Some baller links for the crafter

Rolled up paper flowers

Satin flowers (for literally anything you can think of)

I'm really obsessed with the site I got both of those crafts off of (Jones Design company). So creative and crafty and opens up a whole bunch  of things that I never thought were possible from crafting. Even their posts are super cute and have a ton of personality. Honestly, this blog will be somewhere I draw inspiration from from now on and I couldn't be more excited.

The object of my desire

Women's Southport Wedge

Reg.$90.00
Whether you prefer a slip on or strappy detailing, you'll be sure to stand above the crowd in these nautical wedges. With signature Sperry comfort, you'll be whisked away in this summer style that will keep you looking fresh from beach to boardwalk, day-to-night.

I stand corrected

Champagne taste on a beer budget. NF. Beer taste on a champagne budget. TFM.

DIY garden decor ideas

Stepping Stones --These are simple to make, and it’s a project where you determine the budget and materials. Pick pre-made stones from the hardware store or cast your own. Design a mosaic pattern to be laid with stained glass or use colorful broken china from the thrift store. Attach the pieces using an outdoor adhesive, grout, and then seal. That’s it!

Luminaries -- These are particularly great around the patio, or in a sitting space you've created out in the garden. I use tin coffee cans (or soup cans, if I’m going to hang them) and using a hammer and nail, I poke holes -- sometimes random, sometimes in a lacy pattern. I love to put citronella candles in these and light them for a nighttime get-together -- they’re pretty and they keep the bugs away! Painting them ensures that they stay pretty during the daylight hours as well.

Bird Baths -- There are nine million ways to make a birdbath. I’ve created a mosaic over a pre-made bath from the hardware store. You could use a pretty shallow bowl or dish -- you could simply place it in the nook of a tree or on a stump. Or go a bit more complex and use a spiral of flexible copper tubing to support the bowl and a copper pipe (both from the hardware store) to plant it in the ground. Over time, the copper will develop a gorgeous patina.

Tea-cup Birdfeeder -- Use thrifted vintage cups -- the really delicate ones -- and putting them in a group at varying heights. Using a good epoxy, like E600, glue the cup to its saucer, and then glue a small length of copper pipe or a pipe cap to the underside of the saucer. Then just glue a round dowel or length of pipe into that and you’re done! You can mix this up by creating a tower of cups and saucers or even using tall bud vases as part of the sculpture. If you would rather hang your feeders, use something like a Dremel tool to drill small holes that you can use to thread wire or chain through.




Wind chimes -- Wind chimes are super easy to make and limited only by your imagination. Use shells you’ve collected, copper piping, silverware, chandelier crystals, cheap wooden or metal bangles, dried bamboo from the floral section … all you need is something to string them with (string, wire, chain) and something to string them from (a metal ring, pretty saucer, small silver tray). And don’t forget that you can accessorize your chimes with beads, sea glass, and iridescent marbles!

Credit

How to: Homemade air freshener

Not only could this be a lovely gift for someone on a very beer budget, but you can make a ton and keep them around your home. It's definitely cheaper than buying Febreeze every week or having to go to Yankee Candle and spend $17 on something the same size as these!

What you'll need:
Heat-proof jars
Food coloring colors of your choice
Essential oil. (You can find inexpensive essential oils of various scents at craft stores like Michael's)
Unflavored gelatin
1 Tb salt (per air freshener)
2 cups water

How to do it:
1. Into each jar, drop a few drops (it doesn't take more than 2 or 3) of food coloring. Then, put in about 30 drops of essential oil, give or take. The more essential oil you put in, the stronger the smell.
2. Gather up 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, a tablespoon of salt, and 2 cups of cold water.
3. Get one cup of water boiling on the stove. When it begins to boil, whisk in the gelatin, stirring until it's all dissolved.
4. Pour in the other cup of cold water and the salt, stirring until the salt is dissolved.
5. Quickly pour the hot gelatin mixture in each of your jars, and then use a disposable stick or spoon to stir it into the oil and food coloring.
6. Let them gel overnight

How to: Paper flower key holder

This is for you lovely ladies that are having trouble finding something cheap (beer-status) but cute to give to your friend or co-worker as a gift. Make one of these for them and they'll love your unique style and creative crafting skill.

