Pinterest Holiday Ideas

wrappingpinboardHello all! I actually had completely different content planned today…and then I glanced at the calendar and realized that because of the day of the week Christmas fell on, I would have to get my holiday parcels out tomorrow if they were ever going to be delivered in time for Dec 25th in Japan. Curse you, late Thanksgiving!!!

So since I spent my whole day running around trying to get all these packages ready to be sent tomorrow, instead today I’m going to share with you some ideas for creative gift wrapping and presentation…after all, if you’ve DIY’d any Holiday Gifts, you want to present them beautifully, no? I’ll be adding to this Pinboard in the next week or two, so follow along to get some ideas and inspiration for creating the perfect wrapping:

DIY Gift Wrapping and Presentation on Pinterest

holidayDIYpinboardAlso, if you’re looking for ideas to make your holiday a DIY one, from baking to decorating to gifts to unique trees to wreaths to ornaments, please check out my:

Holiday DIY Projects: Christmas/Winter Board

Hope to see you there!

xo

Carly

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17 Gifts You Can DIY: The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Crafty Gal

0.diyholidaygifts_introphotoThe holiday season is upon us! (Was that FAST or what??!) I’ve been trying to stick to a budget this year, and make what I can for those near and dear to me. There’s nothing that’s more personal or heartfelt than something you’ve made yourself, and here are 17 ideas of lovely gifts to make and give to your friends and family:

diybakingmixes DIY Dry Baking Mixes are always great, and travel well. There’s so many to pick from, too! Hot cocoa mix, cookie mix, or muffin mix are some great choices. (This is a great roundup of ideas for jarred mixes!)

diychocobark_done2Last year I made tons of my DIY Holiday Chocolate Bark, and my family begged me for more. (I wouldn’t share the white chocolate macadamia flavor leftovers, though!) Anyone who likes chocolate will love this, plus it packs and keeps really well (good for boxes being sent through the post!)

diystampedcookiesThese DIY Stamped Cookies are also divine. (I’m thinking you might be able to directly color on the stamp with food-grade coloring pens rather than dealing with a stamp pad? Shall have to try.)

diytumblercandlesHome-made candles are really lovely, and you can mimic that high-end Diptyque look by using pretty jars (and maybe adding printedwater decals or stickers with fantastic images or typography?) Check out this DIY tutorial for candles in tumblers.

diysewistgiftsFor the avid sewist in your life, a DIY Tomato Pincushion is a must. Or you could go old school and sew up a DIY Sewing Needle Book to hold needles.

diyhomedecorDecorative objects can be great choice for homeowners and renters alike. Some lovely pieces include: DIY Kelly Wearstler Kaleidoscope Starburst, DIY Dinosaur Planters, DIY Starburst Mirror

diyofficesuppliesDIY Office Supplies are a welcome present to anyone who has an office space, whether at home or at work. Paint rocks with magnetic paint and glue together to make this paperclip holder or make a No-Sew Pencil Roll to help tame clutter.

diybathproductsBody lotion, scrubs, bath bombs, soap: beauty products that can be made at home and shared are a wonderful indulgence for a favorite someone. Love this DIY Coconut Rose Lip Balm! (And yes, this works for guys too; just use more “manly” fragrances and additives into soap bars or DIY Shaving Soap!)

diyornamentsSince it’s the holidays, why not gift some DIY ornaments to a special someone? Some of my favorites include these Colorful Geometric Ornaments, Sprinkles Ornaments, Pinned Sequin Ornaments.

Need more ideas for gifts? Check out my list of 30 Great DIY Hostess Gifts for some more inspiration!

Happy Holidays and Happy DIY’ing!

xo
Carly

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Steals and Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Two of the largest shopping shopping days are almost upon us and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share some great deals, discounts, and coupon codes for all of you to take advantage of. Here are a few deals & steals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday that have caught my eye (plus some great pieces from my favorite e-tailers!):

Buckle buckle_blackfriday

From left to right: Big Star Maddie Flare Stretch Jean $152, Gimmicks by BKE Cowl Cropped Sweater $68, BKE Southwestern Print Maxi Skirt $29.95

Get an additional 10% off sale denim and denim crops, and an additional 15% off sale tops, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, belts, watches, backpacks, wallets, and bags

Buy one, get one FREE:  Select sale jewelry already marked 1/3 and 1/2 off. The 2nd sale jewelry item of equal or lesser value is free.

