Table of contents for Winter 2013 in Do It Yourself

Projects, Tools, and Inspiration PS: Find Do It Yourself™ when and where it’s most convenient for you! Check out BHG.com/DIYDigital to find editions of the magazine for your tablet, laptop, or mobile device. Free holiday guide! Download our bonus Do It Yourself holiday e-book. It’s packed with ideas for decor, gift wrap, entertaining, and more. BHG.com/DIYHolidayBook Crafting cheer Make something special for everyone on your list using this collection of handmade holiday gift ideas as your inspiration. BHG.com/DIYGifts Easy as 1-2-3 Personalize your pad with nine pretty accents. Follow the instructions for faux mercury glass, fabric rosettes, and more. BHG.com/DIYProjects Pillow talk Get comfy by whipping up a collection of simple-sew pillows. BHG.com/DIYPillows…

Carved cravings Give your personal stamp of approval to gift cards, tags, and bags with the Carve-a-Stamp kit. Create two custom stamps with a rubber block blank on front and back, a multiblade carving knife, an ink pad, and 25 image templates. $30 for kit, $5 for extra ink pads; yellowowlworkshop.com. $6 for six muslin gift bags; paper-source.com Stuff We Love 1. Fly the nest Even beginners can stitch a flock of these festive felt ornaments in a flash. The kit includes templates, needles, a fabric marker, and enough wool felt and embroidery thread to sew 16 ornaments. Available in assorted shades of red, green, pink, or blue. $45; purlsoho.com 2. Bound beauty Take note of moments momentous or minor in a hand-bound journal. Created to your specifications from recycled…

secret garden Put creativity in the hands of the receiver with gifts they make themselves. You gather the supplies and download and print the instructions and a cute label from BHG.com/DIYGiftKits; your recipients do the rest. Help a green thumb or novice gardener combat the winter blues with a simple hanging terrarium. Include an air plant, moss, soil, and rocks. A plastic animal adds a whimsical touch. The terrarium can be assembled in less than an hour and enjoyed indoors year-round. forest friends So simple even a beginner can make them, these felt animals will delight kids and grown-ups alike. Choose 1.8-yard lengths of felt in several colors. Use our free downloadable template to cut out shapes from the felt. Put the shapes for each animal in a separate bag.…

You can safely describe a home as a “small space” when the homeowners talk in inches rather than feet. “We joke that it’s a game of inches in this home,” Kim Vargo says. “Scott and I are both kind of obsessive-compulsive. I’ll move a chair 3 inches in one direction, and then I’ll notice him moving the same chair.” Adds husband Scott, “We measure distances by floor planks as in ‘one more board to the left.’ Placement of things really does comes down to feet and inches, and more often than not it’s inches that make all the difference.” The Vargos share their 675-square-foot condo in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood with cats Libby and Maddie and dog Jack. The residence also serves as home base for Kim’s painting and printing…

The lifestyle changes a baby brings can require reconfiguration at home. This couple juggled a remodeling budget balanced atop the need for stroller, car seat, and crib. Homeowners Laura Martino and John Tiff any knew the bathroom in their 1964 Des Moines home needed an update —preferably before the arrival of their first child. “We were hoping for a light and airy feeling to the room while keeping it functional for our growing family,” Laura says. “And I love a mix of rustic and modern, so we were hoping to bring that vibe into the room as well.” The couple called their designer friend Katie Leporte, who drew up a makeover plan that incorporated the salvage look they love plus a fresh palette built on a white foundation—all on a…

What we did ... OPPOSITE: Fresh fiber treatments introduce instant warmth to this dining room through a table runner, vases, even a lacy lampshade. With the right materials and our step-by-step how-to, you’ll pick up the skills in no time. This project uses wool slivers—a form of roving in fluffy unspun fibers flexible enough to work into almost any shape. Raw wool is combed, washed, and carded, then twisted to form roving. how to felt a lattice table runner What you’ll need: Plastic sheet for work surface Merino wool slivers, 8–10 ounces Dawn brand liquid dish soap Plastic squirt bottle Towel Matchstick blind Kitchen plastic wrap step 1 Cover your work surface with plastic sheet. Use your fingers to pull small sections of wool slivers into long ropes. step 2…

