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ReadyMade Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure

January 7, 2011 By: Anna6 Comments

ReadyMade Mag's DIY Tie to Suitcase Label Project

Ready Made Mag's DIY Tie to Suitcase Label Project

Are you the crafty type? A person who can take ordinary trash and make it into something jaw droppingly awesome? Or maybe you are a wanna be like me who just admires from  afar, but could never put craftiness into action.  Recently, I got to drool like an adolescent adoring Justin Bieber while flipping through  ReadyMade Magazine’s top 2010  projects slideshow.  The magazine features young and hip do it yourself projects with  simple instructions so even a klutz like me could do them.

Come on, Anna, what could be that fab?  And Justin Bieber? Really?

Hold your pink horses, people.  I decided to narrow down my top 5, um 6, um 7, okay well 5 choices.  The judges included me, myself, and I.  What a distinguished trio, let me tell you.  I am not listed them in order of “like,” but as as they appeared in the slideshow.  If I had to put them in order of like, this trio of judges would never agree. It would be like American Idol with Simon. You get my drift?  Which one of the judges do you think Simon is? 

So, a little drum roll, people.

Light Bulb Vase

DIY Incandescent Light Bulb Vase

DIY Incandescent Light Bulb Vase

Often times, I stare at a burnt out incandescent light bulb, and say who can use this.  I hate throwing things away.   Incandescent light bulbs are going to be a thing of the past.  And California is working hard at making that happen sooner.

Why not make you last remaining light bulb into a beautiful vase so you can remember all the happy times you had together.  Remember basking in its heat making, energy hogging light? “Ah, memories like the corner of my eyes…”

For less than a dollar, you can make a beautiful incandescent vase so when your grandchildren ask you “Grammie (or if you prefer to be called by your first name), what was the incandescent light bulb,” you can just point to your vase.  As Candice Olson, says, “how divine.”

Etched Labels for Jars

DIY Etched Glass Jars

DIY Etched Glass Jars

How many suffer from the “which jar did I put it in” syndrome?  All flours starting to look alike?  Tell me that I am not the only one.  Or how many use the masking tape or Avery sticker method for labels?  This is the era of Pottery Barn and those labels are  just so yesterday and sooo college.  Girlfriends,  you know what I am talking about.

We all want perfectly “Pottery Barn” etched label jars.  Don’t lie. I know you all want this. So, how cool is it if you could etch your own jars yourself and brag to all your friends.  (Yeah, yeah, tell me you crafty types don’t do this.  I will show you a dog who doesn’t pee on  a tree.)

In the instructions, you use masking tape and vinyl letters.  Now, I am not loving the masking tape and vinyl letter idea since I am not a big plastic user lover. Any ideas, oh crafty ones, on some alternatives for the masking tape and vinyl letters?

Coffee Can Lamp

DIY Coffee Can Light Fixture

DIY Coffee Can Light Fixture

Folgers never looked so good.  Well, I guess it is true.  Good to the last drop.  Think Thomas Edison drinking his coffee and deciding to make a lamp out of the tins.  Talk about a light bulb going off in his head.   Absolute a conversation starter.

Follow these handy coffee can lamp instructions, and you will have that one of kind fixture in your kitchen.

Mexican Oilcloth Wallpaper.

DIY Mexican Oilcloth Wallpaper

DIY Mexican Oilcloth Wallpaper

This wallpaper is not from the statement of less is more.  The more vibrant the better.  Want to make a statement and show the world that you are not afraid of color? (A la HGTV’s David Bromstad?)  Well, get cracking and start wallpapering your room with Mexican oilcloth.  You can buy oilcloth here.  Don’t stop at wallpaper.  What about your open shelves? Talk about a decor statement.

To be greener you might want to see if any second hand stores carry used Mexican oilcloths since the cloth is plastic coated.

Switch Plate Planter

DIY Light Switch Planters

DIY Light Switch Planters

Renovating your house?  Don’t pitch the switch plates.  Make switch plate planters out of them.  These switch plate planters can really grow on you.  (Heck, I could resist.)

Not renovating, but love the planters?  You could buy them from a surplus building center.  See a list of surplus building centers links in one of my first articles.  (Want to see big hair- Jersey Shore-Snookie style?  Check out my four year old video of my visit to Build it Green in NYC.  Shortly thereafter, I cut it off and asked myself what was I thinking with all that hair? It works for Snookie.  Not me.  *Sign*)

I urge you to take a peek at all 20 entries because my taste (although fabulous) might not be yours.  You might think the garden living wall, the  luggage tag made from a tie (pictured above,) or the recycled wooden table might be your favorites.  I just thought if I stuck in too many gardening items, you all would throw your hands up at me and say “enough of the gardening already.” (You know I am obsessed with gardening?)  Trying to keep my obsession in perspective.  I wonder if I could wallpaper my bathroom with seed catalog pictures….

And if you love Ready Made Magazine, you can buy a year subscription at GT’s Store.   It is quite reasonable at $6.95 for six issues for 12 months. So, let’s get crafty, people.

Questions

Which of the 20 projects did you love?

Have any of your own hip do it yourself decor ideas?  Would love pictures and/or links to your sites.

Do you love to create trash into treasure.  (By the way, I am insanely jealous.  Some are born to whine and others are born to do.)

Photos courtesy of Ready Made Magazine.

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  • Rewiring a Lamp Bound for the Trash
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  • EcoSmart LED Reveal and Giveaway. Move that Bus!

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Ready Made Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure | Green Talk™ -- Topsy.com says:
    January 7, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Green Moms Carnival. Green Moms Carnival said: Ready Made Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure: Ready Made Mag's DIY Tie to Suit… http://bit.ly/ibIRqD […]

    Reply
  2. Tweets that mention ReadyMade Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure | Green Talk™ -- Topsy.com says:
    January 10, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ReadyMade Magazine and Greentalk . Greentalk said: RT @greentalk ReadyMade Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure http://bit.ly/fh1uBf. Have any great DIY decor ideas? […]

    Reply
  3. 20 Ways You Can Start Living Green in Keller | Arthouse says:
    January 13, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    […] a look at their featured article showcasing Read Made Mag’s Top 20 DIY projects and start living Green in Keller, […]

    Reply
  4. ReadyMade Mag’s Top 20 DIY Decor Projects. Trash to Fab Treasure « Home Decorating Ideas Living Room says:
    November 6, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    […] View the original article here Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]

    Reply
  5. Lámpara de techo reciclada « Manualidades says:
    May 17, 2012 at 8:12 am

    […] Fotos: green-talk. […]

    Reply
  6. Un macetero hecho en casa « Manualidades says:
    August 14, 2012 at 10:17 am

    […] Foto: green-talk […]

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