Krafty Karina: 2014

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Magazine Holder Shelf

Looking for an affordable shelf that also doubles for storage? This simple DIY will hold your family pictures AND your magazines for only about $15 at the most!

What you'll need:
-Wooden magazine holder (about $5.99)
-Wood stain (about $7.77)
-Clear finish
-Cloth/foam brush/bristle brush
-Sandpaper 120 grit up to 220 grit
-Screws
-Drill

How to do it:

First read what the wood stain says and if it has any special directions, be sure to follow them. If not, just follow these instructions. If the wood isn't already smooth, you may need to sand it starting with a 120 grit and working your way to a 220 grit. Next you will open your wood stain and start applying it to the magazine holder. The longer you let it sit, the darker the wood will stain so I suggest that you wipe it with a clean rag following the grain as soon as possible MAKE SURE NOT TO LET THE STAIN DRY! .

Once the magazine holder is dry, simply attach it to the wall and enjoy!

I got this idea from Pinterest and did some research on how to create this. I am not the first person to think of this so I have no ownership. I simply made this blog to help others with their DIY projects!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Painting Hack

Hey guys! So, this one isn't really a DIY, but it is an interesting tip that I wanted to share with you. If you're painting walls and want to add texture, use a wet broom and run it down the walls.

What you need:
-Paint
-Paint roller
-Broom
-Water

What you need to do:
First, use the paint roller to paint the walls (as if you were just painting the wall normally). Next, get the broom wet and drag it down the still wet paint, creating this texture on the walls. Let the paint dry and then admire your beautiful new walls!

Wall Pockets

Need more organization but have little space? Save some room by using this quick and simple DIY organization project!

What you will need:
-Wooden bowls
-Saw
-Wood (either a strip or a board)
-Super glue
-Short nails (depending on thickness of wood)
-Hammer
-Paint

Steps:
First you need to cut the bowls in half, I suggest placing the bowls upside down in order to cut them. Do your best to cut them perfectly in half so that they fit on the board properly. Next, paint your wood if you haven't already. It doesn't matter if you use white or a bright color. After the paint is dried, figure out how you want the pockets placed - either in a row or staggered across the board. Make sure to measure the distance between the pockets so that they are even and look nice - I suggest marking the spots just to be on the safe side. Now all you have to do is put super glue on the back side of the bowls and attach them to the board, if you feel as if these pockets need to be secured a bit more, let the glue dry then use the short nails and hammer to nail the pockets to the wood from the back - I would do this anyway, just to be on the safe side. Once the pockets are finished, simply hang them up on a wall or whatever you want to do with them! Then use them to hold earrings, hair ties, lip gloss, hair pins, paperclips, thumb tacks, nails, screws, wing-nuts, or any other small items that you need storage for!

Moss Graffiti

Again, something cool I found on Pintrest! (Also, I've been getting emails asking if I sell the DIY's that I show on this blog. Comment your ideas below because I'm not sure if I should...) Okay so this entry is about how to make moss art, which isn't necessarily a DIY project, but it IS a project that you can do and it looks really cool. (Also remember to email me at krafty.karina.blog@gmail.com to submit your questions, suggestions, and ideas!)

Here's what you need:

-Moss (estimate about "3 handfuls")

-Water

-Measuring cup

-Blender

-Water-retention gel

-Buttermilk (I also heard you can use Mayo but I'm not sure)

-Timer

-Bucket or bowl

-Paintbrush

-Spray bottle

What you need to do:

First, get out your blender and get it ready for use. Now "crumble" and add in your "3 handfuls" of moss, 3 cups of water, 120 mL of buttermilk, and 2 tsp of your gel. Now put the lid on your blender and pulse for 2-5 minutes (until the gel forms/sets up). Now that this is done, pour your mixture into a bucket or bowl and go outside to the wooden or concrete wall that you want the moss to grow on. Now take out your paintbrush and dip it into the mixture, making sure to keep it neat when you paint because the moss will grow. Now just remember to mist your moss painting once every week and watch it grow!

Flower Pot

So again, I found a cool post on Pintrest and couldn't find very good directions on how to do this DIY project, so here I am, walking you through how to make this beautiful flowerpot!

