Look Your Prettiest This Summer With These Beauty Tips

Posted on Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Photo credit: ✿ nicolas_gent ✿ / Foter.com / CC BY-ND

It’s getting hotter by the day and this only means one thing: summer’s almost here! If you’re ready to bask in the sun or enjoy the warmer weather outdoors (without looking like a wilted daisy), we’ve got some summer beauty tips to help you look and feel fresh all day. Ready to step out into the sun? These tips will get you covered:

SKIN & BODY:

  • Don’t leave home without sunscreen. Applying sunscreen on your skin is the most important beauty rule to follow, especially during summer. During this time, the sun’s UV rays are the harshest and most damaging to skin, that’s why it’s important to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply liberally on your face, neck, arms and legs.
  • Wear light, airy clothes. It’s great that many spring trends are still very wearable for summer, so when shopping as early as now, choose dresses and blouses that are made of lighter and thinner fabrics such as cotton. Avoid dark colors as they can absorb heat and make you sweat all over.

Keep it cool and fresh with this summery blouse and dress from ModCloth

MAKEUP:

  • Don’t go heavy on the makeup. It may be warmer but it doesn’t mean you have to skip wearing makeup; just wear in moderation and apply lightweight makeup or those that make your skin breathe such as mineral makeup.
  • Make sure your makeup has sun protection. Check if your foundation and lipstick has enough SPF to keep your skin protected. If your favorite shade of lipstick doesn’t have SPF, you can apply lip balm over it.
  • Skip powder and go for creams. Face powder turns cakey when you sweat, so it’s best to apply cream-based foundations and blushes that easily blend on your skin.

We love MAC’s Baking Beauties Collection! If you love baking…and makeup, you’ll love this delightful set, too. Pictured above is the Baking Beauties Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm in Cheery Cherry and Lipstick in Raspberry Swirl. The colors are really yummy!

HAIR:

  • Go for braids. Summer is the perfect season to experiment with different hairstyles. We love the Game of Thrones-inspired braid styles we’re seeing of late, so why not try them for a change? Not only are braids pretty and romantic, they also keep you feeling cool under the summer heat.
  • Adorn your crown. Another trend we really love is the flower headband. Remember the feature we did last year on floral hair ornaments? They’re still pretty popular nowadays because they’re so spring-perfect–and summer is no exception. Wear a crown of flowers on your hair or string a few flowers (real or satin) on your braid and you’ll have a sweet summery look in a flash. Want to make your own hair ornaments? Check out last year’s how-to guide here.

Love Sansa’s braids? Get her look and other Game of Thrones‘ characters style through this tutorial by Lucky Magazine. {Image and tutorial via Lucky Magazine}

ACCESSORIES:

  • Wear a hat. Hats are perfect to wear this summer; not only are they stylish, they protect your face from the sun’s rays, too. Wide-brimmed hats are best to wear when at the beach. When running errands or grabbing a cup of coffee, a cap is your best bet.
  • Shield your eyes with sunglasses. Don’t forget your sunnies when leaving the house. They also provide your eyes some TLC. Go for oversized sunglasses for maximum protection—and impact.

We hope these quick beauty tips will allow you to shine this season. Do you have a  tip you’d like to share? We’d be happy to hear it!

Posted in Fashion, Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Take a Bow: Pretty Ribbon Sculptures to Love

Posted on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Ribbons in silk, satin, grosgrain and many other types of fabric have always added dainty touches to many items. Probably the most popular way to decorate with ribbons is by creating flowers and bows with a few deft flicks, rolls and twists. But did you know that there are many things you can do with ribbons?

In this post, I’d like to show you some pretty ribbon sculptures I found which are commonly used as hair clips. There are so many cute and creative pieces around that I’m going nuts with admiration. :D Unfortunately, I can only feature a few. So, take a bow and let’s do the twist!

A twist to junkfood. Popcorn and Soda Pop Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip Set from leilei1202

Swirls of icing. Satin Cupcake Hair Bow from MySweetieBean

Color my world. Back to School Crayons Ribbon Sculpture Clip from BuzzyBeesCreations

Perfect for bakers. Made with Love…Baking Ribbon Sculpture Set from patyg13

Leggy and ribboned. Caterpillar Hair Clip from GlitterAndGrosgrain

Hello, sunshine! Sun Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip from leilei1202

Juicy fruit. Watermelon Ribbon Sculpture Klippie from KayleighsKlippies

Jolly Ribboned Roger. Skull and Crossbones Clip from SweetTangerineBoutiq

These ribbon sculptures also remind me of the paper quill creations I featured last month. I hope you enjoyed browsing through this ribbon sculpture selection. ‘Til my next post! :)

Posted in Fun Finds, So Cute! | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mom’s the Word: How To Celebrate Mother’s Day

Posted on Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Mom. Mum. Mama. Mommy. Whatever way we call her, our mother is the most important person in our life. We owe a lot to our moms and they’ve been there to see us through our growing years. Even as we reach adulthood, we always turn to our mothers if we need a lending ear or even a shoulder to cry on. That’s why on her special day, it’s important that we return the same love and care she showered on us.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday (May 12), why not make it more heartfelt by spending a whole day with mom? If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the occasion while on a budget, here are some ways to make her feel special:

1. Give her flowers. Some may think of this as an old-fashioned approach, but many moms still appreciate receiving bunches of fresh flowers. If you know what her favorite flowers are, send her a bouquet or deliver it personally. On a shoestring budget? Your garden may hold some lovely blooms perfect for picking. Why not string a few bunches and place them on a pretty vase? She’ll appreciate your effort and thoughtfulness.

2. Cook a special lunch or dinner. Surprise mom with a home-cooked meal made just for her. If you have siblings, ask them to pitch and create a special feast that the whole family can enjoy–with mom as the guest of honor.

3. Volunteer for house chores. Give your mom a day off and let her put her feet up. If she insists on doing her regular housework (our moms are that hardworking), offer to help her with the tasks at hand.

4. Enjoy a movie marathon. Does your mom have a favorite star? Grab a few titles starring this celebrity and have a movie marathon with mom, be it the classics or more modern flicks. If you enjoy watching a TV show which you think your mom would also love, watch an entire season or two with her. Hold the spoilers but don’t forget the popcorn!

5. Go out on a date. Head outdoors, have coffee or simply stroll in the park with your mom. Why not treat her to a day of pampering at the nail or hair salon? Catch up on tidbits and share a few secrets. You can also ask her to jog with you or join your yoga class for some exercise.

6. Send her a card (not a text message). These days, it’s easier for people to greet their mothers by sending text messages through their phones. Get rid of the techno babble and send her a card or heartfelt letter and tell her how much you appreciate her.

7. Bake her a cake. If you have a few baking skills, why not make her a special Mother’s Day cake? If it’s too big a task, you can also make cupcakes or even easy-to-do chocolate fudge.

8. Craft together. Ask mom to teach you her favorite crafts project. It doesn’t matter if you’re crafty or not, what’s important is that you spend time with her while doing the things she loves most. If she loves to cook, tend to her garden, or any other activity, make an effort to join her and discover why it makes her happy.

Any gesture, no matter how simple it may be, will be truly appreciated as long as it comes from the heart. So, show your love to your mom by spending as much time with her on her special day. Happy Mother’s Day to all moms!

Photo credits: Photo 1: anna_t / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA; Photo 2: gjhill / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND; Photo 3: Mother’s Day Card from PeraPress

Posted in Tips | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Foodie Tour: Rediscovering Our Favorite Barbecue Treats

Posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Hello readers! Now that we’re celebrating National Barbecue Month, I’d like to feature some lip-smacking barbecue recipes today from fellow foodies. :) I featured some tips to help you celebrate BBQ Festival in my last post and I also mentioned that certain parts of the country have their own barbecue specialties.

To give you a brief rundown, I went on a virtual state-to-state tour for some barbecue sampling (how I wish it were for real!). The photos of these appetizing and smoky treats are enough to whet your cravings. They look so good that you could almost taste them (yeah, almost!). Let’s get s-s-smokin’!

