Hairstyles by Myself: Twisty Little Bun

This simple twist on a bun hairstyle is a great way to make a subtle statement and keep the hair out of your face.  Bonus: If you don't know how to french braid this is a great hairstyle to try because it has the same modeled look, but is a lot easier!  Also, it lets you inch in another day out of your blow dry.  However, if you do this hairstyle on wet hair, you'll achieve pretty beach waves when you undo it later.  This is the perfect holiday party hairstyle as well and to gussy it up even further, you can accessorize with headbands and hair clips (check out my previous DIY's to learn how to make these!)

Step One:  Start with tangle-free hair.

Step Two:  To texturize, scrunch hair with hands, using a product if necessary.

Step Three:  Section off a small piece of hair at the top of the head and divide it in half.  Twist the two pieces of hair together and add more hair to one section.

Step Four:  Continue the same process of twisting and adding hair down your head.

Step Five:  Twist and add hair along the back of your head, near the hairline, until you run out of hair.

Step Six:  Using an elastic, secure the hair at the base of the twist, creating a ponytail.

Step Seven:  Twist your ponytail into a bun.

Step Eight:  Place bobby pins along the base of the bun to keep it in place.

Step Nine:  Accessorize by adding a headband or hair clip as shown above (optional).

Step Ten:  Apply hairspray to keep style in place and fluff the twist for a softer look (optional).

This was my first attempt at a hair DIY and it was a lot of fun to put together!  I hope this tutorial helped you create a beautiful hairstyle—I'd love to hear your feedback and see pics of what you've created on my Facebook page!  Also, let me know if you'd like to see more segments of "Hairstyles by Myself" in the future!

Thanks for stopping by,

Kelly

Easy Mosaic Wall Art Tutorial

Be an artist and create a beautiful and creative masterpiece by using my free printable Mosaic Template and recycling magazine scraps.  I had a lot of fun sitting around this holiday season and lazily glueing this project together while spending time with my family.  It's so simple that you don't have to worry about messing up either—the goal of this project is just to relax, enjoy and let your creativeness flow!

I also hope you'll like my hand-drawn illustration of a girl walking in the rain with an umbrella.  I was inspired to create it after seeing local artwork and watching the constant drizzle of rain here in Oregon.  Even though grey weather can be a bit boring, it does make the perfect excuse to stay inside with a warm cup of hot chocolate and throw a craft party!

Materials: Click and print free Mosaic Template, scissors, decoupage or glue, a foam brush, a thick piece of paper, and some magazine scraps (you'll need both fine print and colors)

Step One:  Search through some old magazines and focus on one color that comes in a variety of shades (I chose green).  Once you collect a handful of scraps, organize them into three piles by shade: light, medium, and dark.  Then, cut the pieces into small squares, about 1 centimeter long.

Step Two:  Print the free Mosaic Template I created and apply a thin layer of decoupage or glue to a section of the drawing (it's easier if you work in small sections and go from top to bottom).

Step Three:  You'll notice the template drawing has thee different shades: dark, medium, and light. These correspond with the mosaic tiles you cut earlier—it's the same basic idea as paint by number!  In dark areas, apply small pieces of dark tiles and vice versa in other sections.

Step Four:  Continue this process until you're done filling in the picture.

Step Five:  Once you're done glueing the tiles, cut the girl out with scissors, following along the edges.  Then, set aside to dry for a while.

Step Six:  Meanwhile, cut scraps of magazine that have lettering and fine prints on them.  Then, glue them onto a thick piece of paper and let it dry.

Step Seven:  Glue the mosaic girl onto the magazine print background.  If you want, write an inspirational quote on the background.  By cutting out scraps of pink paper, I spelled out "Everything will be OK".

Step Eight:  Let your masterpiece dry and you're done!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and check back soon for a new series of projects having to do with creating your very own calendar!

Please feel free to share this craft with your friends and don't forget to "like" my Facebook page!

