My last major DIY project was all about home décor… and the decorating bug hasn’t left me yet!

I’ve finally moved into my new apartment in NYC which is now filled with issues of Elle Décor and House Beautiful. The furniture is moved in (…and up 5 flights of stairs) and my apartment is finally coming together. However, I could not help but feel depressed when I looked at my bare, lonely, and artless walls. I was envious as I flipped through the pages of decorating magazines to see how small living rooms and dorm rooms were so fabulously decorated with different pieces of art.

But my budget doesn’t exactly allow for me to splurge on fancy art or even framed posters. So instead, I found my own cheap and chic way to spice up my walls and décor. So if you’re looking to spruce up your room or update your walls on a budget, here is an easy and fun way to make your living space unique!

What You’ll Need

Frames: Frames are expensive, especially larger frames for big walls of empty space! But the best place to look for frames on a budget is often art supply stores (like Dick Blick or even Walmart). Opt for poster frames that use plexiglass instead of glass, as they are cheaper and won’t break (aka: they can survive the college lifestyle and multiple moves). Depending on the frame size you choose, these can range from $10 to about $20. For my DIY, I got 3 16×20 size plexi-glass poster frames.

Tip: Keep in mind how you envision the frames’ position on the wall. Mix and match with different frames and frame sizes, or keep it simple with a symmetrical design of two large frames on a wall.

Wrapping paper or paper sheets: Yes, you will be framing wrapper paper. Sounds silly, but you can create a sophisticated look with something as simple as wrapping paper. Who knew?! Pick a pattern or color that suits the rest of your décor. Or pick multiple patterns/colors for different frames. Wrapping paper in larger patterns work better as they tend to look more like painted canvas or pop art. Choose anything that fits your style! Or you can go to any art store or paper store and they sell single sheets of specialty paper in cool designs for cheap.Try The Container Store, Paper Source, or even your local drug stores like CVS.

Scissors: Snip, snip!

What You’ll Do:

1. Realize first that this may be the easiest and fabulous DIY you’ve ever attempted.

2. Now that you’ve realized step 1, carefully cut your wrapping paper to the size of your frame or frames. As wrapping paper is meant to rip easily, be careful!

Tip: Use the frame paper insert (usually it’s a picture of a happy couple or animal…) to cut your wrapping paper to the exact size.

3. Now stick your wrapping paper in the frame. Pretty simple, eh?

4. Hang your frame(s) on the wall, admire your handiwork, and when friends ask where you bought your chic art tell them who the artist really is. (YOU… duh!)

I want to update my room style from posters of David Beckham and Edward Cullen (I love you, RPatz – if you’re out there….call me. Seriously….) to shabby chic art, furniture, and frames. I want my room to scream “I’m a fabulous adult” and not “I frequent college poster sales,” and I don’t want to spend a lot of money to do it.

Instead of bringing along a DIY corkboard (perfect for any college dorm), I decided it was time to display my favorite college mementos, pictures, and reminders in a more sophisticated way. So I scoured the internet and the few flea markets that exist in my neighborhood to get design ideas until finally I came across an old miniature dress form.

Dress forms have been a symbol of chic fashionistas since sewing was invented. To me they scream modern yet vintage décor, and can be used for more things than just designing clothes. Instead of traditional frames or tape to mount my favorite pictures and mementos on a wall, I transformed the dress form into its own display board, frame, and jewelry case.

So here is an easy, creative, and inexpensive way to step up your style and display tidbits of your life.

What You’ll Need:
1. Dress form (mini or large): You can find these online (Craigslist, ebay, All Dress Forms) or take the time to search flea markets and consignment stores in your area. A covered dress form will work best because you can easily pin stuff on, but if you find a foam or plastic form, you can always cover it with fabric first.

2. Ribbon, buttons, and decorative flair: These will personalize your dress form even more and add extra room to place pictures and mementos, like ticket stubs.

3. Sewing pins/fabric glue: To keep it all together. Used to pin your photos up. Find these at any art store or drug store.

4. Mementos: Your favorite pictures, cards, reminder notes, and necklaces!

What You’ll Do:

1. If your dress form is old/dirty/boring and needs covering, there are tons of ways to fix it up!

Some ideas: Use papier-mâché and strips of newspaper or old book pages to cover the dress form for a vintage/city look. Cut up old college t-shirts and pin them on in an interesting pattern. Or use your favorite fabric to cover the dress form to match your bed linens or the color palette of your room. Secure with fabric glue for a custom fit to your dress form or keep it just the way it is if you like the basic look of the form.

