Saturday is DIY day!

Welcome to week 6 of DIY Saturday! Firstly, my apologies that this particular DIY Saturday has actually been posted on Sunday...this week went by pretty darn quickly and I didn't have anywhere near enough super-duper projects to share with you all yesterday!

So here we go!

 I'm afraid I couldn't find the link for this project. I thought I'd saved it but apparently I didn't! I suspect you could use some kind of mosaic technique to achieve this fun coin coffee table-especially handy if you have loads of spare change you don't need! Or even old foreign currency-what a great reminder of your travels!

 I love this so much! A bit of wood treatment, a lick of white paint and voila! Unique end tables. Or you could make slightly taller versions and use them as stools.
Found here.

This is a very simple weaving technique to jazz up a plain lampshade.
Found here.

Now this is really clever. Especially if you have kids (or a messy husband!) who are always bringing in dirt on their shoes. Now you have a fun way to keep shoes tidy and dirt off your floors!
Found here.

Superbly clever. Not all of us are lucky enough to have houses with original mouldings but this little stenciling project gives the illusion of just that!
Found here.

Another lighting project and so simple! A great way to decorate your kitchen.
Found here.

Easy yet effective. Dust of your stencilling tools everyone, if you want a funky geometric rug like this one! 
Found here.

Cutesy tiles that are unique to the paper you choose to decorate them with. A good project to do with children (under supervision!)
Found here.

 Now this would be more of a salvage project requiring more manpower than the other ideas I've featured. If you happen upon some industrial-sized springs, these would look great in a rustic, farm kitchen or a contemporary home.
Found here.

Ah. The trusty chalkboard paint. Used here to create a giant monthly calendar easy to scribble on and easy to read! No excuses for missing birthdays!
Found here.

There we have it. I constantly wish I had more time (and funds!) to be able to try some of these awesome ideas out! Give me a shout if you've had a go at any of these projects or those previously featured on DIY Saturday. You can email me at oceanis12@hotmail.com

I'm one of those people that think it's criminal to get excited about Christmas before Guy Fawkes at the earliest. I can't believe the shops are already selling mince pies and advent calendars!! Crazy!! 

Against my better judgement though, I have found myself thinking more and more about what I'm going to be giving family and friends. I've decided to have a thrifty, handmade Christmas this year so I'm always thinking about fun things I can make for everyone!

What about you? Have you already started planning your Christmas gifts? I'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week :-)

xxx

Saturday is DIY day!

 I've decided not to limit this weekly DIY project round-up to just those I find on Tumblr, but to extend my crafty eye to the whole of the world wide web. This is mainly because I often find wonderful projects and ideas that I haven't directly accessed via Tumblr but I'd still like to share them. So every Saturday, here at "Design and Nonsense" you will be find an exciting array of DIY projects from all over the place, picked just for you! :-) 

This week is a mixture of big and small projects. 
For instance, the garden fork wine-glass holder and the magazine tidy-turned shelf are quick and simple projects that could be achieved quite easily. 
Whereas, the patterned stairs and recycled door-turned coffee table may require a little more time and effort but I'm confident you clever crafty lot out there could make it happen!

This is a super clever idea for a fridge, especially if you have kids who would relish the idea of drawing all over it!
Found here.

 A cute vintage-themed project that would look great in a hallway or kitchen.

Found here.

This picture doesn't actually do this table justice, but a gorgeous lace paint effect has been achived across the tope using a very simple method. Click on the link to find out how:
Found here.

I love how this piece combines old with new to create a really fun storage solution!
Found here.

I can imagine this in a rustic, country kitchen, in a little stone cottage. Clever and cute all in one!
Found here.

If I had the space and materials to do this, I absolutely would! 
Found here.

 So simple it's laughable but a really great way to create a fun shelf unit.
Found here.

 Now this is absolutely brilliant. Although I can tell it would require a great deal of patience and concentration (plus an advanced understanding of balance and gravity!) I think the final effect woud be well worth it!
Found here.

 For those of you looking for a way to jazz up your plain wooden staircase, this may well be the project for you! Simply achieved using various stencils.
Found here.

 This is really simple again but a very sweet idea, especially in a beach house or coastal-themed room.
Found here.

Well, that's it for this week but make sure to come back next Saturday for part six of my findings!

