DIY Shabby Chic Easter Wreath
With Easter happening next week I wanted to create a feminine Easter wreath to celebrate my daughter's first Easter. The end result is this sweet DIY "shabby chic" wreath you could easily make in under an hour.I purchased my supplies at Michaels for under $20.00. Download their app if you've not done so already, and sign up to be a rewards member too as lots and lots of savings are to be had when you use both. If you're a teacher or military member or dependent you may also get an extra discount at your store, be sure to ask the clerk checking you out.
I decided to try a flat wreath form this time around. I'd never used one before when making wreathes and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use. I bought two of their pre-made bouquets and separated the flowers and then two bunches of their foam glitter covered eggs.
I gathered these tools and florist supplies I had on hand just in case I needed them. All I actually used was the glue gun, glue sticks and scissors.
Next I tried different angles with the eggs before I began building the wreath just to see which angles I liked before I actually started gluing anything down. While doing this I decided I wanted to add some ribbon. I had this "pepto bismal" pink satin ribbon I purchased in Italy, and decided it was the perfect ribbon for this craft. I wrapped half of the wreath with the ribbon. lining up the ends. Every so many I would add a thin stripe of hot glue to help keep the ribbon lined up neatly.
I began by gluing down a few flowers. I carefully removed the plastic stems and glued them down. I used my scissors to cut the longer stems. Be very careful as it's really easy to pull out the whole stem and separate the flower petals and ruining the flower. Then I added a few eggs and continued on this way, "eye-balling" the design.
Be sure to lift the wreath and hold it at eye level as you build. I wanted it to have an organic look so I purposefully didn't make the wreath with a cohesive pattern. I also purposefully placed flowers and eggs to hang or lay outside of the circular form of the wreath so it wouldn't have a perfectly round structure. If you prefer your wreath to be round then I definitely recommend you cover the form completely with fabric, washi tape, paint, or whatever else you'd like. Then build it to sit as closely to the pattern as you can. You can also pattern your eggs and flowers for an even more cohesive appearance.
Tip: If you don't have a designated crafting area and have to use your dining room table like I do, be sure to protect the surface. Since I wasn't working with paint I used a brown paper bag.
Tip: Once you've completed one side, start building on the other side in an upwards motion.Continue gluing flowers and eggs into clusters as you like them until your wreath is formed.
Winter Skin Care & Sugar Lip Scrub DIY
It goes without saying with pregnancy come lots of changes. One of those being my skin. The cold winter weather isn't helping much as my normally sensitive skin is now also dry. I thought I'd share some of my winter skin care routine - the pregnant version.
For my dry skin (it's mostly on my forehead, temples, and jaw line) I start my day with a warm to cool water rinse. I never use soap in the morning because my skin is clean (never go to bed with makeup on.) so I don't need to wash it. I follow that rinse up with a moisturizer. I LOVE facial oils. My two favorite face oils right now are L'Oreal Paris Extraordinary Facial Oil for a drugstore brand and L'Occitane Divine Youth Oil for a department store brand. I let the face oil absorb, usually I brush my teeth. Then I follow this up with a moisturizer containing sunscreen. I wear a moisturizer with sunscreen all year long. Right now I'm using Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
Once that's all soaked in I apply my makeup. Usually this involves a CC cream a light smudge of eye-shadow, mascara, concealer and blush. (Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a slide show of the products I'm using right now.)
My biggest issue right now is dry chapped lips. Due in part to it being winter and dry and the other is a common symptom of pregnancy - a stuffy nose. My nose is perpetually stuffy these days and so when I'm sleeping at night, I fall into breathing with via my mouth. This of course only aggravates the dryness on my lips.
What I've found helps my lips immensely is to keep them moisturized with my favorite lip balm. I use Burt's Bees peppermint balm. The other is using a lip scrub to slough off the dry dead skin. I make my own, and I absolutely love it, because it has the added benefit of also moisturizing my lips.
To make this DIY Sugar Lip Scrub I use these products:
Brown sugar, coconut oil, and an essential oil that is safe for consumption.
The essential oil is optional, but I find it adds a something extra to it that can't be beat. The only essential oil brand I use is Young Living. In this instance, because it's going on my lips I use the vitality oil because these can be consumed. I am a representative authorized to distribute Young Living essential oils, if you'd like more information, please do not hesitate to ask.
To make the sugar scrub I make it in small batches, so enough for a couple of ounces. I don't really measure...
First gather your supplies: 
Next mix the coconut oil and sugar using more sugar than coconut oil. Then add in a drop of essential oil.
Once it's mixed together, put it into an air tight container.
The consistency you are looking for is clumpy and damp but not overly wet from the coconut oil. Enjoy your new lip scrub, or give it as a gift. They make excellent (and inexpensive gifts).
Here are my go to beauty products these days..
How To Make a Terrarium or Fairy Garden
A few years back, I visited a home of a friend of my mother's during the winter in New England and she had a lovely indoor garden made up mostly of terrariums I completely fell in love with. I asked her how to make a terrarium also known as a fairy garden; and discovered not only were they easy to make, they were super simple to care for. 
