Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll be doing a lot of painting – but it’s simple painting, so don’t worry if you’re not Van Gogh. This is a great starter project for getting handy with brushes.

Well, hello again!  It’s Jennifer of Brave New Home here to share a refresh project today. I love taking once loved items, breathing new life into them and falling in love with them all over again.

I have a set of nesting dolls that I received as a present from my mother when I was a little girl. There used to be five of them total but they somehow got into my four-year-old’s hands and two went missing.

A third got broken. These dolls have sentimental meaning to me and try as I might, I could never find a way to work them into my home decor. So rather than safely store them away, I decided to breathe new life into them to display and enjoy them.

For this project, you will need a set of wooden nesting dolls (you can buy unfinished wooden ones so you don’t have to paint over a design), primer, acrylic paints, and clear acrylic spray paint.

Looking at my images (which are actually larger than the dolls themselves), I see now that I could have mixed my paint a little more thoroughly. Having said that, it just adds to the uniqueness of the project!

I think these stacking dolls could work with everyday decor, but could also have a place in holiday decorating. Especially if you use Christmas colors.

Are you ready to get crafty? You can get the printed how to card for this project here:

Print

Paint Russian Nesting Dolls

Learn how to paint stacking dolls using modern colors! This is a really easy craft idea for holiday or beyond.

Course DIY Projects

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 3 dolls

Cost $5

Equipment

• Pencil(s)
• Paintbrush(es)
• Sandpaper optional

Ingredients

• 1 set Wooden Nesting Dolls
• Acrylic paint
• Clear acrylic sealer
• Sharpie(s)

Instructions

• Sand the unfinished wood or painted surface if necessary. Remove sanding dust. Add a coat of primer. Let dry.
  
• I got some spray paint on the part of the wood where the top and bottom parts meet so I sanded it off. Any paint in this area will make it excessively difficult to open and close your nesting dolls, so you want to remove it.
  
• Pencil in the design directly on top of the spray painted areas.
  
• Paint the design with acrylic paint and let dry. Think about layering the paints for the neatest finish possible. This means you'll want to start with the paints that cover the largest area then work your way in.
  
• Draw in additional details and faces with the Sharpie to allow for more precision. You can also use paint pens.
  
• Seal all of the wood with clear acrylic sealer. Let dry for a while before using or stacking.
  

Video

Notes

Step 1: It felt wrong spray painting over a beautiful design, but I assured myself that in the end this would actually lead to these objects being better enjoyed.

Step 2: Because the wood is thin, you’ll want to be gentle when opening and closing your dolls.

Step 4: I had so much fun painting my dolls, I lost all track of time!

Here’s a back view of the dolls just so you can see:

I wish I would have included some hearts from the front view. They up the sweet factor just a bit more!

Let me know what you think of this project in the comments! For other painted projects we love, check out the following posts:

14K Gold Picture Frame • Bean Art Mosaics • Cactus Pot Painting • Kilim Basket • Painted Mugs • Trinket Dishes • Wooden Nativity Set

The post How to Paint Nesting Dolls the Easy Way appeared first on DIY Candy.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you’ll be able to accomplish this IKEA hack.

If you’ve ever been to the frame section of IKEA, there are so many good options – and a lot of them are inexpensive. That’s the whole reason we love IKEA, right?

Good looking stuff for a few bucks.

One of those options in the frame section that’s on point is the Tolsby frame. The same frame I used to make this DIY dry erase surface.

If you want to make a dry erase board, you can use any frame as long as it has a glass or plastic insert. What I love about the Tolsby frame is that it’s double-sided, so that means you can use it as a dry erase surface on both sides.

This is a mini board given that it only displays a 4″ x 6″ picture, but you can go with any size and use the same washi tape method below to decorate.

Not only does IKEA have frames on the cheap that work, but Dollar Tree does too. There are a lot of places that sell frames, but I’m all about making this project on a budget. Don’t forget to hit the thrift stores too!

Gather These Supplies

• Tolsby frame from IKEA (or similar)
• Duck Tape washi tape in various colors and patterns
• One sheet of cardstock
• Scissors or craft knife

Use this mini whiteboard to leave notes for family members – or to yourself! These are so fun for surprising people with sweet messages.

I like to keep one at my desk so I can remind myself of the most important thing I need to accomplish for the day. Get the printable how to below:

Print

Homemade Dry Erase Board

Learn how to make a whiteboard from a frame! You can do this with any sized frame for the table or the wall.