2. Cut pieces of ribbon (or use colored shoelaces!) and wrap your dress form in different places. To secure the ribbon tightly, glue to your dress form (back side) with fabric glue. For an even easier route, just pin the ends of the ribbon or shoelaces to the backside of your form (the side you will not see when displayed).

3. Decorate with your favorite things! Tuck in photos and ticket stubs behind pieces of the ribbon or shoelaces. Hang earrings and necklaces with pins. Get creative and put your newest chic display décor anywhere in your home.

4. Look at you. You’re now a grown up with chic and easy sense of style.

Week after week (after week after week…), CollegeCandy and our pal John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, and saddest things he hears on his college campus. And we know he’s not the only one who hears this stuff. Join the Overheard revolution! Listen in on some weirdos’ conversations and share them in the comments or send ‘em over. You know there’s a lot of funny things to be heard on your campus, so take off those (faux) Burberry ear muffs and tune in.

(Girl, boy, after a class.)

Girl:  I bet you had an erection that whole lecture.
Boy: No, I didn’t.

(Two interns, talking in an office breakroom.)

Girl: I think public art is important.

Guy: And pubic art, too.

Girl: Well, that goes without saying.

(Guy, with his girlfriend, at a hairdresser.)

Girl: Oh wow! I love it!

Guy: I don’t know … I don’t look like I’m smart anymore.

(Girl, standing outside the men’s bathroom at a bar when a guy walks up.)

Girl: Hey. Hey! Don’t go in there. I know what you’re going to do in there!

(Girl, bringing a drink back to a table.)

Guy: Whad’ya get?

Girl: It’s a gimlet.

Guy: Oh. We usually freeze those. Or put them in the gravy.

(Girl and British guy, hanging out outside the dining hall.)

Guy: So … Irish Car Bombs? That’s really a thing? Like, a weapon of terrorism used to blow people up in Northern Ireland?

Girl: Yeah, I guess it’s kind of insensitive.

Guy: I mean, how would you feel if we had a drink called the Twin Towers or something?

(Extremely loud girl, at a restaurant.)

Girl: Oh, I absolutely want to f— him. Geez, and his girlfriend, I’d steal her! My vagina is absolutely interested in that. Wow!  (Turns to waitress, who just showed up) Oh, yeah, can I just get a refill on my water?

(Girl and boy, heard through a screen door at a party.)

Girl: Sorry, but …

Guy: Yeah?

Girl: That was probably the worst sex I’ve had, ever.

Guy: Yeah, I agree, that was pretty lame. I’ll make it up to you.

Girl: No, that’s okay.

(Girl, walking out of a sex lecture.)

Girl: Wow … I just got a year’s worth of Awkward Turtles in like forty minutes.

Girl, walking through campus on the phone.)

Girl: OK, well I haven’t pooped yet today so we may have to make a stop…. No I’m Prairie Doggin’ so it should be quick.

(Two girls, following a reproductive anatomy class.)

Girl 1: Now, whenever I do anything with anyone I’m going to be thinking about this.

Girl 2: Yeah, I know

Girl 1: Yeah, like right before he gets off I’m gonna be thinking, “oh, this is secreting this, this is mixing with that.”

It’s gift giving time and that means one thing: you’re finally gonna get that iPhone you’ve got a lot of wrapping to do. And if you’re anything like me, you’re way too cheap to spend money on holiday wrapping paper. Plus, is it really fair to our lovely planet to waste a tree on something that just gets thrown away? I don’t think so.

I realize some of you probably fold up your wrapping paper and reuse it, and more power to you. But for the rest of us, mostly those of us who tear through our presents without mercy, here’s a way to make your own unique, personal and beautiful wrapping paper without harming the planet or breaking the bank. (It also happens to be really, really pretty!)

What You Need:
- Newspaper sheets, brown paper bags (from the last time you went to the grocery store), or a roll of brown paper
- Catalogs, magazines or Sunday supplements
- Scissors, glitter, paint, fun shaped sponges, glue and ribbon (all optional)

What You Do:

First, you should decide what kind of design you want on your wrapping paper. If you enjoy looking at photos rather than creating art yourself, you can go for a collage-type style of wrapping. If you’d rather get down and dirty with the paint, grab yourself some brown paper and those colorful little cups of poster paint.

