DIY {colorful mason jar storage}

The saying goes "Diamonds are a girls best friend", but I just might have to argue that mason jars are a girls best friend. Don't you agree? The character that the jars have alone are enough to make a girl smile, let alone when putting colorful things inside to store around your home. I've discovered since getting my hands on these little guys, that I've used them for more things than I can remember and I must say I think this is my favorite use for them! So grab your jars friends and add some color to your life!

the local flea

This past weekend I actually had a day that was completely me. I got up early and headed out for the local antique flea. The weather was more than welcoming to spend a couple hours outdoors scouring the flea for fun finds and I was even more excited to get my man to come with me to pick up some fun new decor treasures for our home.

Of course it wouldn't be a successful trip without picking up a few goodies. We found a rustic deer antler and spiced it up with some paint. We also snatched up a vintage metal card drawer and decided it was perfect to use as a succulent planter. Naturally, I got to peruse a bunch of glitz and glamorous jewels that were beyond hard to resist. Luckily, I only came home with a few gold pieces. A girl's gotta have a little vintage glam right!

DIY {dipped wooden utensils}

After I saw these dipped wooden spoons, I knew my next project would be to jazz my utensils up a bit. I browsed through my collection of paint colors and my indecisive self couldn't pick just one color, so I opted for good ol' white. I think it brings a fun aspect to my otherwise plain utensils and who knows I might jazz them up a little more by added some gold dots, because those are my favorite!

{my version}

Happy crafting friends!

DIY {dotted card}

Last week I said goodbye to something that I have been doing for a long time and although it was bittersweet, I am excited for new adventures and taking more risks. As a send off, I made this fun dotted card to say thank you to those people who have immensely effected my life for the better. It was the perfect blend of handmade character and simplicity, everything a card should be. 

DIY {pretty tassel garlands}

Last week I discovered an insane gold mine in my neighborhood for craft lovers. An entire warehouse full of party and crafting materials. Needless to say my mind was going a mile a minute and I was ecstatic to pick up some mylar sheets so I could make this pretty little lady for a close friend. I've been eyeballing these garlands for quite some time and shared my favorites last week as inspiration for my version. It's amazing how easy these are (here's a great tutorial) and how much of an impact they give off. I plan on making a couple others and adding a few more things along the pretty string for flare, perhaps some metal stencil letters I've been waiting to use. The options are endless friends, get crafting!  

DIY {painted cork coasters}

For as long as I can remember, my coaster collection comsisted of those cheap very thin ones from restaurants and cool bars I've been to. You know the kind that when you were a little kid, you made a coaster house out of them when bored at dinner with your parents. I've always been fond of them mostly for the reason that the majority of them have funny or clever sayings on them and bring back some sort of memory for me. Well friends, I've finally decided that it's time for an upgrade. You know I wouldn't just buy any old coasters, I had to put my own little spin on them. I picked up a pack of cork coasters and some paint and got to work. I knew I wanted to have a fun pattern and some ampersands and incorporate white and mint. I made my stencils from contact paper and let the paint sit for a minute and was really pleased with the results.

DIY {homemade coffee syrup}

I am the kind of person who has to have my morning cup of joe in order to go about my day otherwise I feel a little funky. I think it's more of the routine and the warm factor as I am getting ready for my day that makes it so comforting and something that I truly love. I came across this great idea over the holiday season and thought it was such a great idea for any coffee lover. Homemade coffee syrups would be the sweetest surprise in anyone's cup of java.  I can't wait to make some vanilla for myself! What is your go to coffee flavor?

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DIY {metallic makeup pouch}

Lately, I've been referred to as 'Mr. T' and/or 'Goldfinger' because of my recent obsession with all things gold. I don't know if it's the shiny factor or the idea that when wearing a lot of gold, you could be considered unstoppable, right? Nonetheless, I can't get enough. So naturally there was no way I was going to pass up these metallic makeup pouches at the craft store the other day. I gladly scooped up a few of each color (black, bronze and gold) and went home with endless ideas of patterns that I wanted to decorate them with. Here are a few that I painted up yesterday, despite my high from the insane paint fumes. 

