Upcycled cigar box as a gift for my husband

For our second anniversary I decided to make something personal for Mr. Winter. We had pictures taken for our anniversary present to each other and I loved the way our shadow looked against this wall so I decided to incorporate fairies (which we love) and an old cigar box with our shadow!

I drew our shadows, the wings, hearts, and our name on top (painstakingly) with pencil before I painted it with Acrylic paint.

I was so pleased with the final product and he loved it!

Beauty Wonders!

Hmmm, does the no heat sock bun theory really work?
I came across this video on YouTube today about curling your hair without heat! This method is also supposed to keep the curls all day. We will see!

One of the key things she talks about is how she uses a travel size spray bottle (available at your local drug store) with water only inside. I have personally taken this a step farther before I ever saw this video, and i am going to be trying my home-made leave in conditioner instead.  

 To DIY your own leave in conditioner, take an old spray bottle, wash it out thoroughly, and add your mixture. My mixture consisted of 1/4 my favorite conditioner, 3/4 water. And shake shake shake.
I have been using this leave in conditioner method for about three months now. So far I have not noticed any negative side effects.

 ...As far as the sock bun goes, this is my hair in the bun...

...This is my hair the next morning... 

I feel like if my hair were longer, and had less layers it would have come out better. Overall though, I am pleased with it. Give it a try sometime.

DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Ring

This project is super simple. You don't have to make your ring as big as mine. The cool thing about this ring is that you can totally customize it!

Supplies Needed

1. A few empty plastic bottles.
2. scissors
3. needle
4. push pin
5. thread/ hemp/ wire/ etc.
6. super glue/ clear fingernail polish

I had my husband cut into a couple bottles for me. Please use caution if attempting this on your own. 

1.The most essential piece of this project is finding a bottle that you can put your finger in. You will be using the neck of the bottle as the base of the ring.

2. Cut a slit in the bottle neck, to make it easier to slide off and on.

3. Cut out multiple shapes, and make sure they are different shapes. I used a flower theme with this ring. 

4.Use a push pin, to make a small hole in each cut out piece. Directly in the center.

5.Use the needle and thread (or other desired materials) to string the pieces together. When you get to the end use a bead or tiny piece of plastic and go back through the pieces again. Pull the thread tight, and knot it. 

6. Tie another knot around the "ring". Cut off the excess thread, and secure the knot to the "ring" with super glue or clear finger nail polish. 

Like I said before. You can turn this into any kind of ring you like! Be creative and share your fabulous creations here with me!

DIY Recycled Denim House Shoes!

This is my first attempt at Recycled Denim House Shoes! =] I know they look pieced together... but they are! Below I will list the supplies, and do my best to show you how I made these. Bare with me I do not have a sewing machine, or a thimble. If you have one of the two of those please use them! Be careful though (if using a sewing machine) in the places where the denim is tripled or more in layers, it will break your needle.

Supplies Needed:

• Old Denim Pants/ Skirt with pockets.
• Scissors
• Pins
  
• Needle 
• Thread
• Cardboard 
• Stuffing

1. Cut out both pockets. Trace your foot (about an inch bigger than is actually needed) on one of the legs. Cut out four pieces just like that one. Then cut at the waist band, two pieces that are about seven inches each.

 

2. Stitch the top corners of one pocket to the sides of the waistband that you have cut out. (I pinned it around my ankle for a custom fit before I took the thread to it)

3. Pin one of the four foot sized pieces to the bottom of the pocket and waist band piece.

4. Carefully stitch around the pins, making sure to pull them out as you go to avoid sticking yourself.

 

5. Take one of the other foot shaped pieces and pin it to the stitching you just did only half way around though, until you reach the waist band piece. Yes on top of the pocket. When you get all of the pins in place stitch around those pins, also remembering to remove the pins as you go. When you are finished with that pull the piece of denim that is now over the front around to the back so it is now under the shoe, or on the bottom.

6.Once you have everything lined up and turned around properly. Trace your foot on a piece of cardboard. Cut it out and insert it into the opening you have left on the heel of the shoe.

7.Stuff to your hearts desire, and stitch up the hole that you have left.

8.Repeat steps one through seven for the second shoe.

And Finito! You now are the proud owner of a pair of DIY Recycled Denim House Shoes.

To make this a little easier might I suggest not adding the waist band pieces, you would follow all the steps the same, you would just end up with a slipper look, rather than a moccasin look. That is the way my husband wants me to make his. (And out of regular blue denim!)

Phew! Hope you have gained some inspiration from this project!

