Homemade Tutus

     I made these tutus for my nieces for Christmas and they were a HUGE success!  Here is the original blog post on how to make them: http://www.momdot.com/howtomakeatutu.  I don't own a sewing machine, but that did not pose an issue.  The girls were able to wear the tutus and run and jump, and they fared very well!

What you will need:

Tulle strips (you can get them in rolls at Hobby Lobby). It is easiest to do it this way, rather than cutting your own. I got 3-4 different colors, and 4 rolls will make you 2 tutus.

Elastic Strips

Thread and a needle (to sew the elastic together)

Glue gun

Embellishments (I made fabric flowers, and hot glued rhinestones on for added bling!)

    The fabric flowers were so easy! Here's a link to the blog I learned how to do them on: http://www.paigesofstyle.com/2011/02/diy-fabric-flower-cupcake-topper.html. 

Magnet Makeup Board

     Okay, this is one of my favorite projects I've done!  I have a boyfriend who LOVES Home Depot, so I learned a lot doing this one. It was pretty cheap and not hard to do at all, you just need to get the right stuff.

What you will need:

Frame (on sale at Hobby Lobby)

Metal sheet (mine was $5 at Home Depot)

Gorilla Glue (or any other liquid nails works best)

Packet of round magnets (Home Depot)

For the brush vase:

Short glass vase (a Mason jar would be cute too!)

Small pebbles (pretty cheap at Hobby Lobby)

     After a couple tries (hot glue gun and punching nails through the metal) we found that liquid nails are the best route.  It takes a few hours for the glue to set, if you apply weight (we used cans of food), but it was a one-try success!  You can either use a hot glue gun or the Gorilla Glue to apply the magnets to the makeup, just make sure they will be strong enough to hold the makeup up.  

The 6 Be's for $6

     Here is another fun thing I did for my kitchen!

    Hobby Lobby was having a sale on frames, so I got a pretty nice frame for $6.  If you are a frugal DIY-er (like I try to be) you can find a frame for pretty cheap, which is great, because it was really all you will spend money on for this project. Here is the link for the original poster's blog entry: http://www.stayathomeartist.com/2011/08/six-bs-sign-re-do.html.  It is definitely worth checking out, because she included a printable for the Be's.  I used sparkly stickers and scrapbook paper that I had, but this project is one you can easily make into your own.

The Pinterest Addiction

     In the last few months, I have not only discovered Pinterest, but become a full-fledged addict.  My first assignment this semester was to create a presentation about a technology (like Facebook or Twitter) and relate is to health.  Yes... I chose Pinterest, and it was quite the success.  After I sat down, a girl asked me to invite her, because I sold her on this new mania that is spreading like wild fire.  If I make it my life goal to get the world as addicted to Pinterest as I am, I am pretty sure I will be successful.
     Between this amazing website (pinterest.com) and Hobby Lobby, I am quickly becoming the epitome of a Granny Crafter- at that is fine with me! I am excited to share my successes, and especially share how you can follow in my footsteps.  Some things I have done from Pinterest have proved to be fun and easy, and others (like the flower wreath I'm working on right now) are a kick in the pants, but totally worth it!  Pictures of the dreaded Valentine's Day wreath will soon ensue.
     I am definitely going to include links to the blogs/ websites I got my craft ideas from, as to not take credit from anyone else.  But, hey, maybe I will be able to post things in the future that are of my own creation!
     I am still new to this whole blogging thing- probably because I don't have cute babies or a husband to blog about yet, but I guess my fun crafts and college adventures are a good place to start!  Let's look at what I have done so far!

     Most of what I've done from Pinterest thus far have been Christmas presents for my 9 nieces and nephews this last Christmas.  Everything turned out great! Here is what I did!


Homemade Angry Bird Game
     This was for Brock and Thayne.  Here is the link to the blog that I got the idea from, http://www.makeandtakes.com/crafting-with-angry-birds, but I did make it my own, so I will expound.

What you will need:

20 small styrofoam balls

2-3 large styrofoam balls (for those giant dark red guys)

Packet of 50 googly eyes

One sheet each of red, yellow, black, and orange felt

Black and red pipe cleaners

Acrylic paint in blue, red, green, yellow, black, and dark red

Foam paint brush

Glue gun

Sling shot ($5 at any outdoor store. I got mine at Sportsmans)

Small Dole cups

Wide popsicle sticks

     As far as the slingshots go, you can use your own discretion. The boys I made this for are 4 and 5, so they actually had a blast just throwing the birds. The cups and popsicle sticks are to build the towers with, but you are more than welcome to build with whatever you can find!

The acrylic paint did pretty well at covering the styrofoam. They took a little longer that spray paint would have, but spray paint tends to disintegrate styrofoam.

Once we got all the felt cut out (my best friend and I just popped in a movie and visited!) the birds and pigs came together pretty quick!

Doesn't that just look like FUN in a box?? 

     This project is definitely one that took more time, but it was worth it!  The boys got a gift that they definitely weren't getting from Santa.  This one, I will log as a SUCCESS.

Paw Prints and Guardian Angels

     This blog isn't going to be a way for me to bare my soul for the world to see (some things should be kept private, people!!! haha), but I am excited to put into writing the things that mean something to me. It is a well-known fact that once something is released to the internet, it will be there forever. I started this blog as a fun way to keep something like a journal. I know, I'm not getting married anytime soon, and that I don't have adorable children to show off yet, but I am positive that I will someday enjoy looking back on how my life was like when I was 20 years old in the year 2011. My Grandma Betty loves going back to her journals, often sharing with me the things that meant something to her in the past. I really want that.

