happy monday, friends! as a follow up to my post on how to make your own almond milk, i just had to share with you this ultimate guide to making non-dairy milks from yumuniverse. heather crosby shows us step by step how to make just about every nut milk there is (22 in all)- using everything from amaranth to poppy seeds, and brown rice to coconuts! in addition to easy instructions, she includes optional add ins and nutritional benefits for each of them, as well as ideas on how to use their left over pulp. i think you’ll really enjoy it!

wrap up: {diy} {hazelnut} {make} {milk} {non-dairy} {nut} {vegan}

these simple rustic linen lampshades would really set the tone for a home that you want to give a natural, comfortable and cozy feel. pictured above is the lampade bigger by orietta marcon, but remodelista has turned this idea into a diy project, so that with a few simple supplies we can make them ourselves! their wrinkled shades and earth tone colors really make them stand out as unique pieces. in this house, i envision antique furniture, cozy nooks and comfortable seating areas- and maybe even some cute wooly sheep out the window!

at night, they give off a warm, rustic and romantic light. i think a smaller version would also be beautiful hung over a dining room table, or reading nook. head on over to remodelista for the diy instructions!

wrap up: {diy} {italian} {lampshades} {linen} {rustic} {warm}

yesterday, i was so inspired after seeing these planted mugs over on design*sponge, that i decided to make some myself, as well as design some gift tags to go along with them! i was looking for a gift idea that was sweet, affordable and memorable – and voila. thanks design*sponge!

each planted mug only cost me $6 to make (can i get a woot woot?!). here’s what you need:

supplies:

- any type of mug – i grabbed mine from target for $3 a piece
- small plants to fit inside – i got mine from lowes for $2.98 a plant
- a few pebbles or rocks (you can usually just find some outside!)

directions:

first fill the bottom of each mug with a few pebbles, then simply place your plant in the mug and pack down the dirt around it. you may find it helpful to loosen the roots before you insert the plant.

another nice touch is to add a gift tag and a small bag of your favorite coffee, tea or mulling spices. i went ahead and made these tags a printable for you, so you can use them as well! just fill out the back with the plant instructions so that the recipient will know how to take care of the plant. i punched a hole in the tea bag and tag and tied it up onto a twig (stuck in the soil) using baker’s twine.

just click on the image above to download and print these gift tags to go along with your planted mugs. have fun!

wrap up: {craft} {diy} {freebie} {gift} {mug} {planted} {printable} {project}

i first got inspired to order some miniature bottle brush trees after seeing this pretty project from jeni baker over at in color order. with full intentions of bleaching them, then dying them pink and green. however, i had to stop half way through the process!

you see, my theme for christmas this year is white, white, white. actually, it’s the theme for the whole house! i love how sweet, simple and clean it looks. after i finished bleaching these little trees white, i fell in love with them and the winter wonderland they created. just look:

i think they’re so pretty and just darling as a center piece. here’s how i did it:

first, you’ll have to get your hands on some mini bottle brush trees. your local craft store should carry them but if not, you can find them here or here.

second, all you have to do is let them soak in a bath of warm water and a little bleach (i used 3 capfulls in my sink). the color begins to fade almost instantly. i let mine soak for a few hours until they were completely white, then i simply rinsed them and set them upright on a paper towel to dry overnight.

if you’re only making white trees, then you’re done!

HOWEVER, if you’d like to dye your trees into a dreamy color combo like these beauties from jeni baker, then you’re half way there! my mom ended up making some pink ones of her own, and the process is really simple. all you need is some rit dye! here’s the how to:

to dye your bottle brush trees:

step one: bleach your trees, following the instructions above.

step two: combine your desired amount of rit dye and warm water in a glass bowl (follow package instructions), and let your tree soak. just keep an eye on the color and remove the tree when you’re happy with it. leaving it in longer will make the color darker or richer.

step three: remove the tree from the dye and rinse with cold water. set on a paper towel to dry.

step four: if you want to add a little bit of extra sparkle (like jeni did), add some glitter using a glitter pen, or glue and loose glitter.

have fun!

wrap up: {bleach} {bottle brush} {christmas} {diy} {dollhouse} {dye} {mini} {miniature} {rit} {trees} {white}

we probably all have a crafter in our lives. you know, the one who gives handmade gifts, lives in their craft room, has an etsy shop, and/or is always doing some kind of a diy project. i think crafters are one of the most fun groups of people to buy for (probably because i’m one of them myself!).

have something to add? please share your gift suggestions in the comments section!

