Many of the store bought scrapbook designs are very large and designed to be more like a full sized family photo album. If you live in a small space or you’d like to be able to leave the scrapbook out for guests to browse as they please, however, then a smaller design might make more sense. That’s why I’m such a big fan of this smaller version! Check out how Wedding Chicks made it using wallet-sized photo prints

2. Father’s Day memory book

guides you through the process of making a scrapbook that your kids can help you with in order to make the perfect Father’s Day gift! This adorable little memory book is the perfect way to collect all of your favourite pictures of your husband and your kids (or maybe your father and you) in one place. Check out how it’s done on Shelterness!

3. Old book picture album

Have you been collecting old prints and pictures and prints from your hometown, your family, or just anything that you find interesting? Then it definitely makes sense that you’d want to find a more unique and historical way to display them than just in a store bought scrapbook. I’m absolutely in love with this old book idea from Making Lovely! Find an old book that you like the cover of, that you know was written by an author from the area your pictures were taken in, or that was an old family favourite, and use corner fasteners to fix the pictures between the pages.

4. Forgotten party scrapbook

Do you love scrapbooking after important events and documenting your favourite experiences with your friends? That’s a great idea, but what if you were so busy hosting the party that you forgot to take a lot of pictures? That’s what this “forgotten” party scrapbook idea is for! A Beautiful Mess suggests piecing together important things that happened throughout the night by collecting whatever pictures and selfies your friends took, using fun stickers to remember things like date and location, and having your friends hand write their favourite or most memorable parts of the night so you can include those and laugh reading them when you look back in a few years.

5. DIY stamps

Perhaps you’ve had a scrapbook on the go for a few years now but you’re looking for ways to DIY new embellishments and details rather than the book itself? Stamps are one of my favourite things to add to a scrapboook page, but the cost of buying specific stamps just to use a few times can add up and I can’t always afford it. That’s why I was so pleased when I came across this DIY stamp tutorial from Fellow Fellow! It’s nice being able to customize whatever stamps you want more affordably.

6. Photo books for kids

Scrapbooks and photo books might not be precisely the same thing, but I think they’re pretty close, especially if you make a new one every couple years! I love the idea of making kids a photo book full of pictures of their family members and fun things they’ve done. Pairing the photos with a little description that’s framed like a storybook will help them remember and appreciate all of their neat experiences and loved ones. This is an especially good idea for kids who have many family members and loved ones who live far away! Get more details about making it on Cup of Jo.

7. Handmade paper

Are you a super detailed scrapbooker who really wants to make the pieces of your book right from scratch, down to the most basic elements? Then perhaps you’re up for the challenge of making your own paper! You’ll certainly value the book to an event bigger degree if you’ve put in this kind of time, effort, and love. See how the paper is made on Kiss the Groom.

8. Family board book

Do you remember reading those little cardboard page books with your parents when you were a kid? Perhaps you had the kind that didn’t involve any reading because they were just cardboard pages filled with lovely pictures. Either way, now you can learn how to make your own! I almost like this idea even more than making a scrapbook for your kids to look at later, because they can just take in the pictures themselves without being distracted by too many DIY details. Check this one out on A Beautiful Mess.

9. “Little things” photo books

Have you recently moved into a new place or found yourself so happy where you are that you can’t help but smiling at all the little details of your life that make you extra happy? I’m a super nostalgic person, so I know this feeling well! That’s why I’m so in love with A Beautiful Mess‘s idea of creating a “little things” scrapbook or journal. Any time a little gift, event, or single person makes you feel special and happy, document something about that experience in your scrapbook!

10. Road trip journal

DIY Ready suggests doing something similar to the idea above, but all on a single road trip or vacation specifically! I love the idea of making the book a similar size to a postcard or a Polaroid picture because then it’ll fit in your suitcase better and won’t be as cumbersome while you’re traveling as a full sized book like the ones you’ll see in stores. Make pages out of whatever you can get your hands on on the road!

11. Wooden cover scrapbook

Have you been trying your hand at woodworking and wood burning techniques? Well, that interest can actually be done in conjunction with your love for scrapbooking! I’m a massive fan of this idea from Young Bird for making a customized wooden cover for your scrapbook. It makes the whole collection look like an ancient family anthology rather than something you just finished making last week.

12. DIY photo transfer pages

Have you always been interested in making a memory book that actually has your pictures on the pages themselves, rather than just glued or taped to the surface? Sure, you could do that by ordering a printed book from Walmart or the nearest photo printing place, but it’s a lot more fun if you make your own! That’s where photo transferring techniques come in. Free People shows you how to actually “print” your images onto the surface of a new page as though you really are making your own book.

13. Mini memories album

Did you just get a Polaroid camera and even you have to admit that you went a little crazy with the pictures? There are plenty of albums you can buy in stores that have little Polaroid sized pockets in them, but making your own is always more satisfying. Say Yes guides you through the process of making a cute little folding photo book just like this one.

14. Playing card photos book

Are you looking for a simple, affordable way to display some of your favourite family pictures so visitors can flip through them? Do you want to make a miniature photo book for a friend but it has to be small enough to fit in the mail? Then perhaps this playing card flip book idea from Paper Vine is the one for you! We love the unconventional way the book looks sitting on the side table or in a care package that your friend will open, making the pictures a little bit of a surprise.

