I stumbled upon this project on my favorite diy blog (craftynest.com). These lanterns looked so pretty and they are easy to make, I thought I should share with you.

Swatch Portraits are fun and easy to make. They will add color to any room, and give your living space a personal touch. These instructions are from www.thepurlbee.com.

Materials:
To make one portrait.
*A wooden embroidery hoop, in any size
*A square of fabric, at least 2″ wider than your hoop in all directions
*Fabric glue (any type will work)
*Scissors
(Materials can be found at any arts and crafts store)

1. Place fabric in the hoop, pull taught

2. Turn to wrong side, run a small line of glue around the inside hoop, just next to the fabric

3. Press fabric into glue, all the way around
4. Allow glue to dry

5. Trim fabric to the edge of hoop

This is a picture frame that I received from one of my friends as a gift. I loved it so much that I wanted to share this idea with everyone. She started out with a plain picture frame. Then, she bought different patterned paper and cut it out in all different shapes and pieced them together on the frame. For the finishing touches, she added cute embellishments. This is a fun and easy project that makes a great gift for birthdays or other occasions. Keep in mind, Mother’s Day is coming up!

Elizabeth Rasmuson made her dress – and matching vest for her date – out of blue and white wrappers from Wrigley’s “5 gum.” How unique! She will never have to wonder if someone else will be wearing the same dress at prom.

Hey, you know those doodle drawing that Google does of its logo to commemorate special dates? We’ll Google wants your doodles. Google started their third annual Doodle 4 Google contest.

Google wants kids in kindergarten through grade 12 to draw a unique “doodle” of their  logo based on the theme, “If I could do anything, I would…”

Four finalists will have their artwork displayed for 24 hours on Google’s home page on May 27. The winning artist will receive a $15,000 college scholarship and a laptop. The student’s school will receive a $25,000 technology grant.

You have to enter the contest through your school. Teachers can get info and register at the Doodle 4 Google web site.
Google is going to bring the top 40 artists to its New York City office on May 26th to announce the winner of the contest on the same day.

Google doodle for Teachers Day 2009

Wire Frame Earring Holder
Keep all your earrings organized and decorate your wall at the same time.
EMAIL PRINT RSS SHARE -An empty frame — if you don’t have one already, thrift stores are great places to find old frames for very cheap
-Wire cutters
-Tape measure or ruler
-Spray paint (optional)
-Sharpie
-Thumbtacks (the kind with the flat top)

Step 1 (optional): If you decide to get an old frame from a thrift store, don’t worry about it looking messy — it’s nothing a little spray paint can’t fix. Lay your frame on newspaper and give it a good coat. We suggest gold for an antique look, but your favorite color will work too.

Step 2: After your frame dries, turn it over and measure its diameter 1/2 inch from the inside of the frame. Mark with Sharpie and cut the wire mesh to size.

Step 3: Use your thumbtacks to secure the wire mesh in place and hang on wall or set up wherever you see fit.

Step 4: Hang all your earrings on it and you are good to go.

Where to get it:
Jewelry and metal suppliers, like New York City’s Metalliferous, will have the supplies you need.

Instructions:
1. If your jump rings don’t have an opening, take the wire cutters and snip open one side of each jump ring so you can slip on your charms.
2. Slip all the charms you want to add to your BFF bracelets onto the jump rings.
3. Now, take the jump rings and slip them onto the bangles. Use the pliers to close the jump rings as best you can — you want to see as little space as possible where you made the cut.

You’re done! Now give your BFF her set of bangles or trade among friends.

source: http://www.cosmogirl.com/fashion/diy/diy-bff-bracelets