Angel Christmas ornament with pants

Don’t you just love Christmas lights? As an apartment dweller, decking the yard with lights isn’t an option, so instead my living room is almost as bright as day in the evening with all the strings of lights. They’re the next best thing to sitting beside a flickering fireplace. Check out […]

2021-02-23T06:25:23-08:00December 24, 2009|

Reusable wrapped gift canisters

Here’s a last-minute idea for us last-minute gift wrappers. I felt guilty about discarding those round, sturdy cardboard canisters that hold nuts, cocoa, and other foods. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think they can be recycled (aluminum + cardboard?). But they definitely can be reused! Here, I covered […]

2020-11-29T07:37:21-08:00December 23, 2009|

DIY giant craft-stick snowflakes

I could hardly wait to show you this Popsicle stick craft! These snowflakes are fun, easy, and so inexpensive to make. The smallest snowflake is 12 inches across; the largest is 24 inches. I had some rhinestones left over from my Christmas tree advent calendar, so I glued some at the […]

2021-01-31T06:03:00-08:00December 8, 2009|

DIY craft-stick Christmas tree advent calendar with “origami” boxes

I was given a box of 1,000 craft sticks, and I had no idea what to do with them. I wasn’t about to start building 1980s Popsicle stick jewelry boxes. I eventually came up with some Christmas ideas. This is my first craft stick project. Click here for my giant […]

2021-01-31T06:04:19-08:00December 1, 2009|

Window frame + free botanical illustrations = DIY art

I know: Monica, you need to get your seasons straight, right? I’m celebrating Spring in November because I couldn’t wait four months to share these beauties. Besides, red and green makes it almost Christmasy. You might recognize this window. Earlier this year, I filled each window pane with

2021-02-13T23:00:49-08:00November 20, 2009|

DIY no-sew tank-top headband

Remember my tank top totes from a few weeks ago? Well, I just had to share this tip. The piece I cut off the bottom of the one of the tank tops made a perfect — and super comfortable — headband. My neighbor Rhean did a beautiful job […]

2021-02-24T03:03:43-08:00November 13, 2009|

DIY framed silhouette words

My friend Julie inspired this idea. She framed some fall leaves in a large clear acrylic frame. I loved its simplicity. These Coach picture frames that I received as a gift years ago were perfect for spelling out a word.

I had five frames, but I was set on […]

2021-03-24T17:46:58-07:00November 11, 2009|

Maria’s DIY table, frames, vase & votives redo

Our new guest nester, Maria Romvari, transformed this corner of her house for her Hungarian blog A Hoover-gáton is túl, and she’s sharing her tutorial with us! Maria used ordinary thrift store items — side table, vase, and mismatched frames — totaling $10.67 to create this stunning vignette. […]

2021-03-26T13:13:25-07:00October 23, 2009|

DIY tank top totes: six pockets or gathered

Before you pack away your summer clothes for the winter, you might want to set one of your tank tops aside to make one of these easy totes. The best kind of tank tops to use for this project are ones that have front and back necklines that are the same […]

2021-02-24T03:10:58-08:00October 15, 2009|

Sunburst mirror revamp

What a difference a little color makes! I decided my white sunburst mirror that I made in 2007 was a little boring. It only looked good from an angle, where the shadows would emphasize the shapes. Straight on, it looked more like a plain white circle. So I […]

2021-03-25T09:12:54-07:00October 7, 2009|

DIY mini framed magnetic board

What can I make with an old picture frame that’s missing glass, a free fabric sample from FabMo, and an 8- x 10-inch LoRan magnet board that my friend Chris gave me? Another friend, Kristi, had an idea: a mini magnetic board.

If you add a […]

2021-03-26T19:22:47-07:00September 30, 2009|

Salvaged window = DIY shadowbox frame

Why anyone would paint over window panes is beyond me. But that’s exactly what someone did to this window that I bought at a salvage yard for $20. It took a couple hours to scrape away all the stray paint and caulking, but the effort was totally worth it, considering I […]

2021-02-24T00:25:51-08:00September 24, 2009|

DIY silver stenciled library side table

I love metallic-finish furniture, and I thought this little library table was the ideal piece to try my own metallic finish. I bought the table on Craigslist last year for $15. I adored its cute shape, but it needed lots of repairs. I pulled 21 (mostly bent) […]

2021-01-31T06:05:31-08:00September 10, 2009|

DIY salvaged wood pencil & pen caddy

I had a scrap 4×4 piece of wood sitting around and decided to put it to use. Drilling the holes in this desk caddy was a bit harder than it looks. This was my third try. It made me wish for a drill press. But, if you have a steady hand […]

2021-03-25T15:40:38-07:00August 28, 2009|

Outdoor bistro table & café chairs DIY makeover

I picked up this table curbside last year. The wooden top was weathered, cracked, and warped, and the base was rusted but sturdy. Then I found these French café chairs at Ikea, a replacement tabletop at The Home Depot, and exterior paint on

2021-03-26T17:03:10-07:00August 21, 2009|

3 Ikea mini chests = DIY paper organizer

I told you I had a plan for the Ikea Fira mini chests that were leftover from my DIY rolling toolbox. I had a plethora of printer paper and envelopes and nowhere to store it all. The solution: stack three mini chests together, add molding, casters, and paint […]

