Valentine's Day Gift

As Valentine's Day got closer; I wondered, like I'm sure many of you, as to what to get that special man in my life. Valentine's Day is not a huge deal to me but at the same time it can't be ignored. I love to give and receive gifts so any excuse to is always great in my mind! Valentine's Day is easy for guys...chocolate, flowers, a nice dinner but what about us girls? What should we get guys without it being covered in pink, red, and hearts? Well I found a great DIY solution! At home date ideas, one for each month of the year.

I saw this idea online but it was displayed differently than mine is. The idea I originally saw was in a scrapbook format. I changed it to fit my style and my boyfriend's style a bit and used different envelopes as you'll see. This can be displayed in many different ways and it could be used as a gift for many different occasions from Valentine's Day to Christmas to a birthday gift.

Materials:

• large envelope 
• small vellum envelopes
• paper
• glue

 Instructions:

1. Come up with date ideas that you can easily do at home like movie nights or game nights, whatever you and your special someone like to do. 

2. Decide how you want the gift to be presented (envelopes, scrapbook, etc.)

3. Assemble your months and put them together and you're done!

It's pretty simple but here are pictures to show how mine came along.

 I made small cards to write each monthly date on and had printed a distressed lace pattern on the front that can be seen through the vellum envelope and it turned out just as I had hoped!

 All of the small envelopes went into the bottom of the large envelope and above it I posted a little message for my Valentine :)

 

I wanted to make something that was still masculine but still romantic, along with making sure my boyfriend still likes the design of everything and I know he will love this!

Pinecone Inspired Holiday Ornaments

Trying to get into the swing of posting on here, not that I ever really have been; there is no time better than the present to start!

Simple and cute holiday ornaments to decorate with or give away as gifts!

Supplies:
Scrapbooking paper
String

Beads

Something to make circles with

Pen or pencil Some sort of adhesive (glue or mod podge) Scissors (not pictured) Needle (not pictured) Something to make holes with (not pictured) Directions:
Step 1: Cut out different size circles and paste them onto the same designed paper and cut again so that the design is on both sides.
Step 2: Make holes in the center of the circles so that the needle and string will easily go through and you don't poke your finger (like I did the first time!). You could also use a thimble instead, using the needle to poke the holes.
Step 3: Lay out the circles and beads (I used two beads between each circle) and begin threading the string through the beads and paper circles as shown below. Note: When you get to the end and need to turn around, loop around the last bead and up into the second bead to move back up to the top.
Step 4: After you have made your way back to the top, make a knot at the end of the left over string and you're done!
These little guys aren't the easiest things to take pictures of! If you give this a shot, don't get discouraged after the first one because it took me a few to really get the hang of it.

Neglect.

I have highly neglected you blog and I am sorry. Making a real effort to keep you up to date.

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Christmas! I know it's "politically incorrect" to say Merry Christmas but it is what my family and most of my friends celebrate at this time of the year, for everyone else Happy Holidays!!

These are the cards I made for my parents to send out to family and friends. They are handmade paper cards that have been individually stamped. I've handmade my parents cards the past few years, starting with the paper and usually finishing with stamps. Here is a look at the outside, as well as the inside. Hope you enjoy!

A Gift

My niece was born three weeks ago and she is the love of my life. Every time I see her, hold her, or hear her making noise or crying I just fall more and more in love with her. I don't know how it is possible to be more in love with her than I already am, but my love just keeps growing and growing. Besides buying her tons of clothes and other little baby items, I crocheted her a baby blanket. Here are a few pictures of it.

I used four different kinds of threads for this blanket: white, yellow, and two different pinks. I've made a lot of baby blankets for other family members and friends of the family, I'm finally getting around to making my own blanket (not a baby one) and I can't wait to use it!

Halloween Nails...a day late.

Happy Halloween everyone! Yes, a day late but oh well. Here is a nail design I saw a tutorial for on Youtube. I thought it was too cute to not give a shot. Excuse the chips, it is a few days old.

It's obviously a vampire, don't judge lol here is a list of the colors I used:
-Metro Chic by Sephora by OPI, purple/gray color on all nails (2 coats)

To create the vampire on top of Metro Chic
-French Beige by CQ, light beige (2 coats)
-Diamonds by Sally Hansen, white/silver glitter (1 coat)
-Liquid Leather by China Glaze, black (details)
-White on White by China Glaze, white (details)
-Off With Her Red by OPI, red (details)

Three Things I'm Currently Loving

Three things I'm loving right now include Softlips lip polish, St. Ives Microdermabrasion face wash and pretty nails.


Softlips lip polish is a sugar scrub for your lips that takes off that top layer of dead skin and makes your lips so ridiculously soft it is unreal.

The St. Ives Microdermabrasion face wash is a fine mineral crystal wash that is suppose to smooth the appearance of fine lines. I love this product because it gently exfoliates and isn't too rough on my skin that is relatively sensitive. Its so gentle that you would use it everyday if you really wanted to.

The third and final thing I'm loving right now is pretty nails. I love having pretty nails all the time, it makes me feel feminine and really just put together. In the picture I am wearing a blue base coat that is from Sephora by OPI in the color Blue Grotto with Sally Hansen's Hidden Treasure as a top coat.

Smooth skin and pretty nails is where it's at right now!

PS. I know my posts have been really random but I'm honestly going to try and update more and more often so keep an eye for them!