Packing

So, I finally started packing to move back to school in North Carolina. I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks so waiting until now was probably not my best decision.

BUT, I also found a ton of clothes in my closet that I forgot I had! I'm beyond excited to start wearing them again!

I've learned thats it's ridiculously time consuming to pack all of your stuff, move it, and then unpack it all. There should just be some sort of invention that can teleport all of your stuff into your new apartment. I wanna unpack it though! That's my favorite part!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Don't forget about my online trunk show!

Stella & Dot: My New "Job"

Today I embarked on a journey (a $200 journey...) to become a Stella & Dot Stylist.  Stella & Dot is a boutique- style accessories brand which specializes in unique jewelry.  I've had an obsession with their line for THE longest time and, since buying the entire website isn't practical, I've decided to earn myself free products by promoting and selling the line myself. Plus, a college girl on a budget can always use a little extra money!

To help me launch my career, take a look around my personal website! 

Stella & Dot

These are just a few of my obsessions .



I can't wait for all of you to check out my new "job"! I know you'll love the line as much as I do! 

(If you'd like to host a trunk show, leave me a comment and I will get in contact with you.  Trunk shows can earn you free product!)

Purse Organization

So, remember back when I first moved home and I was organizing my accessories? I said I would upload a picture and I apparently never got around to it. (Sorry... I've got a procrastination problem!)


I used shower curtain hooks on my stand-alone garment rack (which I had to buy because I had too many clothes!) to hold all of my purses. Vertical storage = AMAZING!

I recommend this for anyone that has limited storage space!  Seriously, without this hanging rack I don't think I would be able to store half of my clothes. PLUS now my clothes are decor! I'm obsessed!

Furniture is Too Expensive

When you're as broke as I am and about to move into your first apartment you have to get.... Crafty.  I don't have money for a whole lot of furniture. (I'm honestly considering putting my mattress on the floor for a few months until I can get a bed.) So, to fix the problem of not having a dresser,  I am using the clear- drawered containers that you can buy at Walmart for under $20.  The only problem with the clear drawers is that I don't want everyone in the world seeing my underwear through the drawer.


Solution: Scrapbook paper in the front of the drawer.  Makes the drawers a little more fun too! PLUS, I had the scrapbook paper lying around from another project.  

This project = FREE!

So excited!!! Now if only my bed problem were that easy to fix...

Duct Tape = LOVE

I never really got into the whole duct tape trend until I found this project on Pinterest a few months ago.  Seriously, you can make anything cute (and coordinating) with duct tape.

So, I went out and found this AMAZING hounds-tooth duct tape and a turquoise-ish colored duct tape and set about turning these old boxes into containers for my CD's, etc.

They're perfect! ( & super cheap!) Yay for Duct Tape!

Craftgawker

I have a new found addiction to this website...  For anyone who is interested in DIY or crafty projects this website it PERFECT.  I'ts like Pinterest but all about crafts! It's basically Heaven AND it's incredibly addicting.  I've already found 2 projects I need to make ASAP.

The Plumed Nest

PLUS, they have something that they call a "gawkerverse" which is all of their other websites which are seperated into categories (Wedding, house, etc.)


It MIGHT be the most amazing website I've found in awhile... besides Pinterest because I will always be addicted to that!


Happy Gawking!

M. I. A.

Sorry for disappearing for almost a week. I decided to take a last minute trip to visit my boyfriend in Jacksonville before he moves. That trip made it nearly impossible to find time to do my blog posts. I'm heading home tomorrow morning though so I promise you plenty of posts at least until I love in LESS THAN A MONTH!

Super excited about my apartment but there is soooooo much to do before then! Now off to find something to make for dinner before the boyfriend comes back. Seriously, he is spoiled when I'm here...

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I'll be back soon!

Chevron Friendship Bracelet

Lately, I've been in a nostalgic mood craft-wise.  Friendship bracelets are definitely included in this nostalgia.  Today, I found a bag FULL of embroidery floss and decided it was time to make some new friendship bracelets.

The one I'm working on now is a chevron design in in blue and black.  I, honestly, hate this color combo ( It reminds me of a bruise.) but these are the colors my boyfriend specificially requested.

To make a chevron pattern in a friendship bracelet you need 8 strings. Tie the furthest left string (shown here in black) to each to each of the strings to it's right until you reach the middle.  Then, tie the furthest right string to each of the strings to its left until you reach the middle.  Finally, tie the two middle strings together.  Make sure you tie two knots every time to ensure that it holds and make the design visible. And that's it!

To make a diagonal stripe you simply continue across the set of strings rather than stopping in the middle.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I usually write about the DIY projects I make and things I do but I very rarely write about the other things in my life.  So, today (mostly since I have been utterly lacking in the DIY department) I figure I would make a list of my Top 5 favorite products that own and use on a daily basis.  


