CasaSugar

How-To: Frosted Glass Stenciling

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Craftynest recently gave a makeover to her antique wooden bookcase, and the topping on the cake was a frosted stencil on its glass doors. If you've got a glass cabinet, vase, or even a mirror in need of a little facelift, you can easily recreate this look with a few supplies. All you'll need to repeat this project is glass cleaner, paper towels, a craft knife, a wet erase marker, contact paper, a large stencil, and Krylon Frosted Glass Finish in white. To learn the steps, read more.

Clean the glass well with your glass cleaner, and wipe it down with a paper towel or rag.
Peel a few inches off of the contact paper and stick it to the edge of the glass, and smooth it down. Unroll a few more inches at a time, and continue to peel. Make sure you burnish out any bubbles.
Make sure there are no open spaces on the edge of the frame.
After you've chosen your stencil, trace the pattern onto the contact paper with the wet erase marker. Repeat, if desired.
Use your craft knife (try an X-acto knife), cut the outline of the stencil on the contact paper.
Then, use the tip of the knife to lift the pieces of the cut pattern.
Wipe off the excess marker with a paper towel. Use the glass cleaner if necessary.
Shake the can of the glass finish. Spray it on the stenciled (i.e. no contact paper) portions of the glass from 10 to 12 inches away in a side-to-side motion. Let dry and spray another coat.
Let dry, and then peel off the contact paper. Fini!

For photos and more details, check out Craftynest.
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DIY: Etched Glass Vase

CasaSugar — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:59:53 -0700

If your boyfriend is a sweetheart, or just a guilty bouquet giver, you may be stuck with an army of plain glass vases that you'll never use. Don't clog up your cabinets, put 'em to work by giving them a fresh new look that you love, and drop some subtle hints to your man that they need not sit empty. This easy DIY will liven up your plain glass vases with a pattern that screams "you," not "1-800-Flowers."

Supplies:

Glass vase
Frosted-glass spray
Masking tape
Marker/pen
X-acto knife

To learn the steps, read more

Here's how:

For a simple design, tape off the area where you don't want the frosting to go. For a more intricate pattern, tape off the entire vase. Draw your design onto the tape, and cut it away with the X-acto knife.
Then, peel of the excess tape (where the frosting will go).
Spray light, even coats of the frosted glass spray onto the vase in a well-ventilated area.
Let dry. Fill with flowers!

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Before and After: An '80s Hutch Gets Up-to-Date

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:01 -0700

I love a well-executed furniture makeover, especially when a piece that's this ugly can turn out to look so good! Crafty lady Erin explains, "My brother-in-law frequently comes across discarded furniture. The other day he found this hutch and asked if we would like it. It was pretty darn ugly, so hubby and I decided to give it a makeover."

To see the unbelievable results, read more.

Erin explains that, "We removed some of the decorative wood, painted it, and frosted the glass. I think it came out pretty awesome!"

There's no arguing with you there, Erin. This hutch is virtually unrecognizable from its earlier incarnation. Nice work!

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:00:16 -0700

Get inspired by vacant lots that are now flourishing gardens! - Re-Nest
Paint your own tin ceiling tiles. - Charles and Hudson
Make a rustic wood side table. - Craft
Check out this teen's surprise bedroom makeover. -AT:SF
I love these thrifted dish cake plates. - Shelterrific
These frosted glasses are cool and eco. - Danny Seo
Tour three to-die-for vacation villas. - Shelter Pop

Crave Worthy: Polka Dot Credenza

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:00:09 -0800

There's something so Serena van der Woodsen about this Polka Dot Credenza ($2,299); can't you just see it in her polka dot bedroom? I can certainly see it in mine! Thanks to an internal lighting system and frosted glass discs set in the dark beech wood frame, this credenza diffuses light beautifully, almost like a constellation. It's obviously designed for a modern home, but I think there's a lot of versatility in where you could use it . . . in the dining room to store linens, a living room as media storage, or a bedroom to stash clothes and personal items. I think it's stellar, don't you?

