. Check out some behind the scenes photos from the shoot below.

A very special thank you Ladies' Home Journal and Anais & Dax!

DIY: Lunchbox Container from a Milk Jug

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Say goodbye to the brown sack lunchbox! A few months ago, AllYou Magazine came to me with a craft challenge and I'm excited to finally share it with all of you! My project is featured in this month's issue as part of their "Take This, Make That" craft challenge. Please VOTE for my DIY lunchbox right here!

A milk jug makes a great lunch box, because not only is it food-safe, but it is the perfect size to keep your sandwiches from getting squished! Plus it will cost you about $1 to make! It can also be used as a container to organize all your little goodies. And the smaller milk jugs make the perfect on-the-go boxes too.

Now, the kids have another reason to finish their milk!

Materials:
• Empty milk jug
• Sharpie or marker
• Scissors
• Button
• Threading needle
• Embroidery floss
• Elastic hairband
• Decorative Cover (optional): Decorative scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, Brush

Steps:
• Rinse out the milk jug and peel off the label. If any residue remains, run it under hot water and scrub away with a dish sponge.
• To create the flaps, use a marker to draw four half circles, one on each side of the jug. Make one side as tall as possible to create the lid (see image above).
• Cut along the inside of the lines and discard the remaining pieces.
• Bend down all four flaps so it starts to take the form of a container. If it doesn't fold properly, try making longer slits on each corner of the milk jug.
• To create a button loop closure, sew on a button on the top lid.
• Directly underneath on the bottom base of the milk jug, pierce a hole with the edge of your scissors. Run a hairband halfway through, knotting the end from the inside of the container to hold in place.
• Optional: To personalize the container, decoupage your favorite decorative paper on the lid using Mod Podge, following the directions on the bottle.

DIY Chain Trimmed Placemats

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00:00 +0000

This post is a special one for me, because it’s the first time I am writing to you as a married woman! Our wedding was one of the happiest days of our lives and I can’t wait to share all the details with you soon. Our first month of married life has been fantastic and one of the most fun we’ve had is decorating our new place.

After many weeks of searching for furniture, our apartment is almost complete! One of my favorite pieces is our Modway Dining Table from my new favorite online store, Wayfair. If you're in the market for furniture, accessories, or any other home-related items, Wayfair has it all! We needed something modern and white to brighten up the place a bit and this table did the trick. And now that we got the main furniture pieces sorted out, it’s time for my favorite part…accessorizing!

I bought some plain placemats for about $2 each and wanted to glam them up a bit for my new table. I bought a couple pieces of chain from the craft store and after some super simple stitching, my new placemats were born! You can also use this technique with fringe or fabric trim as well. Follow the simple steps below to make your own set!

Supplies:
• Placemats
• Decorative Chain (found online or at craft stores. make sure the holes are large enough for the needle to poke through)
• Embroidery Floss
• Threading Needle
• Scissors
• Wire Cutters

Steps:

• Thread needle with the embroidery floss and tie a double knot at the end.
• Place the end of the chain next to the edge of the placemat. Run the needle through the chain and the edge of the placemat and pull tightly.

• Continue stitching the chain and placemat together then tie a double knot to secure the stitch when complete.
• Trim the ends of the string with scissors and cut off any excess chain with wire cutters.

Check out Wayfair for tons of home furniture and accessories at amazing prices!

DIY: Nail Polish Colored Headphones

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to partner with The Washington Post for today's DIY tech project! Each year, they create a great holiday tech guide where readers can find tips on scoring the best gadgets for the techies in their lives. This year, they're featuring DIY tech gift ideas and I'm so excited to be a part of it.

If you're planning on buying a phone, tablet or laptop for any of your loved ones this year, you could craft up a pair of colorful headphones to go along with it! I always love receiving gifts with a personal touch. For this easy DIY project, nail polish and some masking tape is all you need! Especially since you've probably got some colors that haven't made an appearance on your nails for a few years, it's time to put them to use!

