vertical wine cork board

Apparently I'm on a wine cork binge...

I am about to introduce you to the easiest wine cork craft you'll ever do: the vertical wine cork board! It's the perfect addition to small wall spaces that usually sit bare.

What you'll need:

Glue (I use Gorilla Glue, it's amazing)

Yardstick

43 wine corks 

Glue all the wine corks to yardstick. That's literally the only step (told you this would be easy) 

The yardstick should already have a hole at one of the ends, which makes it easy to hang anywhere!

wine cork keychain

A few summers ago I was in vacation in Napa Valley and bought an adorable wine cork keychain at one of the vineyards. Naturally, my DIY-driven mind immediately started thinking of ways to duplicate it. 

I've made a few over the years, but decided to put a spin on this one by adding a unique charm on the end. One of my friends recently moved to Nashville so I decided to make that the theme of her birthday gift. 

I used the following:

Wine Cork (darn, time to open a new bottle)

2 Screw Eyes

1 Split Ring

1 Jump Ring

Glue (I use Gorilla Glue for just about everything)

Wire

Needle Nose Pliers

Directions:

1. Print out a picture of whatever charm shape you want to create with the wire. Place the wire on top of the picture and start to bend it with the pliers. I used the extra wire length at the end to create a "heart" where Nashville lies. (Doing this also gave me a place to attach the jump ring) 

It definitely took a while to get the shape just right but be patient! 

If you don't want to use wire to create your own charm, you can use a jump ring to attach any charm you want. 

2. Attach the wire charm to one of the screw eyes with a jump ring, then start screwing it into the end of the wine cork. Once you've made the hole, take the screw eye out, put some glue on it, then screw it back in. (As time goes on, the screw eyes will come out of the wine cork if you don't use glue...I learned my lesson the hard way)

3. Attach the split ring to the other screw eye, then repeat screwing it in and adding glue.  

4. Voilà! You have now successfully made a wine cork keychain!

chalkboard frames

All hail chalkboard paint! 

It's the easiest trick in the book for creating fun, shabby chic décor. 

I found these oval frames at a local thrift shop and knew they had potential. 

(Once I looked past the hideous gorgeous photos that came in them)

I'm a fan of chalkboard spray paint because it goes on smooth and easy, but you can also find a regular can of paint if that's your preference. 

Just take off the back of the frame, lay the glass down and spray away! 

I'm using these to decorate at a Bridal Shower, but the possibilities are pretty much endless. Plus, the entire project cost me about $10...as if you needed another reason to make your own! 

how to style your bookcase

Styling a bookcase is an art. Seriously. Here are a few ways to keep your bookcase looking organized yet stylish, which is harder than it seems! 

First, you'll need books. If you've started using an E-reader or simply don't have a large collection, a great place to find unique & classic books is your local antique or thrift shop. Look for a variety of sizes and colors that will stand out on your shelves. 

As far as placing your books: stand some up straight, lean others diagonally and lay a few flat. This draws attention to the entire bookcase instead of just one shelf.

Next, choose a few meaningful items to arrange on top of and in between your books, such as a picture frame or trinket. This will showcase to your favorite pieces and add some personal flair.

Find accents that compliment each other but don't exactly match. For example: I used two canvases with inspirational quotes and burlap pails that say "No. 1" and "No. 2". I also included cigar boxes in natural wood and a vibrant red. Pairing similar items together keeps your bookcase looking coordinated. 

It's all about placement. Put everything together, change it, and then change it again until you like it. No one says it has to be perfect the first time!

repurposing shutters

Think again before you toss out those old shutters! 

They make great home décor statements...in addition to covering your windows. 

I found this shabby-chic teal set at a local consignment shop and knew the possibilities were endless. I chose to display some of my favorite earrings and pins, but photos would also look great!  

his & her mugs

I've wanted to try the "Baked Sharpie" technique for a while now. 

So I figured, what better way than with His & Her mugs?

What you'll need: 

2 Porcelain Mugs

1 Black Permanent Marker

1 Red Permanent Marker

(and an oven)

I chose to draw the ever-popular lips and mustache, but create whatever your heart desires! Then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Seriously, where's the "that was easy" button?

wine cork coasters

Wine cork coasters look great on a coffee, dining or bedside table. 

Plus, they are so easy to make! 

What you'll need:

Wine Corks (Darn, I guess you'll have to drink a bottle or two)

Glue (we used Gorilla glue - the king of all glues)

Felt (cut into squares and attached to the bottom to prevent condensation from leaking through)

We found that gluing two corks together vertically, letting them dry, then attaching four pairs of corks together worked best.