DIY Christmas

I love love love Christmas.  and I LOVE decorating for it.  I did a little bit of decorating last year, but now that I'm officially in my own place, I plan to go all out.  I'm trying to resist as long as I can (I don't like Christmas that starts in October...or really November, but I don't think I can hold out for too much longer!  I'm living on a cute little budget right now, so I've been looking up a lot of DIY things (Pintrest anyone??). Maybe if I start crafting early, I'll get a little bit of it out of my system!! 

Here are some of my inspirations, complete with a whole bunch of links to tutorials!!

 

First: I found some adorable gift tag printables and I plan to use them on everything this year! This is one of them, how cute!

Second: I keep seeing glittery branches.  Super easy and super cheap!  I just need to find something cute to put them in before I start this one!  Here's one in a pitcher - but I can also cute a vase with ornaments, or a floor vase with just sparkly branches.  I think Christmas decorations NEED sparkle! 

Third: Cute Holiday Banner (tutorial anyone?).  I think this would look cute in those places that get overlooked or are kind of awkward to hang garlands and such on...I'm thinking that ugly blank wall behind my TV! 

Fourth: Again with the sparkly...glitter candles.  Candles that are sparkly or colored can sometimes get expensive, but finding some cheap white candles (or even maybe some red ones to mix in) and giving them some holiday glitz would make for an awesome centerpiece or add some holiday decor to the bathroom!

Fifth: When I saw this one, I was a little skeptical.  I still don't know how it might turn out, but I think it's a pretty cool idea.  Paper plate trees!  Super easy and the possibilities are endless! 

Sixth: What kind of DIY Christmas blog would this be if it didn't involve at least one homemade present?  I take a lot of pictures, so this would be super appropriate and easy to do.  Here's the lovely tutorial + other fun presents. 

Sidenote:  I have 11 tabs open at the moment looking at all my inpiration, and one of these sites has music and I can't figure out which one!  I really really really dislike it when people put music on their sites....

Seventh:  Since I'm decorating the whole apartment this year...chairs must be included too!  I have chairs like these (in brown), so some red ribbon and a pine cone or ornament would be super cute to dress them up! 

Eight:  If you stick to a color scheme at Christmas, this blog is decorating with RED!  In every room! Love it! 

P.S. Also just disovered that said blog was the offender in the music.  You have been warned. 

Nine: Lastly, I found a wonderful blog that helps remind what Christmas is all about.  This family did 25 days of Random Acts of Kindness.  Has some great ideas of things that seem so simple, like paying past due library fees, plugging meters, and bringing presents to the post office.  

So friends there is just a small taste of my Christmas obsession.  I already have two tubs of Christmas stuff, so I'll start then craft until my heart is content :) 

Organized Design

I was looking for a craft that was easy, cheap, and practical and here we have it!  The necklace hanging frame!  I was looking on DIY websites and also found some ideas from Lauren Conrad's Website about how to fix the endless problem of tangled and lost necklaces.

First: the inspiration:

 From pottery barn (and LCs webpage)
a frame with a corkboard nailed to the back
 an old rake (how cool!)

Next: the doing

1. Find a frame the right size.  I found this at a thrift store for $1.  It's 18" x 18".  Pull off the backing and picture and any nails/staples that may be in it.  

2. Then I washed it.  It was actually pretty gross so a little bath was just what it needed.  

3. Then I painted it white (disregard the K, it's for a different project!) and added a few silver brushstrokes for a little interest - I was going to sand down a few parts to distress it a little but I didn't have sandpaper and was too lazy to get it! 

4. I gave the underside and back a layer of silver paint for the finishing touch.  Not that you'll ever see the back, but it does make the whole thing feel finished, and you can see the little lip at some angles. 

5.  Then I added nails on the top and bottom.  I started at the center then worked my way out at 2" intervals.  I put one on the ends on the top but not on the bottom so I could hang the longest necklaces at the end and not get them caught on a bottom nail. 

6.  All nailed up!

7.  Then I hung a command hook on the wall (the frame had hanging hardware so it made sense) and put a few necklaces on it!

8.  Here's the finished look! In real life it has a lot more necklaces on it.  you can see the silver touches i added more in this picture.  i hung it over my bookcase and it is really an interesting but functional piece in my room.

Overall this project cost me about $5:  $1 frame, $2 white paint, $1 silver paint, $1 foam brush.  How fabulous?? You can use a more ornate frame for a vintage look, or smaller frame and make a collage of sorts with one for necklaces and one for bracelets.

Happy designing! Tootles! 

Face Scrub

Tomorrow morning I start my big kid job (yay!) and yesterday I started to break out (boo!) so I decided to do a facial scrub.  Now I'm a big fan of masks and such but I've never found a scrub that was easy to make at home and that I liked.  Then I came across the easiest and best scrub I've found so I decided to share it with my (4) avid readers!

Drumroll please....

- Take 2 or 3 spoonfuls of baking soda in a small bowl
- Add a little bit of water
- Stir together to make a paste

Before you put it on your face, be sure it's clean (either wash it or just take a makeup remover wipe and wash away the days dirt!).  Then I always take a wash cloth and dip in into hot water and rub it on my face (it helps to open up your pores so that it can really get all the gunk out of them!)

Then, apply scrub to your face!  Rub it, scrub it, and exfoliate your troubles away.  I used it tonight and I'm hooked.  It's simple and takes a grand total of 7 minutes for you to feel like a whole new person!

Try it! Love it!
Tootles!