From the category archives:

make something

Bubble-Wrap Print Tablecloth

June 17, 2013

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

There is a reason tablecloths come in every color for every season — they add so much to a festive table setting! Have you seen this pin? I loved the idea of using something as utilitarian as bubble wrap to print with. And I thought a tablecloth — something I can use all summer long — was the perfect surface to try it out. Isn’t it fun to make art you can use?

Printing with bubble wrap takes some patience and attention to detail. But don’t worry, I have tips below. And your fingers are sure to get a little painted as well, but the outcome is well worth the effort.

It’s a perfectly imperfect print. You can coordinate colors to your needs and you can use the same technique on a whole list of items — napkins, wrapping paper, the wall, clothing, pillows or lampshades, to name a few.

I think the hardest part of this particular project is saving an unpopped sheet from the happy bubble-popping feet of my little ones. : )

Let’s get to printing!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 11 comments }

Living Well: 9 Secrets to Amazing Homemade Lemonade

June 12, 2013

This summer inspiration is brought to you by Target. Find more fun and surprises all season long on Target’s #SummerUp Pinterest board.

Text and photos by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

There is nothing that quenches my thirst on a hot summer day quite as well as an icy glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. I honestly cannot think of beverage I enjoy more. It’s tart and sweet and utterly refreshing. Whether it’s straight up lemonade or a fruity lemonade infused with herbs or flowers, I take mine with plenty of ice and by the quart. Read on to find out my secrets to Sweeten Up your summer and make the perfect pitcher of lemonade.

Lemonade 101. Everything you need to know to make a perfect pitcher. | Design Mom

Get ready to get refreshed.

Find out all the secrets! Click here.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 23 comments }

DIY: Flower Frog Bowls

June 10, 2013

Image and text by Amy Christie for Design Mom

Fresh flowers are a nice addition to any given day. But I’ve got a little trick that will take a simple arrangement up a notch — even that ordinary bundle of grocery store flowers! Instead of using an basic, nondescript vase, use a small dish with a pin-type flower frog and take the ordinary to extraordinary.

If you haven’t used, or even heard of, flower frogs before, no need to be intimidated. There are a variety of flower frogs (people actually collect them!) that all serve the same basic purpose — to help you arrange your flowers. For this project, I’ve incorporated the pin version or pin flower frog (called such because it looks like lots of pins sticking up).

With this type of frog, the flower stems are stuck into the pins to keep the flowers in place. Stems can be stuck and restuck, arranged and rearranged in the pins until it is just right.

I purposely chose simple, inexpensive flowers for this project because, really, it’s not about the flowers. Flower arranging prowess is not needed, and you don’t need to seek out a specialty floral shop. It’s the pin flower frog in the small bowl, decorative or otherwise, that is the big deal. It is the inside secret to a good looking arrangement in a small container.

It’s so easy you will flip!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 10 comments }

The Perfect Gift: School House Gift Box

June 3, 2013

Print & Fold Schoolhouse Gift Box. Free Printable! | Design Mom

Images and text by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

The school year is ending and it’s time for last-day-of-school parties, and gifts for teachers, coaches, librarians and school bus drivers. I’m sure this (free!) printable school house gift box would be gladly received by any educator (or non-educator) on your thank you list!

Remember this house gift box from Christmastime? Well, this schoolhouse gift box is just as easy to construct — simply print, cut, fold, and secure with tape. Choose from the yellow or red school house, or use the white version and add tissue paper in your school colors. Then fill with treats or small gift!

By the way, Design Mom readers are just the best ever! It’s thanks to a reader suggestion this gift box came to be. (Thanks Fiona!) I love hearing from you with suggestions for projects and gift ideas you’d like to see.

Let’s get to making these cute things!

Click here for the full tutorial — and the free printable, too.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 12 comments }

DIY: Paper Plate Berry Baskets

May 27, 2013

DIY: Paper Plate Berry Boxes. Easy and food safe!