#1. Keurig - I think I've previously mentioned my addiction to coffee and my Keurig just enables my addiction.  The Donut Shop K-cups are my favorite!

#2. iPhone - In this day and age just about everyone has iPhones.  I use mine more than I probably need to.  I have an app addiction and my phone is constantly in my hand.  I'm surprised it can hold charge for an entire day without me destroying the battery.

#3. Eyeliner - I went through a phase where the only makeup I would buy was from Sephora. (Back before I was a broke college student.) But, this is still my favorite eyeliner.  It's waterproof and it generally just stays on better than any other eyeliners I've tried.

#4. Glowdacious bronzer by mark. - I'm super insanely pale 99% of the time so this bronzer is by far my favorite! It has 3 shades within the compact so it creates a contour on your cheekbones when you put it on.  The middle of my compact ran out months ago but my skin is also more tan now than usually so I'm okay with that.

#5. Last but not least, Herbal Essences shampoo in Tousle Me Softly.  It smells great and it makes my hair super soft and easy to deal with.  I'm in love! <3

Don't get my wrong, I probably use tons more product throughout the day that should have made this list but these are my Top 5!

Happy Monday!

Tutu Adorable

Buying baby gifts is expensive.  Luckily, I have a really great discount at a few stores that sell baby stuff but I like to make DIY projects as well.  My friend recently found out that she's having a baby girl so I couldn't resist the urge to make her a little baby tutu!!  So, I figured I'd post a how-to of how to make a tutu!

I usually start off with a length of elastic.  To measure it I wrap it around my lower thigh.  I sew the ends together to make it a circle.  This ends up being the waist of the tutu.

Next, you have to cut the tulle.  I recently found a new way to cut tulle which makes making a tutu sooooo much easier!  If you wrap the tulle around a piece of carboard you can cut one end and make a TON of piece rather than cutting each piece individually.  This saves SO much time!

After you cut all of the tulle pieces, wrap each piece of tulle around the elastic and double knot it.  Keep doing this all the way around until you run out of tulle or elastic (or BOTH!)

I finished mine off with a zebra print bow and voila! The most adorable tutu EVER!  I can't wait for them to see it!

Happy Crafting!

How to Knit

For the past 2 days I've been babysitting 2 little boys. The same 2 little boys from this post.  I've also been working on a knitting project that I started MONTHS ago and never really got around to finishing.  The boys were AMAZED at the fact that I could make a scarf that fast and asked me to teach them which is when I realize a lot of people probably don't realize just how easy knitting is. So I figured I would show you... or try to at least.


Step 1: Your First Row


To make your first row you wrap the yarn around your fingers to make a loop and stick the needle through the loop.  The first loop will have to be tied in a knot to keep it from unraveling.  The more loops you make the thicker your scarf will be.  I like to stick with an even number (10-14) so I don't lose track of how many loops I have.


Step 2: Second Row


In the words of my sewing teacher in high school,  Stab somebody else, Go around the hill, Stab yourself, Fall off the hill.  (This doesn't make sense unless you knew her.  I realize that.)


So, first, you want to make sure you are holding the full needle in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand.


Stab somebody else:  Put your right needle through the top loop on the left needle.

Go around the hill: Wrap the extra length of yarn around the right needle and through the middle.

Stab yourself:  Take the right needle down through the loop overtop of the yarn you just passed through the middle.

Fall of the hill: Push the loop off the edge of the left needle.

REPEAT until you have all the loops on the right needle.  Switch hands so that the full needle is in your left hand.


After repeating for a long while you'll end up with something that looks like this.

Happy Knitting! ( Questions? Feel free to comment!)

Operation Troop Appreciation

I don't usually post stuff about my life... alright, on occasion I do... but usually it's for a legitimate reason (or because I'm being lazy and haven't done anything crafty recently.)  I volunteer, in my free time, for a non-profit organization called Operation Troop Appreciation.  

I started volunteering my Freshman year of college (almost 2 year ago... CRAZY) when I found them at a mall near my hometown getting Christmas cards signed for the troops who were overseas and couldn't be with their families for Christmas.  I wanted to help, so the following Friday (Black Friday) they had me help out at the table getting Christmas cards signed.  I never realized until that day how much people just DON'T care.


Seriously, signing a Christmas card is free.  We take donations but we don't require them.  Is it that difficult to take 2 seconds and write your name?  I'm not nearly as naive as I used to be and I now understand why it's so easy for people to pass up something like this. 


Less than 1% of America's population knows someone serving in the military.  That's a ridiculous number considering 1% of Americans actually serve in the military.  1% of the people in this country fight and die for the rights of the other 99% and yet nobody can find the time to sign a simple Christmas card?  It just frustrates me to no end.


I was trying not to turn this into a rant but apparently I did... Sorry.  Today, while volunteering I received 2 HUGE donation drop-offs.  Restores my faith in humanity a little bit.


