The Sea Is Wine Red

If you are an avid wine drinker and you always have empty wine bottles laying around then this vase is perfect for you!

What you’ll need:

– An Empty Wine Bottle
– Yarn ($2 – Michaels)
– Hot Glue Gun

Start off by applying hot glue around the bottle and wrapping yarn around the bottle.
Continue wrapping the yarn around until you have completely wrapped the bottle.
Make sure you glue the yarn to the top of the bottle. I added a flower to the side for some added spunk.
With the flowers blooming outside, this vase is a fun way to show their beauty inside.

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I Think You and I Should Just Drink On It

Any time I’m in the mall I dread the walk past Anthropologie – not because I hate it, in fact just the opposite, I love this store. If you’re familiar with Anthropologie, you know just how fabulous it is, but you also know how it is nearly impossible to purchase anything without going into debt. Take these confetti glasses for example, they are so much fun, but $30 for just one glass … are they kidding? No way I’m paying $90 for three glasses, so instead I’ll make them myself – on a budget of course.

What you’ll need:

– Three Glasses ($1 each – Dollar Store)
– Acryllic Paint ($0.97 each – Michaels)
For the glasses I used stemless wine classes.

I made a red confetti class, a blue confetti glass and a rainbow confetti glass. I started with the red glass which included red, orange and yellow paint. Flip the glass upside down and start painting one color dots on the bottom to about 1/4 of the way up the glass.
Do the same with the orange and yellow paint.
In order to make the the rainbow confetti glass I painted all six color dots on the glass. One great thing about acryllic paint is when you mess up, it’s so easy to wash, but when you want to seal it, it’s just as easy! When you are done with your confetti glasses and they are completely dry, place them in the oven while it is completely off. Turn the oven on for 350 degrees and allow them to sit in there for about 30 minutes, then turn the oven off and don’t remove them until the oven is completely cool again.

Now that you have saved money, purchase some ingredients for drinks and put your new confetti glasses to good use! Enjoy!

Not A Worry In The World, A Cold Beer On My Coaster

After I explained this blog to my brother, followed with mockery from him, he gave me a list of projects I can do for his apartment. Among the list was to make coasters…

What you’ll need:

– Four 4 x 4 Tiles (Box of Nine for $4 – Lowes)
– Four Pictures
– Mod Podge
– Felt (23 cents – Wal-Mart)
– Glue Gun

Start off by mod podging the top of the tile

Apply your picture, then mod podge over the top of it

After you mod podge all four pictures onto the tiles and they dry, then cut four pieces of felt that are a little smaller than the size of the tiles so you can apply them to the bottom of the tile. Apply the felt to the bottom with a glue gun.

While your coasters are drying, make yourself a drink! When you’re done your coasters will be ready to use!

These were so easy to make and I’m so happy on how they turned out; but not as happy as my brother was. When I sent him a picture of them, his exact response was “they look f**king awesome! holy sh*t!”, after that response I figured two things out – my brother never had faith in my craftiness and that I will defiantly be making these again! Such a great gift to make for guys or a home warming gift!

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade Hand Scrub

I heard about this pink lemonade hand scrub and I just knew I had to make it! Believe me, after you make it too, you will thank me!

What you’ll need:

– Mason Jar ($9 for a case of 12 – Wal-Mart)
– Granulated Sugar ($2.99 – Target)
– Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($1.99 – Wal-Mart)
– Crystal Light Packets (I used Raspberry Lemonade – $1.50 – Target)

Measure out 2 1/2 cup of sugar with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil and mix it all up! Add four crystal light packets.

I added some lemon juice, just to spruce up the lemon smell!

To use simply grab a handful and rub it all over your hands, wash off with warm water and you’ll see all the dead skin wash off as well. Yuck!

Well We All Shine On. Like The Moon and The Stars and The Sun.

Girls love things that shine, sparkle and of course glitter, which is why today I’m teaching you how to make a glitter vase/pencil holder/makeup brush holder/anything else you have that needs to be held.

What you’ll need:

– Mod Podge (I use the one I made in this post)
– Glitter ($2 – Wal-mart)
– Mason Jar ($9 for a case of 12 – Wal-mart)
– Multi Purpose Spray Adhesive ($2 – Wal-mart)
– Brush

Start by coating the inside of a mason jar with mod podge – make sure you coat everything or you’ll have bare spots.

Next, add pour glitter in the jar and put the cap back on and shake until the glitter covers everything (which is not that hard for glitter to do).

Wait for the jar to dry and apply the adhesive spray.

I made a bunch of these in pink and teal and I use them for everything! It’s also a great gift to give! If it’s a teacher – fill it with pencils and pens and add a bow; if it’s a friend fill it with flowers or turn it into a candy jar!

Kiss me beneath the milky twilight

If you take a look in my purse, I guarantee you will find at least five different chap sticks and a few lip glosses; I think it’s obvious that just like most girls, I’m obsessed with lip products. After reading a Snapple fact the other day and learning that fish scales is the number one ingredient in lipstick, besides the fact my stomach turned, I also pondered what other disgusting ingredients are found in lip products and why I don’t purchase all-natural lip products – oh yeah, because I’m a broke college student. So instead I decided to make an all-natural lip product myself!

This took a total of 5 minutes, and I can make up to 12 – costing about $5!

You’ll need:

– Crystal Light Individual Packets (I used Raspberry Lemonade – my fav! $1.50 – Target)
– Vaseline ($2.50 – Target)
– A small container (I washed out a container for food dye that I got for $1 at Target)

Add some vaseline into your small container. Next, add the crystal light packet. Mix in as much of the crystal light that you want until you get your desired color. I waited a couple hours until I used the lip gloss because right after you mix it, the powder doesn’t dissolve all the way.

Pucker up.

This photograph is proof.

If you’re a normal DIY-er, you know how expensive mod podge is, but you also know how great it is to use with almost any project. With that being said, I am starting off this post with a cheap recipe for mod podge!

What you’ll need:

– Elmer’s Glue ($1.99 Wal-Mart)
– Jar ($1.35 Wal-Mart)
– Water

Fill jar half way with Elmer’s glue

Fill the rest of the jar with waterShake well!
Seriously, how easy was that? Plus, it’s half the price you would normally pay for mod podge!

Now that we made our own mod podge, let’s make a project using it! This project is transferring photos onto wood, a great way to display your photos.

You’ll need:

– Mod Podge (You just made it!)
– Wooden Rectangle Plaque ($.99 Wal-Mart)
– Ribbon ($1.00 Wal-Mart)
– Paint ($1.15 Wal-Mart)
– Photo’s ($.25 CVS)

First start off by painting the wooden plaques, I used a teal and a neon green. Wait until they dry completely

Once they are dry, take one and spread the mod podge evenly on it. Place your photo in the center, be careful because once you place it it’s hard to re-place it. Then Spread the mod podge evenly over your photo

After you have done this to all your photos, wait until theydry evenly. Also, when you are adding the mod podge don’tstress that it makes the photo look foggy or blurry because it does dry even and clear so you won’t even notice it. After your photo plaques have dried, add the ribbon to the back so youcan hang them

Easy as Irish Soda Bread

So when I woke up this morning I was beyond ecstatic to see all the snow… finally. I called the office, knowing there was no way my car was able to drive anywhere and I made myself a cup of coffee.

Even Molly and Guinness were excited about the snow – or maybe they were just happy that I was actually home during the day, weird.

When it was finally time to get out of bed and do something productive during this snowstorm, I knew it was time to make soda bread. Soda bread is so simple to make; it’s sort of upsetting when people ask the directions and they just stare at you thinking in their heads “that’s it?”. Yes, that’s it. The recipe that I use is a mixture of my both Great-Grandmas’ recipes. So start off with these ingredients:

3/4 cup Butter Milk
1 stick of Butter
2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Power
1 tsp. Salt
1 tbsp. Sugar
1 Egg
Caraway Seeds
Raisins
*even though my mom tells me it’s not truly Irish, I substitute raisins for chocolate chips 🙂

Start off pouring the flour in the middle of your counter – add the butter, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, and egg.

This is where it gets messy and kind of gross lo0king. Start mixing everything together using your hands.

Add the butter milk, caraway seeds, and raisins (or chocolate chips).

The next thing was always my favorite part when I was little, don’t ask me why. I was just a weird child. Take a knife and softly cut an X into the bread. I’m really not sure why we do this.

Bake for an hour at 350 degrees and enjoy!

This next project literally took me about 5 minutes to make. It’s great for one of those last minute decoration or center piece for St. Paddy’s Day, plus makes NO mess!
You’ll need:

White Rice
Rubbing Alcohol
Food Dye
Ziploc Bag
Clear Vase

Start by putting some white rice into the ziploc bag. Next add a little rubbing alcohol (it’s not necessary – the dye just sticks to the rice better with it, but water works too!) to the rice. It’s important that you don’t add a lot, two tablespoons is plenty. Add some green food dye and close the bag. Mix the dye into the rice through the bag.

Pour the green rice into the vase.

Add a layer of white rice onto the green rice. Then repeat the color process but using yellow dye instead of green.

Although I enjoyed this snowday, it limited me from going to a craft store. So I decided to rummage through my house and see what I could find. I came up with a very old, very ugly Halloween wreath and tulle netting to decorate Christmas presents with. What would anyone do with these materials? Make a St. Paddy’s Day tulle wreath, of course.
You’ll need:

A Straw Wreath
Tulle Netting (I used emerald green and seafoam green)
Ribbon

First I cut all the Halloween decorations off this wreath which included corn and a creepy scarecrow man. Then I wrapped emerald green tulle netting around the whole wreath.

Next tie 12 inch pieces of tulle netting onto the wreath. I tied 3 emerald green then 1 seafoam green.

After completing the wreath, make a bow with green ribbon and tie it on. Hang up your wreath and admire your beautiful work! You can also use it as a centerpiece (without the bow). Put it in the middle of your table and place a candle in the middle.

An Irish Snow Day

Dia Dhuit

With one of my favorite holiday’s being just around the corner, or right at the end of the rainbow (see I told you I was really corny), this week’s post will be dedicated to none other than St. Paddy’s Day.

Until then, here are some pictures from past Paddy’s Day celebrations to get you in the spirit of leprechauns and green beer!

Sláinte

Just two leprechauns. Okay, it’s really me and my roommate Christina. I almost fooled you though. This was from last years celebrations up in Connecticut.

This is me and my sister Casey. I’m the one on the right. St. Paddy’s Day is the only time I admit I’m secretly jealous of my sister’s all natural red hair – luck of the Irish I guess.

This was taken last year on St. Paddy’s Day in Chicago. My cousin Jakki and I have always wanted to be part of our moms’ cool club, The Wolfpack. They go somewhere different every year for the festivities and last year we were FINALLY invited. Notice the green river behind us.

The Wolfpack!
Drinkin’ green beer in Chicago – Sláinte!