2021-02-22T04:36:20-08:00August 7, 2009|

DIY crafting tool station with wall organizer

This project is what Elizabeth would call “finding crap on the curb and making something fabulous.” I found this mint-green wooden railing (from a crib?) in a pile of debris. Add some galvanized wall-pocket planters (on clearance at Joann for $1.50 each), a […]

2021-01-31T06:05:43-08:00July 31, 2009|

Old dresser = DIY rolling tool chest

I outgrew my toolbox end tables, but I refused to pay hundreds of dollars for one of those ugly, manly Craftsman tool chests. And the gorgeous white ones are even more expensive. This chest of drawers cost me $10 on

2021-01-31T06:05:51-08:00July 29, 2009|

DIY rewired & painted table lamp with matching finial

My friend Julie Chai, garden editor at Sunset magazine, gave me this lamp base as a project. (Watch Julie teach you how to make your own compost bin here.) Southwest isn’t my style, plus it had rusty hardware and a tattered, taped cord. As soon […]

2021-02-17T06:36:46-08:00July 15, 2009|

DIY wine cork trivet

My sister Christy came up with this super easy idea, and I love it. Even better: I had all the supplies on hand. No, I don’t drink wine, but I have plenty of friends who do. They saved their corks for a big project I have planned. I could spare a […]

2021-03-03T00:50:34-08:00July 8, 2009|

Plant stand + Lazy Susan = DIY mini side table

I decided to try a different take on the tray table I made nearly a year ago. This time, it would have a more practical permanent top. Plus, it’s an ideal opportunity to use more of my furniture nails, which I love, and some fabulous lime green spray paint. […]

2021-01-31T06:06:16-08:00June 24, 2009|

DIY starburst mirror

I am sorry for the suspense regarding my toolbox dresser project. I haven’t made much progress on it yet. In the meantime, I decided to make a starburst mirror. This project was a cinch because I learned from the mistakes I made on my sunburst mirror. The basic […]

2021-01-31T06:06:23-08:00June 17, 2009|

Thrift-store spice rack = DIY bead storage rack

My first project on Crafty Nest was a spice rack. So it’s fitting that, nearly a year later, I work on another one. I bought this old Spice Islands rack at a thrift store for $3.50. After dumping out the ancient spices, soaking off what […]

2021-02-24T01:29:02-08:00June 10, 2009|

Salvaged window = DIY wallpaper frames

First rule in government spending: Why build one when you can have two at twice the price?” Any guesses what movie that line is from? (Answer at the end of this post.) I loved these salvaged window frames so much, I bought both of them. This one was […]

2021-02-13T23:03:10-08:00June 3, 2009|

Neighborhood tour of crafty stuff

In lieu of a project this week, I’m posting some photos I took during one of my walks around my neighborhood in Menlo Park, California. It was an idea inspired by sfgirlbybay. Instead of beautiful, transporting images (I’m not the photographer Victoria is), I shot items that […]

2020-11-29T23:57:21-08:00May 20, 2009|

Bamboo room divider = DIY fashion accessories valet

A few people have asked me for jewelry organizing solutions. You asked for it, so you got it. (More jewelry storage ideas to come.) I bought this Ikea room divider for $10 in the As-Is section last year. I wasn’t a fan of the black hook-and-loop holding it together, […]

2021-03-25T14:00:51-07:00May 13, 2009|

Ugly plastic mirror = DIY bulletin board

One of my friends referred to this as the “ugly mirror.” Another friend said, “Whatever you paid for it, you paid too much.” I get more excited about a project when I hear comments like that because I think, “Just wait till they see what I do with it. Mwahaha!” For […]

2021-01-31T06:07:37-08:00May 6, 2009|

DIY thrift-store plate mirrors

Happy Earth Day everyone! I found these artichoke plates at a thrift store while hunting for dishes with which to make cake stands. I loved the flower shape of them so much that I bought them all. I have plans for the rest, but these three were […]

2021-01-31T06:07:47-08:00April 22, 2009|

2 salvaged drawers = 1 rustic DIY shadowbox

Two drawers were left over from my modular bookcase project. I didn’t think they’d be useful for anything but firewood. But upon closer inspection, I began to appreciate the aged beauty of the wood — even the smattering of white paint. Combining the drawers into one shadowbox — […]

2021-02-17T09:01:05-08:00April 15, 2009|

DIY Van Gogh painting on a wine bottle

I am not an artist, so please excuse my painting skills. During my undergrad, one of my color class assignments was to copy an impressionistic painting on a wine bottle. It was the perfect assignment for a novice painter such as me. On a wine bottle, you can’t see the entire […]

2021-01-31T06:08:12-08:00April 9, 2009|

DIY wallpapered serving cart

I bought this trolley for a steal on Craigslist. You may have seen it before with my salvaged window-frame mirror. You can’t tell in the photo, but it’s banged up and rickety from years of use. My friend Peter added some reinforcement to make the […]

