Shannon at Mod Podge Rocks is a master of simple elegance.  This easy and high-impact lace vase project is a great way to add a touch of that elegant style to your spring decor!  The use of a square doily is what gives the design this high-end look, and applying the traditional pattern to a more contemporary shape gives it a unique, old-meets-new character.  These would also be wonderful as wedding decor!  [how to make a doily wrapped vase]

Project estimate:

• Vase, $1 and up
• Square doily, $1 and up
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total: $2 and up

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Doilies aren’t just for making a place to display dusty knick-knacks at grandma’s house.  No, there are so many more things you can do with them!  When Amy at DIY Candy found some colorful doilies in a dollar bin she knew she had to have them, and eventually the idea struck to turn them into these cute bowls.  A dousing in fabric stiffener gives them enough rigidity to become a candy dish, a gift basket, or a vessel for just about anything else you can fit inside!  [how to make a doily bowl]

Project estimate:

• Doilies, $1 and up
• Fabric stiffener, about $3 and up
• Bowl, on hand
• Plastic wrap, on hand

Total:  about $4 and up

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Stencils are a great tool for crafting on limited time and budget; you buy them once and can use them over and over, and they make it a cinch to create fabulous-looking projects.  Projects like these doily spiderweb candles by Shannon at Madigan Made!  They look like something you might find at a high-end design store;  simple glass prayer candles have never been so wow-worthy.  Another great thing about stenciled projects is that the design is easy to replicate, so if you enjoy this look you can also give the same treatment to other items and make a fun, matching set of sophisticated-yet-wicked Halloween decor!  [how to make doily spiderweb candles]

Project estimate:

• Prayer candles, $1 and up
• Stencils, about $12 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  about $13 and up

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Create simple, designer-looking custom plates with dollar store supplies and some goodies by Martha Stewart. I’ve been experimenting with glass painting on dollar store glassware, and I love how these doily plates turned out! These look like designer dishes — your family and friends will not believe you made them yourself.

Dollar stores (especially Dollar Tree) have a great selection of glassware. I used these basic clear glass dinner plates and silk screened a doily image on each one, using Martha Stewart glass paint and silk screens.

A note about the supplies: Up front, let me say that the Martha Stewart glass paints and silk screens are premium supplies, NOT dollar store supplies, but you should note that  these high quality supplies make humble dollar store goodies look very high end. By making a set of these designer dishes, you will save a lot of money (instead of buying a comparable product at a store like Anthropologie). To me, this is the essence of dollar store crafting — making something amazing out of dollar store stuff.

And don’t forget, the silkscreens and paints will allow you to make hundreds of glasses or other projects, so the investment will pay off as you make more projects. These doily dishes are perfect for handmade gifts or for dressing up your own table! You can make a set for nearly everyone on your gift list. If doilies aren’t your style, there are many other silk screen styles to choose from.

Remember, you can use the doily stencils on any glass surface! Make stenciled tumblers, vases, candle holders, and more.

Project Materials:

• 4 dishes, $1 each
• Martha Stewart Glass Silk Screens, Doily Lace, retail price $12.99
• Martha Stewart Glass Paint in Wedding Cake, $3.49 retail
• Martha Stewart Squeegie Set, $12.99 retail

Total cost: $33.47 to get started

You need about $30 in Martha Stewart glass supplies to get started, but you will be able to make tons of projects using these. If you want to make a gift (set of 4 dishes) for five friends, the cost per dish will be less than $2.50 a plate.

Save Money On This Project: Use your 40% off coupon at your local craft store when buying the stencils or tools, and look for sales. This will reduce the supply cost dramatically. You can also skip the squeegies, although they make it really easy to do this project, and I don’t know how frustrating it might be to use the wrong tool for this job.

Okay, enough about the facts – let’s see how to make them!

How to Make Silk Screened Doily Dishes:

1. Clean your glass surface with soap and water. Thoroughly dry, and then wipe down with rubbing alcohol.

2. Apply silk screen. It is designed to cling to the glass, which helps keep it in place as you apply paint.

3. Apply a small line of paint across one side of the silkscreen.

4. Pull the squeegie slowly and firmly across the silk screen in one smooth motion.

5. If any area of the silk screen is not covered with paint, pull paint gently over that area.

6. Immediately pull the silk screen up from the plate, starting at one corner and pulling up and away from the glass.

7. Rinse the silk screen out immediately, and dry by blotting with an absorbent towel.

8. Repeat for other glasses.

9. Allow paint to dry for a couple hours, then follow instructions on paint bottle for curing.

Thanks to Paint Me Plaid for these glass silkscreening images!

These doily dishes would also make great wedding favors, or would look great as place settings at a wedding.!

Disclosure: I received the Martha Stewart Glass Paints from Martha Stewart in conjunction with 12 Months of Martha. No payment was received.

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I don’t know about you, but I have been totally basking in the spring weather lately. I have missed the green grass, the singing birds, and the flowers. The other day I even saw a butterfly for the first time this year! I love, love, love butterflies! Do you feel the same way? Check out this fun, kid-friendly butterfly craft from Amanda at Crafts by Amanda. You could even make a whole garland with these! [how to make paper doily butterflies]

Project estimate:

• Paper doilies, on hand or $1
• Food coloring, on hand or $1 and up
• Pipe cleaners, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up!