Handmade Holidays Holiday season always finds me combing my favorite mags, blogs, and Pinterest for unique gift ideas that don’t involve impersonal plastic cards or frigid forays through mall parking lots. If you’re like me, you’ll dig our feature on how to create handmade gift kits (page 34), perfect for any crafty gal or guy on your list. Here’s how it works: You assemble the pieces in a pretty package. The recipient not only gets the cool gift (wine stoppers, a hip blanket, a terrarium), but also gets the pleasure of putting the pieces together. Totally fun. We also show you plenty of fresh ways to personalize your home for any holiday soiree, be it a comfy family get-together or a grown-up dinner party. In “Natural Glow,” page 8, tiny…

What we did ... THIS PHOTO: A striking alternative to traditional beaded board, wainscoting fashioned from yardsticks offers one-of-a-kind architectural charm. Use 1-inch medium-density fiberboard or desired wood for vertical stiles, cap, and base. We cut our base to 6 inches wide and nailed it in place. Next we trimmed and sanded all yardsticks to the exact same length, and cut our 4-inch-wide vertical stiles to that length as well. Then we nailed 12–14 yardsticks to the wall above the baseboard, followed by a vertical stile, then more yardsticks, vertical stile, and so on. To finish, we topped with a 4-inch horizontal board, then a 1×2-inch cap. Varnish if desired. TIP: Depending on condition and character, expect to pay $1–$4 each for yardsticks at flea markets and antiques stores. Or…

What we did ... THIS PHOTO: Begging to be touched, lace doesn’t have to be fussy or fancy, project designer Katie Leporte says. These projects combine geometric patterns with hardware, thrift, and crafts store finds. Painted pegboard stitched with satin cording becomes a subtle headboard (see instructions, page 49). Pillows pile on texture with layered lace trim. Gauzy curtain panels pop with punchy doilies and a bronze-color remnant at the hem. Bright blooms shine in a stenciled vase. How to Create a Pegboard Headboard What you’ll need: Pegboard Interior latex paint Paintbrush or roller Satin cording (We used white and cream.) Large-eye needle Screws step 1 Measure the width of your bed, then cut pegboard to size. Or have it cut at the hardware store. Gather your materials (a). step…

1 Pet project Put these pillow pets where they love to lounge: the sofa. You can choose a pillow from the selection at Broder Press or have the company make a custom pillow from your own pet’s photo. $40–$80; shannonbroder.etsy.com 2. Camera ready Kim Vargo’s first camera was too precious to part with so she painted it white and displayed it on her shelf. These retro instamatic cameras painted in bright hues take the same idea and give it pop art appeal. $20 for one camera; retropops.etsy.com 3. Show Off In a small space, take advantage of vertical space with a shelving unit that stretches to the ceiling. The Sloane media stand hides boring black boxes (DVD player, receiver) while leaving plenty of space to show off books and other…

Insta-art THIS PHOTO and OPPOSITE: Put your favorite photos in perspective with this easy frame project. Print your photos to 4×4 inches or cut them to size. (We used printstagram.com to print smartphone photos.) Cut a piece of plywood to 12×16 inches or 16×20 inches, depending on how large you’d like the frame. Use a hot-glue gun to adhere shims to the plywood, starting at the bottom and leaving an opening just slightly larger than 4×4 inches for the photo. Cut shims to fit on either side of the photo by scoring with a crafts or utility knife and snapping or by using a rotary cutter. Cover shims with tinted wood stain, let dry, and secure the photo in place with adhesive dots. Parquet play THIS PHOTO: Anchor your bedroom…

What we did ... THIS PHOTO: Grace your table with a lush, living centerpiece that will be easier to arrange and last longer than cut flowers. Fit a watertight tray with wet-type floral foam, then carve out planting pockets for small ferns and other little houseplants, votive candles, and silvery baubles (sprayed with mirror paint to mimic mercury glass). Fill in with bits of preserved moss. OPPOSITE: For the holidays, add sparkle to the arrangement with glitter-tipped allium seed heads. What we did ... THIS PHOTO: When impending frost spells an end to the garden, set up a window box indoors and make a living cornucopia. Wrap a wooden planter with velvet. Add plants that are widely available in late fall and early winter: flowering cabbages, pansies, dwarf evergreens, and…

