There is something magical about simple materials that transform into little works of art under your hands. An empty toilet roll may not seem special, but with a little patience, a hot glue gun, and a touch of winter creativity, you can turn it into the most beautiful paper snowflakes. Perfect for hanging on a branch, placing on the window, or simply giving your home a soft, cozy winter atmosphere.

Make a cup of tea, gather your materials, and let yourself be carried away by the soothing rhythm of cutting, folding, and gluing. Before you know it, your living room will be filled with snowflakes that never melt. Made with love and your own two hands. ❄️

You will need:

• empty toilet rolls
• utility knife and cutting mat
• metal ruler
• glue gun
• ribbon or string

1. Flatten the toilet roll slightly with your hand. Use the utility knife and ruler to cut off small loops approximately 5 mm thick. You will need about two toilet rolls per decoration.

2. Cut a few loops in half and glue the ends together with the glue gun to make smaller loops. Remove any excess glue to keep the loops clean and neat.

3. Now you can start making the snowflakes. Build them up loop by loop and glue everything securely with the hot glue from the glue gun. Alternate between large and small loops, but do this symmetrically. This is quite a time-consuming and precise job, so you will need some patience.

Once you have finished a few snowflakes and the glue is completely dry, you can glue even smaller curls into or between the loops. Be creative and make a number of
different snowflakes. Tie a string or ribbon through one of the loops and hang them together in front of the window.

Have fun crafting!

Love, Daphne

The post Snowflakes on the window appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

It’s such a beautiful sight outside, the leaves have fallen from the trees and are turning into lovely autumn colors. That inspired me to crochet some oak leaves. 🍂

They’re easy to make; it’s a two row pattern. And you can use them for many different creations. I decided to turn mine into an autumn garland. What would you make with them?

You will need:

• Any yarn (I used cotton)
• Crochet hook (I used a 2.75 mm hook)
• Scissors
• Darning needle
• Stitch markers (optional)

Abbreviations:

sc = (US) single crochet = (UK) double crochet
hdc = (US) half double crochet = (UK) half treble crochet
dc = (US) double crochet = (UK) treble crochet
tr = (US) trouble crochet = (UK) double treble crochet
sl st = (US/UK) slip stitch
ch = (US/UK) chain

Oak Leaf Pattern (US terms):

First row

Ch 13, turn and start on second chain:

sc, sc, sc, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, dc,

(8x tr),

dc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, sc, sc, sc.

Ch 6, turn and start on second chain:

sc, sl st, sl st, sl st, sl st,

sl st to connect to the very first stitch.

Second row

Start where the very first sc is made:

hdc, skip a stitch, (3x dc, ch 3, sl st),

sl st, sc, hdc, dc, (3x tr, ch 4, sl st),

sl st, sc, hdc, dc, (2x tr, ch 4,  sl st), sl st,

(hdc, dc, tr), (hdc, dc, tr),

sl st, (sl st, ch 4, 2x tr), dc, hdc, sc, sl st,

(sl st, ch 4, 3x tr), dc, hdc, sc, sl st,

(sl st, ch 3, 3x dc), skip a stitch, hdc,

sl st to finish off.

Weave in the ends.     

Love, Daphne

The post Crochet oak leaves appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

Anne and I created this floral arrangement. A nice simple project and a beautiful end result. We really enjoyed making this piece and now you can to! read along to make your beautiful floral arrangement and have fun making it.

You will need:

– pumpkin

– oasis foam

– knife

– flowers

Cut the top off the pumpkin and remove the pulp. Soak a block of oasis foam in water and put it inside the pumpkin. Push the flowers into the oasis foam. An easy way to make a pretty autumn decoration in a unique vase.

And that’s how easy this DIY is. You can customize it as you like and it really brings fal lvibes into your home.

Love, Daphne

The post Autumn decoration appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

I spotted some twisted candled last time I was at the garden centre. They were beautiful, and I thought to myself that they probably wouldn’t be that difficult to make at home. Anne and I decided to have a go using some candles we had lying around. And it turns out that not only is it easy to do yourself, it’s also loads of fun!

These warm colours are perfect for autumn. Find some nice candleholders too. You could choose matching colours, or go for a contrasting look.

You will need:
– candles
– an oven dish
– a rolling pin
– baking paper
– boiling water

1. Pour some boiling water into the base oven dish. Don’t fill it right to the top, a small amount of water in the bottom is enough. Lay the candles in the water and leave them to soak for fifteen minutes. Remove the candles from the water, they should be soft and easy to bend. If they aren’t, leave them in the water for a little bit longer.

2. Place a candle between two pieces of baking paper and roll it carefully with the rolling pin. Flatten the candle a little bit using this method, but leave the bottom round, so you can put it in a candle holder.

3. Take the bottom of the candle in your hand and start to slowly twist the flat part. Turn it as if you’re wringing out a tea towel.

And that’s how you make them! it’s such a fun DIY and really easy. Want to more DIY? click here

Love, Daphne

The post Candles with a twist appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

A little work of art on your table

Sometimes it’s the little things that make your day a bit brighter. A favourite teacup from your grandmother’s cabinet, a few flowers from the market or your garden… and suddenly, something special appears. In this blog, we’ll show you how to create a floral arrangement in a teacup using real or artificial flowers. Perfect for your bedside table, your tea moment, or as a sweet gift for someone dear to you. The best part? You can endlessly vary with colours, styles and seasons.

