Craft #10: DIY Tie-front Blouse! (Closet Revamp!)

Heya chikitas!

Today I'm going to be super busy. My cousins are coming over for a visit, my aunts are taking us to a movie, and I have to get my ballet outfit from the studio. Phew! But the coolest part of today is that I get to share one of my favorite DIYs from Pinterest with you guys!

When you go to a store and see a whole bunch of trendy tops that look like this....

 

...don't you get the urge to impulsively buy it just because it's trendy? I have, on many occasions. But the only thing holding me back is the price tag. $33.50 for a sleeveless piece of chiffon? Yeah, right. Enter Pinterest, the best thing that's ever happened to people like me, who don't want to spend a small fortune on something that can be made at home for wayyy less.

Take this tutorial for example:

See? Much better. Just grab one of your dad's old button-up dress shirts (or buy one at a thrift store for $5) and you can make the same shirt for a price that's easier on a student's budget. The best part? This one is multitasking. Wear it under a dress for instant chic, or with a skirt for a more trendy approach.

And seriously. How cute are those polka dots?

Have a super fun day!

-Lulu <3

Craft #9: Shoes Transformation! (Closet Revamp!)

Hey gals!

Life is funny, isn't it? It never turns out to be what you expected. Just this morning I planned to visit my friend because it was her birthday this week, but I ended up getting so sick at her house (for an unidentified reason, naturally) that I had to leave a lot sooner than I thought I would, and we hardly got to talk at all. Oh, well.

Anyways, here I am, sick and all, but don't you think for a second that I'm not going to post another Closet Revamp DIY for you guys! Because this girl doesn't give up that easily ;D

So here it is! These are just a few of the shoe revamps that are featured on the link below, so go ahead and check it out!

Here's the link: http://www.stylemotivation.com/19-interesting-diy-footwear-designs/

Have a wonderful day! And don't forget, when life gives you lemons, don't just make lemonade, make lemon meringue pie :)

-Lulu <3

Craft #8: DIY Printed Jeans + surprise DIY (Closet Revamp!)

Heya girlies!

This is post #2 of the Closet Revamp Week! Which actually means two things: One, that I'm about to show you guys another clothes DIY, and Two, I have yet another surprise for you guys at the end of the post! So stay tuned!

Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to... these DIY Printed Jeans!

Just to clarify, this tutorial uses white fabric paint and a stencil that the person made themselves, so the sky's the limit for variations! You can even do this on blue jeans with bleach, and maybe change the heart stencil for a star, or just freehand a whole bunch of polka dots on your jeans (I might actually do the latter).

This is the perfect way to jazz up an old pair of jeans that may have small holes or stains on them. Come to think of it, wouldn't this look nice with yesterday's DIY?

So, are you guys ready for the surprise?

Here we go! Click on the link below for your bonus surprise DIY of the day!

http://www.caughtonawhim.com/2012/09/diy-nerdy-chic-book-clutch.html

Hope you enjoy your last few weeks of summer!

-Lulu <3

Craft #7: Distressed Heart T-shirt DIY (Closet Revamp!)

Hiya chikitas!

So I have really good news! I found something on Pinterest that will hopefully make you guys super happy because....drumroll please.... It's a DIY!!!! And I know I haven't done one in a long time, so I hope you guys like this! By the way, if you have any lingering desires to splurge on back-to-school clothes, you may want to reconsider. Just buy a grey Hanes T-shirt (2$) and a half a meter of colored fabric (approx. 5$) and you're good to go for this DIY!

So, as with some of my other Pinterest tutorials, I think this one is self-explanatory. But if you need further instructions or clarification, just let me know in the comments below.

Variations:

• Sew a lace trim to the top and bottom hemline for a more feminine approach.
• Distress the edges of the hems for a rugged look.
• Change the color of the fabric, or experiment with patterns (i.e. leopard, tiger, polka dots, stripes...) 
• Have fun with creating your own look for this! 

I'm going to try to post one Closet Revamp each day this week to 'celebrate' the arrival of, yes, that dreaded back-to-school. Or, for those of you who actually feel like ripping your hair out every time you see, hear or pass one of those ads in a store, maybe stay tuned to make this week a lot more enjoyable :)

Have a great end-of-summer!

-Lulu <3

Fun things #3: A few of my favorite places, people and things (make that 10 of them)!

Hi girls!

I've decided to make a list of my favorite things for this post. I do also have a surprise at the end of the post, but read the whole thing first! NO PEEKING! ;)

Hope you enjoy this! By the way, I'm going to put some of my favorite everyday beauty essentials on the list, just for those makeup lovers out there!

1. Great Lash 'Lots of Lashes' Mascara in Very Black

This mascara is one of my absolute favorites. It doesn't really give the full lashes look, but Oh My Gosh, does it ever lengthen and curl like a dream! (Bonus: the bottle is super pretty!)

2.  Rimmel London ScandalEYES Lycra Flex Mascara in Black

I usually use this before applying the Great Lash mascara to volumize and define the lashes. My favorite part about it is the brush. It's HUGE!!! (Bonus: The 'Lycra technology' prevents your lashes from getting flaky.)

3. Claire's 

This store is a huge inspiration to me. It's so fun to just walk in and see all the cute jewelry and accessories and think, 'I can totally make that!' and then go home with your crafty idea (and perhaps a few bracelets and earrings too!).

