Curbly Video Podcast: An Easy and Inexpensive DIY Frame for Posters and Art.

An attractive frame for artwork always beats thumbtacks or the sticky stuff, but custom jobs at the framing shop come with sky-high prices, often more than you paid for that wonderful screen print from Etsy or the perfect vintage concert tour poster.

So, skip the frame shop altogether, and head to the hardware store for this easy and customizable DIY to protect and showcase your favorite pieces.

July 21, 2009

3 comments  |  1382 views

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Curbly Video: Using Paper Napkins to Make Decorative Tile Coasters

With the help of some 4" square ceramic tiles, turning decorative paper napkins into a set of very polished-looking coasters is easy.

To make a set of 4 coasters, you’ll need:

• 4-4" square ceramic tiles (you can find these at your big box store for about 15 cents a piece)
• Mod Podge (I used the Matte-Mat)
• small paint brush
• polyurethane (I used Aqua-Zar in satin, but glossy would look great too)
• decorative paper napkins
• Squares of thin » READ MORE

February 16, 2009

13 comments  |  8703 views

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Curbly Video Podcast: How to turn a wine bottle into an oil lamp with found objects.

If you have a bin of nuts and washers and things, you’re half-way to turning a wine bottle into an oil lamp. (And even if you don’t have a nut and washer bin, you can pick a few up–plus the other items you’ll need to complete this project–at the hardware store for pennies!)



The supplies you’ll want to gather:

• An empty wine bottle
• A 1 ½" or so long threaded nipple–I used one from an old lamp kit
• Two ½" to 5/8" nuts–one wide, » READ MORE

November 17, 2008

8 comments  |  1789 views

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Curbly Video Podcast: How to Make a Zen Garden on a Budget

My sister Barbara was shopping for a zen rake, and it occurred to her that I should make a zen garden for Curbly. Well, here it is...a zen garden on a budget. (Thanks for the idea, sis!)



Stuff you’ll need:



A thick-ish picture frame; 8" x 10" works well. (I found the perfect specimen at the thrift store for $2.80. Sweet.)



A glue gun and glue sticks



Beach sand (Since I don’t live in an area notorious for its lovely beach sand, I had to buy some at » READ MORE

July 25, 2008

5 comments  |  3192 views

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Curbly Video Podcast: How to Make Maven’s Mosaic Flower Pot

Several years ago I made a mosaic flower pot as a shower gift. Everyone at the shower went a little ga-ga over it. Their enthusiasm got me thinking. Would people actually like to learn how to make such things and pay me to teach them how to do it? Apparently so, because a few months later I was teaching the technique at several local adult education programs. Here, my fellow Curblians, is a complimentary tutorial, just for you!

» READ MORE

April 23, 2008

2 comments  |  3009 views

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Curbly Video Podcast: How to make aromatherapy 'sweets'

Aromatherapy 'sweets' are fun and easy to make. Great for your mom or mom-equivalent on Mother's Day or as bridal or baby shower favors, they would make a great addition to any lingerie drawer!

(Can't see the viewer above? Go here.)

 What you need:

• a candy mold (2 bucks at Michaels)
• acrylic craft paints and paint sealer
• paint brush
• 1/4" fabric ribbon
• craft glue
• aromatherapy oil (I used lavender oil)
• Plaster of Paris
• meas » READ MORE

April 14, 2008

6 comments  |  2151 views

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The Fix Its: Make Fabric Stencils Out of Address Labels

One of the quickest and easiest ways to embellish fabric is by stenciling it. But instead of buying fabric stencils, I decided to make my own using one of my paper punches, and some address labels. The supplies include:

• Something fabric-y to stencil (I’m using simple cotton napkins I sewed up earlier)
• Acrylic craft paint and fabric medium OR fabric paint
• A decorative paper punch
• Address labels large enough to accommodate punching
• A stencil applicato » READ MORE

February 21, 2008

4 comments  |  3394 views

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