Thanksgiving Specials at Buckle

(Until 12/2)

Choies

choies_blackfriday

From left to right: Blue Textured Flare Skirt $42.99, White Shirt in Lotus Print $18.89, Silver Sequin Natural Heeled Court Shoes $35.99

Use coupon code WG5OFF69 for an extra $5 off orders of $69+

Use coupon code WG10OFF109 extra $10 off orders of $109+

Shop Choies

Karmaloop

karmaloop_blackfriday

From left to right: The Sequins Tablet Sleeve in Gold $18, The Quilted Faux Leather Pants $80, The Ice Cream Earrings in Raspberry Sorbet $38

Use code BLKLIGHT for 40% off + **Free Shipping!

Shop Karmaloop

Lulu’slulus_blackfriday

From left to right: Dress the Population Lola Iridescent Sequin Dress $199, Pearls Night Out Gold and Pearl Necklace $25, For Love or Lemons Love You Knot Black Velvet Bralette $72

Many items on sale for 90% off

**Free Ground Shipping + major markdowns on sale items Friday 11/29

Shop Lulus.com

Modclothmodcloth_blackfriday

From left to right: App Plus Student Backpack $24.99, Party for the Course Dress $49.99, Piece of Mind Earrings $5.99

**FREE International Shipping on all orders of $150

Black Friday – 100’s of items 50% off @ ModCloth

(Until 12/1 at 9pm PST)

Modify Watches

modifywatches

You can customize your watch by choosing the style and color of face, and the color of band. Over 3000 combinations are possible, and affordable: around $40-$60 per watch! (My favorite are the glitter faces and bands;-)

Everything on the website is 30% off AND every 10th order they are giving away for FREE!

Shop Modify Watches

Romweromwe_blackfriday

From left to right: Gold BellShaped Bag $30.59, Floral Print Slim White Dress $29.69, Contrast Cuffs Simple Design Blue Blazer $30.99

Get 15% off for Black Friday with code BlackFriday15%

(Until 12/5)

YesStyle

yesstyle_blackfriday

From left to right: Alice Go Home Wool Blend Long Coat $150, 77Queen Platform Lace Up Ankle Boots $48, Ringnor Set Skull Accent Buttoned Slit Back Sweater $34.20

Use CYBERMONDAY for 15% off plus **Free Standard shipping on ALL orders with no minimum purchase requirements.

Cyber Monday Week 15% off Coupon

(Until 12/2)

Also, YesStyle will be giving away one iPhone 5C . Simply Likeand Share their Cyber Monday Week contest on Facebook, and you will have a chance to be an iPhone 5C owner!

Emilie M.
emilie-m-cyber-monday-promotion
Get 40% off site-wide and 60% off clearance items sitewide!
(from 11/29 until 12/5)

The 5-piece “Essentials Box” is FREE with code IWANTITALL on any purchase over $100 (2 days only until 11/28)

Shop Emilie M. Handbags

Happy Shopping!

xo

Carly

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Review: Sunglass Warehouse Sunglasses

sunglasswarehousereview_1Pictured above: Oversized Round Style #1985 Sunglasses c/o Sunglass Warehouse, random vase, Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in #245 Audacious, Giles & Brother Railroad Spike Cuff in Brass, Heather Hawkins Tiny Gemstone Necklace

At LuckyFABB I ran into a representative from Sunglass Warehouse, who later sent me a lovely pair of Oversized Round Style #1985 sunglasses to review. Since then I have been wearing them nonstop! I noticed that their prices were extremely affordable (under $12 for the above pair!), which made me think that the sunglasses themselves would be pretty cheap-feeling.

When I received them in the box I was a little disappointed to find that there was no case or pouch for them and that they were just wrapped in bubble wrap for shipping. However, when I peeled off the wrap I was pleasantly surprised to feel how thick and sturdy the frames were. I’m pretty used to the sunglasses put out by Forever 21 and their ilk, so the thickness and the quality came as a nice change from the flimsy and cheap sunglasses I’m used to.sunglasswarehousereview_2

I’ve been wearing them constantly for driving and being outside- and one of the nice things about them is that they’re slightly curved so hug my face, and don’t cause any weird reflections on the insides like flat sunglasses do. Plus, after 3 weeks of daily use, they show not ONE scratch despite how much abuse I’ve heaped upon them. (And an extra pouch I had from another pair of sunglasses that broke long ago work for housing these, making up for the lack of a case.) If you’re looking for quality sunglasses, at an affordable price, I’d really recommend Sunglass Warehouse for them (and don’t forget to use their Face Shape Widget to help choose which ones would be perfect for you!)

