DIY: Make Your Own Herringbone Art

Things I love:

Coasters
Unique Wall Decor
Multi-functioning Decor
Pinterest
Herringbone Style

...and this DIY combines them all!

I have this wonky bit of wall space in my office that I've been anxious about filling. On top of that want, I've also been really pumped about getting some coasters for the office. So, to Pinterest I went and it was there that I found a pin that linked me to A Teaspoon of Happiness and their post on DIY Canvas Art.

It is a very neat DIY inspired by ANOTHER pin of an expensive herringbone style painting. The DIY by A Teaspoon of Happiness had a very cute way of making their own painting with way less expense. I wanted to try it too!

What I used

4x4 wooden square 

Acrylic paints (from Hobby Lobby)

Washi Tape

Paintbrush

Since I wanted something that, depending on how I felt afterwards, would act as either a coaster or wall decor, I wanted to use a wooden square instead of a canvas.

What I did

First I got out about 6 - 8 different paint colors (some I altered by mixing together) and painted random splotches all over until the surface was covered completely.

Then I watched some HGTV while it all dried.

Next I took my washi tape and taped out a design. I didn't use a ruler because I had no patience for that, and just did the whole thing by eyeing it.

Then I took my white paint and painted the space in between the tape. I did two coats. 

After it was dry I removed the tape!

Since I was working with such a small space I decided only to white out one block with my white paint. 

I have to say that I am pretty pumped with the outcome! I'm still on the fence about making it a coaster or wall art! I think I'll go ahead and do some ombre paintings on two other squares I have!

We shall see!

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Infusing YOU into your Space

During college I lived in a dorm for three years and then a tiny, CO-ed apartment for the last one. During those years I wasn't dreaming about my dream home or even what that might look like. I had enough sense to know that I wouldn't be living it up in my customized home space as soon as I got my diploma. Since then I have lived in about four different spaces (some very small, some not so much) and I've pinned over 1,000 pins onto my #hgtv board marking tons of spaces I like.

Now I live in a space that is beautiful. However, it's missing a big chunk of me. The pins I see of finished spaces that I love inspire me and, at the same time, frustrate me. I don't have the money or ability to take this existing space I'm in and make it have boatloads of old and new character. I just can't drop everything and paint the walls gray, pick an accent color, run it through the entire house, build my dream wall-to-wall bookcase, make a crafting isle in the office, change all of the light fixtures and magically make everything hardwood. First of all, I don't have the money for that. Secondly, it truly is a beautiful house and I'm not the only one who lives in it. Just because I have endless ideas about how I would like the house to look doesn't mean I should do an overhaul.

I want my dream space but, right now, that just isn't going to happen.

So, where do I go from here?

Baby steps, people! Sneaky, baby steps!

Start small and buy pieces of art or functional accents to make your space feel special and more like you. It may not bring that room into dream status but it will help you feel happy! If you don't want to purchase any odds or ends, then make your own!

That's what I did with these two succulent planters!

You see, the large window in the bathroom is beautiful. However, it always felt like it was missing something. I'm a lover of succulents so I immediately thought that putting a few there would make all the difference, but I didn't want to buy any. I wanted to make them!



I had an old spray paint cap that I washed out and took a hammer to the inside to clear out the bits of plastic that were standing up. I had to be careful though so I wouldn't crack the cap's outer plastic. I removed the succulent from its plastic container and then BAM! done.

I love love love playing with clay and thought it would be neat to make a mini vase for succulent number two. I made it with oven-bake clay (a clay planter DIY coming soon!) and made sure to seal it up tight.  I made it taller but skinner than the spray paint cap to give some diversity to the coupling.

As of right now, I left the clay the color that it was. I plan on painting it later in the week!

It's not a huge room makeover. It's barely an addition. However, these two self-made planters make all the difference for me in this space.  

Remember, you may not have your dream space yet but you're almost there! (See what I did there?!) Work with what you have but don't just give up if what you have isn't a lot. Beautiful things aren't always found in stores or with big price tags!

So have fun with your space!

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

DIY: Tissue Bow Ties

I'm not going to lie to you, folks. I was originally going for something like this for today's DIY. Saint Patty's is so close that I wanted a DIY or two that could jive with parties you may be going to or throwing. A green and black bow tie necklace seemed like a fun thing to try. WELL, I didn't make them as pretty as Oh Happy Day but I did do the whole trial-and-error thing and now know how to make little tissue bow ties. 

Why would I ever need to know how to do that? Because, come on, having more crafty things in my crafty arsenal is always a plus!

What you need

Tissue Paper

String

Tacky Glue

Scissors

What to do

First, cut off a square of tissue paper. Then fold the paper fan-style, accordian-style, whichever way it's called. Pinch the middle and use a little scrap of tissue to wrap around it. Before your wrap put a dab of glue on each side to hold the paper in place.

If you want to make a necklace or garland then put some glue on the back of your bow tie and let it sit against your string. 

DONE!

What did I do wrong? Why isn't it so pretty and all of that jazz? I made my folds too thick and the middle strip just as thick so it looked odd. Then, realizing what I had done, I made the folds and strips that tied the middle together smaller. I quite like the way they look now. Trial-and-error, peeps! 

You can see the difference between the thicker ones and the thinner ones. I'm going to make new necklaces this week that will be prettier. In the end I'm happy I did this DIY because now I can make cute little bow ties! Who doesn't geek out about that?

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)