Trick and a Treat : Nail Art

Let me let you in on a secret...Sally Hansen Salon Effects. They are normally around nine dollars, and there is a trick to get two uses from one box. The strips for each nail are over an inch long. After I apply one nail on one hand, I will flip the strip to the other side and apply it to the fingernail on the same finger of the other hand. The best part about these beauties is the fact that they last for about a week! I just put a clear coat over the finish product, and I am set until a time I actually have time to do them again!

New Mommy Trick: Uninvited Guests?

I added some felt flowers to a blunt message. I have a friend who kept having uninvited guests show up after she just had her baby boy. You can put this wreath up and take it down as needed. It is a simple message that bypasses hurting family members' feelings. Now she is getting plenty of quality family time with her husband and son without interruptions.

Side Table Kitchenette

You probably just told yourself, "no way!"

Yes way.

My sister and I started with a nightstand we found on Craigslist. Thrift stores are way cheaper, but we just did not find the right size at our local store. I became familiar with power tools for the first time ever in this project. I promise you, you can do it! The hardest parts were using a jigsaw to cut out the hole for the sink, transforming the drawer into an oven, and adding the backing. 

The sink is made with a dog bowl. This made it shallow enough to not obstruct the inside of the oven, but wide enough to be proportional to the table. I traced the bowl size on the table and slowly used my jigsaw to cut the hole out. You could use a simple sealant to hold the bowl in permanently; however, I did not secure it. It held well in place, and it is now easier to clean.

For the oven, I took off the tracks, wheels, and front panel of the drawer. I drilled the existing piece in place around the trim of the drawer opening.  I also added a single 2x4 underneath the drawer to stabilize it and make the inside more sturdy. I used wood putty wherever there were gaps and sanded down all of the rough edges. I bought cabinet hinges (that snap back into place) and added them to the bottom of the panel that used the be the drawer front. This made the drawer open like an open, and I painted the inside of the oven black for a more realistic feel.

I used a piece of shelving wood for the backing of the kitchenette. I stabilized it with shelving supports and drilled underneath the lip of the table directly into the bottom. You must make it very secure if you plan on adding shelves. This was the only part that I had to have someone to help. I had my boyfriend hold it in place while I drilled to make sure the backing was even and secure.

Reckneck Wineglasses

What you need:

Mason jars - any shape, size, or form

Candle sticks - proportional to mason jars

E6000

Once you glue the jars and sticks together, let it dry for about 24 hours. It does NOT need much glue! The more you add, the longer you will have to wait. 

I added these with a nice wine, wine opener, and cute homemade card that said "remember date night" for a wedding gift. It was simple and a hit!

Halloween Decor: All under $12!

Target saved my apartment this year. I was really not feeling a cheesy Halloween banner this year. My banner was just cardstock that I had, and all I added was glitter stickers to the squares that I cut. Could you get any simpler.... or cuter?

Time to Tear: T-Shirt Necklace

1. Start with an old or cheap t-shirt.(Soft cotton, tapered shirts work best)

2. Cut the bottom hem off and discard.

3. Cut 1 inch strips all the way up until the armpit hem. (Do not cut loops!)

4. Pull loops until the jersey naturally curls under itself.

5. Align all of the hems and tie one of the loops around all of them to hide the mess.

6. Wear or share!

Washer Bracelet

It is what it looks like. Washer, rope, and BOOM you have  bracelet!

Welcome to the World of BabyLegs!

These are not just easy to make, they make diaper changing an easy task! Forget constantly buttoning and unbuttoning onesies! I just bought some women's knee socks and cut the footie part off. Then I just hand stitched a simple line around the bottom of the sock that I had previously folded upward in the sock to make a clean edge.

A "Craft"-y Birthday

 There is so much you can do with craft paper! These are pictures from my niece's first birthday party. We went with a butterfly and craft paper theme. Even the sandwiches were cut into butterfly shapes with a big cookie cutter!

Fabric Button Art

Fabric buttons have became my new obsessions. All you have to do is knot the end of your thread and sew a simple basting stitch in an even circle design. You can buy templates for quick and easy designs or just trace a circle on your fabric. Once you get back to your original spot, do not make a knot! You will pull your loose piece of thread, causing the center of the circle to scrunch together and make a little circle pouch. Take your thread and go straight up and down through the center and knot the end. This will secure the button, and it is seriously that easy. I just glued them on some gray poster board and framed them.

Girl Bows

                         

Can you guess what the headbands are made out of? That's right! They are made from t-shirt sleeves. I made the body of the t-shirts into baby swaddlers for friends. I'm working on my ribbon work, but felt buttons definitely cover up any mistakes.

 And P.S....isn't my niece the cutest model ever?

Posting 101

If you haven't figured it out yet, my name is Tara. I have a sincere addiction to Pinterest.com and decided to blog my creations for others to learn from my successful projects....and the mistakes I normally make during the process.