All Posts By

Anita Holland

Unicorn SPiT Chair Makeover

Chair with green unicorn spit - Completed

Working with Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain & Glaze had been on my wishlist for a long time. After seeing it used on countless DIY sites I follow, I was itching to give it a go. My very generous husband treated me to the full colour range, and from the moment it arrived, I was on the lookout for the perfect piece to experiment on. Since I was new to Unicorn SPiT, I wanted to start small. What really caught my attention was how the wood grain stays visible through the stain, creating a beautiful layered effect.

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October 15, 2017 By

Cricut Custom Suitcase Protectors

Custom suitcase cover with steampunk dragon vinyl design made using Cricut and HTV”

We were heading off on holiday when the idea for this project came to me. Standing at the airport carousel, almost every second suitcase was black — including ours. Everyone was picking up identical bags to check if it was theirs. That was the first reason I wanted custom covers.

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May 4, 2019 By

How to make a LED Headphone Stand

DIY LED Headphone stand with headphones with red light

If you love a tidy desk and a bit of gamer-style ambience, this DIY LED Headphone Stand with Perspex Glow is a winner. I first built a simple stand for my husband’s headset; this version takes it up a notch with remote-controlled LED lights that plug into your computer via USB. The layered wood and Perspex create a gorgeous edge glow so your headphones look like they’re floating—day or night.

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August 4, 2017 By

How to make a Simple Planter from Scrap wood

Finished wooden planter filled with succulents in the garden

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that most of my projects are made using recycled materials, and wood is no exception. I hate wasting even the smallest offcut. So when my scrap wood pile starts to get out of hand, I like to come up with quick and useful ways to put it to good use. That’s how this DIY Wooden Planter Made from Scrap Wood came to life. It’s a simple project that’s perfect for beginners, and a great way to turn leftover timber into something beautiful and practical for the garden. I made mine to display my succulents, but you can easily adjust the size to suit your own plants and space.

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May 26, 2017 By

How to make your own Wedding Sneakers

Close-up of sparkly rhinestones applied to white wedding sneakers

Every bride dreams of looking beautiful on her wedding day—but comfort matters just as much. When my daughter got married, her reception was held on a cruise showboat on Sydney Harbour. She was nervous about tripping in high heels on a moving boat. Not one for fancy footwear, she also knew her sparkly bridal vision didn’t suit stilettos.

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March 1, 2018 By

How to Restore an Antique Rocking Chair

Finished restored rocking chair with rich stain and new fabric

There’s something special about bringing vintage furniture back to life. I found this antique rocking chair on a local buy, swap and sell group for just $25. The shape and detail caught my eye immediately. I already had some leftover fabric from a previous project, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to practice and improve my furniture restoration skills without spending much.

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January 15, 2018 By

How to Restore a Leather Top Desk

Finish leather top office desk fulling after restoration.

When a friend asked if I could restore his office desk, I hesitated. Most of my DIY projects use recycled or rescued furniture, where mistakes are part of the charm. But this time, I had to work with someone else’s professional piece—and that meant getting it right. In this post, How to Restore a Leather Top Desk, I’ll show you the challenges I faced and the solutions I used to breathe life back into this tired piece.

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November 16, 2016 By

How to use Unicorn Spit and Metallic paint on Baubles

Completed DIY baubles with shimmering gold veins and colourful Unicorn Spit effects

If you’ve never tried Unicorn Spit Stain and Glaze, you’re seriously missing out on one of the most vibrant and fun crafting products out there. This non-toxic, gel-based stain can be used on wood, metal, glass, plastic, ceramic, and more. While it’s often used for colourful wood finishes that let the grain shine through, my favourite way to use Unicorn Spit is on glass, and now, plastic Christmas baubles!

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December 7, 2017 By

How to make a House Numbers from CDs and DVDs

House number made from recycled CDs and DVDs as a mosaic on a wall,

With the rise of USB drives, memory cards, and streaming services, CDs and DVDs have quickly become relics of the past. These days, most of us are downloading or live-streaming our favourite music and movies. So, if your home is anything like mine, you’ve probably got a dusty stack (or several) of old discs just lying around.

House numbers made from CD/DVD pieces in a mosaic- close up view

As someone who loves crafting with recycled materials, I couldn’t bring myself to toss them in the bin. So, I did what many crafters do when looking for inspiration—I went straight to Pinterest. I stumbled upon a beautiful mosaic birdbath project made from broken CDs and DVDs and instantly fell in love. However, it felt a little ambitious for my first try, so I decided to start with something smaller and more manageable: a custom house number plaque.

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October 30, 2017 By

How to Build a Target Shooting Game

DIY target shooting game

If you’re wondering how to build a target shooting game that’s simple, fun, and engaging for seniors, this DIY project is perfect. As an aged care nurse, I often step in as the activities officer when our regular coordinator is on holiday. During one of those times, I decided to create a homemade target shooting game for the residents in our aged care home. It turned out to be a big hit!

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July 27, 2018 By

DIY Halloween LED Shadow Box

DIY LED Halloween shadow box featuring spooky black vinyl silhouettes on glass, glowing with colour-changing LED lights inside a deep frame.

One fun way to join in the Halloween spirit is by making your own DIY LED Halloween shadow box, which doubles as both a decorative piece and a glowing signal to little trick-or-treaters that you’re ready with treats. It’s a simple and fun Halloween craft project that’s perfect for adults and families alike, and ideal for lighting up a window or entryway.

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October 9, 2018 By

How to make a Darts Stand/Holder

Wall-mounted wooden darts stand holding three sets of darts next to a dartboard

Every Christmas, our family gathers for a full day of food, laughter, and games. One of our favourites is darts. But without fail, the darts always go missing. To stop the yearly hunt and make things easier, I built a simple wall-mounted storage rack. If you’re sick of the same chaos, here’s how to make a darts stand or holder to keep your set neat, organised, and always ready to use.

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October 31, 2017 By

Old Plant Stand Repurposed into Candlesticks

Finished candlesticks with rustic black and white dry brushed paint, ready for display.

Old Plant Stand Repurposed into Candlesticks – This DIY candlestick makeover started with an old wooden plant stand I had lying around. I wanted to keep costs down, so I used materials already at home and turned the stand into a set of rustic-style candlesticks. Using a simple technique called dry brushing, I gave them texture and charm that suits modern, farmhouse, or vintage-inspired décor beautifully.

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May 10, 2019 By