I no longer expect people to want to donate, or even sign a Christmas card.  I just want people to know that the people the cards are for are the one's who give them the right to choose.


So for anyone that actually cares about my rant... Operation Troop Appreciation sends care packages to troops serving overseas.  The send everything from snacks, to movies, to tactical gear, even socks!  If you want to help out you can check them out here. 


Thank you to all our military past, present, and future!

DIY: Throw Pillows

If you read my past posts you know that I will be moving into an apartment in the Fall.  Our living room furniture is being donated to us by my parents but the throw pillows I'm leaving in Pittsburgh. (Not my style.) So, rather than spending a bunch of money on new pillows I decided to make them.  Not super hard.

I just cut the fabric into squares. (Seriously how pretty is this fabric?) And then sewed them together. My cat was a huge fan of them, obviously.

But she wouldn't let me near the stuffing!

Finished product!

Now I just need to get enough fabric for 2 more. Yay!

More Glitter

Ya'll are probably tire of hearing me talk about glitter but seriously it's like THE greatest thing ever invented in the world of arts and crafts. It just makes everything so... fun!  So, I recently used foam core to make some letters which I spray painted and glitterized using mod podge and glitter. 

I would love to tell you that I spray painted them for some amazing reason but, honestly, I was originally only going to spray paint them until I realized how boring they looked.  With the glitter added you can still see some of the purple though.  Especially through the pink glitter ones.  (The R and A.)

They're now on a shelf in my room that couldn't hold anything else. (I have a slanted ceiling so it's hard to store stuff up high.)  The letter's are a bit disproportionate but it gives it a more eclectic look. Right?

Spray Painting EVERYTHING

Lately I've had a bit of an obsession with spray paint.  I just LOVE that you can change the look of something so easily (and for very little money) with spray paint.  I'm moving in an apartment in a little over a month and I'm trying incredibly hard to not spend a ton of money on new stuff because, let's face it, college students are broke.  So far I have yet to spend more than $20 on any piece of furniture and most of it is being given to me for free. (Thank you parents!)

My bathroom last year was all brown with brightly colored polka dots and, of course, Target stopped selling that design.  So, rather than spending a bunch of money on new bathroom accessories I decided to spray paint the stuff I already have and  change the theme of my bathroom slightly.  

The garbage can and toothbrush holder are now a really pretty shade of turquoise  which will match my brown and turquoise towels (which I already own). Perfect right? It's a bit more boring the the polka dots it used to have but I can always personalize it later. (Or spray paint it again?)

Crayon Art

If you have a Pinterest account like I do (honestly, who doesn't?), and you've checked out the DIY & Crafts sections at any point, you've probably seen some of the melted crayon art work like these ones.

After seeing all of these AMAZING designs on Pinterest for months I finally decided to make my own!  I was surprised at how easy and quick it was to make! All you need it old crayons, a glue gun, a canvas and a hair dryer.

To start. you glue the crayons to the canvas with a hot glue gun... my glue gun was being exceptional difficult though... I think it might be time for a new one.

When you are completely finished gluing the crayons down, use a hair dryer to melt the crayons and you're done! Seriously, it barely even took me 10 minutes to melt all of my crayons.

Before: 

After:

I'm in LOVE!  Send my pictures of yours! I'd love to see them!

Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July!!!

Hobby Lobby Addiction

I went to Hobby Lobby for the first time EVER today. I barely made it through the door before I saw stuff I wanted to buy! (a black and white damask dress form and a wooden 'LOVE' cutout) Since I'm still supposed to be participating in the No Spend Challenge, I barely bought anything besides black dye and a $7 canvas that I had a 40% off coupon for. I spent almost an hour roaming the store and generally frustrating my friend because I wanted just about everything I found. The stuff I bought today will last me for 3 projects but I don't know just how long I can last without craft supplies.


Here's a little preview of the project I started tonight:

I'll upload the rest of it tomorrow! Have a good night!

Patriotic Shorts

Recently, I found a post here for turning jean shorts into patriotic shorts.  I'm a little more patriotic than the average girl so, naturally, I fell in love with this idea.  However, because of my "No Spend Challenge" I couldn't get the spray paint that I needed to finish this project before the 4th of July. (And really what good are patriotic shorts if you can't wear them on the most patriotic holiday of the year?) So, I decided to substitute some stuff.

I used painters tape to make the stripes and construction paper to make the stars. (I used a cookie cutter to trace the stars.)  Then,  I taped off everything I didn't want colored.

Since I don't have the money to buy more spray paint (shocking that I don't already have every color in the world...) I used permanent markers to color in all the empty spaces that weren't taped off and Voila! Patriotic shorts for FREE.

Permanent marker may not have been the best choice.  It didn't bleed or even rub off but when they wash they might not come out looking as good.  I'm okay with that though since 1. It was free and 2. How often do I really need patriotic shorts?

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July week!

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