DIY Projects to Help You Corral Common Paper Clutter

A clutter of mail, memos, and paper can make a room feel messy and unorganized. Here are some simple do-it-yourself storage projects to help keep your mail and papers neat and organized—once and for all!

  • Vertical Paper Holders, By Me! [Scrapendipity] Vertical magazine files are easy and inexpensive to make. All you need is priority-mailing boxes from the post office and regular interior latex paint. Lay the boxes flat, paint both sides, cut them using a pattern, then simply assemble them.
  • Shanty Memo Frame! [Shanty 2 Chic] Make your own memo board to hang on your wall. First you will need an empty old frame, or you can just purchase one on sale at any craft store. You can then paint it the color of your choice. Let the paint dry and decorate your frame with flowers or buttons or anything else you want to glue on. Use a staple gun to attach twine to the back of the frame. Just keep twining and stapling back and forth in a random zig-zag pattern until your desired look is achieved.
  • Decorative Burlap Memo Board [Beneath My Heart] Make your own large burlap memo board using a large green foam board, pieces of wood, and upholstery tacks. Start out by measuring the space that you want it in. You’ll then make a wooden frame, then glue that frame on top of the green foam board with a glue gun. Lay the board on top of the burlap and hot glue it tightly to the wood. Finally, nail the upholstery tacks evenly around the edges of the board and you’re finished!

Public Domain/Flickr/Anna Bieniek

How to Plant and Grow a Terrarium at Lincoln Green

You’ve likely seen stylish terrariums filling the pages of all of your favorite interior design catalogs, but did you know that these unique gardens are also very easy to make at home? Here are just a few simple ways to create your own terrarium and add a bit of greenery to your rental at Lincoln Green!

  1. Whether you choose a small, round terrarium that you can hang from the ceiling or a larger, tank-style option for very large creations, you’ll want to choose something in a durable class that will enable you to see the plants through the sides.
  2. Add a layer of small stones or pebbles to the bottom of the terrarium for proper water drainage. This should measure about one-inch thick.
  3. Add another one-inch layer of activated charcoal on top of that for a finer drainage system.
  4. Top it off with a 1.5-inch layer of sphagnum moss to hold the soil in place and prevent it from sliding into the pebbles.
  5. Take a soil designed especially for terrariums and pre-moisten it using a spray bottle of water. Add a thick layer of three to four inches on top of everything.
  6. Remove pot-bound roots from your plants and add them to the soil. You may need to divide the plant into sections if it’s too big to fit the scale of the terrarium.
  7. Decorate with rocks and other accessories.

Terrariums: A Guide to Plants and Care [Better Homes & Gardens]
How To Make Terrariums [About Home]
Make Your Own Terrarium [HGTV]

How to Design Your Own Floral Arrangement

Think that you have to visit a professional florist to find a magazine-worthy arrangement? Think again! With these simple tips for designing your own floral arrangements at home, you can fill your space at Lincoln Green with gorgeous flowers or even give them as affordable gifts to friends.

  1. Choose the perfect vase. Choose a vase that will fit the flowers that you have on hand, or if you don’t have a designated vase, use something like a mason jar, pitcher, or other household vessel.
  2. Using florist’s tape, create a grid across the top opening of the vase. Leave approximately one-inch squares in between the tape to keep the flowers separated and evenly spaced.
  3. Mix up textures by using a wide variety of different types of flowers. Contrast delicate baby’s breath with big, leafy blooms and eucalyptus branches.
  4. If you’re feeling a bit intimidated by the idea of mixing and matching, make a statement by using a large quantity of just one type of flower. Whether it’s classic red roses or purple hydrangeas, all flowers look beautiful when trimmed into layered lengths that eventually create a rounded arrangement in a short vase.

Flower Arranging 101 [Martha Stewart]
Elegant, Exquisite, Easy Flower Arrangements [Real Simple]
How to create perfect floral arrangements [Sunset]

Want to Make Your Own Bedroom Headboard? Check Out These DIY Tutorials!

Purchasing a new headboard can get pretty expensive. Luckily, there are a number of creative ways to craft a headboard — or at least something that resembles one! Try out one of these awesome DIY tutorials for unique headboard alternatives.

Under $40 Wooden Headboard [echoesoflaughter.ca]
With a few pieces of scrap wood and some keen measuring skills, you can create this rustic, designer-inspired headboard in less than one afternoon. It’s also easy to customize to your specific bed size.

DIY Ruffled Fabric Headboard [bhg.com]
If you’re looking to add a sweet, feminine touch to a bedroom, this fabric-covered headboard is the perfect DIY project. If you’re not an expert seamstress, don’t worry: you don’t need to have any sewing skills, because this project only requires a simple hot glue gun, spray adhesive, and a drill.

Simple DIY Headboard [starsforstreetlights.com]
If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, this classic design is the perfect choice. A cardboard base makes this project inexpensive, but cutting the board into an elegant shape and covering it with a luxurious fabric makes it look anything but.

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