DIY | Paper Mache Hand Hooks

I’ve always admired those quirky modern wall hooks with a Tim Burtonesque whimsy to them. Are those hands sticking out of the wall fun, or just creepy? I think fun. When I found these paper mache hands at the craft store, I knew immediately what I had to do. Turn them into wall hooks for hats and scarves, of course!

These paper mache hands were found at the craft store with supplies that are meant for jewelry designers to decoupage and use to display their creations. They’re not as sturdy as platser would be, but for light-weight items, they do just fine!

This is such a cheap and easy project, I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner! You will need:

  • paper mache hand displays, in the style of your choice (I found mine for $2 each!)
  • spray primer in a tone similar to your finish color
  • spray paint in a matte or gloss finish (Matte might be better for the texture of the hands.)
  • sticky-back mounting strips. (Velcro ones don’t work well for this project.)

1.) First, put your paper mache hands onto some disposable paper (or foam board, for a sturdy platform) and prime them in a well-ventilated area. Two coats ought to do it. 2.) After the primer has dried, it’s time to add the color of your choice! This took me about four light coats of paint to completely cover the primer. Don’t spray it on too thick, or it will drip. 3.) Trim the edges of your mounting strips to the shape of your hand mounts, and then mount to the wall! Wait the specified amount of time (noted on your adhesive strip packaging), and then hang the items of your choice! Just make sure the weight of what you hang doesn’t exceed the recommended weight of your adhesive strips, or you might be startled to find a pair of hands laying on your floor!


DIY | Vintage Scarf Covered Hangers

Faced with an overabundance of vintage scarves and ugly wire hangers, I decided to fix both problems by combining the two. Now my wire hangers have style worthy of the clothes hanging on them, and I can enjoy a little less clutter on my scarf rack. Check out the instructions below to make your own for gifting or prettifying your own closet!

Depending on the size of your scarf, you can make multiple hanger covers out of each one.
Here are the supplies you’ll need:

  • patterned neck or head scarf
  • fabric scissors
  • wire hangers
  • straight pins
  • needle and thread
  • sewing machine (not necessary, but makes the process easier)

1.) Size up the portion of the scarf you will need by folding the scarf over your hanger. The fold should be at the straight bottom of the hanger, and you only need to fold over enough fabric to cover the triangle part of the hanger.

2.) Pin the fabric, wrong side facing out, along only one of the slanted edges of the hanger. Then stitch along the pinned line, and trim away the excess fabric.

3.) On the other slanted edge, pin and trim, but do not stitch it closed. Once it is trimmed, flip under both sides the edge (ironing if necessary), and hem each flap individually, not together. Make sure you are flipping and hemming fabric on the wrong side, not the side side of your fabric.

4.) Now flip the cover ride side out and fit it around your hanger. You still have one side open, each flap is hemmed and ready to be pinned around the hanger. After it’s pinned securely, hand-stitch closed around the hanger.

Once you get really good at making your stitches pretty, you can create a whole collection of pretty hangers! They sure make your closet prettier, and would make great housewarming or wedding gifts as well.

Blog Love: Petite Biet

As Phil and I set up our first house together, prepare to bring a little baby girl into the world, and still believe romance and marriage can coexist, I was so happy to find Petite Biet– a romantic little blog with sweet babies, lovers, and beautiful living in Brooklyn. Looking through the archives makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop! A pretty, chubby-cheeked, baby girl candy shop.

Petite Biet is the blog home of married lovers, Belle and Gaby. 9 years ago they met and fell in love in New York City. Then they had a baby. Belle says, “Biet Luna was born in May of 2011, on a rainy Monday evening. She was born at home, in the water, in our tiny tenement apartment. On that day I learned the true meanings of strength & trust.  It was magical. It was surreal.  It was a day that changed us forevermore. When Biet came into this world,  she brought with her a sense of wonder that has spread to us all. We, as a family, are over the moon.”

Check out the little family’s blog for a sweet little escape.

Petite Biet is a sponsor of Making Nice in the Midwest. To become a sponsor too, click here.

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