DIY lampshade decoupage

Again, I've been in a crafting mood so the next victim of this fit was the lampshade. Poor thing. He was naked so I used my skills so give clothe him and therefore, show him kindness. AND now others shades cannot poke fun at him. I've done society a service. Here's the scene of action:

Step 1. Find a plain lamp shade.

Step 2. Take mod podge and a paint brush, and plaster it all over the shade.
Then strategically place sheet music over the shade. I chose to angle them
so that it didn't seem perfect. I like the jaunty angles that say "I'm laid back but
still care about my appearance."

Step 3. This is the finished product!

I like crafting! Especially when it spruces up the apartment. My roommates and I have deemed the place the "Etsy Apartment" because it's so eclectic and creatively decorated. It's very homey. I'll make a post about it in the near future.

It hurts, it hur...Oh, never mind. It's just makeup.

With Halloween around the corner, I thought why not publish another post about special effects makeup? (In all actuality, it's just my latest makeup obsession and has nothing to do with the season. I'm  expanding my repertoire basically). 

I always thought that to create special effects looks you had to have high quality theater products, and for this reason have not attempted it. And yes, the higher quality the better the look as with most anything. However, what you're about to see I created with simple craft and makeup products. IT'S SO COOL!!!

I get a tad pumped about this stuff. It's just so smashingly cool. So, so, so, so. Very so. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Right??

Back to the topic, here's how you can create a gory wound for Halloween or any time you want to give your friends a fright.

Supplies needed: 

1. Mod Podge (I bet other glues would work just as well) 

2. face paint (mine was a cheap brand) I used yellow, red, and blue.

3. tinted moisturizer or foundation (one that matches the skin where you're placing the wound)

4. eye shadow or craft brushes

5. black and brown eyeshadow (must be matte)

6. black eyeliner (paint pot form is best)

Step 1.  Using a thin paint brush, draw the outline of the cut. This will be the "skin" that sticks up and gives it a 3-D effect.  (This is the longest step because you have to wait for it to completely dry)

Step 2. Soften the yellow paint with moisturizer (or regular lotion) and smooth all over the wound to create sickly, jaundiced skin. Paint some of it outside the glue perimeter, because cuts are not perfect. 

Note: Don't you love the extra supplies I added? Chocolate chips make the project even better :)

Step 3. Once the yellow is dry, paint the tinted moisturizer/foundation lightly over it.

           Then softly pat the black liner (or face paint) inside the wound.

Step 4. Blend the black until it looks soft (add moisturizer if it needs to be lighter).

Step 5. Mix a small amount of blue paint with the red to achieve a more realistic blood color. (Most red face paints are too orange based and very fake looking). Once the black is slightly dry, pat the red over it...Don't try to make it look perfect. Remember, this is not a painting, but a grotesque wound. NOT a pretty sight. 

Step 6. Mix the brown eyeshadow with the foundation and blot in random patches around the wound.

Step 7. Blend black eyeshadow into the outer edges on the inside of the wound (I couldn't think of an easier way to explain that)

Step 8. Mix water with your red paint to achieve a watery base, then using a paint brush, flick it randomly onto your skin to make it look like blood spattered out of the wound.

Step 9. Blend the red if it clumps up too much. You're giving the effect of blood that's been wiped off the skin with residue left.

Step 10. Here I added another layer of red to cake it up and give a dried blood effect.

Step 11. Pat more black or brown shadow around the edges to enhance the crusty blood effect.

Step 12. For a final more realistic look, take an angle brush and lightly sweep the brown shadow in small slits over the edge of the mod podge skin. This breaks up (pun intended? : P) the perfect looking skin and makes it look more broken.

You're finished!!!

I'm in so much pain, can't you tell?

I probably should have put on mascara, because I look like a thirteen year old. Never mind, that's not the point.

Here's my roommate, Ashley with a bruise I gave her. We make quite the injured pair. My next post will be how to get her bruise. Because it's so fashionable, no?

Now go out and scare your friends!!! I actually texted a picture of it to a friend and asked "Do you have any peroxide?"...Mwahahaha. I couldn't resist. Very disturbed, she was preparing to run over and assist me before I explained. Mischief managed. We're still friends :) 

Enjoy!!

Molls

DIY glitter shoes

I've seen do-it-yourself glitter shoes all over blogs and Pinterest for a while now and decided to take it upon myself to make a pair. I sadly don't have the moolah that it takes to purchase the well-made glitter shoes, so I figured this would be a swell way to join the trend without spending much.

I started with this pair of suede booties from Target: 

 I used these supplies from JoAnns:

Mod podge, a large paint brush,  loose gold glitter, and painter's tape (forgot to add him in the photo)

Next I mixed the glue and the mod podge together with the brush:

Then I taped the areas of the shoes that I did not want to be glitter-i-fied. (Forgot to photograph that step. Feel free to use your imagination).

After that step, I painted the first layer of glitter glue onto the shoes (Also forgot to photograph painting it on the shoes so here is a photo of the glue swiped across paper so you can the idea:

After painting the first layer, I waited about an hour and painted another layer. Waiting. More waiting. Psssssssssssssssss (blowing on them to dry faster). Afterwards I painted on them in spots where it was missing a little glitter. Then I waited more. And more.

In total it was about 2.5 layers (the .5 is where I just spot painted the shoes)

I'd say this was a 4 hour project at least, but with my easily distracted track record, it probably took closer to 7. Though a lot of this is due to the shoes needing to dry. I'm going to buy a can of finishing spray/sealant to spray on the shoes and I think after that, THEY'LL BE READY TO WEAR.

Finished product:

They're gorgeous I know :)

Let me know if you have tried this project or something similar and how it turned out for you!!

Molls

Crafting

I love, love to reuse, remake, and recreate pieces. Be it jewelry, clothing, or accessories--it's all splendid! During the delightfully unexpected snow break, I made my new favorite thing to wear....a button cuff bracelet!! Here's the scoop on the creation:

This is the cuff from a jean jacket I have. I wanted it to be 3/4 length sleeves so I cut this off and saved it for  a special project.

Next, pin or lay out the buttons where you want them. If your heart is set on keeping the buttons where you first pinned them, take a picture of it before you start sewing. Then you can reference it in the midst of sewing.

And here is the finished product:

Tada! I'll show better pictures of it later, but this works for now.

 I sewed two large snaps on the back to hold it together by the way. I've worn it three times and had many compliments on it. I'm stoked about the turn out.

Later, lovelies