rolling pin wrapping paper DIY

Posted by kait / December 19, 2012

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I can’t get enough of fun DIY wrapping ideas! From glitzy and glitter to the super simple – I love it all. I think that the fact you put work into creating a beautiful package to enclose your lovely gift in means almost more than the gift itself. I have working on a DIY Wrappings series for Swerve Magazine all month long and have been loving every minute of it. Not to mention, while I am doing the DIY, I am also multi-tasking by wrapping my Christmas gifts! Perfect.

Today I am excited to share a unique approach to printing your wrapping paper using a rolling pin and foam shapes. I drew and cut out the shapes I wanted for my cute and wintery paper design. Glued them onto the wooden rolling pin and away I went. See the whole DIY here.

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I also had the opportunity to meet with some of amazing gift wrapping experts at at The CORE and they shared everything I need to know to create the most perfect bow for your Christmas gifts this year. Hint: you’ll need two rolls of wired ribbon to achieve this incredible bow. Thanks Papyrus for the top secret tip!

Glitz & Glam Gift Wrap DIY

Posted by kait / December 18, 2012

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So excited to share one of my favourite giftwrapping DIYs over at Swerve Magazine with you – the Glitz & Glam Holiday Gift Wrap. Using the most beautiful luxe wrapping paper from one of the best gift & card shops out there, , I have created the ultimate kitsch gift wrappings. Totally inspired by both Andy Warhol and Barbie, you’ll be sure to dazzle any glitter lover this Christmas. To see the full DIY project, click here!

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Party in a Box Bookends DIY

Posted by kait / December 4, 2012

Excited to share this brand-new DIY project with you that I have over at Swerve! It is called Party in a Box Bookends and they are literally boxes with mini-parties inside. I went with a monochromatic party scheme but feel free to take yours to the next level! I picture pinatas, bunting banners and confetti. Find out how to make these fun bookends over here. They are perfect anywhere you keep books but I think they would be especially cute in a children’s bedroom! Your first library should be celebrated!

Neighborhood Clothing Swap DIY Printable

Posted by kait / December 4, 2012

Just as the saying goes, one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure! Don’t discard your closet rejects so hastily – help them find a glamorous new home by organizing a neighborhood clothing swap. I have a brand-new DIY & Printable over at The Neighborhood all about putting together a neighborhood clothing swap. I am a big fan of the act of swapping so take a note from me and plan your own party. I’ve got everything you need to pull it together including invitation templates, bunting banners and labels for organizing the clothing – all you have to do is send the invites! We all have those neighbors whose wardrobes you covet – so get out there and stick an invite in their mailbox.

You can also take your swap to the next level by providing some light refreshments like lemonade or hot chocolate. It doesn’t take much to pull together a potlucked table of delicious baked goods. Could there be anything better than delicious sweets and “shopping” for new clothes? I think not!

let’s neighbor: calling cards!

Posted by kait / November 21, 2012

Hello Neighbor! Getting to know your new (or sometimes old) neighbors is one of the first steps to bringing together the spirit of community on your block. I am part of a brand-new online Neighborhood that you have to check out! It is called Let’s Neighbor and it is an amazing resource of how to be the best neighbor you can be and to neighbor!

One of the simplest ways to inspire some neighborly conversation is to leave a sweet note on their front door. Whether it be a follow-up from your last Community Association meeting, accompanying a tin of homemade cookies or just a welcome note to a family who just moved in – a quick note is the perfect way to reach out and let them know you are there.

I have created a set of some super fun and eye-catching neighbor cards for you to print out and share with your neighbors!

Oh, won’t you be my neighbor?

put a bird on it: last minute costume idea

Posted by kait / October 30, 2012

Looking for a last minute costume idea for tomorrow night? My super simple Put a Bird On It DIY over at Swerve Magazine is perfect for the last-minute ‘weener! All you need is a pair of shades, felt and glue!

