how to: drying flowers

As much as I love receiving flowers, it always makes me sad when they inevitably die after a week or so. After receiving flowers from loved ones that I just did not want to part with, I decided to try to dry out my bouquets in order to keep them as memories. Although some people think that dead flowers are a creepy keepsake, I find them to be a pretty reminder of the memory of receiving them.  

After a recent family wedding, I decided to dry out my bridesmaid's bouquet and it turned out really well! All I did was take each stem and tie it/pin it upside down. I pinned some to my cork board (this was really simple, but it was slightly difficult to keep them in place) and I hung others by a string from a drying rack. Both techniques worked well for me, and I will definitely use these methods to dry out any flowers I receive in the future! 

And now I have these dead, yet very pretty flowers in a vase in my bedroom to remind me of the wedding!! :-)

DIY Bow Pattern Pillow Case

Since I'll be moving into a new apartment in just a couple of weeks, I was inspired to spice up my old bedding to give my living space a slightly different look than last year. I decided to take a old (& unbelievably ugly) pillow + case that we had lying around and create my own case customized to the color scheme and pattern of my old bedding. 

I went to my local fabric store and fell in love with this cute gold and white bow patterned fabric. I actually brought the pillow into the fabric shop in order to measure exactly how much fabric I needed, and ended up only needing 3/4 of a yard since my pillow is slightly smaller than standard sizes. I highly recommend bringing the pillow with you in order to make sure you get exactly how much fabric you need (not too much or too little!) 

Note: The employees at the fabric cutting counter were more than happy to help me measure how much fabric I needed, so don't be shy to ask for help if you're unsure! :-)

Then it was time to transform the fabric into a new and improved pillow case! I began by laying out the fabric on a flat surface, and placing the pillow on top. I wrapped the fabric around the pillow and cut off access fabric. I twisted back around 1/3 inch of fabric on all ends in order to hide frayed edges and the store logo. 

Note: I used white nylon string, which is a bit thicker and stronger than regular string and worked well for this project!

Next, I used sewing pins to pin the fabric down in a straight line and sewed two of the three sides together. Be sure to sew the fabric with the pattern facing inwards in order to hide the stitches! 

Once I was left with just one side open, I turned the fabric right side out so that the bows were facing the outside and touched up any areas that were stitched too loose. You can either stitch the last side closed or simply tuck one end of the fabric into the other (I chose this last option, which is good if you aren't the best at stitching since stitches on this last side will show!)

I simply folded one side of the fabric and tucked it against the pillow, and took the other side of the fabric and tucked it on top of the previously folded fabric. Since this leaves the pillow unsealed on one end, I put 5-8 stitches on the two right and left corners and 2-3 in the center. I recommend linking the part of the fabric that has been folded over to the inner fabric in order to hide your stitches!

PS here is a look at the before and after transformation of this pillow:

                       BEFORE                                                                                                   AFTER

                 

And it's truly as simple as that! I can't wait to add this cute accent pillow to my bedding in my new apartment :-)

back to school: supplies & essentials

with september right around the corner, i'm currently in the process of packing up and organizing myself for back to school. one of my favorite parts of this time of year is getting together school supplies and a comfortable yet cute work space. 

here are some back to school essentials i've put together for the new school year:

1. a cute planner/agenda

 
    ban.do

$20 is definitely pricey and the most i've ever spent on a planner, but as soon as i opened the package i realized that this agenda is worth the cost. every page is unique and each month is full of cute designs. i can already tell that this agenda will make me excited to get organized and plan out my life.

my favorite things about this agenda:

• sticker page
• lasts 17-months, starting in august!
• adorable pattern/details 

2. a pencil case

    ban.do

3. create your own comfortable and cute work space

this year i decided i wanted to change up my work space by adding some cute decorative yet practical items to my desk.

easel, chalkboard memo board + chalkboard pen

    daiso japan

use this chalkboard memo board to keep track of your schedule, leave yourself inspirational messages or reminders.