The best part about terrariums is that you can make them as big as you like or as small as you need. The only thing terrariums really require is a light spritzing of water and indirect sunlight. Uncovered terrariums will need a bit more work because you'll have to water them more than the covered type. Open or closed, you will need to keep in mind the type of plants you're using. Sun loving plants like cacti require have different soil requirements than say succulents, so doing a little research before hand will ensure you're terrarium will thrive.
Supplies You'll Need To Build Your Terrarium
- Clean, glass or plastic containers with a large enough opening to fit plants inside (unless you use long tweezers or spoons etc, you may be able to make a narrower container work.)
- Small stones is the usual fair, but gravel, pebbles, sea glass, pieces of pottery, mosaic tiles, would all work.
- Activated charcoal (not the kind you barbecue with). If creating a container with a closed lid - as it helps to keep the soil fresh.
- Sand
- Soil
- Plants - The size depends on how big your terrarium will be. Using plants of various sizes makes for a visually appealing terrarium.
- Moss to fill in any areas where soil is visible.
- Decorative stones, figurines, or small plastic items.
- Funnel if your using a container with a narrow opening.
- Long Tweezers, or ice tea spoons (for digging) etc. You can also purchase tools specifically made for terrarium building - like this one I found on Amazon.
Steps To Build Your Terrarium or Fairy Garden:
Because you're using a container with no holes for drainage, you'll need to create a space for excess water to collect. At the bottom of your container gently place a layer of stones or glass etc. Follow with a thin layer of charcoal if your container will be closed. 
Next lay a layer of sand, and then charcoal followed by soil. Pay close attention to how the layers appear from the outside of your container.
Gently remove the plant from the container and brush off an excess soil. 
Place your plants in a staggered pattern, being careful not to over plant. Gently pack the soil, then cover any open spaces with moss. Add in any decorative or whimsical items of your choosing. Spritz with water and you're done!
How to Care for A Terrarium
- Closed terrariums require very little water. In the beginning water once or twice a week with a light spritzing of water. If condensation collects on the sizes of the container you're over watering. Open the lid for a while to allow for some evaporation. When watering if you've added in moss, try to avoid getting it wet. Open terrariums, will require more frequent watering, your goal being to have it slightly damp and never totally dry.
- Trim dead leaves and collect any foliage that over grows or leaves that die and fall.
- Terrariums do best in natural, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight so as to not burn your plants as the glass acts as a magnifier to the sun's rays.
**This post may contain affiliate links.
Personalize Your Tech Gear with Washi Tape - Personalized External Hard Drive
I like an eclectic desk. I tend to use items to store things like note cards or pens that weren't necessarily designed for that purpose. I also want the items that sit on my desk for any length of time to be aesthetically pleasing to my eye. As a writer I have to sit at my desk a lot. Having cool things to look at I find helps to boost the creative in me. I also discovered when I get creative in other ways like crafting my overall creativity is given a boost (as if I needed a reason to craft.)My external hard drive was smooth and sleek but pretty boring until I decided to give it a makeover with some washi tape.Washi tape is a great way to personalize your tech gear or even to remake home decor accessories or every day items like candles (see photo below), jars, boxes etc.This of course isn't the fist time I've spruced up my tech gear. I gave my MacBook a boost using a lap top cover and some decoupage, because I didn't want to do anything physically to my actual laptop. You check out my DIY Decoupage Laptop Cover post to find out how.To create this personalized external hard drive I simply grabbed three types of coordinating washi tape and lined them up. I didn't even use scissors as I knew I'd cover the torn edges - though it looked pretty cool that way too. How intricate your design is will be totally up to you. The sky is the limit.
DIY Decoupage Dress Form & Homemade Modpodge Recipe
Last Friday morning I awoke with a mission. To paint a shelf and spruce up my office. The sprucing up of my office involved rearranging some books and tackling a dress form I had leaning against a wall because it was somehow broken in our move.It wasn't bothering me as you really couldn't tell it was "leaning" because the skirt of the Book Fairy costume I had on it kept it up right. However it was taking up serious real estate and I knew I either had to fix it. Give it away, or find some new purpose for it. I chose the latter and I got to recycle my costume as well.One handmade Book Fairy costume and one beat up dress form... Combined to become this lovely decorative addition that I love so much more.It was super easy to do.Here's how you can create your own DIY Decoupage Dress Form.If you have a beat up dress form like I did, simply remove the soft fabric cover and foam. Scrape away as much if not all of the foam you can. I used a sharp knife for the areas that were glued on and wouldn't just pull away. Once you've cleared away as much as the foam as possible you're ready to begin decoupaging.I didn't have enough Modpodge left to complete this project, and waiting the 10-12 days for Amazon to deliver it to me just wasn't an option. So I turned to Pinterest and discovered a ton of recipes for Modpodge, the one I used was so simple. I can't believe I'd not made some sooner. I found the recipe on this delightful blog called Lulatastic.To make your own decoupage glue you'll need:PVA Glue AKA Elmers Glue and water. That's it. Nothing else.I used 1 cup of Elmer's Glue All and 1/3 cup of water. Mix them together in a jar via a vigorous shaking and voila! You've got your very own Modpodge glue to decoupage to your heart's content! This formula produces a matte decoupage which is just how I prefer it.Once you've got your glue you're ready to begin to decoupage your dress form.In addtion to the glue, you'll need paper or fabric of your choosing to decoupage with, a brush and something to "smush" out the bubbles.When decoupaging I prefer to use a sponge-brush but you can use whatever sort of brush you like and something to flatten out the air-bubbles. On this particular occasion I used my fingers but a silicone spatula works great too. If you don't mind glue all over your fingers do it my way. If you'd rather not be taken back to elementary school, use gloves.To decoupage:Grab your paper dab the back with glue. Brush some glue onto your dress form, place the paper glue side down and brush the air bubbles away, any that don't come out smooth with your fingers or what-ever device you choose. Continue in this manner until you've completed your project. Overlapping as you go.Don't have a dress form? You can make your own. Grab and friend and some duct tape and head over to this page for the instructions on how to make your own DIY Dress Form.
