darby smart Archives - Studio Katie

Plastic Bunny Key Chain DIY

I’m thrilled to announce that I have a new kit designed with Darby Smart! Just in time for Easter, I made these fun Bunny Rabbit Keychains. I’m sharing a DIY below on how to make your own, and you can get all of the supplies on Darby Smart for only $14!

How to:
1. Spray paint your plastic bunnies.
2. Use an awl to poke a hole into the top of your plastic bunnies and screw in your eye pins.
3. Attach a key chain.
4. (optional) Use a gold paint pen to gild the top of your bunny ears.

It’s as easy as that!

With these little bunnies holding your keys, you’ll be able to spot them from across the room next time they wander off! Craft 3 stylish key chains with this project and give them away to some-bunny you love!
See the final DIY and get the supplies at Darby Smart!

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Bright Ideas: 7 Tips for Wood Burning

I recently purchased the Wood Burning kit from Darby Smart. Some of my projects using it include this Tea Box, Wooden Key Holder Plaque and these Wooden Spoons.

Here are some wood burning tips that Taylor and I wanted to share with you:

Choose a nice selection of wooden items to practice on. I liked having a variety to choose from.
If you want to try intricate designs, it can be helpful to lightly sketch these out in pencil first. For patterns and geometric designs, you can probably just freehand it.
Test out the heat levels of your woodburning tool. If the heat setting is too low, your designs won’t burn into the wood. Or, if the setting is too hot, the wood will burn too quickly and could ruin your design. Test the heat levels on a scrap piece of wood if possible.
Use multiple tips for different looks! While you will have to wait for the tool to cool down between tips so that you can change them out, Using different tips gives your design nice texture. You can use a simple tip to draw with, circular tips, or even letter tips to spell out words.
If your woodburner came with a stand, it can be helpful to tape the stand to your table while you work so that when you set the burner in the stand, it doesn’t fall over or slip off of the table. We like to stick ours down with a little bit of washi tape so that when we’re finished, it comes right up!
Use a wood conditioner to seal your wood. Wood conditioner is an oil or wax based treatment that is typically used to pre-treat wood before you stain. If you’re using inexpensive wooden items, it also makes your wood look more finished and less cheap.
This may seem obvious, but be careful! The tool gets really really hot. Always wait until the burner has cooled down before touching it with your bare fingers.

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These wooden spoons are going into our 2014 Gift Closet, so when we need a handmade gift these awesome spoons are ready to go!

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Wood Burned Tea Box

During the holidays I purchased a wood burning kit from Darby Smart. If you don’t know about Darby Smart, you should definitely check them out! Darby Smart partners with leading DIY designers to make fun crafting kits based on the latest fashion and home decor trends. (You can see/purchase the kit I designed for Darby Smart here.)

Anyhow, I’d been eyeing their wood burning kit for a while, thinking “Ooh, wood burning sounds fun!”. I finally decided to purchase it and do some burning. When it got here my first wood burning projects were wood burned spoons. Taylor and I made a bunch to put in our 2014 gift closet.

The wood burning kit came with a small wooden box. It took me a little while to decided what I wanted to use the box for, but it seems obvious now for a tea lover like me: a tea box!

I started by lightly sketching a tea cup onto the top of the box. The cup was the only thing I sketched, everything else I just freehanded while I was burning it. After I drew the cup, I just burned some fun leaves and scallops along the sides of the box to further embellish it.

After that, I coated it in wood conditioner (not included in the kit) and a bit of wood stain. (the stain was included in the kit.). It was my first ever piece of wood to stain, so it is a bit splotchy, but I don’t think it’s too bad!

I really love wood burning now, I’ve got a couple of cheap wooden plaques that I’m going to burn. I just have to decide what I’m going to burn into them first. 😉

If you happen to be as much of a tea lover as I am, you might like some of my other tea themed projects:

Tea Cup Journal, Tea Mixed Media Bookmarks, Books and Tea Shoes, Tea Typography Notebook, Tea Bag Pouch, Tea Mini Quilt, Tea Art Journal

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My Darby Smart Kit + Free Coupon Code!

I’m super excited to announce that I partnered with Darby Smart to design this awesome craft kit. I’ve dreamed of designing fun craft kits for a while, and I came across an opportunity to become one of Darby’s designers.

If you’ve never heard of Darby Smart, here’s a little about them:

Darby Smart is a new way to DIY. Simple, Stylish and Splendid.

At Darby Smart, leading designers launch simple DIY projects based on the latest fashion and home trends.

We turn their projects into kits that include chic materials and simple instructions, and send them to you. Create a unique design and show off your style.

I designed these fun Blooming Bud Monogrammed Vases. Kits are $29.00 with free shipping. Scroll down for a coupon code!

Each kit will include: 3 Tall Glass VasesTall Glass Vases (3), Krylon Metallic
Gold Spray Paint, Adhesive Alphabet Stencils

Fall Thread Colors (3), Glue
& DIY Instructions

Anytime you purchase a Darby kit, you are supporting a designer! It would totally make my day if you purchase and create some of my vases!

Darby has provided me with a coupon code/gift card for you guys! Purchase my kit, and use the promo code: iknowdarby at checkout. Gift cards are always a surprise so they
vary in amount! Coupon has expired. 🙁

I’m so excited about this. 🙂