A lot of the DIYs I do stem directly from something that I'd like to have but- A.) don't want to pay a ton of money for or B.) it's not exactly what I'm looking for. I'm a problem solver so I typically figure out a way to do it myself. And that is how this little project came along.
I had been looking for a flower headband/crown for months and finally decided to make one (or six). It's more fun that way!
These are super easy. A lot of the supplies you probably already have.
I got the flowers and headbands at the Dollar Store.
You're going to need:
- Elastic headbands
- Fake flowers
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors or wire cutters
- Gem stones (optional)
-Something like a basket to wrap the headband around
Step 1.
Put the elastic headband around a basket or a bowl to stretch it out to size. This is to make sure the flowers aren't stretched out and in a weird location once you put the finished headband on.
Step 2.
Cut off the stems to make sure the flowers will lay flat against the headband.
Step 3.
Start gluing! Add as many or as few as your heart desires.
Step 4.
(Optional)
I added a few gems to a couple of my headbands. I like a little subtle sparkle sometimes.
And that's it. You're done!
Here are some more I made. I may have gone a little headband crazy...
The longer one with the white ribbon is more a crown. It would be so pretty in the summertime with some wavy hair!
Wow, it's been a long time since our last post! Sorry, we suck. We will try our best this summer to make up for our lack of posting!
As my first post back from a long hiatus, I'm going to post what is possibly one of my favorite things that I have made.
It looks incredible and is totally representative of the person for whom I made it.
Sorry for the low picture quality, these are the best ones that I have.
Yeah, that's right, the Miami Dolphins have reverted back into their childhood forms.
This project all started when my ex moved into a condo with a ceramic cherub wreath hanging in the back patio. As a joke, his dad sad "no matter what happens, you have to keep that wreath."
So as a Christmas present one year, I made the wreath something that he would want to keep, no matter what happens.
I started by cleaning the wreath and priming it with white paint.
Next, I went through and started painting all of the leaves Miami Dolphins aqua blue and orange.
When the leaves were completed, I got the names and numbers for each player that he wanted on a cherub.
I spent a lot of time on Google looking at pictures of them.
Once I got a good idea of what they looked like and labelled which player would be which, I started painting the skin and hair for each individual player.
After I had painted their hair and bodies, it was time to add names and numbers to the jerseys.
#13 - Dan Marino
#19 - Brandon Marshall
#23 - Ronnie Brown
#99 - Jason Taylor
#34 - Ricky Williams
And coach Don Shula.
When I finally finished painting all of the players (which took forever), I sprayed the whole wreath with a clear protective top layer and it was finally finished!
I wish I had some better quality photos of this thing, because these don't really showcase how amazing it actually is.
I know it's been a while, but I finally have some time to post!
This Christmas, I made some custom coasters for my boyfriend's parents.
It's a pretty easy project, the hardest part is that you have to get it done early so that they are completely dry before you give them as a gift.
Supplies:
-Square tiles (4" x 4")
-Cork
-Spray enamel (I used Rustoleum clear glaze)
-Pictures
Step 1:
Cut the cork to fit on the back of the coasters. The cork that I used was already sticky, so I didn't need to glue it!
Here's a picture of the cork- I found it at Home Depot with the shelf liner and contact paper.
Step 2:
Print and cut out the pictures that you want to put on the coasters.
Step 3:
Use a glue stick to lightly stick the pictures to the tiles. Make sure they are lying flat on the tile and they don't have any edges sticking up, otherwise they won't look as clean.
Step 4:
Spray the coasters with a thick coat of spray enamel. Let dry. Repeat. And then repeat again. And again.
I think I sprayed them 4 or 5 times of the course of two days.
Make sure that you don't let any hairs or pieces of dust get stuck in the wet enamel- if you do, use a toothpick to get it out right away!
Step 5:
Let them dry for a very, very, very long time.
I finished mine on a Tuesday and on Friday I had to wrap them in tissue paper and bring them across the country. They felt dry to the touch, but the acrylic hadn't completely set. When we opened them up again, they had imprints from the tissue paper in the acrylic. I would recommend giving them AT LEAST a week to dry.
And the finished product...
You can make a coaster like this using pretty much anything!
I have used paint chips on a set (which we still use after almost two years!) and I made a set using dried flowers from a wedding bouquet.
These Jayhawk coasters turned out pretty well though!
I wanted to write a post that's a little different from the usual DIY/craft tutorial.
