Five Favs of 2013: DIY Projects by Marilyn

As we are nearing the end of 2013, Kaleb and I wanted to highlight some of our favorite posts from the year. We will be sharing what we call our "Five Favs of 2013" in every topic we have chosen to focus for the year. To start it all off, we shared our first post on our five favorite recipes last week. To continue with our streak of favorites, we wanted to share five of our favorite and most popular DIY projects from the year. If you are still considering ideas for Christmas gifts, we think you might find these a perfect way to give a unique gift from the heart.

Every girl needs one of these DIY: Earring Organizer Frames. These are so easy to make and are a great way to put some of your prettiest pieces on display. Also you can say 'goodbye' to digging around in your drawers to find the matching piece to your earring. These would make a great holiday gift with a new set of earrings in the middle!

The gift that keeps on giving: the DIY: Microwaveable Potato Bag. Your family and friends will love you forever when you make them one of these. I promise, they will think of you and thank you in their head every time they bake a potato in one of these babies. It cuts the time of baking a potato down to 7 minutes or less! These are great time savers, health conscious, and better to your environment.

While these require a little more investment of your money and time, the DIY: Bike Shelf is still a great and efficient way to store your things. Not only used for your organizing bike tools, helmets, etc., but makes a great way to organize anything! 

Still trying to decorate your tree or need a holiday project to do with your children or loved ones? This DIY: Geometric Straw Mobile makes a great and easy project and in the right colors, works great as ornaments on your tree. Paper straws are also encouraged.

One of my personal favorites to create were these DIY: Sweater Stockings. If you have any old Christmas sweaters that hold sentimental value, but you can no longer wear them, consider turning them into stockings that you can fill with treats every year. You would be amazed at how good such a simple sewing pattern can look on your mantle!

Photography by Kaleb Nimz and Marilyn Nimz