The Red Pencil Box: March 2012

This must have taken so much time if it was really hand-crafted! But then again I think Anthropologie is known for that kind of stuff.

Photo from: http://juliarileydesigns.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/plentyofcolour_anthrowindows_14.png

why can't this be in my room

Friday, March 23, 2012

As a word of crafty advice, if you ever want to make something more fun, adding buttons will do the trick.

I bought this 2 pack of elastic headbands (the other is in brown) from Forever 21. I sewed (very amateurly) 3 buttons on the side of the headband. Did adding the buttons really make a difference? Probably not. But it was fun anyway!

Definitely my idea of a lazy DIY!

cute as a button

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Another fun thing to do with old books! Though I can't take credit for this monstrosity- it's all Anthropologie's fault!

Image file: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QFvNIA-WrkoXmfv38W8yEp4Xnw6D26qUMkX-ZVACs-BPnF7TQaWPCCzNHFFQjJlKeiziYQ-avY2o6AatpZT9LGJuRdlb1FmQQeIPJEj7jmCHSpEEm3iSicYKNrkih24SZii180ZjrBw/s1600/8-12-08%2520anthro1.jpg

and the book marring continues

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

I know it seems like I have a destructive tendency towards books, but I promise I don't. These are my dad's old books I find in my garage that have absolutely nothing to do with anything. Or just really boring stuff no one cares about. No classics, not even The Grapes of Wrath, I swear.

Here's a book wreath I did (first of two, see the second one here: http://theredpencilbox.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/what-to-do-with-a-copy-of-the-grapes-of-wrath/). I used the same tutorial as I did in that post. But the thing I really like about this one is the wreath was heart-shaped. Although it was a bit pricey ($5.99 at JoAnn's), I think it was worth it. It's huge and takes up enough space to be the only thing on one side of my room and I think really is the centerpiece of my room. This one's pages look a bit more antiquated, but that's literally because the book I used was that old. I painted the edges of the book with black acrylic paint, and went over again with a very watered-down brown paint. The water ensured the color sort of traveled and really seeped into the pages, creating a vintage look. I really love the colors in this one.

Happy book ripping!

ripping up books (again)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I found this picture on pintrest. It's a good guide if you're moving or redecorating!

photo decoration tips

Friday, March 16, 2012

I did these flower-like DIYs over winter break. They're essentially food-colored q-tips poked into a sytrofoam ball on a stem. Since I have an unhealthy obsession with Anthropologie but don't really have the wallet to sustain the obsession, these "anthropologie inspired blooms" were the perfect thing for a corner on my dresser.

Tutorial from: http://www.homemadeginger.com/2011/03/anthropologie-inspired-blooms.html

anthropologie inspired blooms

Thursday, March 15, 2012

I've never really been a big fan of quote posters and frames (honestly, who needs to be reminded daily of a vague, cliché quote?). But the ones I do appreciate are Quran verses. It's nice to have a touch of creatively represented spirituality.

sometimes cliché framed inspirational quotes are fun

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Although this may be a fire hazard, in theory, it's a cool idea.

Image via pintrest.com

bathtub tealight candles

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Painting has recently become one of my favorite mediums (ever since I lost my gifted 72-piece set of Prismacolor colored pencils a year ago, which still makes me sad). The best part about it is you don't need fancy, expensive materials to make a quality piece.

This 16" x 16" painting was done with mini acrylic paint bottles, $1.50-$0.99 each. All you really need is black, white, and your basic primary colors (secondaries if you're feeling too lazy to mix). I bought individual brushes of varying thicknesses, $4-$1 each. It's a good idea to buy decent quality brushes so you don't have hairs falling out of the brush and onto your piece.

I love detail in my pieces. My favorite thing about this piece, however, is the Van Gogh inspired swirl background.

P.S.- The piece is nicknamed "Octo Lisa"

octopus acrylic painting, aka "octo lisa"

Monday, March 12, 2012

I have always loved paper chains. They are so much fun to make and always have a touch of innocence to them. As a kid, I would make huge chains out of construction paper and decorate my house for family members' birthdays. Even now, paper chains just add a pop of color and fun to anything.

But these Anthropologie window displays featuring paper chains take the cake. (haha, birthdays... cake... see what I did there?).

taken from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr9G5HwphnzCeF2LCDr0T4NspngBJtWheVbDxt6FjWtGFTVAq-MeTXk0k_Bgn-KfWaBMtHKR-54wFb-5w5kM0xZGp3RdKg8mirFd6czzOVrz7pxYDG5ZSR41qA3J1gEGsA4TRBUSZ6Sp_/s1600/holiday1WEB.jpg, http://www.chicfaced.com/wp-content/uploads/anthro-paper-chain-store-display-window.jpg, and http://ny.racked.com/uploads/2008_11_anthropologiechristmas.jpg

decorating for amateurs, nostalgists, and retail professionals. (oh and7 year olds)

Friday, March 9, 2012

I have recently found a better use for books than actually reading them! Just kidding, but here is a good way to get rid of a book you really really really despise (required reading books, perhaps?). Also, no offense to anyone who likes the novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, but that book was ridiculously hard to get through.

The tutorial I consulted for this DIY book pages craft used a circular wreath, but I found that almost any styrofoam shape works. For this one, I used a flat circular styrofoam piece I got from the dollar store for 2/$1. For now, this one hangs in my apartment's living room.

A tip on making your pages more vintage looking is instead of using acrylic paint for the edges, try using watercolors or tea. This way, the lighter color travels into the pages, making them look older. Also, try finding an old book. I used a relatively new book for this one (notice the white pages) with black acrylic paint on the edges and I wish it came out more vintage-ish.

Tutorial from: http://livingwithlindsay.com/2009/11/librarians-please-avert-your-eyes.html

what to do with a copy of "the grapes of wrath"

Thursday, March 8, 2012

This idea was taken from a friends blog. All you need is styrofoam balls (or any shape), paper, a paper punch in a cool design, and pearl pins.

Tutorial from: http://craftylawyer.tumblr.com/post/7554147620/pretty-as-a-pomander-part-1 & http://craftylawyer.tumblr.com/post/7604069726/pretty-as-a-pomander-part-2).

hanging flowery pomanders

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A recent accessory obsession has been Tom Binns jewlery (see http://www.tombinnsdesign.com). His neon-spin on classic necklace designs is modern and fun. I found a tutorial online for making necklaces inspired by his neon collections. All it requires is a necklace + nail polish, and if you can avoid getting a headache from nail polish fumes (or if you don't mind the fumes...), then this is definitely something to try!

The thing I liked most about this DIY was that the finished product doesn't really look like a DIY.

Tutorial from: http://sprinklesinsprings.com/2011/11/diy-tom-binns-inspired-necklace.html

tom binns inspired necklace

Friday, March 2, 2012

These bookmarks are easy to make, useful, and pretty awesome. They don't stick out or fall out like conventional bookmarks, and last for a while. The monster ones are so cute, they will almost make you look forward to opening your books. Almost.

Tutorial from: http://nheilke.com/blog/2011/02/corner-page-bookmarks-3/