We’re completely in love with this cute horse ornament! The best part about this ornament is that it looks more complicated to make than it actually is! You don’t need any sewing skills to make it, and you don’t have to follow along with the tutorial exactly to make one. Just use the supplies you have on hand! Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) 8″x10″ piece of felt or any other kind of stiff cloth

2) 8 mm black sequins

3) 6/0 black glass beads

4) 10 inches gold cord

5) 2 star fasteners or star sequins

6) 16″-18″ of 1/8″ leather cord or ribbon

7) 6″ white fringe trim (you can also use yarn in the color of your choice, just brush it with a brush to fluff up the yarn to make it look more like the horse’s mane)

8) Horse pattern (open up the image and right-click to save it to your computer)

9) Embroidery needle, black thread, and white embroidery floss (if you decide to stitch instead of glue your horse)

10) Glue gun and glue sticks (if you decide not to stitch your horse)

11) Scissors

Horse Pattern:

Step #1:

Print out the pattern. Cut out 2 of the head and 2 of the ear.

Step #2:

Place the 2 head pieces on top of each other. Glue a sequin on each side for the eyes. Glue or stitch an ear on each side of the head.

Step #3:

Place the fringe or yarn between the two head pieces for the horse’s mane. Trim the fringe if you feel it’s too long. Cut out a piece of the gold cord and place it between the 2 head pieces just behind the ear.

Step #4:

Glue or stitch the head pieces. Leave the bottom open so that the candy cane can fit inside. Cut 1 piece of leather or ribbon that’s 5 1/2″ long, and 1 piece that’s 9 1/2″ long. Begin on one side of the nose and glue the horse’s reign across the nose. Stop gluing at the point where the neck ends. Loop the reign around the head and glue the same portion to the other side of the nose. The ends should meet at the top of the nose. Step #5:

Begin about 1″ from the top of the nose and glue the harness to the head. Loop it around the head just behind the ears and meet at the same point on the other side. Trim if you need to. Glue a star bead at the point where the 2 pieces meet. Insert the candy cane. Done!

Photos and idea: Serendipity Refined.

If you’re looking for a cheap way to make your ordinary lamps more glam, this tutorial is for you! This lamp is from Target, and the ‘glass’ base is made from Coke bottles! The lamp looks stunning, and you can’t tell that the base is plastic and not glass. Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) Target lamp

2) 14 Coke bottles

3) Duct tape

4) Nail polish remover

5) Valspar Brilliant Metallic Silver spray paint

6) Fabric of your choice

7) Cardstock

8) Scissors

9) Glue or tape

Step 1:

Cover the lampshade with the fabric of your choice and glue in place.

Step 2:

Give the lamp at least 2 coats of spray paint and allow it to dry between coats. After the last coat, allow it to dry completely overnight.

Step 3:

Cut the Coke bottles according to the photo. Cut one lower than the other. This helps the 2 pieces fit together easier.

Step 4:

Remove off the stamp dates with nail polish remover.

Step 5:

Make rings out of 8 inch strips of duct tape folded in half lengthwise.

Step 6:

Now you can begin stacking. Spray paint a smaller piece of bottle for the bottom of the lamp. Add a ring, then a bauble and work your way up. Add small dabs of glue or tape to hold things in place if you need to.

Step 7:

Add a little piece of cardstock (covered in duct tape) at the top to finish it off.

All finished! This is a great project for those who love to recycle, and the lamp looks ultra glam with the clear base! No one will ever know you used plastic bottles!

Photos and idea: Matsutake Blog.

Canopy beds add an instant touch of elegance and drama to any room, but the prices are always on the high side. To make your own canopy bed, all you need are some simple tools and a fabric of your choice.

1. Use a Dowel

For this version, all you need are wooden dowels, thumb tacks, and a fabric of your choice. Insert the dowels through the fabric casing and thumb tack it to the ceiling.

2. Hoop

Mount a hoop to the ceiling and drape fabric over it. Use netting for a sheer, delicate look, or try patterned fabric and beads for a boho feel.

3. Curtain Rods

Mount 2 curtain rods parallel to your bed and drape fabric around the headboard. For a romantic look, try adding pom-pom trim.

4. Branch

For a rustic look, try using a branch! Insert it through the fabric casing and hang it from the ceiling. If you live by a beach, try using a piece of salvaged driftwood.

5. Rope

Use rope to hang your canopy over your bed. We love this simple wood and rope combo.

Photos: The Fuji Files, BHG, All Womens Talk, The Vintage Souls, HGTV.

Turn an old, junky coffee table into something fit for royalty with this easy tutorial! Forget about the high price tags that usually come with tufted furniture, and make your own for super cheap!

