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Brown Paper Labels
I have been wanting to find ways to re-use my brown paper grocery bags. I am always looking for good print paper and I had the idea today to make labels out of a brown paper bag. Here is how you do it. Tape a piece of 8.5 by 11 inch paper onto the outside of your paper bag. Carefully cut the paper bag into the shape of the printer paper. Make sure that your hand cut brown paper has the same width as your print paper. If it is wider it will jam your printer. Place in your printer and choose your file to print. You can download this…
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Thai Iced Tea
I have been wanting to learn how to make thai iced tea recently and I finally after doing some research was able to make restaurant quality thai iced tea. I decided that instead of making it with LOTS of refined sugar I would use agave. The result was delicious. Here is what I have learned. For this drink to work you have to purchase authentic thai tea. I found some on Amazon and I knew from the moment I smelled it that it was the right tea. You can find it HERE. I tried making thai tea with black and rooibos teas there are many recipes online that claim you…
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DIY: Braided Bohemian Headband
Another headband tutorial! Be sure to check out the Single Strand Lace Headband and Double Strand Lace Headband. For this tutorial this is what you will need. Materials: 20 inches of three types of lace or ribbon. You may want to double up if one of your strands of lace or ribbon is significantly narrower than the others. As you can see in the picture I used two strands of the narrowest type of ribbon to even out everything. Scissors 2.5 inches of elastic Sewing Machine (glue will work also) EXTRAS: If you want to make the flower extras you will need. A silk flower, a button, some extra ribbon,…
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DIY: Double Strand Lace Headband
Today’s headband DIY is how to make a Double Strand Headband. This headband is made almost exactly the same way as the Single Lace Headband. All you need is 36 inches of lace or ribbon 1 inch width or narrower. I used 1/2 inch width lace from Joann’s Fabrics. 3 1/2 inches of braided elastic 3/8 inch width or larger. Cut the lace so that you have two strands that are 18 inches long. Lay the end of one length of lace over the other as the picture shows. After you have the ends lined up lay the elastic over the top so they overlap by 3/4 of an inch…
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DIY: Lace Headband
Lace Headband Tutorial This is the first of a few fun headband tutorials. A single strand lace headband. This is seriously the easiest project EVER! Cut 18 inches of lace (or ribbon) I bought mine at JoAnn’s Fabrics in the bulk ribbon and lace section. Also cut a strip of braided elastic (3/4 inch width) to 3.5 inches. You can use narrower or thicker elastic if you prefer. I used what I had on hand. Lay the elastic a half an inch over the edge of the lace. Hold the lace and elastic and sew the ends. You can hand sew, machine sew, or glue them together. If you sew…
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Tips For Making Flower Crowns
My favorite thing to do while hiking is to make a flower crown. They are fairly simple in construction if you know what you are doing. Here are a few tips. When constructing a flower crown you want to find flowers with long supple stems. You will want to shy away from the flowers with stems that break easily or the kind that are very stiff. Those you can use later. Once you have tracked down the perfect base flower pick a bunch and set them in front of you. Or maybe they are along your path and you can collect them as you go. Starting with three strands begin…
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DIY: Lace Flower Hair Pin
Another little project. Nothing fancy but easy and very cute. All you need is 7 inches of lace, a needle and thread, a small piece of felt, a glue gun, and a bobby pin. I found my lace in the dollar bin at JoAnn’s Fabrics. Lay out your lace in front of you on a flat surface. Fold the corner of the edge down and begin to stitch along the bottom with your needle and thread. I used a dental needle but any regular needle will do. Stitch 6-7inches of lace. Pull the thread tight so the lace ruffles. If you want the flower to have less ruffle to it…
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DIY: Adding Gilding and a Pirate-ish Photo Shoot
I am so in love with the new trend of hand made and vintage. It makes it so easy to re-purpose jewelry, and to keep up with fashion on a tight budget. I have been wanting to re-make or improve a few items. Specifically I wanted to make some metal pieces look oxidized. I thought about painting them and then removing the paint but that is a little pricy for jewelry. Then I found Gilders Paste on Etsy. It came in the mail two days ago. I thought I would share what I learned I am sure there are experts out there who could add to my successes and fails…
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DIY: Bohemian Chic Hair Pin
Yet another DIY! Summer is a time to create and when summer hits I definitely put down my knitting needles a bit more…THE HEAT! It is hard to knit with even the softest wool fiber when it is close to the triple digits outside. So here is a fun tutorial for those of you who are taking a breather from knitting. This clip was designed using a button off one of my old sweaters and some feathers I already had on hand (from all the feather extensions I have been putting in). If you purchased feathers for feather extensions and you have some left this is a great project to use…
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DIY: Peacock Feather Earrings
I posted some pictures of peacock feather earrings I made a while back. I thought I would do a tutorial for how to make them so if any of you are up for a fun summer jewelry project. I saw these a while back at Anthropologie for 40.00 or so. They only cost a couple of dollars to make which is more in my price range. Materials Needed: 1. Jewelry Pliers 2. Peacock Feathers 3. Earring Hooks 4. Crimp Ends 5. Scissors You should be able to find all of these supplies at your local bead or craft store. If you can’t I included links above. The peacock feathers come…