Quick Way to Unify Your Space...

If you have an area with alot of mix-match picture frames and have been wanting to buy new ones so they all match... Check this out!

They make spray paint now for anything... yes, even fabric. Of course with this project you can use the dollar store stuff. 

1. Take all of the guts out of the frame (glass, back, photo, filling, etc)
2. Lay out an old sheet, cut a trash bag in half, or use newspaper, to keep your yard from showing off your DIY skills!
3. Spray all of the frames the same color, or like the picture above try out a color combo! 
4. Let dry
5. Fill with photos* and Love the new look! =]

*A cool way to unify your matting! Old news paper, or unused sheet music works great!

Fun weekend Project, great Mother's Day craft idea

Trust me... There is NO need to spend anywhere from ten to a hundred dollars on a three ounce container of body scrub. Yes it is a luxury, and yes they make your skin oh so soft. When I was in high-school, my mother and a friend of her's bought all of the ingredients, got together to make this incredible stuff, and of course, I have been making it ever since. Here are some REALLY simple recipes. They are not my own, however my favorite has to be the Coffee Body Scrub.  The only advice or warning label I would add to this: Make sure you rinse all of the olive oil (if that is what you use) out of the shower before the next unsuspecting victim falls in the shower after you. True story.

Coffee Body Scrub

Coffee tightens and rejuvenates skin, while raw sugar exfoliates, and olive oil seals in moisturize.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of coarse ground coffee
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 3 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Take a warm bath or hot shower to open your pores and hydrate your skin. Rub the coffee mixture into your skin in large circles with even, firm pressure. Shower to rinse, pat dry, and follow with unscented body lotion or light vegetable oil.

Almond-Oatmeal Scrub

Almond meal and oatmeal slough off dead skin cells, as sage tones. Whole-milk yogurt reinforces with the oil naturally released from the almonds during scrubbing to replenish the skin's natural moisture.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup coarse ground almonds
• 1/3 cup dry fine oatmeal
• ½ tsp dried sage
• plain full-fat yogurt as needed

Instructions

Add almonds, oatmeal, and sage to food processor or blender and grind on pulse until they reach the consistency of course meal. Keep covered and cool in an airtight container until ready for use. Upon each use, take medium-sized handful (around 1/4 cup) of the mixture and combine with enough yogurt to form a thick paste. Rub gently over skin with a washcloth or loofah sponge and rinse with cool water. Follow with gentle moisturizer.

Lemon Salt Glow

Sea salts bring a healthy glow to dull, dry skin,.which may then benefit as much from the antioxidant properties of lemon as the rich nutrition of almond oil.

Ingredients

• ½ cup sea salt
• ½ cup sweet almond oil
• ½ tsp finely grated lemon zest

Instructions

Combine all ingredients, taking extra care not to let any water touch the ingredients, as it will dissolve the salts. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Before showering, swirl ingredients together with fingertips to reintegrate, then apply to body in firm scrubbing motion with hand or soft washcloth. Step into the shower and let power of the water stream rinse off the mixture. (Particularly effective as an exfoliant and moisturizer for a smooth, nick-free shave.)

Tropical Sugar Scrub

Sugar granules gently remove dead skin cells, which are in turn nourished by the combined power of coconut, mango, and orange.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh mango puree
• 1 cup coconut oil

Instructions

Mix sugar into coconut oil until evenly distributed before stirring in lemon juice and mango puree. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to use, scoop out a generous amount of sugar scrub and rub with open palms into skin. Rinse well.

Link to Recipe Site =]

Coupon Crazy!

This is a daunting task... but SO worth it. I am by no means an extreme coupon master, but I will take something, if I can find it for free. This coupon endeavor will take motivation, and it helps if you have a coupon clipping buddy! There are a plethora of websites with valuable information, and most of them have tutorials. There is even a show on TLC called "Extreme Couponning" My friend Tiffany got me into it about a year ago. Just to give you an idea...

I am (like I said) not a crazy coupon lady. But I have snipped a couple of discounts! I have not done any couponing in about six months and after giving full size bottles of name brand body wash, hair care, makeup, and other miscellaneous goods to family and friends for Christmas this year, we just used our last bottle of shampoo. I have not paid more than fifty cents for shampoo in almost a year! =] I still have seven or eight tubes of deodorant, and toothpaste.

The first thing I would tell you to do is check out some of these websites!
- SouthernSavers.com
-weusecoupons.com
-thekrazycouponlady.com

Until next time happy couponing, and good luck! If you need tips or advice send me an e-mail, I will gladly help you if I can.