creative Home With Handmade Touches 2013 Decorating Ideas :House Tours from BHG

This homeowner gets creative with fabric leftovers, paper scraps, and bits of everyday ephemera to craft a designer look for less.

Casual & Colorful

The homeowner hired a couple of carpenter friends to fashion built in bookshelves (an expenditure she could afford thanks to her thrifty accessories and DIY ottoman). The inexpensive lamp base is topped with an old drum shade recovered in scrap fabric.

DIY Tip: Crown molding stained a rich dark brown frames a door size mirror that leans against the wall.

Make a Ruffle Pillow

A cinch to stitch in an hour, this pretty pillow requires less than a yard of fabric.

Gather materials: 1/2 yard of solid-color cotton quilting fabric (44 inches wide), 1/4 yard quilting cotton in four different fabrics (for ruffles), sewing machine, thread to match fabrics, pins, 16-inch pillow form.

1. Cut the solid-color fabric into three pieces: a 17x17-inch front and two 10x17-inch back pieces. Cut the four ruffle fabrics into 2½x35-inch strips. You need nine of these.

2. Turn the 10x17-inch pieces wrong side up. Fold one of the 17-inch edges over 1/4 inch, then again 1/2 inch. Iron folds. Do this with one side of each piece. (This will be your finished edge and the opening to slip your pillow form into the sham.)

3. On each fabric strip, sew a gather stitch 1/4 inch from one long edge. Gather to be 17 inches long. Pin a gather strip onto the right side of the front piece, positioning it 5/8 inch up from the bottom. Sew, following the line of the gather stitch. Continue pinning and sewing on strips to within 3/8 inch of the top of the front piece.

4. Finish sewing the pillow sham. Lay the front piece ruffle side up and the back pieces right side down so they overlap slightly. Pin the outer edges and sew the pillow together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out, iron, and stuff the pillow form into the sham. Finish by hand-stitching the opening closed.

Wall Art That Wows
In the living room, inexpensive frames around scraps of wallpaper embellish the mantel.
DIY Tip: Try fabric, wrapping paper, or even linens for another twist on this budget friendly artwork.

TV Time
To combat the cold, electronic look of her TV, the homeowner found an ornate frame that fit the room's feel. After applying molding to the back of the frame to add depth, she nestled her TV inside the frame, bringing together the entire aesthetic of the room.

Bowled Over
This papier-mache bowl cost pennies to create and provides the perfect catchall for living room stuff. Under the bowl, a piece of scrap wallpaper lines a simple retail tray.

Make It: Papier Mache Bowl

1. Cut or tear strips of magazine, newspaper, wallpaper, etc. Old blueprints were used here.

2. Make papier mache mixture: Stir together 1 part white glue with 1 part water.

3. Coat paper strips in the glue mixture and form over a bowl covered in plastic wrap. Apply two to four layers of paper. Let dry.

4. Remove plastic wrap and bowl. Use fine grit sandpaper to smooth the edges for a finished look.

The homeowner replaced dated, '80s era green marble around the fireplace with an affordable glass mosaic tile from modwalls.com. The green marble found a new home as a walkway in her garden.

DIY Tip: A downed sycamore in the homeowner's neighborhood became fireplace art. Corral cut logs with colorful fabric strips and you have an instant art piece.

Too Cute Kitchen
The homeowner stapled fabric scraps to canvas stretchers from the crafts store to fashion wall art. To protect her plaster walls, she used 3M Command mounting strips to hang each piece. Below the art display is the dining room table she and her mom repainted. A close look reveals lingering bits of blue paint. Fabric scraps make colorful coasters or an abstract table runner (see next slide for how to make your own).

Make a Rag Rug Doily
A basic coiling technique is all it takes to turn skinny strips of fabric into a striking take on a doily.

1. Cut or tear scrap fabric into thin strips. Roll them up bandana-style and coil into tight circles. Pin, then loosely stitch the coils together.
2. Customize! One circle works as a coaster. A few stitched together make a sweet centerpiece.

