CasaSugar

DIY: A Fab Photo Wall

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:36 -0700

I love this instant-art idea, used in one of the Superior Deluxe Rooms at the Portland Ace Hotel. It also seems like it's begging to be DIYed.

Find out how to create something similar when you read more.

You can re-create this look by measuring your wall, and then selecting white matting for each photo, and mounting the matted photos along your wall. Or, you can simply use a découpaging technique to fasten the photos to your wall directly. See how to do the latter below.

Measure your wall, and then estimate the number of photos you want to use for each row. Space the photos evenly. You may want to cut out pieces of paper that are the same size as your photos, and then gently tape them to the wall. Experiment until you have the dimensions and spacing that you like the best.
Lightly pencil in the space where each photo should be. Use a ruler, measuring tape, and level to make sure the photos are even.
Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper on the floor below the wall you're covering.
Open up your windows, and make sure the room is well ventilated.
Using a sponge brush, apply wheat paste to a small portion of the wall.
Now, line up the first photo, and apply it, burnishing out any bubbles with your hands as you press it onto the wall.
Continue to apply wheat paste and press your photos onto the wall, lining them up neatly until the wall is covered.
Make sure you've burnished out any bubbles. Sometimes using a credit card here will help.
Now, allow the wall to dry.
Using a synthetic bristle brush, apply a coat of Polycrylic Protective Finish, which will protect the pages from peeling, scuffing, and other damage.
If your adjacent walls get messy from applying the Polycrylic, you can easily clean it up with a sponge and some warm, soapy water.

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DIY: Découpaged Walls

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:00:33 -0700

Découpaging your walls with pages from an old book, antique maps, or magazine covers can instantly transform a boring wall into a conversation piece. Your wallcovering will be one of a kind, a quality that even the most glam wallpaper can't give you. Some of you might think that tearing up a book for any project is sacrilegious. If you fall into this category, use a book that's already falling apart, or that has a damaged cover. To learn the steps for this project, read more.

First things first. Carefully pull the individual pages out of your book or magazine. Running an X-acto knife across the inside of the spine helps to make this step swift.
Now, neaten up the edges with a ruler and a craft knife, making sure they're relatively straight. Do the same if you're using old maps, or even use a paper cutter if you have one. You can leave the edges as is if you're going for raw look, though.
Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper on the floor below the wall you're covering.
Open up your windows, and make sure the room is well-ventilated.
Using a sponge brush, apply wheat paste to a small portion of the wall.
Now, line up one page flush with the wall, and apply it, burnishing out any bubbles with your hands as you press it onto the wall.
Continue to apply wheat paste and press your pages onto the wall, lining them up neatly until the wall is covered. If you want a more raw look, you can overlap the pages and even stagger them a bit.
Make sure you've burnished out any bubbles. Sometimes using a credit card here will help.
Now, allow the wall to dry.
Using a synthetic bristle brush, apply a coat of Polycrylic Protective Finish, which will protect the pages from peeling, scuffing, and other damage.
If your adjacent walls get messy from applying the Polycrylic, you can easily clean it up with a sponge and some warm, soapy water.

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DIY: Glass Découpage Magnets

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:15:00 -0800

Découpage is the art of cutting and pasting. Some projects are more complicated, like my découpage glass bowls. But, others, like these glass magnets, are straightforward and quick. I've been making these magnets for years. I love this project because it's so affordable, and it allows you to personalize your refrigerator, or wherever you plan to use them. To learn the steps, check out this slideshow.

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DIY: Collage Blocks

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:45:15 -0700

While this project was identified by Martha: The Martha Stewart Show as a DIY for baby blocks, I think they'd make a cool addition to a very grown up bookshelf or fireplace mantel. You can coordinate the images and paper you select for the greatest decorative impact.

What You'll Need

3 1/4-inch square wood block
Sandpaper
Scissors
Acrylic paint
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Decorative paper
Emery board
Letters, numbers, and embellishments
Sponge

To find out how to make it, according to Martha, read more.

Sand the wooden block with sandpaper to prepare it for painting.
Paint the block with the color you've selected. Allow to dry.
Cut 6 pieces of decorative paper to 3 1/4 inch.
Glue the paper to each side of the block using all-purpose Mod Podge. Allow the glue to dry.
Sand edges and corners of paper with an emery board.
Paste the letters, numbers, and embellishments to the block using the same technique.
Sponge the edges of the paper with paint to give it texture and an antique look.
Paint another coat of Mod Podge all over the block to seal. Allow to dry.

Need a little more help? There's also a helpful video you can check out.

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This Just In: John Derian Coming to Target

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:30:19 -0700

On Sept. 14, home accessories dynamo John Derian will introduce a collection for Target based on the découpage pieces that made him rise to shelter world fame. The collection will feature antique print imagery like the fruit, flower, and animal prints that Derian typically layers and pieces together under his glass accessories, but instead they will be printed on melamine. "All my designs tell a story. And the prices allow you to live happily ever after," says Derian. To give you an idea of the fairytale prices, a 12-by-12-inch tray will go for $16.99; a set of coasters, $12.99; and a 5.5-inch plate, $5.99. I always love it when Target gets designers involved, and I'm a big fan of Derian's work. But, knowing how easy and inexpensive it is to DIY your own découpage on glass, I think I'd prefer to create the real thing on my own.
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Su Casa: The Magnificent Collage Wall

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:30:54 -0700

TeamSugar member Harmonyfrance has shared some photos of her mom's beautiful accent wall. I love decoupage when it's done well, and Harmonyfrance's mom is an expert.

