DIY Decorative Juju Hat Inspired Wall Decor Tutorial

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African/Cameroon Juju hats have been around as home decor for a few years. They’re so beautiful, artisanal/handmade (symbolize prosperity, worn by ceremonial dancers). DIY decorative Juju hat inspired tutorial:

DIYShowOff Juju hat wall decor tutorial

juju hat wall decor diy

When a friend of mine had to part ways with her African Juju hat wall decor (you don’t want to know), she was in the market for a replacement. It’s been a while since I’ve been crafty and what better time than the new year for a fresh start?! Perfect timing. A perfect opportunity to focus on the positive and to send some good juju to a friend. 

What’s your first DIY project of the new year? Looking for and easy, fun and “GOOD” DIY to jumpstart 2022? This is the perfect little project for you to try! I felt empowered and inspired so I opened up my Amazon app and ordered these supplies: 

diy materials for juju hat wall decor

Materials I used (referral links):

cardboard circle (could easily make one from recycled cardboard too, especially if you’ve been procrastinating the holiday clean up!)

• feather trim ( purchased 2 of this feather trim and 1 of this feather fringe trim)

• aluminum pop top (removed from can) to hang (could also use string or hang with push pins)

Tools:

hot glue gun/sticks, scissors

What I did:

I found the center of my cardboard circle. From there, I drew a straight line to the outer edge. 

tape measure

Using scissors, I cut along the line. 

scissors

Next, using hot glue along one side of the cut, I glued the other side slightly on top to create a little bit of a ‘bowl’-shape. It’s very slight…just enough to give it a 3D look.

Gorilla Glue gun cardboard circle

Then, protect your fingers ‘cuz that hot glue is HOT! Be careful! (I used a capped pen to hold down the ribbon as needed.) Determine placement and start attaching the bottom of the feather trip to the cardboard circle. I worked my way around the outer edge. 

hot glue feather trim feather crafts feather circle

Repeat in circles for complete coverage. Based on your supplies, determine how close together to cover the cardboard. I alternated the 2 different feather trims. 

gluing feather trim feather ribbon juju hat craft project making a juju hat decoration gray feathers placing feathers circle of feathers juju hat inspired wall decor circle of gray feather trim cutting feather trim hot gluing feathers diy juju hat wall decor making a juju hat DIY juju hat tutorial easy diy feather project juju hat DIY

For the center, add a coordinating or same color silk flower. Or, like me, take a bit of leftover trim and roll to create a “center” piece. Attach with hot glue. 

glue gun and feather trim feather trim craft flower feather boa craft craft project with feathers

Fill in with individual feathers as needed.

scissors and gray feathers gray feather and glue gun gray feather craft idea

Attach hanging mechanism of choice to the back with hot glue. 

hanging wall decor with a pop top

Easy peasy! Much lighter and not as detailed or heavy as the real thing but beautiful none-the-less and special because you made it yourself!

The result:

diy juju hat wall art diy gray juju hat wall art

Texture! Softness. Beauty!

poofy feather wall art sitting room wall art diy DIYShowOff Juju hat wall decor tutorialgray juju hat wall decor diy gray feather juju hat decor

I’m hooked and plan to create several more! More feather trim as been ordered! I need a fluffier one! A feather boa would work as well (although a little messier)! Maybe some rattan coasters for the center or a coordinating silk peony would be beautiful too. I’ll come back and post more pictures. Interested in adding yours to the feature? Submit your juju hat photo to thediyshowoff at gmail. 

How about you? Ready to get crafty, creative and inspired in 2022?

 

DIY Shed Door

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DIY Shed Door! You know those projects you procrastinate, something that just sits around unfinished for years? Until finally, you just can’t take it anymore and the time arrives for getting ‘er done? Yep, that’s this project.

 

For four years now, the shed at the my downtown property has been wide open! And while it always bugged me, it just kept holding it’s position at the bottom of the to-do list. Until now. 

When I bought the property, there was only 1 plank with hinges for a door. lol And it wasn’t high on the list of priorities but with an upcoming photo shoot of the short term rental apartment (Suite Thyme) AND with the only quiet seating area right there beside it AND with summer coming, that eye sore worked it’s way to the top of the list. 