P.S. Check out my DIY bubble mailer tablet case and cork tablet sleeve for more tech projects.

Materials:

• Headphones

• Variety of nail polish colors
• Clear nail polish

• Masking tape

• Clothespins

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: No-Sew Fringe Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

A piece of fabric and a ball of yarn is all you need to make your own stylish fringed scarf! Bonus points: no sewing involved (high five to my fellow sewing-challenged crafters). It’s one of those easy projects that you can finish while watching TV on your couch (at least that’s what I did).

Just simply pick your favorite fabric & yarn, cut, knot and wear! The perfect little accessory when you want to add a splash of color to any outfit.

As long as you pick the right type of fabric as the base of your scarf, you won't need to sew the edges. Rayon/lycra is perfect for this, because the ends don’t fray when you cut it.

You can also hand sew a few of your favorite buttons too! Now let's get started...

Materials:
• ½ yard of fabric (choose stretchy jersey knit fabric that does not fray when you cut. Look for fabric made out of rayon/lycra)
• Ball of yarn
• Scissors
• Optional: buttons, thread, needle

Steps:

• On one end of the scarf, make very tiny slits using scissors. Each slit should be approximately 1/4 inch apart. I made about 30 slits for my scarf, but it will depend how thick your yarn is. Repeat on the other side.
• For each slit, you will need to cut one piece of yarn (about 1 foot long each).

• Fold a piece of yarn in half, slide it through one of the slits halfway, and insert the ends through the loop. Pull (very lightly!) to secure. Be careful not to pull too tightly to avoid enlarging the slit.
• Make a knot over the loop to secure firmly in place.
• Continue with the remaining pieces of yarn until complete.
• Optional: To add a button closure like my orange scarf, hand-sew on a button on one end and create a small slit on the other. The slit should be large enough so that the button snugly fits through (keep in mind the fabric will stretch).

DIY: Flower Bud Vases from Nail Polish Bottles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Got a few empty nail polish bottles laying around? Upcycle them into colorful flower bud vases! What's great about this DIY tutorial is that you probably have most (if not all) of these craft supplies at home, which makes this a really easy and cheap project to make.

I always find myself picking flowers from my yard and I love that I now have mini bud vases to display them in. You can use artificial flowers too. Create a bunch and add them to any room for a pop of color!

Materials:

• Dry or almost empty nail polish bottle
• Disposable plastic cup
• Spray paint (color of your choice)

• Newspaper

• Button

• Yarn, ribbon or twine

• Scissors (just got these Fiskars and love them!)

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: Drink Coasters from Tiles + Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 12:30:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I partnered with one of my favorite photographers, Melody Melikian, for a craft photoshoot! This gal has some serious talent when it comes to capturing emotion, colors and those special candid moments in her pictures. We organized a little outdoors craft workshop where we made coasters, drank lemonade and enjoyed crafting out in the wilderness for a change. We had a blast and I love how the pictures turned out! Check out more photos and my Q&A on Melody’s photo blog.

These drink coasters are one of my all-time favorites, because they include the 3 ingredients to what I call the perfect DIY project: they're cheap, practical and fun to make. So next time you’re at the hardware store, just pick up some plain ceramic tiles for a few cents and transform them into stylish coasters with your favorite decorative paper. I also love that this project is 100% customizable, because you can mix & match with any paper you'd like.