You'd never guess this handsome buffet was once a baby's changing table. The homeowner whipped out her old standby  a can of matte black spray paint and updated its icky yellow color to something much more mod. Replacing the hardware completed the look. The purple-tone art above is a wallpaper sample wrapped around scrap board. A blooming bouquet of paper flowers creates dinner party ambiance and never wilts .

Be Our Guest

The homeowner uses leftover and remnant wallpaper to add fresh personality and seasonality to her guest bedroom. She cuts three equal size lengths of wallpaper, then simply hands them from bulldog clips. The bedside chair has been recycled countless times with spray paint and fabric scraps.

DIY Easy Handmade Christmas Stockings 2013 Ideas from HGTV

No mantel? No sewing skills? No problem! These unique handmade Christmas stockings will inspire you to think outside the sock.

Instead of a traditional Christmas stocking, try making these fun, vintage grain sack inspired "stocking sacks" from Marian Parsons. With draw strings and custom painting, these sacks are cute and functional. Use them in lieu of stockings, as a stand-in for wrapping paper or as a personalized hostess or teacher gift.

These burlap coffee sack stockings have an effortless, vintage vibe. Sprigs of greenery peeking out of the top feel fresh and also hide the treasures inside from prying eyes.

Don't toss that old sweater. Instead, repurpose it as custom stockings for the entire family. This project requires no sewing machine or knitting needles and can easily be completed in an afternoon. (That's our Christmas gift to you!)

Give your holiday mantel a high-fashion makeover with custom leather Christmas stockings. Wouldn't these tanned beauties be so appropriate for a rustic industrial holiday?

Rate My Space user QuincyRN had the clever idea to repurpose cowboy boots as stockings for a dose of Southwestern charm.

These handmade plywood stockings from blogger Erin Loechner reflect a Scandinavian aesthetic and the wood subtly warms up the white mantel. Best of all? They're magnetic, so they can be removed and filled with ease.

Give your holiday decorations a playful twist by swapping out traditional Christmas stockings for metal pails painted with fun, bright colors. Who said stockings had to be made of fabric anyway?

Easy Handmade Valentine's Day Cards 2014 Ideas from BHG

Show your loved ones how much you care with a homemade Valentine's Day card made straight from the heart. Use buttons, bows, and embellishments to add sophistication and style to these Valentine's Day cards  your special someone will love the homemade gift.

Tied with a Bow Card : A giant heart on this Valentine's Day card is an unmistakable way to show your love. Cut and score a white cardstock base as shown in the downloadable pattern. Then embellish the heart with your favorite decorative papers. A lovely ribbon ties it all together.

See-Through Valentine's Day Card : A clear pocket makes your love easy to display in this Valentine's Day card. To make, cut a plastic slide holder into pieces, and attach a strip of pockets to the front of a card. Fill the pockets with punched hearts and stickers, and add a clever title (we used "It's clear to see how much I love you") that plays off the transparent look.

'I Heart You' Banner Card : Print a sweet message on metal-rim tags for a fun and flirty way to honor your sweetie. Connect the tags to the banner by stringing baker's twine through buttons and adhering the buttons to the tags. Attach to a layered card.

Two Hearts Card : A mix of hearts, polka dots, and flowers (as well as a red and green color scheme) keeps this Valnetine's Day card looking unique. Stamp a green and a red heart; trim. Use adhesive foam to attach the hearts to a layered card. Slip ribbon under the green heart, tie into a bow, and add a short message stamped onto a tag.

Checking You Out Valentine's Day Card : Attach a handwritten library card inside a library card pocket (both supplies available at scrapbooking stores) atop patterned paper to get your flirty point across in an unexpected way. Adorn with stickers and ribbon. Stamp hearts on cardstock rectangles, then mount to the side.

Valentine's Day Card for a Friend : A premade tag attached to this card with a flower brad reveals a sweet Valentine's Day message for a friend. Embellish a piece of white cardstock with different cuts of patterned paper, then type or print a message to be kept secret by the swinging tag.