How To Make Hair Ties Out of Old Pantyhose or Stockings
Today's DIY Upcycle post is brought to you by my long hair and lack of hair ties.Way back in high school I worked at a shoe store where I had to dress up. In the mid 1990's that equated to having to wear pantyhose.Panty hose and going up and down ladders to retrieve shoe boxes always didn't work out to the benefit of my stockings. As a result I went through quite a few pair.I can't take credit for this ingenious and rather industrial idea, as it actually came from my mother who had used her own pantyhose to create hair ties. She offered up this wisdom to me one day when I found myself in without a scrunchie.Way before blogging, when scrunchies were the go-to hair accessory I was using pantyhose to tie back my long locks.Panty hose actually make for a really good hair tie because it won't pull or damage your hair.All you need are a pair of scissors and pantyhose.
Step 1. Cut off the toe portion of your stocking.
Step 2. With a sharp pair of scissors (preferably one used only for fabric) cut the stockings, move up in thick bands. I prefer 2-3 inches.
Step 3. Gather the edges of the cut pantyhose to make rings.
That's it! Now tie back your hair!
Mustache Baby Shower - FREE PRINTABLES!
Last Fall I threw a "mustache" baby shower for my friend Yana. I met her when we were newly arrived in Italy and living in temporary lodging. She was in her first few weeks of her pregnancy when she shared her good news with me and another new friend (Carmen and I coincidentally were on the same plane and were hotel rooms neighbors). I gave her a hug clapped my hands in joy and asked if she'd let me throw her a baby shower. I'm sure she must of thought me and my other friend completely batty but she obliged and to her good credit showed no signs of how crazy she must of thought us. Little did she know one of my favorite things to do is throw a baby shower. On an afternoon in the early autumn when she'd grown much rounder, and our friendship had lasted more than a few days a little mustache themed party happened in my home. Here are a few photos from that day...Food:Carmen and I decided on a very simple, yet delectable menu.
Beautiful croissants were center stage ready to be filled with either a Waldorf chicken salad, Italian Salami, an assortment of cheese, or a simple seasoned butter.For sides we offered: crackers, olives, cold cuts, fruit that could be dunked into a pumpkin pie dip, fresh made salsa and chips. Desert came in the form of mustache topped cupcakes, and carrot cake.There was also a beverage bar (somehow I neglected to photograph) where guests could choose from my red sangria, natural and sparkling water as well as fruit infused water, and a white grape juice infused with mint.
Decor:This was actually my second mustache themed baby shower I planned, so it was a snap to put together, as I'd already thought up most of the decor. I made a simple diaper cake using jute twine as ribbon and topped with a few of the cupcake toppers. I made a "Keep Calm" sign by printing it out and decoupaging it onto a canvas. [There's a link at the bottom of this post where you can download a free printable of it.]
To make the onesies I simply printed out the graphic on iron on transferable paper and followed the instructions the paper came with. The banner garland was really easy to make. I cut the shape out by hand and used a mustache shaped hole punch and glued them on following the color pattern you see here, which was a mixture of neutral earth tones, grey, and yellow. You can also find a pre-made one like this mustache garland that are super cute.
Games:We played a few fun action games and other games guests could play as the wanted to. In a jar I placed a ton of those hole punched mustaches and asked guests to guess how many. On 4x6 cards I printed up a few different mustache types and asked guests to guess the name of the 'stache. I also drew a tree on a canvas and had some yellow paint ready for guests to thumbprint in the leaves with yellow paint that would match the baby's nursery. This mustache baby shower was so much fun to throw!
A fun game was Pin The 'Stache On The Baby. I drew the baby face based on an image I Googled and cut out these larger mustaches from a template I made. Guests were then blindfolded and spun and asked to pin the mustache on the drawing. You could also try the game using these cute pushpins.
As a little present to you, I'd like to give you the "Name the 'Stache", mustache theme game I used, and the "Keep Calm And Grown On" sign I made as a free printable. They're in PDF form.Enjoy!
If you use these printables for your party please come back and share with me! Also if you use them in a round up, please link back to this post. Thank you!