Here is what you’ll need:

– a second-hand coffee table (find one on Craigslist, thriftstores, or garage sales)

– foam

– quilt batting

– buttons

– paint/stain

– upholstery thread and needles

– nail-head trim

– fabric of your choice

Step 1:

Decide how you want your tufting pattern to look like and drill holes through the coffee table.

Step 2:

Cut the foam to size and place it on the coffee table. Next, wrap the coffee table in quilt batting. Staple the batting under the coffee table to hold everything in place.

Step 3:

Stain the legs of the coffee table if needed.

Step 4:

Cover the upholstery buttons with matching fabric if needed. Thread the buttons through the pre-drilled holes using an upholstery needle and secure on the underside of the coffee table.

Step 5:

To create the tailored band around the base of the ottoman underneath the tufted top, cut four fabric strips that are the length and width of your ottoman. For this coffee table, four 6″x40″ strips were needed. Staple the strips underneath the ‘poofy’ top section of the ottoman.

Step 6:

Fold the strips underneath and staple them to the wood.

Don’t forget the corners!

Step 7:

Add nail head trim to cover the visible staples.

And that’s it!

Photos and idea: M is For Mama.

This DIY is perfect for people who are on a budget, but still want their windows to offer some privacy. It’s also great for renters, because the fabric peels right off the window when you’re ready to take it down, or just want a change! We’ve teamed up with Fairclaims Roofing to help give us some tip on this easy window privacy idea!

What you will need:

Fabric of your choice, water, cornstarch, scissors, ruler, a piece of paper, and a paintbrush.

Step 1:

Measure your window that you want to cover and cut out a piece of paper to the exact measurements. Iron your fabric to remove any wrinkles, and lay the paper flat on the fabric. Cut the fabric out to the size of the paper.

Step 2:

Mix equal parts cornstarch and hot water and brush it onto the window with a paint brush. Smooth out the fabric so it covers the window from end to end.

Step 3:

To remove, simply peel the fabric off the window and wash the window with warm water.

Photos and idea: Anna Belvita.

Stylish bulletin boards are in, and plain ones are definitely out! These fabric covered bulletin boards reflect your personal style and taste, so make them unique and your own! Follow along with our simple tutorial to create one for your space!

What you will need:

– a bulletin board

– fabric of your choice

– craft paint of your choice

– small paint brush

– an iron

– spray adhesive

– glue gun and glue sticks

– twine for edging (optional)

Step 1:

First, paint the frame of the bulletin board in the color of your choice.

Step 2:

Measure and cut the fabric to the exact size of your bulletin board. Iron the fabric to remove wrinkles. Use spray adhesive on the back of the fabric and the bulletin board and attach them together.

Step 3:

If you like, add the sisal twine between the frame and the fabric using the glue gun.

That’s it! Really easy and quick! A great addition to any space where you’d like to be a little more organized! These bulletin boards are great if you are working from home or doing schoolwork at home. To make your life a little easier when it comes to schoolwork and writing essays, consider checking out write my essay reviews and academized legit to help you write like a pro!

Photos and idea: The Happy Housie.

]]> https://betterhousekeeper.com/2014/06/06/diy-fabric-covered-bulletin-board-great-for-the-office/feed/ 0 https://betterhousekeeper.com/2014/05/15/5-ways-to-makeover-your-ugly-couch-on-a-budget/ https://betterhousekeeper.com/2014/05/15/5-ways-to-makeover-your-ugly-couch-on-a-budget/#respond Thu, 15 May 2014 18:21:45 +0000 http://betterhousekeeper.com/?p=489 Couch looking drab, but don’t want to spend a fortune on a new one? Here’s 5 tips on how to give your couch a makeover for cheap!

Give your couch the makeover you’ve always wanted by following our 5 tips!

1. Drop Cloth

Get the biggest drop cloth you can find and lay it over your couch, estimating where you need to cut it. Make sure to leave extra for when you tuck and fold the cloth into the crevices of the couch. The amount of fabric you have is the key to it not moving or slipping. When you’re finished, add a few decorative pillows for a final touch.

2. No-Sew Pillows

Change up your pillows without sewing! Lay a pillow flat over a piece of fabric larger than your pillow. Simply fold the fabric over the pillow and make a knot! Tutorial here.

3. Blanket

Using a large, thin blanket, simply drape it over your couch and tuck it in the crevices. Try one with fringe for a unique look.

4. Couch Legs

You can change the legs of your couch for a new look, or paint the existing ones to freshen them up.

5. Paint

If you’re brave enough, you can paint your couch! Simply buy fabric medium and mix it with the acrylic paint of your choice. Tutorial here.

Photos: Pottery Barn, Aliexpress, Fabric Bliss, Organize Your Stuff Now, Another Big Bite.