Doily Crafts and Decor

A quick look around my home will show a love for all things doily.  Yes, the delicate lace once used underneath lamps and on the back of lazyboy chairs.

Not anymore.  I bring you my latest doily craft along with a round up of 11 modern ways to use doilies in your home.

Source

 I was sending a letter inside a package and thought the envelope was too plain.  It was.  So, I took a paper doily that used in Clara's Pinterest Inspired Birthday Party and laid it over the corner of the white envelope.  Using a thin Sharpie, I traced inside each of the holes.  A short few minutes later, I had a sweet embellished envelope.

 Much cuter.

Here are a few more ideas for how to decorate and craft using doilies from some of my blogging friends.  They sure aren't your Grandma's decor anymore!

Doily Frame, Footstool, Flower Pin, Candle Holders, Wreath, Doily Pillow

  A few from around my house...

Doily Wrapped Prayer Cards, JOY letters, Spray Painted Donut Boxes, Framed Doilies

Seen any good ones on Pinterest?

  

PS - I'm introducing myself over on PB&J Stories today.  She has a great ETSY shop full of wonderful handpainted wood signs.  Swoon...  see?

Living Room Decorating Ideas {Hidden Books}

A few weeks back, I took a poll of my Facebook fans to find out what they do to hide ugly books on their bookshelves.  They had such great ideas, so I credit them for inspiring this one!

I really do hate the look of books on my bookshelf.  All different colors, sizes, and types.  Makes me cringe every time I look at it.
I had to do something.

After staring for awhile and considering have a large bonfire in my backyard to just burn them all {librarians, don't hate}, I found a solution.  Hidden books!

I'm hiding all those hideous covers behind ones I LOVE using magazine files!  I bought twenty five white cardboard magazine files from IKEA (also here on Amazon for those unfortunate souls without an IKEA).  They were cheeeeaaap... which is why I bought them.  In case my project failed miserably.

But, I'm actually really happy with the strength of the boxes.  And since my plan is to hide ALL of my books, I definitely didn't want to spend $10/file!

Look how sweet they look all lined up and pretty.  I'm so happy with the results.

Want to make some, too?

exacto knife, thrifted books with colored spines, glue gun, and magazine file

I bought all my books at thrift stores and tore off the covers to get to the beautiful spines.  There are some LOVELY ones hidden back there just waiting to be shown off!

Demolishing your books {close your eyes, English professors}:

I save the book pages for future crafts {one that I will reveal at the end of this post}.

To cover the magazine file, you will need your books to look like this:

So, cut off either the front, back, or both to create the look you need.  {I measured my books against the magazine file before cutting to make sure they would all fit across the back.}

Using a glue gun, attach the first book cover to the side of the magazine file.

Then glue down the edge of the spine.

Repeat this glue gun action for all your spines until your magazine file is covered.

In love.

But, don't worry.  I didn't throw away much from this project.  Here are three stacks of book pages used for decoration.  Did you know Pottery Barn was selling this?!  Probably for major $$$, too.

And I glued some of the leftover book covers together for some wall art in my bedroom.

Nothing went to waste.

Do It Yourself Home Decor {Thrift Shop Finds}

I love decorating my house with thrift shop finds.  Remember this basket design on my wall?  It still gets thousands of pins on Pinterest every month.  **smile**

Not only is shopping at a thrift store cheap, but there is a thrill in finding something good!

I'm addicted.  I admit it, ok?  But, to share in my addiction, I thought it would be fun to share a picture reel of my favorite thrift shop finds that I've used for my DIY home decor.

Here is my new favorite view in my house.

 
It shows off my most recent thrift shop finds.  Those three vintage suitcases that you all saw on my Facebook page last week still make me smile when I walk by.  They are filled with crafting supplies.  And Jonah calls them his "treasures".

And this lovely textured oil painting that I almost didn't get last weekend.  I'm not sure how I could live without it now that I see the difference it makes on top of my craft cabinet.

I chose not to hang it on the wall, but just allow it to lean against it.  Just a DIY home decor tip {or a lazy mom who doesn't want to hammer during naptime}.

I'm also preeeety excited about this nice collection of plates I'm gathering. My hope is to create something similar to this pin on Pinterest.  With plates that I'm absolutely in love with.

And you may have seen how I decorate with vintage pillow cases at Christmas time.  Well, I did it again with this lovely mustard dream and a yarn-crafted wall art I found.

And I'm still loving my DIY centerpiece.  Although, it looks so much better with a constant bouquet of flowers on it.  {Dear husband... are you reading this?!}

And finally, my adorable blue, teal, and cream book spine collection.  I'm going to rip the spines off these for another project.  For now, the are resting peacefully on my bookshelf.

Ahhhhh... I'm already wanting to head out to the thrift stores again.  Wish you all could join me.