Instructions for This Week's Craft: Mini-Art Switchplates, Coasters, and Make Up or Freestyle Crafting

Hello precious babies! We DAMES need a week of rest after some particularly difficult, albeit rewarding, crafts. This week we are tackling some simple projects which are ideal for showcasing well-loved images and personal artwork. I am planning on sketching up a storm tonight and spending some colored pencil quality time in preparation for some truly one of a kind switchplates, outlet covers and tile coasters. Since these are short crafts which mostly require strategic gluing, the rest of craft night is a "free night," a theme we DAMES are considering regularly incorporating. If you've missed a night, here's your chance to catch up on crafts you wanted to do but missed out on. Past craft nights included: lightboxes, fondant, prayer candles, flower broaches and hair clips and wreaths (that one was mine, because I'm a total old lady and love me some wreaths). Did I miss anything???

Switchplate Instructions (other instructions after the jump)

Variations on Tonight's Theme

Scrambling for your materials at the last minute, as always? ;) Consider this variation on tonight's project: the Flatware Chandelier. Perfect for a dining area! I found one of these at Apartment Therapy, with a link to a tutorial here, and the other at Anthropologie, with a $4800 price tag! WTF, I would only need to make like 10 a year! Anyway, chew on these, precious babies.

EDIT:
I found another couple!! These two are courtesy of Napa Style, and are particularly lovely.

Instructions for This Week's Craft

Kitchen Utensil Lamp

Fantasy Craft: Repurpose a Chair Into an Outdoor Swing

I really love this project, and it could be completed for under $20, especially if you find the chair on Freecycle and it doesn't need too much weatherproofing.

I found this project originally at Apartment Therapy, but the tutorial is at Peppertowne.

The Big Ass Book of Crafts

We here at DAMES are currently working our way through Mark Montano's amazing craft resource "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts." We will post photos of our projects while in progress and once completed, and we will add our own project modifications, tips and an overall review of the project.

We're also really interested in "The Big-Ass Book of Home Decor," but that's a project book for next year. :D Those and a couple of extra craft books listed below.

Fantasy Craft

How cool is this? I want to build something like this NOW, but it'll have to go to the bottom of a long list of far more pressing projects. Thoughts, ladies?

Martha's Hidden Home Office

This is a project in a broader series featured on the Martha Stewart website called DIY Furniture. Other great ideas in the series include a vintage door headboard, a hanging shelf, and a DIY vanity.

Instructions for Tonight's Craft

Random Craft Post: DIY Dinosaur Lamps

An eHow article I wrote on custom lamps. Don't like dinosaurs? Any hollow object will suffice.

DIY Dinosaur Lamps

Craft Night Calendar - June

June 11, 2010: Aluminum Wall Sconces; Tyler's place at 8 p.m. Materials needed: sturdy, thick work gloves, tin snips, 3-feet of aluminum flashing, a 5x7-inch piece of glass, a tea light candle, and decorating materials as desired. Bring extra if you want to make a matching pair of sconces.

June 18, 2010: Silverware Lamps or Chandeliers; Rana's place at 8 p.m. Materials needed: 20 s-hooks, drill with appropriate bit, strong glue, lamp ring, lamp base with harp, 25 watt bulb, 20 forks, and 20 spoons. Tyler suggests hitting up thrift stores for vintage tableware and cheap, de-constructable lamps; you will also find plenty of cheap silverware at the Dollar Tree, 3/$1.00 if I remember correctly.

June 25, 2010: Custom Coasters and Fixed-Up Switchplates; Katie's place at 8 p.m. Boring switchplates and outlet covers are boring. Plus, I need coasters. Whichever project you want to do, bring those materials. Switchplates/outlet cover materials: Switchplates or outlet covers, spray adhesive, nifty images. Coasters: Plain Jane 4x4 tiles, spray adhesive, images, felt. Both of these projects are great opportunities to use SPRAY PAINT!! Probably forgetting something, so check back for updates. Since these are short crafts, this is a free-craft night, meaning bring make-up crafts or other projects to work on after the initial project is complete.

Craft on, little precious babies. July calendar forthcoming, spots available for Jessica, Meredith and Jen as they submit their craft ideas.

Intro Post

D.A.M.E.S. is a San Antonio-based craft society made up of some pretty awesome broads as well as the occasional dude (usually one of boyfriends/husbands). We hold craft nights once weekly, and each craft night is hosted by a different group member. Interested in membership? Email us for a detailed, several pages long application and description of initiation rituals.