 

DIY {chalkboard coffee mug}

One theme that seemed to be apparent this holiday season was coffee/tea gifts and I couldn't be happier. We finally got a coffee maker that didn't make a bigger mess than you did when pouring coffee and we added fun newcomers to our mug collection, this chalkboard mug being one of them. I've been a fan of this chalkboard trend that has started but haven't participated much in it yet and I'm not sure why. It was so much fun to decide what I wanted to draw on my new blank coffee mug. I contemplated a bit and once I decided on my design, I made a stencil. I opted not for a saying but for a simple herringbone heart. A combo of two things I have been into lately and I love it! 

For a step by step how to on chalkboard painted mugs, check out this tutorial. Super simple and super fun

DIY {brown sugar body scrub}

I've always been the friend who makes most gifts, 1. because I think they're more personal and special 2. I like crafting and figuring out new ideas and 3. most of the time they are less expensive and way cuter than anything you could buy at the store. Now don't get me wrong I'm no cheapskate, I simply love making homemade gifts. It's my M.O. if you will. This year, my theme was beauty and I made homemade body scrub. Super easy and very practical. I've already used mine twice. I combined a few recipes I found online by added spices and extracts and I've very happy with the results. I hope you get a chance to try it for yourself.

vanilla - cinnamon brown sugar scrub:

1/2 cup of brown sugar
3-4 tablespoons of olive oil
a few dashes of cinnamon ( whatever you like )
and a few drops of vanilla ( I'm sure essentials oils work best, but I only had extract on hand )

mix all ingredients together. if you find that you added too much oil, add more sugar. The first time I made scrub I added too much oil, so add sparingly.

I also decided to decorate the jars that I put my new scrub in with cute paper I had on hand. A little modge podge goes a long way.

Happy crafting friends!

sprinkle wonderland

Yesterday you could've called me master cookie maker. Like I've said before, every year I dedicate one day to making all of my grandma's traditional Christmas cookies and let me tell you my house smelt amazing. One of my favorites that I make are spritz cookies. Half of the reason they are so fun is because I dye them red and green before really decorating them, so they already have some cookie character.

Grandma's Sprtiz Recipe

Mix 1 cup soft butter, 2 1/3 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla. Work with hands. Add gradually 2 1/2 cup sifted four. Chill dough and run through a cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with candies and sprinkles.

Bake until set but not brown. Temp 400 for 7- 10 minutes.

* If you want colored dough, before chilling dough, half the dough and drop a few drops of food coloring in each pile and mix until desired color.

DIY {holiday wreath}

Since last holiday season I've wanted to make a holiday wreath and this year I finally go to it. I had the hardest time trying to decide what I wanted to decorate my wreath with last season but this year I took my own spin on this guy and am really pleased with the result. 

I used mostly material I had on hand, burlap and glitter snowflakes and went to work. I cut the burlap into about 2" strips and wrapped the wreath all around pinning and the end. Then I positioned my glitter snowflakes, pinned those in place, hung my ribbon and viola! It really was that easy. 

DIY {glitter mason jar candle holder}

A few months back, I got my hands on tons of mason jars and haven't quite decided what I wanted to do with them until now. With my recent addiction to glitter, as you must know by now, I decided why not glitter the mason jars for stylish holiday table decor. YES! So grab your jars, double stick tape and glitter color of choice and get crafty friends!

Here is my winter wonderland version. Stay tuned for the tablescape photos. 

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DIY {tricky halloween costumes}

This year Halloween snuck up on me so I racked my brain for some funny and easy costumes to whip up. While in my search I came across these great ideas and can't get them out of my head. Here are some other ideas that I think would make great costumes for the ever popular dress up holiday. 

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DIY {green notebook}

I know I have already confessed my compulsive list making and I have found yet another way to organize them and keep them in one place. I was looking for a cheap and easy solution and came across this great idea, cereal box notebooks. Yep I transformed a cereal box and a few sheets of paper into a kate spade inspired polka dot notebook. Take a peek...

I have already used them this week for a few new adventures and have gotten several compliments.
Happy crafting friends!!

