[today's final diy project is a guest post from designer david stark! stay tuned for his updated hometour in the d*s book, or click here to check out original tour online]

I have been obsessed with snowmen for as long as I can remember, and right now, I am certainly obsessed with string and twine! My buddies over at west elm humored my cord obsession, welcoming me to design my very first product line, a collection of holiday decorating items, all so reasonably priced and in the stores now. Many of the items in the line grew out of techniques we often employ for the hand-made elements we create for events. I am happy to let you in on one of our secrets.

A twine snowman is a no-brainer. Simply take 3 varying sized balls and stack ‘em. But the “drawn” twine elements – pipes, hats, any details you desire, all are created by re-wrapping twine around wire, hiding it as an armature inside the strand.

You can then draw anything you want because the wire holds the shape. Write words, create a bow tie, a jaunty cap, and group a happy family on a credenza or a mantle. Create a centerpiece for a dining or buffet table, pairing the snowmen with items from our west elm collection to create a unique scene. Mixing naturals with glimmering metallics feels new to me and immediately propels twine into the holiday season. [Photos courtesy of Susan Montagna]

Ho ho ho!

D.

CLICK HERE for the full project steps after the jump!

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today i’m finishing up the final sequencing for all 400+ pages of the design*sponge book so tomorrow i’m going to be taking a very, very needed day off. so today i’ll be posting diy projects that would normally go up tomorrow. up first- a great upcycling project from amy merrick. amy turned her collection of vintage crates into beautiful rustic shelves just waiting to become cubby holes for special objects. can’t find vintage crates? try asking your local wine shop if they have any leftover crates from new shipments- you can always distress your crates or paint them to suit your personal style.

CLICK HERE for the project instructions post after the jump!

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this beautiful fall craft project comes from d*s reader and photographer danielle thompson of the thompson family blog. she created these gorgeous fabric pumpkins as a last minute thanksgiving centerpiece of vignette- i love the way they let you use up bit of leftover fabric (and they won’t turn to mush if you leave them out too long!). CLICK HERE for the full project steps! thanks, danielle!

i’m still finishing up the book this morning, so i wanted to kick things off from with a fun diy project. d*s reader and crafting mom sara rivka dahan created these great crocheted placemats using leftover plastic bags from the grocery store. it’s not every day that you find a fun way to reuse those bags, and this is the perfect project to keep you busy on a cold winter day. CLICK HERE for the full instructions! thanks, sara!

This week we’ll continue with the theme of hanging containers and share a simple flower girl’s basket we created for an upcoming event. Birch bark tubes are a popular way to add a little rustic beauty to a DIY wedding reception, so we thought it would be fun to show you how to incorporate them into your ceremony flowers too. This ribbon-handle basket could be used to hold petals or fall leaves for the little gal to toss at an autumn ceremony or a sweet posy for her to hold as she walks down the aisle.

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

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i love the seventies feel of the colors on these giant wood beads, so i decided to embrace it and make a cozy little chandelier for over my small dining table. the softness of the yarn and the smooth beads makes this a very fun lamp, perfect for winter evenings. you could also spray paint the beads a color and go monochromatic (black perhaps?) for a more dramatic, modern look. this is a fun project to do with children as well (another good one for movie time), because it’s really just stringin’ beads! have fun! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

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it’s not every day that you find a clever way to reuse something from the bathroom, but tali from growing up creative had a simple but beautiful idea that lets you reuse toilet paper rolls. whether you’re looking for a fun afternoon craft to do with little ones or just want to find a way upcycle old toilet paper rolls, this is a perfect afternoon project. i’m tempted to spray paint them in metallic colors to make a holiday-style arrangement…

CLICK HERE for the full instructions from tali below!

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