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Ciera Design Studio

Brand identity and design solutions for creative businesses and passionate entrepreneurs

Felt Geometric Coasters DIY Kit

August 24, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

I’ve got some fun news today! Remember these DIY Geometric Coasters that I created a while back? Well, now you can grab all of the supplies, templates and instructions right from my Darby Smart shop and get them sent straight to your door! And more great news, I’m offering this kit for 25% off for the next 7 days, just use code “npucuc25″ at check out.

[su_button url=”http://www.darbysmart.com/projects/felt-geometric-coasters” target=”blank” style=”glass” background=”#2f3e64″ size=”7″ center=”yes” radius=”0″ icon=”icon: location-arrow”]CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE FELT COASTERS KIT![/su_button]

 

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

P.S. My Studded Tote DIY kit and Gold Animal Toppers kit is still also available!

 

 

DIY Hand Lettered Pillow With Giant Pom Poms

June 29, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal

Let’s stay home, okay? Just because the pillow said so. I am so in love with our new hand lettered pillow (and the sentiment) and my kiddos are crazy in love with the giant pom poms on each of the corners. I’ve been slowly filling up our new couches with fun throw pillows, and have been admiring some of the hand lettered beauties on Etsy. I decided that I could make my own and add some giant pom poms for a pop of color and fun. If you’re not a hand letterer, that’s a-okay too, I’ve got a free printable template of this phrase for you! You could also take any phrase printed from the web or a font you like to use as a template.

Make this fun hand lettered giant pom pom pillow!

It took me a just a couple hours in one afternoon to create this pillow and I know it will be loved in our home for a long time. I’d originally planned on lettering a bold, adventurous phrase on the pillow, but honestly- the older my hubby and I get (and since having kids) we’re such homebodies! We love to be at home. So instead I chose the cozy, ‘Let’s Stay Home’ phrase that makes me want to curl up on the couch and catch up on trash TV even more than I did before. Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

Make your own hand lettered giant pom pom pillow!

Pillow Cover (or grab a pre-made pillow to customize!)
• Drop cloth (unwaxed)
• Sewing machine with white or cream thread
• Sewing scissors
• Pillow form

To Customize your Pillow
• Fabric paint
• Small paint brush
• Template of your choosing (get ours below!)
• Pencil
• Yarn in colors of your choice
• Embroidery needle
• Round lid the size you would like your pom poms

Before you start, you’ll want to decide if you’d like to make your own throw pillow, or customize an assembled pillow. I chose to make an envelope style pillow out of a piece of drop cloth. I bought the drop cloth to make a pillow before Christmas and have now made 3 pillows, a tree skirt and a couple wall hangings. I love working with them- and they’re so affordable! For instructions on how I make my pillows, you can hop over to this post.

Making A Customized Throw Pillow

Once you have a pillow cover ready to customize, you’ll need to pick your lettering. You can download and print a free copy of the lettering I created here.

DIY-Hand-Lettered-Giant-Pom-Pom-Pillow-1

Turn your printed template over and use a pencil to color over the design (on the back). I like to use as heavy as a pencil as available (I used 7B for this) since it transfers without much effort. Lay the design on your pillow and trace over the template, pressing firmly to transfer a light imprint of the design to your pillow cover.

DIY-Hand-Lettered-Giant-Pom-Pom-Pillow-2

Now you’re ready to get painting! My favourite fabric paint is Tulip Soft Matte Black Paint because it kind of looks like graphite paint if you don’t iron it and it doesn’t have that awful shiny look of most fabric paints. Paint over your template transfer, slowly filling in the thicker lines.

Hand Painting A Throw Pillow

Let your pillow dry and get started on the pom poms! I used two whole balls of yarn (although they weren’t large skeins) for this. I chose to have two shades of green in my pom poms, but you could have one or even three. Choose a circular lid that’s the size you would like your pom poms and start wrapping your yarn around the centre. Keep on wrapping until you have more yarn on than you think is necessary. Slide your yarn off your circular lid and tie a tight piece of yarn around the centre, snipping the loops on each end to create your pom poms.

Making Giant Pom Poms

When your pom poms have been created and your pillow case is dry, you can attach your pom poms using matching yarn and an embroidery needle (the needle with the biggest eye you can find). Tie a knot in a length of yarn and start from the inside of the pillow cover, looping in and out of the pom pom, then tying it off.

Giant Pom Poms for Throw Pillows

That’s all there is to it! I’m so happy I took the time to create my own hand lettered pillow instead of dishing out for some of the ones that I’d found online. If you were to create a hand lettered pillow, what would yours say? And are you a fan of pom poms as much as I am?