See you later,

Kelly

Recycled Bottle Bracelet Tutorial

What's better than creating a chic piece of jewelry that costs practically nothing?  A pretty bracelet that helps the environment and is budget-friendly too!  These colorful bands are sure to make a fashionable statement to any outfit.  To build them, recycle a used water bottle and some scraps of paper.  This craft is it's easy to do by yourself or with friends during the upcoming holidays.  Let's get started:

 What You'll Need:  a plastic water bottle, scissors, decoupage, a foam brush, and an assortment of patterned paper (you could use scrapbook, tissue, or leftover calendar paper for this)

Step One:  Using scissors, carefully cut through the water bottle to create a round bracelet (I used the segmented pattern on the bottle as a guide).

Step Two:  Brush a layer of a decoupage glue, such as Mod Podge, onto bracelet.

Step Three: Snip pieces of a patterned paper and secure them to the glue, holding for about 45 seconds each.

Step Four:  Continue covering the plastic bracelet with pieces of paper until it's fully covered.

Step Five:  Seal the bracelet with a top coat of decoupage and let it dry for approximately 15 minutes.

Step Six:  Now enjoy wearing your new fashionable and eco-friendly jewelry!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial—these bracelets will make great gifts for the holidays!

Would you like to see more repurpose/recycled crafts in the future?  Maybe I could do something with a bottle cap. . . !  Please let me know in the comments below.

Have fun,

Kelly

DIY Autumn Flower Hair Clip

Hey there!  All of the brilliant falling leaves outside inspired me to create this easy DIY hair accessory tutorial.  The best thing about this flower (other than being super cute) is that it's easy to create.  It hardly takes any time to make and you probably have all the materials for it at home.  Let's get started:

For this project you will need tape, a needle & thread, seed beads, scissors, snap clips, and tissue paper.

To start off, use scissors to cut a variety of different circle sizes from the tissue paper.

Layer the circular "petals" on top of each other so that they overlap a little bit, exposing each color.

Using a needle & matching thread, sew the pieces of paper together securely in the center.

String seed beads onto the thread and sew them on top of the flower.  Once you're done, tie a fastened knot on the backside.

Tape a snap clip onto the back of the flower.

Lastly, give the flower texture by crinkling the tissue paper a bit.  

Now you're ready to wear your beautiful Autumn flower out-and-about!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great week.

Keep crafting,

Kelly

Ribbons and Buttons Headband Tutorial

This pretty headband is the perfect back to school accessory!  It's super easy to create and hardly takes any time.  To create your own, garnish a pretty ribbon by adding sparkling seed beads and cute buttons.  Use comfortable stretch elastic that won't give you a headache like the rigid store-bought kind.  Wear it to school, a formal occasion, or downtown and you're sure to receive a lot of compliments.  Here's the tutorial:

1. Materials: ribbon, stretch elastic, scissors, seed beads, 3 buttons, needle & thread.

2. To find your headband length, wrap the ribbon around your head.  Once you find a comfortable length, cut with scissors.  Next, remove two inches from the ribbon you just cut.  Cut a piece of stretch elastic to 2 1/2 inches.

3. Hand sew the stretch elastic to the end of the ribbon.

4. Repeat the same process on the other end.

5. With the needle and thread, start to sew on one of the buttons.  I positioned mine off center, but you can put them wherever you want.  The last time you come through the top of the button, thread a couple of seed beads on.

6. Repeat this process by adding two more buttons.  Trim excess thread and you're done!

During school days, when there's barely enough time to do your hair in the morning, these headbands will be a lifesaver!

Want to see more beauty related crafts?  Leave a comment down below.

Be creative,

Kelly

Stylish Pencil Pouch Tutorial

Hit the halls in style this school year when you create these cute and easy pencil pouches!  Before school starts, get together with your friends and host a fun crafting party.  Everyone can bring their own special style to this project.  All you need to do is gather up a few pretty papers and some basic crafting supplies.  Create a sealable pouch by recycling an ordinary sandwich bag.  Once you're done, stash all your basic office supplies in them from pencils and pens to scissors and glue.