1. Cut out a circle in the cardboard that is a bit larger than a quarter.

2. Cut your wire hanger in a section that is about 10 inches long.

3. Bend it like you see in the photo. It should have a hook and an area where you can glue it down. Each end should have a tiny loop. The tiny loop at the top is for the nail.

4. Hot glue the wire on top of the circle of cardboard.

5. Cut out 6 layers of book pages in a flower pattern provided using straight edge scissors and pinking shears so that your flower has texture.

6. Staple the layers together in the middle in an X (this is my big flower making secret)

7. Fold up the top layer to cover the staples and continue folding up the layers to make your flower come to life.

8. Lightly spray with the Krylon Clear Coat and let dry.

9. Give it several more coats of the Krylon Clear Coat but only a little at a time. Do this until the flower is nice and sturdy.

10. Hot glue the flower on top of the wire and disk and hang it with a nail.

Credit: Mark Montano

How to: Recycled magazine flowers

Get a glass vase and fill it with these recycled magazine flowers for an easy, chic and CHEAP way to accessorize your apartment or house. It's definitely a great way to recycle paper and you could use them as original and unique bows or decorations on presents as well. Check out the video:

How to: Jersey knit bracelet

Taken from VanessaChristensen.com

What you'll need:

Approx three strips of jersey knit fabric cut to 1" each with the length of at least 58" and a pair of scissors
*Note: Find some here: yellow jersey knit fabric...gray jersey fabric from robert kauffman

How many fingers you use will determine how thick your bracelet will end up. A photo tutorial follows.

1. Take your 1" strips and cut on your ends a 1/4" slit
2. Take your slits and line them up ends together.
3. Take your bottom strip and pull it through the slits from TOP to bottom and gently pull till you get a little knot.
4. With your connected strips we are now going to weave the strip in and out of our fingers.
5. Start off with weaving behind the pointer, in front of the middle, behind the ring, and in front of the pinky finger. then wrap it around and behind the pinky, then in front of the ring, and behind the middle, and then in front of the pointer.
6. Bring one big loop around to face you (from the pinky to pointer)
7. Take your weaved loops and go over your finger and big loop.*when you get to the end, or at the end of your first chain (at your pointer finger) make a new loop and start the process all over again!
8. Once you get like 6 chains done, take your starting tail and gently pull (while your chain is still securely placed on your fingers!) so that you can get a good feel as to how long you need to make your chain, depending on your wrist size.
9. How to finish the bracelet is with yellow fabric in the photos below
10. Remember to pull your tail so it makes the chain more defined and it gives you a better idea of how long you need to make your chain
11. Once you've determined you have a long enough chain, carefully pull the loops off your fingers, making sure you don't undo any of the chain by losing the loops!
12. Slip the extra tail into both loops. pull all the way through, and gently tug the end.
13. Tie off your bracelet with a knot.

 

Swoon-worthy summer tops

Beach season is upon us - which means light colors and light fabrics. Sheer & white are perfect for oceanside activities. Just add some cute shorts and a pair of boat shoes or flip flops (with an adorable polka dotted bikini underneath) and you're all set for summer.

"This simply sheer light blue tank has a pastel yellow and orange floral print, ruffled neckline, and pleated bib with five decorative buttons. Super cute, lightweight and flowy, making it a perfect addition to your summer collection!" -Shopruche.com

Top on the left (Shopruche.com) $26.99

"This light gray and white striped halter top is light weight and comfy with a floral print intricate braided white bib that contains speckles of navy and maroon. In the back there is also a two button tab to add more cuteness! Simply adorable and care-free looking!" -Shopruche.com

Top on the right (Shopruche.com) $29.99

DIY Woven Chain Bracelet

From Honestly...WTF

You’ll need:
- a curb link bracelet ($20 - You can find them for cheaper)
- embroidery thread
- two bobby pins
- a pair of scissors

Cut 2 sets of 15 strands of embroidery thread, with each strand measuring four times the length of the bracelet. Knot the all the threads at the top, leaving about 2 inches of slack. Sandwich each set between a bobby pin – this will help you easily weave the threads through the links of the bracelet. Lay the threads to the left of the bracelet. Pull the first color (coral) from under the first link and over the top of the left side.