alphabet stamp + gold ink set

    michaels

when i spotted this stamp and ink set in the clearance isle at michaels i just couldn't resist tossing them into my cart. these can be used to add cute reminders and messages in your agenda!

aaaand that sums up my back to school supply and essential list! cheers to an organized, stylish upcoming school year. xoxo

opening my very own jewelry shop

I couldn't be more excited to announce the official opening of my very own etsy shop. As of right now, I have two earring sets posted and ready to be sold. I'm working on new pieces that will be ready shortly! I have attached some photos of the two earrings that are currently for sale. Be sure to check back for new items in the next couple of days. Enjoy!

My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lodiy

diy decorative sunglasses

When I came across this plain pair of sunglasses with a company logo on the side, I decided to try out my own spin on a DIY sunglasses project I had seen online. The original source of my inspiration had glued beads into an intricate pattern along the edges of the sunglasses, and although I still want to recreate that look, I decided to use a tie-dye pattern seeing as these would be a gift for my boyfriend.

While the steps are fairly simple and self-explanatory, through my own trial and error I have come up with a few helpful tips. I began by printing out a tie-dye pattern online (I recommend searching wallpapers/backgrounds to find some plain, HD photos) and traced the edges of the sunglasses. I found this step to be a bit difficult, particularly the arches and curves as the ends tapper. I ended up trimming down as best I could and glued one end down using Mod-Podge. I then glued the rest piece by piece, trimming down as I went until the entire side was secure. I followed up with around 3 coats of Mod-Podge the seal the paper and left a note along the inner rim.

My boyfriend recently gave these back to me asking for touch-ups to the glue since the edges had started to peal. I went back with another coat of Mod-Podge followed by a layer of clear nail polish. This added some extra shine as well as secured the edges in place (hopefully this glue job lasts longer than last time!)

diy scented bath bombs

With some friends birthdays coming up, I decided to try out this cute and fairly simple diy project that I saw on pinterest. I followed this recipe that was linked to the Pinterest post, but changed up the ingredients a bit. I made the first few bath bombs using Canola oil as the recipe calls for, however I was curious as to how Coconut Oil would work out. I have found from past diy body and lip scrubs that Coconut Oil leaves skin extremely moisturized. I used vanilla extract and different scented essential oils in combination with food coloring to create these colorful and delicious smelling bath bombs! I left mine in the cupcake molds overnight (over 12 hours), however I did notice that some fell apart when I attempted to pull them out. They were all a bit crumbly at the edges and tops, however some more than others. I think this mishap must be due to different amounts of cornstarch and baking soda used. I started to run low on certain ingredients, but I found that this diy requires specific amounts of both ingredients. If I were to recreate these bath bombs, I would definitely stick to the 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Featured in photo order from top to bottom:

• Grapefruit + Coconut Oil
• Vanilla + Coconut Oil
• Key Lime + Canola Oil
• Lavender + Canola Oil

diy decomposition style notebook

Inspired by the decomposition notebooks I've been seeing in stores and online, I decided to make my very own unique and personalized notebook. I loved the idea of added a personal flare to a boring and extremely common notebook. Starting with a blank composition notebook, I created my own collage of photos and magazine cut outs, as well as added a touch of lace tape along the bottom edge. I added a layer of Mod-Podge to ensure that all of the photos remain in tact throughout the school year.

cute and simple mother's day gift (plus gift wrapping tip!)

