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Braided One Shoulder Tunic

Hello World,

I reconstructed a sweater similar to this a few years ago, but I never made a tutorial for it. Check out the tutorial below to see how to turn an over-sized shirt into a one-shoulder tunic or dress:




1. Gather your supplies: an long-sleeved over-sized shirt, elastic, scissors or rotary cutter and board, pins, a safety pin, and a sewing machine. (You could hand sew this project, it would just take longer.)

2. Lay your shirt flat. Cut off the sleeves and neckline.

3. Take one sleeve, and cut off the side seam.

4. Lay the sleeve out flat.

5. Cut 3 long strips from that sleeve. Mine were each 2.5" x 18."

6. Fold each of those strips in half lengthwise and sew, right sides together.

7. Sew the other two strips this way.

8. Place a safety pin at the end of your first strip, and feed it back through the tube you made. This will turn the tube right side out. Repeat will the other two strips.

9. (I don't have pictures of this step, but take the large portion of your original shirt and sew up the side seams (right sides together) and hem the top of it. This will create a baggy tube top.)

10. If your tube top is super baggy, sew elastic to the back top hem. Stretch the elastic as you sew so that it gathers evenly.

11. Try on your baggy tube top, and mark with pins where you want each of your braid strips to hit. Also note where you would like the strap to connect on the back. I used my bra strap as a guild and just marked a pin there.

12. Remove the tunic, and pin your three strips where your front pins were located.

13. Sew your strips to your top hem. Make sure your seams end up inside the dress of the tunic.

14. Braid your strips and then pin and sew the other ends to the back of your tunic.

Add a belt if your tunic is a little too baggy, and enjoy.

Happy crafting!


Autumn Leaves Garland

Hello World,

I have two large maple trees in my yard, and they shed a decent amount of leaves every year. This year instead of making fall decor with paper leaves, I made garland with real leaves. The garland will eventually completely die, but while it is still alive, it will transform in appearance with the different stages of fall.

Check out the simple tutorial below:






























































1. Gather your leaves. Pick freshly fallen leaves so your garland will have a slightly longer life.

2. Check for bugs and allow your leaves to dry if they are wet.

3. Sew through your leaves with a long straight stitch, allowing an inch or two between each leaf of threading. I sewed my leaves at random angles so they would resemble the actual act of falling.

4. Tie knots at the ends of your garland to secure the end leaves.

5. Hang and enjoy it as it changes in appearance.

Happy Crafting!

Lion Halloween Makeup

Hello World,

Last year for Halloween I had planned on being a lion. Then Pinterest happened, and I decided to be a skeleton. This year I actually think I will be a lion since my hair is still blonde and would work great teased into a mane.

The look below was created with drug store eyeshadows, Maybelline Color Tattoo as the white base, Wet n' Wild liquid eyeliner, and Kiss lashes.

Wet 'n Wild is usually frowned upon for not being the most amazing in quality, but I love their waterproof liquid eyeliner. I have been using it for four years now. It doesn't smudge and the brush stays sturdy for a decent length of time.





What are you going to be for Halloween? Were you inspired by something you found on Pinterest?

PS This is not a sponsored post, I just really like that eyeliner. A lot.

"We'll be counting stars" Halloween Makeup

Hello World,

I love Halloween. The candy, decorations, costumes, and non-traditional makeup is completely acceptable. For my costumes, I like to focus more on my face, and have my clothes being a secondary focus. I also live in Idaho, so I usually freeze if I don't wear many layers on Halloween.

Below is a Halloween makeup idea inspired by the Milky Way Galaxy and "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic.


For this look, I used all drug store eyeshadows, E.L.F. glitter eyeliner, Wet 'n Wild liquid white eyeliner, and Kiss lashes.

I originally was only going to do half my face, but I got a little blend happy and kept expanding the galaxy onto the other side of my face.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

PS- My hair is not as brassy as it appears in these photos. Promise. I just forgot to adjust my white balance for indoor lighting.

DIY Jewelry Display

Hello World,

Have you seen those darling jewelry stands made with vintage plates at consignment shops or craft fairs, but not wanted to fork over $25-$40 for one? Well, I went thrifting, and found 3 plates and 2 candle sticks for less than $4!




Check out the tutorial below, to make one of your own:


1. Gather your supplies: vintage plates, candle sticks, E6000 or caulk, and spray paint if you don't like the color of your candle sticks. (Maybe, I bought more plates than I needed, but some of them were only $0.35 each!)

2. Remove any stickers, wash and then dry your candle sticks and plates. Spray paint your candle sticks if you wish, I'm on a gold kick lately.

3. Decide on which plates to use. I used 3 different sizes so my display, with the smallest plate on top.

4. Apply a nice amount of E6000 or caulk to the bottom of your candle stick, and place that baby down on the top of your first plate.

5. Apply E6000 or caulk to the top of that candle stick, and then place your next plate on top of it.

6. Repeat for the last candle stick and plate.

7. Allow to dry overnight and then enjoy!

Happy Crafting!

Wine Cork Magnets

Hello World,

I like to collect wine corks. I love the texture, the unique designs, and how great they are as a craft material. I really want to make a cork board someday, but collecting them authentically is taking me what feels like forever. So, if you are like me and want a project that can be done with limited wine corks, here is a project for you:


Wine cork magnets. Simple right? Check out the tutorial below:

1. Gather your supplies: wine corks, an adhesive magnet sheet, and a box cutter / exacto knife.

2. Carefully, cut your wine cork in half lengthwise.

3. Cut your magnetic sheet to the same size as your wine cork.

4. Peel off the paper backing and stick the magnetic to your wine cork.

That's it. Wam bam, you have some unique magnets! 

If you want to be really thrifty, repurpose magnets (say the ones you get from Dominos or your dentist) and just glue them to the back of your corks. These could be a cute gift for a birthday, bachelorette party, anniversary (especially if the cork held significance).

Happy Crafting!

Glitter & Stud Your Phone Case

Hello World,

I have a Google Nexus, and finding cases for it can sometimes be a challenge. I decided to spruce up my plain case with two of my favorite things- glitter and studs. Check out the tutorial below for this super simple DIY project:




1. Gather your materials: a phone case, Mod Podge, glitter, clear spray paint, a paint or foam brush, flat-back studs, and E-6000.

2.  Place your phone case on top of a paper plate. I used a paper plate so that I could funnel my leftover glitter back into the container.

3.  Apply your first layer of Mod Podge.

4.  Cover that baby with glitter.

5.  Allow to dry, then add another layer of Mod Podge.

6.  Add more glitter. I used black glitter on a black case so if I missed spots it wouldn't be as noticeable.

7.  Allow to dry. Spray with clear spray paint to waterproof it.

8.  Glue on your studs (in a ventilated area). Mine were from a clearance bin at Michael's and were meant to be ironed on... but they were only $0.50.

9.  Allow everything to dry overnight. In the last picture above, everything was still a little tacky because I was impatient.

Tada! You have a personalized case! Other DIY case ideas could be to use: images, scrapbook paper, rhinestones, etc. Once I find another cheap case for my phone, I really want to make one completely covered with pyramid studs.

Happy Crafting!