Images and text by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

Peak-of-the-season berries are a favorite during this time of year. Their fresh colors and sweet taste, it’s wonderful! They add a much needed pop of color to a dinner spread or picnic basket.

Plucked from your garden, from a pick-your-own farm, or from the grocery store, they make a sweet and simple gift for friends and neighbors. But what to put them in?

I thought this pin was perfect — baskets made with folded paper plates!! But I had to add a twist.

Food-safe food coloring turns plain paper plates into something stylish and fun. Easy patterns, simple lines, it doesn’t take much to make them spectacular. Use them for picnics or cook outs, parties, gifts or every day. And happily, the baskets can be used and reused.

Let’s get making! Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 19 comments }

Living Well: 7 Secrets For a Successful Container Garden

May 15, 2013

How to Plant a Successful Container Garden - 7 Secrets! | Design Mom

Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies and has become such a source of happiness over the last six years. That’s right, it’s been six years since I planted my first container garden on the balcony of my second floor apartment. I was determined to make it work even if it was only a few herbs, lettuce, peas, chiles, and a cherry tomato plant.

Alas, it was almost a complete failure. I planted too many herbs in the same pot. The lettuce was horribly bitter. The chiles and cherry tomatoes both had blossom end rot (more on that later). Only the peas were a success that year. I was tempted to feel defeated, but I turned my failures into lessons and have continued to be more successful each year.

I can’t say I’m a Master Gardener, but I’m working hard to become one. I’ve talked with seasoned gardeners. I’ve read forums and researched articles online. I’ve chatted with the horticulturists at my local nursery. And I keep trying and keep planting. I wouldn’t call myself an expert yet, but I am on my way there. I hope you find my advice helpful and chime in with your own knowledge. Sometimes I think gardening is a team sport!

Now, back to the particular topic of this post: Container Gardening. I no longer live in a second floor apartment, but I still rely on containers to expand my growing area — and I like the way they look lining the back of my driveway.

It’s amazing what you can grow in pots! Containers can add a lot of interest in a landscaped yard, make apartment landings more beautiful, and make things cheery indoors.

As I’m sure you can guess, comprehensive information about container gardening is more than I can fit into this single post. So consider this an overview. We’ll cover prep, planting essentials, and miscellaneous tips to get you started.

Bonus: the information in this post applies to both vegetable container gardens and decorative ones (sometimes gardens can be both!). And it applies to indoor gardens as well.

Let’s get planting. Click here!

Share and Enjoy:

{ 32 comments }

Epic Playdate

May 8, 2013

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.
By Gabrielle.

Last week I told you about the day my sisters spent in the redwoods on a zip-lining adventure. Well, there was also a second-part of the campaign with Hyundai that looks like it was all sorts of amazing fun, and has me taking notes for the next birthday party we host.

beach balls

Hyundai invited bloggers + kids, and local residents too, to an Epic Playdate on the beach in southern California. There was an entire day’s worth of engaging activities like giant beach balls, and making tin-foil armor, and paper rocket ships. Once again, the images of my nephews make me want to eat them up. (Man I miss those cute kids!)

Also, I think Liz and Jordan’s activities might be my favorite.

Liz led the Sand Art Installation, and I think it’s genius! She taped out sections on a tarp, and provided squeeze bottles full of colored sand that the kids used to “draw” with in their assigned section. I think it’s so smart, because it’s one of those activities where one child might finish in about 5 seconds, and another might spend an hour — everyone’s happy! And it looks really cool, too. You can read more about how she organized this activity here.

Jordan led the giant bubble activity — made from hula hoops dipped in bubble solution. Fun fact: This has been a family favorite of ours since my brother Jared made giant bubbles for a 4th grade science fair. : ) If you haven’t tried this with your kids, I highly recommend putting it on your list of summer-fun activities. It’s the sort of thing that will gather all the kids in the neighborhood in an instant.

The most jaw-dropping part? At the end of the day, the Epic Playdate attendees were invited to camp (in the most amazing tents!) on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Dreamy as can be.