Check out the Great Sunglasses at Sunglass Warehouse!

I’ll be doing a fabulous sunglasses DIY with a pair from Sunglass Warehouse soon, so stay tuned!

xo
Carly

FTC Disclosure: I was sent one pair of sunglasses for review purposes from SunglassWarehouse. The above opinions are my own. I have received no other compensation. For my full Disclosure Policy, click here.

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Inspiration: Great DIY Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts

0.diyhostessgifts_introphotoSo next week is the big turkey day – and if you’re spending it at someone else’s home sometimes you want to bring along something to thank your hosts. Since you’ll be saving all that time not having to make the dinner itself, why not create a lovely gift that shows both your creativity and your appreciation for the holiday? Here are some ideas for some great DIY gifts to bring with you to the Thanksgiving dinner:

DIY DECORATED STORAGE BOXES

diyhostessgifts_boxes

Everyone could always use more storage, and beautifully-decorated boxes show your thoughtfulness. Left to right, clockwise: Decorative Boxes, Fabric-Covered Boxes, Faux Malachite Boxes

DIY SUCCULENTS AND PLANTERS

diyhostessgifts_succulents

Succulents are a low-maintenance plant that look adorable presented in groups. Left to right, clockwise: Tiny Pinch Pots for Kids, DIY Terrarium, Gold Succulents in Origami Geometric Planters

DIY MINI CANDLES

diyhostessgifts_candlesCandles are a welcome addition to any home, especially ones that smell delicious or look beautiful. Left to right, clockwise: DIY Mini Pumpkin Candles, Modern DIY Candle Votives, DIY Satsuma Candle

DIY TABLE LINENS

diyhostessgifts_tablelinens

Handmade table linens are a unique representation of one’s unique style – and you can use a variety of objects as stamps. Left to right, clockwise: Potato Stamped Napkins, Stamped Table Runner, Apple Stamped Napkins

DIY DRINK COASTERS

diyhostessgifts_coasters

To add to a festive table, you could make some coasters – adding paint or decoupaged photographs for a personal touch. Left to right, clockwise: DIY Photo Coasters, Personalized Coasters, DIY Leather & Cork Coasters

DIY SERVING TRAYS

diyhostessgifts_trays

For a perfect presentation, a serving tray is just the ticket. Touches of gold or punched cork make these look especially chic. Left to right, clockwise: DIY Painted Tray, Punched Cork Serving Tray, DIY Metallic Gold Leaf Tray

DIY DRY BAKING MIXES

diyhostessgifts_mixes

Any cook would love a starter mix for some favorite recipes, and these are all fabulous ideas to add to a well-stocked kitchen. Left to right, clockwise: DIY Whole Food Dry Mix Recipes, DIY Spice Mixes, DIY Hot Cocoa Mix and Homemade Marshmallows

DIY PAINTED UTENSILS

diyhostessgifts_utensils

Painting plain wooden utensils and bowls is so hot right now – and it adds a pop of pretty color to the table and kitchen. Left to right, clockwise: Painted Neon Utensils, Neon Spoons, Dipped Bowls

DIY FLAVORED ALCOHOL

diyhostessgifts_spirits

If your hosts enjoy a little drink from time to time, it might be superb to gift them with a delicious flavor of homemade spirits. Left to right, clockwise: DIY Rhubarb Liqueur, Infused Vodkas, DIY Coffee Liqueur

DIY WINE BAGS

diyhostessgifts_winebags

To present your thoughtful bottle of homemade alcohol (or high-end wine!) to your hosts, package it in your own homemade wine bag. Left to right: No Sew Felt Wine Bag Tutorial, Recycled Jean Wine Bag, C Wonder DIY Kit

Also! Use the many lovely labels from Lia Griffith for your packaging and tagging for all your gifts – and watch your hostesses’ faces light up with joy upon receiving your gifts!

