Rice paper lamps are one of the most beautiful and affordable lighting accents one can have to bring in light-air simplicity in your homes. They are beautiful to look at, low in maintenance  and most frugal lighting options available for budget home decoration.

This hot season calls for soft lights and cool ambient lighting that goes easy on the eye. Rice Paper and Bamboo lanterns are the best bet for bringing in this touch of zen, simplicity, white, purity, and balmy effect. The lightness and simplicity of white paper adds to the aura you want to create in your room. And perfect for this hot summer.

Paper lanterns are beautiful when hung individually. But if you want a ceiling centerpiece, it is great to bunch up some lanterns together and light up the lights. Here is how you make your frugal rice paper and bamboo lamp shades chandelier for ambient lighting:

Things you need to make your 3 paper lantern lighting accent:

• Three (or more) Chinese paper lamps
• Metal or bamboo frame or ring (to bring in distance between the lamps and  to balance them)
• Electrical wire (as per the length of the lamp required)
• Bulb holders and bulbs (CFLs to go gentle on the environment as you are lighting more than one bulb for this arrangement)
• Tools such as scissors, cutting player, screw driver, etc (in most cases, teeth and finger nails suffice)

Here is the basic template of how I did it. There are many other interesting ways in which it can be done. Be bold and creative in trying out.

Tutorial Design Template for Making your Rice Paper Lamp Accent

Step 1: Using the above template, hang the paper lamps with ordinary string on the frame. This is to get an estimate of how much wire you will need, what would be the length of the entire lamp arrangement, how to balance the lamps against its lengths,  etc. It is always better to have a rough idea of it would eventually look like when hung on the ceiling.

Knots, Wiring, Bulb holders for Paper Lantern Chandelier DIY

Step 2: Wire the bulb holders and secure them in the lamps. Cut the required wire length for each lamp.

Step 3: Hang all the lamps on the frame at a workable height. Try to balance the weight, heights and lengths of the lamps if you want to make uneven hanging arrangement. You need to strike the balance before you secure the wires with knots or adhesives. If you are wanting to make an uneven arrangement with different paper lamp sizes, then you need to spend some time getting it right.

Three is not a crowd - DIY Lamp Shades

Step 4: Secure the wire lengths and locations with knots or adhesives.

Step 5: Check for all the internal wiring with bulb holders. Secure the open wires with insulation tape.

NOTES:

> Having attached to the ceiling, check for the balance of the design as these lamps may droop to one side due to weight of the biggest lamp or long wire length. Only after you are sure of the design and balance, attach the electrical wires to the power outlet.

>The circle frame determines the shape of your lantern. The frame could be circular, triangular, or any other shape to accommodate any number of lanterns of varying size and diameter that you want to accommodate. Apart from round paper lamps, there are many other shapes available such as squares, pyramids, cylinders, etc.

> These tri-lamp chandeliers look good on ceiling and even better in dark neglected corner of your house. This frugal lamp gives an instant face lift to room corners where you can hang  3 or 4 lamps in elongated fashion to fill in the empty area. Accentuate this arrangement with houseplants such as palms, spider plants, etc.

And then switch on for a beautiful experience that breathes in soft light, as the cool evening breeze that wafts by.

Zen, Pure, White, Soft, Diffused Balmy Light for Night

This trio hangs in one of my rooms and  and every time I switch them on, they do a lot more than just lighting up the room. Do try this if you love paper lamps for it is an experience by itself… and let me know how it went.

Lot of great ideas, oodles of creativity, yet simply simple to make – these Top10 ideas are the best tutorials that I have come across. These creative individuals (and great bloggers) have, in their own special ways made professional quality bags out of simplest of materials. And along with the great products, they have shared their the best, simplest and most helpful step-by-step tutorials for making these bags at home.

Here is my list of favorite handmade bags DIY tutorials.

1) Sew Mama Sew has made a striking red handbad with wooden handles in no time. Love that color – for color’s sake. Another excellent visual tutorial-treat. You can experiment with toned down colors and still come up with a chic bag in no time. My must try.

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2) Purl Bee’s Music Bag is one of the simplest organizer that can be made very easily. I would like to use plain colors or some other desing to make this one. This basic tutorial rocks with easy steps and so many photo guides. Great resource for those who are attempting to make bags the first time.

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3) M M M Crafts gives us basic messenger bag ideas with those lovely simple motifs add to the charm. Instead of photos,  find line drawings and patterns to get a good idea of how to go about making this high-on-utility messenger bag. You could go creative with the motifs and make custom patterns for girls and boys.

