CasaSugar

DIY: Wine Cork Board

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0700

Cork is a versatile, sustainable, and quirky material, popping up on everything from ottomans to flooring, and of course, wine corks. My friend is going with a bit of a vino theme at her wedding this Summer, and decided to repurpose wine corks as a cork board and use it to pin place cards onto at the event. This clever memo board would look equally cute in the kitchen or bar in your home.

Supplies:

Wine corks
Skill (or craft) saw
X-acto knife
Frame
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Cork sheet
Foam board
Hammer (optional)
Small nails (optional)

To learn the steps, read more.

Here's how:

Using the skill saw, carefully cut the wine corks in half lengthwise. This nearly 24-by-28-inch frame required 60 wine corks (120 halves).
With the X-acto knife, cut the cork sheet and the foam board to fit snugly into the back of the frame (the same size the glass would be) and glue them together.
If your frame has bendable metal clamps that keep the backing in place, skip this step. But if you're dealing with a thrifted frame with no clamps, use a hammer and nails to secure the cork/foam board into the back of the frame, cork side out.
If necessary, group the corks into piles according to size. Then - and this is important - lay out all the halved corks, flat side down, into the frame to make sure they fit. Create a pattern alternating two horizontal corks with two vertical.
Using the hot glue gun, glue all the corks inside the frame with a small line on the flat side of each. Fini!

Total project time: approximately two hours.

Although you can buy the wine corks in bulk online, collecting your own recycled stoppers will give the finished piece much more character. Stop by a local restaurant or wine bar and ask if they have corks to spare; they may be able to give you a bag. Or, ask your wine-loving friends to share their collection with you.

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Casa Quickie: Frame Your Cards

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:07 -0800

Instead of propping your cards on your fireplace mantel this holiday season, why not pin them inside a pretty frame? It's an instant art display, and it also organizes the cards in a more manageable way.

You can make a corkboard display like I did and then use it year-round, long after the holiday cards have been tucked away.

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Cool Idea: Good Grips MagTacks

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:00:49 -0700

Corkboards are helpful for displaying things that aren't "keepers," but using pushpins on your child's artwork or a memorable invitation can really ding it up. The obvious solution would be to use a magnet, but what if you don't have a magnetic refrigerator or other surface? If that's the case, then Good Grips MagTacks ($3.49, reduced from $6.99) are for you. These helpful objects are a pushpin and a magnet in one, which allow you to slip your precious photos or artwork between the top magnet and its pushpin base to avoid ruining them with holes. You can also store the tack head in the magnet base, if you are using a refrigerator or some type of steel message board. Pretty clever, eh?

Cool Idea: A Shutter as a Memory Board

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:00:55 -0700

The great thing about memory boards is that they don't require any magnets or pushpins to hang your mementos and notes as cork boards and refrigerators doors do. But, none of these options are very attractive or interesting looking. An alternative is to hang an old shutter from a flea market or your own house horizontally on the wall, and display your photographs, memos, and souvenirs by setting them between its slats. Some flimsy papers may require a bit of double-stick tape on their backsides, but most items will stay up on their own. And then you can say goodbye to those unsightly magnets from your local delivery pizza place.
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Cool Idea: Shoe Closet Bulletin Board

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:33 -0700

Apartment Therapy Small Cool 2008 contestant Stephanie lined the back of her shoe closet shelves with cork to make use of the space as a bulletin board in her small Chicago apartment. Not only is this an efficient use of her space, but it makes the daily rush to get dressed just a bit more interesting, and can be used as a reminder to get certain activities done that day, like go to the post office, pick up dry cleaning, etc. It also keeps the sort of papers, business cards, and souvenirs that you want to keep, but not necessarily display, private and out of your guests' eyes. Otherwise, a bulletin board in the kitchen or at your desk might look cluttered, or reveal unpaid bills, etc. that you don't quite want to share with the world. Are there any nooks in your home where you can recreate this idea?
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DIY: Embroidery Hoop Corkboard

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:28 -0700

I recently fell head over heels for this hoop.dee.do bulletin board ($22), sending it to the top of my wish list. What a perfect way to add style and function to your home office!? So, when I came across a DIY on how to make them on my own, my excitement skyrocketed. I do love to support all the lovely hand-making Etsy studios, but sometimes it's nice to just have a project for myself. Luckily, this one doesn't seem too intimidating, time-consuming, or expensive. I'm thinking of making several hoops in varying sizes and patterns to cover the wall above my desk.

Supplies:

1 wooden embroidery hoop
Cork board (an old board, or cork board squares)
Pencil
Drywall saw or sharp craft knife
Upholstery-weight fabric
Picture-hanging tooth w/nails
Hammer
Staple gun
Glue gun w/glue sticks

To learn the steps, read more.

Here's how, from Sweet Jessie:

Lay your embroidery hoop on top of your cork board.
Trace the the hoop onto the board in pencil.
Using the drywall saw or knife, cut the cork board to the shape of your hoop.
Lay your fabric on top of the cork circle, and wedge it into the interior hoop.
Set the exterior hoop on top of that, and tighten it.
Staple the fabric, securing it to the back of the cork board.
Using the glue gun, fill in any crevices in between the fabric and the loop.
Hammer the picture-hanging tooth to the back of the loop's wood blocks.
Hang!

