Life Through Frosted Glasses

It's been pretty quiet here on the blog, but I've missed sharing my creative thoughts. Trust me, they haven't stopped. I've just been busy investing in friends and family and exercising my concert junkie tendencies.

I've also been learning hard lessons about love. Like, sometimes the person you choose to love, doesn't choose to love you back. And that's all it is, choices that don't align. If anything, the person who lost is the person who did not accept being loved. This world is caught up in temporary emotions and desires, but love is an eternal action. So let's never stop choosing to love.

Through all this, I've come to realize the value of perseverance. Especially when crafting on a regular basis, this has become a common word in my vocabulary. Projects don't quite turn out how imagined. In fact, I would dare to say none of mine have ever gone as planned. Part of this could be due to my impatience and inclination to jump into projects headfirst. Oops! I originally intended this DIY for frosted wine glasses (to drink from), but food-safe glass sealants are not readily available. This is exactly where perseverance came into play. I wasn't ready to ditch these pretty glasses, so I brainstormed an alternative use... mini succulent garden! Perfect for my Mom's birthday present. So here's how to turn something gone wrong into something gone right.

Materials:

• Frosted glass spray paint
• Rubber bands
• Wine glasses
• Optional Materials: succulents and soil, candles, flower clippings

1. Start stretching the rubber bands around the tops of the wine glasses. 

2. You probably need to put at least 4 or 5 on each, but keep going until you have the design you want.

3. Turn the wine glasses over and spray on a few coats of the frosted paint, so they're fully coated.

4. Let the glasses dry completely. 

5. Remove rubberbands.

6. Unless you mark off space around the lip of the glass, these wine glasses won't be food-safe. I used them as planters for succulents. You could also turn them into candle holders or vases. Wherever your imagination takes you!

My mom loved her birthday present! 

DIY: Idea Jar

Today was one of those days I couldn't wait for work to end so I could run home and play with paint and popsicle sticks. That's normal right? It was definitely worth the 9 hour wait, because now I can finally put this little project to use.

Do you ever have that hour, that day, that weekend you need a little help figuring out what to do? I'm constantly taking note of activities I want to try later, but when later comes, suddenly all those ideas fly out of my mind. Anyone else have this problem? Or is it just me? Well, I hope you can relate, so you can be as excited about this DIY as I am!

Idea Jar:

Materials:

• Jar
• Paint (craft paint or spray paint)
• Paint brush
• Popsicle sticks
• Cloth
• Twine
• Pen (not pictured)
• Scissors (not pictured)
• Ideas and creativity**

1. Pick your idea categories and color coordinate. I chose red (costly/24 hour+ activity), purple (arts&culture), green (outdoor activity), yellow (inexpensive/no planning needed), and blue (food&drink).

2. Paint those popsicle sticks! It might help to make a list of your ideas first so you know how many of each color you need... or improvise!

3. Pick a fabric to wrap your jar in and cut it down to fit your jar. I folded the edges, wrapped the fabric around the jar, and tied the twine around it. If you want it to be more solid, you could put a few stitches around the edges and/or at the back. If your jar has a label, you might want to take it off. I just covered it to save time.

4. Write down all your creative ideas on the popsicle sticks and stick them in the jar.

Last is the best part: go find (or make) some free time in your schedule and see what activity you pull out of that jar first!

<3 Taylor

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! If there's one thing in the world I know, it is how special mothers are. There's no one else on this earth who knows you from the very moment you were created. I'm very blessed to have a mom who loves me so unconditionally. I have never felt more accepted, supported, and encouraged than by the words and actions of my mom. I've been through some rough times in this past year and I would never have survived without my phone and a mom who is willing to talk to me whenever I need her, however long I need her. Hope your Sunday was filled with beauty and appreciation of the love in your life.

Here's a little project I worked on for my beautiful mother (and she definitely liked it!):

Guest Blog: DIY Studded Flats

My sweet friend, Brittan, asked me to guest blog over at her site, What She Would Have Worn. I'm so excited to share this tutorial with you! Enjoy!

DIY Chalkboard To-Do List

Hello All!

