Craft

Aucklander Hollie Ryan’s pretty creations will bloom forever After graduating from law school, it didn’t take long for Hollie Ryan to feel the pull of creative pursuits. I should’ve figured that out before incurring five years of student debt,” she jokes. In an old Grey Lynn villa in Auckland, which she shares with her flatmates […]

This bread bin hack is the best thing since sliced bread Every so often a life hack will go viral, taking social media by storm thanks to its DIY brilliance. The Kmart bread bin bedside table is no exception. With a stunning vintage-inspired facade mixed with Scandinavian sensibilities, the innovative storage solution is so popular […]

Transform a bench seat, make a cute reusable shopping bag or a simple cushion. These velvet DIY projects will bring a little bit of class to your home 1. Bench Seat Measure seat and add 30cm to both length and width. Cut velvet to this size and lay on floor, right side down. Place seat […]

A room divider is an easy and decorative way to create separate spaces in a room or give a bare corner some interest. Here’s how to make your own You will need 2 pieces of 1900mm x 600mm x 18mm MDF (if you wish, you can use slightly thinner MDF to make screen lighter and […]

If you love leopard print, you’ll love these four creative DIY projects 1. Side table/stool To create this pretty side table or stool either repurpose an old one or buy a cheap new one. Give the table 2 coats of paint in a colour of your choice (we used black), leaving it to dry after each. […]

We’ve taken these $3 wooden placemats from Kmart and turned them into four easy DIY projects. See how below 1. Key holder With luck, you will never lose your keys again with this simple key hanger. Take a round wooden placemat and drill 3 small holes, evenly spaced, across the top third of the mat; […]

Jute string, or twine, is a staple in every Arts and Crafts cupboard. We’ve pulled together four interesting ways to use it for your next DIY project 1. Display Board Paint a 76cm x 50cm canvas in a colour of your choice (we used a testpot of Resene ‘Gondwana’). Run a piece of string across […]

Don’t chuck away your old jam and peanut butter jars in the recycling bin, give these DIY jar projects a go Planters Jars make wonderful planters for small house plants. Simply pick a collection of jars and remove any labels and traces of glue. Pop a few small stones at the bottom for drainage, then […]

Get creative this weekend and try your hand at one of these super easy craft ideas with fabric Pillowcase Type the word of your choice in a text document, increasing the font to your desired size. Print and cut out the letters. Place each letter on the fabric, trace the outline with a marker pen, […]

Alex says goodbye to one set of Christmas traditions (and decorations) and shows us how she’s investing some new ones this year with the help of a clever local ceramicist AC Homestore’s Alex Walls shares her rustic Christmas style For me, Christmas is going to be a bit different this year – the family home […]

From plush pillows to hot water bottles, these DIY projects with faux fur will make it easy to cuddle up in the winter months 1. Cushion  + To make this open-back envelope cushion cover, take a piece of 100cm x 50cm faux fur. + Place a 50cm x 50cm cushion insert on the fluffy side […]

The craft that helped this world traveller settle into her new Tauranga home has become burgeoning macramé business Knotty Bloom Knotty Bloom: How a macramé hobby grew into successful business When Nalani Gloor rediscovered macramé she became hooked on its therapeutic qualities. Nalani’s mother had introduced her daughter to the craft when she was a […]

Grab that old pair of jeans you’ve got stashed at the back of the wardrobe and give them a new lease on life with these clever craft projects Heart cushion + Cut the inner leg seam of a pair of jeans all the way down. + Open up the leg so the outside seam is […]

Whether you’re looking for craft projects to sell or keep, these four easy ideas with felt are sure to hit the creative spot Felt toy + Cut out 2 pieces of 30cm x 20cm felt and place on top of each other. + For the legs, cut two 30cm lengths of wide ribbon, fold in […]

Minimalist, multi-functional and right on trend, there are endless crafty possibilities with the humble dowel. Here are four creative projects to do at home 1. Breakfast tray on legs + Cut 4 x 8cm lengths of 32mm dowel. + Glue dowel pieces onto each corner of a pine board the size of your lap (ours […]

Discover how to transform the humble pegboard into stylish and practical pieces for your home with these four simple projects 1. Placemats Using a dinner plate as a guide, trace a circle on your pegboard sheet. Cut with a jigsaw and sand the edges back. Paint three coats of desired paint, then when dry glue […]

Your Home and Garden art director Shani Luckman gets crafty with these four projects using velvet. Find out how you can add some soft style to your home Cushions Cut 2 pieces of fabric each 55 x 50cm. Place right sides down, pile running downwards and long edge at top. Make a mark halfway across […]

Don’t be scared off by arts and crafts, these four projects with leather will give your home a stylish update without the need for a degree in DIY 1 Plant hangers Cut 2 x 35cm squares of faux leather. With wrong side up, stick double-sided tape along each side of 1 square. Place the other […]

Get crafty and give Christmas a personal, handmade touch with these four clever projects using fabric. From gift wrapping to stockings, it’s so simple! Gift bags Making fabric gift bags is a little more expensive than paper ones but they look amazing and we guarantee the receiver will not throw them away. They’re also great […]

Save on artwork for your home and make your own with images that are dear to your heart. Your treasured photos can be turned into statement pieces with some creative printing ideas How to get the look Gallery wall See below for pricing of Bus Blind, Faux Canvas Prints and Hanging Clip Boards. Ply Board – […]

Why not show off your little one in a personalised photo gift from Warehouse Stationery? With over 30 gifting options the hardest decision will be deciding what item to give Create four projects using baby photos including greeting cards, photo stickers, an iPhone cover and a key ring Products to use: Personalised Gift Card 5×7” SinPle […]

Follow these simple instructions to create a banner adorned with your favourite statement! You will need ½ metre of glazed linen (ours was from Martha’s) Pencil and pen Scissors Sewing machine (or hand sew) Cotton thread 9mm wooden dowel about 50cm long (ours was from Spotlight) Computer and printer, or letter stencils Piece of thin […]

Here are four clever projects by stylist Vanessa Nouwens using on-trend marble-look adhesive How to make a marble-look picture frame Remove glass and back boards from frame. Cut a piece of marble adhesive film big enough to wrap around all sides of frame. Peel off backing paper and lie frame in middle of film. Bring […]

Try these four projects with plywood – a lovely warm material that has become an essential home trend 1.How to make a plant hanger Buy your pots (ones with a band or lip are best). On the plywood, draw 3 squares with a circle in each the circumference of the pot at the point where […]

Spin a fine yarn with these four projects using tried-and-trusty yarn, reinterpreted for today 1. Wall hanging Cut yarn into 2-metre lengths. Fold the yarn in half and loop onto a metal ring by passing the free ends through the looped end. Repeat the process until you have the desired amount of yarn. Trim the […]

Stylist Samantha Totty presents four simple projects using wool. Any colour will do! 1. Pom pom twigs Secure the end of a strip of wool in your palm using your thumb. With your other hand, wrap the wool around three joined fingers 100 times. Slide the wool off your fingers. Tie an 8-inch piece of […]

Copper adds a warm glow to any interior. Try these four projects using copper paint by stylist Catherine Wilkinson to get the look at your place. Project 1 / Copper-dipped chair legs Project 2 / Painted ceramics Project 3 / Polka dot table linen Project 4 / Personalised candles Projects by: Catherine Wilkinson. Photos by: Wendy Fenwick @ Flash […]

Homes to Love caught up with florist Eden Kersten, aka The Botanist, to find out how to make a fresh green wreath What greenery have you used for this wreath? I’ve used Holly, eucalyptus, protea leaves, moss, scabiosa, and poppy heads. What equipment do I need? – Oasis (wet floral foam) wreath – Greenery and flowers […]