2021-01-31T06:08:22-08:00April 8, 2009|

Reclaimed dining chairs DIY makeover

I found these chairs curbside with a “free” sign taped to them. They have a nice shape but suffer from two problems: a shoddy paint job and cracked seats. I knew I could fix both issues. I wasn’t settled on the how part until I saw what Melissa did to her […]

2021-01-31T06:08:43-08:00April 1, 2009|

Heika’s DIY hemp-string pendant lamps

Super talented Heika DeHart strikes again. These pendant lamps she made of hemp string are genius. Plus, don’t you love how they look with her wallpaper? Heika writes: “I fell in love with West Elm’s Abaca pendent lamps a few years ago but, as usual, my taste […]

2021-01-31T06:08:52-08:00March 25, 2009|

Easy DIY pillow cover with zipper

I am redecorating my living room. Red has been lovely, but the colors of the sea are calling me. I like Ikea’s Fjädrar inner cushions (which are 20 x 20 inches), but none of Ikea’s pillow covers go with my new color scheme. So, using […]

2021-03-07T14:51:44-08:00March 18, 2009|

DIY project: adding bamboo veneer flowers to Ikea Lack tables

Last year I fell in love with Jason Horvath’s Sakura table from Uhuru (below). It was out of my price range, so I decided to make my own version using some bamboo veneer a friend gave me and two Ikea Lack tables I […]

2021-01-31T06:10:01-08:00March 11, 2009|

DIY decorated canvas tote bags

My apologies if you had difficulty with my site this week. I tried something that didn’t work. It’s back to the old design until I work out the kinks. While I do that, I thought I’d post a project from two years ago. I bought a bunch of

2021-01-31T06:10:20-08:00February 25, 2009|

DIY faux-capiz-shell lampshade

Some of you may remember my first faux capiz shell lampshade that I made for Sunset magazine. It was originally inspired by West Elm’s popular capiz table lamp (below). I was going for the mod look, but multicolored just isn’t my style. […]

2021-02-17T09:03:37-08:00February 18, 2009|

Old flip-flops + bath towel = DIY spa slippers

When I told my brother about this week’s project, the first thing he said was, “You know you can buy those, right?” Halfway into the project, I started to wish I did. My old shower slippers fell apart recently. I examined the shreds and decided that I could make my own—only […]

2021-01-31T06:10:36-08:00February 11, 2009|

Thrift-store candle sconce makeover

I admit these thrift-store plastic sconces look pretty good in the before photo. But trust me, they looked dated and icky on the wall. Plus they’re broken. Luckily the pieces were broken off symmetrically, so you can’t tell after a fresh coat of paint is applied. I’m tickled that

2021-01-31T06:10:55-08:00February 4, 2009|

DIY mod tissue box cover

I’m fed up with ugly tissue boxes. Even the semi-cool ones never match my decor. I used to buy the white tissue boxes from Target, but they discontinued them. So I took matters into my own hands. I found this wooden tissue box cover at a thrift store for a couple […]

2021-02-08T08:41:37-08:00January 28, 2009|

Heika’s DIY stenciled wall

The last tutorial that Heika is sharing with us is how she painted an intricate handmade stencil on her daughter’s bedroom walls. She writes, “This project was quite time-consuming, but the final product was worth all of the work. I made this stencil the same way I did […]

2021-03-10T04:26:02-08:00January 22, 2009|

Heika’s DIY paper silhouettes

My friend Heika DeHart beautifully transformed her daughter’s bedroom. One of her handmade projects in that room were these stencils. And she’s sharing how she made them. She writes, “This was a simple, inexpensive project. I thought it would be sweet to have silhouettes of my daughter hanging on her wall but […]

2021-03-12T15:15:33-08:00January 22, 2009|

Heika’s DIY stenciled dresser

Our newest guest nester Heika DeHart shared photos of her daughter’s bedroom, which was full of decor that Heika handmade herself, including this beautifully stenciled dresser. Now she’s sharing her step-by-step instructions for how she transformed the lackluster chest of drawers.

Heika bought the dresser at a university auction […]

2021-02-19T07:56:57-08:00January 22, 2009|

Heika’s DIY little girl’s bedroom

My new friend Heika DeHart shared these images of her daughter Aspen’s adorable bedroom. Nearly every decoration in the room was created from scratch by Heika herself. My favorite project is the stunning dresser. I loved the result so much, I asked her to share her instructions with all of us. […]

2021-02-19T09:10:08-08:00January 21, 2009|

Salvaged window frame = DIY mirror

I saw this interior window frame at a salvage yard and coveted it for a few months before finally buying it. Instead of the opaque Plexiglass it came with, I inserted mirrors. I love mirrors because they can make a small space feel airy and bright. This one offers an added […]

2021-01-31T06:12:29-08:00January 14, 2009|

Easy DIY shoebox shelves

Closet cleaning isn’t a flashy subject, but I can’t help it: I’m in full organization mode. I blame the new year. I simplified this closet by chucking old clothes and sticking with just three types of hangers: wood, padded, and skirt hangers (the latter two are on the left side of […]

2021-03-08T23:44:37-08:00January 7, 2009|
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