Harmonyfrance writes:

This is my mother’s magnificent collage wall. These pictures do not do justice to this wall at all. I wish you could see it in person; it’s so beautiful. This is something that I would never think to do. Basically she decoupaged the entire wall, tiny piece by tiny peace. She cut up fine arts books, a couple books on quilts, greeting cards, catalog . . . you name it! It took her a couple of months to complete this. She covered a small 3-foot across wall and followed it around the corner onto one full wall in the kitchen. Everything else is in neutral shades, so believe it or not it doesn’t look too busy. This is something that I would probably not do in my own home, but I think it’s beautiful and I’m always amazed at how creative my mother can be! She never fails to inspire me.

Do you want to post photos of your home? To join the Su Casa group, just follow this link and click "subscribe" beneath the photo on the lefthand side of the page. Once you're subscribed, click Share in the upper lefthand menu of any TeamSugar page and choose what type of post you want to create. If you have just one photo and some text, create a blog; if you have a gallery you want to share, select photos.

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How To: Make a Decoupaged Accent Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:15:59 -0800

I'm a big fan of both Todd Oldham and Amy Sedaris, and when those two join forces there's no way I can avert my eyes from all the good advice and funny banter. In this video, they show you how to decoupage a cute accent table, though the lesson is served up with a side of cheeky commentary - and I wouldn't want it any other way!

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DIY: Decoupage on Glass

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:03:09 -0800

One of my favorite craft projects is découpage on glass. With a few supplies and a couple hours of your time, you can have a très elegant home décor item to use as a housewarming gift or as a festive candy dish for your Thanksgiving party!

Supplies:

the image(s) you want to adhere (make sure it fits on your glass item)
Mod Podge (a glue/sealer found in most art/craft stores)
a glass bowl or plate
two foam brushes
Latex paint the color of your choice
an acrylic sealer (optional)

To learn the steps, read more

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Cut out the image(s) you want to use from the background. Magazines and antique prints are a great place to look for your images.
Clean the glass bowl or plate (a household glass cleaner will do).
Find a household object to prop your bowl or plate on, with the underside facing up, so you don’t paint the table you’re using.
Use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge to the front of your image. Adhere the image to the underside of your glass item, so you can see it from the front.

Seal the entire back of the plate (and back of image) with a few coats of Mod Podge. Let each coat dry before you move on to the next. Let dry.

Use a different foam brush to apply a coat of your Latex paint to the back of your bowl or plate. Let dry. Continue to add coats until it is no longer see-through from the front, letting dry between coats. The number of coats necessary is dependent on the darkness of the paint color you choose.
Once dry, seal the paint in with Mod Podge or an acrylic sealer.
Enjoy! I like to use my decoupage bowls as candy dishes or a place to throw my keys, and the plates are great for hors d’oeuvres or wall hangings!

How-To: Create Festive Fall Votives

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:30:22 -0800

Want to add some pretty autumnal style to your Fall Thanksgiving table? Then try this great, simple trick from Better Homes and Gardens for transforming a holiday Autumn table. For a beautiful twist on boring old votives, collect colorful leaves from your backyard or nearby park. Then, tie the leaves to the votive with ribbon, twine, or yarn. Voila! You have a no-cost centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Just be careful not to get any of the leaves close to the flame. While I do love the fiery reds of Autumn leaves, I don't actually think that I want them on fire.

For another votive idea, read more.

If you have some extra time, you can also decoupage leaves onto the votive's exterior. This will give the votive a frosted effect, and will illuminate the leaves.

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How-To: House Backyard Chickens in Style

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

My friend Beth, who I've known since high school, recently started a blog to update her friends and family on her latest domestic adventure - raising backyard chickens. Since Beth never does anything halfway, she and her husband Craig built a chicken coop that is super cute and matches their 1922 Craftsman home.

She writes, "I paid my way through college 10 years ago raising and killing chickens and also had laying hens. I wanted to get another batch of layers, but was resigned because a) we have a teeny tiny backyard; and b) my husband isn't much of a farmer."

However, all was not lost. Beth notes, "This spring, I convinced the man who drank a case of Diet Mountain Dew each week when we met (he has thankfully kicked the habit since) to build raised beds and start an organic garden. I gave up on the idea of having chickens, but he took up the cause and was convinced we could fit a small coop next to the garden."

To find out more about Beth and Craig's chicken-raising adventure, and to see how well their chicken coop matches their home, read more.

"We bought our chicks on July 9th and went on Seattle Tilth's coop tour the following weekend," reports Beth. "Craig took lots of photos and took all the best ideas from the coops we saw for his own design. Some materials were recycled: he salvaged the window and built the window box out of scraps we had from this and other projects. The coop is painted to match our house, white trim and all. Craig thinks the finished product took about 100 hours to build. It's a little over the top, but that's my husband. (By the way, not only has he stopped drinking Mountain Dew, but he's off all high fructose corn syrup and is quite the label reader. Weird. Now he's all about organic veggies and can't wait for the hens to start laying.)"

I have total chicken coop envy now, and I'm also envious of Beth's hubby's building skills. What a great coop! You can keep up with Beth and Craig's chicken adventures on Beth's blog. In the meantime, check out the gallery to see images of the decoupaged interior of the coop, as well as the coop's perfect match to their Craftsman.

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