Tweet-Hearts Valentine's Day Card : Show your very own "tweet-heart" just how much you love them this Valentine's Day. To create a round card, fold a piece of cardstock in half and partially cut a circle. Emboss a large heart to add texture, then layer two cute birds on top. For the banner, simply stamp letters onto a scrap of white cardstock. The grass is trimmed patterned paper.

Robot Candy Bar Card : Who wouldn't love a sweet robot-inspired valentine to celebrate the holiday? To make, use patterned paper to wrap a fun size candy bar. Finish your robot by adding a head, arms, and legs cut from cardstock. Use buttons, punches, and googly eyes to make the robot yours.

Heart Cutout Card : This sweet card is all about the heart. Layer shapes onto the front of your card, cutting a heart from one of them. Back the heart cutout with patterned paper. Add script paper and a bow to finish the design.

Guitar-Theme Valentine's Day Card : Let your valentines know they rock with this creative card  the design is especially appropriate for the boys in your life. Punch a circle in the bottom half of a card front, and attach five lengths of string vertically across the center, tucking them into a strip of paper. Back the opening with black patterned paper, and add letter stickers on top. A few punched hearts offer dimension.

True Love Quote Card : Find a love quote that your valentine will appreciate, and add it to your card for a quick do it yourself greeting. Using a word-processing program, fill a text box with color; type your quote, varying the size and color of the type. Print the quote on cardstock, and accent the quote with a punched heart.

Love Birds Card : This cute bird's folded wings are the perfect nesting spot for a sweet valentine greeting for your loved one. We used a felt accent for our message, but you can easily write your own on a paper heart cutout. This bird comes together using paper piecings perched on a felt branch. Define the design by outlining some of the piecing shapes using a felt-tip pen.

Cute Owl Valentine's Day Card : Sweet plays on words make creative sentiments for Valentine's Day cards. Here, an owl crafted from punched shapes (we used an oval punch, an oval scallop punch, and a corner rounder) delivers a simple message. Center a plain piece of cardstock with rounded corners on a patterned-paper card and attach. Add your paper owl and a message.

Valentine's Day Scratch-Off Hearts Card : This homemade card gets creative with scratch-off date ideas for Valentine's Day. Get the card template, available below, and type in your date night choices. Find out how to make your own scratch-off material in a few simple steps, too.

Aquatic Valentine's Day Card : This aquatic theme Valentine's Day card is a perfect holiday sentiment for your sweetie. Cut out our whale pattern from two different colors of cardstock, using a crafts knife to partially cut the flipper. Wood grain patterned paper provides a pretty ocean feel, or you can draw white circles onto teal paper with a white marking pen. At the top of your card, add a piece of white paper cut to resemble waves. Embellish the card with punched hearts, fish, and a typed or printed message.

Sophisticated Valentine's Day Card : Create a valentine that's both subtle and sophisticated by stitching around layered gray cardstock blocks. Trim around the card's sides with decorative edge scissors, and finish the Valentine's Day card with pretty accents found at a crafts or scrapbooking store.

Candy Bar Valentine's Day Card : This card is perfect for any loved one with a sweet tooth. Simply attach custom-wrapped candy bars to a stamped cardstock card using adhesive dots, then add felt embellishments or tiny tags that say "I love you."

Love-Struck Bird Card : Prove you're crazy for your valentine with a love struck paper pieced bird. Patterned scrapbooking paper makes up this adorable feathered friend use the photo as a guide to cut a body, wing, round eyes, three tail feathers, and a beak. Finish the card by cutting jagged grass, adding heart shape brads for eyes, and adding a simple, sweet Valentine's Day message.

Love Notes Cards : Send a simple, heartfelt message with one of these sweet and oh-so-easy handmade Valentine's Day cards. 

