Halloween Pet Costume Project

Haven is our sweet angel so it was only fitting to give her a pair of wings this Halloween. I found a cute image of coffee filter wings on Pinterest but there was no tutorial so I was on my own. The first attempt was a bit of a comedy. If at first you don't succeed, you might be trying to get too creative haha! 

First attempt on the left, final product on the right. LOL!

It worked out much better to fold the filters into quarters than to fold in half and fluff. I first cut out teardrop shapes from cardboard and then folded a few filters into quarters. I did a few half folds on the outer wing to give it a little more of a curve shape.

Start at the bottom of the wing

Half fold on the outside 

Work your way up going for a scalloped look

Glue (I used hot glue) the two wings to a rectangular piece of cardboard. Paint the back of the cardboard white. I used a thin piece of fabric to attach the wings to Haven's harness. I also got pipe cleaners for a halo but we're doing baby steps right now :) 

With the remainder of the cardboard box, I made a few DIY tombstones for the house. I just used regular acrylic paint. I used floral wire to stake them into the ground, taping the wire securely to the back of the tombstone.

Easy 5-minute Tombstone!

Hand Lettered Pumpkin Tutorial

I'm excited to share my first video tutorial with you all! I still haven't fully gotten used to hearing my own voice on camera, but I'll get over it :) Hope you all enjoy!

Here's a mock of what I envision the house numbers to look like. I used the font "EcuyerDax" for the numbers and "Ke Aloha" for the street. There are a whole slew of monogram ideas and some fall phrases on Pinterest you could incorporate!

Stick to YOUR Budget this Holiday Season!

The holidays are right around the corner and the stores already have Christmas decorations out! This year, more than ever, I need to make a budget and stick to it. I love gift gifting! My wallet- not so much. I can easily go overboard when I find the "perfect" gift for a family member or friend. Budgeting is nothing new, but I never considered how much to allocate for each present before. This worksheet helped me estimate how much I can afford and will help me ensure I don't go over.

If I get a gift on sale and save money on one individual, then I am able to reallocate that money for an additional gift or individual. Maybe yours looks a little different if you buy for kids, cousins, nieces, neighbors, etc. I grouped my friends and coworkers together and will spend no more that the calculated amount for the whole group. Making gifts, baking cookies, or small items is the perfect way to give without spending more than what you're comfortable with. Writing cards is a perfect way to show appreciation to individuals you might not be able to buy a gift for.

I use Pinterest to save ideas so I'm less likely to make an impulse decision at the store. Etsy is a great website to find unique items at your price-point; you can search for an item and filter by price. I have even purchased great gifts from eBay and Groupon. It's a great way to save but be aware who you're buying from. Read reviews, and if they are international sellers, be aware of long shipping times. If you're up for it, DIY! I made blankets one year and my only cost was fabric (check out the tutorial here). Happy gifting!

The Google Sheet can be viewed here!

Weekend Project: Bathroom Update

As a renter, there isn't much to be done in terms of updates to the property. However, there is still room for improvement! With a few nail holes, you can transform an entire space! Our downstairs half-bath faces the family room so it's all too easy to see into the plain space. I used the wooden floating shelf as inspiration for this update (check it out here). The wooden boards were very inexpensive, and not the best quality :). I made sure any marks or bumps would be on the bottom or against the wall. It took two coats of black spray paint to get the look I wanted. I also accidentally used black metallic on the first coat, oops! 

After letting both boards dry, I eye-balled where I wanted the shelves to be, and screwed in the L brackets (aka corner braces); first to the boards, and then onto the wall. There is about 2 inches of space on either end. From far away, it gives the illusion that the boards are flush with the wall. You can find those in the hinge and fasteners section of any hardware store. Because I am not placing anything heavy or valuable on the shelf, the two L brackets will hold it easily. If you are using heavier wood or heavy objects, check out some tutorials below. I used decorations I already had around the house and incorporated them into the design. This project took me less than an hour and makes a huge difference! I really feel that it gives it a more home-y feel and it doesn't look all that stark and bland anymore!

Here are a few more DIY floating shelves to inspire your next project!

Chunky Shelves by Desert Domicle

Corner Shelves by 4 Men 1 Lady

White Shelves by BlogLovin

Using String Art to Create a Pet Leash Holder

Materials: 

Wooden Board 

Colored Embroidery String 

Nails (I used 1" white panel board nails)

Two-prong hooks 

Hot glue, hammer, printer

Step One: Choose your pattern and print onto paper. Center and tape the paper onto your board.

Step Two: Use a pen to mark where your nails will go. Make sure you use enough to keep the shape of the image you chose!

Step Three: Start nailing those babies in place! About 3/4 the way through, if your board is deep enough. I struggled with some parts of my board being thicker than others due to panels. As long as the nails are sturdy and have enough room to add sting, you're golden.

Step Four: Tie off a section of embroidery string onto a starter nail. Begin by wrapping it around the nail. Move between nails, wrapping it around every few nails. This will keep it all from unwinding if one strand pops off of the nail. The amount of string and times you wrap between nails will affect the look of your string art. 

Finally, glue on your hooks and glue on a string to hang your board from.

I used a rustic board but added a little modern twist with the pop of color. Here are some other options I liked and you can use as inspiration for your own board! Of course you could use these for keys, necklaces, etc. All were found on Etsy.com: