DIY: Holiday Wreath

Now that Thanksgiving and black Friday have passed, Christmas decorations are popping up left and right. This year I decided to join the masses and get into the spirit early too! A friend mentioned she made her own DIY wreath from an idea on pintrest, and I decided I would try a version of my own as well.(see above!)

Starting out I was a bit skeptical, but let me tell you, this was by far the easiest project I've attempted, and I love the way it turned out.

You will need:

Christmas balls (58 balls)
wire hanger
ribbon
Twine

Step 1: unwind the wire hanger

Step 2: Bend the wire into a circle

Step 3: If you have many different colored balls formulate a pattern, begin stringing the balls onto the wire (if the tops of the balls are not firmly on, I would consider hot glue gunning each on)

Continue to string the balls

Once you have about half the balls on, lift the right side of the hanger up, all of the balls should slide down towards the left side, and create a thicker looking wreath

Continue the process of adding more balls, and lifting up the right side of the hanger, until you have all 58 balls strung, the result should look something like the below:

Now, retwist the top of the wire hanger back together

Lastly, tie a bow and attach with twine at the top of the wreath

How to: Add Fringe to a Scarf

As cold weather is right around the corner, I've been quite busy crafting many many scarves for friends and family. I have not yet added that extra special punch to my creations though, this being: FRINGE! So, I think it is high time that I figure out exactly how this is done.

Of course the first step is to crochet a scarf

Here's the pattern I came up with (I think this is great for a Man's scarf)

Create a slipknot, chain 200

Row 1: single crochet in the 3 chain from the hook, continue to single crochet in each remaining chain, when you reach the end chain 2, turn your work

Row 2: single crochet in each single crochet, when you reach the end chain 2, turn your work

Row 3->11: repeat row 2

Fasten off

Now for the fringe..

Cut strands of yarn 12 inches long, for this I actually took a small notebook and just began wrapping the yarn around multiple times

Then I cut the yarn at the top of the notebook

I then inserted the crochet hook into the first stitch (this pic is of the second stitch, but the process is the same)

Next I took 6 strands of yarn and folded them over the crochet hook

Then I pulled the yarn through

Lastly, wrap fringe over the hook and pull through, tug to tighten

Continue this process for all bottom and top stitches of your scarf

When you're finished you should have something like this!

Homemade Lip Gloss

Happy Monday! I must say I am so excited about this week's project: Homemade Lip Gloss! I first saw this on pintrest a few weeks ago, and knew I had to give it a shot.

My lips, like most, chap easily, and for the last few years I've been using Rosebud Salve, I never leave home without it. And although it's not that pricey, it's not always accessible, unless of course you live by a sephora or urban outfitters, which I don't.

So, for convenience and in an effort to save a few bucks, I'm hoping this new recipe with prove to be my rosebud salve replacement.

What you'll need:
1 tub shea butter petroleum jelly
1 pkg of desired flavored kool-aid (I used both pink lemonade, and fruit punch; pink lemonade doesn't show any color, and fruit punch comes out pale pink)
lip gloss containers (either new, or recycle old ones)

Directions:

Step 1: use a microwave safe measuring cup (make sure it has a spout, which will make pouring the lip gloss into containers easy), spoon a third a cup of vaseline into the measuring cup.

Step 2: heat the vaseline in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each heating. It took me about 5 minutes for the vaseline to liquify. Remove from microwave with an oven mit

Step 3: take out of microwave and stir in kool-aid drink crystals until the crystals dissolve.

Step 4: Add a small amount of water into the mix and stir (this will help you achieve color)

Step 5: Pour mix into lip gloss containers

Step 6: cap containers, put in freezer for 15 minutes until the liquid solidifies

That Easy!!