How to Make Your Own Adventure (Sign)

Don’t you love when projects you decide to make and complete in 10 minutes turn out better than you could have ever expected? That’s what happened when I made this “adventure” sign. It’s just a piece of particleboard I found in a dresser drawer (for another DIY project that’s in the works,) some leftover Miss Mustard Seed milk paint in ironstone (from that same previous project,) and chalkboard paint. Making this simple sign couldn’t have been easier. I brushed on a swipe of milk paint and let it dry. I wanted that distressed look, so it didn’t matter that I didn’t have enough paint left to completely cover the board. Convenient! Then, I freehand drew “adventure” on the board using a pencil and then went over it with a small paintbrush and chalkboard paint. If you’re not comfortable freehanding the lettering, search “adventure sign” on Pinterest for some typography ideas. This simple DIY sign project cost next-to nothing and truly did turn trash into treasure. I was about to throw this piece of board into the fire pit when inspiration hit and I knew I could transform it into a fun sign. Lately, I’ve noticed I’m starting to gravitate...

Mason Jar Oil Lamp

Get ready for spring with this make-your-own mason jar oil lamp. Great for the patio or deck, this mason jar oil lamp is a pretty way to light up your outdoor space—and keep the bugs away. It’s a fun project to get in the mood for spring! This mason jar oil lamp tutorial includes step-by-step instructions for assembling your mason jar oil lamp and tips for buying the right supplies. I had a hard time finding the correct supplies to actually get this mason jar oil lamp to work. Lucky you! I’ve worked out all of the kinks for you. I came up with this project when tasked with producing a mason jar-themed craft for the March 2016 issue of VintageKC magazine. As I researched for this project, I found that many of the mason jar oil lamp tutorials out there don’t provide a lot of instructions. Or, I couldn’t replicate their mason jar oil lamps at all. I tried many different combinations using olive oil, canola oil and multiple different types of wicks, and my mason jar oil lamp would only burn for a few seconds. My lack of success made me wonder about the reliability of the tutorials....

Featured on Better Kansas City: May 2015

This morning, I was invited to demonstrate how to make wall art using embroidery hoops on Better Kansas City, a local lifestyle T.V. show on KCTV5. This is the second time I’ve gotten to showcase a project on Better Kansas City! I like to show easy do-it-yourself projects that anyone can make. Requiring just fabric, embroidery hoops and scissors, this project is about as easy as it gets. Watch how to make fabric embroidery hoop art below. KCTV 5 Do you think the T.V. segment went well? My favorite part of this project is that it’s so easy-to-change. I’m always moving items around my house and rearranging the furniture, so what I love so much is that as soon as you get tired of the fabric, just change it! I hope that came across. T.V. is a different medium than I’m used to, but I like how it offers an opportunity to show projects in a more hands-on way. Related articles: Published in VintageKC Magazine: Winter 2014 My Column in VintageKC Magazine: Fall 2014 Published in VintageKC Magazine!...

DIY Tiered Tray: 5 Different Ways

This tiered tray is one of my favorite do-it-yourself projects ever because of its simplicity—and its dramatic end result. Making your own tiered tray is about as easy as it gets. You simply glue two plates to opposite ends of a candlestick holder using adhesive glue. That’s really it! For full instructions, check out my original tiered tray stand, or watch this video where I explain how to make a tiered tray on Better Kansas City, a local lifestyle T.V. show on KCTV5 in Kansas City. What you’ll need: – Two plates (one large, one small) – One candlestick holder – Adhesive glue (I use Amazing Goop, which you can find at craft stores.) Use plates you already own or check thrift stores and secondhand shops. Finding cute plates at secondhand stores is really easy. I had a fun time shopping around for different options to show you. Since it’s springtime, I went in search of floral plates and I love the different ones I found. There’s a lot you can do with a tiered tray. Here are a five different variations! 1. Mismatched tray stand This is actually my favorite tiered tray stand look. Mix-n-match two plates that don’t have the...

IKEA Hack: Curtain Wire to Photo Display

Displaying a lot of photos in one area isn’t always easy. Especially if you have to mess with frames. And hanging those frames. And then making sure those frames are level and lined up. Clearly I’m not too good at hanging art on the wall. (I’m not.) That’s why I love this IKEA hack. You just hang this curtain wire (it takes three screws on each side) and clip up photos instead of drapes. And if you’re none-too-handy with the drill, I’m sure your significant other, sibling, parent, friend etc. will enjoy drilling a few screws into the wall more than hanging a bunch of framed photos. Don’t get me wrong, I love photo collages and gallery walls, but they take a lot of time and effort. I wanted something quick and easy to add a bit of pizzazz above my dining room table and this IKEA hack did just that. I really like square photos right now. Blame it on Instagram. I printed all of these photos from an app called PostalPix. The photo display probably should have been moved a bit lower, but I’m living with it. (Psst. Want to get the look of this IKEA hack for even cheaper?...

Easy Recycled Boot Shapers (Using Wine Bottles!)

Easy Recycled Boot Shapers (Using Wine Bottles!) | redleafstyle.com

Boot shapers help keep your boots looking good. When your tall boots slump over, it wears them down. Not to mention that your slouchy boots take up valuable space in your closet when they don’t stand up straight. But you don’t need to buy store-bought boot shapers. Get your shoes organized and add storage space to your closet when you use wine bottles (yes, wine bottles!) to help hold your boots’ shape. Empty wine bottles are the perfect size to slip into your boots to keep them standing tall. You can also try beer bottles for shorter boots. Just dig through your recycle bin and see what you have. That’s what I did! Now my shoes look much more organized. If you don’t have enough wine bottles, well it’s a good excuse to get drinking isn’t it? What do you think? Would you use wine bottles to keep your boots upright? Do you have any other tricks to maintain your boots’ shape? Keep up with Red Leaf Style! Follow Red Leaf Style author Kirsten Hudson on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest....

Wooden Chair Makeover: After

Remember this wooden chair I found in a pile of garage sale leftovers bound for the trash? The chair just needed a little bit of a makeover to transform it into one pretty piece. One leg was a bit cracked, but I  fixed that with some wood glue. (You can’t even tell it was ever broken.) And, the yellow cushion had seen better days. That was the bulk of the transformation. I just recovered the cushion using a staple gun and a pretty piece of linen I found at an estate sale. It barely took any work because I just covered over the fabric that was already on the cushion. I didn’t even have to take anything apart. In case you missed it, here’s the before pic: And, here’s the after: Don’t ever let a chair cushion that’s stained or in an ugly fabric deter you from getting a chair you love. Many times the cushion is easily removable and you can recover it yourself. Recovering this cushion took me about 15 minutes. P.S. I got this adorable ethnic pillow cover in Portland, Oregon. What do you think of the chair? Do you like the transformation? Keep up with...