Before: just a small shed, filled with dead leaves, probably home to a few squirrels and lots of spiders. ::shudders::

An old fence gate propped up…really didn’t serve any purpose. Other than it just came with the property and found it’s way there. I don’t even know how it got there. haha!

And so…

Supplies I used for a custom 22.5 x 75 inch shed door:

  • OSB cut to size. 
  • (5) 1×3 pine boards – I just guessed on what I’d need for all of the wood pieces and over-estimated a bit. I never mind having extra on hand. 
  • (3) 1×2 pine boards
  • (2) 1×1 pine boards
  • (1) paintable outdoor rated caulk
  • (1) outdoor rated adhesive
  • (2) outdoor rated primer
  • outdoor rated paint
  • this handle
  • this hasp
  • these hinges (not used, more on that later)

What I did:

After measuring the space (and believe me, nothing in this old late 1800s property is square…so frustrating), Russ cut an old piece of OSB to size for me to use as my base. OSB isn’t the best product for an outdoor project, but this is the first door I’ve ever built and this was the best and easiest way for me personally to test my design skills. Fingers crossed that with it being the inside of the door/in the shed and that it’s good and sealed, that it works just fine longer term. 

I then set about sketching up some inspiration, nothing to scale but I wanted to get an idea of what I was going for. Something with a little more detail and style than the standard barn style shed door. 

Then I set the OSB on saw horses and created a frame on the face of it with 1x3s. 

I messed around with the pieces a few times before I decided on a pattern. 

 

Utilizing a mix of mitered 1x3s, 1x2s and 1x1s, I settled on a chevron design. I enjoyed this part, like putting together a puzzle. 

After cutting each piece, I adhered them to the OSB base with adhesive and clamped the edges and weighted the pieces where the clamps couldn’t reach. I did notice what putting them together with adhesive is different than just laying them out and re-cut 2 mitered pieces for a better fit during this process. 

Once dry, I caulked all of the joints and cracks. 

Then applied a coat of primer. I used a spray primer but next time, I’d go with (and recommend) applying with a brush and roller. 

All sides got two coats of paint. 

And … tada!

Time to hang. The sizing was pretty much spot on but we did have to make a few adjustments and the new hinges gave us such a hard time that after about an hour, we decided to utilize the old original hinges which took about 10 minutes! Live and learn. lol 

Now there’s no longer a gaping hole! Guests enjoying the outdoor seating probably won’t think much of it but I do think they’ll notice. And I’m happy to have a place for outdoor yard tools, pots and salt for winter. 

Urban Nest Apartment Makeover Series

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Hellooooo my DIY loves! It’s been forever! Not to say we haven’t been busy over here at DIYShowOff behind the scenes. 2020 was a crazy year but I love when there’s a project in the works to keep my brain busy. There was an amazing apartment makeover in the works and now that it’s nearing completion, I have SO much to share with you in the way of a before and after Cinderella transformation story. I can’t wait!

roeshel urban nest makeover

See me in this corner? All comfy cozy. It’s where the Urban Nest design dreams began. Notice the walls, the blue industrial carpet, The need for a lamp left behind by previous owners because the only window in this empty room is on a door to the left. Just me, sitting here with a dear friend and her cat, walking around an empty ugly bare space, visualizing potential. My thoughts running wild, my creativity inspired, my mind’s eye seeing the future. Where to put a kitchen? How to create a dream spa bathroom? Knocking down walls, putting in a window, all.things.design to create a beautiful luxury retreat space in my little hometown. Our favorite pastime…creating pretty spaces, right? 

Fast forward to this year. The same corner…

modern kitchen open shelving

What?! Can you believe it?! A stunning modern kitchen with open shelving, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, subway tiles, gold accents. LOVE! Oh my gosh. Prepare to be wow’d!

So stay tuned. Lots of before and after photos coming your way and a happily ever after renovation with more details on how to get away, see Urban Nest up close and personal if you’re looking for a charming small town getaway in western PA.

It’s so good to be back!