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Ideas For DIY

An 8 bit fireplace and it’s DIY!

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Zelda-Fireplace

This might need a little bit of explaining.

The Legend Of Zelda is an action-adventure video game first made in Japan but popular worldwide with teens and kids (and some discerning adults).

Kat from OurNerdHome – decided to make a fake fire for her fireplace using, guess what – paint chips.

We have already had a big discussion on this blog about “stealing” paint chips – whether in fact, taking those paint chips is stealing or not, so to see her use these paint chips in something so creative is just awe inspiring.

This pretend fire will be a great hit if your kids already follow this game.

What do you think everyone? Great idea, right?

Get the details on how she made this here: 8 bit fireplace.

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for posting our fireplace, Vikram! We actually had all the paint chips on hand (which was part of the inspiration for the fire – we had a ton of red paint chips and didn’t want to throw them away!).

    We <3 CraftGossip!

  2. I wrestle with the paint chip issue, too. I never felt all that guilty taking them when I was really choosing paint. I once offered to return a swatch once my color was mixed, and the clerk told me I should keep it for reference if I ever needed more of that color. Good point. It’s obviously an expense for both paint companies and retailers. Then again, you’d think with the immense increase in popularity of DIY blogs that the paint companies would be selling loads more paint. Maybe they’re happy there’s an increased interest in paint and hope that a percentage of crafters drawn into the paint department by free paint chips might feel inspired to actually buy paint. I’m sure no store or company wants to be the first to stop giving out free paint chips. I admit I take them occasionally for fun, with no real intention of buying those paint colors. Then again, I’ve done my share of painting over the years, and it ain’t cheap, is it?

Have you read?

Dollar Tree Strainer Pumpkin Tutorial

This Dollar Tree Strainer Pumpkin is such a clever little fall craft, and I love that it turns something completely ordinary into rustic farmhouse décor. A simple kitchen strainer suddenly becomes a sweet autumn pumpkin filled with mini pumpkins, acorns, leaves, and seasonal texture.

What makes this project so charming is the mix of materials. The metal mesh strainer gives it that slightly vintage, farmhouse look, while the twine-wrapped handle makes it feel warm and handmade. Add in the burlap leaf and little fall fillers, and it becomes the kind of decoration that would look lovely on a mantel, tiered tray, kitchen shelf, or Thanksgiving table.

This is also a great budget-friendly Dollar Tree craft because you can customize it with whatever fall supplies you already have. Use white pumpkins for a neutral farmhouse style, orange pumpkins for a classic autumn look, or add berries, cinnamon sticks, raffia, ribbon, or fairy lights to make it your own.

I especially like that this project is different from the usual wreath or painted pumpkin craft. It has a cute “repurposed kitchen item” feel, which makes it perfect for anyone who loves upcycled décor and cozy handmade fall projects.