By Jessica Wilson

When I was a kid we didn't have pool noodles, we had boogie boards. While boogie boards were very cool in their own 1980s way, they were not nearly as versatile as the candy-colored pool noodle. There are all kinds of nifty things you can do with a pool noodle. You can float on them, build with them, turn them into swords and lightsabers, and even make nifty gear-styled walls, all sorts of fun things.

You know summer is almost upon us once the pool noodle pops up everywhere. From fancy-schmancy flower- and star-shaped noodles to your regular old round noodle, they are ridiculously easy to find. Once summer ends, though, you're left with a slightly squished and has-been candy-colored thingamajig. Don't throw it away -- turn it into a lightsaber, car wash, or sword, or follow along with me to turn a pair of noodles into some nifty room decor.

Instructables user seamster writes:

The initial goal of this project was to make a couple of bean bag-style pillow chairs stuffed with pieces of recycled foam.

But when I began working on a cover for the first pillow chair, I realized it looked a heck of a lot like an enormous brassiere. So I did what most maker-types would do when they get a wacky idea like this. They modify their original course, and pursue the wacky idea.

I love this simple project from Book Hour Craft Projects that combines gathered branches and paper flowers for a beautiful effect. Between this and Betz's rainbow pussy willow project, I've got serious spring on the brain!

Meg over at Threadbanger has a nice Decor it Yourself video about creating a three tier serving tray from thrift store dishes.

Matt @ Make: Online writes:

Here's a neat idea for a tablecloth, by Kristine Bjaadal. Normally, one would avoid spilling things on their linens, however the Underfull Tablecloth has a hidden pattern built in that only shows up once it becomes stained. Now you can look at that lovely butterfly pattern and remember that one time you had a bit too much wine, without feeling bad about having ruined the tablecloth!

Add some custom art to your decor by following this handy tutorial from Jessica of Happy Together. She shows you how to create your own textured wall art with inexpensive supplies you can find at the craft store.

If you're planning on tackling painting a room anytime in the near future, be sure to check out this handy and thorough list of tips and advice from Nicole of Making it Lovely. She shares her years of experience and covers everything from prep through clean up.

I love the look of this wine bottle garden edging. If only I had that much wine! [via Lifehacker]

Comes perforated and in two aspect ratios for your convenience and customization! [via Core77]

LampGustaf's Stitch Lamp

Sara of Creative Jewish Mom shares downloadable art and instructions for creating these fresh nature-inspired cut paper silhouettes. I love the touch of ric rac!

I love this simple technique for creating a nice burst of color in your spring decor from Betz White. Using gathered branches and a couple of handy craft supplies, she made this impressive rainbow pussy willow arrangement. See how she did it over on her blog.

Apartment Therapy has a great DIY up showing how to totally transform a bad floor into a good one. Whether you are renting or on a budget, this project will make all the difference.

Diane Gilleland's gourd lantern project appears in MAKE, Volume 21, and is the subject of this week's Weekend Project video! You can also download the project PDF that accompanies the video.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

From MAKE magazine:

MAKE Volume 21 is the Desktop Manufacturing issue! If you're a subscriber, you may have your issue in hand already, and can access the Digital Edition. Otherwise, you can pick up MAKE 21 in the Maker Shed or look for it on newsstands near you!

Mattresses are big, bulky, and hard to recycle. If you don't have space/use for your otherwise-fine mattress, try hacking it into a couch! This tutorial will go through cutting through the different parts of the mattress and making new coverings for the pieces.

More:

101: Upholstery

This chandelier is actually made from plastic gummy bears, but still looks delicious. [via Make: Online]

It's still cold season here in NYC, everyone I know seems to be sick! If you've got the tissue box blues, try dressing it up with a hankerchief or old t-shirt scrap to make the box more cuddly for the long hours on the couch. Check out Michelle's tissue box cover tutorial.

Coconuts were always so elusive to me: how do you open them? What part do you eat, and how do you do it? Well, now I won't have to ask the question "What do I do with the shell when I'm done?" anymore with goldenbacon's Instructable on the topic. Now I'll know to just make a coconut bowl!