Stress and anxiety is something we all face and it can be paralyzing for some people. It ebbs and flows for everyone and it should come as a comfort that you're not in it alone. Since the holidays are coming up and the end of the semester, for those of us in school (which is never easy), I thought now would be the perfect time to share some ways I like to deal with stress and anxiety.
Life feels easier when you start your day off right. It's like building a house with a strong foundation. I like to begin energized and one way to help with that is by drinking a mug of warm water with lemon.
Benefits:
-Aids in digestion
-Balances pH levels
-Helps flush toxins
-Energizes
-Highly beneficial for the skin
If you want to read more about it check out this link . It goes into detail about how it aids in your well-being.
I use a kettle to boil water then add a slice of lemon and wait for it to cool down to lukewarm.
2. Get Your Vitamins
Get the vitamins your body needs, whether that means taking a vitamin supplement in tablet form or making sure the foods you eat have the necessary vitamins or both.
Do your research and make sure you're getting what your body needs. A good place to start is here. It's an honest an informational article.
When your body is well balanced, your mind will be too.
3. Go to Sleep
Sleep becomes an issue when dealing with stress. You lie awake worrying or if you're in college like me, you pull all nighters.
Sleep is essential to humans being able to function properly. Staying up all night cramming for an exam or finishing a project is unhealthy and the results probably won't be your best. I'll admit, I've pulled my fair share of all nighters and am always absolutely miserable the next day. I end up crashing for 12 or more hours and take more time sleeping than I would have in the first place.
Make sleep a priority, even if it's only for a few hours. The link below is a "sleep calculator" it tells you the best times to fall asleep depending on what time you need to wake up in the morning. It measures by sleep cycles and will help you wake up feeling rested. Even if it's only for 3 hours.
Yoga is as much an exercise for your body as it is for your mind. Try the sequence I linked below. It is really easy and you don't have to have any previous yoga experience to be able to do these poses. 10-15 minutes is all it takes to turn your day around and ease that stress.
Lavender is amazing! You can use it for all kinds of things but what I use it for is relaxation. It comes in a variety of forms; essential oil (for a bath), candles, lotions. Find what works best for you.
I use the "stress relief" lotion from Aveeno every night before bed and it does wonders for me. It's loaded with all kinds of good stuff.
The health benefits of tea could fill a novel. Find a tea specifically for stress and anxiety.
Try:
-Passionflower tea
-Valerian Root tea
-Chamomile tea
-Peppermint tea
I recently found an organic tea shop in Cave Creek and picked up some "Holy Basil" tea. It targets stress, anxiety, depression, and even cramps and headaches. It's exactly what I need right now.
For a list of more calming teas check out this link. Then head to the grocery store and pick some up.
7. Listen to Music
Music soothes the soul. If you need a pick-me-up to get going try an upbeat, positive song. I've been loving Brave by Sara Bareilles.
Brave by Sara Bareilles
If it's time to get down to business and get some work done go with classical. It's soft and helps with concentration. Create a Classical Pandora station or find a video on YouTube.
I tend to be drawn toward the cello.
Here's four hours of Vivaldi Concertos, if you're interested.
Vivaldi- Complete Cello Concertos (Ofra Harnoy)
8. Show Gratitude
The Science of Happiness- An Experiment in Gratitude
There are now scientific studies proving that if you show genuine gratitude toward someone it helps to improve your own mood. The video is about 7 minutes long but it's worth it.
So...
Write a letter to someone you love.
Call an old friend.
Or even just smile at a stranger.
Not only are you brightening their day, but yours as well. Trust me, it works!
9. Treat Yourself
You deserve it!
Buy yourself some flowers.
Get a coffee.
Take a bubble bath.
Buy that sweater you've had your eye on.
Only you can affect the way you feel.
10. Take A Step Back
Life gets crazy, things speed up, time flies by. Take a step back and look around. Turn off the technology, take a break from what you're doing and just breathe.
Step outside. Even if it's for 5 minutes out your front door.
Just take the time to appreciate what you have and bring things back into perspective.
Those are 10 fairly easy things that have gotten me through some anxious times and are currently getting me through. I hope they can help you, too. I encourage you to try different tips and tricks to figure out what works best for you. Listen to your body and mind. It will let you know what works.
Most importantly, HANG IN THERE! The stress and anxiety is only temporary.
(Since Jen and I have our Winter break coming up very soon we'll hopefully get some new DIY's going up here! It's been too long.)
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