     Isn't it crazy that one simple image could mean so much?

     I guess this post will be about something that started a long time ago, and still affects me to this day. When I was young, something awful happened to me and I lost a parent. However, that something led to many great things happening. I moved on to grow in a home that taught me to love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have a huge and wonderful family, two parents who love me very very much, big goals I will achieve, and so much more. I'm not saying that none of that would have happened had my life taken a different track, but I know that I wouldn't have a special guardian angel with me every day now, had I not gone through this loss. For anyone who has lost someone, there are so many reasons you can put into your head about why such a terrible thing would happen, but what does dwelling in the past do for you? I was lucky enough to be raised to seek the great things in life and every situation I have. Yeah, I suffered a loss, but now I have someone watching over me every second of every day. Some say that when a person dies, they are so busy living and doing things on the other side of the spectrum that they don't have the time to keep an eye on living loved ones. I find that true as well, but for only part of the time.

    Every time I see the image of a lion cub paw print, my mind immediately turns itself to Lion King. And then I think about a wonderful man named Billy Brown.  Random you say? Oh, but no ;)..... When Simba was a young cub, he lost his father suddenly. Life seemed like it stopped, that there was nothing good that would come from such an awful thing happening to someone so young and innocent. Simba then had an experience that made him realize that his father still loved him, and watched out for him throughout everything (triumph, as well as tribulation). Simba eventually became a strong, valiant lion, and achieved much. A crucial reason for such a happy ending was the fact that, through the loving protection of a guardian angel, Simba took something terrible and made it into something wonderful. We will all lose someone we love at some point in our life. It happens. The most important thing to remember is that when a mortal body no longer holds a spirit, that spirit lives on, and so does love.

Pink Hair and Mario Kart, the Summer of 2011!

            The sophomore year of my college career is over, and I can’t believe it! I am starting to enjoy life without the nagging, ugly cloud of school looming over my head. This summer, Lauren and I decided to stay up in Provo, rather than going home for yet another long summer without the freedom we have become accustomed to. While I miss home and my family, the freedom of being an adult is still something that is new and exciting. I was going to be an overachiever and take online classes to get ahead, but the thought of more hours at work (which equates to more money!!!) was more alluring. I have been grabbing as many shifts in the customer service department at Platinum Protection as I can get my hands on. I am actually an hour and 13 minutes into a 15 hour shift right now! Now, some may say that my migraines (or whatever else is wrong with me) may have caused  something in my brain to malfunction, further causing me to make the insane decision to work such a monster shift on a holiday. However, let me break it down for you: 15 hours on holiday pay (time and a half)….. yah baby…… long story short, I’ll be the one laughing when I get my paycheck, haha!

So far, my time off school has been great! It’s been full of dying a streak of my hair fun colors [hot pink right now!] with Susie Alico (and giving my parents miniature heart attacks at the same time), bonfires with friends, and taking care of my pet fishy, Cosmo. Cosmo’s not a puppy, like I’ve REALLY been wanting, but he will do for now. I have invested in Mario Kart for my Wii, and so far, it has been well worth my money. Lauren and I have no shortage of people to play with us. Thus far, we have gotten our friends Madeline, Connor, Adam, and Brock addicted to our awesome game, and I am sure there are more to come as time goes on. I have discovered the wonderful world of wedding planning with girls at work (greenweddingshoes.com is the BEST wedding blog there is). I have also rediscovered crocheting and crossword puzzles: the GIANT puzzles from SCRAMBLE-GRAM Inc. are the way to go (they are the same puzzles that are in the STAR magazine every week). I am also reading as many David Baldacci and John Grisham books as I can get my hands on. Currently, Stone Cold by Baldacci is keeping me pretty busy. So…… long story short, this summer has been AWESOME, but for some reason that will not be disclosed at this time, I am pretty excited for the end of the summer to roll around…… ;)

My buddies out in the mission field are never far from my mind (our pictures with them are EVERYWHERE in our apartment, and sometimes used to scare scary boys away…) and I think and pray for them often. Chase is in Bolivia, Matt in El Salvador/Belize, and Jeremy in Mexico. Yes, they are all perfecting the Spanish language, with I am sure will be put into good use with each other after they get back.  They are all doing well, and I am one proud friend. As much as I miss them, I am often reminded of the blessings of missionary work, both for the missionary and those they teach. Keep up the good work guys!

So, let’s do a little bit of what everyone has to do every time they start a new journal or whatever…. A mini “About Me”… I am 20 years old, a student in the Public Health Program at BYU, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Right now, here are my favorites:

Color: Hot Pink ;D

Shows: Psych, Bones, Criminal Minds, Law and Order, Pretty Little Liars, COPS, The Glades, House…

Movies: Tangled, Remember the Titans (that’s a permanent fave), Limitless….. eh, I guess I’m not the biggest movie watcher…

Song: Super Bass, by Nicki Minaj and Party Rock Anthem, by LMFAO

Church Hymn: How Great Thou Art (ESPECIALLY when sung by Carrie Underwood)

Food: sticky rice with ranch on top, baby carrots, and PEANUT BUTTER (not all together though, that’s gross…. :P)

Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry’s: Red Velvet Ice Cream (oh yeeeeeah, Lauren haha)

Person: well, according to my Facebook status, its Lauren haha, what are you gonna do, huh?

Store: Papaya, at the University Mall. It is newly discovered, and when I get paid, I’m going to try and stay away as long as I can!

Game on my phone: Words with Friends! Pretty much because I’m kicking Lauren’s sorry butt right now…

Thing to do on a warm night: going on long walks with a friend, or even alone when I have a lot to think about ;)