Plus they make great gifts, favors, or even a fun project for a "girls night in" party. Follow the tutorial below to make your own set!

photos via Melody Melikian Photography

Materials:
• 4 x 4 inch tiles (I bought these from Home Depot for $0.16 each)
• Decorative scrapbook paper (thicker cardstock won't work as well)
• Mod Podge or any other decoupage medium
• Waterproof clear sealer spray (I like Krylon Clear Glaze)
• Felt
• Scissors
• Brush
• Pen or Sharpie
• Tacky glue
• Optional: Paper trimmer or x-acto knife with a ruler to help cut straight lines

Steps:
• Choose a design for your coasters. You could cover the entire tile with one piece of paper or layer on different pieces on top of each other.
• Cut out your scrapbook paper. If you would like to cover the entire tile, place the tile on top of the paper and trace, but cut it slightly smaller than the tile to ensure the edges won’t hang over. If you're not comfortable cutting freehand, use a paper trimmer or an x-acto knife with a ruler to get those straight lines.
• Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the tile and another layer on the back of the scrapbook paper.
• Place the paper over the tile and gently smooth out the paper with your fingers to remove any air bubbles. Make sure to get the corners!
• Let dry for a few minutes, but keep an eye on it and smooth out any air bubbles that may arise.

(continued below)

• Brush on an even coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper. It will dry clear so do not be afraid to layer on a generous amount. Again, keep an eye on it and gently rub out any air bubbles before it dries. Let dry for about 10 minutes then add another coat to ensure the paper is secured to the tile.
• Once it has completely dried, spray the tile with a craft sealer to make it water-resistant, following the manufacturer's directions on the bottle. Although the sealer should dry in a few minutes, avoid stacking the coasters for at least 24-48 hours to avoid them sticking to each other.
• To keep the tile form scratching your table, cut a piece of felt to the size of the tile and attach it to the bottom with tacky glue.

photos via Melody Melikian Photography

Enjoy your handmade coasters! Follow along on Facebook and Twitter to see all my new DIY projects.

Burger Sushi Roll Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 23:56:00 +0000

Nothing says summer like enjoying a poolside barbecue with friends and family. And it’s not a summer barbecue without some burgers on the grill! As a burger lover myself, I thought it would be fun to put a creative spin on this classic American barbecue dish. I present to you…the burger sushi roll!

Not only is it a showstopper with its unique presentation, but it’s fun to eat too. Just like sharing sushi rolls with friends at your favorite Japanese restaurant, these juicy burger rolls go great with a pair of chopsticks, flavorful dipping sauces and big appetites.

CONTINUE READING > > >

5 Minute DIY | Fabric Wrapped Bracelets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:00:00 +0000

A few simple materials and about five minutes is all you need to create a new fashion accessory. I first taught this project at Unique LA a few months ago (pictures here) and everyone loved them, because they are so simple and quick to make. Make a bunch and stack 'em up for your own set of colorful arm candy!

For this tutorial, I used a wire hanger as the base of my bracelet, because I like to upcycle items around the house whenever I can, but you can also use floral wire or a bangle. I bought the fabric from a fabric store, but if you've got an old blouse in the back of your closet, this might be a great way to give it a second life!

Follow the steps below to make your own.

Materials:
• Thin wire hanger (you can also use an 18 gauge floral wire)
• 1 yard of fabric strip (about 1 inch wide)
• Wire cutters
• Scissors

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: Personalized Key Covers from Scrapbook Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Got some colorful paper? Dress up your keys in just a few minutes! I recently color coded my keys and am excited to share this easy tutorial with you all today. I love this DIY project, because not only is it a practical way to help identify your keys, but it's also a great way to add some color and handmade flair to your key chain. Just pair up any of your keys with your favorite scrapbook paper and you've got a personalized little accessory of your own. I think this technique would also be nice to try on vintage keys and string them on a chain to wear as a necklace. I might have to try that soon!

Follow the steps below to create your very own.

Materials:

• Key
• Pen or pencil
• Scissors
• Small X-acto knife
• Small piece of scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge or any other decoupage medium
• Brush

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY 4 Custom Paperclip Shapes

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

I’m so excited to partner with HP to bring you today's DIY project inspired by the new HP Pavilion x360 4-way convertible PC. In the spirit of bending the rules of technology, I thought it would be fun to explore other materials we can "bend" to create custom DIY projects. So here are 4 ways you can bend wire to make custom paperclips shapes!