DIY: Homemade Moon Jar

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:44:34 -0700

This DIY will show you how to make a solar-powered LED jar light like Tobias Wong's Moon Jar, which was a Nice and New of mine a while back, which would set you back $40 if purchased. It's pretty darn cool — it "collects" sunshine during the day, so you can use it as a lamp when the sun goes down.

Supplies:

1 Ikea SLOM Jar
1 Solar garden light
AA rechargeable battery (if it doesn't come with the garden light)
Blu-tack
Screwdriver
Utility knife
Glass frosting spray or tracing paper

To learn the steps, from Instructables, read more

Here's how:

Using the utility knife, rip out the innards of the garden light.

Fill the jar with the innards, using the Blu-tack to keep them together. Keep the solar panel exposed to the clear side of the glass lid (top), with the underside serving as a base for the rest of the components, and the light sensing diode should be visible from the lid so it can receive enough light. Make sure not to break the pieces by pressing too hard. You may have to play around with the pieces to make them fit.

Either frost the glass with the spray, or cut a piece of tracing paper to size and put it on the interior wall of the jar. For a different color of light, get colored tracing paper.

Lock the lid closed. Done!

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How-To: Set the Table For a Fab Party

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:33 -0700

In a recent New York Times article, interior designer David Serrano (pictured at right, seated), who also owns the glamorous shop Downtown and Outside Downtown, offered some advice on setting a party table. Serrano says, "[Setting a table] is emblematic of your personal style . . . My job has always been to create a beautiful tabletop that will complement the great food and wonderful guests.”

Here are my favorite tips from Mr. Serrano:

Consider serving everything family style. This allows you to mix china patterns, display funky glasses that might not match, and in general, create a more festive atmosphere at the table.
Don't be afraid to mix things up. As Serrano notes, “I like new things mixed with old things, cheap things from Pier 1 mixed with fancy things from Hermès.”
If you're decorating for a birthday party, include party favors for everyone at the party. They don't have to be expensive; just make sure they are beautiful and useful. For instance, a tiny potted herb tied with a ribbon would be a great present for a chef or gardener's birthday party.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Set the tone of the table with one unique, eyecatching object, such as an unusual vase or decorative urn.
Avoid distracting objects, such as giant, fragrant floral arrangements.
If you use candles, make sure they're unscented.
Don't forget dessert! You can even coordinate frosting color on your cake or cupcakes with the colors of your tablescape.

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Steal of the Day: Pottery Barn Cassandra Chandelier

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:00:24 -0700

The Pottery Barn Cassandra Chandelier ($299, reduced from $399) is a trompe l'oeil of sorts. Its frosted glass hurricanes give the romantic appeal of pillar candles, without the hazard of burning your house down. I'm loving its antique-inspired wrought-iron scrollwork, which reminds me of the balconies of New Orleans Creole townhouses. And, its minimalist, silhouette shape would do well in both modern and traditional homes, and I think Eva Zeisel would appreciate its restrained curves.

Recipe For Clean: Bathtub Cleaner

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:00:26 -0700

Have you assembled your home-cleaning kit yet? If you have, you're in luck, because I have a great Recipe For Clean for getting your bathtub sparkling. Use it to get your bathroom so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1/2 cup of baking soda
liquid detergent
bowl
sponge

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more.

Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl.
Add enough liquid detergent so the mixture has a frosting-like texture
Scoop the mixture onto a sponge and scrub your bathtub clean!
Rinse thoroughly.
You can add one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to this cleaner if you want to store it in a glass jar.

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Love It or Hate It? Water Bowl Set

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:00:14 -0700

Design Milk is loving this Water Bowl Set ($350), designed by Michael Benzer, John P. Gilvey, Wendy Gilvey, and Jennifer Smith. But while the frosted-glass serving pieces have an elegant look, I don't think I'd want them in my home. What's your take?