Creations by Kate

Click on the picture for MakingItLovely instructions

One of the things I've been meaning to do, and can now check off my Summer 2012 bucket-list, is jewelry making. I love the look of statement necklaces but can never justify spending so much money on them . . . Solution? Make my own! I first came across this look on makingitlovely.com but made some adjustments to make this necklace my own. The necklace was so easy to make and only took me about 30 minutes. Below is my finished necklace 

(I used the same beads as MakingItLovely -- sorry for the weird coloring)

I have many more jewelry ideas for this Summer and will continue to post pictures of my creations! 

Crafty Coolers

Painted coolers are essential for college social events. Wether it's for a mountain weekend, horserace, or just to chill your favorite drinks- theres no doubt these coolers are works of art. Here are some pictures of a cooler I made for a fraternity formal. 

Some tips for making the perfect cooler:

1. Start by priming the cooler. Many cooler are colored so this will not only help the paint to stick but also give you a good base. 

2. Instead of free-handing all the designs, try tracing. Your lines will be straighter and dimensions correct. 

3. Get Sharpie paint pens. I used these for some details on this cooler and now swear by them! They're much easier to write with than an awkward paintbrush.

4. Make sure to buy a clear acrylic coating to protect your cooler from chipping. I used Krylon- Crystal Clear. 

Happy crafting!

Glittery and Bright

There's no better way of adding some holiday spirit than with a little sparkle and shine! I love the idea of homemade holiday decorations and the fact that glitter is involved makes these DIY ornaments that much better! I came across both of these methods on my Pinterest account and had to share them. These easy ornaments are sure to add some bling to your tree!

 This first method is from Valley & Co. They suggest applying glitter to the outside of glass ornaments with Elmer's glue. Even though I love this dramatic look, it has the potential of getting a little messy. 

Greenbean's Crafterole recommends another methods which involves using floor wax and glitter inside the ornament to cut out the glittery mess. This creates a more subdued effect if you're not a fan of the disco ball look. 

You can find the step by step directions (with pictures) by clicking on the highlighted blog titles!

Cute Coasters

I saw these homemade tile coasters on Blueprint Crafts and I absolutely love the idea. I've been trying to find cute coasters in the stores but I can't find anything I really like. Plus this way you can personalized them anyway you want! The only thing I would do differently is add cork to the entire bottom instead of felt (but its whatever you prefer). I can't wait to try this out with some Lilly Pulitzer gift wrap!

Here is the link to the tutorial!

Charming Chalkboards

My lastest DIY project has been making a old, unused, metal plate into a chic and functional chalkboard. You can do this with any kind of plate, platter or picture frame. I started out with a platter I found in my kitchen, colored spray paint and some chalkboard spray paint. Because I already had the plate, all I had to pay for was the paint (and I even used a 40% off Michael's coupon). 

I first sprayed the whole plate with the colored spray paint. I used Krylon brand paint in the color "Catalina Mist". Its a pale aqua color that I thought would look nice next to the black chalkboard. You could use any color for this or just leave the metal for a sleeker look. 

After two coats of Catalina Mist, I taped off the middle with painters tape and covered the outside of the plate in newspaper. Make sure you take your time taping so the paint line ends up straight and even. 

Next I sprayed the plate with two coats of Krylon's chalkboard spray paint.

Once the chalkboard paint was dry, I removed the tape and voilà! A brand new, adorable chalkboard that looks like you bought it from a trendy boutique.  

You can either stand your chalkboard up on a picture stand or hang it on the wall with a plate hanger or cute ribbon. Because I used a metal plate, my new chalkboard is also magnetic. The possibilities are endless!

Happy D.I.Y-ing