These little accessories can make any workspace a little more fun. You can also use them as bookmarks, attach them to greeting cards or use them as gift toppers. Here are 4 shapes to get you started, but the possibilities are truly endless.

Materials:

• Jewelry wire (available in different colors. found at most craft stores)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Pen and paper

Steps:

• Sketch out your desired shape on a piece of paper.

• Position the wire on top of the drawing. Using needle-nose pliers, start bending the wire to match the shape. Make sure to leave a little extra piece on the back side so that it can attach to the paper (like the "U" shape that all paperclips have).

• Cut off any extra wire pieces using wire cutters.

CONTINUE READING > > >

My DIY Garden Themed Bridal Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 13:00:00 +0000

After many months (I know, this post is long overdue!), I'm so excited to share the details of my bridal shower! With the help of my very talented mom who was kind enough to host the shower, we crafted up our vision of the perfect garden themed party.

All photos taken by the talented Melody Melikian Photography.

We held my shower at one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, Ca' Del Sole. This place is magical. It's like walking into an Italian courtyard. For a garden themed party, I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful backdrop. But, of course, I had to add my own DIY details too...

DIY Moss Cake

My favorite detail was definitely the moss cake, which my mom completely handmade herself. To make, stack round boxes on top of each other and hot glue sheets of moss to cover them up. Add artificial flowers for a pop of color.

DIY Flower Bar

Instead of standard placecards, each guest had their own mini vase with their name and table number attached. We had buckets of fresh flowers for guests to fill up their vases. These doubled as thank you favors too.

DIY Flower Hairpin Station
As guests arrived, they got to pick their favorite flower to wear as a hair accessory. This turned out to be a really fun way for everyone to engage with the garden theme. To make, simply glue artificial flowers to hair clips and display them on a wire frame as shown below.

DIY Flower Photobooth Backdrop
This was one of the most ambitious DIY projects I've ever made, but I love the way it came out! Guests loved taking photos with the ginormous flowers and I was able to snap a few fun (and cheesy) shots with Tony too! To make, first build the outer frame using PVC pipes found at hardware stores. Next, attach the grassy backdrop. I found 12" x 12" sheets of artificial grass from Michaels and attached them together using zip ties. Lastly, attach the big flowers (also found at Michaels) to the backdrop with zip ties from the back.

DIY Flower Pot Centerpieces
What's a garden party without some gardening, right? Instead of traditional centerpieces, my dad helped plant flower pots for each table. These were also great gifts for guests to take home and plant in their own garden. The moss-covered table numbers were another one of my favorite details. I bought them from the Spotted Leopard Etsy store.

DIY Entrance Sign
If you don't already have a Cricut Explore machine, go get one! You can pretty much die cut any shape, letter or design you want. I used it to create this entrance sign as well as my wedding table numbers.

One reason why I waited so long to post this, was because I wanted to share my photo book too! I finally got around designing my bridal shower photo book (which ended up taking no time at all) and I'm so happy with the result! It's the perfect coffee table accessory.

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY Paper Flower Branches

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:00:00 +0000

I can't believe Valentine's Day is already around the corner! For today's DIY project, I'm excited to partner with Glade to bring you this paper flower DIY project to help create that romantic mood for your home just in time for Valentine's Day. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but the perk of artificial ones is they'll never wilt!

I also love lighting up our little apartment with lots of candles. The scents instantly put me in such a relaxed mood. I especially love Glade's new Blooming Peony & Cherry candle. It smells amazing! It invokes such a sweet and flirty feel. And it's the perfect accent to my living room home decor.

CONTINUE READING > > >

5 Minute DIY: No-Sew Sweater Pillow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 13:00:00 +0000

You don't need to toss out your favorite sweater just because it's got a hole! Instead, you can upcycle old or damaged sweaters into cozy pillows. This no-sew tutorial is so easy that it’ll take you less than five minutes to complete. Plus, it doesn’t require any cutting so you can use your sweaters as pillow covers during the summer and wear them again in the winter!

