DIY: Wedding Snow Globe

I recently attended the beautiful wedding of my good friend, Jessica. I opted to get the newlyweds a gift card from the registry but also wanted to give them a little something extra... something handmade. I decided to make this little wedding snow globe.

Of course, this DIY isn't just for weddings, you could make this snow globe for any number of occasions or holidays. Here are the step by step instructions so you can make one for yourself!

What you'll need:

• plastic bride and groom cake topper (or whatever figurine you choose)
• wide mouth mason jar big enough to hold the cake topper
• hot glue
• glitter
• painter's tape
• two colors of spray paint (I used the wedding colors)
• water

Using the painter's tape, line the band and the lid of the jar like I did in the photo. Any paint that gets on the inside will make it difficult for you to securely tighten the lid.

I sprayed two bands and two lids just in case I made a mistake. Spray paint the band one color and the lid the other. Once they dried, I added a little heart with a red paint pen and wrote the newlyweds initials inside. 

Hot glue the bride and groom cake topper to the bottom of the lid. Add water and glitter to the jar. Make sure there isn't even one tiny piece of glitter along the rim. If there is, the lid won't seal correctly and the jar will leak. 

I suppose you could hot glue the lid to the jar but I ran out of time. I simply tightened the lid as much as I could. Luckily, I can report that the newlyweds did not open a soggy gift! 

Add a nice ribbon to give the snow globe a finished look and you're all done!

Lend a Helping Hand

I recently ran across this idea on Pinterest and decided to try it out for myself. I hope this inspires a few of you to do the same! I stopped into Target today on my lunch break and spent a little time in the "travel-sized" section. I grabbed some essentials and a few snacks and put together a couple of these bags for myself and my parents. The idea behind these is to carry a few in your car and when you pass by someone who looks like they could use a little help, pass the goods along!

Here is an example of what I put in my bags. I just realized, a bottle of water would be a good addition! 

Everything here was under $1. The cost could add up once you make a few bags, so just grab what you can afford when you can afford it. That little extra expense can make a big difference in someone's day.

Back To School Gift Ideas

It's that time again! Send your kids back to school with an adorable handmade 

gift for their new teacher! 

Who wouldn't love a bouquet of flowers like this? Simply fill a small cup with water for the flowers and place it inside a much larger mason jar. Line the space between the cup and the jar with plastic letter and number magnets.

Add a cute label to the top of a candy jar for your child's teacher to keep on his or her desk.

Speaking of candy, I can't get enough of these pencils. One package of Rolos, a Hershey's kiss, and some construction paper make up these adorable little gifts.

These framed crayon letters are simple and cute! Your child's teacher will be able to hang this proudly in the classroom.

Short on time? Grab a thick blank pad of paper from a local office supply store and let your child decorate it with markers! Attach a nice pen with a cute ribbon and you're good to go!

Add a Little Color

What better way to brighten up the front of your house than with a colorful front door? Until recently I thought red was the way to go. How could I not have considered my (current) favorite color? Yellow! Here are a few of my favorites...

source: one. two. three. four. five. six.

Stamptastic!

I try my best to put my shop name and Etsy link on everything I make. Most of the time this means running things back through the printer, which can get tedious. I was doing some brainstorming to figure out a simpler way to do this when I remembered a post I saw about personalized rubber stamps over on The Dainty Squid months ago. In this post, Kaylah recommends rubberstamps.net. I decided to give them a try and I'm happy I did!

I received my stamp only a few days after ordering and it was only $8 ($5 if you don't want a handle). Mind you, this stamp is small (only 1 1/2" x 1/2") and they quickly jump in price, especially when you get over 3 inches, but I think they're well worth the money! So there's my little product review for the day.

Is it Friday yet?!

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations, Delicate! Please contact me with your shipping info!