I wasn't quite sure what to get my mom for mother's day this year, especially since her birthday falls within the same week. My mom tends to appreciate gifts that are hand-made and come from the heart over a generic store bought gift. However, the creative juices just weren't flowing and as of yesterday I still could not figure out what the main part of her gift would be. I went to Goodwill in hopes that something there would spark an idea and that's exactly what happened. I found a stack of old coasters with peeling edges and a rather ugly floral pattern for around $2. I bought them with the thought of renovating them into cute and personalized coasters my mom can use while she drinks her morning coffee (after all, I need to make sure she thinks of me every morning while I'm away at college). The process is fairly simple:

Cut out different magazine clippings or even some old family photos of you and your mom. Taking a foam brush, coat the base of your object (since this process can be used to make more than just coasters!) and begin to glue down your photos. wait for everything to dry before coating the entire thing in a few layers of Mod-Podge. This will create a hard, almost laminated surface to ensure that any remnants of drinks won't bleed through and ruin your photos! 

I tied the stack of coasters together with a ribbon and placed them into a cardboard box with the rest of her gifts. After wrapping the gift up, I glued down a heart doily to the edge of the box to add a cute and personalized touch. 

crafty way to store your letters︱diy letter book

Originally finding this diy from Pinterest, I decided to try it out and recreate my own version. I had a box full of old birthday cards, letters from friends and family, postcards, etc. and figured that this would be such a cute and crafty way to save space and keep all my special notes in one place (this will be especially convenient for when I move into my dorm room). The actual diy is very basic. Simply begin by hole punching the end of each envelope opposite of the flap. Using two (or three depending on how large the envelopes are), loop each letter through and secure. I think it would also be cool to collect postcards from your travels or ones that have been sent to you and attach them all together in time order. This is about as easy as any diy gets, but it's such an efficient way to preserve memories without the clutter. Place the letter book among other books on a bookshelf and your memories will always be accessible. 

diy pearl bobby pins

Supplies

• pliable jewelry wire
• jewelry pliers
• scissors or jewelry shears
• pearl beads
• bobby pins

Directions

Begin by cutting 2"-3" sections of wire, making sure to allow room to grip the wire later on as you wrap it around the pin. Starting from the edge of the wire, clamp your pliers onto the wire and twist around the rounded base until you have created two to three small loops. This will act as a base to secure the pearl bead in place. Next, slide the pearl bead onto the wire and bend so that the loops sit flat against the bead. Taking the untouched end of the wire, wrap once around the wire itself, then a few times around the bobby pin, making sure the pearl is safely secured. I recommend pulling the wire taut after each time you wrap the wire around. Once you have secured the pearl to the bobby pin, cut off any remaining wire using the jewelry shears or scissors.

    

diy tea cup candles

 

 Supplies:

• tea cup (Goodwill)
• candle wicks (Michael's)
• pencil
• yarn and/or tape
• candle wax (Target)
• scent (optional)

Depending on the height of your tea cup, you will need to cut the candle wick accordingly. I found short wicks at Michael's, however the regular length wicks can simply be trimmed down to size. The candle wax I used was a mixture between wax squares intended for use with a wax melting kit and the remnants of a few old candles that could no longer be burned. Quick tip - place candles in the freezer for a couple hours (this will allow the wax to harden) and cut/scoop out wax with a knife. I mixed a few chunks from miscellaneous candles along with the wax squares, placing them in a small handheld pan just resting on the surface of a larger pot of boiling water. Make sure that the smaller pot in not submerged in the boiling water. This layering with ensure that the wax is not directly faced with the heat and therefore will not burn. If desired, stir in any scent or essential oil you would like to add a scent to your candle (the wax squares I picked up from Target were already scented). 

