DIY

Chalk Coasters

I have a chalk board spray that works miracles. I have made an array of things and one of my favourite is chalk coasters. 



Not only do I love having them around the house, but make great gifts too.





Framed Prints


It is very easy to design and paint simple and colourful prints and frame them as decorations to brighten your home.

Here are a few I have around the house at the moment:











Cards DIY


I have over the years made an array of cards for many events and occasions. It is not only cheaper but is also a more personal!

Here are a few card ideas that you can easily make. I trust they will get your creative juices flowing.





Thanksgiving Present

Simple and sweet, no fuss present. 





Envelope Bag



I recently saw a friend make these cute little DIY envelope bags and had to share. They are so easy and simple to make and design wise so clever!

You can make the little envelope bags in all colours, shapes and using different material. They are great for presents or even just to store little things around the house. 









Tissue Clean



A cute and clean way to store tissues! 


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Infused Sugar



I recently made these cute little infused sugar jars as a birthday present and have since starting making it for the house and exploring with new flavours. 

Not only is an adorable little gift, but also tastes amazing. The added flavour, just give the sugar a little kick and the uses are endless. It could be used for cakes, cookies and even for tea or coffee.

The trick to really getting a flavourful sugar, is by zesting the fruit and letting it dry in the fridge over night, before adding it to the sugar. Also leave the infused sugar for about a week before you start using it or give it away as gifts.  

The two flavours I chose were lemon and vanilla, but you could also use coffee beans, lavender, lime and so forth 












Gift Basket


Buying gifts can be tricky! The most important thing is being attentive and personalising. After all gifts are always appreciated more when they come from the heart. Also try and have fun with it, as it will translate into the best possible gift for your friend or family member.

Here are some great ideas I came across of gift baskets, that will get your creative juices flowing:


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Cork Mousepad


I was visiting a friend recently and she showed me her cute DIY mousepad she had made, using an old cork matt. She had given the matt a colourful makeover and it looked perfect in her new office. 

Making your own mouse pad is super easy and simple. You could either paint the matt or even cover it with beautiful material. Even though stores carry many different funky mouse pads these days, it is always better to make your own, with the exact colours and shapes you desire. 

So here are a few craft ideas that will inspire you to create your own personalised mousepad: 


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Homemade Kefir


I couldn't live without my morning yoghurt, with muesli and fruit. So I was so excited when I recently got some kefir grains, known as "yogurt de pajaritos", to make my own fresh kefir. 

Kefir is similar to yoghurt, but is a little different, not only in taste but is also a bit runnier. Don't get me wrong though, it is a tasty substitute and its nutritional value is amazing. It contains lots and lots of beneficial bacteria that help cleanse your body. Kefir also contains many beneficial vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes.





It is super easy to make as all you have to do is add milk (all mammal and soy milk) and leave the kefir grain and milk to ferment for 24-48 hours. Use a sieve to separate the grain and repeat. 




I use the Kefir like yogurt for my breakfast with muesli, nuts and fruits. But the kefir can also be used in drinks like smoothies, due to its runnier consistency.









Recycle Tires


It is astonishing the many things you can make from old tires. From bags, to chairs, to horse swings. Tires are made from hard rubber, which is a great material to recycle and use, as it is strong and sturdy.

So if you happen to have old tires in your garage or shed, unused and taking up space, then you may have a fun project on your hands. Plus it always feels great to know that by recycling old tires, you are making something environmentally friendly. Win for you and win for the environment.

Here are a few ways in which you could transform and reuse your old tires:



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Pimp your Bike


Now that summer has arrived and the the sun had been peeping its head through the harsh winter clouds, bicycles have slowly been replacing cars on the street.

One of my favourite summer sights are the many different coloured and pimped out bicycles you can spot around town. Bicycles are not only a convenient and clean form of transportation, but they can also be made super cute. With a little paint job, a large woven basket and a little detail and you are ready.

Here are a few ideas of how you can pimp your bicycle:


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Moss Wall Art


A friend of mine recently sent me a link to the Moss Graffiti concept a couple and I was so amazed. I love how easy it is to make the moss paint and the many creative designs one can make with it. Moss can be applied on any surface and in any shape and form, the option are truly endless.

All you need to make the moss paint is: moss, water retention, gardening gel and buttermilk. Blend the ingredients together, pour into a bucket, paint where desired and the moss will grow.


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Graffiti artists have started using moss to decorate buildings across cities worldwide. Opening the eyes of the public and markets to a new level of sustainable advertisements, with green and eco-friendly art. 


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The concept has even spread into company buildings and people's homes, with moss decorating walls in interesting patterns and shapes.