I loved seeing the photos from the event and watching things unfold on the attendee’s instagram feeds. It made me so excited for summer!

Just curious: Have you ever tried any of these activities? Are there any that you’d bookmark for a future event?

Share and Enjoy:

{ 12 comments }

Big & Small DIY: Wrapped Washer Necklaces

May 7, 2013

Images and text by Gina Vide for Design Mom. Edited by Amy Christie.

This side-by-side project is so simple, but at the same time, creates such a beautiful and meaningful piece for both Bigs and Smalls. Grownups, you can create a Mother’s Day necklace by wrapping one washer per child in a color/colors of your choosing. The disks can then be bound together to create a beautiful geometric necklace full of meaning.

For you Smalls, create a necklace with a wrapped washer, one for each year of your age, in whatever colors you like, and string them on a chain.

We’ve made these for a Mother’s Day gift, and made another set for ourselves — and we’ve been wearing them all the time!

In addition to Mother’s Day, the Small version would be a wonderful birthday tradition, don’t you think? Create the first necklace together and then, every year bind a new colorful disk and add it to your “small’s” necklace. The necklace would be a perfect gift for a friend too.

Let’s start creating!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 19 comments }

DIY: Mother’s Day Garland

May 6, 2013

DIY: I LOVE MOM paper garland | Design Mom

Images and text by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

You know I love a sewn paper garland, and with Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, I just had to put one together for moms. Big or mini, I think ‘I ♥ MOM’ says it all. This tutorial is the same as the tutorial from a few months back — it’s carefully feeding paper through the sewing machine. But letters pose a little more of a challenge.

Making use sure each letter is pierced at least once to hold it in place can be tricky. But don’t be frightened, I’ve got tips for you below. And I should note: to make the hearts, I used watercolors on paper and then punched them out. I love the texture the watercolor adds!

Add the garland around a wrapped bunch of flowers or use it to tie up the gift for the best mom in the world. I think it would be perfect to put on a breakfast-in-bed tray.

You ready to get started?

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 8 comments }

The Sketchbook Project

May 6, 2013

a library of sketchbooks

By Amy Hackworth.

As an earnest high school art student, I labored over projects that had considerably more heart than skill. At the time, I couldn’t fathom that great artists regularly parted with their beloved projects anymore than I could imagine parting with my firstborn child. I was shocked and saddened to realize that artists made a living by selling their work. They created something beautiful, some piece of themselves, and then (hopefully) sold it. To strangers, even.

Thankfully, artists do sell and share their work regularly, and we are all the better when their concepts and ideas have a home in the world. But gallery space can be hard to come by, which is part of the reason the Sketchbook Project exists. It’s an interactive, crowd-sourced community art project where everyone is welcome. (Over 26,000 folks have participated so far!)

You sign up to receive a sketchbook, choose a theme to loosely follow, and then fill your book with your own personal brand of brilliance. I love the Sketchbook Project because its supports the notion that we all have something worth saying through art. You can fill a sketchbook with sketches (of course), or painting, drawing, collage, photographs, photocopies, phototransfers, stencils, or tracings. Wouldn’t a collaborative family sketchbook be a fantastic summer project with kids?

And unlike my carefully guarded high school art projects, this prized possession is meant to be shared with the world. Once your sketchbook is full, you send it to its permanent home at Brooklyn Art Library where it will be cataloged and shelved, but not before it travels the country in the Sketchbook Project’s Mobile Library (check out the tour here). You can even have it digitized so it can be viewed online.

Would creating (and parting with) a sketchbook be a breeze for you? Or a perfect summer challenge? I think I’d feel more motivated if I knew my project was off to a fancy mobile library. Would you?

P.S. I just picked up a couple of art books for our kids at a museum sale. I can’t wait to dive into this drawing book with our boys and try out some of the printing projects in this one. Do you have favorite art/activity books that have inspired you or your little ones?

Share and Enjoy:

{ 4 comments }

An Excitement Pack

May 3, 2013

By Koseli.