Do you have any go-to hostess gifts that you always give during the holidays? Please share in the comments below!

xo
Carly

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Chic Steal: Emilie M. Handbags and Cyber Monday Deal

Emilie M. is an online handbag brand featuring beautifully-designed vegan leather handbags for an affordable price. Offering a number of different colorways for each design, pieces retail for an average of $50-$150, and are referred to as “an investment piece without the investment.”emiliemhandbag3I was sent the Shelia Satchel with Double Shoulder Strap in Ivory/Black ($85), and the Natalie Shopper ($80) in Blue to review. When I received both, I was quite surprised at how light they both were (usually handbags tend to be fairly heavy, even ones using manmade leathers.) But regardless of their weight, both handbags were constructed strongly, with the edges properly coated and sealed, the handles strongly-attached, and the stitching impeccable. Each piece also comes with a large metal M bag charm that adds to the high-end look (though I wish you could actually choose your own initial rather than it being the Emilie M. branding!).  emiliemhandbag2I love that the Sheila Satchel is in trendy black-and-white colorblocking with gold accents, and the detachable (and adjustable) shoulder strap has a sliding protector for your shoulder on it. (See the bag in action here in my latest outfit!) Both bags are fairly roomy and structured, so can definitely protect all my essentials easily. Given that they are constructed of man-made leather, I will still have to see how they stand up to daily wear and tear, though so far they seem to be doing well.emiliemhandbag1

For the woman in your life one of these handbags could be a wonderful holiday gift – especially if your favorite lady prefers eco-friendly materials but still wants a high-end look.

Plus, the brand is offering a great deal next week: for a week beginning Black Friday (Friday, Nov 29), you can get 40% off site-wide and 60% off clearance items sitewide!Also, if you want to round out any handbag purchase with a 5-piece “Essentials Box” (pictured above: a kit including a cross-body wallet, umbrella, scarf, cosmetic bag, and key chain), it’s only $25 additional (normally $155). (A wonderful way to add to your handbag gift – or the items could be split up for stocking stuffers! That folding umbrella is super-cute with a little ruffle – check it out here.) Definitely check out all their handbag styles (14 different styles, not including faux ostrich or crocodile versions as well) below:

Check out Emilie M. Handbags Here

xo
Carly

FTC Disclosure: I received both the Sheila Satchel and the Natalie Shopper from Emilie M. for review purposes. I have not been compensated otherwise for this post. The above are my honest opinions. For my full Disclosure Policy, click here.

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DIY 80’s-Style Acrylic and Rhinestone Triangle Dangle Earrings – Made From a Photo Frame!

0.diytriangleacrylicearrings_introphotoBig jewelry straight out of the 1980’s is having a HUGE moment this year. The bigger, the better – covered with plexi and acrylic, chunky bold shapes, and glittering rhinestones – anything goes right now. I saw these earrings for sale in a store during my last trip to Tokyo this Summer – and decided to DIY them with some materials I already had on hand. Clear acrylic for accessories is hard to come by – so I just repurposed an old photo-frame for my main material. Here’s how:

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Lookbook from Japan: MURUA A/W 2013

murua_aw13lookbook1MURUA is a mass retail brand focusing on feminine details within contemporary trends. With their A/W 2013 collection entitled “Cubic Art,” the brand attempts to combine modern materials, patterns, and techniques into wearable dimensional art. Produced by fashion magazine darling and It-girl Momoko Ogihara and founded in 2006 by the MARK STYLER company (also backers of EMODA – see their latest lookbook here), the brand can be seen throughout popular fashion magazines and is considered the go-to clothing line for young fashionistas in the know.

murua_aw13lookbook2

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Outfit 11.15.13: Tidy and Mustard-y

Rose Gold Safety-Pin Earrings: House of Harlow. Rose Gold Flathead Screw Chaplin Stud Earrings: Gorjana & Griffin. Double-Bar Necklace: Forever 21 (similar here). Guinea a Minute Dress in Mustard: c/o Shabby Apple. Rings: DIY Pretty Pearl Ring, Forever 21 Cat Silhouette Ring, Double Bar Ring, and Double Cross Knuckle Ring. Sheila Satchel with Double Shoulder-Strap: c/o Emilie M. Cone-Heel Slouch Booties: Fergie. (similar here or here.)

shabbyappledress_6 November has definitely arrived in Portland, bringing blustery, cold winds and showers, showers, showers. I am bundling up daily, shivering beneath my heavy coat and scarf that I keep on even at home. (more…)

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