Foodies Paradise

Two of the best foodie sites I have ever found are Serious Eats and Food Gawker, which have page upon page of the most luscious-looking recipes you've ever seen 

. . . so feast your eyes!

Tin Can Luminaries

These tin can luminaries would make great decorations for night-time celebrations, and you can create all kinds of designs, and paint them all kinds of colours too. Go here for instructions. 

How to Distress Jeans

If you've got a pair of jeans hanging around that just look too 'new', then this video will help you make your jeans get that designer-esque vintage look by, among other things, staining them with coffee and running them over with a car!

Because everyone knows that 'distressed' is the new black ;-)

T-Shirt Weaving

I've just invested in a peg loom myself, but if you would like to make one instead, then here is a good tutorial using dowel, and this one is an even cheaper version using scrap wood and nails.

The second tutorial shows you how to weave using t-shirt yarn, but you could use plastic bag yarn or regular yarn instead of course, and you could make scarfs, table runners, wall art, beach mats. . . loads of stuff!

Go here for my previous post on yarn.

Making a Fringed Scarf

I saw this gingham scarf over on Label-Free, which I love, and they link to a tutorial on how to make one. It's really, really simple to make . . . so have fun!

Recycled Art

This great idea involves recycling cheap, found or used objects into objet d'art by coating them in latex paint. And if they're not solid, you can add weight to them my filling with putty.

Plastic and wood works best, so you could turn loads of cheap items into works of art for your house - from toy plastic food items to jelly moulds and baby building blocks!

Donkey Softie

This is such an adorable donkey softie, which has some really clear instructions over on Etsy. I've always wanted my own pet donkey, so maybe this is the (more realistic) answer!

Shadow Sculptures

This instructable shows you how to make an arty sculpture from copper/brass rod and plastic triangles, which (when the light is in the right place) casts a secret heart shadow on the wall behind it!

And these instructions tell you how to make a cat shadow on the wall by creating (what looks like) a pile of junk! I think both ideas have plenty of scope for experimentations, so have fun :-)

Woman's Day Food

Fantastic food resource, full of amazing recipes including the flourless almond and coconut cake, and my personal favourite...the toblerone cake!

There is also step-by-step guides to the perfect gravy, sponge, pizza dough and much more.

To find specific recipes, click here.

Textured Styrofoam Wall Art

Over on the official Styrofoam website are lot of projects involving -you guessed it- Styrofoam!

The mossy wall art above is made from Styrofoam sheets and faux moss, which I think looks really fab, and is a great way of bringing the outdoors, in.

 Click here for the tute. 

This wall art uses halved Styrofoam balls, and I think this would look very designer-esque in a minimalist home.

And lastly, this natural twig art is made from a twig table runner (although you could collect your own twigs if you want), and a Styrofoam sheet.

To search for more Styrofoam projects, go here.

Enjoy! 

Crochet Wire Leaf

I think these burlap pears look so sweet!

If you want to know how to crochet the copper wire leaf which is on the top, then follow this link.

Crochet is one of those things I've been meaning to learn for a while. . . and I've promised myself that I will...

...well, as soon as my dissertation is written, and my final year exams are over. . . Ahhhhh!  :-0

Concrete Lightbulbs

This project has an industrial design feel to it, which I love, and it's really very simple to carry out.

Concrete lightbulbs could be used for a few different things including wall hooks and decorations.

Go here for the instructions.

P.S. Some lightbulbs contain mercury, so it's suggested (in the comments) that you work outside with a mask on. Loads of people have done this project without a mask, but better safe than sorry!

DIY Tufted Headboard

Here is a tutorial on how to make a tufted headboard, so you can get professional results for a fraction of the retail price.

(And isn't that dog so cute!?)

Photowire Frames

This how-to shows you how to build the metal wire contraption shown above - so you can hang your photos in style!

Fabric Covered Buttons

These singleton buttons are actually made by covering plastic rings in fabric, and then adding some cute embroidery. This is the perfect use for your fabric scraps.

Pop Bottle Purse

This is an ingenious, cheap and environmentally-friendly use for empty pop bottles; just use a zip to turn them into a purse!

Unlike most purses, this has a hard exterior, so would be perfect for keeping any delicate, small items safe

. . . or you can just keep your money in it! Go here for the how-to.

Cheap Knife Holder

Easy knife holder made from a vase, lots of skewers and some white sand - and it's just the same as the expensive ones you can buy too :-)

Wooden Photo Cube

I remember making one of these when I was a kid and I was rather proud of it!

Basically, you glue photos (printed on thin paper) onto wooden cubes in a specific order, and it creates a fun puzzle cube like so:

Cupcake Ice Cream Cones

I think I've just died and gone to cupcake heaven. Not only are these cupcakes with yummy icing and funky toppings - but they look like ice creams! Mmmm, these would be great to eat while sitting on a deckchair at the seaside this summer (I live in England though, so it'd probably be raining!)

Go here for the instructions.

The recipe on the website uses ready-made cupcake and frosting mixes though, so if you would rather make them yourself, then find a cupcake recipe here, and a frosting recipe here.

Cityscape Lampshade

This is a very clever idea for decorating a lampshade - you stick a black paper silhouette on the inside of shade so you can't see it when the light is off, but when you turn on the light. . . ta-daa!

Go here for details.

Sweater Vest Top

Click here to find out how to make this amazingly funky vest top from a frumpy wool waistcoat.

