Tag: homedecor

Lifestyle

How to Create a DIY Hula Hoop Photo Display

hiralk126

Looking for fun and creative ways to display pictures for your family, birthday parties, bridal showers, maternity display, graduation parties, theme parties, weddings or even as a gift to your friends? I think Hula Hoop Photo Display is a great way to instantly add to the decor while also compiling your favorite memories. I created a beautiful Hula Hoop Photo Display recently for my husbands birthday.

Materials Needed

A Hula Hoop (There are 2 sizes available – I got the slightly smaller one but you can pick any)

White Spray Paint (Any color of your choice. If you are planning to display for your wedding gold would be a great color option too to add some glitz and glam)

White Satin Ribbon

Faux flowers

Faux greenery/leaves

Hot glue Gun

A small wooden Block (Optional – If you want to make it stand)

Pictures (I printed ours using the Printic App)

Scissors

Directions

Step 1: Shortlist the pictures from your phone or social media which you would like to use for creating this beautiful photo display and send them for printing. I got mine printed using the Printic App. All you need to do is select the pictures you want to print and they will pop and print polaroid type pictures for you and send them in your mail. They did a fantastic job and I was extremely happy with the quality. If you want you can even have them edited to a black and white version for a more vintage look on photoshop before getting them printed. You can also print these yourself on Photo Paper if you like too.

Step 2: Next I took my Hula Hoop and wooden block and spray painted it white in a ventilated area. I gave them around 2 to 3 coats to ensure they were completely covered. I also coated them with a topcoat to seal the paint. You may skip this step if you like but I highly recommend it. Set them aside to dry completely. I kept them to dry completely for 24 hours. I did it in the summertime so it dried fairly quickly.

Step 3: Once they have completely dried, I cut 4 satin ribbons measuring the hula hoop and where they will be placed and secured them with a glue gun. If your pictures are fairly smaller than mine you can add a thinner satin ribbon too and add more ribbons to add more pictures. This is completely your choice. I started with cutting and sticking the center ribbon to be as symmetrical as possible.

Step 4: Next, I started to add the faux greenery. I first laid them out to decide how I wanted them by laying the leaves first and adding some faux flowers and faux buds around it. Once I was happy with the arrangement I secured everything with a hot glue gun. You can add as many or ass little of the faux greenery or faux flowers as you like. Remember to add enough hot glue to secure everything in its place.

Step 5: While everything was drying, I started laying the pictures on the satin ribbon until I was happy with the display arrangement and then secured them with a glue gun.

Step 6: Finally, I took the Hula Hoop Photo display and using a hot glue gun stuck it to the wooden block. Remember to hold it for a couple of minutes to give it support until the glue dries and can hold it easily. Ensure to apply enough hot glue in order to secure it in place. If you wish to hang them you can easily hand them too using ribbons and skipping the wooden block.

Hope you enjoy creating your personalized Hula Hoop Photo Display. If you do create one using the directions feel free to share it with me. I will be happy to see what you come up with.

Lifestyle

Free Activities to do at Home during Coronavirus Social Distancing

hiralk126

As we are moving to a more homebound lifestyle atleast for the time being, I hope that this blog post can be a lighthearted space for some of you! Some of us have the liberty to work from home while others are still out there continuing their day to day lives in these uncertain times. I hope and pray for their safety and appeal to others who can to practice Social Distancing. The Government is doing everything to keep us all safe, lets do our bit.

I know staying indoors can get boring and annoying and make you feel restless. I am sharing some free activities that can be done from the comfort of your homes. Feel free to share your favorite apps or your go to activities during these times with me.

Activities to do at home

This may be a great time to pick up some DIY projects for your home. Some fun project ideas that I have worked on myself and shared previously are DIY Jewelry Dish, DIY Plant Pots, create your own gallery wall. A few upcoming projects on my blog are TIE- DYE project, organizing your home by better storage ideas, create a cozy nook in your home, wine cork bulletin board (for a wine lover who collects corks), etc.

Home Wellness Apps

Planet Fitness – As a measure to encourage people to stay indoors, Planet Fitness is streaming Live workouts on Facebook everyday at 4.00 pm PT (7.00 PM ET) for both members and non members. Also, if you miss the live streaming you can always go back and watch it later. Over and above this, when you download their app they have several free workouts for everyone.

Peloton App – Usually Peloton offers a free 30 day trial period however during this coronavirus outbreak they are providing a 90 day free trial for home workouts which include Yoga, HIIT and many other activities which do not need the machine as well.

Corepower Yoga – They have added few online classes and will be adding more too.

Carrot Fit App – This app is free at the moment too and offers 7 minute workouts.

Down Dog App- The Down Dog App is free until April 1, 2020 and offers various at home workouts – Yoga, HIIT, Barre as well as 7 minute workouts

Strong by Zumba (You Tube) – They offer various workouts ranging from 7 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes free on You Tube. The best part is you do not need any equipments for the same. They combine cardio, muscle conditioning, bodyweight training synced to music.

