wish fulfillment, the blog

photo and instructions courtesy of Design*Sponge

Want to impress your date with a twist of the wrist? Save the tops of your champagne bottles for this party-trick that turns them into a mini bistro chair! Little crafts like this that both recycle your garbage and are easy enough to drink even after a bottle of champagne are the best!

Materials

• wire cage from a bottle of champagne
• wire cutters or heavy duty scissors

Instructions

check out the website for step-by-step pictures!

1. Cut the center back of the lower loop on you cage.
2. Remove bottom wire fully and straight as much as possible. This is pretty heavy gauge wire, but you’re tough, you can handle it.
3. Twist your straight piece of wire to form a back. Remove the seat.
4. Twist the back of the chair onto the legs and trim excess.
5. Replace seat and bow the legs slightly so the seat remains in place.

Keep your feet and toes toasty this winter with this project that reuses old wool sweaters! If you’re retiring some of your old wardrobe for the new year, think twice before you toss those wool pieces in the trash! These homemade slippers are just challenging enough for the novice craftster, and all the materials can probably be found in your house. So heat up a warm drink, find your favorite chair, and you’ll have an adorable new pair of footwear in no time!

Photo and directions courtesy of Homemade Simple

Materials

• Large piece of tightly-woven, 100% wool
• Batting
• Strip of hook and loop tape
• Buttons or other accents

Directions

Felt the Wool: Put your 100% wool sweater, blanket, or coat in the washing machine and wash it with a little bit of soap on the longest, hottest wash cycle. Then dry on high heat for as long as possible, but don’t forget to clean your lint filter several times throughout this step

Cut Patterns: Using this pattern, trace the outer edges of each of your feet, twice for each foot, on the felt. Cut out with scissors. These are the “soles” of your slippers, so leave a little bit of room on the outside edge to allow for seams. Cut two of these same-sized pieces from the batting. Then cut two “over-the-toe” pieces and two “strap” pieces.

So Sole-ful: Place one of the soles right side up on a flat surface. Top this piece with another sole lying right side down, and top this with a piece of batting. Using a needle and embroidery thread, whipstitch these three pieces together, or, if you feel like a tighter stitch, use a sewing machine. Leave space near the toe open, with enough room to turn the entire piece right side out. Once the right sides are facing out and the batting in is the middle, use a pen or pencil to shape the batting into place. You won’t have to close the top, since you will do that when you attach the top piece to the sole. Repeat for the other foot.

Top It Off: Fold the right foot over-the-toe piece in half, right sides touching, so the piece looks like a candy cane. Pin together at the toe and heel, and sew the heel edges together with a gradual curved line. This will start the heel.

Next, pin the hooked edge of the “candy cane” to the center of the right foot sole at the toe (the hook should be facing in toward the slipper). Flip the over-the-toe piece inside out, and pin the heel of this piece at the corners at the sole. This shapes the heel of the slipper.

Tip: To add some decorative reinforcement to the heel of the slipper, cut off the ribbed cuffs of your sweater, trim to fit around the heel and stitch on.

Using a tight whipstitch, sew together the touching edges of the top piece and the sole. Repeat this process for the left foot pieces.

Attach the straps across the tops of the two slippers with hook and loop tape and garnish with a button or two.

Whether you’re decorating for a New Year’s bash or whipping together some gifts to bring to a party, these silver champagne cozies will be welcome at every dining table! They look glamorous and help you avoid drips and slips until you’re ready to pop the cork at midnight! They remind us of wine bottles wrapped in simple napkins at fine restaurants, with a bit more pizzazz. Photo and instructions courtesy of BHG

Materials

• 1 silver cloth napkin
• 4 large decorative buttons
• Thread to match napkin
• Needle and pins
• 1 yard coordinating ribbon

Instructions

1. Fit cozy to bottle. With right side out, pin the napkin into a tube shape around the desired bottle, overlapping the edges to fit. Remove bottle.
2. Secure fabric with buttons. Beginning 5 inches down from the top of the tube, secure the edges by sewing 4 buttons, evenly spaced, through both napkin layers.
3. Sew bottom. Turn tube inside out and flatten, keeping overlapped edges centered on the side facing up. To fit bottom of napkin to bottle, fold a 1-inch pleat on each side of tube at bottom edge. Machine-sew across bottom of tube, catching pleats in seam. Turn cozy right side out.
4. Slide the cozy onto the bottle. Tie the ribbon around cozy at neck of bottle.

Photo courtesy of Anthropologie

Whether or not you get to experience a white Christmas this year, these glittery snow globes can bring a piece of festive weather to you! There are beautiful examples out there, but they can run up a hefty price tag, especially if you’re into collecting. This DIY version costs next to nothing, and lets you personalize to your heart’s content! You choose everything from the jar to the trinkets inside, making this the perfect gift for loved ones. Once you make one, you’ll want to turn everything into a snow globe!

Materials

• A jar of your choice (with a lid)
• Figurines or jewellery
• Anti-rust sealant for metal pieces
• Clear-drying epoxy
• Distilled water
• Dash of glycerin
• Large silver or white glitter (smaller versions will float at the top)

Instructions

1. Use clear-drying epoxy to adhere your piece to the inside of the lid. Let dry per instructions.
2. After the epoxy dries completely, fill your jar with distilled or boiled water (at room temperature, of course).
3. Add just a dash of glycerin so the “snow” falls slowly.
4. Add as much glitter as you like. If you don’t like the look of glitter, you can usually find faux snow at craft and haberdashery stores.
5. Screw your lid on tightly and enjoy your snow globe!

Instructions courtesy of Well Worn