DI-Wednesday: Upcycled Outdoor Table

I love this simple upcycled outdoor table from Sunset--not only is it recycled, it doesn't use any difficult techniques or unusual items--just a few screws and you're done!

Fixing Frugal Furniture Finds

Ever the frugalista, I'm always on the lookout for helpful tips on feeding my money-conserving instincts. This blog post on stripping furniture is a great way to renew an existing resource (vintage furniture) and expose the diamonds in the rough you can find at your local thrift stores.

DI-Wednesday: Storage Cubes

This is a great DIY for creating stylish storage (that's also sturdy!). You're only limited by the choices of oil cloth.

Monday Inspiration: Ikea Kitchens

It's time to start (seriously) thinking about a kitchen remodel--but, spending money always pains me. I'm thinking that Ikea might be the solution--nice cabinets at affordable prices...assembly required of course. Here's a great collection of real-life Ikea kitchens for inspiration.

DI-Wednesday: Ikea Table Hack

I love a good hack, and this one is great! This mod nightstand/side table was assembled with a few items from Ikea.

Great Idea: Drip Paint

This is great mod inspiration when you just don't know what to do with that old piece of college furniture or that fab thrift store find. The fun in this is that you're supposed to make a mess!

DI-Wednesday: Free Vintage Travel Posters

I love vintage travel posters, but they are few and far between (and usually expensive when found)--but a lot of library sites have some reproductions available for free! You just decide on how to print them, and the sky's the limit! Check out the collection here.

Great Site for Free Greeting Cards

Browsing the latest lovely blog I've found for crafty homemaking, How About Orange, I found that Canon offers a variety of free, downloadable greeting cards. Some of them are a bit hokey, but others are very mod and colorful.

DI-Wednesday: Steampunk Light Plates

On my continuing foray into steampunk, I found this fantastic DIY for creating one of a kind metal switchplates. The creator here uses small metal gears, but you could easily modify the method to fit your style.

DI-Wednesday: Citronella Candles

As much as I like gardening, it would be so much better if it weren't for the bug (especially the mosquitoes, who somehow manage to find me in the desert). Citronella candles seem more attractive than a smelly bug spray, but they've never been effective. Turns out that might be because the ones I've gotten don't actually contain citronella oils. Here's a great DIY to make sure you end up with the real thing from now on.

DI-Wednesday: Discover Your Style

Style quizzes abound lately, and they can be a great way to find out exactly what your style is, if you find that like myself, you are drawn to any number of things that don't quite go together. According to the variety of quizzes, I am Modern Original, Vintage Modern, Metro and Country Classic. You can find these quizzes here, here, here and here.

DI-Wednesday: Mod Ceiling Lampshade

Here's a DIY that will give you an expensive look for less: a lovely drum shade for your ceiling light fixture. A few materials and a few bucks (no wiring required) gets you a great look, courtesy of Young House Love.

DI-Wednesday: Photo Collections

This is a great idea for displaying your collections if you don't have a lot of space (or want to see them in every room!). Pull together a photo collage of your treasures--you can even use a photo editing software for added affect. Great, simple and inexpensive--the trifecta!

DI-Wednesday: Cleaning the Bathtub

No doubt we've all faced the task of cleaning the bathtub at one time or another, and since I've been trying to use more natural products for housecleaning lately, I was searching for something that might take care of the grimy bathtub without my having to open a window to keep from choking. And then, eureka! It looks like I can accomplish a sparkling (and nice-smelling) tub with a grapefruit and salt! I just so happen to have a grapefruit tree out back, so I'll be trying this soon to see how it works.

DI-Wednesday: Rustic Modern Bench

I'm all about the simplicity of recycled materials in this project--just a plank of wood and a set of hairpin legs are all that separate you from a glorious rustic modern bench.

Di-Wednesday: Creating a Garden Path

In my ever-present daydreaming on the perfect garden, I think of having circular pathways meandering around the backyard, giving me time to admire the kitchen garden, the citrus trees, and the variety of cacti. Here's a great and easy garden path DIY from Sunset--nothing too fancy or difficult, but with a spectacular result.

DI-Wednesday: Beet Print Cards

Remember when your mother's day gifts were simple items, constructed with crayons, blunted scissors and love? Well, there's no reason to stop the tradition--but your DIY gift can be far more sophisticated, now that hand-eye coordination isn't a problem. Take these simple beet-print cards--elegant and unique--just like mom!

DI-Wednesday: Twig Pushpins

I just had to post these simple and clever DIY for twig pushpins--if you're taking care of spring pruning and have some leftover branches, why not use them to decorate and organize?

DI-Wednesday: Pendant Lights

I love the nifty idea of turning a bowl (in my case, a thrift store find) into an eclectic pendant lamp. I imagine testing the drilling process on a few test bowls would be prudent, but after that, the sky's the limit!

Great Tool: AutoDesk

I am in love with this new, free tool from the makers of AutoCad: AutoDesk! This tool allows you to create 3D models of your design plans, and you can include samples and brands from companies like DuPont and FLOR--genius!