Studio Tone it Up App – Currently they are offering a free trial of 1 month as against 1 week and offer a huge variety of classes like yoga, dance, kickboxing. HIIT, Barre, strength training, etc. They mention if you need any weights or any other tools at the start of the class but many just require a mat.

Note – Remember to cancel paid apps once the trial period is over to avoid being charged.

Entertainment

Over and above the steaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO and Amazon Prime which you can watch from the comfort of your home many cultural institutions have opened their doors and are allowing people across the globe to enjoy art and music virtually.

The New England Aquarium will post content every day at 11.00 am ET on the aquariums social media platforms. They offer live videos with educators and various activities for children.

Many world renowned museums have partnered with Google Arts and Culture and are doing virtual tours online currently such as The Louvre, Metropolitan Museum, Van Gogh Museum, and many more. While it may not give you the best experience that an in person visit offers, it is a great way to explore some of your favorite museums or something you have been meaning to go for a long time from your homes.

If you are a nature lover don’t be disappointed. National Parks like Yellow Stone and Yosemite have got you covered. They offer virtual tours to explore and feel connected with nature.

If you have a library card, you can check out the libraries collection of ebooks, audiobooks and other subscriptions it offers. In case you do not already have a library card you can always sign up for an e- library card.

Learn Something new

Have some spare time on hand ? How about learning a new language ? A fun way to use this time could be to pick up learning a new language. Duolingo is a great place to start learning any language.

With Coronavirus changing our daily lives and with most of us having some time on hand it may be a good time to take up classes from prestigious universities from the haven of our homes. Sharing a link of the same here

At the very end please remember that we are all in to together and it is a great time to extend your support to those in need at this time. Help your staff with basic essentials like food, sanitizers and whatever you can. Help elderly people with groceries and medications as they are the most vulnerable to this pandemic. Ask your non profits if they need anything and try and help in any way you can. Support your favorite local businesses by buying gift cards to use later. Please do not hoard necessitities more than your household requires so that others are not left in a bind. Donate to your local food banks.

Please be cautious but do not panic. And needless to say, wash your hands regularly.

Lifestyle

How to Create your own Gallery Wall

hiralk126

A gallery wall lets you tell your story and is a fun way to add to the decor of the house. I have always wanted to add a personal touch to my home with pieces we collected over time but renting does not always make it easy. I have always liked the place to be more inviting and cozy and not be an eyesore. I couldn’t think of a better way than a gallery wall to do all that. Sharing a few tips with you for getting the gallery wall look.

Firstly, I would suggest to get some craft paper from any local arts and crafts store and trace any frame you wish to use on the craft paper and cut it to size. This really comes in handy so that your gallery wall looks like you envisioned, you have even gaps between your pieces and your pieces are not crooked or crammed.

I cannot stress this more but do not be in a hurry to create a gallery wall. Carefully curate pieces of art that matter and appeal to you or tell your story to give it a personal touch. They can be a mix of photos, art prints, mirrors, postcards from your favorite vacations, gifts you have received which matter to you, drawings, wall planters, love letters, license plates, antiques, medallions, writing pads, dates or numbers that have a special meaning, baskets or platters and plates, your first house keys, etc. The opportunities to get creative are endless.

Now lets get started:

  1. Move any furniture to the side for the wall you plan to use to put up the gallery wall so that you have enough space to hang your pieces freely.
  2. If you are moving any furniture make sure that you mark the area using the painters tape so that you are aware about the space you have to work with.
  3. Lay your art work on the floor and play around with the colors and layout till you are happy with it. A tip would be to anchor your favorite or biggest art in the centre and then slowly work the other artwork around it. Do not be afraid to try out different layouts as there are no real guidelines or rules to create a fun gallery wall.
  4. Remember that is it not necessary to have all your artwork in the same color palette however a tip would be to tie it in with the color scheme of your house or room you are doing it in so that they compliment each other.
  5. Once you have the art work you like, using the painters tape apply the craft paper on the wall and step back and view it from various areas in your room. Check that the sizes of the pieces balance each other out well and make any small adjustments that are needed.
  6. Hang your pieces and remove the tape once you are done. If you are living in a rented space like me you can use Command strips to stick your artwork to the wall without damaging the wall. Move your furniture back into its place, and you are done!

Things I Used for My Gallery Wall

1) Writing Paper Clip . I got it from Staples and it cost me around $5 for the A4 size.

2) Our First car and State’s License Plate

3) Our First Anniversary Dinner Menu – I got it framed from a local framer here (Frugal Framers) and it cost me $30.

4) A fun Caricature from our trip – I got it framed from a local framer here (Frugal Framers) and it cost me $45.

5) Life is a Beautiful Ride with LED Lights frame.I purchased this frame from A.C.Moore for less than $20.

6) A Poem my husband wrote and gave me on my first birthday with him – I printed the poem on the special paper of my liking and clipped it on the writing paper clip I purchased from Staples.

7) Love Frame. I purchased this frame from A.C.Moore for less than $20.

