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This is just an inspirational example – but if we look closely, it’s a really good one! Take a good look at the “before” and the “after” pics here. Yes, I found it on Pinterest:
Yes, it’s a classy, probably expensive, fabulous kitchen. But what we’re focusing (most) on right now is the transformation.
I think it’s mostly paint! The countertop hasn’t changed. The floor hasn’t changed (and boy do I love it!). The door hasn’t changed.
The backsplash has changed – and it’s hard to tell from the pics just what the new backsplash is. My vote, for a DIY look that’s similar? Is to use black and white patterned vinyl tiles! Why not? It doesn’t have to be marble or glass, and it doesn’t have to last forever. It has to work, and if it looks good, that’s even nicer.
The wall color and cabinet colors have changed. Hello? Paint. And she took off some of the cabinet doors. These are not expensive ideas.
The “before” kitchen’s not bad at all. But the “after” kitchen is so much more friendly, open, and full of light.
That’s what I call inspiring – and doable – and maybe even cheap!
I am determined to bring some order around here. I am. One way or another. Anyway, while I was thinking about it (instead of doing it) I started looking for ideas for drawer organizers. I’ve seen some great ones at the Container Store, etc., but I hate to spend money when I can do it myself. I just needed to focus.
And then I found a fabulous tutorial:
DIY Drawer Organizer
Aren’t they great? The wonderful tutorial is from The Stonybrookhouse Blog and she has terrific step-by-step instructions.
And a ton of other useful posts, too. Um… you might want to check out the pumpkin brownies. Just sayin 
Love love love this one! It’s so simple – and brilliant! I found this on Pinterest – and had to pin it myself (definitely not pretending it was my original idea!)
Is that not a terrific idea? If you have to have a visible cord – for, say, your printer – why not make it fun? Use the leaves-and-bird idea as shown. Or maybe flowers. Use twist ties to attach paper or felt or fabric flowers. Or just draw them on the wall. Or a combo of.
This is a classic “why didn’t I think of that!” idea. And fun. And fabulous!
Remember the white plate (with a recipe!) I blogged about recently? It’s here. The idea was to write a recipe on the plate, bake it, and voila! Permanent decoration. Well I have been seeing this idea more and more lately – and I wanted to share one more example because it’s so charming – and timely
What a darling idea for a Valentine’s Day craft that everyone will love! I found it at It’s Overflowing – overflowing with creativity, that is!
You might want to check out her Tips pages, too – she’s got some really useful ideas there. “How to remove sticky stuff” and “An easy way to hang art” and “DIY Microwave popcorn” (you know that one’s going to be used!)
Very cool blog. And I do love that plate idea!
And gorgeous. Take a look at these – “pom pom flowers”, they’re called. I think they’re ethereal and beautiful!
And they’re made with wax paper! This is what DIY is all about, or should be. Taking something ordinary – wax paper! – and with minimal skill (but a lot of imagination, thank you Marichelle from Nice Package Blog!) – something completely different is created.
You can find the tutorial here, at the Nice Package Blog. It’s not hard at all and her pics are wonderfully clear.
And come on – aren’t these flowers wonderful?
P.S. And why couldn’t these be a wonderful decoration for your wedding? They LOOK like wedding flowers!
P.P.S. When you visit Nice Package Blog you’re going to find more wonderful ideas. Go look, you’ll thank me for it!
This is a super easy do-it-yourself project – and an inspiration for more ideas, too. I found this over on Pinterest. And if you think I am totally in love with Pinterest, you are right! I’ve linked to Liina O’s “Homemade” page and she has found tons of good ideas, go peek!
As shown here, this is a fun, decorative bowl:
This cute bowl would be a great accent in the family room, and a fun project to do with the kids. But, I do have to add, it could be a little time-consuming. Rolling up the magazine pages (gluing them maybe?), then cutting them – that could take a bit of patience.
So what I’m proposing is adopting the idea. Blow a balloon up to a nice chubby round shape. Use thinned glue or wallpaper paste, to apply torn strips of magazine pages, old brown paper bags, or newspaper pages, onto the surface. Keep layering them. (Note: the wallpaper paste could be flour-and-water, super cheap and non toxic).
Keep layering the torn strips. When the surface looks good to you, and there are enough strips of paper on there to be fairly sturdy, I’d apply polyurethane to make it waterproof. Add a couple layers.