We moved into our new apartment six months ago and now that we got the main furniture pieces sorted out, it’s time for my favorite part…accessorizing! We got some of our favorite furniture from Wayfair. If you're in the market for furniture, accessories, or any other home-related items at affordable prices, Wayfair.com is the place to go!

One of my favorite pieces is our Oxford Garden Lounge Chairs that we got for our little patio. And to add a touch of color, my DIY sweater pillows were the perfect fit. I had a couple old sweaters that had holes in them, but I loved the pattern and wanted to somehow incorporate them into our new place. Five minutes later...bam! My sweater pillows were born. Follow the easy steps below to turn your old sweaters into the coziest pillows in town!

Supplies:

• Throw Pillow

• Stretchy Sweater Tip: Make sure the bottom of the sweater is stretchy and not loose. Slightly longer sweaters work best. Choose a pillow that fits very snugly inside the sweater.

Steps:

• Stuff the pillow inside the sweater, stopping an inch below the underarm seam.

• Pull the sleeves from the back of the pillow and wrap them around the front of the pillow, knotting them together in the center. Fold back the cuffs if desired.

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: Holiday Gift Tags from Cereal Boxes (Video Tutorial)

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:00:00 +0000

The holidays are just around the corner and what better way to make your loved ones feel special than by adding a touch of handmade flair to their gifts? Not only are these gift tags super simple to make, but you can simply “upcycle” them by using something that you may already have around the house: cereal boxes! By using the cardstock material from cereal boxes and adding colorful glitter, you can easily turn empty boxes into festive gift tags in minutes.

I’m also thrilled to partner with the SoCal Honda Dealers for this project as they celebrate the 10^th year of their Random Acts of Helpfulness campaign! During the holiday season, they help people all over SoCal by delivering holiday treats or buying Honda-owners their Christmas Trees. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to find out location details about their upcoming Christmas Tree Lot Buy Out on 12/3 – 12/4. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to find out about upcoming local community events near you!

Check out the video below for a step-by-step tutorial.

Click here to view if video is not displayed below.

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY Photo Booth Props from Chalkboard & Dry Erase Tape

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:00:00 +0000

I'm so excited to partner with Scotch® Duct Tape for today’s party-themed DIY tutorial! I’m always eager to try new craft supplies and this week I’m thrilled to introduce… chalkboard and dry erase tape. Yes, you heard me! Who said chalkboards and dry erase boards had to be constrained to the classroom? You may have heard of or used chalkboard or dry erase paint, but nothing is easier than using tape. Just slap it on and go!

I decided to use these tapes to create reusable photo booth props for an upcoming party we are hosting. Have your guests write, draw and personalize their own props, and snap away. You can even run a contest for the most creative one! You don’t need a fancy photo booth either. Just find a white wall, add some colorful streamers, strike a pose, and SMILE!

So let’s get started...

Supplies:

• Scotch™ Chalkboard Tape & Scotch™ Dry Erase Tape

• Cardstock paper

• Wooden skewers or dowels

• Glue gun

• Scissors

• Chalk and/or dry erase markers

Steps:

• Cover cardstock paper with chalkboard or dry erase tape

• Cut out desired shape (e.g. speech bubble, heart, glasses, bow tie, etc)

• Hot glue onto a wooden skewer
• Draw desired design

And with Halloween around the corner, these props would make a great addition to any gathering. There is nothing like a photo booth to spice up a party!

I am proud to be a 3M-sponsored blogger, and, as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate products from Scotch® Products. Opinions are my own and additional product used in the project were selected by me. To see more creative projects, visit Scotch® Duct Tape Facebook and Scotch® Duct Tape Pinterest Boards!