Lay the second color (blue) over the first color (coral). Pull the second color (blue) from under the same link and over the top left again. Repeat the steps, moving onto a new link: put the first color (coral) on top of the second color (blue) and pull it out from under the 2nd link and over the top left. Lay the second color (blue) on top of the first color (peach) and pull it out from under the 2nd link and over the top left again. Because the links of this particular bracelet are large, I wove the threads through twice on each link. If you are using a smaller linked bracelet, you should weave through each link once like this.

Repeat the steps until you reach the end of the bracelet. Finish it with a knot and trim the ends.

http://cdn.honestlywtf.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wovenbracelet3.jpg?19526

Mix & match summer patterns and textures

Eyelet tops in the summer - Yummy. Paired with a patterned skirt - Yes please.

This top is low cut and has a ton of detail around the cleavage area, perfect for someone like me who doesn't have a ton of goods on top to work with. wear a really awesome push up (like a Victoria's Secret bra that can clip into the halter position!) and you should be pinup ready.

Top (Shopruche.com) $33.99

Oh florals, florals, florals. So in this spring/summer. Obviously. But tulips are an interesting choice and its soft, like the eyelet pattern. So, tuck the top into the skirt and add a rustic belt (keep reading!) and it should even out the soft patterns.

Skirt (Shopruche.com) $42.99

Shoes. A rope-y wedge is just unpolished enough to be perfect for this. The girly patterns are great, but they're very put-together. Wedges are a little interesting and perfect for daytime. If you're wearing this outfit on a date, pair it with a skinnier leather belt & patent leather peep toe heels.

Shoes (Shopruche.com) $38.99

As for belts, I have two options for you. Pairing different patterns is all over magazines like Cosmo and Glamor, so do it up. The first option is a dark purple which will contrast the pastels and light colors of the rest of the outfit while the second option is a risque opposing pattern.

Belt on left (Shopruche.com) $12.99


Belt on right (Shopruche.com) $13.99

Since the price diff is only $1, it doesn't matter (to your wallet) a huge amount which one you pick. They're both super cute, but I highly recommend the one on the right.

Add in a pair of Jackie O sunglasses and this outfit has instant glam-factor.

Sunglasses (Shopruche.com) $12.99


Now, we're done. Add some gold bangles to this and it'll be super perfect. Maybe some pearl stud earrings as well.


Total for this outfit: $141.95. I know the outfit as a whole isn't super beer-budget-y, but you've gotta live the champagne life sometimes. Especially if you're new-season-shopping.


Happy spending!

Not so summer-y

Military chic. One cute look for fall, but not really for summer. Oh well. These shoes are definitely on my To-Buy list.

These unique Modern Militia pumps feature a grey faux-leather upper, wide crossed maryjane straps with antiqued brass zipper details, peep toes, and stacked wood 3.5" tall heels. The perfect way to give any outfit some urban edge.
* Fit Runs a Touch Small
* Medium Width
* Non-Leather Upper
* Vegan Friendly

Taken from Shopplasticland.com.

 Shoes (Shopplasticland.com) $52

A Sperry for every occasion

I'm obviously sickeningly obsessed with Sperrys. They're the perfect summertime shoe! Also, they last forever. My Sperry flip flops are pretty new, but I wear them constantly and they're still lookin' great. But they don't only have to exist in the summer. Their rainboots can be used in the fall, winter and spring.

I'm partial to this snakeskin print myself. They offer a ton of different styles though. Shoebuy.com  has a ton of Sperry options, and some of them are sold out even on the Sperry website.

