Month: June 2014

DIY Monogram Coasters

DIY Monogram Coasters

Hello World,

I have finally hit the age where many of my friends have started getting married and having children. As a recent college graduate, buying my to-be-married friends a kitchen aide mixer or something super impressive is slightly out of my budget.

I went to my first bridal shower this last weekend, and scoured the internet for advice on what to give. Most of the advice I came across said that the bridal shower gift is usually less expensive than the wedding gift, with an acceptable price range being $25 – $75. Gifts can come from the registry if you want to play it safe, or you can go against the grain and give something handmade.

At first I thought about giving a spa set with bath items and toiletries, but decided against that because Pinterest was flooded with similar images and I had this feeling someone else probably had done that idea. I then scrolled through the bridal/wedding registry and noticed they asked for many kitchen items like: bakeware, pots, cooking utensils, etc.

Being Italian, I finally decided on giving a Italian dinner date night basket. (I figured food was safe, because it will eventually be used. Maybe after the fit-into-the-dress diet, but still useful.) I also read that giving monogram gifts is bad luck. In my case though, both the bride and the grooms’ last names start with the same letter.

To add a dash of handmade to the basket, I made some simple coasters:

DIY Monogram Coasters

1. Gather your supplies: small tiles, cork or felt bases, strong glue, paint, a paintbrush, and a clear sealer (not pictured).

2. Apply glue to your cork base and attach to the bottom of your tile.

3. With a pencil, I sketched out a single-letter monogram.

4. Paint your design and allow to dry.

5. Repeat with your other coaster(s) and spray them with clear spray paint or apply Mod Podge to waterproof them.

Bridal Shower Present - Italian Dinner Date Night

Here is the basket I gave. It included: a pasta scoop, a slotted spoon, organic pasta sauce, whole wheat pastas, extra virgin olive oil, a bottle of red wine, the coasters (not pictured because they were drying) and a metal colander.

Bridal Shower Present - Italian Dinner Date Night

The wine, pastas and extra virgin olive oil were also all made in Italy! I added crinkle paper shreds (from one of my Darby Smart boxes), wrapped the entire thing in cellophane, and topped it with a simple white bow.

This type of basket would also work as a house-warming or holiday gift.

Happy Crafting!

Darby Smart Kit Giveaway!

Photo Credit: Darby Smart
Photo Credit: Darby Smart

Hello World,

Earlier this week, my second DIY kit design (Constellation Canvases) launched on Darby Smart, and they are giving a kit away to one lucky winner! The kit includes everything you need to make the project, and comes in the cutest packaging! Who doesn’t love free things?! (Especially free crafting goodies!)

Sweepstakes ends 6/24/2014.

Enter here.

 

 

DIY Constellation Canvases (now a Darby Smart kit!)

Hello World,

Back in January, my first Darby Smart kit launched. The kit included all the craft supplies needed to make your own Suede Fringe Bib. Well, today I have exciting news! Remember my DIY constellation art tutorial? It just launched today as a Darby Smart kit!

Constellation-Canvases-Lifestyle-3
Photo Credit: Darby Smart

The kit includes all the supplies needed to make your own out-of-this-world home decor! Materials include: 3 mini canvases, Martha Stewart paint, Martha Stewart glitter, super glue, a silver sharpie, a foam brush, and (my favorite) silver spikes!

Constellation-Canvases-Kit-1
Photo Credit: Darby Smart

Head on over to Darby Smart’s website for more details, and if you make your own version, show it off it on Twitter or Instagram with #DarbySmart or #madebyme!

Happy Crafting!

Constellation Canvases - a Darby Smart kit designed by Laura Olphie