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For the hottest of summer days, there is nothing more comfortable than a good skirt.  Need more of them in your wardrobe?  Simple Simon & Company is hosting a series of skirt tutorials, including this project from Jill at Homemade by Jill.  Using a doily and a little fabric, she added fancy pockets to a plain skirt.  You could also add these pockets to other garments – wouldn’t they look cute on a cardigan?  [how to make a doily pocket skirt]

Project estimate:

• Skirt (or other garment), on hand or $1 and up
• Doily, on hand or $1
• Fabric, on hand
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand

Total:  Free and up

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In a moment of crafty curiosity, Amy from Mod Podge Rocks! wondered if you could paint a doily with chalkboard paint.  It turns out, you can!  Mounted in a picture frame, it makes an attractive and unique memo board.  Hang it wherever you might need a little reminder, or use it to insert a favorite sentiment or special message into your decor.  Since most picture frames come equipped with hardware for hanging on the wall as well as an easel for placing on a desk or other surface, you can display it just about anywhere!  [how to make a chalkboard doily message board]

Project estimate:

• Paper doily, on hand or $1
• Chalkboard paint, on hand or about $3 and up
• Fabric, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Picture frame, $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

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Fifteen minutes or less.  That’s seriously how long it will take you to make this pillow!  Angie from The Country Chic Cottage whipped it up as part of a 15-minute craft series that she hosted in conjunction with Moore Craft Time.  (Check out more 15 minute crafts!)  The project requires minimal sewing and uses paper doilies to create what looks like painstaking detail without needing any crazy artistic skills (or unending patience)!  [how to make a doily placemat pillow]

Project estimate:

• Placemat, $1
• Paper doilies, on hand or $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Polyfill, on hand or about $3 and up
• Needle and thread, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

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I love doilies as decor elements.  However in fashion, I’ve found that most doily garments and accessories I’ve seen lean a little too close to grandmotherly for my taste.  But these ain’t your grandma’s doilies!  Over at the CRAFT blog, DIY fashion guru Corinne Leigh (the former Threadbanger) used some pretty doilies left over from wedding decor to give a pair of plain wedges a spectacular new look.  Her tutorial is in video form, and she makes it look super easy!  [how to make doily-embellished shoes]

Project estimate:

• Shoes, on hand or $1 and up
• Doilies, about $4 and up
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total:  about $4 and up

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Martha Stewart has 700+ new uses for old things on her website. I decided I’d share my favorite double-duty decorating ideas so you don’t have to spend hours looking through them!

1.	Vase as Picture Frame Display family photos inside tall cylindrical glass vases of various sizes for an unexpected arrangement on a bookcase or mantel
2.	Paper Doily as a Cake Decoration You baked the cake. Now you’re expected to frost it, too? Take a break from the sticky stuff and use a doily to stencil on a pretty sugar topping. Press a doily flat on top of a round cake and, using a fine-mesh sieve, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar liberally over the surface. Use two hands to carefully remove the doily post-dusting.
3.	Cookie Cutter as Candle Stencil Repurpose mini alphabet cookie cutters as monogramming tools for pillar candles. Hold the candle steady, position the letter, and tap it lightly with a hammer. Do just an initial or go wild and spell out MR AND MRS or MERRY CHRISTMAS.
4.	Picture Frame as Dry-Erase Board Let’s see—you need milk, eggs…and something to replace the stark white memo board that’s sucking all the style from your otherwise charming kitchen. Frame a pretty piece of fabric or paper, then write temporary to-dos on the glass with a dry-erase marker.Note: Melinda did this for multiple to-do lists. One for individual tasks, one for joint tasks with her husband, one for the crafts she’s started or needs to start, and one for her work projects. Have fun with what you put behind the glass – use scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or put a fancy title on top so you know what each board is for!
5.	Brooches as Refrigerator Decoration Instead of tossing out seldom worn or broken brooches, remove the pins with a wire cutter, glue a magnet to the back of each, then use them to mount postcards, children’s artwork, or this week’s grocery list.
6.	Wallpaper as Clock Customizer Remove the clock’s plastic front or back and detach the hands from the battery mechanism. Using the existing face as a template, trace the outline on the back of a piece of wallpaper. Apply a multipurpose adhesive to the original face, then affix the new one. Reassemble and hang for a unique design that makes a statement time after time.
7.	Clothespin as Holiday Card Display Adhere a wide grosgrain ribbon to the wall with double-sided mounting tape, then attach holiday cards up and down it for a jolly–and changeable—seasonal exhibit. Both regular-size and mini clothespins will work.Note: You can do this for any occasion where you receive cards, or display photos for a birthday celebration.
8.	Toothbrush Holder as Vase Display individual blooms (peonies and ranunculus work well) in each hole and fill with water for a foolproof, evenly spaced arrangement.Note: Have fun with the toothbrush holders – reuse what you have, pick out pretty ones from your local Target or Wal-Mart, pick some up from a thrift or antique store, or paint and decorate Dollar Store finds!
9.	Permanent Marker as Lampshade Decoration To customize a standard linen shade, trim the seamed edges with a permanent marker in a shade that matches your decor. If you don’t have a steady hand, use painter’s tape to outline the area to be colored.Note: Have fun with colors, metallic markers, stencils and more!
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10.	Linen Napkin as Photo Album Cover When the rest of the set is too stained to use, salvage a cloth napkin by turning it into a slipcover for your store-bought brag book with a length of ribbon and some fabric glue.
11.	Shoes as Growth Chart Record how quickly your child has grown by lining up shoes in a shadow box and labeling them with the appropriate ages. This growth chart is way prettier than pencil marks on the wall.
12.	Tape as Plaster Securer Keep a plaster wall from chipping when you hang a picture by placing a small piece of tape over the spot where you plan to hammer in the nail

Want to see all of Martha’s ideas? Visit her Double-Duty Decorating Ideas index.

Do you have any favorite ways to re-use things you already have to decorate your home? Share it in the comments below!

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