My Wedding Details + Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:00:00 +0000

I’m so excited to finally share my wedding details with all of you! The most frequent question I was asked throughout the entire planning process was, “Are you having a DIY wedding?” Although I did make a few things here and there, we decided to leave almost everything up to the pros. Since I craft all the time, I wanted to be as relaxed as possible on my wedding day and try to put down the glue gun for a change! But, of course, I did add my own personalized touch to a few items. Here were a few of my favorite projects.

Click for step-by-step tutorials: “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" Gift Box • Beaded Bridal Headband • Save the Date Cards • Bridal Shower Invitations • Wedding Invitations

And now for the good stuff…the wedding pictures! I can’t tell you how many wedding photos and videos I looked at in preparation for this wedding so it’s still a little surreal to be looking at my own! Our amazing wedding photographer, Paula Luna from Lunaphoto, did such a great job capturing all the details and memories from the day. And our cinematographers, White Rose Production, created a highlight video that I have not been able to stop watching! I’ve seen it about 75 times and I still can’t stop smiling. Check out our video right here!

Scroll down for a few of my favorite wedding photos!

I was so lucky to work with some of the most talented vendors. A gigantic thank you to all of them!

Coordinator: Yvette Hart Events • Photos: Lunaphoto • Video: White Rose Production
Flowers: Designs by Christine • Hair: Lilit • Makeup: Karolin
Cake: Cake Studio • DJ: Hrach - DJ International

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY Painted Pumpkins from a Mesh Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:30:00 +0000

I've always been a fan of painting instead of carving my pumpkins... never been very good at handling a knife! For today's DIY, I partnered with DecoArt to bring you my first fall decor project featuring their Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint. This paint is pretty awesome...it's as easy to use as regular acrylic paint, but it leaves the surface looking ultra-matte and chalky, giving it that rustic look that I love. Can't wait to use it on more home decor projects!

As I was trying to decide what kind of pattern to paint on the pumpkins, I just happened to see a mesh bag filled with tangerines in my kitchen. Turned out that the mesh bag worked perfectly as a stencil! It's also a super easy way to paint so the kids can join in too. I used artificial pumpkins for this project so that I can reuse them each year, but you can use real ones too.

Follow the steps below to make your own!

Supplies:

• Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint
• Artificial or real pumpkins
• Mesh bag (I upcycled the bag that my tangerines came in...you can also buy mesh sheets)

• Cotton balls (or a foam brush)

Steps:
• Place a section of the mesh bag over the pumpkin.

• Dip a cotton ball in paint and dab it a few times on a scrap paper before applying to the pumpkin.
• Dab the cotton ball over the mesh bag (like a stencil).

• Continue until the pumpkin is completely covered.

Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint is available in Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, A.C. Moore and other stores. Visit the DecoArt Chalky Finish website for more chalk paint ideas and inspiration. This post was created in partnership with DecoArt. All opinions are my own.

My DIY Wedding Invitations

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 12:00:00 +0000

Looking back at my wedding craft projects, my invitations were one of my favorite. I was really happy with the way they turned out, but most importantly, the process of making them was so memorable. As you can see below, there were several steps involved in putting together each invitation and there is no way I could have done it without my family and friends who sacrificed their time (and finger cramps!) to help.

I customized and printed my wedding invitations through Minted. They have such an amazing selection of beautiful designs and printing options (leterpress, foil stamp, etc). I actually ended up combining elements from two different designs (this and this), which was surprisingly a super hassle-free process! All you need to do is note your changes when you submit your order and one of their designers will send you a customized invitation.