Make the I Heart You Valentine's Day card: Print the template onto plain paper, then cut out along the solid lines. Trace the template onto 12x12-inch cardstock, cut out, then fold as indicated by the dotted lines. Make the Heart Accordian Valentine's Day card: Print the template onto plain paper and cut out. On a piece of cardstock, draw and cut out a 5-1/2x12-inch rectangle. Fold accordion-style along the short side (as indicated by the dotted lines). You should have six sections. Place the template on the folded paper with the open side of the heart over the top fold. Trace heart and cut out. On contrasting paper, trace a heart that's slightly larger all around. Glue to the back of the center heart on your accordion.

2014 Romantic Handmade Valentine's Day Cards Ideas

Whip up cute and creative cards for Valentine's Day . You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find the perfect idea for your special someone. .... Enjoy it !!!!

Design by Lisa Spangler : Lisa tied a ribbon around the front of her card base to ground the design, then layered cardstock, patterned paper, and a decorative label over the ribbon to create a focal point.
Editor's Tip: Look for embellishments that coordinate with your patterned paper and title, like the cherries on this card.
SOURCES: Cardstock, stamp: Hero Arts. Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket. Ribbon: May Arts. Ink: Tsukineko. Pen: Copic (red, brown, green), Sakura of America (black). Glitter glue: Ranger Industries. Embossing tool: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft

Design by Tracy Kyle : Tracy used patterned paper printed with sweet sentiments to create a colorful background on this Valentine's Day card. She dotted the "i" of her greeting with a heart for a seasonal touch. Editor's Tip: Tracy added subtle interest to her card by placing a heart of rhinestones behind her card sentiment. For an opposite effect, punch small holes in a shape on your card front, letting the inside of the card show through.
SOURCES: Patterned paper: Scenic Route Paper Co. Stickers: Li'l Davis Designs (letters), Making Memories (red heart). Gems: Heidi Swapp.

Design by Lisa Storms : To create this clever card, Lisa embossed a wood-grain pattern on brown cardstock, then inked the edges to help the texture stand out. She added a die cut, piece of patterned paper, and stickers to simply embellish the greeting.
Editor's Tip: Missing a letter or punctuation mark? Use your creativity to cut one from another sticker. Lisa snipped a piece from a "P" to make her quirky question mark.
SOURCES: Cardstock: WorldWin Papers. Patterned paper: BoBunny Press. Stickers: BasicGrey (bird), Die Cuts With A View ("you be mine?"), Heidi Grace Designs ("wood"). Die cuts: My Mind's Eye. Punch, texture plate: Fiskars.

Design by Tracy Kyle : A die cut tree branch grounds a script-letter sentiment on Tracy's glittery valentine. Nontraditional colors create a modern look.
Editor's Tip: Look for heart-shape embellishments, like the button Tracy added to her card, for subtle reminders of the season.
SOURCES: Patterned paper: Making Memories. Die-cutting tool: Cricut by Provo Craft. Stickers, buttons: Doodlebug Design

Design by Tracy Kyle : A simple owl piecing gives Tracy's card a cute, trendy look. She covered the character in hearts and placed it on heart-pattern paper to play up the holiday theme.
Editor's Tip: Rather than spelling out your sentiment, choose a symbolic way to share your greeting. Tracy let her valentine know what's on her mind by filling a thought bubble with a chipboard heart.
SOURCES: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned paper: Heidi Grace Designs. Glitter paper: Doodlebug Design. Chipboard accent: Scrapworks. Eyes: Westrim Crafts. Embossing plate: Sizzix. Die-cutting tool: Cricut. Punch: EK Success.

Design by Lisa Spangler : Lisa layered strips of patterned paper and stitches to create dimension on her valentine. A ribbon bow tied around the card front coupled with a thread tie at the front of her button accent complete the design.
Editor's Tip: Turn notebook paper on its side and use the rough edge to create a decorative border on your Valentine's Day card, as Lisa did here.
SOURCES: Cardstock, stamps: Hero Arts. Patterned paper: Little Yellow Bicycle. Die-cutting tool: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft. Ribbon: Jo-Ann Stores. Ink: Tsukineko. Punch: EK Success.

