t shirt headbands

This is something I've been wanting to try for a while now! I just recently cut up some high school t-shirts for a quilt I'm working on (coming soon!). I didn't just want to throw away the t-shirt scraps, so I used them to make some headbands!! I used to methods of stitching the ends together. Needle and thread or hot glue, or a combination of both. Super easy and definitely an upcycle!!

~Kaitlin

Green ombré shirt

If you haven't already noticed, ombré is in right now!! I took an plain white shirt and turned it into a stylish renovated piece!

Here is what you'll need:

A cup of salt
Rit dye
Warm water
Cleaning bucket
hanger
timer



you can use table salt or sea salt, as well as liquid dye or the powder dye!

1. Warm up 4 cups of water either in the microwave or on the stove

2. Combine the cup of salt, the dye, and water in a bucket. Mix carefully. I strongly suggest wearing gloves so you don't stain your hands!

3. Following the image below, provided by http://www.urbanthreads.com  set your timer and soak your shirt using the proper timing.

4. Rinse with cold water, and allow to air dry, and boom! Ombré perfection!

~Kaitlin Dekkers

Properly cleaning you make up brushes

Admit it, through a busy day, sitting down and cleaning your make up brushes is one of the very last things on your mind. But what if I told you it will save you money and stress? Say what?! Now that I've got your attention.....

When ladies go long periods of time without cleaning their brushes properly, oils, dead skin cells, make up, and bacteria start taking over. Um can you say ew? No wonder why our skin breaks out! If you can learn how to efficiently clean those brushes you will have much clearer skin, spend less on acne fitting treatments, less on cover up, resulting in having to wear less make upon general! Clear skin, and less money sounds like a win win to me!

Here's what you need:

Dirty make up brushes
Two large glasses
Soap or shampoo
White vinegar
Warm water
Towel

1.One brush at a time, run the hairs of the brush under a warm faucet, and with your fingers, gently work in the soap or shampoo. I like using shampoo cause it is gentle on brushes that use real animal hair. You will be shocked by how much make up starts rinsing out.

2.After most of the make up is out fill a large glass with hot water and let the brush soak.

3.Repeat steps one and two till all your brushes are pretty clean. If the glass of water starts getting cloudy with leftover make up residue, pour the water out and refill with more hot water.

4. Rinse brushes with hot water again, to get the shampoo out. In a separate glass, pour it half way full with white vinegar. Let all the brushes soak in this four about five minutes. This will kill all leftover bacteria!

5. Dry brushes out on a clean cloth. And there you have it!! Hygienic brushes! Do this once every two weeks or so!

~Kaitlin

A little bit of love

So as you can probably tell from one of my recent decor posts, teal and purple are the new color combos in my dorm (not to mention white, silver, and black... the classics!) I took this wooden lettering, that looked outdated, and did not match anything in my dorm, and gave it a little makeover! Here is how I did it!

Tools:

Wide sponge paint brush
2 colors of acrylic craft paint
some old lace
a makeup sponge
           

1. I took my purple paint and applied a nice base coat (or 2 or three base coats! The red was pretty dark) with the large sponge brush.

2. I waited a few minutes for the paint to dry and wrapped the letters in some old lace. (I believe it was an old table cloth from goodwill... score!)

3. I dipped my makeup sponge in the teal paint and evenly worked it over the lace. In some spots I applied the paint a little more generously so the effect would be cooler.

Dorm room approved!!

~Kaitlin

Vintage sheet music

Okay folks, if you knew me you would know I LOVE music, and everything about music. I also love old vintage style decor. So... why not combine two of my favorites into one awesome diy project?! I went to a few garage sales and picked myself up some old sheet music, preferably from the 50's or before. The older it is, the more yellowing the paper will have. If you would like to darken the music, or give it a more aged look, soak the paper in strongly brewed coffee! I used super glue, but mod podge would work even better! I cut paper to fit my headboard, and poof! Instant chic! :)

 

Kaitlin

Salmon, Black, and Silver nails

This look is extremely easy!

1. I put a base clear coat on my nails

2. I apply two coats of the salmon pink, or whatever color your little heart desires!

3. I let the second coat of pink fully dry for at least 10 minutes.

4. I make one, two even sweeps across my nail bed with Kisses black detailing nail polish

5. Dot along the line with the desired amounts of dots with the tip of the detailing brush

6. Whichever lines do not contain the dots, shadow them with Kisses detailing silver glitter nail polish

Vwala! professional looking nails! Enjoy :)

Kaitlin

Dorm crafts

Supplies needed:

Acrylic paint
Paint Brush
Stencil  of your choice
Objects around the house to repaint
*Puff Paint
*Painter's Tape

*optional

Any household object can be spruced up!

The criss-cross french pony!

The criss-cross french pony!

1. Start at the hairline and braid at an angle across the top of the head.

2. Once you get to the back of the head, start braiding in the opposite direction.

3. You can either braid the rest of the rest of the pony, or leave it unbraided!

Super cute hair style, enjoy!!

~Kaitlin