DIY Black and White Coasters + Idea Swap

desk-accessory-coffee-coaster-antler-white-black-quotes-diy-gift-dream

It’s National Swap Idea Day. In honor of the swap day, we teamed up with some of our favorite bloggers to create DIY desk accessories to swap with one another. The challenge was to create a DIY desk accessory or DIY desk organization item for under $20. That’s it! Every blogger that participated was assigned to another blogger, so no one went home empty handed…and now we all have a new desk accessory!

I know Jodi and I {Jessica} are in the need of a serious desk overhaul, so we were excited to see what everyone came up with.

Our girl, Christina Williams Blog, was the lucky recipient of our gift swap – DIY black and white coasters with quotes. We all need inspirational and uplifting quotes while we work, and a hot cup of joe to keep us going. So, our black and white coasters with an antler base is a chic way to get rid of those annoying coffee cup rings. Plus it’s a daily reminder to dream and believe in ourselves.

Shh! Jenna secretly wishes she could keep the coasters because it’s black and white {those are the only two colors she likes} and she drinks coffee all day! 

black-white-coasters-diy-idea-swap-desk-accessory-dream-quotes-wood

Here’s how we did it.

Materials Needed:

  • Coasters {we found ours at the thrift store, along with the antler base for $6}
  • White, gloss spray paint
  • Black Vinyl from Silhouette
  • Frog Tape
  • Shellac

Directions:

  • Step 1: Spray paint the coasters, and antler base white. Below is our original thrift store find.

antler-coaster-set-deer-diy-thrift-store-project-idea-swap

  • Step 2: Design or purchase a design from Silhouette with inspiration words. We used our Silhouette electronic cutting machine to cut the vinyl for this project; however, you could easily use Mod Podge to adhere your design and favorite quotes to the coasters, or just paint your own quotes.

black-white-coasters-diy-idea-swap-desk-accessory-dream-quotes-wood

  • Step 3: Transfer the vinyl to the coasters, following Silhouette vinyl transfer directions. Instead of transfer paper, we used Frog Tape.
  • Step 4: Spray the coasters with waterproof Shellac or sealant.

black-white-coasters-diy-idea-swap-desk-accessory-dream-quotes-wood

  • Step 5: Sip while you work.

desk-accessory-coffee-coaster-antler-white-black-quotes-diy-gift

We are obsessed with the Pencil and Air Plant Holder Miranda at One Little Minute Blog sent us. Air plants is just about the only indoor plant we can keep alive, so it’s perfect!

Check out all the amazing projects and women involved – you are gonna LOVE what you find. All projects are featured on instagram, too.

DIY Brushstroke File Folder

diy-brushstroke-paint-gold-file-folder-search-for-your-awesome-black-metallic

We’re still crushing on gold over here. We just can’t get enough of the shimmery, metallic metal.

We also are trying to master the art of brushstrokes. After dabbing into the paint this weekend, we’ve come to the conclusion that brushstrokes are so versatile and subjective, anyone can do it. You can do this particular project in under 5 minutes.

Our new DIY brushstroke file folder keeps us organized {ok, Jenna doesn’t need it because she’s uber organized, and maybe not Jessica because we’re not sure the word organization is in her vocabulary}, and it’s a piece of art all-in-one. We are no van Gogh, but now we have a fashionable desk accessory, and for us, that’s enough.

diy-brushstroke-paint-gold-file-folder-search-for-your-awesome-black-metallic

Materials:

  • Metallic gold paint
  • Flat paintbrush
  • File folder

Directions:

  • Dip your brush lightly in the metallic paint and gently stroke the file folder, applying heavy to light pressure.
  • Add brushstrokes in every direction on the file folder.
  • Let dry.

diy-brushstroke-paint-gold-file-folder-search-for-your-awesome-black-metallic

diy-brushstroke-paint-gold-file-folder-search-for-your-awesome-black-metallic

 

diy-brushstroke-paint-gold-file-folder-search-for-your-awesome-black-metallic

search for your awesome art print via hello tosha, courtesy of bing and the alison show

{photography via j. sorelle}

DIY Citrus Fruit Pushpins

lemon-lime-push-pin-summer-diy-cork-paint

In the summer we plan to take our Friday nights with a lick of salt, a slice of lime and a shot of tequila. The thought makes our lips pucker with excitement.

So, why not take our cork boards with a hint of color, a slice of lime and a cute photo?

Our classic black and white pushpins recently got a makeover into DIY lemon and lime pushpins. The mini slices add cheer to our workspace, and keep us dreaming of our favorite Rio Grande margaritas.

lemon-lime-push-pin-summer-diy-cork-paint

Materials Needed:

  • Mini Cork Door Discs {with adhesive backing} from Home Depot. You can also use flat white pushpins {non-cork}. 
  • Acrylic paint {white, lime green, yellow}
  • Pushpins
  • Pencil
  • Sealer, such as Shellac

Directions:

  • Paint the mini cork discs white.
  • When the white paint dries, use a pencil to freehand mini triangles in a circle around the center of the disc.
  • Paint the outer ring green/yellow, then paint the triangles green/yellow.
  • Once the paint dries, spray paint with a sealer, like Shellac.
  • Stick to the pushpins. The adhesive on the back should be sufficient, but if not, a hot glue gun with work.

lemon-lime-push-pin-summer-diy-cork-paint

lemon-lime-push-pin-summer-diy-cork-paint

 

lemon-lime-push-pin-summer-diy-cork-paint

{photos via j. sorelle}