Newspaper nails tutorial

I've wanted to do this for such a long time, so, when a friend of mine came over for a 2 week visit, this is how we spent a quality girls' afternoon:)

What you need:

- old newspaper cut into 2*2cm pieces

- pastel color nail polish (light grey, white, cream, light pink, coral etc.)

- transparent nail polish

- strong alcohol ( the one pictured here is romanian "tuica" but regular vodka will work just fine)

- some paper towels

Step 1:

Paint your nails with pastel nail polish and let dry for at least 20 minutes. I've used a light grayish-beige hue.

Step 2:

Dip your finger in alcohol for 5 seconds.

Step 3:

On a kitchen paper towel, press the newspaper piece (with the written part on the nail surface) on the wet nail and hold for 15 seconds. Try to press evenly on the entire nail, without moving the paper.

Step 4:

Carefully, slowly remove the newspaper by pulling in the writing direction, from left to right or right to left, not from the base of the nail upwards or vice-versa :).  

Repeat for all fingers. You can also use small images from the newspaper, like this small clock I've found:)

Step 5:

Let dry for 5 minutes. After all nails are dry, apply the transparent gloss. Be careful not to pass more than once (maximum twice) on the same area, as it is possible that the letters will smudge. Just start applying the polish from the middle and add 2 strikes on the sides and that's it!

Enjoy your original nails!

Here are some photos I took of the same technique but a different friend and with a light pink base:

I simply love the lace-torn jeans combo

using my miniature Dior and some fabric petals as  props for  whimsical photos

newspaper nails on light pink base

daylight is my best friend

I hope you enjoyed my mini tutorial:) I would really love to see how your whimsical nails turned out! Just send me some photos and I will post them here ;)

Upgrading/Refashioning basics or clothes you got bored with

I must say that lately,  I`ve been quite obsessed with refashioning. It all started with me going to my favorite thrift stores while back home in Romania. Among other stuff I bought a simple, skin color tee, in a darker shade. Mainly for the color, not the design:)

As I got home from shopping, which also included a visit to the lace&yarn shop, I realized that I can mix the two and get a pretty cute and wearable (outside the house:) tee!

This was only the beginning. I also had a grey cardigan, too simple....and a basic H&M grey dress. As I always do, I starred browsing the internet for refashioning ideas.

I wanted to share the best of them with you for such a long time, but I never seemed to ger around to photograph my own...so, this is me staying true to my NY resolution!

Turn a basic cardi into a whimsy! Tutorial here, thanks to Tea Rose Home. 

What to do when you get bored with basic, uni tees:) Find this amazing tutorial here.

Thanks to the same beautiful blog mentioned above.

A 30 mins cardigan embellishment project, here. From sisters4saymoreismore. 

Well, let`s talk about the Peter Pan collar trend. I think it`s going to be a huge succes in 2012 and really really love it. Reminds me of childhood and times I thought flying was possible:)

So, searching the internet I`ve found lots of tutorials. Couldn`t decide wether to go for a felt or a crochet one.

I`ve decided to try the felt one first, following this tutorial. The pattern didn`t  fit the neckline of my dress, so I had to kinda make a similar one, just a little bit modified.

This is what the collar in the tutorial looks like (you can find the pdf pattern in the link above):

Of course, I had to add a person a personal touch and sew some sand beads and add a cute and delicate fabric button.

I am crazy about fabric buttons. And polka dots:)

Well, what do you think? Which one looks better? I am really satisfied with the result and I think the dress is the opposite of boring now, thanks to the contrasting collar.

I am also obsessed with doilies and lace this period, and I don`t seem to be able to stop imagining how things would look if I just embellish them with a doily:)

So my basic tee I was telling you about in the beginning did not escape this, nor did the simple grey cardigan:)

And this what I have ended up with:

these cute little lace bows just warm my heart

love how the pastel pistachio green goes with the soft, lavender butons

I have a pretty big collection of doilies from the flea market, there`s a kind old lady that sells those for nothing, I think I`ve payed 20 cents for one...

So I guess you`ll be seing some more doilies embellishments from me:))

Oh, found this too:

I really like the contrast between the silk and the wool, if you do too, find the tutorial here. 

And yes, the ruffles:) I guess you can do the next one from a simple cardigan, and make the ruffles from another material. Like lace:))) Tutorial here.

love the vintage look. and the mustard color.

And another whimsical Peter Pan felt collar tutorial, that can upgrade just about any basic tee:)

Ta daaa, this is it for now..I have a big smile on my face, I guess it feels really good to simply share instead of pilling in some of the great (from my pov) ideas I stumble upon:)

Maybe you`ll let me see some of your refashioning ideas? 

To have or not to have New Year`s Resolutions?

Hello, my dear fellow crafters, Happy New Year to all of you!

I know, I`ve been neglecting my blog for quite some time now, and I know they say you can`t have a successful "quit your day job to start following your handmade dreams" adventure unless you keep up with your on-line duties....

These being said, let`s say I set this to be a NYR: stop neglecting my blog:)

I must say...some of the reasons why I`m reluctant to just start sharing my thoughts here is the fact that I have too many:)
Creative thoughts, that is....for example, if I find some great inspiring tutorials, I want to write about them, but right then I find another and another and another...aaand I get lost in so many details and ideas that I want to talk about..

So, here`s a little of what I have been doing:

Had a crazy December. Things started moving for me on my Etsy shop, and as soon as I posted my felted Christmas trees, the orders started pouring in:

I`ve starting making these babies last year and I`ve been featured in the holidays issue of the romanian Good Homes with a tutorial.

To cut a long story short, I thought "why not try posting them on Etsy?", and I did and it worked:)

Sooo, now it`s January and I would really want my shop to be successful this month too, but I know that after the holidays sales are down everywhere.

I decided to concentrate on blogging, on doing some follow up with my customers, and, of course, keep hands busy:)

See how in the following posts:)

Happy New Year everyone!

10 Sewing tutorials for beginners

Learn how to sew a simple zippered case, by Design Sponge.

Go to the tutorial here.

Chic wrist cuff, from J*Casa Handmade`s blog. 

Find the tutorial here.

Get your sewing supplies together is these extra cute
storage buckets from Handmade Matters.

Find the tutorial in the link above:)

                                                                         

Decorate your couch with this colorful Scrap buster fall pillow by Cluck Cluck Sew.

Get to the tutorial here. 

I plan to make myself a few of these sweeet pleated headbands from Craftiness is not optional:)

Get the amazing tutorial here.

Prepare some Stitched Christmas Cards  as shown by this Craft Blog.   

See the tutorial here.

This Picnic Caddy from Snowy Bliss would make a great gift for someone who enjoys eating outdoors:)

Get the know how here.

Ever wanted a box pouch? This one is not only easy to make but will surely cheer up your day with it`s bright colors and happy pattern:)

Find the tutorial here:)

I love reinventing old boring t-shirts or cardigans.

Here is one option to do just that:)

Learn how to make a Rose Petal Tee here.

Make something cute and useful for your or your friend`s baby:)

Learn how to sew these pacifier clips from How about Orange, go to the tutorial here.

These are 10 sewing tutorials perfect for beginners. Go and check out these amazingly creative blogs and get inspired! For the above projects you can use any left-over fabrics with great attractive patterns, or just simple plain colorful ones:)

Hope you enjoy these!

Will be back with some felted goodness!

Hugs!