Course DIY Projects

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 1 board

Cost $3

Equipment

• Scissors
• Dry erase marker

Ingredients

• 2 Frame with glass or plexi insert
• 4 rolls Washi tape
• 1 piece Cardstock white, optional

Instructions

• Remove the insert and the glass or plastic from the frame. if the frame doesn't have an insert, create one using white cardstock.
  
• Place the washi tape down on the cardstock. Peel it off the roll and smooth down on the surface. Tear or cut the ends and then smooth down.
  
• At the corners and down the sides of your cardstock, trim the washi tape using scissors or a craft knife.
  
• Place the insert back into the frame. Write on the surface of the glass or plastic with the dry erase marker. Wipe off with a paper towel to er-use.
  

Notes

Cost will vary greatly depending on the size frames and where you purchase them.

What will you write on your DIY dry erase board? Let me know in the comments!

And if you are interested in another easy craft that uses washi tape, try these upcycled mint tins! You can also check out these other ideas:

Clay Photo Holders • Comic Book Frame • Concrete Candle Holders • DIY Bulletin Board • DIY Door Stop • Floral Hanging Frame • Glue Art • Modern Nesting Dolls • Painted Baskets • Pom Pom Garland • Pom Pom Wall Hanging • Poster Hanger • Sand Terrariums • Song Lyric Art • Twig Candle Holders • Wall Decals • Wood Bead Garland • Yarn Wall Art • Yarn Wall Hanging

The post DIY Dry Erase Board in Minutes for Home or Office appeared first on DIY Candy.

Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll need to know how to use a drill and screw things into wood, as well as hang something on the wall. Besides that it’s a relatively simple project.

Hey guys – It’s Aki again from Minted Strawberry. It’s already spring – and with it comes organizing and purging! I’ve been looking for an effective way to display the necklaces I wear the most so they don’t tangle with each other, and I’ve concluded that I needed a jewelry hanger.

My mother-in-law brought me this gorgeous driftwood piece that’s been sitting in the storage for months, so I thought that would be the perfect base for my jewelry hanger.

I believe around this time of year is the perfect time to acquire driftwood pieces! There would be lots strewn about on the beach and it won’t be picked over by people yet.

Once you grab a piece of wood off of the beach, you’ll be ready to make your own jewelry holder. Here’s how this home decor project is made.

Tip: if you don’t have an ocean nearby, grab driftwood from Etsy.

Gather These Supplies

• Driftwood piece or wood base
• Crystal knobs
• Drill, 3/16″ bit
• Flat nose pliers
• Dremel Rotary Tool (optional)
• Picture hanger
• Screws or eye hooks – 2
• Jute string
• Sharpie
• Tape measure
• Wood glue (optional)

This project is a one-of-a-kind piece that gives off a natural, relaxed vibe. It’s really perfect for the Spring/Summer months.

I think it’s also a really great piece to give away to someone whose style is minimalist, boho chic, or even someone who loves the beach. Get the how to below:

Print

Driftwood Jewelry Hanger

Learn how to make a jewelry hanger out of a piece of driftwood. It's a unique display and looks great on the wall.

Course DIY Projects

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 1 hanger

Cost $5

Equipment

• Drill with drill bits including 3/16″ bit
• Flat nose pliers
• Dremel tool optional
• Picture hanger with nail
• Hammer
• Scissors
• Tape measure

Ingredients

• 1 Driftwood piece
• 3 Crystal knobs
• 2 Screws or eye hooks
• Jute string
• 1 Sharpie(s)
• Wood glue optional

Instructions

• Clean your driftwood with a slightly damp cloth (if necessary) and let dry.
  
• Use a tape measure to decide the location of the knobs. I determined I needed about 3 knobs on my hanger, so I eyeballed mine. They ended up roughly spaced at 6 1/2" apart. Mark with a Sharpie.
  
• Choose the knobs for your project. Slowly drill a pilot on hole on the marked holes. You want to do this step so that you don't crack your wood piece, as it is somewhat fragile.
  
• Once all your pilot holes are drilled, change the drill bit to a size that would accommodate the screw from your knob and drill to widen the holes.
  
• Drill through the back of the driftwood and attach the knob. Shave off any excess wood on the back with the rotary tool. You can also cut the end of the screw off with the right bit. This is optional to make the knobs go all the way through, and so the organizer sits flush against the wall.
  