Natural Glow Shimmer and shine ABOVE: Lighting sets the tone for a party. These sparkling tea lights illuminate guests’ sense of wonder. To make your own, spray a light mist of water into a glass holder (a). Working inside the glass only, spray a light layer of metallic gold paint over the water beads, leaving the glass slightly translucent. Let dry, then add a layer of gold glitter spray (b). When the candle burns, the glitter twinkles inside, and the outside looks like matte gold mercury glass. OPPOSITE: A white pumpkin scooped out to make room for a small vase of flowers makes for a serene centerpiece. Prop it atop a slice of wood, bark intact. “Using natural materials with a contrast of unexpected sparkle evokes comfort while celebrating the…

craft control Team DIY Pamela Porter My favorite solution for containing crafting clutter is to repurpose soup cans and salsa jars. I dress them in pretty wrapping or scrapbook papers, then nestle them into drawers and arrange on shelves in my studio. These thrifty vessels hold every small scrap, finding, and notion you can imagine! Whether your crafting haven is crammed in the basement corner, shares space with a guest room or office, or occupies a spacious spot, it can easily get overtaken by crafting essentials unless you keep them in check like this station, opposite, does with a memo board, cubbies, drawers, and proper places for paper and pencils. 1. It’s a wrap A variety of pockets, a zipper pouch, and belt loops that keep it from sagging make…

1 Love out loud Spell it like you mean it. Beautiful in your boudoir or lovely for the living room, this neutral pillow appliquéd with vintage French lace complements any decor and style. It also makes a sweet gift for the holidays or a wedding. $41; fluturi.etsy.com 2. Set to impress Add frill and fun to your next dinner party with these vinyl place mats. Stunning whether paired with allwhite plates or combined with bold colors, they are versatile and easy to clean. $1.95; patinastores.com 3. Film Add privacy without sacrificing style. Adhesive window film by UK designer Emma Jeffs sticks to any smooth, clean surface—think windows, doors, mirrors, even showers (the product is immune to moisture). Best of all, it won’t damage your surface when you’re ready for a…

How to Apply Metal Leaf What you’ll need: Metal leaf kit (we used the basic Speedball Mona Lisa gold leaf kit) that includes: Adhesive Sealer 51/2-inch-square sheets of imitation gold leaf Paintbrush Optional: gentle cleanser, fine-grit sandpaper, thin cotton gloves step 1 Clean and/or sand the surface to be embellished. Porous surfaces may need to be sealed before you apply metal leaf. step 2 Brush on adhesive in a smooth coat in desired design (a), and let dry just until tacky. step 3 Apply metal leaf. Because sheets of metal leaf are very thin and tear easily, consider wearing smooth cotton gloves. Gently smooth the leaf over areas of adhesive (b). step 4 Smooth wrinkles with your fingers or a clean, dry paintbrush. Discard unused leaf. Apply clear sealer to…

how to dye and cut linen panels What you’ll need: Linen fabric Acrylic crafts paint (We used red and yellow.) Medium-size tub Measuring spoons Large spoon Iron step 1 Gather your materials (a). Customize your fabric dye by mixing different combinations of paint and water—the more paint you add, the more saturated the color (b). Begin with a small amount, about 1 tablespoon of paint per gallon of water. We made five colors by mixing various strengths and combinations of red and yellow. step 2 Mix the dye well with a large spoon. Paint will clump if it sits, so give your dye a thorough stir right before you start working with the fabric. step 3 Dip scraps of linen in the dye to test your color. Adjust saturation as…

Cute&cozy photographs JAY WILDE 1. Personal shopper Every trip to the grocer will be more enjoyable with this soft market bag (available in a variety of colors). $55; thesecondfiddle.etsy.com 2. Cuddle up Grab a good book and enjoy a quiet winter evening near the warm glow of a knitted lampshade cover. $26.50; lavenderhillknits.etsy.com 3. Peek-a-whoo The playful owl designs on these fingerless gloves warm the spirit—and your hands. $33.75; yarncrazygirl.etsy.com 4. Hug for your hands You’ll never want to let go of your latte when it’s dressed in a cup cuddler (available in more than a dozen colors and patterns). $14; kljmayfield9.etsy.com 5. Made with love Thrift store sweaters are given new life as warm, indulgent mittens. $30; graytreegoods.etsy.com 6. Toasty tootsies Add handcrafted texture to your home with this…