Hand Lettered Giant Pom Pom Pillow Hand Lettered Giant Pom Pom Pillow

About the author: Colleen is the DIY and lifestyle blogger behind Lemon Thistle where she shares printable art and hands on tutorials for DIY home decor, parties and gifts.

DIY Wine of the Month & Free Printable

May 7, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal

This thoughtful wine of the month printable is a great Mother’s Day gift that gives all year!

Champage and Cards for Mother'sDay

Click here to download the card and tags!

Wine of the Month Free Mother's Day Printable

For Mother’s Day a few years ago my sister and I gave my mom a wine of the month gift. But instead of buying it from an online store, we decided to do it ourselves. I designed the card and tags that go on 12 bottles of wine, one for each month. I thought the design was due for an update so I’m here today with this special free download for you!

Wine of the Month Free Mother's Day Printable Card and Tags

If you live close to your mom, it’s fun to hand deliver the bottle and maybe she’ll even share it with you! It also makes for a great last-minute gift since you can just print at home and grab the first bottle at a store that is convenient to you.

Click here to download the card and tags!

So pretty! DIY Wine of the Month (click through for free printable)

Directions

Download and print the pdfs below (available in both the pink shown here and orange incase your mom isn’t into pink). Trim the cards out and then each month you just pick out a wine for her to enjoy and attach the pretty tag for that month. A gift that gives all year!

Click here to download the card and tags!

I’d love to hear your Mother’s Day plans and see pictures if you use these!

DIY Wine of the Month Card

Free Mother's Day Printable

 

P.S. Need more gift ideas? Check out My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Wine Lover

This design is © Ciera Holzenthal. All rights reserved. It may not be copied, resold, made available for download, given away or redistributed elsewhere without my written permission. Please link directly to this page if you would like to share these downloads with others. 

DIY Morse Code Garland

April 20, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal

DIY Morse Code Garland On Wall

Garlands are such a fun way to dress up a space. Although traditionally reserved for parties, garlands can add a touch of whimsy and childlike fun to any space. Lately, I’ve spotted them popping up in home designs, especially children’s rooms. My home is no different, I’ve fallen in love and I can’t stop making them. Currently, my hallway, office, kids room, and master bedroom all have at least one. This particular garland is extra fun since it contains a secret message.

By combining different colors of ‘beads’ for dots, dashes and spaces, you can create a garland that spells out a surprise message. I made mine to say ‘Love You’ and hung it in my kiddos’ nursery. This is a quick, simple and affordable project that makes a big impact.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

  • Styrofoam balls
  • Wooden skewers
  • Floral foam block
  • String or Wool
  • Paint in three colors
  • Paint brushes
  • Bobby pin

1. Before you get started, choose the phrase you’d like to spell. Keep in mind morse code makes a long garland for even the shortest of phrases. Then, map out your garland. You will need one ball for each dash, dot and space – I used 30.

Painting styrofoam ball for secret message garland

2. Once you know how many you need of each color, skewer the balls carefully on to your wooden skewers. Make sure to leave a large enough gap between the balls to be able to paint all around. I put two to a skewer.

styrofoam balls for secret message garland

3. The type of paint you use will depend on how many coats you need to do. I did three coats on mine using a Multi Surface Acrylic Paint. The colors I chose were from Americana in Satin: Chartreuse, Overcast and Turf Green. The more paint you put on in each layer, the better it will hide the bumpy texture of the styrofoam balls. I should mention that this is a little time consuming. Spray painting was my first thought, but spray paint and styrofoam do not like each other! The spray paint caused the foam balls to shrivel up (not the look I was going for). A foam block (I used floral foam) can be used to keep the skewers standing while your paint dries.

threading styrofoam balls for secret message garland

4. When they are completely dry, take them off your skewers carefully. I found the best way to do this was twist. Since there will be a build up of paint around the skewers just pulling caused paint to pull up.

styrofoam balls and yarn for secret message garland

5. To thread your styrofoam balls on to your string (I used a gray craft yarn), I cheated and used a bobby pin. I like to use bobby pins in place of a needle for some projects for a few reasons. The most notable is that I don’t poke myself! But also, it’s much easier to ‘thread’ and is long enough to grab from the other side of the styrofoam ball. Just pop the thread in between and bend it flat.

DIY Message Garland For Childs Nursery

Now you’re ready to hang it! It’s really simple and it’s light enough that you can hang it with a fun washi tape (no nails in the wall makes my hubby one happy guy). I love that you can have a sentimental or fun message on your wall without having to explain it to everyone that walks by, plus it sure cheers up my kids’ space! What message would you make with yours?

Garland Hanging in Childs Room

DIY Morse Code Garland Hanging

About the author: Colleen is the DIY and lifestyle blogger behind Lemon Thistle where she shares printable art and hands on tutorials for DIY home decor, parties and gifts.