Design by Lisa Spangler : Lisa created her card base from half cardstock, half patterned paper. She completed the design with a large die-cut frame. The decorative edges add whimsy to a simple rectangle card.
Editor's Tip: Hide the seam of two papers coming together with a decorative ribbon, like Lisa did here. SOURCES: Cardstock, gems, stamps: Hero Arts. Patterned paper: Little Yellow Bicycle. Die-cutting tool: QuicKutz (large frame), Spellbinders (small frame). Ribbon: Making Memories. Ink: Memories (red), Ranger Industries (distress), Tsukineko (black). Pens: Copic. Glitter glue: Ranger Industries.

Design by Lisa Spangler : Make your valentine sparkle by embellishing with gems, as Lisa did. Rhinestones placed in a line draw attention to her greeting and a trio of jewel hearts adds color and dimension.
Editor's Tip: Get a special handmade feel by using notebook paper as a base and adding simple sayings in a typewriter font. (You can change the opacity of your text in image-editing software to get the faded look.) SOURCES: Cardstock, gems, stamps: Hero Arts. Patterned paper: Little Yellow Bicycle. Ribbon: American Crafts. Ink: Stewart Superior (pink) Tsukineko (brown). Pens: Copic. Punch: EK Success.

Design by Tracy Kyle : Use a circle cutter or template to cut circles from patterned paper and adhere to the folded cardstock base. Cut coordinating border strips from cardstock; add ribbons and a printed tag. SOURCES: Cardstock: National Cardstock. Patterned paper: Daisy D's Paper Co. (floral), Anna Griffin (paisley), and The Paper Company (collage). Circle Coluzzle template: Provo Craft. Tag: Making Memories.

Design by Tracy Kyle : Fold cardstock for the card base and add strips of black. Attach flower-shape tags with decorative brads and ribbon. Add a metal sentiment charm.
SOURCES: Flower-shape tags: Autumn Leaves. Ribbon: May Arts. Brads and metal word: Making Memories.

Design by Cathy Blackstone : Cut a heart from fabric and adhere it to the cream cardstock. Ink the cardstock edges and zigzag-stitch the cardstock to the card front. Stamp a message and heart tags; attach as shown.
SOURCES: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Rubber stamps: Hero Arts. Stamp ink: Nick Bantock for Ranger Industries (brown) and Clearsnap (pink).

Design by Candi Gershon : Attach patterned paper and vellum to the card front with mini brads. Wrap a length of ribbon around the front panel and secure matted letters with adhesive dots. Add paper flowers and cover the ribbon ends inside the card with pink cardstock.
SOURCES: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned paper: SEI. Printed vellum: American Crafts. Punch-out letters: Mustard Moon. Brads: Lasting Impressions for Paper.

Design by Candi Gershon : Cut patterned paper to fit the folded card front. Add a library card pocket. Attach a computer-printed message to the pocket and insert a handwritten library card adorned with stickers and a ribbon. Stamp hearts on the cardstock, cut them out, and mount.
SOURCES: Patterned paper and letter stickers: Me and My Big Ideas. Computer font: Miss Priss downloaded off the Internet. Card pocket: Kopp Designs. Library card: Boxer Scrapbooks Productions. Rubber stamps: Stampin? Up! (large heart) and PSX (little heart). Stamp ink: Close To My Heart.

Design by Jennifer McGuire : Attach cardstock to the folded card front and add a swatch of coordinating fabric. Add a square of textured cardstock, more fabric, and a small silver charm adorned with ribbon.
SOURCES: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Textured paper: The Jennifer Collection. Heart charm: Hap's Memories.

Design by Jennifer McGuire : Mount a piece of dark pink cardstock on the front of a folded card and stamp the heart pattern with white ink. Cut light pink cardstock into a curving corner shape and attach. Cover the curve with threaded buttons and paper flowers and add rub-on sentiment.
SOURCES: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Rub-ons: Autumn Leaves. Rubber stamps: Hero Arts. Stamp ink: Tsukineko.