DIY {kitchen art}

Recently I was inspired by two pieces of art and instantly knew I wanted to recreate my own version. I finally got the chance to do so this week and I couldn't be happier with this tongue in check piece. Some people might consider me a wino and I have no problem with that especially when I can fly my flag with a fun painting like this. As it might not be realistic to drink more wine than water, this glittery canvas turned out just how I wanted, shiny and fantastic. My kitchen walls will no longer be bare and boring thanks to my new painting full of personality. 

I simply painted the entire canvas a glittery gold ( 2 coats of paint ) Then drew the wine bottle shape and set my type stickers out how I wanted them. Next I painted over the letters with black, a few coats preferably and let completely dry. Peeled off the stickers, touched up a bit and done!

DIY {lace projects}

I wouldn't consider myself a girly girl, but I do have a soft spot for most sparkly things and pretty lace. Recently, I hinted at my love for lace through my newest fall combo that I am dying over, olive and lace. As a result of my pinning spree's lately, I've come across a lot of fun projects involving that very thing, lace and wanted to share these great DIY's.

A refreshing ruffled lace scarf 

a pretty doily lacy print bowl

a great lace lamp ( I've been wanting to make this real bad!)

happy crafting friends!!

DIY {business card case}

Business is on the up and up over here lately so one thing I've needed to fix is the constant bending and messing up of my nice business cards in my purse. Clearly, I was on the lookout for a nice and simple business card case that wasn't too over the top, something to keep my cards clean yet a little stylish. When looking for ideas, I found this one that I loved, only problem being I couldn't get my hands on any leather. Then I found this gem and got a whole new idea. This is what I'll be carrying my little business cards around in now.

materials needed:

fabric of choice
button
iron
sewing machine

Measure the size of whatever it is you're making a case for. Mine for example was for business cards.
Take the height of the business cards, add 1/2'' and multiply by two to get the height of your rectangle. As for the width, use the length of your card plus 1/2''.

Then for the envelope shape, add a triangle to the top of your rectangle about the height of your card. Allow yourself 1/2'' for seams all around. After you've figured out your numbers, draw your shape twice so you have two pieces of fabric.

Cut the shapes out and sew together, right sides in. Make sure you leave room at the bottom for you to be able to turn it right side out. Flip and press.

Fold like an envelope, press again and sew the side edges. I wanted to add a bit more color to my new little business card case so I added a colorful button I had on hand. That's it!

I've already had a request for one from a friend. Happy crafting!!

DIY {gold & beaded bracelet}

Arm parties are all the rage in the fashion world and what better way to add to your collection then making a few gems yourself. I found this beauty online and wanted to try to make one myself. Here's how I made them. 

Here are the materials you need:
4" gold chain, cut in half
2 bead tips
2 jump rings
a lobster claw
seed beads in choice of color
heavy duty string

tools: scissors & needle nose pliers

1. attach lobster claw to one half of the chain with a jump ring, set aside
2. attach bead tip to string by tying a knot and crimping the bead tip
3. string about 20 beads onto the string (or how ever many you'd like, I measure mine to be the width of my wrist)
4. attach the beaded string to the first half of chain with lobster claw, then attach the other bead tip to the end by tying another knot
5. attach the other half of chain to rest of the bracelet with the last jump ring at the end
6. make another one because layering is cute too!

DIY {refinished dinning table & chairs}

Ever since we moved into our little place, we've been sans dinning table due to limited space. We immediately were on the hunt for the perfect size table to fit our tiny open space that we had deemed as the spot our 'dinning table' would go one day. In a matter of time, we got a call from our family that they had found the perfect sized table on the side of the road and snagged it up for us. Ergo my big dinning table refinishing project begun. I enlisted the help of my dad (the best handy man I know) and after a few months of work, a few hours a day, we finished this beaut. Taadaa! What do you think? 

It was a long process mostly because we decided to change the color of the table all together. We had to strip and sand the pine-ish type wood that the table was crafted from and make sure it was ready for the enormous amount of black stain that we were about to cover it in. (stripping was the worst part!) After a few coats of stain were applied, it was time to reupholster the seat cushions. I scoured a local furniture warehouse for a durable fabric that was simple and I found this black and white tweed that I thought fit nicely. This was probably the longest and most extensive project that I've done but I am more than happy with the results and I'm glad I got the chance to work with my dad on the makeover!