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4) Purl Bee’s bag making tutorials are the benchmark for most DIY enthusiasts. This is the best bag making tutorial on the web that I have come across. Simple, illustrative and seems easy-to-make – her bag tutorials rock. Check out her other DIY tutorials as well.

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5) Eva For Eva has made a green bag made from recycled materials but what I am focusing on is the simple DIY tutorial that helps me make simple stylish eco-chic bags in no time. Love that rustic and down-to-earth feel of the bag.

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6) A Mingled Yarn may call it a diaper bag but I find an excellent messenger bag turorial here. Lovely colors and design inspiration here. From diapers to laptop, all can go in here, in style.

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7) Chubby Hobby has made this perfect market bag which doubles as an excellent laptop bag for me. I fancy elongated-padded- rectangluar bags for they can hold lot more things without looking cramped. Check this tutorial out for the fine detail work she has done.

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8 ) Craft Apple makes perfect finish bags and sells them. Here she shares her step-by-step bag making approach. Look for the fine stitch details and imagine this one in toned colors Very chic and easy to make this lovely bag. Do experiment with colors and designs.

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9) J Caroline Creative has some stunning and easy-to-make tote bags which can take in anything, yet look elegant. Easy tutorial for great chic cloth tote bags. You can also find great tips on stitching on the zipper and basic finishing techniques.

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10) Image Fabric has this kitchy kitch tote bag that can be made with many interesting colors and combinations. The net effect is very casual, jazzy and stylish. I could do a similar one in toned down colors. What say?

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I am supposed to be listing my top 10 tutorials for bag making ideas. But here is the irresistible one I have to share with you. Curbly has the most strikingly stylish hand purse with wooden handles made with an old book. Yes, an old book and a great recycling idea

So here was my list. If you have come across any great handbag making tutorials or have made a great handbag yourself, do let me know. You gotta be known here.

And watch this space for my Jute Bag Tutorial – soon.

Dried Flowers and Twig Accents for Corner piece Arrangement

Good things in life come in small packets. In here, few dried flowers, small twigs and sticks are being used to make a striking centerpiece that does not wilt or sag.

Dried floral centerpieces are easy to make, look great and last for as long as you can make them last. They also need less maintenance, no-watering and care. Far away from the artificial and synthetic flowers, these flower arrangements are natural, eco-friendly and bring in the much needed color burst into any setting.

Dried flower arrangements are hassle-free so they are perfect for daily decoration. But when special occasions call for exotic decorations,  the same can be achieved with dry flowers and twigs such as this wonderful eco friendly wood-roses wreath for Christmas. Another advantage of dried table centerpieces is that they can be scented with essential oils and kept fragrant.

Here is a quick tutorial to show you how easy it is to conjure up a simple and elegant dried flowers & twigs table centerpiece.

Any floral centerpiece needs to take into consideration the platform on which it will be placed and the area surrounding it. The idea is to either blend the centerpiece into the surrounding or make it stand out. The floral arrangement can be of any shape, follow any geometric pattern, or borrow the ikebana logic in the centerpiece arrangements.

But for a dried flower table arrangement, it is very important to make it simple with a lot of space around it. You can either bunch up similar flowers or twigs to tie it up into a simple and elegant centerpiece, or use varied flowers and twigs sparsely to create a medley of interesting figures and patters, whilst letting light and air in and through. This DIY tutorial uses the latter technique.

Tools and Essentials for Making Dried Table Centerpiece

Take special care to balance the arrangement with a good vase or the base holder. It is always important to have a vase or container that compliments the arrangement. Here, I have chosen the terracotta earthen pot (more so because I had nothing else to play around with or rather the pot was too inspiring). Here I have some twigs, scissors, floral arrangement metal pin holder, florist’s foam, and a bit of excitement over what this might turn into.

Gather all the dry flowers, dry branches, dry twigs and keep them at hand. Don’t follow any fixed rule in selecting the twigs are they are the most beautiful creations of nature. Let each twig, uncut and pure, determine its placement in your arrangement. More often than not, you will end up with a great centerpiece when you follow the dictates of its content.

Simple DIY Tutorial Steps to Making Striking Floral Arrangement

Step 1
Use a floral pin holder if the flower twigs or stems are heavy as it will provide a firm grip and the arrangement will not topple. Having pushed the heavy stems into the vase, squeeze in florists foam to fix in the heavy stems and to help fix the lighter twigs around the heavy ones.

