Posts Tagged ‘instructions’

Quick and Cute

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

I just finished a quick and very satisfying little project. I was buying some moulding for another project when I stumbled across several bins of wooden furniture feet at Home Depot. I thought that they would make really fun candle holders, and if you don’t count primer and paint drying time, they only took about half an hour to whip up.

I already had most of the materials needed for this project, but I did have to buy a 3/4″ woodboring drill bit and some paint. For less than $25, I was able to add a punch of color to my summer table setting.

I went for a bold and glossy yellow, but you could use any color or how about silver leaf. They could even be embellished with furniture tacks. There were a few styles of furniture feet to choose from, and I’m thinking my next set will be for tea lights. If you want to make some too, you can download the instructions here.

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Over the Shoulder Vegetable Holder

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

I asked Stephanie to help me with a little project this week. I made a few new market bags for toting my goodies from the farm co-op, and I wanted to embellish them with fabric appliques. Stephanie whipped up 4 great designs for me to choose from, and I couldn’t narrow them down to one or two so I used them all.

I made 2 bags, one is a backpack and the other is a tote. The tote is really simple to make, you can download the instructions here. I’m still working out some kinks in my backpack pattern, so I’ll post those instructions after a few tweaks. If you don’t want to make a bag from scratch you can always add the appliques to any bag that you happen to have. They are very easy to apply, just a few quick steps:

    1. Download the applique designs here and print.

    2. Trace the designs onto double-sided fusible web (I recommend “Steam-A-Seam 2″ because it is washable). Remember to trace the applique in reverse of how you want it to appear on your bag.

    3. Follow the directions on the fusible web package to adhere the web to the applique fabric.

    4. Cut out the applique and follow the fusible web directions for adhering it to the bag.

I’m really pleased with how the bags turned out, and they look great with the purse that my husband and daughter gave me for Mother’s Day!

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Are you board?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009


I’ve been wanting to make one of these boards that I saw in Martha Stewart Living for a long time.

{image from Martha Stewart}

{image from Martha Stewart}

It’s made out of homasote, which is a sound-proofing material made mostly out of post-consumer recycled paper. After a few unsuccessful trips, I figured out that you can’t get this board from the large chain hardware stores. Homasote is actually a brand name, and their website can help you track down a local supplier. Here in richmond, I found the board at Siewers. It comes in 4×8 foot sheets for about $25, and I decided to go ahead and use the whole board (Siewers said they will cut it down for a small fee).

I covered the board in charcoal grey linen and used a cream grosgrain ribbon to create the lattice pattern. I’m really happy with the finished board.

{my finished homasote board}

{my finished homasote board}

It’s the perfect place to display these pictures that I’ve been meaning to frame for a while now. I’m also using it to brainstorm a new color scheme for my family room.

If you want to make your own,here is how I made this one.

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With a Flourish

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

My mom taught me how to make these ribbon flowers when I was little, but I haven’t made them in ages. I wrapped a gift for a friend recently, and thought the package needed something extra and remembered these little flowers. It was the perfect addition and was really fun to do. I whipped up several of them to keep in my ribbon stash for future gifts.

If you want to make some, you can download the instructions here.

Here’s another quick flourish you can add to your packages.

{ink and paper flowers}

{ink and paper flowers}

Urban nest’s very own Stephanie is the designer behind ink and paper’s stylish gift wrap, stationery and greeting cards. Stephanie recently filled a Richmond art gallery’s window with these paper flowers that she made out of ink and paper’s gift wrap. She used 3 layers of flower cut outs held together by a brad. She added a floral wire to the leaf so she could bend them into an organic shape and used the wire to attach an alligator clip – that makes them perfect to clip on to a present!

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Here’s to scraps!

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

In my sewing room, I have an entire dresser full of fabric that I have collected over the years. I have a habit of picking up a yard here and half a yard there without knowing how I’m going to use it, just because I love the colors or pattern. My favorite project to put these bits of fabric to use is making napkins. Cocktail napkins, in particular, are perfect for scraps of fabric, because you only need a 12 inch square to make a cocktail napkin, and a set does not need to match. In fact, I really like a mixed set of cocktail napkins with coordinating colors and patterns, like these I recently made out of fabric designed by one of my favorites, Joel Dewberry.

I’ve given these as house warming gifts with a pretty cheese board and as hostess gifts with a bottle of wine. Not only do they make a perfect gift, switching from paper napkins to fabric napkins is good for the environment. You can download the instructions for this quick project here.

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Cereal Box Storage Bins

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

I have been wanting to use Mod Green Pod fabric in my house for some time now. Have you seen their cool fabric and wallpaper lines? Their fabrics are woven and printed in the US on 100% certified organic cotton that is also grown in the US – how’s that for supporting our economy.

I decided that some funky, colorful storage bins were just the ticket. I really wanted these bins to be as “green” as I could make them, so I brainstormed with my fellow urban-nesters, as we often do, to find a way to construct these by repurposing something from around the house. We came up with cereal box panels inside a fabric slipcover. Now I have some bright new bins in my project room.

{my new storage bins in action}

{my new storage bins in action}

If you’d like to make your own, you can download the instructions for the large bin here. Happy sewing!

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