Blossoms!

It is finally Spring and blossoms are almost in full bloom, but they won't be here forever so why not capture the moment on your finger tips.

What you will need:
Dotting tools

Colors:
Sky - light greenish/blue - used Essie - Mint Candy Apple
Twig color - brown - used OPI - Wooden Shoe Like to Know
Blossom color - light pink - used SpaRitual - Reveal Yourself
Blossom center - dark pink - used OPI - That's Hot! Pink

Step One:
Paint the base color. Then angling the nail polish brush of the brown or using a fine paint brush randomly do lines on the nail to make them look like twigs.

 

Step Two:

Using a somewhat small dotting tool dip into the light pink and make a ring of 5 dots to create a blossom ensuring to leave a hole in the middle like a donut. To make semi bloomed blossoms dot 3 dots together to create a triangle shape. Then sporadically dot single dots to resemble blossom buds.

Step Three:
Using the same sized dotting tool dip into the dark pink and fill in the 5 dotted donut holes and a dot in the center of the 3 dotted triangle.

Viola!!!! Easy spring blossom nails for the win!

Pearl Necklace

A good quality strand of pearl is fluid, flexible and flows. As opposed to just beading a strand of pearl, pearls are supposed to be strung and individually knotted. This technique prevents pearls from rubbing against each other and losing its lustre. Another benefit of this technique is if something were to happen to the strand of pearl you would only lose one pearl as opposed to a dramatic scene where the strand falls apart and pearls bouncing everywhere and people slipping on them.  

This blog post will demonstrate how to string a strand of pearls (aka cheap beads to make it look baller).

What you will need: 
- pearls or pearl like beads
- unflavored dental floss (yes as opposed to expensive beading thread)
- sewing needle
- clasp for finished project

Step One: 
Cut TWO pieces of dental floss TWICE as long as your desired length of project. You will be using TWO pieces of string as opposed to ONE to increase durability and to create a knot large enough so it won't slip into each pearl hole. Tie the TWO strings together.

Step Two: 
Attach a clasp and string the first pearl - ensure to thread both strings.

Step Three: 
KNOTTING TIME! Grab the two strings together and do a loose knot. Insert the needle into the loose loop of the knot. Slightly tighten the knot with the needle in it. Using the needle drag the knot up against the bead.

 

Step Four: 
Remove the needle and tighten the knot. You have officially strung and knotted your first pearl!!! Repeat Steps Two to Four until desired length of the necklace or bracelet you wish to make and finish off with the other side of the clasp!

Chaotically Beautiful

One of my best friend was asking me how to jazz up a plain white iPhone case. My obvious response was painting it with nail polish considering both of us are polish junkies. She then bestowed the task upon me. I honestly had no idea where to start or what to do then I remember Jackson Pollock. I was instantly inspired by his art to give it a shot on the iPhone canvas. This is what happened.

  What you will need:
- phone case
- multitude of different color and shades of nail polish
- top coat
- paper towel
- a work area where you can make a mess 

Directions:
Place the case on top of a piece of paper towel. Now its time for some fun! Ensure the nail polish has ample paint on it and with a slight flicking motion of the wrist ... go wild! After a few flicks with different colors ensure to rotate the paper towel (with the case sitting on it) so the splatter and drips will be evenly distributed and to prevent the pattern from going in one direction.Wait at least one day for the nail polish to dry then seal it with a top coat to prevent chipping.

Some readers may see this as a waste of nail polish but honestly speaking, how often has anyone finished one full bottle of nail polish before it gets all layered/separated and dried out?

Jackson Pollock

                                                      Autumn Rhythm, 1950

Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956) was a reclusive abstract American painter who was well known for his drip paintings.

Pollock's art was briefly mentioned in an episode of Sex and the City while Charlotte was a curator. Most recently his art was the target of a heist in the movie Contraband starring Mark Wahlberg.

In November 2006 Pollock's painting No. 5 1948 became the world's most expensive painting to be ever sold. It was sold to a private buyer at a rumor cost of  $140,000,000.00 dollars, yeah thats 140 millions dollars.

                                                                   No. 5, 1948

Instagram

Hey Guys!!!

I have stepped into The Dark Side (phone wise) and gotten the addictive iPhone! Its not long before Skynet takes over human civilization.

Follow me on Instagram! It will be an extension of this blog and a little more personal glimpse into my creativity.

My user name is 'dontdoubthappiness'.

Reusable cup means reusable sleeve

Last week I picked up a reusable cup from Starbucks and on the drive home I started thinking ... a reusable cup must have a reusable sleeve as its companion! I got really excited like REALLY excited.

Then ... this is what happened!!!

I showed that photo to someone and they said "it is a fab commodity" sure it might be over the top but it was made out of scrap fabric and will replace many cardboard sleeves.

What you will need:
- needle and thread or a sewing machine
- pins
- one cardboard sleeve as a blueprint
- some scrap fabric

Step One: Cutting the fabric

There are 2 ways.

The first way is keeping the tracing sleeve intact and folding the fabric in half and cutting from the fold (done with the sequin fabric). The second way is to break the sleeve apart and trace it flat on the fabric (with the tan fabric).

Either way, ensure to cut the height of the sleeve at least 1cm larger at the top and bottom than the actual cardboard sleeve to allow some slack for sewing.

Step Two: Folding over and time to sew 

Fold over the top and bottom of the fabric about 1cm in and pin it all down in preparation for sewing.

Using the sewing machine, a straight stitch and if done by hand a simple up and down stitch. Once the top and bottom edges are sewn down its time to enclose the sleeve. Grab both ends of the open sleeve and sew it together and VIOLA! a reusable sleeve for your beverage!

Put a Cork in It!

Poppin' bottles all night!!!

Instead of throwing away the corks after partying like a rock star have you ever thought of putting them into good use?


There is an abundance of uses for bottle corks but many of the ones I have come across are of decorative purposes or you need to be an alcoholic to have that many corks to make a decent project.

One evening with a few girl friends around a bottle of bubbly I started asking for ideas and this is what happened. STAMP!!!! and CARDHOLDER ... a 2 in 1!!! OMG!!!!

Before starting this task I did not know how difficult it was to carve cork. It was a heap of crumbly mess, so you have been warned!

This is what I ended up making!

What you will need:
- cork(s)
- pen/ marker 
- wood carving tools (purchased from Micheal's Craft store, or an Exact o knife, shank or sharp object of some sort to chip at the cork)
- clear nail polish

Instruction:
Using the pen or marker trace out a design and then chip away at it!!! Once you are done chipping away use the clear nail polish to paint around the design. The purpose of the nail polish is to prevent the cork from soaking up all the paint.

I cut a little slit on top of the cork to create space for a photo or card.  If you have tons and tons of corks it can be turned into seating card holders and can double up as a little memento stamp.