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Pasta Crafts



Getting crafty with food is always fun for kids, so today I am going to introduce a few ways you can use Pasta for art projects. While I was working as an au-pair, I was responsible for stimulating the kids creativity. I made jewellery and hair clips with the kids using pasta and we had a wonderful time.

So here are a few crafts you can make with your children using cheap and easy to use pasta:



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Recycle Books




I love books and often find it hard to part with them. I travel a lot and so I am often forced to reorganise my shelves. Most books I give to charity, but some books I recycle and use around the home.

Here are a few inspirational ideas to save, transform and reuse your beloved books around the home:




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Painted Wooden Spoons



Wooden spoons are a staple for every home around the world.Recently I have been looking into ways in which I can give my spoons a makeover and give my kitchen a pop of colour.

The spoons can be made over by either being painted or by using pre-made fabric tape, if you want more detailed patterns. I love this idea because it allows you to personalise your spoons and choose the pattern and colour scheme.

Here are a few ways you could pimp up your wooden spoon:




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Chalk Paint


Chalk paint is not only easily accessible, but is just as easy to use. Simply paint the wall or object you want to give a make-over and get creative.

Here are some of the many ways you could use chalk paint around the home:


Calendar
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Labelled Herbs

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Table Cloth
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World Map

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Rustic Wall

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Wine Glasses

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Organized Storage

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Kiddies Room


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Decoration


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Wall Hooks 

DIY Wall Hooks by Ambrosia Creative
DIY Wall Hooks by Ambrosia Creative. Great Idea for children rooms. 
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Covered Coat Wire  

covered wire coat hangers
So easy to do and looks absolutely amazing. I especially love the idea for open wardrobes. 
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Eggshell Garden 


Eggshell garden


As cute as a botton! Must make this ASAP! Great idea for a gift or even to have at home.

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Message in a Egg 



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Home Grown Rucola 









Hanging Elephants 



To make these adorable flying elephants you will need:

-light-weight cardboard or old post cards
-different pretty paper
-glue and tape
-twine

Aren't they adorable? Think I might make little hanging monkeys next. 


                                         






Decorative Pop-Poms


I have recently fallen in love with cotton pom-poms. I have used them for book marks, on cards and recently created a decorative pom-pom structure.


To make the pom-poms you will need:

-Different coloured cotton 
-Twine
-Scissors


It's simple yet beautifully complex. I chose soft and light colours, as the sunshine reflects delicately and angelically on the wool. 







Book Mark


This is a simple, cute and personalised bookmark tutorial. Great DIY tip for those who, like me, have a terrible habit of 'displacing' book marks around the house.






Infused Oil 


To add another layer of flavour when cooking, I highly recommend using homemade infused oils.  It is easy to make, it is cheap and tastes amazing.

At home I always ensure I have chili olive oil and rosemary and garlic infused olive oil. 




Wrapping



One of my favourite things about giving gifts is getting creative and personalising the wrapping.

Just last week, I was invited to a girlfriends birthday dinner and decided to use old toilet paper and kitchen rolls as wrapping for her gifts. 


To personalise the wrapping I painted the rolls light pink and blue, with simple white dots.


Later adding the white flair and a twine bow for texture cuteness. It was simple, easy to make and very cost effective. 




Paper Pin Bird


When I was working as an au pair a couple of years ago, I was always looking for new creative ways to keep the children entertained. One of their favorite things to do was creating little paper pin birds. 





The children loved personalising the colours and shapes of the birds. It was a super easy and fun activity and the children were always proud of their lovely creations. 

All you need to make this paper pin bird is:
-2 different coloured papers
-two paper clips
-scissors and glue






Lace Collar




To make this lace collar you will need: 
Paper Doilies, Cotton for the Bow, Scissors and Stapler

This lace collar transforms any dress or shirt and is especially convenient because it is detachable.


Hand Warmers 



Even though I have viking blood, I am African in heart. So I still suffer every frosty winter. 

I was given a microwaveable hippo last christmas and thought it was genius. So I decided to create smaller microwaveable pouches that could keep jacket pockets warm and snug. 


The hot (or cold) hand pouches are cute, easy to make and convenient to have around the house.



All you need to make these hand warmers are:

-Material for the hand warmers ( I used capulana)
Needle and Thread
-Rice 
-Scissors
-Essential oil (if you want)




The hand warmers can be all shapes, colours and size. They are great for winter, as they keep your jacket pockets warm on your way to work or School in the morning. 

All you have to do is pop the hand warmers in the microwave for a minute and pop them in your favorite jacket pocket. 







Heart Cones



It is tradition in a lot of countries to shower the newlyweds with rice, after their wedding ceremony. This is done to send the couple off into their new lives, with good luck and prosperity. 

Here is a simple heart cone tutorial that can be used to store the rice for the guests or even rose petals. 








                                                                           








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