Upcycled + Restyled Home Office Bookshelf

November 17, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal

Upcycled-Home-Office-Bookshelf-6

Who has a to-do list a mile long of home projects and updates? I know I do! My dad is a bit of a dumpster diver so there’s never a shortage of furniture in our family, while abundant, it’s not always pretty. A while back he gave me a bookshelf that’s been really useful, but an eyesore in my office, see below. I just shoved a bunch of stuff on it and that was that. I’ve been meaning to give it an upgrade but just couldn’t get around to it.

Upcycled-Home-Office-Bookshelf-1

Well, BLACK+DECKER contacted me with a challenge to finish a project that I had been putting off as part of their Your Big Finish campaign. Through this campaign, they are encouraging homeowners and renters to finish neglected projects around their homes for a chance to win $10,000 and other prize packages. I knew immediately I wanted to tackle this bookshelf!

Upcycled-Home-Office-Bookshelf-2

Lucky for me it was easy to deconstruct. I cleared off the junk, took it apart, taped up the ends of the legs and got out my white spray paint! I needed to do a few coats since the original color was so dark. Once the paint was dry I reassembled the shelf. When I was putting items back on the shelf I kept it to a minimum instead of just cramming everything back on. I moved some of the extra books and boxes to a shelf that wasn’t so front and center in my office and focused on making this shelf both pretty and functional. It was so easy, I can’t believe I procrastinated for so long! It’s amazing that a little white spray paint can make such a huge difference.

A little white spray paint can make a huge difference!

Now it’s your turn to finish a project! BLACK+DECKER has launched this movement to get all the unfinished home projects moving again. Join them for the opportunity to win $10,000 cash and products. Plus, they might put you and your finished project on a billboard right in the middle of Times Square. So while your family may never notice that you finished hanging the crown molding, millions of others will! Click Here To Enter Your Project

Many thanks to BLACK+DECKER for sponsoring today’s story and inspiring me to FINALLY finish this project!

Halloween Water Bottle Printables

October 6, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal

Free Halloween Water Bottle Labels

I love Halloween y’all and I can’t believe it’s sneaking up on us already. It’s one of my favorite holidays and it’s pretty huge in New Orleans, we love any excuse to dress up and party in the street! I need to start on my costume, but in the meantime, I wanted to create something easy to use and versatile for y’all. I designed some fun printables to dress up water bottles as Bat’s Blood, Magic Potion, Witches Brew, Zombie Juice and Snake Venom. You can use these for parties to go along with your Halloween snacks, bring them to work or your child’s classroom to get in the Halloween spirit or even hand them out to trick-or-treaters to wash down all that candy. I also did a bonus larger label to wrap around a 1 liter Fanta bottle, I love that the soda is orange and already in the Halloween spirit! I wanted to have a spooky theme but also use some fun bright colors! Water bottle labels are such a simple thing but can make a huge difference in the look of your party!

Directions

  • purchase your favorite beverages (I got 12 oz Dasani and 1 liter Fanta bottles from Walmart. I picked the smaller 12 oz bottles for the water, they just felt more festive and I liked the pop of green that the lids have.)
  • remove the labels (scissors or an Exacto knife make this super easy)
  • download, print and trim the labels (I went to Kinkos to print my labels, the colors are more vibrant than my home printer)
  • use double stick tape to attach the new labels to the bottles (one small piece on the back is enough)

[download id=”66″ format=”10″]

I’d love to hear your Halloween plans and see pictures if you use these labels!

Looking for something to do with all that leftover candy, try these Candy Bar Surprise Cookies.
Looking for a non-carve pumpkin option, check out my paint dipped pumpkins!

Halloween Bottle Printables Ciera DesignFree Halloween Water Bottle LabelsFree Halloween Water Bottle LabelsHalloween Water & Soda Bottle PrintablesFree Halloween Water Bottle Labels Fanta and Dasani Free Halloween Labels

This design is © Ciera Holzenthal. All rights reserved. It may not be copied, resold, made available for download, given away or redistributed elsewhere without my written permission. Please link directly to this page if you would like to share these downloads with others.

DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes

June 11, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal

How To Make Gold Toy Animal Globes

So a few people asked about the globes I made for the safari baby shower I shared a few weeks ago and they were actually really easy! I had some glass globes left over from this air plant terrarium project and thought they’d be super cute as a table display! I purchased the toy animals from Amazon, then just primed them with white and spray painted them gold! I sprinkled a little bit of course gold glitter into the bottoms of the globes and just carefully placed the animals on top after they were dry. The ones I made were not permanent, but you could easily glue everything down if you were planning to re-use them!

painting toy animals gold gif

DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes 1

DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes 2

DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes 3

Table Confetti c/o Minted *Affiliate links used.

Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden

June 1, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal

Every spring and summer I step into my yard and want to do a total makeover. However, with my budget, I usually end up just doing one small thing a season. My yard was feeling pretty drab and without much space to work with, I decided to take advantage of the vertical space that we DID have!

I’ve had this DIY idea in mind since last summer and I absolutely love how it tuned out, it really makes a difference in our yard!

DIY Fence Can Planters

Here is a before photo which is actually from last year before we built the planter box along this fence, yuck!

Yard-Before

So the steps are super simple. Zander cooks a lot of pizza so we saved the cans that the tomatoes came in until we had enough. Remove the labels and then punch a few holes in the bottoms for drainage. You can also use little tin buckets.



Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-1

Spray paint the outsides of the cans and let dry. I used a deep blue paint. Then spray at least the first inch of the insides, I went ahead and painted the full inside.

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-2

Once the paint is totally dry use screws to attach the cans to the fence.

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-4

We just eyeballed the positioning making sure to alternate heights.

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-5

Fill the cans about halfway with soil, then plant your desired flowers or herbs.

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-7

Water the plants and you are good to go!

Watering Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-8

Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden and Trellis

Backyard-Tin-Can-Fence-Garden-13

And this is how it looks a month later, look at how big our tomato plant got!

Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden and Planter Box

Tin Can Fence Flower Garden




 

Budgeting Tip: I know it can be hard to budget for home updates like this so I wanted to mention the Visa Clear Prepaid program. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visa Clear Prepaid and Kaiku® Visa® Prepaid Card. Thank you for supporting this blog by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I truly feel would be of interest to you and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Darby Smart Studded Baggu Tote DIY Kit

May 9, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal

Ciera Design for Darby Smart Studded ToteI’ve got some fun news today! Have y’all heard of Darby Smart? They work with a fabulous community of designers to launch simple DIY projects based on the latest fashion and home trends. They turn these projects into kits that include chic materials and simple instructions, and send them right to your door! Such a great concept, right?! Well I have partnered with Darby Smart and designed their latest DIY kit, the studded Baggu tote!

Ciera Design for Darby Smart Studded Tote Styled

What better way to amp up your everyday tote than with a rockin’ new look? Choose from 5 colors and with some studs and trusty E6000 glue, you’ll be looking extra stylish in no time! The kit is on sale now for $31, which includes shipping (such a good deal)! Yep, no shopping around for the perfect materials. Click, buy and a box of all the supplies arrives at your door. So head over to Darby Smart to order your kit!

Ciera Design for Darby Smart Studded Tote Outfit

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE STUDDED TOTE KIT

Ciera Design for Darby Smart Studded Tote Box

 

A Paint-Splattered Travel Case Brit Kit Party

September 18, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal

Hey y’all, I’m off to Circles Conference in Texas today! I’m super excited to see Megan Gilger speak again AND I’m rooming with fellow designer and blog buddy Patti Murphy, yay! 

I don’t know if y’all have been to the Brit+Co site, but it’s amaaaazing. It’s filled with recipes, crafts, style, DIY projects and the latest on new technology. In additional to their blog, they also have Brit Kits, which are do-it-yourself projects in a box, delivered monthly to your doorstep.

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 1

I just joined their Brit Co-Op program (a group of ladies handpicked by Brit+Co) and had the opportunity to throw a Brit Kit party for my friends last month! You may have seen my Intagrams from that night. We each got the materials and directions to make Paint-Splattered Travel Cases although we took some creative liberties and came up with some really unique designs! You can get this kit for yourself, right here!

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 2

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 3

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 4

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 5

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 6

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 7

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 8

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 9

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 10

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 11

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 12

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 13

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 14

Brit Kit Co-Op Paint Splattered Travel Case 15

Paint-Splattered-Travel-Case-DIY

Last photo from Brit + Co. all other by Ciera Holzenthal for Ciera Design. I was not compensated for this post. I was solely provided products to host this party. All opinions are my own.

What I Wore: DIY Saints Jersey Tank

September 9, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal

It’s football time! The Saints first game was yesterday and while I love repping my team, I get bored with wearing the same ole t-shirts that everyone else has. So when my sister said she bought us shirts from TJ Maxx to make our own Saint’s gear I was super excited!

DIY Football Jersey Shirt



Making a top like this of your own is pretty simple! Use any shirt in a style you like in your favorite teams color. A top with athletic detailing, like this mesh sweatshirt is perfect! Then, find a good sporty looking font like Player, Return Pass, High School USA or Freshman to create the design you want. I picked a big number 9 for Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback! Print your design on adhesive paper, trim with an Exacto knife, stick it to your shirt and paint with fabric paint in a contrasting color.

