DIY: Braided Bead Necklace

I seriously dig braids - braids in my hair, braids in the straps of my dresses and now braids in my jewelry. This simple DIY is easy to create and super fun to wear, plus it's a unique look that's so simple it can complement any look. It also makes a great DIY gift (this one was!) because it has a nice "finished" look. Here's how you can make one too:

What You Need

Beads, Chain Cutters, Jewelry Pliers, String, Chain, 4 Jump Rings, 

1 Clasp, 6 Crimp Beads, Scissors, Beading Needle (optional)

How To Do It

1. Cut 9 equal lengths of string for your beads and string them (using the optional beading needle if you want) until each strand is equal in length. Separate them into 3 groups of 3 strings and tie a knot at each end of the group, making sure the knot is as close to the end bead as possible.

2. Slide a crimp bead over a knot until the knot is inside the bulbous part of the crimp bead. Knot again and again over the original knot to make a larger knot, still inside the crimp bead. Shut the crimp bead with the jewelry pliers. Repeat on both ends of each strand.

3. On just one end of the necklace, curl each crimp bead around a jump ring with the pliers. 

4. Time to start the braid! It's helpful to pin the end of the necklace to a pillow to keep it steady. Separate the 3 groups of 3 strands and braid to the end. Once the braid is finished attach the crimp beads to a jump ring.

5. Attach a length of chain to each jump ring and finish each end with another jump ring. Attach your clasp.

xoxo,
Michelle

Honeydew Melon & Lime Cooler Recipe

Despite this rainy week, I am having a serious summery frozen drink moment. I recently got a Ninja blender as a gift and I am pretttty excited about its blending capabilities. It crushes ice in like 2 seconds! I never realized the lack of slushy drinks I was getting from my regular blender and now I have SO MANY plans for more drinks! Here's an easy one that mixes some of my favorites fruits (in my favorite color):

What You Need

3 Cups Honey Dew Melon

Juice of 1 Lime

1 Cup Lime Sherbet

8 - 10 Ice Cubes

(I also used this knife, which is great if you cut a lot of melons)

How To Make It

1. Chop your melon and add to your blender.

2. Squeeze the lime onto the melon.

 

3. Add the lime sherbet and blend completely.

4. Add your ice and blend again until completely mixed. 

Alternately, you can freeze the melon chunks for 30 minutes before and eliminate the ice.

Enjoy on your patio, balcony, lanai, couch or whatever with a wedge of lime, a breezy 'tude and a bendy straw. 

xoxo,

Michelle

DIY: How to Paint a Purse

I tend to hoard random thrifted goodies around my apartment until I know exactly what I want to do with them. My goal is to buy only things that have an immediate purpose because my craft and sewing piles never seem to shrink no matter how many projects I complete. Sometimes, though, I find things that are so unique, or alternately so basic - like in this case, that I know I can make them something great, which is exactly what I felt about this vintage purse.

It was black, simply shaped and plain as can be. I knew it needed to be painted and though I originally bought it to paint a piano key print on (WILL still do this!), I decided to play up its envelope shape to make a cool chevron print bag. Here’s how you can do that too:

What You Need

> Purse

> Acrylic Paint(s)

> Mod Podge

> Paintbrushes

> 1” Painters Tape

> White Chalk/ Crayon

> 1” Wide Ruler

> Rubbing Alcohol & Cotton Ball

How to Do It

1. Wipe down the surface of your purse with the alcohol soaked cotton ball to get it clean.

2. Using your ruler, lightly trace a vertical line down the center of your purse. This will be the point where all stripes meet.

3. Starting at the bottom of the area you’re painting, line up the edge of your tape with the edge of your purse, going toward your center point. Repeat on the opposite side of the purse to form a “V” shape stripe.

4. Match your ruler up with the top edge of your tape and trace this line toward your center point. 

Again, repeat on the opposite side.

5. Repeat the above process, alternating taped and empty stripes, until you run out of space. Apply tape along the sides and back of the purse where needed to avoid bleeding and accidents.

6. Apply your paint in the un-taped areas and allow it to dry completely. Apply another coat if needed. Mine took 3 coats.

