CasaSugar

Roundup: Weekend DIYs

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:07 -0800

Time to get your Thanksgiving DIY on! I've found some great seasonal projects that will add feast-day spirit to your casa, as well as a few other projects that are just too lovely to pass up.

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DIY: Advent Calendars

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:40 -0800

The anticipation of Christmas facilitated by my mother's advent calendar was always my favorite part of the holiday season growing up. (These days, it's mulled wine.) But I've never been a fan of those store-bought advent calendars where you opened a little paper door each day. They're cute, but certainly not as fun as a calendar filled with treats or activities. The possibilities for making your own advent calendar are endless, but I thought I'd round up a few DIY projects to inspire you (and woo you away from the drugstore variety).

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DIY: CB2 Ornament Wreath

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:21 -0800

The super stylists at CB2 DIY'd a stunning, colorful holiday wreath using ornaments from their holiday collection. The wreath can definitely be re-created with any standard ornaments, but I love the nontraditional colors and various shapes on this wreath. To make it, you'll need strong stiff wire to bend into a ring (like aluminum wire gauge 20 or a wire hanger), 30-90 ornaments depending on the size you want, strong tape or pliers, and ribbon. To check out the instructions, read more.

Here are the steps from CB2:

String one ornament at a time onto the wire ring, alternating colors, using smaller ones to fill in the gaps.
When the ring is completely covered in ornaments, fasten the ends together.
Use a ribbon to cover the spot where the ends are fastened together, and hang!

Tip: Best not to go too large in diameter as the wreath could become too heavy and stretch out.

Roundup: Weekend DIYs

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:17 -0800

It's time to start your holiday crafting! Thanksgiving's just around the corner, so I've rounded up a few great crafts for decorating your home for the harvest feast. Additionally, there are some year-round-appropriate DIYs to keep you busy this weekend.

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Before and After: A Sad, Sad Daybed, Rescued!

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:19 -0800

One Living Etc reader had been looking for daybeds by Ercol, a British furniture manufacturer known for its bentwood designs, for ages and finally bought this one off of eBay for a good price. But it required a bit of work. She "sanded it all down, oiled it, replaced the webbing which had crumbled to dust." And it needed a cushion! So she embarked on her first upholstery project and also made throw pillows to go on top. You'll be wowed when you see the finished project, so read more.

Doesn't it look great!? The shape of the daybed really is beautiful, and I'm so glad that she rescued it. I love the mixture of pattern pillows, too.

Source

Open House: What Was Your Most Successful DIY?

CasaSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:30:31 -0800

For crafters and DIYers, a few failures are par for the course. That's part of the reason why successful DIY projects are such a coup. I've had my share of successes and failures, and I'm currently in the middle of one of my more ambitious projects ever. I find myself fretting over it, since I'm not sure if it's going to completely work out yet, and there are still several steps to complete.

One of my favorite DIY projects was refurbishing a wood and canvas canoe with my father. It was a project that took a long time to complete, but the end result was absolutely amazing. I loved paddling around the lake in the canoe, knowing that we'd made that moment possible thanks to our hard work.

This table, shown above, was also a collaboration between a parent and grown child. You can read more about it here. But before you do, tell me a little about your most successful DIY project. Was it quick and easy? Or did it take lots of love, elbow grease, and patience?

Source: Flickr User Sporkist

Su Casa: A Thrifty and Hip DIY Shelf

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:25 -0800

Often, home enthusiasts find a product that is perfect for their homes, but find that the price point is definitely less than ideal. Such was the case with Su Casa member Senorita.

She writes, "I had fallen in love with the CB2 Hancock bookshelf ($199). I wasn't keen on that exact color (a bright orange), but I loved the shape. I debated on buying two and repainting them, but at $200 a piece, that was a little more than I was willing to spend. So I started my search for a shelving unit that would work on this extra-large wall of mine."

To see what she found instead, and what fabulous color she decided upon, read more.

Senorita continues, "I happened to browse through Ikea and found a series called Lerberg. They were a little smaller than the CB2 shelves, but with a little paint could be whatever color I wanted, and for three (enough to cover the wall) a mere $60. So, I got to work and bought three shelves and three cans of lime-green paint. I am thrilled with the final product - they definitely pop with color!"

Have you come up with a smart DIY or home project? Then share it in our Su Casa group!
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Have You Started Holiday Crafting Yet?

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:31 -0800

Once November hits, I start my list for holiday crafting projects I want to work on. From scarves to teacup candles to salves, all of the crafting takes time - and planning - so I like to stretch it out over many weeks, instead of rushing and freaking out in mid-December.

Source: Flickr User LollyKnit

Before and After: Updating a Sun Porch

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:23 -0700

Su Casa member PrettyLittleWorld loves her new home, but she wasn't a fan of her sun porch. She writes, "When we moved into our new home over the summer, we knew the sun porch would have to get some attention so that we could use it. The previous design was just all around unattractive, and made the porch feel a little depressing. We needed to stay within a small budget because there were bigger and more expensive things that needed doing in the rest of the house."

To see how she improved the original porch, read more.

PrettyLittleWorld used paint to improve the sun porch, which, as you well know, is one of the most dramatic and inexpensive ways to update a space. Using Winter Flannel and Quail Egg paint, the entire space looks updated and refreshed. PrettyLittleWorld also added a new, comfy porch chair for a green pop of color, and moved houseplants into the space as well. "We changed the sun porch into a space that we love to use!" she reports.

Have you made any changes in your home? Share them on Su Casa.

Roundup: Weekend DIYs

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:49 -0700

With Halloween creeping closer, it's time to get some decorations up! I've rounded up a few seasonal decorating ideas, along with some great standbys that will have your whole house looking even more lovely than usual.

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