How To Make A Sports Jersey Shirt

Once the paint has dried, remove the adhesive template and you have yourself a fashionable jersey! That is my dad below getting in on the pealing action! Head over to Sequin Crush for more detailed instructions and how Jasmine styled her shirt.

How To Make A Football Jersey Shirt

It is still very hot here in NOLA so I wore the tank tied up to the side with jean shorts, but I can’t wait to wear it with leggings once the weather starts to cool down (if it ever happens).

DIY Sports Jersey Shirt

What I Wore DIY New Orleans Saints Tank

What I Wore DIY New Orleans Saints Shirt

Last two photos by Zander White.

Shop sporty tops:

Ombre Cluster Necklace with Martha Stewart Jewelry

May 30, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal

Guys, I love Martha Stewart. I drool over Martha Stewart Living each month when it comes in the mail and I have a hard time not buying up every item of hers when I walk into Michaels. Thanks to Plaid Crafts and Martha Stewart Jewelry, I recently had the opportunity to try out some items from the new collection! I love wearing long necklaces so I decided to make an ombre cluster necklace with the beautiful purple Czech beads. I’m obsessed with how it came out and how easy it was. I want to make one in every color now!

Ombre Cluster Necklace DIY with Martha Stewart Jewelry

YOU WILL NEED

small flush cutter
round-nose pliers
18 Czech beads
(I used purple beads, but they have lots of other pretty colors)
toggle clasp
fat oval chain (18″)
a smaller chain (you will need about 14″ for the necklace + 9 links to attach your beads to)
18 small jump rings or extra links from your smaller chain
18 head pins
1 medium jump ring

 Ombre Cluster Necklace Tutorial

DIRECTIONS

1 Connect 7″ of the smaller chain to each side of the 18″ fat oval chain. Do this by opening a link on your smaller chain with the round nose pliers then closing the link around your fat oval chain. 7″ is what I used but it’s up to you to decide how long you want your necklace to be!

2 Again, by opening a link on the loose ends of your smaller chain, connect your toggle clasp

3 Cut an additional piece of your smaller chain 9 links long and connect to the bottom of your clasp with a medium jump ring

4 Thread you czech beads onto head pins and make loops on them. Since I had never done this before, I looked at a few videos online to get me started. It took me a few mess-ups to figure it out, but I quickly got the hang of it!

5 Start attaching your beads to the 9 links hanging down, two per link. I used chain links to connect the beads, or you can also use small jump rings. Start with the lighter colored beads at the top and work your way down to the darker ones, like shown below.

Ombre Cluster Necklace DIY

Ombre Cluster Necklace DIY Martha Stewart Jewelry

I can’t wait to dive into all of the other awesome stuff that came in my box from Plaid, like epoxy clay, jewelry glaze, molds, rhinestones and charms! You can see what some of my other blog friends made with their supplies here! Martha Stewart Jewelry supplies are available exclusively at Michaels and you can find Plaid online on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

This post is sponsored by The Blueprint Social. All opinions and project ideas are my own.

Friendship Bracelet DIY

April 30, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal

Ever since I gave out friendship bracelets at Alt, I have been wanting to make my own and I finally did! I got these really pretty antique gold square links from Kollabora and decided they would be perfect for these bracelets! I love friendship bracelets for layering with other bangles during festival season and summer and these are easy to make in a variety of colors!

do it yourself macrame friendship bracelets

Friendship Bracelet Directions

YOU WILL NEED

4 yards of waxed cotton cord or embroidery thread, connector charm, scissors, tape, ruler, super glue

DIRECTIONS

1 Cut the knotting cord into two 30 inch, two 20 inch and one 10 inch lengths. Fold the 20 inch piece in half, pull the loop through the connecter charm, fold it over, and pull the rest of the cord through the loop. Repeat the step on the other side of the charm. These strands will remain anchored.

2 Tape it to something sturdy so the bracelet is secure while you make the knots. Center the 30 inch cord under the two middle strands. Fold the right cord over the middle strands and under the left cord.

3 Pull the left cord under the right and middle strands and through the loop on the right side. Pull the strands tight and push the knot up to the top. 

To finish the other side of the knot, fold the left cord over the middle strands and under the right cord. Pull the right cord under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side. Continue going back and forth until you get to the desired length (keep in mind that the clasp will take up approximately half an inch) and then move on to the other side. See video below.

4 To finish the knots, thread both cords up 3–4 knots along the backside. Pliers or a needle may help with this.

5 Cut the ends and dab them with super glue so that they are even more secure. Do this process to both sides.

6 To create a sliding closure, shape the bracelet into a circle and overlap the ends. Using scrap cord, temporarily tie at the ends. Take the 10 inch cord and center it under the strands. You’re going to start the knot exactly the same way you did before.