I recently ran into the sweetest idea for upcoming house guests: an excitement pack by Giulia Duch. She lives in Barcelona and instead of just waiting for her friend from the U.S. to arrive, she collected photos, mementos, ticket stubs, and small treats that represented her favorite to-dos, and labeled the items with things like, “you’ll sleep here”, or “you’ll sunburn here”. Then she packed it all up in a simple packing envelope, and sent it away.

Can you imagine being the friend on the receiving end? Best surprise package ever! I can’t wait to borrow Giulia’s idea for the next time we have visitors to New York.

How do you capture the “looking forward” to a trip part? Any pre-trip traditions to help you savor the experience?

Share and Enjoy:

{ 10 comments }

DIY: Printed Dish Towels

April 29, 2013

Make these Easy Stamped Kitchen Towels | Design Mom

Images and text by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

I recently started using flour sack towels and loved them for their lack of leftover lint on dishes. Plus they dry items amazingly! And I couldn’t help but notice what a large blank canvas they are. I just had to mess with them.

Sticking with the simplest of materials — a sheet of foam and paint — the towels can easily be changed from plain to modern and chic. The design and color options are endless! They can be made to match anyone’s taste.

Now they don’t just do the hard work, they look good too.

Let’s get started.

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 9 comments }

The Perfect Gift: Gold Leaf Plaster Votives

April 15, 2013

DESIGN MOM: Gold Leaf Plaster Votives. Easy DIY.

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

Spring is the season for bridal showers and baby showers (raise your hand if you’re hosting one in the next few weeks). So I thought it would be fun to come up with a really pretty party favor that feels special and a bit glamorous, and these gold-leaf plaster votives are just the thing! (Bonus: they’re easy to make.)

Clean white and sparkly gold leaf makes a fresh combo. Plus, plaster offers a nice, soft white and it is so much fun to work with — it can be molded into whatever we choose! And then to make it more candlelight friendly (read: candlelight can shine out), a power drill works wonders, while gold leaf makes it shine.

You can use any type of disposable container for a mold — paper cups, cleaned out food containers — the shape is up to you. And keep in mind, you’ll need two — for these votives, an outer and inner mold is needed to create the shape.

A steady hand and an ability to handle a little mess (it’s a bit dusty) is all it takes to tranform plain plaster into peaceful little lights.

Come see how it’s done!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 18 comments }

DIY: Quote Napkins

April 8, 2013

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom

I adore the Downton Abbey series, you too? For those who are unfamiliar, Downton Abbey is a British period drama set in the post-Edwardian era and tells the story of an aristocratic family and their servants. The styling is out of this world!! The ensemble of characters makes the show award-winning. However, Violet Crawley — the Dowager Countess of Grantham, portrayed by the indelible Maggie Smith, is my very favorite. She has the best lines!

With her unforgettable one liners in mind, I remembered this inspirational pin and these napkins came to be.

With the help of a letter stencil, the words of Violet Crawley will make for fun dinner conversation. And wouldn’t these make a great gift for the Downton Enthusiasts in your life?

DIY: Downton Abbey Napkins

So find your favorite quotes, Downton or otherwise, and let’s get started.

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 32 comments }

Figgy’s Patterns

April 2, 2013

By Koseli. Images by Figgy Patterns.

I like to keep a sharp lookout for children’s clothing that’s both modern, simple and comfortable. When I was talking with a friend about favorite clothing sources, she suggested I sew my own, and pointed me to Figgy’s Patterns. I’m not a seamstress (at all!), but I’m really digging the simple shapes and contemporary cuts that the patterns offer. Makes me want to take a sewing class.

Have you ever sewn clothing for your children? Any favorite sources for excellent patterns? And the question I’m most curious about: Is there anyone out there that missed out on 4H classes, but picked up sewing later in life?

Share and Enjoy:

{ 33 comments }

DIY: Mini Bunny Basket Pillows

March 28, 2013

DIY: Mini Bunny Pillow

Text and images by Gina Vide for Design Mom. Edited by Amy Christie.

