Prom Prep #1: Inexpensive Makeup Brands & Hair Tutorials!

Hello lovely ladies!

With prom/grad season rapidly approaching, I thought I'd do something a little different for today's post. That's right - A Prom Prep series!

However, many blogs/articles only feature costly brands and items on posts like this, which is kinda disappointing, especially if you don't have a ton of cash at your disposal. So, I've decided to make this post for those of you who don't feel like blowing all your part-time job money on prom. (P.S.: In true craft.bake.fun fashion, there are DIYs in this post!)

Without further ado, here's my top picks in makeup and hair for Prom 2015! I've rated each of them with a five heart system for your convenience (and for the cuteness factor).

HAIR/MAKEUP:

Note: This post could go on forever if I'm not careful, so to avoid your potential endless scrolling, I've compiled a short list of my favourite inexpensive makeup brands, plus my favourite Pinterest hair tutorials. Enjoy!



1. NYX Cosmetics (Quality: ♥♥♥♥♥ Cost: ♥♥♥♥)

If you're an Instagram beauty junkie, chances are you've heard of this brand before (or possibly even worship it). The quality of their products is amazing (case in point: the insane color payoff of their Wicked Lippies), and their prices are very low. Bonus: they don't test on animals! What's not to love?

Link: http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/


2. e.l.f Cosmetics (Quality: ♥♥♥♥ Cost: ♥♥♥♥♥)

There is seriously no makeup brand I know of that has both the dirt-cheap prices and great quality of e.l.f. I received a gift from my friend over Christmas break that contained a little nude eyeshadow palette, mascara, eyeliner, and eye primer, and wore them to a party the next day. After having fallen asleep with my makeup on (oops!), I expected my pillow to be totally stained the next morning. Alas, it was clean, and my makeup barely smudged! Long-lasting + inexpensive = great prom makeup.

Link: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/



3. New York Color (Quality: ♥♥♥ Cost: ♥♥♥♥)

This brand is great if you want a good value, and it also has some pretty fun products. Some products I recommend from them are their lipsticks (I have the Expert Last Lip Color in Blue Rose, and the color is gorgeous) and their liquid eyeliner (I tested some on the back of my hand at a drugstore, and it didn't come off all day!).

Link: http://www.newyorkcolor.com/us

Now on to the hair tutorials!



1. The Perfect Pony Tutorial

Link: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2014/09/lucy-hales-vma-ponytail/#_a5y_p=2372864



2. The Great Gatsby Tuck & Cover Tutorial (great for last-minute hair fixes!)

Link: http://www.missysue.com/2014/03/tuck-and-cover-great-gatsby-style/



3. The Side Swept Braid Tutorial

Link: http://diana212m.blogspot.ca/2014/05/summer-side-braid.html


4. ALL THE UPDO TUTORIALS!!!!

Link: http://www.the36thavenue.com/hair-updo-tutorials/#_a5y_p=1777447



5. Hair Flowers DIY (to add pizzazz to your updo without spending a ton of money!)

Link: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2013/02/diy-last-minute-valentines-hair-idea/


I hope you enjoyed my first prom season post! I'll be following up this post with a post all about buying (or perhaps DIYing!) prom dresses on a budget, so stay tuned for more awesomeness!

Peace, love, and parties,

Lulu <3

Craft #15: Top 5 Spring DIYs!

Hi everyone!

Looooong time no see! I've been MIA for a while now, but I came back to this blog just for fun to see how many people have visited it lately, and it's at an all-time high. Wow, guys. Thank you so much.

To show my appreciation, I'm posting another DIY today. Or two. Or three. Or...

Can we tell who's been on Pinterest too much lately? ;)

Anyway, here's a few fun DIYs for you guys! (Also, if you like what I post on my blog, I have a fairly similar Pinterest page under the username "frostygal10" if you want to follow it.)

1. Colorful Hook Rack



This one is pretty straightforward, and is probably one of the most tempting home décor DIYs I've ever laid eyes on. So. Freaking. Cute! Bonus: this would also be great for a college dorm.

Link: http://www.ehow.com/ehow-home/blog/make-this-mid-century-style-colorful-hook-rack/?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=fanpage&crlt.pid=camp.byuPCjTQe0IE&crlt.pid=camp.IBo5gicwPeSD

2. "Partly Sunny" Dress Pattern

   

With spring already in full swing and summer just around the corner, we're all in need of a little extra crafting inspiration... and a new wardrobe. Coincidence? I think not. For those daring sewing enthusiasts out there, here's a cute (and FREE!) dress pattern that'll make you the classiest ray of sunshine at any party.

Link: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-partly-sunny-frock-free-pattern


3.  Saltine Cracker Toffee

 

Oh. My. Sugar. I just made these, and let me tell you, if I could have gotten a picture in before eating them all, it wouldn't have done the deliciousness of these guys justice. They're SO GOOD! Mine came out a little flakier than the ones in the picture, but still as yummy as I hoped they would be. Also, no worries if you have bare cabinets from all that spring cleaning - these only require 3 ingredients. So, go make some, pronto. I promise you won't regret it.

 

Link: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/saltine-cracker-toffee/

 

 

4.  Floral Letters

 

 

April showers bring May... Flower Letters! These look so amazing, but I'd definitely want to skip the real flowers for this craft and opt for a bunch of pretty, fake ones instead. Unless, of course, you prefer the look/smell of real flowers, or these are being used as a temporary decoration, but I would want these beauties to last year-round.

 

Link: http://www.swellmayde.com/2014/10/diy-floral-letters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Swellmayde+(swellmayde)

 

 

5. Colored Ombré Kimono

 

 

Kimonos seem to have become extremely popular recently, and with festival season already here, I thought this DIY would be totally appropriate. These are usually ridiculously overpriced (and usually not my style) at the stores I shop at, so naturally, making one would be the cheaper, more customizable alternative. Besides, the simplicity of the project itself and beauty of the final product is enough to convert me from buying them premade altogether, even at their 'sale' prices.

 

Link: http://www.molliemakes.com/diy-fashion-2/free-sewing-pattern-make-kimono/

 

 

So that's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed my DIY picks of the season, and I hope to post more fun stuff in coming weeks. If you enjoy my posts, leave me a comment and share the love! I'd be overjoyed to read them.

 

See you (hopefully) soon,

Lulu <3