Instructables user jtwanderlust has plans up for making your own bed frame from easy-to-find pipe and fittings. It comes apart easily for those of us who move quite often! If only my Ikea frame did the same...

The Sampler shows us a great colander light how-to from Eleanor of Stylish Crafts -- I love her bold bright colors, just in time for spring! Plastic colanders are cheap and easy to manipulate, and they look great hanging in nested clusters. For a simpler look, use natural (full spectrum) or soft white bulbs instead of colored xmas lights.

For more CRAFT colander light ideas:
Colander Lamp
Colander Lampshade

I love the fun wallpaper animal silhouettes that decorate my pal, Misty's, house here in Austin, and I'm so happy to see that she's posted a tutorial for making your own cute wallpaper decals over on Apartment Therapy. It's a super simple process that I can't wait to try.

Noah at Instructables writes:

Make a designer quality string pendant lamp on your own with just some crochet thread, a balloon, and fabric stiffener. It makes a little bit of a mess, takes about a day to dry, but it looks really cool, is infinitely cheaper than buying one from Design Within Reach, and is the hot new DIY lamp craze that's sweeping the nation!

To me, the real signs of spring are blooming bulb flowers and wind (there's a lot of wind in New Mexico in March, let me tell you!). So when I was sent a copy of the kid crafts book What Shall We Do Today? by Catherine Woram, I was particularly interested in the homemade wind chime as a spring break project with my 7-year-old son.

Happily for me, after looking through the book my sweet boy chose about 5 projects he was interested in, including the wind chime. Yay! A couple of weeks later as I made Pasta Rustica for dinner, a big, 48 oz. can of tomatoes called out to me as the perfect vessel for our creativity.

We gathered the other materials from around the house, or close facsimiles, picked up a few jingle bells at the Five & Dime, and we were ready.

The project is fairly simple and lots of fun -- you punch some holes in your tin can for the hanger at the top and the beads, chimes, and clapper at the bottom. Paint some stripes on the sides of the can, and then string some beads together with some jingle bells. Next, you tie the chimes onto some other pieces of string and thread everything through holes in the bottom of the can. Finally, tie everything together through another bead inside the can, wire on a hanger, and you're done. The attached PDF explains the steps in more detail.

Cathe Holden's ability to think big with small items appears to have no bounds. This time she's scanned in and manipulated fantastic graphics from a vintage deck of cards box. She shows how to mount the graphics to canvases and distress them to create a truly vintage look. The result is fantastic, and she's offered up the downloadable PDF of the graphics on her web site.

Instructables user derte84 made an electronics-housing sofa that doubles as a bed for overnight guests. It's surprisingly simple, and I think it looks great!

• 101: Upholstery
• How-To: Mend Torn Upholstery
• How-To: Upholstery Tricks

Flickr user pfeifmusic writes:

This is a nightlight I made for my daughter from a ball I found in the a department store clearance isle. I took a drill to it; some of the holes go all the way through, some just scratch the surface. There's a high brightness white LED inside. The ball is hot glued to the mint tin.

[Thanks, Matt!]

Fawn of Frugal Home Design shares how she whipped up these dandy display shelves for her children's book collection. I love that it was an inexpensive alternative to pricier store-bought shelves (they came out just under $20!). [via The DIY Show Off]

George Hart continues to rock Math Mondays on MAKE, up this week is the skewer hyperboloid!

Thirty two shish kabob skewers and 176 small rubber bands are all it takes to make a beautiful hyperbolid of revolution. This is an example of what is called a "ruled surface," meaning even though it is curved, it is made of straight lines.

I love this fun way to spruce up old plates with simple stencils (from Ed Roth's Stencil 101 book) and spray paint from 101-woonideeen. It would be a great way to add a decorative touch to any wall or shelf. [via Bloesem]

I'm really into crafts that use natural materials. This twig heart project from Sweet Paul is simple, natural, and romantic. If you visit his site, be sure to click around. His projects are to die for, and he has many new developments.