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How-To: Reuse Your Super Bowl Beer Bottle Caps

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:46 -0800

Once a year (at least), we all get a little carried away by the excitement of watching our favorite football teams duke it out, or by dance machine Justin Timberlake on stage, and we finish off a few too many beers (and hot wings). Not only are we left with a pounding headache but also dozens of aluminum bottle caps. Of course, you can recycle them. But there are also plenty of other ways to reuse those pesky caps. You might want to let your hangover wear off before you attempt some of these crafty projects, though. To hear them, read more.

Crochet an adorable bottle cap trivet, or use these trivet patterns.
If fishing is a hobby of yours, superglue a lollipop stick to the top of the cap, and scale fish with its spiky edge.
Turn them into fishing lures.
Stop by a local brewery and donate your caps to be reused on new bottles of beer.
Superglue small round magnets or thumbtacks and use them on your fridge or cork boards.
Glue them onto the border of a mirror or frame and turn them into folk art.
Make coasters out of them.
Drill or punch holes in them, and thread wire or string through them to make wind chimes.
If you have a large collection of bottle caps, fill an apothecary jar with them to add some color to your digs.
Or, check out these unique bottle cap ideas from Craft.

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Etsy Find: Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:15:35 -0800

My Etsy Finds normally fall under the categories of crafty things, textiles (napkins!), or artwork. But it's rare to find a furniture piece that's not just a reupholstered ottoman. So, I was surprised to come across this Jean Pelle Vanity Cabinet ($129). Quite the unique, modern piece, it's a small vanity cabinet with an extending side mirror, three interior storage cubes, an interior cork board, and door-front knobs to hang jewelry from. The cabinet is also fixed with a light bulb to illuminate while you're applying makeup or trying on jewelry. The cabinet can be attached to a wall or rested on a table. It's certainly not for a traditionalist, but for those with a contemporary home, it's a wonderfully functional piece to own.

DIY: Scrabble Coasters

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:15:29 -0800

If the words "Triple Word Score" mean anything to you then this project is for you. You can put a retired Scrabble set to work by recycling it into coasters. If you don't want to part with your beloved Scrabble set, you can purchase batches of Scrabble tiles on eBay for little more than five bucks.

Supplies:

Scrabble tiles (64-100 for a set of four)
Cork board or cardboard and felt
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Mod Podge or a stronger sealant (polyurethane)
Grosgrain ribbon (the width of a Scrabble tile's height)

To learn the steps, read more

Here's how:

Take out a pen and paper and brainstorm some four- or five-letter words related to drinks (wine, cafe, pinot, etc.) that you'd like to use on your coasters. Play with their configurations, and come up with a blueprint for your letter arrangements, either 4-x-4 tiles or 5-x-5.
Measure the dimensions of your square of tiles, and cut the corkboard or cardboard accordingly.
If you're using cardboard, cut a piece of felt to the same size and glue it to the cardboard base.
Glue your Scrabble-tile arrangement to your base. Let dry.
Seal the top of the tiles with Mod Podge. Let dry.
Glue the grosgrain ribbon around edge of the coaster. Let dry.
Uncork some vino and drink up!

You can also purchase new Scrabble tiles from Hasbro, but it's best to recycle! Try thrift stores, yard sales, and eBay for vintage ones.

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Come Party With Me: KatieSugar's First Birthday Party - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:57:31 -0700

KatieSugar sure is growing up fast. Just this morning she was using her walker to toddle around the room and nobody could work because she was being way too adorable to ignore. A girl as special as lil'sugar deserves the most fabulous 1st birthday celebration. Naturally her parents turned to me to deal with all of the party planning details. So I got busy earlier this week (her birthday is June 1 and we want the invites to be sent at least three weeks in advance) making the invitation, creating a delicious menu of miniature party food, and coming up with a couple of all-pink drinks. Today I'm designing the look, inspired by the pink stripes that grace the walls of Katie's bedroom, so for the details read more

Since this is for a child's birthday keep the decorations fun, young, and fabulous.

Cover the ceiling of the party with pink balloons and long pink ribbons. These balloons will filter and reflect the natural daylight (the party is at 1pm) creating a beautiful rosy glow.
Fill vases with fresh pink tulips with long stems. Steer clear from using pink roses this isn't a wedding and you want the feel to remain casual.
Dress the tables in pink and white striped tablecloths.

Arrange the food on large pink platters garnished with pink berries and have pink striped cocktail napkins and white plates for the finger foods.
Fill bowls with tiny pink candies and more berries.
Arrange clear glass pitchers of the Pink Lemonade and Watermelon Martini on the bar. Fill a large silver tin with ice for beer and pink champagne.

To take the party outdoors line the pillars of your deck (or fence if you don't have a deck) with alternating pink and white streamers.
With thick pink ribbon tie bows to the back of chairs, around vases and on doorknobs.

For a fun game ask guests to send you a picture of themselves on their first birthday. Pin to a large cork bulletin board or arrange on your bulletin board and have everyone try and guess whose 1st birthday baby picture is who.
Give guests an old fashioned pink and white lollipop as a party favor.

Got a perfectly pink party decoration idea for KatieSugar's 1st birthday bash?? Share your ideas with us below!