Jul 9, 2012 | DIY
Sorry for that little hiatus there!
My laptop’s internal battery overheated and put my computer out of commission for awhile, so it’s been unusable over the weekend while I waited for the replacement battery to arrive. Now it’s installed and everything seems to be running smoothly again.
So I took some time to work on some DIYs, including my new favorite material, UV resin. So simple and easy to use – and perfect for the bright, sunny weather we’re having here in Portland! 
It cures within minutes, is completely clear, and layers images and charms so beautifully. 
I finally found an equivalent available here in the U.S., so once I’m done testing it I’ll be sharing the tutorial with everyone! 
The above are just some pieces I put together quickly…and will likely be listing in my Etsy shop once I relaunch that.
Given that I couldn’t use my computer, I spent much of the weekend also having some quality family time. Yesterday I helped my son make a DIY bird feeder out of an old milk carton, some twigs, and some buttons. 
So far the birds in our garden haven’t noticed it…but it’s just a matter of time…
xoxox
Carly
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Jul 5, 2012 | Fashion
Inspired by this amazing world of fantasy: In the Land of Grey and Pink, from Jonathan Palfrey’s Flickr Photostream
As you know, I’m digging the grey-and-pink color combo lately, and have been trolling the online stores for some great pieces. Here are some that have caught my eye recently:
TOP ROW: 1. Amethyst Geode Ring, $16.90 2. ASOS Fine Cord Bead Necklace, $6.63 / 3. Mini Brass Box, $6 / 4. Dollhouse Zoe Wedge, $24.99
MIDDLE ROW: 5. Tokyo Fashion Mesh Maxi Skirt, $32 / 6. Nocturnal Wings Tank, $48 / 7. Diamond Gal Knob, $6 / 8. Tala Tank Top Kit, $79 (Request an Invite for shopping access!)
BOTTOM ROW: 9. GoJane Quilted Patent Clutch, $45.50 / 10. DIY Charm Necklace, $12 / 11. Fantasy Island Pink Floral Print Crop Top, $34
xoxox
Carly
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Jul 4, 2012 | DIY
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Happy July 4th to all my fellow U.S.-based readers out there!
Though this day may be filled with family gatherings and barbecues for some, for others it may just be a lazy day off work and a time to relax. Here are a couple ideas for projects to do if you’re looking to fill up your day:
CRAFTS
Make a Patriotic Pinwheel Corsage quickly with some printed fabric and hot glue. (And try the accompanying Pinwheel project for some old-school fun or party decoration!)
Stamp cloth napkins, a blank apron, or t-shirts with hand-carved potato stamps dipped in fabric paint for a patriotic pattern.
Add some sparkly adornment to a canvas tote (this photo is of a tote from The Gap from a couple years ago) by sewing sequin trim onto the straps.
FOOD
Make a Patriotic Fruit Salad with watermelon, blueberries, and white peaches. Or go for a July 4th Savory Salad: watermelon, feta, and purple fingerling boiled potatoes…or mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes (both red and dark purple)…or blueberries, strawberries feta, and lettuce.
Bake cookies in squares and start-shapes, and then ice in red, white, and blue frosting to piece together a U.S. flag like this inspiring Pinterest pin.
A Fourth of July Flag Cake is easy with blueberries and strawberries arranged strategically on whipped cream!
Hope your Fourth is a happy one!
xoxox
Carly
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Jul 1, 2012 | DIY
Recently I’ve been playing around with the half-moon manicure. Though I’ve tried it free-hand (with an uber-steady hand) before with middling results, I found that using those sticker color dots from the office supply store work just perfectly for this purpose. (I’m sure they’re useful for other things besides fancy nail art manicures…but I haven’t used them for anything else yet!;)
It’s easiest to lay down a double coat of your base color (what will end up as your half-moon color). Then, once the base color is bone dry (this is really important; it has to be totally dry and non-tacky!) lay the top half of a circle sticker over your nail at the half-moon area. Stick it down well, paying attention to the sides of the sticker. Then finish up with 1-2 coats of the main nail color. I peeled the stickers off while the top color was still wet; it left little ridges in the manicure so I might try this again but wait until the top color is dry before peeling off to see if the results fare better. In any case, seal with a clear topcoat and you have an elegant but understated chic manicure that looks pretty unique too!
Colors used: Essie Nail Color in Mamba for the half-moon and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Wet Cement for the main color.
What colors do you think would look good together?
Happy polishing!
xoxox
Carly
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Jun 28, 2012 | Fashion
Men’s Denim Shirt Refitted to my size: DIY (tutorial here)
Silver Star Necklace: ? (from Japan)
Petal Perfume Pendant Necklace: JewelMint
Cross Stacking Rings: designed by me
Silver Sparkle Long Tank: Old Navy (from a loong time ago) (similar here) (or here) (or here)
Black Jeggings: UNIQLO
DIY Luxury Jones Belted Boots: tutorial here
Sometimes a casual day can be dressed up just a little with the addition of a lightweight chambray denim shirt. (more…)
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