A new year means fresh challenges for our International Bloggers Club (IBC), and our first theme of the year is “Pallet Parade.” With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make a rustic pallet wood heart. To give it a fun twist, I used the leftover scraps to create a pair of quirky wooden robots, turning the project into a charming and unique wall hanging.
If you’re always misplacing your keys, this DIY telephone key rack is the perfect solution. Instead of leaving keys scattered around the house, I created a one-of-a-kind key organiser using an old replica telephone and a keepsake box. What started as an idea for a lamp turned into a unique vintage-style key rack that keeps our keys neat and in one place. This project is part of the International Bloggers Club (IBC) monthly challenge, where the theme was “phone décor.”
A few months ago, I posted wooden wall art panels with a distinctive abalone/snake skin effect I discovered by accident. The project quickly became one of my most popular—so many lovely compliments, though a few readers said it looked too hard. I found it easy, just very time-consuming. Today, I’m sharing how I halved the work by using a gouge ball to create this Shou sugi ban wall art.
Bird strikes and bumped noses be gone—this month’s (IBC)International Bloggers Club theme is “glass etching”, and I’m tackling it with DIY sea glass “etched glass” sliding door safety decals that look professionally sandblasted but take minutes with a Cricut. After a recent window-cleaning session left my slider crystal clear (too clear for one poor bird), I finally cracked open the sea glass etch vinyl I’d been saving and created large, elegant decals that make the door visible without blocking the view.
My mischievous Jack Russell “terrorists” inspired this week’s project: Upcycle a Bamboo Steamer into a Macramé Wall-Mounted Toilet Roll Holder. Our toilet rolls used to sit on a floor pole—easy pickings! Moving the spare rolls onto the wall solved the problem, and a big bamboo steamer made the perfect, budget-friendly base. The basket looked plain at first, so I gave it a quick macramé rope makeover. The result is a tidy, dog-proof toilet roll holder that looks like it floats on the wall.
If you follow my blog, you will know that besides DIY, I also love creating mixed media assemblage art. I am always on the lookout for interesting items that can be turned into unique home décor pieces by giving them a mixed media makeover. On a recent visit to my local markets, I came across a quirky jelly bean dispenser in a junk box. The moment I saw it, I knew this jelly bean dispenser was destined for a steampunk makeover. With a bit of imagination, embellishments, and paint, I transformed this ordinary piece into a statement steampunk jelly bean dispenser that looks right at home on a bar counter.
They have done it again! My two mischievous Jack Russell terriers managed to knock over one of my favourite pots, leaving me with a broken terracotta pot. Instead of tossing it out, I decided to transform it into a beautiful DIY planter. This repurposed terracotta pot was the perfect do-over project for our latest Do It Over Designers Blog Hop, where bloggers share upcycling and recycling ideas. If you’ve ever had a plant pot break, you’ll see how easy it is to turn it into a stunning garden feature.
Besides my love for DIY projects, I’m also passionate about mixed media art. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create hot glue gun wall art on canvas, using recycled materials, metallic paints, and wax pastes to bring out stunning textures. The beauty of this project is that it doesn’t require advanced artistic skills—just a hot glue gun, a few basic supplies, and some creativity. Once the metallic wax is applied, all the hidden details come alive, turning a simple canvas into striking wall décor.
It’s time again for the International Bloggers Club (IBC) monthly challenge, and this month’s theme was “Wired”. For my project, I decided to create a DIY Wire Wind Spinner using almost entirely recycled materials. This simple, budget-friendly garden décor idea takes just a few hours to make, and the results are stunning.
Scrap Wood Mirror Frame with Copper Highlights is a quick upcycle that transforms a plain mirror into striking wall art using only offcuts and found materials. I’ve been tackling my scrap pile lately, and this project uses the smallest pieces to decorate a simple mirror frame. Imperfections are welcome. Rough edges, dents, and random textures build character. I’ll show the full process, the fixes for a couple of hiccups, and simple ways to seal and hang your finished mirror.
How to Make a Dementia Sensory Lap Mat (Twiddle Mat) is this month’s International Bloggers Club challenge for “Hooked on Crochet.” I can’t crochet to save myself, so I teamed up with a crafty friend for the base and focused on what I know best—turning recycled jewellery and found bits into a calming, tactile dementia sensory lap mat. These mats give restless hands a useful job, spark memories, and often ease agitation.
