Magazine Page Flowers- DIY Party Decorations

The thought of dropping a bunch of cash for bridal shower decorations that would go in the trash at the end of the day didn't sit well with me.

It didn't support the "reduce, reuse, recycle" and "spend less, save more" I'm going for these days.

 I decided to look around and use what I had to make my own decorations.

A stack of Bridal magazines the Bride-to-be had left in the trunk of my car seemed like a good place to start, very "bridal".

I could save money, recycle and create something special for the Bride (Win-Win-Win).

Simple.

Going through each magazine, I tore out any pages with a neutral color scheme.

After cutting the pages into flowerish shapes, I grouped them together by size and color.

I attached them by poking a pipe cleaner through the centers.

Painted Jars

Because I'm obsessed with

jars, paint and repurposing...

this is what happened to my old (mostly pasta sauce) jars.

I made stencils for the bird and feather from contact paper.

The lavender jar is painted on the inside and wrapped in twine.

These small jars are painted on the inside.

I twirled the jars around a bit with paint and a little water inside them.

Then left them to dry upside down.

These are painted in color on the inside.

Then spray painted in black matte over contact paper stencils. 

The raised dots were made by applying puffy paint before the jar was spray painted. 

Thumbtack Border for Wall Chalkboard

I hung the crowns above the chalkboard wall.  I was going to put molding around the chalkboard.  When I realized the molding I liked would be over $50, I decided to buy silver thumbtacks for 75 cents and used those for a border instead.  Easier and cheaper.  I used the same tacks on the canvas painting for her room.

How to paint Diamonds on the Wall

I just felt like this wall was missing something.  So I painted diamonds using leftover gray paint from the lighter two walls.  I love how it turned out!  It was a little trickier to do than I had expected. 

(More after the jump...)

The Purple Duvet Cover

I just finished Ella's new duvet cover.  For the back I used the black and white striped flat sheet that came in her sheet set.  (I only use a fitted sheet and comforter on the kids' beds.  If all they have to do is smooth out the duvet, they are more likely to make their beds.)  For the front I cut and pieced together some fabric snatched from my mom's well stocked collection.  Thanks Mom!   An old T-shirt was cut up and used to make the ties.  I hate when the comforter slips down and gets all bunched up inside the cover, so I sewed loops to the inside edge of the comforter.  The T-shirt ties run through the loops to hold the comforter in it's place.

I found the flowers at a clearance sale for 30 cents each.  I was originally going to make some fabric flowers.  However, I don't like to make things that I can buy for less.

Here's a look at Ella's past blankets.

Her first blanket was a crib quilt made by Grandma for her nursery.

When she was graduated to a twin size bed, I made her this duvet cover with the help of Mei Ling (my talented sister-in-law).  The light pink side was actually a cotton shower curtain I found on clearance for under a dollar.  It worked perfect since the shower ring slots functioned as button holes.  The darker fabric with stars was leftover from her nursery curtains.  We made fabric covered buttons to hold it together.

Easy DIY Wall Decor

 I love browsing the scrapbook paper section.  So many colors.  So many designs.  Too bad I'm not into scrapbooking.  I only scrapbook digitally.  But since the pages are too likable to pass up, I made some into wall hangings.

(More on the next page...)

Organizing the Little Stuff

For my kids to actually keep their rooms clean and organized I try to have a place for everything... even the little stuff.  I also have an obsession with putting things in clear jars.  For these, I spray painted the lids and glued on animal figures. 

A Place for her Art

 Ella has been called the "Tape Master", because she can make anything from and do anything with scotch tape.  Lately she's been decorating her room by taping up her artwork on the wall.  I think her beautiful pictures should be displayed, but not with tape.  Now she can retire her tape and just clip her art to the jute I just strung across her bedroom wall.

How to Transfer an Image with Gel Medium

I decided to create my own art for Ella's wall using an image of her.  



This is the original photo that I started with.

See how I did it on the next page...