DIY Succulent Garden

 

I have a fascination wtih succulents. They are just so versatile, what with not really needing to be watered much and only requiring sunlight and growing, growing, growing forever. So what better way to tell friends how much I value them at the holidays than a little succulent gift?

It all started with this post. I ran to Home Depot, scooped up the supplies, and hurried home to get my craft on. I tried my hand at decorating my own vases but quickly decided that was for the birds.

What you'll need for the succulent garden:

• Multiple small dishes or 1 large dish
• Succulents (1 per small dish or 4-5 per large, depending on size)
• Rocks (I got mine at the dollar store!)
• Dirt 

What I used for decorating the "pots":

• Martha Stewart decoupage set (I bought gold embellishments!)

Step 1: Get all the supplies ready!

 

 

Step 2: Cut materials, start decoupaging. Note: I would completely eliminate this step next time. No need for decorated vases unless you feel really passionately about them!

 

Step 3: Place rocks in bowl, then place succulents, and finally place dirt around. Note: I did this backwards and put the dirt in first. It was really hard to then dig holes for the succulents, which is why I recommend putting the dirt in around them!

Step 4: Enjoy!

 

 

 

Me Versus The World

I consider myself to be pretty capable. I kill my own bugs, I am aware of how to change a tire (all thanks toa an 8 hour roadtrip involving 2 flat tires), I hang my own pictures on the wall, I have moved myself out of & into numerous living spaces... I've managed on my own just fine for a while now. This weekend further proved that I am fully capable of doing things all. by. my. self.

Exhibit A: Busted headlight. Normally I would just pop on over to PepBoys, bat my little eyelashes, and they'd fix it for me just for the cost of the bulb. But I-Can-Do-It-Katie refused to subject myself to that. Instead, I just knew I could fix my headlight myself. With my little man in tow, we went to the car store, bought a new lightbulb, went back in to make sure we actually bought the right one, and took the bulb home. Well, took the bulb to my friend's house. Then I had a brilliant idea...while yes, I am perfectly capable of fixing this little problemo myself, things are just better when a man does it. So I asked my pal to fix it for me. Plus, men get all giddy when helpless damsels in distress ask them to do things.

He flexed his muscles, went inside, got his screwdriver, and set to work fixing my lightbulb. 2 minutes later, it was fixed! Hooray! Then we got home, and it wasn't quite as fixed as I thought. As in, the light still didn't turn on. Fail. But guess what? I-Can-Do-It-Katie opened the hood of the car, wriggled the lightbulb, and guess what? I can now legally drive after dark.

Katie - 1, Car - 0

Exhibit B: I think this was more sheer luck & damnit I want this and I want it now than anything else. I bought a TV. I've been talking about and thinking about buying a TV for a long time. Then, the same friend mentioned previously & I were talking about TV's and which one I should buy and he casually mentioned that last year the grand prize at his company party was a TV. Cool! And how funny would it be if he won the TV this year?



2 hours later, I got a text message that said "Guess what? I won the TV." And 2 months later I got a text message that said, "You still shopping for a TV?" Yes, yes, & yes! So Saturday was the day I picked up the beautiful 47" LG Plasma television in all it's glory. It barely fit in the back of the car, and my little helper was being not so helpful. Neither were my muscles (or lack thereof). But I'll be damned if I wasn't taking this sucker home & putting it up on the TV stand immediately. Before I left my friend called out "Call me if you need help getting it inside or anything!" I smiled and laughed and under my breath said, "Over my dead body!" Then we got home. And then I realized that it was me & a 9 year old that were somehow going to get this TV that I could barely lift myself out of my car, up 2 flights of stairs, and into my condo without a) busting the TV or b) busting ourselves.

Guess what? I did it. The TV is sitting proudly on the TV stand in my living room. Nevermind that I left all the cables at my friend's house...the TV is where the TV should be.

I'm going to continue alternating between ice & heat on my back & shoulders, and I don't think my 9 year old helper will ever volunteer to "help" me again.

Katie - 1, TV - 0

That puts me up 2 for the weekend, and I'd say that is a success!

Mission: Save My Sunglasses

Sunday morning, while I wasn't slaving over a hot stove making buffalo chicken dip, I was entrenched in my newest sewing project. Nevermind that it took me two tries to get it right, I got it right and I'm obsessed.

Anybody have any glasses they need a little pocket for? I'm in the market for customers!

Can you see the SCRATCH?!

Attempt #1 - Fail. I forgot to sew the top together before sewing the sides. 