I hope you are having a lovely week. The sun has decided to show it's lovely, warm face, so I'm pretty content. I'm also so thankful for longer days and the opportunity to take pictures in the sunlight still lingering after work! It's the little things.
I want to share a little DIY I've had in process and finally finished yesterday. I love to make lists, mostly To-Do lists, but really for anything. There's something therapeutic about the process, even if I never look at the list again. Anyone with me?
Well, I wanted to stop using up so much paper with all these lists, and I've always wanted to make my own chalkboard paint, so my craft project was born. I followed this tutorial for my base chalkboard paint. I painted on an extra 8" x 10" canvas I had laying around, but something more sturdy might work better (also maybe something bigger, haha).

Recently, I've become obsessed with triangles. All the ideas floating around in my mind come out involving this shape, and I'm going along with it. I wanted to add a little detail to my chalkboard so I gathered a bunch of different materials and paper and cut... you guessed it... triangles!

Then I centered the first triangle and placed the others alternating up and down until I reached the edges. My triangles didn't all quite fit so I just trimmed the edges so they were flush with the canvas. Next, I glued them all on using a bit of Elmer's glue. It was a simple process and I wanted to continue all the way around as a border, but decided I needed that space for my all the items on my lists.

And the finished product turned out perfectly cute and practical! Just the way I like it. It would be perfect to write dinner menues on for kitchen display or parties. Maybe even a sweet note to the roomie or significant other. Have fun creating your own, personalized chalkboard!

Little Obsessions #4

1. Geometric Skirt 2. Bow Wedges 3. Feather Dress 4. Chalkboard DIY 5. Lush Beer Shampoo 6. Fabric Markers

Craft projects coming soon! I've had a lot of ideas rolling around in my head lately. I think it's even more important to spend time in creativity when most of my day is now spent at my desk job. Never let a day become dull!

Fabric DIY

Recently, I inherited piles and piles of fabric samples. Crafter's dream come true! So many possibilities, it can be a little intimidating to starting creating. I started simply with the above card. (It's my Dad's birthday today, so special!) Mixing the prints and patterns was so fun and simple. Next time you have scraps, homemade cards are the perfect way to recycle!

I thought I should plunge in with something slightly more complex though. My next project was a small envelope pouch.

Here's what I did:

Materials:

• Fabric
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting Mat
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Pins
• Snaps or Velcro
• Button (optional)

Directions:

1. Pick fabric and measure out your two pieces. Measurements will vary depending on desired size. I made mine 8" wide by 5" height and 8" by 8".

2. Cut out pieces with rotary cutter and mat.

3. Make a triangle at the top of your taller piece, pinning one side and cutting off the excess material on the other to create a point. Unpin and cut off the excess material on that side.

4. Hem the edges. First pin one side of the triangle and the top of the smaller piece of the fabric. Sew. Repeat on other side of the triangle.

5. Place the two pieces of fabric with right sides facing each other. Pin the sides and sew.

6. Turn right side out.

7. Hand sew one part of the snap at center of the overlapping triangle and the corresponding piece on the body of the pouch.

8. Sew button on top for decoration.

Perfect for all your little treasures!

Beads and Braids

Maybe talking about the new year is a little out dated already, but seriously, this year is going to be amazing. I can feel it. So many possibilities. Usually, I like to fill up the future's vast unknown with hopes and dreams, even if none of them actually come to fruition. It's just kind of comforting. But this year I'm trying to be content with the present. Let the unknown be the unknown.
Not that I don't have goals or spend anytime dreaming. We all know that would be a lie.
(I think I spent an extra half an hour in bed this morning so I could keep dreaming. Is that normal?)
There are just too many good things happening to rush through them. And the hard things, well I think they should be appreciated too. So here I am enjoying a wonderful, new internship at Marked Showroom in downtown LA. Couldn't be more thankful for this opportunity!

Last week I worked on a simple project this DIY inspired. Accessories are the perfect way to avoid boredom with your wardrobe, and handmade, unique ones are even better. Using materials already on hand: triple better. I used colored hemp I had laying around and beads from a huge bag I snagged for $2 from the FIDM scholarship store. If you haven't been. GO. No regrets.
For the most part, I followed the DIY instructions, but I added a funky, focal bead. Just add knots on either side of the center bead to secure the beads in the braid. Now to experiment with more variations and make a pretty stack for my wrist!

Spin Me Round

Have you ever felt like a week is moving so fast, yet so slow? This first week of 2012 has proven to be quite a whirlwind, both good and bad. I like to focus on the positive though. Too many wonderful parts of life to do otherwise. Like gorgeous, warm weather, two internship interviews, homemade chai, inspiring, live music, and the best company. Sometimes you have to face and work through uncertainty and difficult emotions. That's where the greatest self-discovery and creative expression can be uncovered.