For a collage, lay out a big sheet of newsprint and cut out especially eye-catching and beautiful photos and words from your magazines. Place them approximately where you’d like them on the newspaper, then apply a thin layer of glue to their backs with a glue stick, and stick ‘em on. Your object is to cover the whole sheet of newsprint, so you might have to cut out a few smaller pics to fill in the blank spaces. This makes a really gorgeous sheet of wrapping, especially if you don’t go overboard on the glue. When you’re done, let it dry, and wrap that gift!

You can do painted paper one of several ways. Start with a base of brown from a long sheet of packaging paper or a paper bag that you’ve cut apart at the seams. You can use a template or stencil you make yourself to paint a design on the paper with a sponge, or create a potato stamp and use it to apply a pattern. If you’re really ambitious, you can actually draw pictures and do art on the paper, which is obviously the most special option… but also the most time-consuming. For my personal favorite alternative, dip those fingers into the paint and go crazy. Finger-painted wrapping looks really fancy and everyone will love it!

Hair flair can transform an entire outfit and conceal your unwashed hair on days when you just don’t have time to shower (i.e. after a particularly long Tiki Tuesday). More importantly, unlike those expensive skinny jeans you picked up at the Nordstrom half-yearly sale, hair flair will always fit regardless of those holiday pounds, the freshmen fifteen, or the beer belly you’ve been sporting since football season (curse you keg stands and beer pong).

Well, if you want the same accessories as the Upper East Siders but don’t have the same cash monay, don’t worry.  Here is a thrifty way to get the fabulous look without paying the big bucks. And if this particular style isn’t for you, something is wrong with you we’ve got another awesome DIY hair flair project you can do instead.

What You’ll Need:

Stretchy headbands/headwraps: You probably have one of these lying around, but if not, these are super cheap and you can pick them up at drug stores like CVS, Long’s, Duane Read or at any beauty store. My favorite brand to use is Scunci No Slip-Hair Grips because they come in packs of 4, are comfortable, and easy to decorate. Use a black headwrap to keep it classy or a bolder color to add some extra pop.

Fabric: A foot or two of any type of cloth fabric in any color/design you want! Most craft stores sell fabric squares meant for quilting, which are perfect for creating your hair flair, as your fabric needs to be cut in a square shape before you begin. Bonus: Many craft stores (Michael’s or JoAnn’s) have tons of leftover fabric scraps that you can get for super cheap. Just ask one of those ladies with the scissors!

The fabric color/design you choose can make your headwrap traditional and classy (think colors like Ivory, Champagne, Black, Grey, Red, etc), or have a little more funk (think designs like zebra, polka dots, stripes, or neon!).

Beads, Rhinestones, Buttons, MORE FLAIR!: These are optional materials, but will add that extra spunk to your homemade headband.

Hot Glue Gun/Glue: Every crafter’s best friend and sometimes lover. You’ll need this for a few steps throughout the DIY process.

What You’ll Do:

1. Cut fabric into a 6×6 inch square piece. Cut another 4×4 inch square piece. (Really, you can cut these two pieces in any size square you want [depending how big and bold you want your headwrap to be]. Just make sure one piece is bigger than the other.)

2. Lay the fabric face-down (so the design/color side of your fabric isn’t showing) and grab it in the middle. Using your other hand, twist the fabric around the finger holding the center. The twisting will swirl the fabric to create a ruche-like effect. Hold finger in place, then fold and hot glue the four corners of the fabric to the center. Repeat with the smaller piece of fabric. You should now have two bubbly looking pieces of fabric!

3. Add a small button, rhinestone, or bead in the center of the fabric if you want to add some extra glitz.

4. Now, hot glue the two ruched fabric bubbles to the headwrap, side by side. Let dry. Once the pieces are glued to the headband, take some leftover fabric, cut out a small strip and glue it behind the fabric pieces (inside the headband). This will make your headwrap look more polished and be more comfortable for you to wear!

5. Wear your new hair flair! Wear like a traditional headband or pull it low across your forehead for a more bohemian look.

6. Take all compliments modestly, direct all admirers to CollegeCandy, and tell them, yes, you are a fashion visionary and trendsetter.

