Sunday Inspirations and a Link Party!

I may be the last person on the interwebs to hear about this site, but my husband told me about dornob.com this morning and lemme tell ya, I was impressed with what I found!  So much inspiration! My mind is spinning with ideas of how to incorporate dornob's DIY projects into my home.

Of course I'm going to share those projects with you!  Did you really think you had to ask?

(Click on pictures to biggify)

Using an old book as a planter. 

You don't get much greener than this, peeps! Imagine this on a mantle or tablescape, anywhere really.

Recycled Garden Hose chair

I know you crafty folks could make something like this, probably much cuter!  Imagine this with a black hose and turquoise-painted wood, or yellow hose and sunny orange paint...  And you know, people throw out leaky hoses all the time... this may be an excellent item to watch for on trash day!

Garden path/patio from sawn log ends

My father, cheap thrifty and inspired man that he is, actually made something like this years ago for my parent's home in Houston.  He just sawed some firewood logs roughly 3 inches thick and plopped them on the ground (he probably dug out the soil a bit first to level it, but really nothing fancy.)  He needed a path, he had some logs, problem solved.  Houston is a VERY damp and muggy place, and even sitting right on top of dirt, the untreated logs held up beautifully.  This would be a great way to make a path or patio on the super cheap, using up the last of the winter firewood!

Concrete Light Bulb Coat Hook

This is a super cool DIY project!  This makes me wonder how many other items could be used as a concrete mold to make hooks, pulls, knobs, etc.  Cheap glass vases from the Dollar Store?  The funky shaped jar your olives came in?  I'm sure there are so many things that I can't even imagine.  I have a feeling that I will be waking up in the middle of the night thinking about this one...  What ways can you think of to use this technique?

Green Landscape in a Bottle

I'm fairly certain I have seen this before, but it either slipped my mind or I am making things up again.  Either way, I love this take on a terrarium.  Yet another great way to upcycle old bottles, vases, jars, whatever.  I don't have kids, but I bet it would be a blast to make this with your children.  I love that it can be as small or as large as you want, and I think this would be a great way to add some green to those damp, virtually sunless bathrooms most of us seem to have.  (Just me?)

Recycled Cardboard Laptop Stand

This DIY tutorial is pretty darn cool, and so simple.  I want to make one for my cookbooks.  I don't have space to have a dedicated cookbook stand on my counter, so this would be a perfect solution.  Set it up when I need to follow a recipe, and disassemble and store flat when I am done.  It would probably need one more supporting leg for the center, but that wouldn't be difficult at all, just cut three legs instead of two.  Or use a flat piece of cardboard to use as a base for the book.  Besides, when I spill that melted butter all over the counter, I'd rather it get on the cheap cardboard stand than my nice cookbook.  Just throw the stand out and make a new one! 

Birds on a Laundry Wire: Clever Outdoor Clothesline Design
Aren't these the cutest clothespins you have ever seen?  I'm thinking you could cut these out of chipboard with a jigsaw(?).  I'm not sure, but I love them.  There has got to be a way you could incorporate them into house decor as well, I just haven't thought of it yet.  What are your ideas?

Cheap Metal Hooks Turn Sticks to DIY Wooden Coat Hangers
I love this!  It has got to be the coolest hanger I have ever seen.  Maybe because I need to get out more, but I don't think so.  A hanger like this could be on display all the time - hang it on a door hook in the guest bathroom or make a bunch for your hall closet.  Or add it to that cute shirt you're giving your mom for a Mother's Day present.  Just be sure to clean the stick, obviously.  I'd probably seal it with some clear spray paint just to be certain that it wouldn't cause any staining.  I can't imagine a nicer looking hanger for anywhere near as cheap!

Hide Cords in Plain Sight
Oh how I LOATHE wires all over my house. LOATHE.  If they are on the floor, I trip on them, no matter how "safely" they are tucked against a wall or under a rug.  If they are hanging down the back of a table, you can bet they are peeking out and making my brain hurt.  I live with a geek who loves his geeky toys (to be honest, I love his geeky toys to, we have pretty wicked electronic thing-a-ma-jigs that I can never operate but make for great movie watching and so forth) but with all those electronic toys we have CORDS everywhere.  Argh!  I have to admit, when I saw this fun way to "hide" cords in plain sight, I sighed a little, because I could so do this right now with the phone cord in my living room.  At least I'd be less likely to vacuum them up (again), right?

Declutter a Workspace

Speaking of wires everywhere...This is so simple, I feel kinda dumb for not thinking of it.  Maybe everyone already knows about this, but I sure didn't.  Pegboard.  Under your desk/workspace.  Hide all the ugliness, yet still be able to unplug something without first having to untangle eleventy billion wires, which means you don't frighten the dogs with all your loud swearing.  Genius.

DIY Area Rug + LED Floor Lamp = Bright White Carpet Light

Whoa.  Is this not a wickedly awesome idea?  Can you imagine having a glowing rug?  You could make this in just about any color, I've seen these LED rope lights in tons of colors.  You could even make them blink or sparkle, or use the strands that change colors.  Groovy. 

Imagine this as wall art.  I bet this gives the most amazing ambient light - it could even be used outside.  Ooo, or hung on the ceiling!  Over a bed perhaps?  How about using it as a holiday "wreath"?

SO many possibilities for this project!  (Now if I just knew how to crochet.)

Vintage Leather Belts Recycled into Rugs, Mats & Floor Tiles

This may easily be my favorite inspiration yet.  According to the linked post, buying these lovelies can run $70 per square foot or more.  I don't think so, ladies!  I know we can make this for MUCH less.  On your next garage sale/thrift store/closet cleaning expedition, keep your eyes open for leather belts and start stocking up.  Imagine what you can create with belts, some canvas backing, glue, and a sharp box cutter.  Not only the previously mentioned rugs, mats, and floor tiles, but placemats, seat covers, tabletop inlays, desk blotters. covered headboards, upholstered trunks... oh my gosh, so many ideas! 

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I hope that this inspired you as much as it did me!

What has inspired you lately?

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