7 Create 4–5 knots and finish the ends the same way you did before. Undo the temporary ties. The two sets of middle cords become the adjustable ties of the bracelet. Adjust it to fit your wrist and trim the ends.

do it yourself macrame friendship bracelets

do it yourself macrame friendship bracelets

do it yourself macrame friendship bracelets

Thanks to Jasmine for modeling for me!

DIY Geometric Coasters

March 1, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com
[su_button url=”http://www.darbysmart.com/projects/felt-geometric-coasters” target=”blank” style=”glass” background=”#2f3e64″ size=”7″ center=”yes” radius=”0″ icon=”icon: location-arrow”]GET THE SUPPLIES SENT RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR![/su_button]

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

I used 4″ felt squares for the base and then covered them with hexagons in a contrasting color. I used 14 hexagon shapes per coaster and started by laying down three hexagons evenly spaced in a row. This helped to determine the space I needed to leave in between the hexagons once I moved to the next row. Once I had my spacing set, I started gluing the hexagons down with felt glue. Now that all of your hexagons are glued down, evenly covering the base square, wait for your glue to dry, then cut around the square trimming off any hexagons that are hanging over the edge. Now you have a pretty geometric coaster! Don’t feel like gathering the materials up yourself, get more detailed instructions, a hexagon template and all of the supplies sent straight to your door!

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

One reason I love this project is because you can adapt it to work with any color scheme!

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

I decided to add flags cut out of card stock to make my straws a little more festive!

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

To incorporate more color into my table, I cut two large 8″ hexagons from a full sheet of felt to act as large coasters under the pitcher and saved some of the small hexagons to use as confetti!

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com
[su_button url=”http://www.darbysmart.com/projects/felt-geometric-coasters” target=”blank” style=”glass” background=”#2f3e64″ size=”7″ center=”yes” radius=”0″ icon=”icon: location-arrow”]GET THE SUPPLIES SENT RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR![/su_button]

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

DIY Geometric Coasters via CieraDesign.com

Clear and Simple Stamps is encouraging creative craft & DIY bloggers to give a virtual high-five to the other creative bloggers whose work we admire and to share a project inspired by our blog “crushes”. I’m sharing a DIY project inspired by my blog crush, Designlovefest. Although there are many blogs I love, today I chose Designlovefest because Bri is an inspiring blogger, an amazing graphic designer and also teaches blogging and video workshops. She has such a clear picture of her own brand and it is inspiring to see her continuing to take her businesses to the next level. Bri always has absolutely beautiful cocktail recipes and DIY projects on her blog so I thought that a fun geometric coaster would be a great DIY tribute to her! I hope you’ll join us and Spread the Love. To learn more about the campaign head over to the Clear and Simple Stamps blog!

DIY Autumn Leaf Table Place Cards

November 14, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

I love a pretty table for the holidays so today I am showing y’all how to make simple place cards to add a little something special to any decor. This design is versatile so can really be used for any holiday or special occasion but I thought it would be nice for Thanksgiving!

DIY Thanksgiving Table Place Cards

MATERIALS: cardstock / two different colors of paper / pretty font / branch punch / adhesive gel / hole punch / gold brads

DIY Thanksgiving Table Name Cards Process

 DIRECTIONS:

1a. Print all of the names you will need on card stock and trim them to 2″ x 1″
1b. For each place setting trim one 3.75″ x 5.5″ piece of card stock and fold in half to 3.75″ x 2.75″
2. Select two colors of paper for your leaves and punch about 12 of each color
3. Rotating colors, glue down the leaves in rows slightly overlapping them
4a. Hole punch your name cards on each end and insert the gold brads.
4b. Since the hole punch didn’t reach where I needed it on the folded card, I just used the brads to make the holes through the card stock
5. Secure the brads by folding them down on the inside of the place card and you are done!

DIY Autumn Leaf Table Place Cards

DIY Autumn Leaf Table Name Cards

These directions also work to make greeting cards!

hello leaf card

happy birthday leaf card

DIY Paint Dipped Pumpkins

October 17, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

I think I’m over the whole pumpkin carving thing. It’s always harder than I remember and I end up getting frustrated that I can’t get it perfect. So this year, I decided to paint some simple color blocked pumpkins! Although I am calling them paint dipped pumpkins, they are not actually dipped, they just look like it!

