Ok, this is the easiest craft ever.
1. Go to your local craft store, buy yarn (I bought one that already has a colour gradient), and a styrofoam wreath.
2. Go home, sip on some wine (or beer), put on a good show, regretfully I was watching White Collar.
3. Wrap the yarn around the styrofoam base, tie it off at the end.
4. Loop a ribbon around the wreath, and hang on your door.
DONE!
PS Sorry about the chipped nail polish in the photo, girl’s got a 9-5.
I had to take a photo of this little cutie. She dip-dyed the shorts in bleach and sewed a cute little floral pattern on the pocket, with a lace border. So sweet and simple!
BEFORE
Eek, I almost didn’t want to show this, it’s so messy! It was in SERIOUS need of a clean up, and I got rid of a few things that I didn’t use, like the (too embarrassed to say how old) bobbi brown blush that I got much, much too long ago. It feels SO good to let go of things you don’t need, I really recommend it. Yes those are all my belts, and before you judge me, I do wear them all! One day my future daughter or granddaughter will have the best time playing dress up with my treasures!
I organized all my eye shadows, lipsticks, and powders in this drawer. Before this drawer was holding random receipts, and the odd bobby pin, but now it has a clear function, and instead of throwing all of this into a makeup bag doing it this way allows me to see fully the colours that I own. I do have a separate spot for my jewellery, but I wanted a little dish to house my everyday favourites. I bought this little dish from the japanese dollar store, for $2! The little glass container is now holding all my bobby pins, isn’t it pretty? The letter mug is holding all my brushes, and eyeliners. I suggest you do this as a cute and organized way to house brushes, the mug itself is only $8 from Anthropologie (but it’s the old version of their letter mug, the new version is actually prettier anyway).
Lastly, use your pretty things as display and decor. My glittery headbands are draped on the corner of the mirror. The last photo is the AFTER, so much better isn’t it? It got a good dusting and the mirror got a good windex’ing! I bought my vanity from IKEA, and then changed the little knobs to make it a bit more feminine. I recommend getting a vanity with a high gloss for easy cleaning, especially if you use powders – that stuff is hard to clean and gets everywhere!
This was my inspiration.
I already have two plain lamp shades, I bought them from HomeSense, for less than $20.
I am not that artistic, I just looked up images of painted flowers online and tried to use that as a guide, just have fun with it, the less perfect, the better!
Soft white, and a graceful sway – this is how I would describe these easy to make paper flower garlands. I hung them from the top of my window (tied the string to the curtain rod) and they’re slightly swaying, with the daylight seeping in between the white tissue paper, it looks so pretty. These are SO easy, I promise, follow my steps below. They can be used as party decor, or Christmas tree garland! Don’t be worried if they’re not perfect, I think that adds charm 
supplies needed: scissors | white thread | white tissue paper | needle
Use about 3-5 sheets of tissue, fold in half twice and cut out the shape below, so that your flower is rounded.
Start cutting out the shape you want, I experimented between different styles, rounded petals give a pretty effect too.
Unfold and separate the sheets, so the textures and layers show.
Gather in the middle and twist, play around with the layers to make the flower look full and pretty.
String, using a needle (watch out for your fingers as you go through the thick paper layers)
Hang from your window, and watch them sway, so pretty.
Since moving into this place back in April, there still feels like there’s work to be done. I have a collection of random frames, and I am trying to make an effort to stop buying random things – that means that I have to use what I already own to decorate this lovely little beach-side apartment. Shane is a big help of course, and Alvin sat at the top of the stairs to make sure all was well, but mostly he just slept.
This afternoon I went to spool of thread.
They have a cute selection, well curated, and nicely organized – it is no fabricland in here, there’s space to move and everything is quite orderly.
Love the desk made of vintage meter sticks! What a cute idea.
This is what I came out with, and you might already know what I’m about to make with my newly purchased fabric. Making art with fabric and embroidery hoops is no new thing, but it’s a great way to make unique, custom art for next to nothing. Spend less than $20, and have an eclectic mix of all your favourite patterns on display. I love the examples shown on The Purl Bee site (one of my favourites). This technique (if you will) is also referred to as Embroidery Hoop Art or Swatch Art, and it’s also great in children’s rooms – you can find the sweetest fabric swatches that can make any space look cheery and bright!
The larger ones are made with vintage handkerchiefs that I found, at $2 a piece!
Do you have costume jewelry that you never wear? Go do an inventory of all your old pieces, earrings, brooches, and necklaces, even watches and see if you can put them to better use. I made this statement necklace out of old jewelry, and some pieces that I bought on clearance from the craft store. To make them look refreshed, I bought some copper-ish spray paint, and spray painted all the pieces. If some of the items you’re using have jewels or stones, spray paint the whole thing, then quickly wipe the jewels with paper towel – that worked just fine. Take a look at my progress, and my finished product! DON’T make this after you have nail polished or manicured, not a good idea. DO make some sangria and invite your girlfriends over, and have a potluck of all your old jewelry. WARNING sangria may cause the end results to vary.
…so I decided to make my own. The pumpkin is from a farmers market and the flowers from a small shoppe off of Commercial drive. So much fun to choose the colours, I wanted to go for bright, cheery, and fall appropriate. This was so easy to make, and you can make it for less than $10 – and everywhere else they sell for about $25. It’s a great hostess gift too!
Step 1: Go to a cool, local vintage shop. I went to F As In Frank on Main St in Vancouver.
Step 2: Find a vintage handkerchief, one with a pattern you like. I love anything saturated with colour, so this one was my choice and it was $3!
Step 3: Find an old frame, and some new art. I chose to do a simple frame, to balance the vibrant colours in the handkerchief.
OR: You can use it as a little centrepiece! 
And VOILA! You are craftier than you think!