8) A Vintage looking mirror with the quote – Every Love Story is beautiful, But ours is my favorite. I purchased this frame from Cost Plus World Market for $30. Here is a link of the same.

9) Pictures of our Personal memories – Pre Wedding Celebrations in Mumbai, India (Where our Journey began), of our Honeymoon in New Zealand and of Snowy Chicago, our first home.

I used bayphoto.com to get these pictures printed and loved the quality and the final pictures. I printed the 3 pictures for around $100 as I got a 25% discount on my first order.

The best part about Gallery walls is you can add pieces or take away pieces as you go on to make them relevant to your life. So get creative and have fun creating your own gallery wall.

Here is a picture of another Gallery Wall I recently created!

TV Unit Gallery Wall
Lifestyle

DIY Plant Pots in less than 30 minutes

hiralk126

I love the versatility of terra cotta plant pots especially since there are so many easy ways you can turn a simple pot into a work of art. I have been looking to add some plants inside the house to add a fresh look to the house and adding some character. I love succulents as they require minimal care and and work both indoors and outdoors. For this project however I am going to use faux succulents but you can easily replace them with real plants.

Material Needed:

  • Terra Cotta Pot
  • A paint Brush/ Sponge Brush
  • Paint Palette
  • Faux Succulents/ Real Succulents and Dirt or any other plants
  • Craft smart – Premium Chalky Acrylic Paint (2 colors- Linen and Rich Brown)
  • Thick White Paper (to keep your workspace clean)

Step 1: Working on the thick white paper, using the linen chalky paint start dabbing your terra cotta pot with paint all over using a paint brush or a sponge brush. Do not just simply run smooth strokes like you would paint instead apply paint by dabbing on the pot to give it some texture.

Step 2: Then to give it a more weathered effect just take very little Rich brown Chalky Acrylic paint and start dabbing it on the pot with your paint brush. Keep dabbing it till you get a look you are looking for. You can give it a very vintage look or keep it slightly vintage.

Step 3: If you feel like you have excess of the Rich brown chalky acrylic paint making it look more vintage than you like then redo step 1 at spots that need any corrections.

Step 4: Also paint the inside of the pots that the brown color of the terra cotta pot is not seen even when you place your succulents. Use the linen chalky color to paint the same. You can paint half of the inside or the whole inside pot as required.

Step 5: For real plants put a dish below and you can plant your succulents adding dirt or for faux plants I just added stones to stuff the pot and decorated the pot with the faux succulents.

Step 6: You can make just one and use it as a centerpiece or make 3 of the same kind and use as a centerpiece to decorate your dining table or any other space you like.

These pots are really easy to make and can be a great project to do along with your kids or friends. They are also a great idea for gifts to bridesmaids, to say thank you or even to add to a hamper for all succulent lovers. A great part about them is that I can easily move them to other parts of our home and they are an inexpensive way to add some character to the house. I can easily remove the faux succulents and use them in other containers. It is also a great idea for staging your house for a sale. The possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Lifestyle

DIY Jewelry Organizer Tray – In less than 30 minutes

hiralk126

Jewelry Trays are so fun and colorful to create using Sculpey and a fun way to add a pop of color to your wardrobe. From solid colors, to interesting patterns, different shapes and more, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few tips I would like to share with you to create a jewelry tray in no time. Seriously, its fun, useful, easy and addictive!

Materials Needed:

  • Sculpey soft clay
  • Clay Roller/ Rolling pin
  • Butter Knife
  • Cookie/Clay cutters – Different shapes (not necessary – made this one without any cutters)
  • Thick paper or Ceramic tile (to keep your work space clean)

Step1: Working on the ceramic tile or thick white paper, roll your sculpted clay using your hands to form thin ropes of all the different colors you want to use.

Step 2: Twist all the ropes together interlacing the colors into one large rope.

Step3: Continue to twist and turn the rope and fold on top of itself, mixing and swirling the colors together.

Step 4: Using your hands, make the rope in the shape of a ball and flatten the ball using a rolling pin. Avoid it being too thin or too thick; you will want to get it to about the thickness of a quarter. I selected a mix of 2 colors here but you can mix and match as many colors you like or use only one solid color. I used a piece of white and a piece of violet.

Step 4: If you want to make the shape more natural like me just use your hands to give it the shape you like or use clay/cookie cutters to give it any shape you like. You can also use a bowl to give it a round shape.

Step 5: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit . Transfer your tray on a parchment paper, and bake it for 15 mins for a tray having thickness of a quarter inch. If your tray thickness is more it will be needed to be baked for longer. Follow the instructions on the clay you are using for baking instructions. If you feel the clay does not fold the shape you can even put the tray over an oven safe bowl and put it to bake.

Step 6: Let the tray cool. Once completely cool, paint the rim for detail or leave it as it is. Place your favorite jewelry inside.

These trays are so easy to make and can be made in various shapes, colors and styles. They also make a great gift to give to your friends or simply enjoy yourself. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!