1) the crafter’s guide to taking great photographs – $16.47 | 2) paint box votive holder – $68 | 3) etsy gift card- $25-250 | 4) porcelain yarn bowl- $33 | 5) boxed japanese washi tape- £16.95 | 6) a subscription to do it yourself magazine – 2 years for $19.97 | 7) give any craftsy class- $30-75 | 8) filled with love embroidery kit- $25 | 9) make your own rabbit toy kit –  £15.00 | 10) grow your handmade business – $11.53

wrap up: {art} {crafster} {craft} {crafter} {diy} {gift guide}

working with felt is like dream. it comes in an array of colors and is so soft and easy to work with, especially since it doesn’t fray. these sweet little snowballs from the purl bee are a perfect example of what can be done with a little felt and some free time! i envision these ornaments adorning a christmas tree, hung at different heights over a dinner table or even hanging in window. head on over to the purl bee for detailed instructions on how to make these beauties yourself!

wrap up: {christmas} {craft} {diy} {felt} {holiday} {ornament} {snowballs}

hello lovelies! i’m attending fall quilt market this weekend (eeee!) and decided to make a little business card holder for the event. i made one for myself and another one for one of you as well! they are really simple to make, and only take a few minutes. each of these are made with some custom fabric i designed and ordered from spoonflower, but you can use any cotton fabric. read on for the tutorial and giveaway details!

supplies:

- 2 pieces of fabric measuring 4.5″ x 6″
- 2 pieces of fusible web (i use lite steam-a-seam 2) measuring 4.5″ x 6″
- an iron
- pinking shears
- sewing machine

step 1:
apply each piece of fusible web to the wrong side of each of your pieces of fabric and iron into place (follow package directions).

step 2:
peel off the paper liner of your fusible web and fold each piece of fabric in half, making each piece 4.5″ x 3″. iron to fuse together.

step 3:
cut around all 4 sides of each piece of fabric with your pinking shears, making one piece 3/4″ shorter than the other to make a place for your cards to ‘peek out’.

step 4:
lay one piece of fabric on top of the other and pin into place. using your sewing machine, straight stitch on top all the way around using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

finally, i’m so happy to be giving the one pictured above away to one of you!

deadline: giveaway will end wednesday, october 31st at midnight, pst.  the winner will be drawn at random and announced here on thursday, november 1st.

to enter: leave a comment below sharing why you’d like to win this business card holder. (attending an event? just need to have one handy?)

additional ways to enter:

>> like going home to roost on facebook, and leave another comment here letting us know you did so.

>> tweet the following, and leave another comment here letting us know you did so:

Giveaway! Enter to win this handmade business card holder on @gohometoroost! http://bit.ly/VkdTcE (Ends 10/31).

**giveaway is now closed. congratulations yuri (#6), you won!

wrap up: {biz} {business} {card} {diy} {giveaway} {holder} {tutorial}

i use baskets for just about everything. in fact, i don’t even have a drawer for my socks! i keep everything from scarves to dog toys in baskets of all kinds, so this diy for painted baskets from the marion house book really stood out to me. every time i go thrifting, i now scour the isles for big baskets- i would especially love to find some large round ones like these pictured above.

aren’t they beautiful? head on over to the marion house book to see the full tutorial.

and just for some added inspiration, i also love these dipped-dyed baskets from martha. oh, the possibilities!

wrap up: {baskets} {dip-dyed} {diy} {inspiration} {paint} {painted} {project}