I found the spark for my first project of the year in lovely store window displays. I knew a few colorful pinwheels would be the perfect addition to a mostly blank wall in my apt. Luckily my roommate is easy going with my constant art projects!

DIY Pinwheel Wall Art

Materials Needed:

• Magazines/Paper
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Choose your piece of paper or magazine page.
2. Fold the bottom edge over. Make it thicker or thinner depending on how tight you want the folds to be or how much of the paper pattern you want to see.
3. Continue folding to the front and then the back until you make an accordion.
4. Fold paper in half and glue in the middle.
Repeat 1-4 to make 2 more of these pieces.
5. Glue the 3 pieces together to form a circle.
Repeat the process until you have enough pinwheels in varying sizes to make your own unique design. Then decorate your wall!


Hope you have a beautiful Monday!

Ringing in 2012

Happiest of New Years! I hope you all have a wonderful night of celebration and ringing in this beautiful new year. I love new beginnings and transitions. It brings a sense of adventure and keeps life from becoming old and routine. One of my resolutions for 2012 is to complete one craft project a week. It is important never to be too busy to spend time on the things you love the most! What are some of your resolutions?

I thought I'd share a quick DIY that I completed this past as the first project of my new resolution!

DIY Salt 'N Pepper:

 Materials:

• 2 Mini jars with lid (found at Joanne's)
• Drill with 1/8" glass drill bit
• Twine
• Pretty paper
• Stamps and ink
• Buttons or other decorations
• Laminator or clear gloss paint
• Big eye needle
• Super Glue

1. Determine how many holes you want and make a tiny dot with a sharpie to position them.
2. Grab your drill and carefully start drilling the holes. You should use some water as a lubricant and take breaks to keep tabs on your progress through the glass. For slightly smaller holes, stop drilling as soon as the drill breaks through the other side. It's a long process, so be patient.

3. Clean out the jars to remove any excess glass.
4. Cut out tags from the paper and stamp "salt" on one, and "pepper" on the other.

5. Laminate or paint with a clear coat to seal the tags.
6. String the twine on a needle and pull through the tag.
7. Tie the twine around the jar and make a bow.
8. Super glue the knot and a button on top for extra cuteness.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

My homemade Christmas cards. Scraps recycled into Christmas cheer for friends near and far!

Merry Christmas, everyone!
This Christmas season quietly sneaked up on me this year, but now that it's here, I'm soaking it in to the fullest! Wearing my black and gold, sparkly sweater and red skirt, chocolate cranberry bars are baking in the oven, champagne is full in our glasses, and family is here for dinner. Just waiting for my dad to light a fire in the fireplace, and it will be perfectly cozy!
I hope you are enjoying a time of joy and love as we celebrate Jesus' birth. Sometimes Christmas becomes so centered around gifts and obligations, but it truly is the thought and sincerity that makes this season sweet.
Love and peace to you all! <3

Let It Snow!

I love snow. It sparkles in the sun. It crunches under your feet. And it makes everything look cozy and romantic under it's white blanket.
*Keep in mind this is all coming from a naive Californian who has never driven in or shoveled snow in her life. I prefer the fairytale image.
But the only way LA can experience some of this magical substance is to make it themselves. Since I can't afford a snow machine, I'm cutting it out of paper (low budget). I wanted something a little more interesting than your typical childhood paper flakes, so I found a couple great instructional sites on Pinterest. This will be filling my spare time for the next couple days.

If you want to be scientifically accurate and create some 6-pointed snowflakes, click here.

Or get really crazy and go for the 8-pointed flakes. So pretty!

Once I get enough cut, maybe I'll try making something like this.

No need to buy. Find something to hang with, such as a hoop or branches, and some thread or string to dangle the snowflakes. Simple.

Add your pretty flakes to packages, windows, walls, trees, or candle votives. Hang from your car's rearview mirror or on your bedframe.

If you live in LA and still need your fill of snow that you can actually feel, head over to The Grove for snowfall at 7 and 8 pm until the 31st. Or, my personal favorite, snowfall while you ice skate at The W Hotel in Westwood. Somebody needs to take me there asap (*hint hint*).

