Round and Round

Round and Round Party from DesignMom.
Oscar's birthday party looks so cool. So simple, but yet so very fun. Instead of licensed characters or even the obligatory princesses/trains, Oscar's mom hits the nail on the head. Every 3 year old loves circles!

Circle garlands punched from construction paper. Round paper lanterns. Circle confetti on the table. And then of course, all of the food was round as well. Round pb&j, cucumber & carrot rounds, circle crackers and pineapple rings. And then of course, cupcakes with round sprinkles. The favors were super bouncy balls wrapped in cellophane. And the activities: "Danced to "You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round". Walked around a hula hoop while singing "The Big Black Bear" song. Sat in a circle with our feet together and rolled a ball around." Other round games include the Hokey Pokey and Twister.

What Inspires Me, pt. 2

• Grid paper
• Vintage travel posters
• Stark contrasts
• A pretty damask pattern
• White space
• Solving a problem

What inspires you?

Recycled Light Bulb vases

Recycled Light Bulb Vases from CasaSugar.

We switched to CFLs about a year ago, but being the clutter collectors that we are, we saved the old lightbulbs, you know, just in case... Well, I think I know what I'll be doing with them.

Supplies:

• A metal saw
• A light bulb
• 2 screwdrivers (small and large)
• A round file
  
• Metal wire (beading or fishing wire should work)

Here are the steps, translated from Esprit Cabane:

1. Saw the base of the screw cap with a metal saw, turning the bulb regularly, so you remove the electrical contact part.
2. Once the base of the screw cap is cut, insert a screwdriver and break the glass tube that sticks out (be careful).
3. Then, place a larger screwdriver in the cavity of glass, pushing down firmly, so the filament is separated from the bulb.
4. With a round file, enlarge the opening and take out the filament. The bulb should be empty now.
5. To create suspended vases, drill two holes by hand on both sides of the screw cap with a drill bit. The aluminum should pierce easily.
6. Slip metal wire (or fishing wire) through the holes that you punched and tie a knot on each side (like a purse strap).
7. Then suspend the vase from a hook, or wherever you like.
8. Put a little water in the bulb and then some flowers.

Painted Door Mat

Painted Door Mat, from DIY: Home and Garden. I love door mat projects. That sounds silly, but I really do. The bold graphics on this one just caught my eye. Here are the directions:

YOU WILL NEED:
• 4 different colours of spray paint
• A coir doormat, 40cm x 65cm
• Cutting mat (or your kitchen cutting board)
• 10cm diameter cardboard mail tube
• Access to a computer, printer (and photocopier if necessary)
• Ruler, scissors, craft knife and coloured felt pens
• Double-sided tape and 18mm masking tape

1 Choose a plain typeface on your computer – we used Ariel – and type in capital letters: WELCOME HOME. Enlarge it to 300-point type and print out. (If your computer won’t allow you to do this, enlarge the letters on the photocopier till they are approx. 7.5cm high.) You will need three sets of type, so you have enough for spares. Cut out the letters into individual rectangles and back them with double-sided tape. Cut to shape.





2 Take the mailing tube and measure off into 7cm wide sections. You will need at least six. These form the circle stencil and small spray booths. Cut into sections with the craft knife.








3 Take the coir mat and place the tape around all edges. Using your tube sections as a measuring guide, create a grid with the masking tape to create 12 squares.









4 Draw up a grid using the letters and the felt pens as a guide to the order of the letters and colours. Peel off the backing from the letters and place them in the centre of each square on the mat according to your guide. Place the cardboard tubes over the letters and spray one colour at a time. Spray remaining circles and allow to dry thoroughly. Peel off masking tape and letters to reveal the pattern.

Photo Pencils

Photo Pencils, tutorial by Photojojo.
I'm adding this to my stash of cool, creative gifts from photos. Might be a great present for my littlest cousin.

"Step 1: Print your photo

Choose a photo that doesn’t have too much fine detail. Portraits work well, as do landscapes.

Using your favorite image editing software, crop your chosen photo to 5×6 inches.

Print 3 copies on plain (not photo) paper.*

*If you don’t have a computer and/or printer, you can use 3 copies of a 5×7 photo. However, the stiff photo paper will be harder to wrap around the pencils. You might try wrapping the strips around the pencils, securing them with rubber bands, and leaving them overnight before trying to glue them in place.

Step 2: Mark the back of the photo

Divide the photo into four 1.25 inch wide sections (lengthwise), using a pencil and ruler.

Step 3: Cut your photo into strips

Cut along the three lines you just drew to slice each photo in four.

You should end up with three identical copies of each strip. You’ll use strip A for the first three pencils, strip B for the next three, and so on.

Step 4: Apply glue to the back of each strip

Apply glue to the back of the first strip, being careful not to get any glue on the front of the picture.

Step 5: Wrap the strip around the pencil

Attach a piece of tape to the front of the strip. The tape should be as long as the strip; you’ll use it to tape the free edge of the strip down once it’s wrapped around the pencil.

Wrap the strip lengthwise around your first pencil. (We found it easiest to place the strip on the table, put the pencil on top and roll.) Tape down the free edge of the strip.

Step 6: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Repeat the process for the rest of the eleven strips and pencils.

Now line up your pencils, and rotate them so that the picture aligns across the row of pencils.

Is that cool or what?"

Personalized Baby Mobile

Baby Mobile, "Oh Baby" by In(side) the Loop. Baby Bennett received this personalized mobile for his nursery. With pictures and photos (even his sonogram) on one side and patterned Japanese paper on the other, this turned out to be an awesome baby shower gift. Must remember this one when my friends start having babies.

Playroom Loft

"Look! Eco-Friendly Playroom" from Apartment Therapy: Ohdeedoh. This creative playroom was designed by Erica-Lynn Huberty. This photo is of the full-sized loft daybed overhead an enclosed ship-themed playhouse.I can only imagine how much fun my sister and I would have had with a cool space like that. We did just fine with the double-sided kitchen that my dad built for us for Christmas one year.

When we have kids, I know that Rob will have so much fun designing a fun playplace for them.