Latest Addiction: DIY Christmas Throw Pillows

Before I embarked on this project, my sofa throw pillows were hodge podge, at best. Seriously. One is a big square blue pillow that came from B’s last bedset, and the other is a crappy IKEA pillow that doesn’t even fill in the pillowcase. I’ve been progressively getting more irritated at seeing how awful they are.

I know doing pillow covers is so Sewing 101, but I never really paid attention to anything to home decor until recently. Since it’s the Christmas season, I thought having some awesome red and gold pillows would be festive! I followed this easy how-to to make these:

This project was 100% fun and gratifying because it took me around 40 minutes to make. All I had to do was choose fabric, trim, and the pillow form size. I swear I was so pleased with myself I kept hugging them. I foresee multiple sets for each season…If anyone knows of other easy home projects like this please let me know!

DIY: Mail Sorter/Holder

This craft project is inspired by my sister. One day last year, she came up with an interesting experiment that she tried for a month: Don’t buy anything made from China.

It’s always bothered the both of us that the US outsources the majority of product manufacturing in a country that is consistently guilty of tainting items from milk to toys to drywall. These everyday household items end up potentially harming or even killing people. Not to mention, it doesn’t help the economy to create jobs internationally, so her experiment was an effort to support American-made goods.

That discussion has stuck with me for the last year, and whenever I go shopping at Target, for example, I look carefully to see where the item was made. It takes me twice as long to shop, but just so you know, it’s totally possible to buy everything made in the US. In particuular, the Up&Up brand is American, and for some reason it’s more affordable than the name-brand made elsewhere.

This brings me to today’s project. I’ve been needing a simple letter/mail sorter for ages. My desk was beginning to look scary with all the old mail and bills that needed attention. I initially looked at OfficeMax, then Target, for this item. I found things that not only were expensive and made in China, but looked really easy to make. Sure enough, it didn’t take me long at all.

What’s more, once you get this down you can make other desk accessories – pencil/pen holders, file trays, etc. If you can measure, cut, and glue, you’re in good shape. Enjoy!

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The following steps make a 4″x11″-based sorter with three dividers spaced 1 inch apart.

Total time spent: around 1.5 hours

Materials:

• 2 12″x12″ Chipboard Sheets
• Liquid Glue for better reinforcemet
• Glue stick for flat surfaces
• Scissors
• Paper Cutter
• Bone Folder
• preferably a ruled cutting mat, but if not, a ruler
• 2 types of textured/patterned papers and/or cardstock, preferably coordinated. 1 will be used for the base, the other for the dividers; should be a total of 3 sheets measuring 12″x12″
• 1 small brayer, or something cylindrical

Step 1: Cut chipboard into the following pieces – the base, the back, middle, and front letter dividers.

Base measures 4″x 11″.

Back divider measures 3″x9″ (leaving an inch on either side)

Middle divider measures 2.5″x7.5″

Front divider measures 2″x6″

Step 1

Step 2 (optional): Create the trapezoid out of the three rectangular pieces of chipboard used as dividers.

This is optional since rectangular dividers are just fine. Measure an inch along the top from both the right and left sides. This ensures that your trapezoid won’t be lopsided. Draw a line from the bottom-right corner of the chipboard to the point one inch left of the top right corner. Repeat for the bottom-left corner to the point one inch to the right of the top left corner.

Step 2

What your dividers should look like after Step 2

Step 3: Cut the patterned papers to size

Step 3a: For the base, take the pattern that you want to use. Use the paper cutter to cut one piece measuring 5″x12″. Cut a second piece that measures 3.5″x 10.5″.

Step 3b: For the back divider (i.e. the largest one), take the second patterned paper and trace the divider onto it. Measure or estimate at least half an inch of white space around the outline and either draw onto the paper or freestyle cut, whichever you’re more comfortable. Then take the divider again and outline it again onto the patterned paper. This time cut exactly along the lines.

Larger pattern paper on the bottom, chipboard in the middle, smaller paper on top.

Step 3c: Repeat step 3b for the other two dividers.

Step 4: Cover the chipboard with the cut papers.

Step 4a: Take a divider (doesn’t matter which you pick). Run a glue stick over the chipboard and lay the it glue-side down onto the larger patterned paper. If you’ve drawn outlines it should go nicely between the lines.

Step 4b: Then, Using the bone folding knife, make creases along the edges of the LARGER piece of patterned paper. This will serve as the front side of the divider. Try to fold the corners of the paper edges as you would when wrapping a gift – no paper corners should be sticking out, and you should be able to glue down all four sides evenly, using the liquid glue.

Step 4c: Once all four sides have been glued, take the smaller patterned paper for this divider and run a glue stick on the backside. Place it neatly over the exposed chipboard side and run the brayer or cylindrical object over it to smoothly distribute the glue. The result should look something like this:

Steps 4a-4c

Repeat all of step 4 for the other two dividers and the base.

Folding the patterned paper for the base

Step 5: Glue the dividers onto the base.

Step 5a: Starting with the largest divider, line the bottom with liquid glue. Using the cutting mat grid (or a ruler), place it so that it is one inch from one edge of the base, and one inch from the sides. Press and hold firmly for a few minutes, and if glue comes out of the bottom, wipe with a dry paper towel.

Step 5b: Line the middle divider with glue and place it one inch from the back divider and equidistant from the sides of the base. Press and hold firmly for a few minutes. Repeat for the front divider.

Step 6: Allow the dividers to dry for 10-15 minutes.

Step 7: Enjoy your new mail/letter sorter!

DIY: Plantholder Makeover

Today’s project was to take as many of the leftover succulent wedding favors from my wedding and place them into one bigger plantholder.

photo credit: Sergio Mottola

I bought a standard terracotta one and thought it looked way too boring, so I decided to paint it with a turquoise acrylic. After a few coats and playing with dirt, voilà! A fancy plantholder!