Shoes (Sperry Topsider) $74.95.

Obviously, you can't have a post about Sperrys without an original topsider in here. The white is an interesting choice. As long as you wear them around a beachy environment, you should be fine with keeping them clean; but I definitely would not wear them around Boston too much.

Shoes (Sperry Topsider) $74.95.

Not only do they have adorable flats (they're kind of plain, so I'm not going to ass any into this post), rainboots and the original topsiders, but they have adorable wedges.

I like these a lot because they're very boat-y and exactly what you would expect from Sperry. I would wear them anywhere around the beach or the bay and they look super comfortable.

Shoes (Sperry Topsider) $89.95.


Now for my absolute favorite. I got the gold pair of these and they are honestly, 100% the most comfortable pair of flip flops I own. Maybe actually the most comfortable pair of shoes I own (and I own a LOT of shoes).

I feel like snakeskin print isn't really expected from Sperry, so these are a pretty awesome choice. I'll probably buy them once I get my next paycheck. But I may get the brown pair. So many pairs of shoes, so little time and money.

Shoes (Sperry Topsider) $49.95.

Sperrys may not be the cheapest of shoes, but they're definitely worth it. In my opinion anyways.

Perfect look for summer days like today

It's the first gorgeous day in Boston in a long time, and I want nothing more than to slip into this attire and walk around the Boston Common. Let's take a look at the elements of it.

A sheer shirt with a bright color underneath gives a vibrant twist to a plain and simple top.

Top (Gap) $59.95


As for that vibrant twist, Gap shows a bralette, but if that makes you self conscious, substitute it for a bright bandeau or tank top.


Bralette (Gap) $29.50


The shorts are perfect, but they come in a bunch of colors that could work, depending on what color you decide to wear under the top. I'm sticking to showing you the charcoal gray because I love the orange bralette.


Shorts (Gap) $39.95



Now for my personal favorite part: Shoes. I think we all know how addicted to shoes I am. And right now wedges are piquing my interest. I just bought a pair and when I tried them on they were the most comfortable heels I've ever worn. I feel like I could wear them drunk and have a completely successful evening.


Shoes (Gap) $79.95


Now, add a metallic belt (Gap shows gold, but I think a bronze color would be awesome too) and your outfit is all set.


Total for this outfit: $209.35.

The woman with the matching socks

I don't care who you are, but if you are a female and your socks are blatantly visible, there is a problem here. Now, I have nothing against a little sock peeking out from the top of your sneaker or something of that matter, but if it is paired with hideous clogs and jeans that are just a bit too short, it's absolutely not acceptable.

Here's the kicker, though: The offending socks MATCHED her shirt. She planned this. She knew that they were going to show, so she knowingly matched them thinking that it would look less than shockingly horrible. It was a total fail.

They were cranberry colored. White would have been semi-acceptable. Black would have been a much better choice. But cranberry? First of all, I feel like people that are above the average weight for their age group should not be attracting too much attention to themselves, which is kind of impossible when you're rocking a cranberry colored turtleneck, frumpy jeans, cranberry colored socks and clogs that should have probably been thrown out ten years ago. OK, so she's a prime candidate for What Not to Wear, but I feel like that show shouldn't even need to exist. I mean, the woman works for the same company as I do, so I know she makes money of some sort, because I know I am. Instead of hitting up Marshalls, (not that I don't love a good steal at my local Marshalls) try going across the street to Macys.

Jersey power

When it comes to fashion in New Jersey, a lot of people think TapOut tees, latex-fit skirts or essentially trashy items. Completely false. Not only does Jersey have some of the best malls in the country, people tend to forget the multitude of genius that comes from the state. Just because Snooki, Pauly D and JWOWW party it up in Sleazeside Heights, doesn't mean we're all uneducated assholes that fist pump and drink our lives to shit.