15. Chipboard photo albums

A Beautiful Mess walks you through the steps for making an alternative version of the board books you saw above; one that’s split down the centre! Rather than flipping the pages from right to left for the next picture, you’ll grab them at the split in the middle and open them outward, revealing a new picture in the centre. You might embellish the edges of the pages with your other scrapbooking supplies, but either way this format is adorable and eye-catching.

The post 15 Unique DIY Srapbooks appeared first on DIYCraftsGuru.

1. Reusable grocery bag

Do you get tired of paying extra money for plastic bags at the grocery store? Sure, it’s only a few cents, but if you grocery shop as much as we do then we both know it starts to add up! Reusable shopping bags, however, also cost money, even if they’re a better investment. Instead of buying the ones from the store, why not make your own? As long as it’s in tact, the fabric of your latest broken umbrella is the perfect material to make a new grocery tote out of! Check out how it’s done on Everyday Crafty Goodness.

2. Lined purse

Perhaps you’ve been wanting to make yourself a new bag for school, work, or taking Baby on outings, but you’re had bad experiences with things like lunches or bottles leaking all over the fabric? How to Reuse it Creatively has a great suggestion for making that problem a much easier one to clean up! Try making yourself a messenger bag, but before you use it, line the inside with the shiny material from your broken umbrella. Anything that spills inside the bag will be much easier to wipe off!

3. Magazine rack

Maybe both the fabric and the metal frame are salvageable, but the umbrella is just too old and worn to withstand the wind anymore? Give the whole thing a new lease on life by transforming it into a little standing magazine hammock, just like Crafting a Greener World did here.

4. Umbrella and plastic bag Christmas tree

Do you really love it when your upcycled ideas actually look upcycled? We’re pretty big fans of the idea too! That’s why this plastic bag and umbrella frame Christmas tree idea from Makezine caught our eye right away. Try it out during a year where you won’t actually be around near the holidays enough to enjoy a proper Christmas tree, but you still want to mark the occasion and get into the spirit at least a little bit.

5. Hanging Halloween decor

If you hang the stripped metal frame of an umbrella upside down from the ceiling, you’ll notice that it kind of looks like a spooky, spindly chandelier frame… so that’s exactly what BHG turned it into! Add some little lanterns from your local crafting or dollar store and cover the whole thing in fake cobwebs. Bonus points for plastic spiders!

6. Spring flower door decor

Maybe the umbrella won’t stay open anymore but it still looks pristine and new on the outside? Use that to your advantage and make it into a decor piece! We really like this spring flower door hanger idea from BHG. It looks like you came in from a rainy spring morning walk with a handful of fresh, dewy flowers that very morning.

7. Umbrella circle skirt

Is the frame of your favourite brightly coloured umbrella broken but the material that covers it is fine? You don’t have to throw that pretty fabric out! Instead, use it to make yourself an awesomely cheerful circle skirt, just like this one from Burda Style.

8. Umbrella handle wall hanger

Perhaps your umbrella is in very rough shape after blowing out your hand and into the street and the only thing left that’s really worth salvaging is the hooked handle on the end? Well, that’s okay, because we’ve totally found a good project idea for that too! Das Roke Paket suggests detaching it and fastening it to a small wooden base (paint a wooden plaque from the dollar store), then hanging it on your wall to hang extra clothes from.

9. Umbrella play tent

Crafty Moods guides you through the process of using the metal umbrella frame and some of the fabric covering it to make an awesome hanging tent for your child’s play room or bedroom. Use it as a quiet, comfy space for reading or simply as a great spot for playing house!

10. Fold away cloche for plants

Maybe you have one of those classic transparent plastic umbrellas and the top still works, but the handle broke off so that it’s annoying for you to hold in the wind? Then you’ve got what you need to make the perfect folding plant cloche. If the umbrella can’t protect you from the rain and wind anymore, at least it can protect your sprouts! Check out the details on Permaculture.

11. Lined rain hood

If you’re an avid sewing enthusiast who’s up for a big of a challenge, then transforming the fabric from your umbrella into a water resistant rain hood is a great project for you to tray! We love this idea from RecyclingZychal because it’s lined on the inside, so it’s still comfy to wear even though the outside is made from a slippery, swishy material.

12. Kids play parachute

Do you remember playing with those giant rainbow parachutes at school in gym class when you were a kid? Well, not you can recreate that experience in miniature for your kids to play with in the basement at home! How Does She shows you how to turn the fabric from your umbrella into a team toy that will keep your little ones and their friends busy for hours.

13. Small garments drying rack

Have you ever noticed how the empty frame of an umbrella looks like like those old vintage clothing lines that stood on patios in some 1970s back yards? That’s why Real Simple suggests using the top frame of your broken umbrella as a mini version of that drying rack, making it the perfect place for air drying small garments like socks and kids’ clothes.

