{lavender} sugar scrub

I have extremely dry skin.  I've tried lotions and creams.  However, all seem to have failed.  My skin just remains as dry as ever.  The only product that has every helped have been scrubs.  Normally, I'd by the most abrasive scrub I can find setting for hard sea salt or coconut skins.  But the refinement that sugar brings is much more complete...just gentle.

I decided to make my own recipe.  It's very easy and you probably have most of these ingredients in your spice cabinet right now.

1 1/4 cups of sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 few drops of lavender essential oils

lavender flowers

From here it's really quite simple.  Mix all those ingredients together and you're done.  You're ready for that hot shower.  Do be careful though.  Any type of oil will leave a residue in your bath and you don't want to slip.

Happy bathing!

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Mirror, Mirror ~ DIY Dressing Up a Vanity Mirror

Last week I ambitiously took on a small painting project and decided to paint my antique vanity with milk paint.  Lucky for me, I took all of the fixtures off of the vanity and decided to replace them with new fixtures.  That left me with a pretty little mirror all alone.

Taking a cue from one of my pins, I decided to add a little something-something and see what happened.

I'm pretty happy with the results.

Want to make a similar mirror?  Here's what you'll need:
Paper or Fabric Flowers (Another crafting opportunity?)
Buttons
Gem Stones
Various 'Extras'
Hot Glue
Mirror

First, you'll want to map out exactly where you want each design element to be placed.  After you've positioned all of your design elements, use the hot glue to affix them to the mirror. If you're afraid of how permanent the hot glue is just use tacky tape.  Make sure to let the glue cool.  Clean the mirror and display.

See? Simple. Just trust your creative eye and you'll find yourself looking in a beautiful mirror in no time at all!

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DIY Sea Shell Napkin Rings

I love the ocean, but I live in land locked Oklahoma.  It's true that we do have a lot of lakes and there is lots of shoreline to walk, but nothing--NOTHING--can beat the sound of the waves rushing in.  Nothing can replace the feel of the sand between your toes.  Nothings can beat the water splashing against your feet.  Nothing.

I may not be able to go to the ocean...at least not right now.  That only leaves one option for me.  I've got to bring the ocean to me.

These napkin rings are super simple to make and
they allow for a lot of creativity of your own.  Here's what you need.

4- 5 inch strips of burlap ribbon
Assorted Sea Shells
Small Pieces of Felt
Hot Glue

1.  Affix one of the small pieces of felt to the back of the sea shells.  This is help provide stability to the shell and make adorning the burlap ribbon much easier.
2.  After the hot glue is dry, attach the shell to the burlap ribbon.  I used hot glue again.
3.  After the sea shell has been affixed and if dry, hot glue the two ends of the ribbon together forming a circle.  If you wanted, you could make the burlap ribbon strips a little longer and then simply tie the ends together.  I like the finality of glueing the ribbon ends together.
4.  To prevent burning your fingers and also to provide more stability to your ring, I suggest affixing one of piece of felt underneath the ring over the glue.  The felt acts as a binder.

See?  Super simple and one step closer to the ocean.  Stay tuned the rest of the week.  I'll be sharing how I used these napkin rings in my summer tablescape.  I think you will enjoy it.  In the meantime, did you miss yesterdays Summer Sunrise Mocktail recipe?  Here's a link for you.

Linking Up With

You're Gonna Love It

Tuesday To Do

In and Out of the Kitchen

Craftastic Monday

Making Monday

DIY Inspired

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DIY Gold Gilded Sea Shells

Last week I stumbled across these shells (here) from Aerin website and instantly fell for these shells.  I love them.  They are gorgeous  classic, and beautiful...from the ocean.  (Do you see the nautical theme I've got going on here?)

I decided to recreate them using
Martha Stewart gold gilding paint. (here)

The process was really quite simple.  First, after clean and drying your surface, prime your surface with a primer that will seal the surface's cracks and bumps.  Second, paint your shell with the gilding paint.  Be very cautious to avoid contact with the skin.  Also, avoid the fumes.  They are very strong.  Let them dry for about an hour and follow with a second coat or touch up.  After the gilding has dried make sure to seal your surface with a matte sealant.   The Martha Stewart collection at Michael's has a sealant.   I just used one that I had already purchases.

And there you have it.  Gold sea shells!

Arrange them anywhere.  Use them in floral arrangements or a centerpiece.  Maybe you just want to use a large shell as a paperweight.  Anyway you use them they will be beautiful.  Think of it as bringing a sunset over the ocean right into your home.  If you used the silver gilding you could create a wind chime of sorts.  It would look like the waves as it shimmered in the sun.