As always, I'd really love to hear from anyone who has tried any of the projects I've featured so far. Whether they were successful or not, it's great to hear about your DIY experiences!

Also, if any of you find any DIY projects you'd like to see featured here, please get in contact :-) Especially if they are your own projects-it's great to get them known!

Have a great week everyone :-)

xxx

Saturday is DIY On Tumblr day!

 Welcome to part four of DIY on Tumblr. I've found some really fun DIY ideas this week. I'm especially in love with the lampshades using gentlemen's hats which would be a simple look to achieve, I'm sure.

This is such a genius idea! Found here

 

A very sweet way of displaying family photos:

Found here

This is a very simple way of giving a chair a quirky, new look:
Found here

Another chair project. I love this crazy bench-style seating arrangment:
Found here

 This would look great on any surfaces I reckon. Very jazzy!
Found here

 I think this is a really sweet idea for a bedroom focal point. You could use song lyrics, poems or even get friends and family to write messages on the fabric. What a great alternative to a wedding guest book too!
Found here

 The fabric headboard is a great idea but I was also drawn to these his and hers cushions! So cute!
Found here

 A very simple idea but the result is gorgeous!
Found here

 Such a retro way of decorating your kitchen! A fair amount of collecting would be involved though...
Found here

 I adore this idea! A great way to recycle
Found here

As always, I'd love to hear from you if you've had a go at any of these projects, or any from previous DIY on Tumblr posts: Part 1 Part 2 and Part 3.

I'd also really love to see you guys over at my Facebook page. I try to keep it updated as often as possible, so you'll always know when there's something new up on my blog :-) Thanks everyone!

Enjoy your Saturday!

xxx

Another Feature at the Sunday Showcase Party

I was featured again at Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn. 

This time, my yummy cheese twist recipe was shown at the Sunday Showcase party. It's definitely worth trying out-they taste amazing!

xxx

Guest Post at One Hand In My Pocket

Good morning everyone! It's a bit glum where I am today but hopefully it will pick up! The weather could be reflecting my mood actually-I'm feeling a bit nervous as I have a job interview today. Eek!!
Anyhoo, I thought I'd let you know I'm guest posting on my friend Cat's blog One Hand in My Pocket
today, while she is off getting tanned in Spain, the lucky girl!

Go check it out-I'm crooning over Not on the High Street and have included some of my favourite pieces :-D

Hope your weather is happier than mine today!


xxx

Saturday is DIY On Tumblr day!

This is the third week of DIY on Tumblr. Here's what I've found from lots of clever people!

 

These teapot planters are adorable and a great way to recycle broken or old teapots!

http://theonlylivingboyinbg.tumblr.com/post/3235659804

http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/clocks-circle/

I just love these quirky shirt cushions! http://www.dwell.com/articles/Kind-of-New.html

Salvaged door-turned chalkboard-http://ideasandinspiration.tumblr.com/post/214694872/via-apartment-therapy-an-old-door-turned-into-a

Clever way to re-use a crate-http://yesterdayishere.tumblr.com/

http://junkgardengirl.blogspot.com/2010/02/decorating-with-maps.html

This is such a sweet idea!  Afternoon tea meets classy dinner party.

http://www.shelterness.com/diy-china-teacup-wineglasses/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Shelterness+%28Shelterness%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

For those of you who enjoy giving old books new purpose! http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/blogs/diy-a-green-version-of-natalie-portmans-clutch

Isn't this just the coolest idea?! And so easy to do as well :-D http://thisoldchair.blogspot.com/2011/05/candle-stick-apothecary-jars.html

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/green-ideas/creative-crates-turned-awesome-entryway-storage-theas-mania-154655

If any of you have tried any of these projects or those from Part 1 or Part 2 I'd really love to hear from you! There are so many of them I want to try but haven't got around to it yet! Feel free to let me know how your own DIY projects went :-)

Check back next Saturday for part 4!

xxx

Double feature at Under the Table and Dreaming

I've been featured at Under the Table and Dreaming's Sunday Showcase party. Two of my recent DIY projects were featured-my Hanging Shoe Tidy and my Vintage Bird Lampshade. 

 I'm so pleased that Stephanie Lynn chose to include these in this week's showcase :-D Check her blog out-it's fab!