What You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Patterned paper
• Double-sided tape
• Packing tape
• Resealable plastic bag

Step One:  Cut patterned paper in strips that fit the size of the plastic bag.  If you don't have any fancy paper handy, recycle an old calendar or use wrapping paper.

Step Two:  Apply double-sided tape to the backside of the paper you cut.

Step Three:  Secure the paper onto the front face of the plastic bag.  Repeat this process on the opposite side of the bag by cutting and taping on more paper.

Step Four:  Create a glossy finish by applying packing tape over the paper.

Step Five (Optional):  Accessorize with tape and stickers and you're done!  You can also attach magnets to the back of the pouches and hang them inside your locker.

I'm starting high school this year and I know that these pencil pouches will come in handy.  I'm making these ahead of time because once school starts, I know I'll be busy.

Do you want to see more back-to-school crafts?  Leave a comment down below.

Craft on,

Kelly

Cute as a Button Card Tutorial

Use my free printable template to create these cute and easy button cards!

Give all your friends these cute and easy handmade button cards!  The unique doodle design that I created complements the simple button decorations.  Say anything from "happy birthday" to "thank you" to "congratulations" when giving these away.  If you want, you can also keep these for yourself.  Use them to adorn your room by framing them as art or find another creative use—the options are endless.

What You'll Need:

Click to Print

• Free printable Button Card Template
• Card stock (or any thick paper)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ruler
• Buttons (3-8 depending on card)
• Colored pencils or markers

Step One:  Click and print my free Button Card Template.  Using scissors, cut along the outside edges of desired card.

Step Two: With pencils or markers, color in the picture.

Step Three:  Measure out a piece of card stock or any thick paper to 10 x 5 inches with the ruler and cut out with scissors.

Step Four:  Fold the piece of paper in half and crease.

Step Five:  Glue the template cut-out onto the top face of the paper.

Step Six:  Using a liquid glue, adhere the buttons and you're finished!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have fun creating these easy cute as a button cards!

Keep crafting,

Kelly

Recycled Denim Owl Purse Tutorial

Use my free printable template to create this adorable owl purse!

Using an old pair of denim jeans, you can create your own cute owl purse!  Wear it out and about with anything and you'll look and feel great.  The soft felt accents create unique colors that pop against the casual denim material.  Use it to carry all your necessities including your wallet, notes, makeup, and phone.

Sit down and relax while creating this easy project.  Most of the materials you'll need for this are probably laying around somewhere near you.  For the denim, I recycled an old pair of jeans that I didn't wear anymore.  If you don't have any felt, you can choose to experiment with different fabrics and textures.  This project is so carefree, anything you do will look great!

What You'll Need:

Click to Print

• Free Printable Owl Template
• Denim or old pair of jeans
• Felt
• Embroidery floss and needle
• 2 Buttons
• Scissors
• Sewing Pins
• Ribbon

Step One:  Click and print my free Owl Template.  Cut out all the pieces with scissors.  Using sewing pins, secure the body cutout to two pieces of denim with wrong sides together.  Pin the rest of the cutouts to the felt.  The number on the cutouts corresponds with the number of pieces you will need to pin together.

Step Two:  Using scissors, cut around all the templates.  Remove the pins and template.

Step Three:  Choose one piece of the body to be the front and the other the back.  Layer the buttons and eyes on the body.  Using embroidery floss, sew the eyes and button to the denim.

Step Four:  Layer the pieces of felt onto the front of the body into desired position.  Using embroidery floss, appliqué the felt on using a basic "under over" stitch.

Step Five:  Using embroidery floss, create eyelashes.  Tie a piece of the ribbon into a bow and stitch it on to the side of the head.

Step Six:  Stitch the front and back pieces of the body together using matching embroidery floss.  Remember not to sew the top so that the bag will be able to open.

Step Seven:  Use a strip of denim to create the shoulder strap.  Make it as long or short as you want.  Stitch it to the inside of the bag, by the ears.  For a sturdier and more finished looking strap, use the inseam of a pair of jeans.

After you're done creating this easy denim owl purse, come back here and share what you've made!

Have fun,

Kelly