We all know that painting the walls in your dorm room is a giant no-no. Hell, you can’t even hammer a nail into those things! But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for some BS Animal House poster for your wall decor; there is another way to show off your creativity and create a space that is both cool and easy to remove at the end of the year so you can get your security deposit back. Because that is a lot of money.

Enter: Paint Chip Art.

Paint chips – or paint samples, rather – are those little cards you can pick up from your neighborhood hardware/paint store. They’re out there for the taking so people can test out colors at home. But they’re good for more than just sampling colors; these free color palettes are perfect for decorating on a college budget.

I stumbled upon this eco-friendly decorating idea during class on Greenwala.com and was immediately inspired. I have big plans for the weekend (starting with a very important trip to Home Depot) and thought I’d share some of this inspiration with you. Decorating has never been easier!

What You Need:

- Paint chips/color cards
- Glue stick or other adhesive (like that blue sticky goo that is approved in dorms)

How You Do:

1) Be super creative! All you have to do is come up with a design, and just layer the paint chips on to create that image. And the possibilities are endless! You could do a single wall in a single color, stripes of solid colors, or get totally into it and create a mural.

Here is some inspiration:
Greenwala

2) If you’re not gifted in the creativity area, then simply pick a few colors that work well together and glue them onto a sheet of paper in a square fashion. Stick that piece of paper into a wooden frame, and you’ve got yourself a cute homemade picture to hang up.

The weather is getting cold, which means we’ll all be spending more time indoors. Why not take a day to express your creative side while also creating a space that you won’t mind hibernating in for the next 4 months.

But at $30-$150+ a pop, all I could afford were sad little 6″ tall animals, and I wasn’t about to shell out a bundle for something I was pretty sure I could do myself.

Turns out I could! And it’s even easier and cheaper than I thought. These wall-art companies must be fleecing people! Stop them by doing it all yourself.

Here’s what you need:
- Scissors
- Clear tape (optional)
- A marker
- Self-adhesive vinyl ConTact paper (Note: This is cheap and available by the yard in a variety of colors at almost all hardware stores.)

And here’s what you do:

1. Plan your design or designs before you start cutting. When you know what you want, draw a rough outline on the back of the ConTact paper. My flower is symmetrical, but if you have something asymmetrical, make sure to draw it REVERSED to how you want it to show up on the wall. Example: If you want your leaf sticking out to the left, draw it sticking out to the right on your ConTact paper.

2. Cut out your design.

3. Find a nice spot on the wall and GRADUALLY peel away the paper as you stick on the design. It will become complicated and stick to itself if you peel off all the paper before putting on the design.

4. Step back and admire your artistry.

For a few more details, larger-scale art, and mind-blowing pictures, check out this Instructable on the same topic.

Every college girl has moments of extreme stress/anxiety/feeling a little crazy. Rather than take it out on a poor, defenseless friend (or door), I have the perfect project to ease your mind:The Dammit Doll.

These little dolls make great targets for taking out your frustration when you’re stressed about school, when you have guy troubles, and just in general when you need something to throw, jab, squeeze, or stomp on (not that I promote violence).

They also make great gifts for your angst-filled friends as well, and are much cuter than your average bland stress ball, not to mention cheaper than anger management classes.

Materials:

- Felt

- Stuffing (cotton balls, beans, pine straw, rice, etc.)

- Needle & thread or sewing machine

- Decorations (cut-out felt pieces for clothing, sequins for eyes, pins for jewelry, etc.)

Steps:

1) Cut out 2 identical pieces of felt based on whatever size and shape you want your doll’s body to be: human, animal, ex boyfriend?

2) Sew around the edges, leaving a hole open at the top of the head large enough that you can stuff your organs in. (Note: in order to make the doll look good, after sewing you will turn the doll inside-out, so keep that in mind when sewing.)

3) Turn the doll right-side-out and push out any limbs that need to be formed into a complete 3-D shape (unless deformed is the look you’re going for).

4) Stuff the doll with your choice of filling. Personally, cotton balls are my #1 choice because no matter how hard I throw it, it doesn’t spill out… or put dents in the wall. (Tip: Don’t use rocks. Just trust me.)

5) When you reach the head, use a couple stiches to close it up and prevent leakage. Sew that sucker up tight! Spilled rice could be used to feed hungry children, but is also a major pain to clean up.

6) Add detail! Use markers to draw facial features, cut out more felt pieces for a cute wardrobe selection, paste some beads or sequins on, add some colored string for hair, whatever you want!

7) Voila! Dunzo. You can hug it and designate it as your new best friend when you are upset, or stick little pins in it and throw it against the wall when you are angry. Pass it off to a friend going through a bad breakup, or make a whole slew of them to keep in case of “so stressed and I need to strangle something” emergencies.  The possibilities are endless.

When you tell your sorority sisters/coworkers/Advanced Spanish class, the dozen roses they received will suddenly seem wilted.

1. Take a hot air balloon ride.

For listings in your area, see HotAirBallooning.com, which also has plenty of reading material for you to brush up on before you hit the sky. Depending on where you live, it might be too cold in February, but warmer states have plenty of opportunities (Florida has ten listings of hot air balloon companies on this site!). As long as you can do heights, this is the perfect opportunity to let your honey hug you close as you look over an endless array of trees and mountains while the sun sets on a perfect afternoon.

2. Take a massage workshop…and then perfect your technique.

If you are both totally stressed with school, this is a sensual way to be close, while letting yourselves relax. See what types of introductory classes are available in your area, from Hot Stone Massage to workshops designed just for couples. Once you’ve mastered your craft, this is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

3. Get erotic.

Hot air balloons and massage workshops too tame for your wild libido? Get sexy this Valentine’s Day. Sign up for a pole dancing class and tone up, gain confidence, and embrace your inner sex-kitten. Cook up a meal made entirely of aphrodisiac fare, or, swing by Victoria’s Secret and treat yourself to a new outfit that’s guaranteed to make him cancel those cliche dinner reservations. Just remember to deadbolt the doors!

4. Be artsy.

Hey, it worked for Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic, didn’t it? Even if you and your man have zero artistic ability, you can still appreciate each other’s bodies. Make rough gesture drawings of each other, or have some fun and sketch playful caricatures. If you trust each other enough to take photos, use black and white film and experiment with a variety of angles – just make sure these never fall into the wrong hands. Not only will it allow you to express the way you see each other, but having to keep your distance long enough to create a drawing will get you both riled up.

5. See your city…on a horse.

Well not on a horse, but if you live in a frigid temperature zone and the hot air balloon is out of the question, look into renting a horse-drawn carriage and bring a few snuggly blankets. Everything is more romantic at night when you can see the lights of the city, so why waste the evening under the florescent lamps at the Olive Garden?

Anybody think they’ve got the perfect Valentine’s Day planned? Do tell!

Either way, more than likely, you’ll start looking at the art classes.  It’s a coast class right?  Draw some pictures, get a little paint under your nails, maybe make a charcoal drawing of fruit.  Simple.  Relaxing

Until you meet… The Art Major.

She will show up on the first day of class with a portfolio already in hand.  It doesn’t matter if she’s a freshman or not; her portfolio will be as big as Barbie’s dream house and contain every sketch, scribble, and doodle she ever made.  Be careful about this one.  There’s a great possibility that you’ll get whacked with that thing before the semester is over (she doesn’t always care/is too high to notice where she’s  swinging it).

Just like any other stereotypical person on campus, the Art Major one has a uniform.  This person is going to be wearing a black hoodie zipped up.  The hoodie will have <insert “artistic” band name here> on it.  They wear jeans or cargo pants.  Their shoes will be flats with something like stars on them, oftentimes doodles on by the wearer.  Sometimes the uniform will vary so, when in doubt, look at the face.

No, it’s not like art majors are horribly disfigured or anything.  It’s more like they all have the same “I’m artsy” vibe goin’ on. The girls will usually have cat-eye shaped glasses (whether they need them or not), over eyes lined in any crazy shade of liner.  Red, blue, or green, it doesn’t matter.  They will use the whole color palette on their face if they can.  Only the complementary colors, of course.  They are art majors, after all.

When not in art class, the art major will be sitting in front of blank walls/buildings on campus/plates of food and sketching. Or painting. Or making you feel uncomfortable as you get the feeling they are doing some sort of art project with you as the centerpiece. They will be with a fellow art major discussing topics such as how much deeper they are than everyone else, the cost of oil paints these days, and some hippie Indie film that just came out.

And when they are in class? Well, their natural talent is just going to make you feel like crap.  They can make your bowl of fruit (that you spent hours on) look like a 3-year-old’s doodle. And then look at you with a mixture of pity and resentment over those cat-eyed glasses and make you wish you’d taken a music class instead.