Y’all don’t have to press me to admit that my weekly pregnancy updates as well as my ‘Saturday Spoils’ have failed miserably since I got pregnant. My lack of posting probably makes you guys feel like I don’t care about … Continue reading
I’m so stoked to share this with those of you who have little ones running around. A few weeks back, I found this idea on pinterest and followed the link to Asia’s blog “Fun At Home With Kids”. It was … Continue reading
Winter brings unpleasant things. I’m not just talking about cold weather and viruses either. Let’s talk dry skin, frost-bitten phalanges, and split ends… Don’t tell me I’m the only one suffering! In fact, for the first time in 3 years, … Continue reading
I don’t post a lot about nail polishes, which I recently realized was quite a shame since I am pretty regular about getting my nails done every couple of weeks and am constantly on the search for that next, perfect … Continue reading
Favorite Recipe (Cookies & Cream Cookies): Favorite DIY Project (Succulent Wreath): Favorite Lust-Worthy (Dior Eyeshadow Trio in “Rosewood”): Favorite Far Away Place (Paris): Favorite Bauble (Spiked Lily Necklace): Those are my hot items for this week! I’d love for you … Continue reading
Most of you reading this article are probably expecting family to be visiting you in the near future because of their time off during the holidays. For some, this can be a stressful time because you are welcoming, not only … Continue reading
I am so excited to share this project with you guys! It’s something I did a few weeks ago and I am just now having time to sit down and put it out there for all of you.
I can’t take all of the credit for this idea though… Lately, I have been completely addicted to the “DIY and Crafts” section of Pinterest. I scour pages and pages of crafting ideas whenever I have time because 1) I have never been a particularly ‘crafty’ person and 2) I like to have something to keep me busy when my husband is off at work for 3-4 days at a time. I craft during my little fella’s naptime and it helps me relax.
Anyway, I came across this idea and it let me to Lauren’s fabulous website, Stamp48. She, like me, envies script scarves which, although completely adorable and fashionable, can be very expensive. For instance, the one that Lauren used as inspiration was made by We Are Owls and retails in stores like Saks Fifth Avenue for almost $300. Now, if you’re like me and you won’t even pay $30 for a scarf, unless it’s a special occasion, then you will probably appreciate this project more than most. Granted, the materials did cost me almost $30 but, if I choose to make more scarves in the future, I will be making them for half that. Not to mention that when you do it yourself it can be completely custom.
The first thing you need for this project are fabric markers. You could probably find these very easily at your local craft store but, I chose to follow suit with Lauren’s suggestion and buy the TeeJuice brand. Unfortunately, I didn’t know where to get them nearby so, I ordered them from Amazon. I bought the “classic” set that came in four colors. (See below) They cost about $12.
Next comes PICKING OUT A SCARF. I like this part of the customization process a lot because, although it might be easy to find a scarf with a saying or quote you love, it’s not always in the color of your choosing. How many times have you gone to the store for something in black and they only had white? This part of the project can also be as expensive or as cheap as you want. But, if you’re going the expensive route, I doubt you’d be doing this at all 😛
I chose a solid mint pashmina (below) that I picked up from Target for $15. I kind of wish it didn’t have fringe at the end but, the material itself couldn’t have worked out better.
The best part is next: Choose what you want your scarf to say! I puzzled over this for TWO days before I decided. (Shows you how much of a nerd I am, huh?) That might sound a little silly but, I didn’t want to be walking around with this scarf on and someone ask me what it says; me dreading the answer because it’s some kind of love lyric from a 1990’s N*sync song. Not really but, you get the picture.
I picked out a couple of lines from my favorite book, Wuthering Heights. So my script reads, “It was not the thorn bending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn…who can be ill-natured and bad-tempered when they encounter neither opposition nor indifference?” Here’s how it turned out:
Here are a few tips from Lauren @ Stamp48:
Above, you will see my version of the back-to-school gift I found on Pinterest this week. Originally blogged by Kristyn on her website entitled, Lil Luna, I just couldn’t resist a good, inexpensive DIY project.
I am very into giving teacher appreciation gifts. Being a nanny for 3 years to two offspring of a stay-at-home, violin teacher who cooked like Betty Crocker and was as sweet as sugar, I learned an extra thing or two about going the extra mile for a school teacher. Let’s face it, they’re under-payed, they spend their own money on supplies for kids who are not theirs, and probably even spend more time with kids like mine than they do with their own.
I had never really thought much about this until the end of my step-son’s kindergarten year when we went the “generic” mile and got his teacher a candle holder and summer scented candles. She loved it! How much more would she have loved it if it was handmade? I can’t answer that now but, I don’t know what elementary school teacher can turn away arts and crafts.
This year, I decided to do something a little different since we hadn’t yet met Noah’s teacher. The gift had to me a little less personal and a little more school themed. I told you all in a previous post that one way I wind down before bed is to scroll through a few pages of Pinterest. During this particularly sacred nighttime routine, I saw the Lil Luna version of this gift. If you click the link to Kristyn’s blog, you will see that she went a little more “adult” with hers and a little bit more vintage.
Don’t get me wrong, I am obsessed with vintage everything! That being said, instead of weathering the outside of the jar and praying that some kid in my son’s 1st grade class wouldn’t come up and start scratching the paint off with their fingernail while they were waiting for the teacher to help them with a math problem, I opted to coat the jar with chalkboard paint. It’s scratch resistant, you can write/erase on it, and get it wet. I also felt like I went with the free, Lil Luna printable a smidgen better. And what teacher doesn’t need 20, already sharpened, pencils to have ready whenever she may need to jot down something important?
This whole project was a little over $5.00, literally. So, if your little one is starting school next week, like mine, head over to Lil Luna’s to find out all the details. If you have questions about my chalkboard change-up, please, leave them in the comments below!
Lay Bare, With A Little Flair 