Step 2
Follow a step down approach starting with the big heavy flowers/ twigs, tapering down to lighter/ delicate ones. Since this arrangement has 3 heavy twigs, they went in first to balance themselves and form a base for further additions.

Step 3
The light and wispy twigs and branches come in at the end as fillers to fill in empty spaces as well as to give fullness to the arrangement. Whilst I could stop at step2 as it is my favorite, few more elements have been added to make it more fuller.

Done

While inserting the flowers and twigs, take care to let the arrangement cast light and shadows. Dried twigs and branches create interesting shadows on the wall. Take advantage of this beautiful thing to cast natural and beautiful shadows thereon by letting the floral arrangement be light, and breathy. The sunlight in this picture was not deliberate; I just could not find a neutral place in the room to make this.

Exotic Dried Flowers and Twigs Table Centerpiece

These basic steps can help you make fantastic floral and table centerpieces in no time. There is no end to what you can use in your table decorations. From branches, twigs, flowers, candles, glass, fruits, cloth, artifacts, and more. Just look around your house and you will find many ways and ideas to make your frugal yet one-of-a-kind centerpieces in no time.

Just go and enjoy what you make. Just create – out of nothing.

Overturned Wine Glasses with Tealights
Turn your glasses upside down for a different toast. Place holly leaves, nosegay or any decorative piece inside the overturned glass and light a tea light or candle on the overturned base. It looks beautiful in daytime and enchanting at night.

Great Conversation Starter with Overturned Wine Glass with Tealights

LED Fairy String Lights with Floral Accents as Table Centerpiece
If fireflies made your forests magical, little fairy lights can bring in the same sparkle, warmth and glow to your holiday decorating.  Get creative with Fairy Lights String to kick start some twinkling decoration ideas for this holiday season. Here is a quirky table decoration idea that inturn becomes a conversation starter. Invert your large glass bowls with fairy lights bundled up inside. Light them up. Accentuate these glowing bowls with twigs, branches or flowers for more striking drama.

Overturned Glass Bowls with LED String Lights Table Centerpiece

Table Centerpiece with Plain Crystal Glass Votives and Candles
Just grouping pillar candles of different heights can make any dull corner come alive. Similarly, wine glasses, glass motives and tea lights of different heights can be grouped together to create a warm table centerpiece that needs no embellishment. Its warm fuzzy candle light reflected on your crystal cannot be missed.

Club Candles, Votives & Wine Glasses of Different Heights for Festive Warmth and Glow

Table Centerpiece with Limonium Dried Flowers, Glass Votives and Candles
If plain vanilla table arrangement is not your type; accentuate. Add some dried flowers such as limonium, dried baby’s breath, or plain twigs for a simple and elegant table centerpiece. Use Limonium sparingly so that the delicate dried flowers are seen instead of clubbing them too much. Let the tea lights play with the shadows.

Tealights in Glass Votives for Festive Warmth and Glow

Dried Flowers such as Limonium and Baby's Breath are Perfect for these Evening Table Centerpieces

Take a no holds barred approach when it comes to decorating. Feel free to depart from traditional centerpieces, yet retain the festivity and charm of holiday decor. Create ideas instead of following them. What was the quirky thing you did last? Did you do anything different at all? Come on…

Holiday Season Table Arrangements with No-Flower Centerpiece

Christmas in recession time does not mean that festivities, decoration and cheer take a backseat. Its in times such as these that creativity takes a front seat, makes magic out of nothing and gives us all a glimpse of wholesome living.

Here is a quick photo guide on making a simple yet elegant dinner table centerpiece that costs nothing. If you have a spare string of fairy lights and few twigs with leaves… you are ready to go. You dont even need fresh cut flowers for this.

DIY Festive Centerpiece - Step by Step Tutorial on Table Arrangement with Branches and Fairy Lights String

Spread some twigs or branches which have fresh leaves, on your dinner table. If you want the arrangement to last for a few days, use soaked florists foam and arrange the branches according to the shape and size of the dinner table or as you like it. Wind the fairy lights in a random fashion in and around your branches. There need not be any precision or pattern for nature is perfect with its imperfect design. Light up your fairy lights.

This by itself looks very beautiful giving out subtle warmth and glow from in-between and beneath the leaves. To add more festive spirit or fragrance, light fragrant candles and let the aroma waft around.

Simple Festival Table Arrangement with Leaf Branches, Glass Votives, Wine Glasses and Tealights

Have a happy and heart warming dinner time, everytime. Light candles together, cook together, bake together, and more. But dont forget to put your legs up to relax every evening to enjoy the little things you have made.

How are your evenings these days? What magic have you created in your home?