Although I thought these invitations were beautiful as is, I just had to add my own personalized touch! I added a metallic cardstock backing that was slightly larger than my invitation in order to increase the overall size of my cards and to add a little bit of shine. I also added a couple smaller details like the wax seal and the embossed return address on the envelopes. It’s all in the details, folks! So here’s how I made them…

Supplies:

• Wedding Invitations (I printed mine from Minted...highly recommended)
• Invitation Backing (from Cards & Pockets)
• Envelope Liner (also from Cards & Pockets)

• Permanent Tape Runner

• Personalized Return Address Embosser (loved mine from WGPress)
• Self-Adhesive Wax Seals (Sally's Heartful Creations has great ones)
• Ribbon
• Scissors

CONTINUE READING > > >

4 DIY Organization Projects (featured on #OWNSHOW)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 12:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was invited to do a few craft segments for #OWNSHOW where I got to talk about some of my favorite organizational craft projects. It was such a fun experience being in the studio and taping these segments with the talented Ami Desai. And I’m so excited to finally share them with you! Check out the clips below!

Trouble seeing the videos below? Click here

DIY Cereal Notebook: Click here for full tutorial

DIY Water Jug Container: Click here for full tutorial

DIY Chalkboard Label Jars: Click here for full tutorial

DIY Altoids Carrying Case: Click here for full tutorial

My DIY Bridal Shower Invitations

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 12:00:00 +0000

My wedding is only two months away so you can imagine how much I've been consumed with DIY wedding craft projects! This is one of my favorites so far. I am having a garden-themed bridal shower and found the perfect invitations from Minted. These were originally save the date cards, but Minted lets you 100% customize their designs which is exactly what I did. All you need to do is make a note with your changes when you submit your order and one of their designers will revise and send you an updated version. A hassle-free process!

But you know I couldn’t just send these out without adding my personal touch. This is a super easy way to add a little pzazz to any invitations or even greeting cards. Here’s how I made them…

My Supplies:
• Invitations from Minted
• Silk flower stems
• Tacky glue
• Mini pearl sticker (found at craft stores)
• Pressed flower stickers (this shop has many more to choose from)

Steps:
1. Add Flowers: Separate the silk flowers from their stems by simply pulling them out. Apply a small dot of glue underneath and secure to the card. Finish it off by adding a pearl sticker on top. Continue adding flowers until you’ve reached your desired look.

2. Decorate the Envelope: To tie everything together, I used these pressed flower stickers as envelope closures. They are actually real flowers! There's a protective layer on top so they will stay intact when mailed.

Now moving on from wedding talk...

CONTINUE READING > > >

DIY: Chocolate S'mores Cake Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Crème de la Craft) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000

Today's post is very special to me, because it’s Crème de la Craft’s 2^nd birthday! Thank you all for continuing to read, comment, share, like and pin these little projects of mine.

In honor of my blog birthday, I’m posting my first recipe project. I thought the celebration called for a double layer chocolate s'mores cake! The big toasted marshmallows on top are my favorite. And I can report back that it was delicious!

Now let's get started...

Ingredients:
• 2 boxes of chocolate cake mix (and the ingredients required on the box)
• 2 jars (7oz each) of marshmallow creme or fluff
• 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs (they actually sell the crumbs!)
• ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
• Mixing bowl
• Baking pan

• Foil or parchment paper
• Bag of large marshmallows
• Skewer

Steps:
• Bake 2 chocolate cakes, following the instructions on the cake mix box. Let cool and set aside.
• In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter with a spatula until combined.
• Cover a baking pan with foil or parchment paper and evenly spread the graham cracker crumbs on top. Bake in the oven at 350°F until they are golden brown (about 10 minutes). Remove and let cool.
• Toast 20-24 marshmallows. You can use a culinary torch or toast them individually over the stove with a skewer, like a mini campfire. Be very careful and be sure to hold the marshmallow a few inches above the flame. Do not to hold the actual wooden skewer over the flame or it will catch on fire.

Presentation:
• Arrange the first layer of cake on your cake stand.
• Spread an even layer of the marshmallow creme on top. It will naturally ooze out from the side. I used 1 full jar for the first layer.
• Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on top.
• Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat the previous steps using the remainder of the marshmallow creme and graham cracker crumbs.
• Arrange the toasted marshmallows on top.