I really love this kind of Nordic style pattern AND I love tops like this so this is a true winner for me!

Pallet Coffee Table

This table has got a lovely beachy/seaside feel to it - and it's good value too since the basis is just a recycled wooden pallet.

Click here for the tutorial.

Cookie Dots

Adorable little rainbow dot cookies - in bitesize portions!

Go here for the recipe.

Jelly Watermelons

These are such inventive and yummy summer snacks - and they're so simple to make using jelly (Jello to Americans :-)) in a lime skin. Chocolate chips are used to look like watermelon seeds - these are like mini works of art!

Leather Viking Shoes

This is one of my favourite recent finds - how awesome do these shoes look?!

 I totally love them - they remind me of elegant ballet shoes, but you can wear these outdoors!

Made from leather, you can find the instructions here.

Ice Teardrops

Ice teardrops would make amazing garden decorations if you have freezing temperatures where you live.

Just fill a balloon with water and freeze - it's that easy!

Go here for details.

PS. One of the comments suggests to boil the water (and then cool it) before you use it, so that the teardrops will be clear rather than misty after they are frozen :-)

IKEA Wood Veneer Tables

This gorgeous flower effect has been created using bamboo veneer on IKEA tables - go here for the tutorial.

Mantra Mirror

I think the idea of having a Mantra, a saying or your favourite song lyric on a mirror is such a great idea for making you smile, or giving you some inspiration in the mornings.

This tutorial shows you how to revamp a plain old mirror and gives ideas on Mantras. It also tells you to write the message in dry-erase pen, which would be fab for a temporary message, but I think using etching cream would look even lovelier (and will be permanent) - go here for etching instructions. 

Sparkleball Variety Pack

This popular project is basically a ball made from plastic disposable cups with fairy lights inside. They create a really pretty effect and here you can find a variety of them including mini sparkleballs and heart shapes!

DIY Photography Hacks

This post has some links to really useful photography hacks - from making a light tent and setting up a budget light studio, to making a softbox and a flash ring.

Slate Cheese Plate

This is a great idea for serving cheese in such an elegant way - and you can label the cheese too by using chalk on the slate tile.

Etched Glass Jars

The glass jars shown above have had labels etched onto them using etching cream . . . They looks so professional yet you can do this easily and quickly by following Martha's instructions.

Recycled Lights

This page has loads of great ideas for recycling everyday objects and making them into functional (and funky) lamps and lights - the water bottle chandelier is my favourite though!

Rustic Shelf

This lovely rustic display shelf is made simply from a discarded desk drawer (bonus points for recycling!), plus some paint, decorative paper and artificial branches/leaves.

Click here for instructions.

Yarn Bowl

This is such a fabulous idea for an arty decorative bowl - perfect for putting fabric, headbands and other bit 'n' bobs in!

Find the tutorial here.

Candle Sconces

These pretty sconce decorations strike me as very medieval and gothic in their style, like something Dracula would have on the wall of his castle! And if that doesn't make you want one, I don't know what will :-)

Go here for the tutorial.

Sock It To Me!

These are the most fantastic and imaginative socks ever!

And you can find even more weird and wonderful ones here.

St Patrick's Day Charms

I love shrinky dinks anyway, but this bracelet is a cute way of making the most of the technique - and it's perfect for celebrating St Patrick's day in style!

Go here for details :-)

Tissue Paper Bouquet

This is such a bright and cheerful bouquet of posies, I'm sure any mum would like these for Mother's day . . and they won't wilt!

Click here for information.

The World's Smallest Post Service

Click here to order your very own letter - in miniature!

Such a cute gift idea, and you get it all in adorable packaging including a tiny wax seal! Awww...

Taste Spotting

This is an absolutely stunning collection of the most mouth-watering recipes on the web, and some are very imaginative!

Go here for the site, which includes this recipe for almond cookies with raspberries and chocolate cream (pictured above). . . . SO yummy!

Crooked Sewn Coasters

These super cute coasters are so easy to make - go here for instructions!

Reclaimed Wood Table

Gorgeous table made from reclaimed wood - find out how here.

Bleaching T-shirt Designs

This t-shirt was decorated using a bleach pen, and the technique looks so creative and fun!

Because of the spread of the bleach pen, the end result has an original, artistic style.

Go here for the tutorial.

'Welcome' Bird Feeder

I think this is a lovely idea for feeding the birds in the garden during the harsh cold weather. Not only are you helping the birds out, but you are also giving them a friendly welcome and adding an attractive decoration to your garden!

Magnetic Fridge Words

I had a whole box of magnetic words once but they seem to have gone walkabout, so I'll have to make some more for sure - they are rather entertaining!

You can take magnetic sheets and glue printed labels or words cut out of magazines to them, before cutting them into rectangles.

To make the most out of this project, you should make alot of descriptive words, plus verbs, nouns and connecting words (like 'and' for instance). A range of words are necessary to have the most fun creating random sentences on your fridge!

You could include alot of rhyming words to allow poetry possibilities too :-)

Find the idea here.

Butterfly Artwork

Really cute and dainty artwork which is made simply by using butterfly stamps to cut different sized shapes from magazine pictures, then folding them in half for a 3D effect.

You could cut the shapes out of photos, music paper, painted paper...all sorts of ephemera!

Find out how, here.

Window Stencils

I think these window stencils - made from cutting out shapes in contact paper - look absolutely beautiful.

And you can recreate this look really easily. . . go here for details.