7. When fully dry, apply 1 coat of Mod Podge over the painted areas. Dry completely.

8. Remove your tape carefully to reveal a pretty and (hopefully) sharp-edge chevron stripe pattern! I opted to paint the bottom portion of the purse too and an accent color strip since my purse had a double flap thing going on.

Don’t freak out if some lines aren’t crisp or you get some paint in the wrong place. I found my accidental paint drips came off pretty easily with a wet rag and hard scrubbing. You can also use a permanent marker that matches your purse to clean up any blurry edges.

It’s really that easy! I got this purse for $2.99 at Savers and with supplies I had on hand and ones I needed this bag was less than $5.00! Not bad for a one-of-a-kind piece that is tailored exactly to my style!

Let me know if you try this out – I’d love to see what ideas and color patterns you came up with!

xoxo,

Michelle

BEAUTY: How to Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer

Tinted moisturizer is great for warmer weather because it's lighter on your face and often contains much needed SPF protection. Making your own is super simple and prevents you from dropping a dime on a separate product because you can whip this up with things you probably already have. TIP: this is also a great project for those too-dark foundations you bought by mistake because you can lighten them up to your perfect shade!

What You Need

Foundation

Facial Moisturizer with SPF

Empty Bottle

Mixing Tool

How To Make It

1. Squeeze a plop of your moisturizer into your bottle.

2. Pour an equal amount of your foundation into the bottle. I used about a

1:1 mixture, but you can add more foundation or moisturizer to change the shade.

3. Stir your mixture with your mixing tool and/or shake the bottle with the cap on.

You're done - it's really that easy to make your own custom shade of tinted moisturizer! You can also try this with mineral power foundations for a more sheer result and/or add some bronzer powder for a pop of tan. Any way you mix it you've got a cheap, easy and useful product to add to your makeup bag!

xoxo,

Michelle

DIY: Ring Holder

I love jewelry. Like I really love jewelry. I’ve always been the type to have way too much of it even though I earnestly attempt to clear out some of my stash every year. Because I also make a lot of jewelry my piles of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings really get away from me. I’ve made my own custom wall-mounted jewelry organizer, but my rings were still stashed in a box in one jumbled mess. 

I wasn’t wearing most of my rings because I couldn’t see them or find them, so I decided I really needed one of those fancy ring cases like you’d see at a jewelry store or craft fair where they’re all laid out one by one. I get on these obsessive binges where I convince myself I NEED something and that it’s totally worth $25 and will make my life SO MUCH BETTER. 

Then I usually snap back into reality and have an A-HA! moment where I see that, once again, DIY is the answer! This one was so easy, cheap and practical that I thought I just had to share! 

What You Need

Lid from a Shoe Box 
Foam Curlers (enough to fill the box lid - mine were $1 per 10 pack at the dollar store) 
Hot Glue Gun 
Decorative Paper 
Decorative Trim (optional) 
Pencil 
Scissors 
Total Cost: Less Than $5.00

How To Make It

1. Trace each side of your shoe box lid on the back of your decorative paper. Cut each piece out and hot glue them to the sides of the box.

2. Remove all of the plastic parts from your curlers (set aside for some kind of amazing project and if you think of one let me know – I have 40 of them!). Apply glue to one end of a curler and press the end of another curler against it. Hold until set. 

3. Continue to make chains of curlers wide enough to fit snugly inside your box lid. Remember, you can cut these curlers easily if needed. Make enough chains to fill the height too. 

4. Glue the end of one curler chain to the inside of the box lid. Lay a line of glue across the lid where the chain will be and press the chain into it. Glue the other end of the chain to the other side of the inner lid. Continue until the lid is full. 

5. I chose to add a vintage lace trim to mine to cover the edges. To do so, just cut strips to the right length and glue at the corners and along the sides. 

Then, fill with rings for a beautiful and functional piece of art/organizational system! I knew this would help me keep my rings neatly arranged but I wasn’t expecting the instant decorative effect it also provided. Plus I saw rings I totally forgot about, like my belt ring from an 8th grade fair, my googly-eyed ring from an arcade and my giant pink bow ring. This system is really working out! 

Do you have any awesome, can’t-live-without rings in your collection? 

xoxo, 
Michelle