• To secure the knobs, use hex nuts to tighten them to place.
  
• To hang, I used two screws and drilled it to the top-most stable surface of the driftwood piece. I used 3/4" screws to give it a good hold. If it allows, you can use 1 or 1 1 /2" screws for it to be more stable.
  
• Add the screws or eye hooks and tie the jute string to the hooks. Hang from a picture hanger to display.
  

Notes

My piece of driftwood was free – cost varies depending on the price of knobs and if you purchase the wood.

If you enjoyed this hanging jewelry organizer, you’re going to like these other posts too:

Coffee Filter Wreath • Concrete Candle Holders • Decorate a Pillow Cover • DIY Bath Mat • DIY Door Stop • DIY Gold Frame • DIY Plant Hanger • Felt Ball Garland • Floral Hanging Frame • Modern Nesting Dolls • Paint Fake Flowers • Painted Baskets • Painted Doormat • Pom Pom Garland • Pom Pom Wall Hanging • Poster Hanger • Ribbon Wreath • Song Lyric Art • Twig Candle Holders • Wood Bead Garland • Yarn Wall Art • Yarn Wall Hanging

The post Beautiful Driftwood Jewelry Hanger You Can Make appeared first on DIY Candy.

In my DIY concrete project roundup, I told you that my business partner wanted to do a home decor project with the stuff, and he finally completed his project. I present to you these cement candle holders made with Quikrete and plastic bottles (among a few other supplies).

He had a great time with them, and I’m having an even more fun time sharing his first project. If you’re interested in crafting with concrete, these candle holders are a great place to start.

They look so unique and we’ve gotten so many comments on them . . . plus they are made using recycled bottles, which is awesome. Here’s how they were made.

Gather These Supplies

• Quikrete
• Recycled bottles – any size and shape as long as the mouth is wide enough to fit a candle
• Bucket
• Sifter
• Candles
• Scissors
• Small saw
• Razor blade
• Cooking spray
• Small plastic container
• Wood shims (optional)

These concrete candle holders are one of our FAVORITE projects ever! But I’m not done . . . I did something fun with one of them.

I grab some scalloped painter’s tape and applied. then I slapped some paint on it (a few layers) and then removed the tape and let dry. You could use spray paint too.

This gives you a bit of a different look – the metallic paint and concrete look so good together, don’t you think? I love these DIY concrete candle holders so much!

Print

Concrete Candle Holders

Learn how to make cement candle holders using plastic bottles! These are such a unique home decor project.

Course DIY Projects

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Dry Time 24 hours hours

Total Time 25 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings 3 candle holders

Cost $5

Equipment

• Bucket
• Sifter
• Scissors
• Small saw
• Razor blade

Ingredients

• Quikrete
• Recycled bottles any size and shape as long as the mouth is wide enough to fit a candle
• Candles
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Small plastic container
• Wood shims optional

Instructions

• Remove any thick labels from the bottles (that might impede cutting or opening the bottle later). Rinse out and let dry.
  
• Use a sifter (colander) to sort the bigger stones out of the concrete, into the bucket – you want to use fine particles. Put the rocks back into the bag or throw them into your garden.
  
• Spray the candles with cooking spray at the ends to get them ready.
  
• Mix the concrete according to package instructions in a small plastic container and pour into the bottles. Leave a little room at the top.
  
• Stick the candles in the top and let the bottles dry overnight in a safe place.
  
• Pull the candles out. The candles should slip out pretty easily due to the cooking spray.
  
• Saw the tops of the bottles to start releasing the candles.
  
• Carefully use a razor blade or box cutter down the side to further release the bottle.
  
• Peel away the plastic and let them dry again overnight before displaying.
  

Notes

Sifting the concrete can be optional depending on the type you buy – you may not need to.

If you like these candle holders, I’d love for you to check out these other DIY projects we’ve done:

Cactus Pot Painting • Clay Photo Holders • Comic Book Frame • DIY Gold Frame • Driftwood Jewelry Hanger • Fabric Wall Hanging • Faux Concrete Bookends • Glue Art • Hot Glue Mushroom Lights • Magazine Collage Art • Mini Dry Erase Board • Mini Planters • Poster Hanger • Sand Terrariums • Twig Candle Holders

The post Make Unique Concrete Candle Holders Using Plastic Bottles appeared first on DIY Candy.