What you'll need:
-A large can or metal pail
-Tile adhesive
-Non-sanded grout
-A similar looking back-splash (or a bunch of small rocks if you want to make it difficult)
-Putty knife
-Mixing cup or bowl (will probably get ruined so I suggest a takeout cup)
-Paint mixing stick
-Sponge

What you need to do:

First off, you will need to apply the tile adhesive to the large metal bucket/can/pail/etc that you chose, using your putty knife. Before you allow the adhesive to dry, either attach the back-splash you chose (or the stones that you picked out) around the soon-to-be flower pot. If you are using stones instead of a back-splash, make sure you choose a pattern you like and space them about 1/4 of an inch apart or just make sure there are gaps between them for the next step.

Once your back-splash or stones are on and your tile adhesive is dried, you need to follow the directions on your non-sanded grout. Once the grout is ready, use a clean putty knife to apply it over the back-splash or stones(jeeze that seems repetitive!) make sure you have an even layer of grout around the flower pot and that there are no gaps. Refer to the grout's directions on when to use your damp sponge to clean off the access grout from the surface.

Once you are done cleaning the access grout, let the grout dry completely. After it's dry, I suggest drilling a hole in the bottom of the pot to allow extra water to run out as to not drown your plant. Once this is done, put in soil and a plant and viola! You now have a beautiful flower pot!

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Envelope Clutch

So I saw this on Pintrest and thought it was really cool so I decided to share it with you! All you will need for this is:
-Sewing Machine, sewing needle, and thread
-Leather (or vinyl)
-Fabric (colorful!)
-Sharp scissors or Xacto knife
-Clasp (Button stud)
-Marker
-Ruler

What to do:

First you need to find 11 and 1/2 inches by 23 inches of your leather (or vinyl - depending on personal preference). After this, you will need to find your favorite color fabric and get it cut to 8 and 1/4 inches by 11 and 1/2 inches.

Now that you have your materials ready, you will need to cut the leather to match the diagram above. Here is how you should make your cuts: make sure you don't cut the pieces apart, the point is to make it one large piece! Get out a marker or Sharpie (etc) and turn the leather so it's laying on it's front. Use the marker to plot out a 8 and 1/4 inch by 11 and 1/2 inch rectangle that connects to a 8 and 1/4 inch by 11 and 1/2 inch triangle on the bottom side and on the top it should connect to a 1 and 1/2 inch by 11 and 1/4 inch rectangle that also connects to a 5 inch by 11 and 1/2 inch triangle. Sounds confusing? Refer to the chart above for the diagram!

Once you cut the leather out, you will look at your fabric. Depending on how it was cut, you will use your sewing machine to be sure that the bottom (11 and 1/2 inch part) and both sides (8 and 1/4 inch parts) are closed up. You only want one of the 11 and 1/2 inch sides open.

After you finish those steps, you get to begin putting the leather and fabric together! First, lay the leather face down and then place the fabric on top of it so that its over the leather's rectangle. The 8 and 1/4 inch triangle should be below the bottom of the fabric (where you either sewed it shut or it was connected.). Your next step is to fold the triangle up and over the fabric. You may need to use a needle to hand sew the triangle onto the fabric (only ONE side of the fabric though, remember the fabric is the pouch, the leather is the decoration!). Once the triangle is sewed to the fabric, use your ruler to measure for the center of the pouch going side to side. After this, measure about 4 and 1/2 inches up from the bottom and use your Xacto to make a hole for the clasp. Now attach the part of the clasp that sticks out (the bottom piece of the clasp).

Now you will need to use your sewing machine to sew up one side of the leather and fabric, along the top triangle of the leather, and back down the other side of the leather and fabric. Finish sewing and then prepare for the next part, again, you may have to hand sew depending on how good you are with maneuvering a sewing machine. For this step, all you will do is sew the top part of the fabric (only one side) that side being the same side that you sewed the first leather onto (the 8 and 1/4 inch triangle).

After this, you will fold the loose leather triangle over (following the diagram above) and it will cover the clasp. You will use your Xacto knife to cut a slit over the stud and make sure it allows you to open and close properly. I suggest that you now enforce the slit by sewing around it.

Now all you have to do is place your papers, tablet, or any other object you please and you will now have a laptop holder, a folder for your college papers or recipes, or anything else!