Paint Dipped Pumpkins DIY

The first thing you need to do is section off your pumpkin with masking tape. You can tape it right down the center if you like, but I decided to tape mine at an angle to make it a little more interesting! Make sure the tape is firmly pressed down, otherwise your paint will run underneath it. Once you get the tape in place, you will want to prime your pumpkin with white acrylic paint. This makes sure that the color you choose is not dulled by the orange of the pumpkin. I applied two coats letting it dry in between.

Tape and Prime Pumpkins First

After the white primer is dry, now comes the fun part! Pick whatever color acrylic paint you like and paint over the same area of the pumpkin that is now white.

Paint Palette

I painted one with neon pink and one with black. For the pink, it took three coats to cover fully and the black only took one coat, it just depends on the color and thickness of the paint you are using.

DIY Fluorescent Pink Painted Pumpkins

Once you achieve the coverage that you are happy with and your colored paint dries, pull the tape off being very careful not to pull the paint off with it. And there you have it, a beautifully simple dipped pumpkin!

Ciera with DIY Fluorescent Pink Painted Pumpkin

I also decided to glam this Halloween up with a glitter dipped pumpkin. For this one, instead of priming with white, I primed the pumpkin with gold acrylic paint. Once that was dry, I painted the same area with Modge Podge and then sprinkled gold glitter over the glue covered area.

Glitter Dipped Pumpkins DIY

Materials for painted pumpkins: masking tape, white acrylic paint, color acrylic paint, paint brush

Color Blocked Pumpkins DIY: Black, Gold, Pink

Materials for glitter pumpkins: masking tape, gold acrylic paint, Modge Podge, paint brush, gold glitter

Modern Painted Pumpkins DIY

Even though Halloween is right around the corner you still have time to brighten up your home with these quick and easy DIY pumpkins!

Paint Dipped Pumpkins & Skull

My sister and I worked on our pumpkins together so you can head over to her blog, Sequin Crush, for even more awesome DIY pumpkins!

Even More Pumpkin DIYs Over On Sequin Crush

DIY Air Plant Terrarium

August 3, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

My dad gardens more than anyone I know. He is always outside planting new things, repotting, rearranging and watering. Growing up, my yard was basically a jungle. Unfortunately, I did not inherit a green thumb from him. I’m VERY bad with plants, but I finally found a type that I haven’t killed (well not yet, at least)! Air Plants (also known as Tillandsia) don’t require soil to grow, only moderate light and a good soak every week or so—very low-maintenance! They are kinda weird-looking, but these little guys have so much personality! I find them so unique and beautiful!

Air Plant Globe Terrarium 1
Once I realized that I could keep these guys alive, I became obsessed with making little terrariums for them. They are super easy, affordable and very versatile. I made some for hanging and some for sitting flat on a table or shelf.

MATERIALS:

1: container – a glass globe or any glass container (mason jars also work great)
2: base material – moss, gravel or glass pebbles
3: plants – it is nice to have a few different sizes to add interest (I got mine here)



DIRECTIONS:

Once you have your materials gathered, just cover the bottom of your container with the base material and add your air plants on top. Told ya it was easy! Feel free to get creative with it, you can really add whatever you like to the terrarium, I added some special shells and rocks that I collected from a few vacations.

 

Air Plant Globe Terrarium 2

Air Plant Globe Terrarium 3

Air Plant Globe Terrarium 4

Air Plant Globe Terrarium 5

*Affiliate links used.

Travel Map Pin Board DIY

July 25, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

Since we moved up North, Zander and I have been doing quite a bit of weekend traveling. I really wanted a special way to keep track of the places we have been together (and our bedroom walls were bare) so I decided to make this travel map cork board! It was pretty easy once I figured out the logistics… so now I’m going to share the how-to with you!

travel-map-pin-board-diy-title700

 

MATERIALS

paper // printer // tape // frame // cork roll // spray paint // exacto knife // spray glue // map tacks
These links are what I used but feel free to be creative!

 

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 1

1. Decide what size your map needs to be to fit in the center of your chosen frame. Print out and tile together a map of the US. My map is about 20″ wide for a 18″ x 24″ frame. The map I used can be downloaded here: [download id=”25″ format=”10″]

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 2

2. Once your map is tiled together, tape it to a piece of cork just big enough to fit the map. Work on a cutting mat and trim around the outer border with an exacto knife (making sure to trim all the way through the cork). You will not be able to get very detailed here, and that’s okay (as you can see I chopped the little hook off of Massachusetts all together)!

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 4

3. Once you have cut around the entire map you can go back in and cut out any additional details. Remember, it is easy to cut more away but not to add back on!

paint-and-glue

4. Trim your next piece of cork into a rectangle that fits snugly into your frame. I used the cardboard backing that came in the frame as a size guideline. 5. Bring the trimmed rectangle outside and paint one side white. 6. Once the paint dries, use spray glue to attach the cork map to the center of your (now white) cork backing. Remember, spray the backside of your cork map only!