Then bust the balloon. Voila! A strong-ish container that could be a vase (if you’ve waterproofed the inside, too) – or a toy holder (make the opening at the top really big, for that one) – or a place for the kids to keep all their pens and markers (make that one small) – and, well, you get the idea.
The colors that work in your house, a shape you like, a project that you and the kids can do together – and a way for them to see that THEY can make things that work. Love it!
You are going to love this – I found a wonderful, clear, easy-to-follow tutorial for making your own paper flowers. Take a look at these gorgeous decorative petals!
As shown in her tutorial, these are made with brown paper bags! And I really like the natural-paper look. But also – think how you could personalize these! Color paper, magazine pages, you name it. Your imagination’s really the limit here – and it’s practically cost free.
Or, use a pretty white textured paper – talk about DIY (and beautiful) wedding decorations!
The wonderful blog where I found this excellent tutorial is A Place For Us and she has some wonderful, charming, thought-provoking, useful posts there – it’s totally worth your time.
Do I sound like I’m really enthusiastic about this one? You’re right. This is a great find. Make some flowers – and check out that blog!
I found this idea recently and I just love it. This could be wallpaper, carefully applied – but it’s not. It’s a stencil. And you can do it yourself
To make it even better, the stencil pattern is FREE! It’s from All Things Thrifty – a do-it-yourself and thrifty blog with tons of good ideas, tutorials, how-tos, and pics. Scroll down the page I’ve linked, to see this particular wall pic – but read the whole page to get lots of inspiration and ideas. AND she has a tutorial on how to make the stencil!
Now, I happen to love the one she shows in this pic – that it’s asymetrical, that it’s turquoise, just because that’s a great color, and it’s in a mostly white room – but those are details that appeal to me. Of course it could be in exactly the color you need – in whatever configuration works for you.
Yes, you could use wallpaper to achieve this look, especially if the background color of the wallpaper matched your own wall color. But you’d have to buy a whole roll of wallpaper (probably), in the exact right color, and, well, think how much better to just Do it Yourself.
Especially with a free stencil pattern. And a tutorial. And spending practically nothing. How cool is that?
I’ve got to say: there are so many imaginative and talented people out there, it’s amazing. Case in point – these adorable place cards that cost practically nothing, are easy to make, and they are so cute!
I found the idea at Almost Makes Perfect – a blog from Molly Madfis that’s new to me and is full of wonderfulness. Did I say creative? Yes. Affordable, fun, lovely ideas – you will thank me for pointing you toward her blog.
Molly shares her tutorial – great, clear, easy to understand pics too – for how to make these easy place cards. If you have a few corks saved up you could even make these in time for Thanksgiving dinner (okay, if you’re serving take-out!) Also – just a thought – instead of “feathers”, how about red paper hearts for Valentine’s Day – or bubble shapes of any color, for, well, any party? Or – snowmen. Or candy canes.
You get the idea. Totally adaptable, totally terrific for any party.
Think how your kids will adore them for the Big Birthday – whichever one is coming up next
P.S. When you go over to Almost Makes Perfect to read the tutorial for these place cards, check out her gold leaf cocktail napkins. Insanely easy and cute and you will love!
So you want to change the backsplash in your kitchen, but (1) you haven’t got any money, and/or (2) you’re a renter and you really can’t change stuff, and/or (3) it’s all boring anyway, and (4) it doesn’t have to be forever, you just want something cute!
Have I got an idea for you Use some great patterned fabric or paper!
Yes I said paper. If it doesn’t have to last forever, or you can’t afford the ‘real stuff’ (stainless steel, marble, blah blah etc). Take a look at this:
Is that great or what? Put up your paper or fabric. Use discreet tape or thumbtacks or whatever you can, to make it stick. Mount the paper on posterboard if you think you need to. Spread flour-and-water wallpaper paste on your current backsplash (it’ll be easy to remove later). Anything to get it on the wall.
When I found this idea – at Apartment Therapy which is the MOSt wonderful decorating site – they covered their fabric with clear plexiglass. Which is wonderful if you can find it cheap (good luck with that). But if you just want this FOR NOW – why not just coat your paper or fabric with spray-on polyurethane (do that before you put it on the wall!). Or cover it with Saran Wrap? (excuse me, clear plastic film). Anything that lets the pattern of the fabric show through, and can be wiped clean.
This isn’t rocket science. And it won’t last forever. But it doesn’t cost much, and it’s fun, and it’s cute, and you can DO it. So why not?
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