4. LUSH Cosmetics

Alright, I'll admit it: I'm a hardcore Lushie! I seriously can't take one trip to the mall without being tempted to walk into their shop and buy one of their world-famous soaps and scrubs. They're just that addictive. (Bonus: everything they make is animal-testing free, and most of their products are vegan!)

5. Pinterest

This was a no-brainer. The Internet's mecca of crafters and DIYers is just T.A.F.W. (Too Awesome For Words), and it's the only site that actually forces you sit at the computer for three hours straight, and better still, makes you feel good about doing that.

6. e.o.s. Lip Balm Spheres

These are really great for sore, chapped lips. Their flavors are really yummy, and I especially love the application, because it actually dispenses the perfect amount of balm on your lips without overdoing it (which I have been guilty of on more than one occasion).

7. Omer DeSerres

This place is a France-based craft store, and I just love it! Of course, they aren't everywhere, so you can just visit their website (deserres.ca) if you don't live within proximity to one. It's another one of my inspiring places to visit when I'm out of crafty ideas.

8. Kandee Johnson the Make-Up Artist

This lovely lady is just about the happiest thing on Earth. Watching one of her videos is like taking in a ray of sunshine! Seriously. A few days ago, I was having the worst day ever, and as soon as I started watching The Kandee Johnson Show on YouTube (specifically, the Betty Boop tutorial, as shown above), I felt instantly happier and more positive :)

9. Etsy 

      

Etsy is so amazing. It allows you to shop in a lively online marketplace that lets you explore items that you otherwise couldn't find in a store because they're uniquely made by talented artisans. It's also incredibly inspirational to me. I love it!

And finally.......

10. My mom, my dad, my three siblings, my grandparents, my aunts Barbie, Nina, Christina, Patricia, and Elisa, and my uncle Micheal! (Annnd everyone else that helped me throughout my life for everything imaginable :D )

Does this really need to be explained? They're just that awesomely awesome. And they helped me and inspired me to start a blog about the crafty things in life. So yes, they do in fact deserve a spot on this list! ;)

So, most of you have probably skimmed through this post in exhilarating anticipation, obeying my aforementioned 'rule', and relieved that you finally reached the end of this post (good job to those who did, by the way!). Which, as you all know, means that you now get to uncover The Secret!

So here it is................................................!!!!!

My aunt Barbie started a blog! and I promise you that it is just as fun to read as mine (yes, I know, I'm so humble) if not even better!!! So go check it out! And let me know what you think in the comments below!

Here's the link to all the fun and awesomeness: http://theawakeningspiritsnotebook.blogspot.ca/?zx=1fac08504c8705d4

Have a fabulous day!

-Lulu <3

Bake me #3: Swirled Sugar Cookies!

Hello bakerinas everywhere!

As you probably already know, I love everything that may strike others as childish or over-the-top-whimsical, and I'm proud of that. I mean really, who doesn't feel the urge to squeal with delight every time you see a baby blue sky with white fluffy clouds and a sun that lights up all the colors in the sky, perhaps a rainbow of them? Or maybe a big bowl full of M&Ms, Skittles and Smarties? Or maybe even....

 
...a dozen swirled sugar cookies with rainbow sprinkles on the edges? Yeah, I think the latter would be the icing on the COOKIE to a day like that! (pun city?)

Anways, head on down to SaltTree to gain the wizardry powers necessary to be able to concoct such fascinating delicacies! Or, you know, just baking them would be fine too, I guess...

Here's the link to these precious cookies: http://www.salttree.net/2012/10/swirled-sugar-cookies.html

Have a gorgeous, blue-skies-and-fluffy-white-clouds day! :)

Lulu <3

P.S: Is it just me, or does the "cookie" need to be renamed? They are, after all, baked not cooked. But come to think of it, "bakie" doesn't really have the same ring to it as "cookie" does. Hmmm.... what do you think?

Fun things #2: Fabric haul + TOP-SECRET DIY!!!

Hi everyone!

I don't know if it's just me, but summer is going by WAYYY too fast. I just checked my calendar yesterday, and I was like "WHAT?! It's mid-July already!?!" But this could also be due to a lack of frequently checking what day it is or what time it is, like I usually do in the non-summer months. Anyways, guess what? I visited my local fabric store recently (notice I said 'recently', because like I said, I lose my usually accurate sense of time in the summer), and I don't know what happened to my self-control, but somehow I ended up buying a ton more fabric than I thought I would!

Striped denim fabric

Neon green 'jogging fleece'

Tiny-floral-print cotton fabric

Satin floral fabric

When I said a ton more fabric, I meant that each one of these lovely threads is about 3 metres long!!! The first image is showing the denim fabric that I bought, which was so hard to keep together that they had to tape it together. Honestly, I don't know if it was the Froot Loops (with its incredible amount of sugar in each serving) I had for breakfast that morning or the semi-annual sale that the store was having that day, but my shopping impulse went haywire on me :P

So, all of this talking (or, should I say, typing) has led us to a final conclusion: which of these fabrics should I use in my upcoming totally top-secret DIY???

You may share your opinions in the comments section below, and very soon I will have a DIY created using one of of the fabrics! So go on, type as fast as you can and post those comments girlies!

Have a fun, fabric-filled day,

Lulu <3