Ok, enough with the vivid imagination stuff.

Looking for other easy DIY crafts?  Here's a few links to check out.  (here, here, & here)

Linking Up With

Wow Us Wednesdays

Shine On Fridays

504 Main

Weekend Wonders

The Creative Connection

Frugal Friday

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DIY Valentine's Day Heart Garland

Today I'm so excited to share with you a DIY that I've been working of for a year.  No, the project isn't a year long extensive project.  It's just that I didn't finish any part of it to this year.

One of my favorite things about the holidays is decorating and making an blank space new with fresh elements.  Since Valentine's Day is the next decorating friendly holiday I decided to get a head start and finish this project that I started last year.

Here's what you need:

 The first step is to create the hearts that form the garland, so we are going to need to cute 3 different size felt hearts and nested them in each other.

I've found it best to use the pattern on the felt like this...

After you've cut all of the heart pieces affix them together with fabric glue or hot glue.  I chose hot glue because it dries very quickly.

After you've nested the three size hearts I think it looks nice to add little adornments.  If you wanted, this craft could be vamped up by adding lace or glitter around the edges.

For my office/bedroom that style doesn't work in the space, so instead of making this project "frilly" I dressed the hearts with a button or two.

After your hearts are finished we need to affix the hearts to the twine or ribbon.  I, again, used hot glue.

After everything is dry your garland is ready to hang.  I chose to hang two garlands together for a great impact.  (For a tutorial on the accordion garland visit here.)

There you have it ladies...or gentlemen...or whoever.  It's your finished Valentine's Day Heart Garland.  

Have fun and be creative!

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Holiday Cones

Today I'm guest posting for Kenzie at Life and Lemons.  It's her birthday week.  Stop by or tweet her.  I'm know it'd brighten her day to see a happy birthday wish from you.

This is a guest post that I wrote last week while she had company.  I thought that you might like the opportunity to read it too.  Stop my Jessica's blog The Lily White English Rose.  She has some really great reads.

Hello there.

My name is Danette and I blog at All My Love for All My Days.  Jessica asked me a group of us to guest post for her while she was hanging out with her friend and I was happy to post.  

Thank you, Jessica, for the opportunity.

Today I want to share a craft with you that can be used for many different occasions.  With the holidays quickly approaching this I know this could knowledge could really come in handy.  It seems to me that the little details are what make events over the top special.  This one will help put your table scape or party favors or guest rooms over the top.

Here's what you need.

• random but coordinating colors/patterns of 8 1/2 x 11 scrapbook paper
• glue
• scissors
• hole punch
• embellishments
• juke, yarn, or ribbon

Step #1--Line one side of the paper with glue or double side tape.  I chose Elmer's Glue Spots.  They're permanent and very convenient.  There's no dry time.

Step #2--Roll the paper, starting on the corner opposite your tape.  Roll into a cone.  It will be very similar to an ice cream cone.

Step #3--At this point we need to clip the tail off of the cone.  If you would like, leave the tail on and fold over the opening of the cone.  This might would come in handy if you are filling the cone with small objects such as nuts.

Step #4--Punch holes on the side and run your jute/yarn/ribbon through.

Step #5--Personally, I find this last step to be the most fun.  Embellish your cones.

And voilà!  There you have it.

Thank you again, Jessica, for the opportunity to guest post.  I know I appreciate the opportunity.  If you're looking for more ideas on Holiday entertain read here, here, and here.  Oh, and I have a giveaway happening right now.  Enter here.

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Apples

source

I love this picture.  Apples are one of my favorite fruits and as I've been told, "An apple a day keeps the doctor at day."

Today I'm guest posting for Jessica at The Lily White English Rose.  Check the post out and check Jessica out too.  It's a pretty sweet diy craft.

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I could get used to this...

Here's my most recent Pinterest project.  Ok, it's only my second, but I'm making progress.

Here's a link to the original pin.

I'm really enjoying adapting these pins to make my needs.  Plus, by adapting them I can really cut the costs.  For example this project only cost about $3.  It could have cost even less than that if I had used scrapbooking paper that I already had on hand.

I'm using this project on the door to my bedroom.  It looks really great if I do say so myself.

Sweet dreams.

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Pinned It, Made It

Who doesn't love Pinterest?  The only problem with Pinterest is that I never do anything that I pin.  I always say that I will, but never do, until now.  That's right!  This past weekend I made not one, but two projects off Pinterest.  I'm only sharing one today but it's so cute!

If you like this pin then you can make it too.  Here's a link to the pin. 

If you'd like to follow me on Pinterest here's a direct link to my boards.

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