14. Double umbrella spherical pendant light

Okay, so we’re pretty sure the original designer of this idea used matching umbrellas on purpose and didn’t just happen to have these ones sitting around by coincidence, but it’s still an awesome upcycling idea! Whether you also grab two new umbrellas just because you like the look or whether you use ones you already have, check out how it’s made on BHG.

15. Doggie rain coat

Even our furry friends need a little protection from the weather sometimes too, especially if it’s really pouring down outside! Instead of paying boutique prices on a rain coat for your dog, however, we suggest just upcycling the material from an old umbrella by sewing one yourself, just like Inhabitat did for this adorable pug!

The post How to Upcycle Old Umbrellas appeared first on DIYCraftsGuru.

Crafts that use up leftover supplies from other DIY projects are always great crafts to make. These coasters might use up the spare tiles from your bathroom renovation and the spare wallpaper from when you redid the hallway last year. Measure out squares of wallpaper to fit the surface of each tile, paste it on, and voila! The Thinking Closet has more details for you.

2. Painted cork coasters

Cork is a great base for a coaster because it doesn’t get slippery when you put a condensation covered glass on it. It also tends to soak up a little bit of the water if it beads down the outside of your drink. Plain old cork isn’t very interesting, however, so The Thinking Closet suggests using all surface paint and tape to create geometric patterns across the surface of each one!

3. Map coasters

Did you like the tile and decoupage method in the first wallpaper idea, but you don’t have access to leftover wallpaper? Perhaps you’d just prefer your coasters to be a subtle reflection of your interests for when guests visit? You can do essentially the same DIY project using cut squares of a map instead, just like The Country Chic Cottage did here!

4. Fall Leaves Mod Podge coasters

One Artsy Mama likes the idea of creating decoupage style coasters too! Instead of covering the whole surface of each coaster with one strip or piece of map, however, they suggest cutting out pieces of red, yellow, orange, and brown tissue paper in leaf shapes and using Mod Podge to stick them across the surface like fallen autumn leaves.

5. Gilded chevron coasters

Who says you have to stick anything to the surface of your tiled coasters at all? Sew Woodsy
suggests just getting crafty with patterns and all surface paint instead! We love this simple chevron pattern, especially in a metallic gold paint that’s sure to catch the eye of anyone in the room.

6. Motivational tile coasters

Are you a bigger fan of inspirational quotes than you are fancy patterns and kitschy designs? That’s okay too! Take a look at how One Artsy Mama created these cutely quoted tile coasters in just a few easy steps.

7. Etched monogrammed glass tile coasters

Glass tiles, like the kind you might find in a newly done bathroom, make great coasters as well! They’re also great for DIY coasters, however, because you can use glass etching techniques to monogram them subtly, giving them a misted letter and pattern effect. Get the full tutorial for this coaster method on Architecture of a Mom.

8. Alcohol ink coasters

Have you been looking for a DIY coaster suggestion that’s a little more abstract, bright, and artistic? Well, we think we found the design for you! These alcohol ink splash coasters are completely customizeable to your preferences and colour scheme, and they’re also a lot of fun to make! Check out the steps on Slapdash mom.

9. Pretty lacy coasters

Are you looking for a coaster design that’s a little more girly and delicate to match the rest of your apartment’s aesthetic? Mod Podge Rocks has the perfect project tutorial for you! Sealing lace on top of a cork base is a great way to protect your table surfaces from moisture while adding a subtle glamour to the room.

10. Scrabble tile coasters

As always, projects that upcycle other things are some of our very favourites! How could we build a list of DIY coasters without including at least one repurposing project? This particular idea from Simply Darrling reuses old Scrabble tiles from the board game to create a fun coaster set that adds a touch of whimsy to your living space.

11. Hand-painted floral cork coasters

Do you have a steady hand, a lot of patience, and a love for artistic painting and designs? Grab some cork, cut it into circular coasters, and grab your all surfaces paints and your brushes! You can paint any colours or designs you like, of course, but we’re pretty fond of these pretty floral paintings by Uncommon Designs. These are a neat way to show off your painting skills to your friends and family!

12. Woodgrain cork coasters

A Little Craft in Your Day teaches you how to create a faux wood grain effect across the surface of a cork coaster in just a few careful but easy steps. Using cork takes care of  the background colour and gives the design an already slightly wooden texture, making the rest of your design a little easier!

13. Stencilled cork compass coasters

One of the easiest DIY ways to get a custom design you like onto your coaster base is to use a stencil! Youc an buy stencils at your local crafting store or make them yourself. If your cork coaster bases are round, One Dog Woof suggests transforming them into compasses, dartboards, or billiard balls!

14. Wine cork coasters

Heartmade Blog shows you a whole different type of “cork” coaster than the ones we’ve already talked about! These coasters are made from recycled win corks, cut carefully to fit next to each other until they fill the whole coaster.

15. Embossed leather coasters

Please Excuse My Craftermath guides you through the process of creating adorably intricate embossed leather coasters featuring a French and Eiffel Tower motif that we’re absolutely in love with. This design is great for travelers of those who lust after the romantic city of Paris!

Have you made yourself other DIY coaster designs that you don’t see on our list but that you’re very proud of? Tell us all about how you made them in the comments section!

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