Batteries & Baby Wipes

Today, I'm thrilled to tell you all about my newest project... Batteries & Baby Wipes.  Upon speaking with a soldier who had just returned from Iraq, it became clear that our troops are in need of A LOT of items. When asked what items they need the most, he replied, "Batteries for our flashlights and baby wipes to keep clean." These are two items that we all take advantage of almost every day! Why not donate these things to some very deserving men and women?

Photo source: U.S. Army Flickr Page

I'm planning a donation drive as well as drop off locations around the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. To find out how you can help, visit the website here and like Batteries & Baby Wipes on Facebook!

Also... I'm posting the cookbook giveaway winner TOMORROW!

Blog Love: Longest Acres

I've decided to start a new feature! I try my best to read a lot of blogs... and I often come across new ones that I absolutely love, so why not share them? This week I'm dedicating this post to Longest Acres. I am so in love with this blog. You may have noticed the beautiful kitty photo in the post below. Well, that's just a taste of the gorgeous photos that Kate of Longest Acres frequently posts. Here are a few of my favorites (and the accompanying links)...

source: one. two. three. four. five. six. seven. eight.

I can't even tell you how much this blog makes me want to go live on a farm! I say that as if I would have the slightest idea how to do anything. I guess I'll just stick to feeding my turtles that roam the backyard... it's the closest I'll get for a while!

Relax

I've been pretty stressed and a little under the weather lately so I'm going to try my best to just take it easy this weekend. I want to actually get outside a little, watch weird/awesome 80's movies, and SLEEP. I'll leave you with some pretty photos...

source: one. two. three. four. five.

Happy Friday!

P.S. Have you entered the cookbook giveaway yet?! I'll be picking the winner in a few days!

Show Some Leg!

Let's talk SHORTS. I don't post a lot about "fashion" per se because I'm far from fashionable, but if there's one thing I love, it's a good pair of shorts! Not sure how you feel about them? Well, I've put together a little collection of my favorites and there's something here for everyone!

PATTERNED: This first pair is actually a DIY! Take a look at how to make your own! Aren't the floral pairs awesome? They're so 90's.

 DRESSY: It's hard to pair boots and shorts with class, but the girl in this first photo definitely pulled it off. Small details like the tiny scalloped edge on the second pair can make a huge difference.

JEAN SHORTS (LONG): Long jean shorts can be tricky. Here are a few ways to add a sometimes much needed feminine touch. The first and second photos both show a great way to dress these shorts up using tailored jackets. The woman in the bottom photo used accessories such as bracelets and rings to add a feminine feel.

 JEAN SHORTS (SHORT): On the other side of the spectrum, we have short jean shorts. There's no need to worry about making these feminine, but a few accessories never hurt. I love the brown belt with the ripped shorts in the first photo and the headband in the second.

KNIT: I honestly had never considered knit shorts until I started doing some research for this post but I LOVE this idea. They look so comfortable. Notice how both pairs of shorts are paired with a leather accessory. This makes them appear less like something you should just be wearing around the house. The clutch in the first photo reminds me of the one I just found at an estate sale and I love the belt in the second photo.

LACE: I can't get enough of these lace shorts! They are definitely on my "to make" list. One of each color (white and black) would be great!

SEQUINED: Ahhh yes, I saved the best for last. How awesome are these sequined shorts? They are incredibly versatile. Dress them up with a sheer blouse and accessories like the first photo, wear them with a vintage t-shirt like the second photo, or pair them with a pattern like the third photo.

Snag That Style: King Of The Hill

I know what you're thinking... "King of the Hill? Really?" Well, why not?! I'll admit it... I love this show.

Join the Hill family with some of these 'got dang' great finds!

1. Texas shaped clock 2. Texas Longhorns foam finger

3. propane grill 4. Boggle 5. fruit pie 6. red lawn mower 

Shop of the Week: Amy Ruppel

I found another amazing Etsy shop! This week we will be taking a look at the wonderful work of Amy Ruppel. Hailing from Portland, Orgeon, Amy is a truly talented illustrator and painter. I especially love her state prints. Take a look!

Check out Amy's Etsy shop, website, blog, and like her on Facebook!