Galaxy Nails

^click to make bigger!

I've seen these floating around pinterest and have wanted to try them for awhile now. The only problem is, when it comes to something this intricate---I need NO distractions. So I got up at a decent time, made a huge breakfast, and while the kiddo was distracted with that food I snuck off to my nail guinea pig-my mother's roomate Dee. =)

The technique used was taking makeup facial sponges (found at the dollar tree for a nice big pack - they're shaped like triangles), putting different blots of 'space' paint (dark blue, purple, teal, and a nice dark silvery grey), "stamping" the sponge into that and then rolling the sponge onto nails that already have a black base-coat on. This stamping effect is nice because it blends it so nicely and dries faster than the usual paint-by-brush way. For more detailed instructions on using sponges for nails, check out this pin *here*  from Laynie's Fingers Blog =) 

So after I rolled on the lovely colors, I went thru and blotted the blue, purple, and teal into certain areas that I wanted to have a more bold color. Let that dry, and then taking a nice chunky gold top coat, do little random areas in the gold. No need to be perfect, the galaxy isn't cookie-cutter shape! Take a toothpick and a super glittery silvery and make little "stars." To add contrast, I added little "star" dots mainly in the gold areas to let them show thru. It would be fun to do mini-constellations as well!

Let me know if you've done "galaxy" nails before, or were inspired by this post! Link back to me, let me know! =)

POPsicles!



I hadn't realized it...but I had never before made popsicles with my son. At age 3, I felt guilty for him missing out on this! The dollar tree has simple little popsicle molds this summer. So I grabbed it & gathered some of our favorite juice!

(no dollar tree? want to save even more? *click here* to see the DIY on how to use dixie cups for this!)

other great fillers:
-pudding
-yogurt
-blended/pureed fruit

Make sure to either do this outside, or lay down newspaper (a few layers, not just 1 sheet) to absorb spills (see above photo, haha). I thought I would try to use the MIO water additive... it was a bust. The flavor ended up sinking to the bottom. Kind of turned out cool looking, but the one end was flavored and too sour for my liking. Have your camera handy to capture some sweet summer memories!! Enjoy your sunday! <3

DIY His&Hers Frosty Mugs

Spring is just starting, and with that comes flowers, gardening, and sitting out on the porch at then end of the day with a nice cool glass of your favorite beverage. My husband's might be coke & jack, mine sweet tea =)

I cannot believe in just a few short days he will be home finally! It has truly felt like it would never come, with the usmc saying he'd be able to come home in October, then no, then maybe around thanksgiving, and it changed again to no...the constant "waiting game" that we thought we were use to but oh so obviously wasn't. Here is one of the little surprises I have up my sleeve for him. It's more for my entertainment, but he HAS been hinting around for a frosty mug ;)

The great thing about this craft is it only cost me $2.00, these cute frosty mugs are in different bright colors at the Dollar Tree store this spring! They have a lid with a straw as well. I used puffy type of craft paint (read the bottle it should say it can be used for crafts with plastic as well)... and if you don't have any it's relatively cheap to buy! I did the Mr. & Mrs. by hand (could be changed obviously to His&Hers if you aren't married), and put red glitter on the Mrs. Lips! So cute! It helped the red paint POP against the hot pink cup. Link to me if you do this, I'd love to see your mugs!

Participating in my first "link party" this Tuesday from cute blog: Reasons to Skip The Housework ;)

DIY: Jean Spring Wreath

As I posted last week, I said I'd be working on a few spring wreaths. Here is one of them! Not only is this budget friendly (Mine cost just $1), it is total country chic! Lying in my scrap fabric bag was a pair of jeans. I try to save a few here & there that cannot go to charity, it had holes in unmentionable places (use to be my "workin outside" pair). When the dollar tree started rolling out all the new stuff for spring, I seen some basic wicker wreaths, and grabbed about 4 of them 2 big, & 2 small. A family friend has been slowing giving me her stash of fake flowers (I keep saying no, I don't need anymore, but somehow they end up in a car). The last carload brought some cute white daisy's - MY FAVE FLOWER!

You will need:
Some sort of basic wreath (check dollar tree, goodwill)
1 pair of old jeans (I only used 1 leg)
hot glue
Fake flowers of your choice

1. Cut the jeans into long strips. Hot glue 1 strip to the 'back' of your wreath, trying to hide it. Begin wrapping the strip around, slightly overlapping, gluing every few inches or so to secure it.
2. Once the wreath is covered, snip off some flower heads and decide your layout (the old wives tale of floral arranging is to have an ODD number of flowers, it's bad luck to have and even amount). If you are happy with how it looks, glue them into place!
3. I cut the tiny little pocket from the jeans, glued a piece of cardboard to the back, and then put it onto the wreath as well. I'd love to put something inside of it, just not sure yet.

=) Your wreath is finished! You could also glue some ribbon to the back to "hang" it from, that would be super cute too, or if you had a thicker wreath that won't hook into a hanger. Mine was only about an inch thick.

If you do this, I'd love to see it! Link back to me or leave a comment!