DIY Projects You CAN Do!

I have a confession to make.  I'm not a DIYer.  I have never DIYed anything.  I do, however, have a long list of projects I would like to try out one day.  There's a good chance that will never happen, nonetheless, the list continues to grow.

I have a designer's heart and mind. Not of a DIYer.  Some people assume that because you can design you can DIY.  Well, there's not much truth in that.  I can design a DIY project, but I most likely cannot make it come to life so easily.  Who knows, maybe if I take that leap of faith I will discover I'm good at both?!

DIYing isn't for everyone, but if you see a project you really like go ahead, take a shot at it.  And if you have a Mr. Handyman living with you take advantage and have him help out.

I will share with you a few of my favorites.  No particular style in mind.  I have very eclectic taste and these projects could easily be incorporated into any one's style.

Okay, so the most recent one I came across is this Diy Wood Doormat from The Merrythought.

Also, on my list is this amazing picture holder.  Even without pictures it would still be an amazing piece of art. 

DIY Geometric Photo Display  Valerie, from The Caldwell Project, walks you through, step by step, on how to make this wonderful photo display.  

Here's a really easy one.  This one is probably best for homeowners.  

House Numbers This project is from 4 Men 1 Lady.  I love that you can take this same idea and recreate it in any style you like.

She has several more wonderful ideas so I would definitely make time to check her out!

This next one may require a little more skill and special tools.  This would be a good time to ask the mister to step in unless you're extremely confident in your carpentry skills.

Diy Framed Chalkboard

If you're interested in more "skilled" carpentry projects be sure to check out her website.  Lots of wonderful ideas on there and lots of free plans to build them too.  Shanty 2 Chic

Now, if you're like me you love stores like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, West Elm, and so on.  But realistically their products are very expensive.  So I found this video tutorial one how to make one of their very popular, very expensive mirrors.  Check it out.

Here's one for the ladies.  The link doesn't have a tutorial, but you get the idea.  

From flea market finds to savvy storage

Well, I guess I'll include one for the guys too.  This is a great idea to organize that garage.  Some skills required.  

Garage Storage Towers

Lastly, I will end with one that is at the very top of my list.  This will definitely require skill and a lot of patience.  Probably a couple to a few weekends to complete as well.  It is from one of my favorite DIYers, Vintage Revivals.

Pink and Red Honeycomb Wall

Truly this woman is talented and skilled!

Well, I hope that by now you too are inspired to design and create.  Don't be afraid to at least try something.  You just might discover something you're really good, or really bad at, but at least you'll know.

If you need some inspiration the best place I can refer you to is Pinterest.  I will warn you that it can be overwhelming, addicting, and fun.  So, if you don't think you can handle it you might not want to look.

So, to all of you future DIYers, good luck and let your creativity shine!

Here's a peek at other projects by some of the featured diy-ers.

Diy shelves               

Diy Bed

 Leather Handles

For the Love of Fall

Wow! It's that time of the year..summer activities and vacations have ended, the kids are either back in school or getting ready to go back, and parents "normal" schedules can resume.  The hustle and bustle of summer are officially over.  And now begins the next phase of this year's planning...the Holidays!  Ahhhh!

Most bloggers are probably way ahead of me, but I'm in no rush.  Besides I don't have deadlines to meet, or endorses to please.  I do this for fun.

If you've walked into any store you've already seen the displays of the holiday merchandise, and based on what I've seen there's no respect to order.  It's all out there already.  But I'm a person of order and I like to enjoy each holiday as its own.  So I've decided to tackle one at a time, assuming I would tackle any more after this.  

Skipping over Halloween as it's not really a favorite of mine I'll just jump right in to a season, really, and not a holiday.  Fall is probably my most favorite of all four seasons, not that we get all four seasons in Chicago anyway.  This is the time of year that as mother nature's design palette changes mine does too.  I've always been driven by nature's rich and luxurious palette, but this year my more muted, neutral palette is getting the best of me.  Being unable to commit to either one I've decided to try and combine them but also to enjoy each one individually.

In my living room I have a neutral palette.  Its main colors are different shades of gray, blue, and yellow.  In my dining room it's a whole other world.  There's dark wood tones, greens, reds, yellows, and teal.  Talk about a mash up!  It's too expensive to change out but I make it work...sort of.

I've gathered some pictures (mostly from Pinterest) that will help me to decorate my home in working with these palettes.  

Let's begin with the living room and its more muted, neutral palette.  Here's what I found.

      

The last image is from: missmustardseed-fall-decorating which also includes the tutorial on how to paint pumpkins these gorgeous colors!

Other links are: www.the36thavenue.com

As beautiful as pumpkins are you may not find any natural colors that work with your color palette, so in this case it's time to DIY...get creative.  Paint them or decorate them to match your unique palette.

Here are some images of more traditional, nature inspired pumpkins and decor.

Here are the links from:

Honey We're Home Rustic Glam Fall Mantle
stonegableblog.com and it includes a tutorial on how to put it all together.
shelterness.com and several more wonderful ideas.

Now, for those of you who lack a palette, if you're style is more modern, with no definitive color I haven't forgotten about you.  

  

Here are the links from: 

Honey We're Home Pumpkins
cloudfront.net
www.lushome.com
meredith.com
alwaystheholidays.com

So go out there, get your pumpkins and start decorating.  Don't be afraid of mixing it up and creating your own style.  Get creative and find different ways of displaying them.  Also, go store hopping and see what you find.  Pier 1, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Home Goods/Marshalls/TJMaxx always have wonderful ceramic, metal or cloth pumpkins which bring a lot of style and fun to the home.

My favorite design trick is to layer, layer, layer.  If you notice all of these pictures include more than just pumpkins and are not limited to fall decor (for example the succulents).  

Enjoy fall.  Before you know it you'll be decorating for that other holiday.  

Disclaimer:  These images were sourced from Pinterest except where direct source links are provided.  Go ahead and click on the links and follow these wonderful bloggers/designers.


 
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