Wrapped Books DIY

Posted by kait / October 25, 2012

I love the look of wrapped books. Do you remember wrapping your textbooks during grade school? I just loved the scent of the brown craft paper and creasing the folds just so. Here is a super fun way to dress up some of those books on your shelf that have seen better days. Just grab some pretty wrapping paper and you’ve got yourself a stack worth showing off. Check out the full tutorial over at Swerve Magazine.

Also, don’t you just loved those Andy Warhol soup cans from Target? My lovely friend Micaela in Texas managed to pick them up for me! What a girl….

Some DIYs to Keep You Busy

Posted by kait / October 23, 2012

So excited to share these new DIY projects I have been working on over at Swerve Magazine. I think just about everyone is doing painted pumpkins this season – they are popping up on my instagram and Pinterest. And the felted wreath was SO fun to make – though I did burn my fingers a couple of times on the hot glue!

Here are the links! Enjoy!

DIY Felted Foilage

Glam-o’-lanterns DIY

DIY: Oh My Sign

Posted by kait / October 19, 2012

I am so excited to share with you one of my most favourite DIY projects I have ever done. I love the look of rusted metal lights that look like they fell off an old marquee sign or have aged beautifully in an abandoned carnival so I decided to create my own, complete with the vintage-look round bulbs! This project was done for Swerve Magazine and you can check out all of the steps to making your own here. It was so much fun, was super inexpensive and looks amazing on my office wall. Definitely what this room was missing!

Oh and did I mention that it is made of foam core?! Yes, it is a faux rust treatment I applied to the painted letters and I couldn’t be happier with the effect. I hope you enjoy this DIY and I would love to see some others take this idea and make it even bigger. I could picture it in a cute boutique or filling a whole wall!

Have fun crafting! x

battle pink: a bra fit for camp booby

Posted by kait / October 2, 2012

I was so excited when the people behind ReThink Breast Cancer asked me to be a part of their PINK Challenge. Supporting breast cancer is such an important cause as a woman and ReThink is doing such a great job making a subject that can be very stressful and upsetting to many people into a positive and fun environment to celebrate women and inform us about everything we can do to prevent and cure breast cancer. This year their annual Boobyball is themed CAMP BOOBY which I think is just hilarious and awesome. Described on the event website, this sounds like an amazing fundraising celebration where you can be your wild and crazy self : Bring out your camp-glam in a throwback halter-top paired with your best cut-off shorts. Go Muskoka chic in your favourite maxi or take it true dock-style in a teeny-weeny-I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-summer bikini. Wrap on a bandana. Pair a life vest with leather leggings. Channel your inner skinny-dipper and bear it all, if you dare. It’s camp. It’s Boobyball. It’s anything goes.

So, back to the challenge. My challenge was to take an everyday green bra donated from Aerie and transform it and y’know put the old yuppielove stamp on it. I immediately was inspired by Camp Booby and the late 1960s. I was thinking about Palm Springs, pompoms and pink flamingos. I thought back to one of my favourite childhood movies, Troop Beverly Hills – what would Phyllis wear to Camp Booby? I envisioned some sort of art piece bra with three-dimensional objects and rhinestones all over it.

Digging through my tickle trunk of DIY goodies, I came across these fabulous pink and blue fuzzy pom poms that I knew would be absolutely perfect for the job. Pink string, pink buttons and little sparkly beads would finish it off and I couldn’t do anything without my trusty glue gun!

The finished product is just ridiculous but I think it just works for something as fun as the Boobyball. I think matched up with a pink tulle tutu + rubber boots this would be the perfect Camp Booby accessory. Oh, and I’d have to track down a Girl Guides sash for collecting badges!

So to sum it up – this PINK Challenge is not just over with me making a wacky + crazy bra! There is also voting! Each vote counts for $1, which will be donated to Rethink Breast Cancer. You can vote for me until October 14th. For more information about the charity, visit http://rethinkbreastcancer.com !