How To Do Stuff Better

Flower Headbands

2010-05-29T13:57:00.006-05:00

You know those cute flower headbands that EVERYONE is wearing? Don't they seem like they're so easy to make instead of buying them for 7+ dollars at hair accessory stores? Well they are! I'll show you how to make them here.

Supplies:
-fabric of your choosing (check out the scrap section at your local Walmart or Hobby Lobby)
-buttons or beads (optional)
-head band (Walmart or Wallgreens has them cheap)
-needle and thread (any color)
-felt with a sticky back (Walmart of Hobby Lobby)
-scissors

1. First cut out the fabric in the shape of a flower. I typically cut out several different sizes so I can layer them for a cuter effect.
2. Sew the fabric flowers together by sewing straight through the middle from the underside to the top side. Sew a few stiches.
3. Before you tie of the sewing string, sew on your button or bead to the center of the flower.
4. Cut a circle of the felt adhesive about the size of a quarter and attach the flower to the headband by sticking this felt circle to the back of the flower with the headband squeezed in between.

Now you have your very own unique headband (and the bragging rights to say you made it yourself).

Modern Art for 10 bucks

2008-08-20T20:55:00.007-05:00

Looking for an inexpensive, classy home decor idea? Well I have just the perfect solution for you! Here are some examples of cheap paintings that I created using minimal products. All you need is a little creativity and about ten bucks.

-Pre Painting-1) First you'll need a blank canvas or two ( you can get a 12x19 board at Big Lots for $5!)

2) Next you'll need a few small bottles of cheap acrylic paint (I chose 3 different colors with the bottles being about a dollar apiece)

3) Lastly you'll need a paint brush (easily worth a quarter) and any cutesy stamp of your choice (mine was a dollar at Hobby Lobby)

-Painting-

1) Now all you have to do is paint! Start by painting the whole canvas with one base color

2) Next you'll stamp one of the other two colors in a grid like pattern covering the whole canvas leaving a few spaces for the other color

3) Then in those 3 or 4 random spaces you will stamp your last color for a little modern twist. (I used my boldest color for the random stamping to make it stand out)

And there you have it! A piece of modern art for around 10 bucks!

Creative Vintage Necklaces for Cheap

2008-07-19T17:36:00.004-05:00

Here is one of my favorite fashion ideas. You're sure to have one of a kind jewelry with little tip that I have been doing for years. What I like to do is go vintage or antique stores and buy cheap one or two dollar colorful beaded necklaces and then also pick up a couple cute and unique pins or brooches and attach the two together. You can coordinate with colors or put some cute animal pins together or whatever you feel like. Which ever items you decide to put together you're sure to be the highlight of any party with an inexpensive, interesting piece of jewelry that is sure to spark an interesting conversation!

Here are some of my favorites that I have created:

Store That Jewelry

2008-07-19T15:05:00.006-05:00

Here's a simple and cute way to display you're jewelry (especially if you are a necklace hoard!). Plus, it's so simple and cheap to do.

1. Take a trip to any antique story and find some victorian styled iron hooks. They usually come rusted and are very inexpensive. I bought mine for about 1-3 dollars a piece!

2. Then get a cheap bottle of spray paint in the color of your choice and have at it on the hooks.

3. Now your jewelry hanger is completed. You can hang it by your mirror or on either side of some shelves for a cute and classy touch!

Cheap Designing with Glass Bottles

2008-07-19T14:54:00.004-05:00

Alright here is the first tip/activity to do anything better and it's on decorating or designing. Ever wonder what to do with glass bottles besides throwing them in the trash? Well I have found a cute and creative way to make use of them in your home! Here's how to do it:

1. Take any labels off of clear glass bottles and rinse and clean.

2. Pic out some of your favorite colors of basic paint (I get my bottled paint from Hobby Lobby) and squirt a few squirts of paint into the bottle.

3. Next you'll poor a small bit of water into the bottle to mix with the paint (remember if the paint is too liquidy then it'll just run in the bottle and it wont work correctly so poor about a tablespoon at first).

4. Now you'll cover the top of the bottle with your hand and shake it up, making the inside of the bottle covered in your favorite color. Perfect! Now let it try

5. For the finishing touch buy some cute, inexpensive plastic flowers like daisies and place one or more in each of your colored bottles and place on display!

What a way to design without burning holes in your pocket. Say tuned for more designing ideas and ways to look polished without spending hundreds of dollars.

Welcome

2008-07-15T21:31:00.001-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. On this blog I hope to share with you tips and tid-bits that will improve your life in someway. May it be "how to put on eyeshadow correctly" or "decorating advice and projects" or even "how to deal with a break up" I hope you will find a few of these items useful for everyday activities or simply: Making Your Life Better. I hope to post as many snippets of advice that I can on here shortly. If you have any questions on how to do things just get them to me and I'll try and help. Thanks for visiting my site and I hope you enjoy these small improvements to your lifestyle.

Take care,

Courtney