Pull out your needle and thread! You’re going to want to make a dozen. These little pocketed bunny pillows are incredibly versatile. Tuck a small gift or treat in the pocket and use them as a mini Easter basket. Or add some spring cheer to the house and hang them on a door handle. They make a welcome guest for teddy bear play, or why not make a Bunny Pillow Tree?

With the free bunny image download, our little pocketed bunny pillows multiplied quickly! And we’re so glad that they won’t hop away — they’ll continue to be adorable long past Easter weekend.

Are you ready to hop to it?

Click here for the full tutorial — and the free printable, too.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 8 comments }

The Perfect Gift: Easy Painted Egg Cartons

March 18, 2013

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

There is a good chance your egg usage during this month is a bit higher than other times of the year. So I’m guessing you may have a few empty egg cartons laying around. I’ve always had trouble throwing them out because, gosh, I can probably make something with them, right?! Yes! The answer is yes! The cartons make seasonally-perfect gift boxes.

Each tiny cup is a perfect spot to nestle little gifts, treats, ornaments or cascarones. And with a simple paint job, they’re super cute to boot!

The carton is a blank canvas of possibilities, calling out for cheerful stripes or dots. Let’s paint!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 36 comments }

Big & Small DIY: Painted Spoons

March 14, 2013

Images and text by Gina Vide for Design Mom.

Don’t you just love the look of dipped or striped wooden utensils? Today’s Big & Small project is an activity that is pretty, functional and something grownups and kids can make side-by-side. You’ll stripe, while your little one dips! How fun is that?

Afterwards, when you are entertaining dinner guests, or simply tossing a salad on an any-old-Tuesday, these colorful utensils will brighten your day.

If you’re anything like me, you’re going to want to make extras. They’re so much fun to make that both children and adults will want to try variation after variation. Plus, you can use all the extras for gifts!

Click here for the full tutorial.

Share and Enjoy:

{ 10 comments }

Contest! Make Your Own Olive Us Episode

March 13, 2013

Text and image by Gabrielle.

Exciting news: Olive Us is hosting a video contest! Make a video of your family, inspired by an Olive Us episode, and you could win fame and fortune! Well. Maybe not fame and fortune. But the top videos will be featured on the Olive Us newsletter and website. And the grand prize is a Kindle Fire HD!

The contest was announced last week and there have already been some excellent entries. The panel of judges is definitely going to have their work cut out for them. Entries are due April 30th, and you can find all the contest details here.

If you’re intimidated by making your own video, don’t be. The judges aren’t expecting a professional production. But they hope you’ll capture some footage that will be a great treasure for your family for decades to come. To get you inspired, here’s a video that 15-year-old Ralph shot and edited about a family outing — it’s called Blackberries.

Isn’t that great? I hope it inspires you to make a video and enter the contest. For movie-making tips, be sure to subscribe to the Olive Us newsletter — for the next several weeks, it will be filled with helpful steps that will get you in the movie-making mood.

P.S. — Craving more blackberries?

Share and Enjoy:

{ 12 comments }

DIY: Salt Dough Eggs

March 11, 2013

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

Easter is very early this year (three weeks from yesterday!). With the excessively deep snow covering the ground where I live, it doesn’t seem possible. But I am looking forward to it just the same. I’m ready for the bright colors, the pastels, anything with spring green. Since nature isn’t really bringing it yet, I am helping it along with the bright tones of these salt dough ornaments.

Salt dough lends itself to all sorts of shape making. Once baked to thoroughly dry, the dough is hard and can last for years. The dough is also paintable which makes it all the more fun.

Since I was little, we have had an Easter ‘tree’ of sorts – a branch in which to hang egg, bunny and colorful bits from. Part of this batch will hang on our tree but I hope to hang some outside. You see, if a spray paint or clear spray paint sealer is used, these ornaments can hung outside and inside alike.