Prior to melting the wax, set up the teacups and candle wicks so that you can quickly pour the wax before it hardens. In order to ensure that the wick remains straight, either tie or tap the wick in place by balancing a pencil across the width of the cup and securing the wick to the pencil. Simply pour the wax into the cup (I recommend making use of another set of hands and asking someone to hold the pencil and wick in place while you pour, or vice versa). Allow the wax to dry overnight, but be sure to save some extra wax for the following day. As the wax dries, a gap will form in a crevice surrounding the wick. Fill this gap by melting a proportionate amount of wax and simply filling the gap.

diy decoupage trays

What You Need:

• magazine clippings, scrapbook paper, etc.
• trays ready to be decorated (I found mine in a pack of 5 for 99 cents at my local Goodwill)

Directions:

Begin by cutting out your desired magazine clippings or any other picture you would like. Next, map out your desired layout in order to be able to glue down background clippings first. Once you are ready to start gluing, using Mod-Podge and a foam brush, glue down your pieces. For my book page tray, I glued down the center of the page to the tray and allowed it to dry. I cut the remaining paper and glued down the edges to the tray. Once you have glued down your paper to your desired design, apply 2-3 layers of Mod-Podge to create a protective layer. Use these cute decorative trays around your house to hold your jewelry, keys, etc. 

diy three-tier jewelry stand

Supplies:

•  3 (mis)matched bowl/dish of gradually decreasing size
• 2 candle holders
• super glue

Directions:

Begin by taking the third and largest dish and placing one of the candle sticks in the center (I got all of my dishes and candle sticks at my local Goodwill)-- Apply glue and allow to dry. Repeat this step with the following dish. Once you reach the third dish, apply glue to the top of the candle stick and glue down the final dish. 

This three-tier jewelry stand is a perfect way to organize your earrings, rings, watches, hair clips, etc. 

diy brown sugar & coconut oil body scrub

ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• white sugar (optional)

If using hardened coconut oil, melt in glass bowl in the microwave in 5-10 second intervals. Mix in the brown sugar and/or white sugar, folding them over the melted oil. Place the finished product in jar and leave it inside your shower- It's that easy! This can be used as either a body scrub or an abrasive face scrub. Enjoy!

diy decoupage memory jar

Decoupage Memory Jar

Start out with an empty glass/mason jar. You can even reuse any type of empty food container that has been washed. Gather your decoupage supplies- cut out magazine clippings or other types of decorative paper that would like to use. Take a paintbrush (preferably a sponge-tip applicator) and coat the inside of the jar with Mod-Podge. I recommend beginning with a small area at a time and slowly working your way around the jar, adding more glue as you are ready to apply the paper (that way the glue won't dry before you've had time to reach that spot). Start out by gluing down the pieces you would like to be seen from the outside of the jar first, and layer the background pieces accordingly. Once you have glued everything down, wait for it to dry before applying an additional 1-2 coats of glue to the inside of the jar. This will create a seal along the inside of the jar so the paper won't bend or come loose, and the items you place in the jar won't ruin the decoupage effect. I also decided to decorate the cover to my jar using the same process as the inside of the jar, making sure to seal the cover with an extra couple coats of Mod-Podge. 

Fill up your jar with items of your choice! I decided to use mine as a memory jar for 2014. I cut out small pieces of paper and write down memories that stand out to me or small things I want to remember. At the end of the year, I will be able to look back and revisit all the things that made me happy throughout the year! My jar is also sprinkled with paper hearts, random fortunes from Chinese restaurants, mismatched/broken earrings, and other miscellaneous items. 

diy mini decorated clothes pins

Supplies:

• Plain Mini Clothes Pins 
• Decorative paper, magazine clippings, etc
• Mod-Podge
• Scissors
• Pencil/Pen
• Foam Brush

Start off with your plain clothes pins (I got mine in a pack of 20+ from the dollar store!). Next, decide how you want to decorate your pins. The possibilities here are pretty unlimited. I used different mediums to make mine - magazine clippings, lace tape, yarn, scrapbook paper, fabric, etc. (I think it would be interesting to try out glitter!) Trace the outline of your chosen medium to the shape of the clothes pin and cut out. For the paper materials (or if you decide to try this out with glitter) apply a coat of Mod-Podge to the clothes pin, stick material, and let dry. Apply another 1-2 coats of Mod-Podge to seal paper and create a glossy finish. And that's it! I used these to pin photos of family and friends along a string of photos above my bed!