This post is sponsored by Mixbook. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep The Crafted Life making!
If you’re like Ryan and me, you want to send a Christmas card, but don’t really want to spend the money to hire a photographer. Well good news– you can totally take the photo yourself! I am so excited to share this post with you guys because boy did we learn a lot during the process. With a little patience, and a bit of trial and error, we were able to get something we both loved. Here’s how to take your own Christmas card photo: Continue reading…
Okay, so I’ve shown you how to paint wooden beads before, but did you know that you can dye them too?! I’ve been playing around with dye and wood since this project and I think these beads are my favorite results yet. It’s such a low maintenance project that anyone can do and the outcome is so colorful and fun! Here’s how:
Time: 20 minutes – 1 hour depending on color results you want Materials: wooden beads, liquid Rit dye, bowl, water, floral wire (optional)
Liquid dye is always my favorite to use. Feel free to mix colors to create your own custom results!
The ratio of hot water to dye depends on how many beads you want to dye and how many colors. I worked in small containers to make a series of colors, so I used about 5 oz of water to 2 tbs of dye. You can always add more dye if you don’t like the results you’re getting.
Because the beads float, you will either want to be by the dye, turning the beads every now and then, or you can weigh them down by stringing them on floral wire.
One of my favorite aspects of this process is that the results are organic and are different every time. There’s no hard and fast rule for getting great results, so have fun and don’t be scared to experiment a bit. At one point I only have submerged a bead in the dye and I just love the dipped looked. Overall I left my beads in the dye mixture for about 30 minutes.
Once you’re happy with the color of your beads (keep in mind they will be darker when wet), rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Let dry and then you’re ready to craft something colorful! These would make just the cutest necklace for summer don’t you think?
Anndddd I’m back! I made it to the east coast (not entirely to Philly yet), and am so ready to get back to crafting. There’s only so long a girl can be separated from her glue gun, am I right?
Since moving is costing me an arm and a leg, I needed to find a way to make some new jewelry for the holiday season without breaking the bank. The good news is that it’s totally possible! Cardboard beads are surprisingly easy to make and a great way to add a pop of color to any outfit. Here’s how:
This is my first time working with corrugated cardboard and I think I may have a new favorite craft supply. It holds shape nicely and is so easy and flexible to work with. If you’ve never worked with it before, I recommend that you pick some up asap and try this project!
If you’re making the triangle shape, it helps to draw it on the back of the cardboard first. You can also make a variety of other shapes by cutting straight strips of paper in a mix of widths. Experiment and have fun with this step!
Once you have your shapes cut out, apply a layer of mod podge to the back (smooth side) of the cardboard. Roll up the cardboard on your straw and add bit of mod podge to the end to hold in place. In about 20 seconds you’ll be able to remove your bead from the straw so you can set it aside and let it dry. I found that if you have a few different straws, you can lay them over a cup (so the bead is over the hole) to let dry while you make another bead.
And that’s it! I strung some on a piece of twine and made a fun necklace in no time at all. I think it would be fun to make bigger beads, and maybe have multiple strands, to make a killer statement necklace. I’ve got lost of experimenting to do! What do you think, will you be joining me?!
If Instagram has taught me anything within the last few weeks, it’s that peony season should be year round. Really, I don’t know if there’s ever been a more beloved flower on social media. Before those beautiful blooms go out of season, you’ll want to follow these five simple steps for making your peonies last longer. That way, you can be sure to enjoy (and photograph) them enough to tide you over until next year!
1. If you don’t have plant food (that comes with most flowers), you can add a bit of sugar to your water.
2. Peonies are affected by the heat. At night, place them in the fridge, or outside (if it’s cooler) to keep them from opening further.
3. Cut the stems at an angle, under water, every other day. This allows for the flower to absorb more water.
4. Replace the water every two days; you’ll notice the water getting a bit brown even after 1 day.
5. Use cold water when refilling the vase. If you need your blooms to open up quickly for a photo shoot or event, warm water will open them up in no time.
Another tip– you can also find cheaper peonies directly from the grower. Check your surrounding area for farms! I went to two about 40 minutes outside of Portland that were packed full of different varieties, plus the price was about half of what you pay for in stores. And if you really want your peonies to last forever, I recommend pressing a few of the petals to turn into dried flower coasters!
If you’re like Ryan and me, you want to send a Christmas card, but don’t really want to spend the money to hire a photographer. Well good news– you can totally take the photo yourself! I am so excited to share this post with you guys because boy did we learn a lot during the process. With a little patience, and a bit of trial and error, we were able to get something we both loved. Here’s how to take your own Christmas card photo: Continue reading…