1. Measure felt that will fold over the sunglasses.

2. Cut fabric to match size of felt. 

3. Discard excessive amounts of extra fabric. Leave them on your dining room floor for approximately 7 days and hope that your roommate doesn't kick you out. 

4. Sew the felt & the fabric together on one side. 

5. Get your bobbin tangled approximately 98039248 times. Scream. Threaten to throw the sewing machine out the window. Then re-thread your bobbin 98039248 times. 

6. Consult your trusty tutorial. 

7. Sew on the felt decoration if you must. 

8. TA DA! 

Happiest sunglasses I've ever seen!

I bought these while I was in Florida over Christmas.



They came with a nifty little pink case just like the ones below that I diligently kept them in so they didn't get scratched.



Well, somewhere between opening presents and playing with the dog I misplaced my nifty little sunglasses case. So tonight while the rest of the world is celebrating Valentine's Day and/or drinking some bubbly, I'll be at home in my snuggie sewing a glasses pouch (or 5) a la this tutorial combined with this tutorial.



Source

 How freaking adorable is that? I'll report back when I'm all done. In the meantime, I hope the rest of you enjoy your Valentine's Dinners and bubbly. I've got some sunglasses to protect.

The Best of Intentions

I had big plans for last night. I was going to get home, work out, cook dinner, and sew to my little heart's content. My computer charger broke, so I knew the interwebz wouldn't distract me. I can't stand watching baseball on TV (it's boring enough in the stadium, watching it on TV is like instant naptime!) and even worse, the Twitter app on my phone was blowing up with Braves games updates. Gag me. Plus, who wants to watch Gossip Girl on live TV when it's so much better the next night with the DVR remote in hand? I just KNEW sewing was in my future.

I finished the final book in the Pretty Little Liars series, freaking finally (will blog about this later, promise). I stood up, I stared at my sewing machine, and then I sat back down and made a to-do list. I taste-tested my roommate's first try at her Thanksgiving appetizer. A total side  note, but in the 15 months I've lived with Plampers, I think I've seen her use the kitchen for 4 recipes that weren't first frozen: Cheese Enchiladas, Spinach Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip and now... Crab, Spinach & Artichoke dip. It was seriously delicious, and as we were discussing what other ingredients she could maybe incorporate into the dish to make it better, she starts rattling off stuff about shaved shallots, maybe some hot sauce, or heavy cream, or some cumin. Jigga what? This roommate of mine that cooks as often as basically never was talking about shallots, cream and cumin? I was impressed and jealous that her boyfriend was going to be receiving the rest of the dip and I couldn't eat "just one more bite" until all the sudden it was gone.

Obviously this is where my thoughts went, and then all the sudden it was 9:15pm and I was watching 4 episodes of Sister Wives and then I was asleep, dreaming about marrying a man who then took on more wives. Something about me being too sane for him? Yes, I'm sure that's what it was. Anyway, all of this happened and the brand new, shiny camera strap cover did not.

I claim it's because my computer was dead so I couldn't stare at the tutorial, but really I was just lazy and didn't want to move the dishes that are on the table, put my sewing machine out, risk ruining my beautiful elephant fabric, and ultimately end up frustrated and still camera-strap-cover-less. So I just eliminated all the middle steps and ended up strapless anyway.


I think the chances of it getting done eventually are really high, so keep checking back and one day in 2020 you might just see a camera strap cover how to. Don't worry if the camera is no longer functional because it's been replaced by robots who take photos for us.

Domino Effect

On Friday, I bought this: 

canon rebel xs

On Saturday, I took a bajillion pictures (thank you to all of my extremely patient friends for tolerating my annoying stalkerazzi ways). 

Today, I am going to make this:

camera strap cover via www.designsponge.com

Using this fabric:

www.premierprints.com

And if my computer is working, tomorrow I will have one of these.

Happy photographing & sewing to me. 

PS - Do you get why the title of this post is Domino Effect?

PSS - Can anyone recommend good photography or sewing blogs?

Friday Confessions

Can You Tapas This?

I have never been much of a nail polish girl. I mean, I always had it in my house, but rarely on my fingers. Then in college I had acrylic nails. My boyfriend swore he would disown me if I ever got rid of them (so of course when on the verge of a break up, what do I do? Bye bye, beautiful acrylics!) But now, for some unknown reason, I have become a nail polish hoarder.

It started with the OPI Espana Collection. I love all things Espana, and these colors were to die for. My first true love was Can You Tapas This?