What you need:

• A cup and saucer
• 15 to 20 sturdy flowers or artificial flowers
• 1 block of wet floral foam
• A small knife
• A wooden skewer

How to make your teacup bouquet:

1. First, cut the floral foam to the right shape

2. Then soak it thoroughly and place it in the cup.

3. Gently stick the flowers into the foam. Start with the tallest and largest flowers. Use the smaller ones last to fill in the gaps and shape a lovely little bouquet. Work from the centre outward toward the edge.

– Optionally, use a skewer to pre-poke holes.

Want more DIY ideas? Click here

Love, Daphne

The post Flowers in a teacup appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

In the mood for a creative project that instantly brings a touch of summer into your home? With just a handful of seashells, a straw wreath and some glue, you can quickly make a decorative seashell wreath. Perfect for the wall, the door, or as an eye-catcher in your garden. Whether you choose a round or heart-shaped wreath, this project is simple, fun to make, and brings that lovely beach feeling indoors.

You will need:

– straw wreath

– seashells

– hot glue gun

– string or ribbon

Easy to make yourself

Create a seashell wreath by gluing the shells onto the straw wreath using a hot glue gun. Arrange the shells along the edges and work your way inward. To make a heart-shaped wreath, bend a round straw wreath into the desired shape using wire and follow the same steps. Use string or ribbon to hang the wreath. A lovely, summery decoration in no time.

Love, Daphne

The post Make a seashell wreath appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

Want to brighten up your garden this summer? Then this cute beehive is just perfect! It’s also a super fun DIY project to do with your friends. Easy and cheerful — it makes a lovely decoration for your garden table. Keep reading to find out how to make this beehive!

What you’ll need

– thick rope

– flower pot

– hot glue gun

– black cardboard

– scissors

Here’s how to make this beehive

Place the pot upside down on the table and apply a first layer of glue all around it.

Start at the bottom.

Wrap the rope around the flower pot and press it firmly into the glue.

Keep gluing small sections at a time and continue wrapping the rope as you go.

Cover the entire flower pot with rope this way.

Make sure the layers are tightly aligned with each other.

Cut a circle out of the black cardboard and glue it onto the beehive.

Then glue a ring of rope around it to make it look like the beehive has an opening.

Let everything dry for a while, then carefully slide the rope beehive off the flower pot.

And that’s how you make this beehive!

Love, Daphne

The post DIY garden table decoration beehive appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

Upcycle Your Old Household Bottles

How to Upcycle Your Old Bottles:

1. Collect a bunch of household bottles. Soak them in water for a while to remove the labels easily.
2. Then, get creative with acrylic or chalk paint in different colours. I used matte acrylic paint for this project, but you can also experiment with stencils or fun patterns.
3. Let them dry, arrange them together, and voilà—a bright and playful display for your windowsill or table!

I love how it’s both cute and a little bold at the same time. Are you going to give it a try? I’d love to see what you create!

There are plenty more fun ideas on my website. Click here to check them out.

Love, Daphne

The post Upcycle Your Old Household Bottles appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

Make Your Own Cleaning Spray

My mum is absolutely thrilled with her homemade cleaning spray. She says, “It’s all-natural, smells lovely, and is much cheaper.” What I love about this cleaner is that you use citrus peels that would otherwise go to waste. It’s completely natural and leaves your home smelling fresh. Give it a try yourself!

What You’ll Need

• Citrus peels of your choice
• White vinegar
• A glass jar
• A sieve
• A spray bottle

How to Make It

1. Fill a glass jar with white vinegar and add orange, lime, and lemon peels. Let the mixture sit for a few weeks so the peels can infuse the liquid. You can place something heavy on top to keep them submerged.
2. After a few weeks, strain the liquid through a sieve (and a cloth if needed) to remove any small bits.
3. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Since it’s a strong concentrate, dilute it with a bit of water before use.

It’s really easy to make and doesn’t take much time. My mum’s house always smells wonderfully fresh thanks to this homemade cleaner. That’s why I also make my own from time to time—it reminds me of home.

Do you ever make your own cleaning products? I’d love to hear your recipe!

There are plenty more fun tips and ideas on my website. Click here to check them out.

Love, Daphne

The post Make Your Own Cleaning Spray appeared first on Daphne's Diary.

Using Colors & Stickers

I color-code all my tasks to keep things clear and organized. Household tasks, for example, are pink, while leisure activities are blue. I also use matching stickers to show what I’ll be doing that day—and because it looks nice ;). After all, that’s important too!

Monthly Overview

Each month comes with an overview page that you can unfold. I use it to quickly check which day a specific date falls on and to jot down major events planned far in advance. The front section of this page can be cut along the dotted line and colored in to make it even more cheerful.

Colors

Between the months, you’ll find fun extra pages like recipes, journal pages, or, in this case, a coloring page. Whenever I feel like coloring, I add a bit more to the page. And I’ve used the journal page to write down my goals for 2025.

Video: Filling in the 2025 Planner

In this video, I’ll show you how I go about filling in my planner!

No Planner Yet?

The post Filling in the 2025 planner appeared first on Daphne's Diary.