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 7

7. Place your map board into the frame (using the cardboard the frame came with as a backing). You can glue to the cardboard to the cork back if you prefer.

8. Print out and trim your title and location flags. 9. Fill in your flags with places you have been and places you want to go! 10. Add your title and destination flags to the cork map with pins and your done! You can download my template here: [download id=”26″ format=”10″]

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 11

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 10

Travel Map Pin Board DIY 12

The measurements above are what I used for my frame, but make sure to measure yourself, as frames will differ. You know the saying, measure twice, cut once! And please be VERY careful with the exacto knife, I actually cut myself while working on this project!

Home Tour: Bedroom Details

July 3, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

Since I cleaned the apartment for my parents visit I went ahead and took some detail photos of my bedroom to share with you guys! We don’t spend much time at all in our bedroom but I did want to have a few things on the walls. It is also where I organize all of my clothes and accessories.

apartment tour - bedroom - jamaica plain boston 1

I had these two hooks from Urban Outfitters and thought they were perfect for jewelry. Then I just added a scrap of pretty paper and a paint swatch to the wall with thumbtacks for some added color and it turned out to be the perfect hanging space for my jewelry!

apartment tour - bedroom - jamaica plain boston 2

I created the Coke bottle necklace display with my dad years ago and for my earrings I just used an old picture frame and stapled a piece of screen to the back. For bracelets and rings I have a little wooden tray for each. I like most of my jewelry to be in plain sight, otherwise I would never wear any of it!

apartment tour - bedroom - jamaica plain boston 3

The You, Me, Forever print is from Satchel & Sage, I love all of their prints so much, I’d love to have the whole Venn collection!

apartment tour - bedroom - jamaica plain boston 4

I made the travel map cork board as a way for Zander and I to track all of the places we have been together and where we want to go next!

apartment tour - bedroom - jamaica plain boston 5

You can also check out my living and dining room and my office. Hope you enjoyed this little mini tour of our Jamaica Plain apartment!

Freezer Paper Stencil by Julie Ann Art

June 14, 2012 by Ciera Holzenthal

Hi guys! My name is Julie and I blog over at Julie Ann Art. I’m so happy to be guest posting today! I’m going to show you how I transferred a design onto a pillow using a freezer paper stencil!

Since we moved we haven’t had any pillows for our couch. The main reason we don’t have pillows? My dog’s favorite thing is pillow stuffing. She will have the stuffing out of that pillow in a matter of minutes (seconds?). So no way am I buying a fancy schmancy $$$ pillow set. I bought one pillow from Ikea, sort of as a test. Maybe she grew out of her pillow chewing habits (yeah right). But this one white, boring pillow needed some help. I was throwing around different embellishment  ideas when I remembered I had been wanting to try to make a stencil out of freezer paper. So here we go!

What you’ll need:Freezer Paper Fabric (pillow case, t-shirt, placemats, etc.) Fabric Paint Iron Exacto Knife Pencil or Pen Paintbrush Cardboard

The first thing you need to do is transfer your design to the matte (not shiny!) side of your freezer paper. This can be done in multiple ways. I drew my design directly onto the paper. If you don’t feeling comfortable doing this, you can either a.) print the design on normal paper and then trace it on the freezer paper, or b.) print the design directly onto the freezer paper. Just make sure you only use an ink-jet printer if you’re going to print on it. Your call!

Next up, using your exacto knife, cut your design out of the freezer paper. Make sure to put some cardboard underneath the paper to make this process easier. This was surprisingly easy, the freezer paper didn’t give me any problems with tearing.

Once your stencil is ready, place it shiny side down where you want it on your fabric. Heat up your iron (I put mine on medium heat) and carefully start ironing, working your way from the middle of the design to the outside of the design. I went over my design multiple times. Make sure to pay attention to any intricate areas.

When the freezer paper is secured to the fabric it’s time to paint! Once again, make sure to cover all the intricate areas and edges completely. I got nervous at this part because I wasn’t sure if I had ironed it on well enough.

I let the paint dry for about an hour (although the paint bottle said it takes four hours to dry) and started pulling off my stencil. Whether you decide to wait the full four hours or not is up to your discretion. The stencil pulled off easily and now I have a cute little pillow.

The possibilities for use of a freezer paper stencil are endless! I definitely want to try it on a shirt next. The looks it gives is very similar to that of screen printing. And don’t forget you can use freezer paper for what it was originally intended for…to store meat in the freezer. Have fun!


Thank you so much Julie! Who knew freezer paper had another use? I definitely want to try this one out soon! Only one more guest post, I hope you have been enjoying them! -Ciera


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