DIY Photo Transfer

Christmas is rapidly approaching and if you're like me, you want to make gifts for everyone, but also end up waiting until the week before. Anyone else notice this procrastination habit extends past school? Well, this DIY is perfect for planners and procrastinators alike. As long as you manage to avoid a few fateful mistakes, which I will share for maximizing procrastination.
The original tutorial came from A Beautiful Mess, but somehow, I managed to do everything wrong while still believing I was following the directions perfectly. It's a talent, I know. For once in my life, I started a gift early. Thankfully! I went through the process 4 times, which meant 4-5 days before it was done.

Here are the mistakes to avoid:

1. LASER printer. No, inkjet is not the same as laser. Inkjet puts the ink into the paper, laser lays the ink on top for easy transfer. If you don't own a laser printer, it might be a bit hard to find a copy place that does, but Office Depot saved me.

It should NOT look like this while drying. The side facing up should stay blank and white.

2. The cheaper and thinner the paper, the better! This makes rubbing the paper off so much easier. No need for finger burn. Office Depot gave me nicer paper since it was a color copy. When I went back to ask for the cheaper paper, the guy looked at me like I was crazy. Don't worry, it's worth it.

3. Use a nice paintbrush for spreading the gel medium. Try to get out any lumps or would-be air bubbles. Depending on how rustic you want it, make sure it is a thick and even layer throughout. My cheap paintbrush gave me a lot of thinner spots, so there were more places the picture rubbed off or didn't transfer.

4. Don't go overboard when spraying the paper with water. It is actually easier to get the last layers of paper off when it is just barely damp and you are creating a friction between your finger and the paper.

5. For an extreme time crunch, blow dry the project to speed up the drying process. If you're not blow drying, I would wait a full 24 hours, just to be safe.

6. If you have a cat, do not put it within their reach even if they are not allowed to be on said surface (unless you are attempting to obtain hard evidence of disobedience). Cats do naughty things when they think we're not looking.


Please try out this tutorial (just avoid the above mistakes)! It is so fun to make your own. I even added a little French saying on a tea dyed piece of paper. My friend loved her gift, so it was all worth it in the end!

DIY Wall Art

coloring page from Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book

Let's think back to Kindergarten for a moment... didn't you love coloring? Whether or not you drew inside the lines is another story, I know, but with each crayon color you made, that picture came to life. I think it's kind of magical and a total ego booster for those of us with limited drawing abilities. I never could draw those figures in the coloring books, but somehow when I'm done adding color, it becomes my own perfect piece of art. So that is why I'm here to reopen your eyes to the world of crayon coloring. Pick some cute pages from a forlorn coloring book, copy a page or two, and color them in. Realistic, abstract, only your favorite colors... whatever your heart desires! Then give them a home in a thrift store frame or an empty one collecting dust in your closet. Instant wall art and you even relived a piece of your childhood in the process. Add a Disney movie and the experience is complete. I'll admit I watched Tangled.

If you are are looking for an even simpler idea, give new life to those old postcards. Frame them up and display. Perfect, inexpensive art! I have quite a few decorating my walls right now.

Have a wonderful week and drink something warm and autumn-y!

Little Obsessions #2

1. This wall art.

2. This marriage proposal featured on Green Wedding Shoes. One of the most creative, beautiful ones I've seen... I'll admit I shed a tear.



3. This look from Modcloth's new lookbook.

4. This Etsy shop, Fancy Clothes. Late birthday present for me!

5. This print technique. The more unusual, the better.

I Do Believe In Fairies

Happy Halloween!

I'll admit Halloween is not usually my favorite holiday-- I can never decide what to be -- but this year I loved dressing up as a fairy. It's one of those no-brainer ideas that you fight against because it's not very original, but you agree to because you'd have it no other way. Fairies are the loveliest creatures and I've been fascinated by them since I can remember. This is the closest I'll ever come to actually being one. If only my wings had a little flying magic...
All inspiration goes to Cicely Mark Barker and her Autumn fairies.

I'll leave you with a little fairy-esque DIY.
Dried Flower Treasure Boxes, perfect for organizing:

Materials:

• plastic boxes (mine are from the 99 cent store)
• Mod Podge or Clear drying glue
• tissue paper
• dried flowers
• misc materials to decorate with (buttons, pretty paper, lace, etc)
• scissors (not pictured)

1. Glue or Mod Podge your tissue paper over the lid. Be careful not to use to much because the paper may rip.

2. Trim excess tissue paper.

3. Arrange flowers and other decorations to your liking. You may want to let the Mod Podge or glue from your last layer dry first before going to the next step.

4. Glue down the bigger pieces and spread Mod Podge over the whole thing. Done!