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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots

August 12, 2013 Leave a Comment

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

Posters are great and all, but they’re kind of… square, don’t you think? There’s no better time than when you’re in college or an apartment to create faux quilts, easy wall borders, or simply add fashion-forward accent piece to your walls. But when you’re decorating a space you don’t own, or a space where the walls are made of cinder blocks (like, ahem, a dorm room), you have a few important limitations to get creative within. Read on for one of my favorite ticks for customizing rented spaces.

Supplies

6×6″ or 12×12″ scrapbooking or origami paper in your favorite prints
rubbing alcohol
paper towel
scissors or paper cutter
Glue Dots poster roller

Directions

Glue Dots are something I discovered a few years ago and find immensely useful. I’ve used Glue Dots to decorate several apartments since they don’t wreck your paint, which keeps your landlord happy (and gets your full deposit back!). I’m partial to the poster Glue Dots because their bond is stronger than the removable version. The removable version is really only useful for temporary purposes like turning a plain piece of paper into a sticky note. The permanent Glue Dots are, of course, the strongest of the three varieties. Info on where to get Glue Dots is at the bottom of this post.

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

On to the project! You can do this project in no time, but that doesn’t mean creating something awesome is out of the question. In my last apartment, I used scrapbooking paper and Glue Dots to create a faux headboard since my bedroom was excruciatingly small, and I was excruciatingly broke. You can also use paper & Glue Dots to make a cool border along your ceiling if your dorm is in need of some help.

To do the version of the project I’m sharing today, simply cut your square paper precisely in half on the diagonal.

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

Pick a few colors you like and play around until you find a cute design you like.

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

Clean the wall you want your paper art on with rubbing alcohol and some paper towel. Let dry. Then, grab a poster Glue Dots roller and apply a Glue Dot to each corner of each piece of paper.

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

Carefully recreate your design on your wall. Since Glue Dots are nonpermanent, you’ve got some flexibility. If you don’t exactly get it right on the first try, no worries. You don’t have to be a crafty genius to do this project, which is why it rules. 

How-to: Decorate with Glue Dots | Hands Occupied

The Glue Dots used in this post were provided by Glue Dots. Opinions shared are my own. You can get your hands on small, non-roller packs of Glue Dots at Dollar General, and roller Glue Dots are available online and at stores including Walgreens, Jo-ann, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Office Max. 

Filed Under: Back to School, Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Home Decor, How-to Tagged With: 101, apartment, beginner, college, crafts, diy, dorm, easy, glue dots, review, scrapbooking paper

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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