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon is a Jersey boy born-and-raised. Jon Bon Jovi is from Perth Amboy, NJ and even though its central Jerz, it still counts. The world of comedy may not be the same without Paul Rudd, Zach Braff and Jason Biggs who are also from the dirty, and we all know that American Pie is the shit, and it wouldn't be the same without Jim.

Some other notable New Jerseyans: Chelsea Handler, Ali Larter, Queen Latifah, Tara Reid, Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Anne Hathaway (not born, but raised a Jersey girl), Brooke Shields (endured her high school years in Jerz), Bruce Willis, Derek Jeter (lol Yankees fans) and, did I mention, that Thomas Edison set up shop in NJ to discover cool things like the phonograph, motion picture cameras and the lightbulb? Because, yeah, that happened.

Here's where I relate it to fashion now. Jersey-born 25-year-old Adama Kai, whose Aschobi Designs label is the first western style imprint to set up in Sierra Leone. She moved to Sierra Leone at four, then later trained in New York and Paris and has since moved back to Sierra Leone to pursue fashion in an underdeveloped and undervalued country.

She creates gorgeous African-inspired dresses and photographs them in the suffering streets of the country. Honestly, I could not be more proud that she was born in my home state and is doing beautiful things in an equally beautiful place that has an unfortunate history of civil war and child soldiers.

Twitter Trends

Trends are funny. When I was the Spesh editor of the Hunt News (sorry for my broken English -- Special Interest section editor of The Huntington news) I did a "--- of the Week" type of thing. Since the section rotates every week between Food & Restaurants, Sex & Health and Fashion & Style, the "--- of the Week" would rotate between "Drinks of the Week," "Position of the Week" and "Look of the Week." Since handing over my editor position to my assistant, she has since changed "Look of the Week" to "Trend of the Week." I think it's a great idea, and while trends usually do only last a week or so, it seems funny to promote certain products or "trends" in a newspaper like that. Her first trend of the week was hair feathers.

I think her Trend of the Week was written phenomenally. My assistant is a really talented girl and she's going places, whether the journalism industry is slipping or not.

I just am not a fan of trends. Don't go calling me a hipster or something because, believe me, that's the opposite of what I am. I'm a blonde-as-shit sorority girl that loves flavored Bacardi and asshole frat boys. I'm not "too cool" to have a Twitter or 1,000 Facebook friends and I definitely don't wear flannel on the reg. I just find trends like this annoying. I mean, who the hell would pay $20 to have a single feather put in your hair? And if you have more than one put in there, don't leave the house because you'll embarrass yourself. Can you leave it in when you wash your hair or do you have to take it out? It's basically put in there like a hair extension would be put in there (and don't get me started on those things).

Having things like "Trend of the Week" is basically like saying, "look at what's cool now, here's how you get it, here's how much it is and while you don't HAVE to get it, it's just highly recommended if you want to be up on the style of the moment."

Regardless, if you have a hair feather already, that's great. I'm not even the type of girl to dye my hair, crash diet or get piercings anywhere but my ears. Call me conservative, but I'm a walking contradiction, I have a tattoo. In my defense, it's a memorial tattoo for my late Nana. And you know what, if a hair feather means that much to you, the more power to you, but trends change so quickly and I'm not about to spend $20 a week on something that's just going to change a few days later. It's like Charlie Sheen -- he may have gotten 1,000,000 Twitter followers in a day but where is he now? Drugged up and out of a job and a family. (I'm Team Ashton, naturally)

Sorry this wasn't more about Twitter, my headline was a little misleading. Get over it. So are trends.

Too busy to post, just love these shoes

I'm going shoe crazy! These are from Charlotte Russe and are $40. And they're buy one - get one for $15!!

Flats, flats, flats. A tall girls' best friend. All buy one - get one for $15 (aren't you LOVING the sales on Charlotte Russe? I am.) and at $15.50, $10 and $14.50 they're priced just as nicely as they look.

Then there's wedges, which are so in and I love. At $30, $32.50 and $30 (respectively) these are a huge steal and are also fashionable, colorful and adorable. Oh, and they're also buy one - get one for $15.