Lincoln Park After Dark

I think I wore that color on my toes & fingernails for a solid 3 months before moving on to bigger and better things, like Lincoln Park After Dark. It's what I'm wearing today. It's almost black, but it has a beautiful shine to it that makes me not feel like I'm channeling my inner 14 year old goth chick at Town Center Mall. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? I swear I'm not wearing a belly shirt with chains and low rise baggy cargo pants. And I also swear there isn't any pink or blue in my beautiful blonde locks. But, I really love Lincoln Park After Dark. It does make me feel like I've stepped out of my comfort zone. I love that feeling, of being out of the box when you really aren't.

And then, earlier this week, I was feeling really gutsy. My mom & I stopped at ULTA because they have nail polishes Buy 2, Get 1 Free and of course the nail polish junkie in me just had to take advantage, especially because I had a $5 off coupon. That made the polishes a mere $4 each. Half price! The more the merrier! And I bought an awesome white -- Alpine Snow. I loved the white, but it didn't make me feel nearly as badass as Lincoln Park After Dark makes me feel. I felt pure and innocent, 2 things I am. (Not). 

In conclusion, is anyone else obsessing over nail polishes? The OPI Swiss Collection is really kickin it up a notch, too. I got this Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous sparkly color all over my toes and it's just... exciting!

Now, I just need to figure out how to do my own nails without smudging it or having the color up to my first knuckle and we're in business. 

Happy painting (and sorry if I offended the goth kids at Town Center). 

PS - I tagged this as a hobby. Can painting one's own nails really be considered a hobby? It is now! Hobby away!

Just Because

Because I am exercising my right to a mental health day today, and because I'm feeling indulgent, and well.. just because, here are some things on my wishlist.

1. This giant screen to put on my balcony and ward off the dust that the trains that drive right by my house stir up. That way, I can sit and enjoy my balcony without hacking up a lung. Unfortch, because this isn't my house, and because who knows where I will end up next, this badboy will remain on my wishlist until who knows when.

Bamboo Folding Screen can be found HERE

2. Nikon D3000 DSLR camera. I am not 100% sold that this is the exact version of a DSLR that I want, but I'm pretty confident that I want to go with a Nikon, and based on the reviews I have read, this is the best model for a beginner (i.e. me). This is the item on this list I am most seriously considering purchasing because I think it will get the most use and I will enjoy it the most. I am resident picture taker amongst my friends, always have been, so why not upgrade?

3. These cowboy boots. I bought my previous pair of cowboy boots at Aldo following a particularly fabulous night at my favorite fraternity house in college with Peanut and her cronies. I have literally worn those boots out, to the point that once on my feet, they don't really come off that well, as evidenced by the night that I slept with 1 boot on. Although I'll never get rid of them, I really need a new pair. And, have no fear, my feet shall never go cowboy-boot-less. I bought them last weekend!

4. (A little hint at a post I have coming up later this week!) I am looking for new sewing projects! I am now on sewing machine #2 because apparently my curtain-making was a little too much for sewing machine #1. But, all is well, and I am seeking out new projects. It's a little early to start my Christmas sewing, even for me. But that doesn't mean I haven't already purchased presents for half my family...

What are on your wishlists? Are they practical, absurd, necessary, or just your wants?

On that note, I'm going to enjoy the 2 hours I have left of my mental health day. I forgot that I agreed to run carpool & after-school pickup today for the kids I babysit for, so my mental health day is being cut short. Not the end of the world, really... I could stand to make a little money today! Happy Tuesday!

Craft Project #1

This weekend I had big plans to do a whole lot of nothing, at which I was very successful. I did manage to do a few things, including try 2 new restaurants, attend a Saturday morning seminar, watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (and by watch I mean slept through - I woke up as Snape killed Dumbledore. That jerk!), and completely destroy any chance I had at continuing No-Alcohol-August. It's now become No-Alcohol-August-Except-For-When-I-Feel-Like-It, and even still, I am trying to cut back. Just 1 drink instead of 2 or 3 is better right?! RIGHT?!

I also managed to complete a craft project, which I will now show you with step-by-step instructions. I picked up this tray at an estate sale while I was in Minneapolis, and I got it after seeing this DIY tutorial. As soon as I saw it I knew EXACTLY what I was going to do with it, and for $2, it was totally worth it!

Start out with a brown tray, spray paint until you have a blue tray! Then cut pieces of scrapbook paper to fit each side of your tray, spray some adhesive glue on the tray and on the scrapbook paper, lay it down, smooth it out, and voila! Project complete! Now, find a pretty place to put it (mine's in my bathroom holding my perfumes and some jewelry) and there you have it!