North and South Carolina

These states are famous for their Pulled Pork Barbecue made by using vinegar and sugar as a baste for the meat and slow-cooking it until it’s tender and succulent. This makes the pork easy to pull apart, thus the name. The traditional way of cooking is by roasting a whole hog but most households make Pulled Pork using smaller portions of meat such as the butt or shoulder with a crock pot.

North Carolina Style Pulled Pork (photo and recipe by The Two Bite Club)

Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma

In this region, beef is the meat of choice because hordes of cattle are found in the West. Smoky beef briskets, shoulders, ribs and barbecued sausages or hot guts are staples in these areas. However, barbecued pork ribs is also a specialty. Check out the following treats:

Barbecue Brisket (photo and recipe by Sallie of Texas Cottage)

Blue Ribbon Barbecue Ribs (photo and recipe by Favorite Family Recipes)

Texas-Style Homemade Sausage Kolache (photo and recipe by Confections of a Foodie Bride)

Kansas City Baby Back Ribs (photo and recipe by Favorite Family Recipes)

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is famous for its wet and dry barbecue (with or without sauce) using mainly pork with a sweet tomato-based sauce. Pulled pork is also a quite big in this area and is served as a sandwich. Check out this video by PassionForPork. Their Memphis Pulled Pork Sandwich looks simply delish!

More than the meats used or the way they are cooked, sauces also play a big part in regional barbecue distinction. You can find a few recipes from Food Network.

I hope you enjoyed going through my favorite barbecue treats. What’s YOUR favorite barbecue? :)

Posted in Real Food | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hot off the Grill: 7 Ways to Celebrate National Barbecue Month

Posted on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Holy smoke! It’s that time of the year again and we’re talking about National Barbecue Month. Just saying the word barbecue is enough to make your mouth water. Images of delectable, juicy and lip-smacking smoky barbecue from pork, beef, chicken and sausages are sure to whet your appetite. Now that we’re celebrating a whole month savoring the goodness of barbecue, barbeque or simply BBQ (whichever way you wish to call it), we’d like to share a few tips on how you can make the most out of this occasion.

But before we do, here’s a bit of trivia: traditional barbecue is actually different from basic grilling as it’s a process done by slow cooking meat over hot coals for hours and hours. The meat is combined with spices, rubs, meat juices, and smoke from wood chips in various types, the most popular being hickory. All these flavor the meat and what you get is supple and juicy strands of protein with a distinct smoky scent. Yummy!

Barbecuing also has different origins from country to country. Many states in the U.S. have their own version of barbecue as well: in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas where cattle is the main source of livelihood, beef is the meat of choice. Whole hog barbecue, on the other hand, is highly popular in Alabama and Georgia while Kansas City, which is known as the “world’s barbecue capital” enjoys roasting meat in all forms–beef, hog, goat, lamb, poultry, and fish.

Thousands of tourists and spectators flock annually to Kansas City to join in on the festivities and, of course, gorge on the mouth-watering array of barbecue. But if you want to celebrate National Barbecue Month in your own area, read up on these easy tips and put on your grilling aprons:

1. Head outdoors. Barbecueing should, of course, be done outside your home. Set up your barbecue grill in your backyard or even by the pool. The warm spring weather is perfect to hold an outdoor barbecue party with friends and family but if you want to celebrate it in other areas, head to the beach or the nearest campsite for a fun-filled day of roastin’ and grillin’! Don’t forget to unwind by roasting marshmallows come evening.

2. Make your own marinade. Much like every state has its own barbecue specialty, so do their rubs and marinades. Some areas are big on tomato sauce marinades while others want theirs spicy with red pepper or tangy with molasses. Check out Food.com and the Martha Stewart site for a great selection of marinade, glaze and rub recipes you can choose from.

3. Choose sides. While planning your barbecue menu, be sure to include side dishes since no barbecue meal would be perfect without these delicious complements. More great recipes for sides can be found at Southern Living and Food Network. Don’t forget to roast these vegetable staples too: corn, tomatoes, onions, and even asparagus.

4. Have a theme. Kick up the fun by having a themed barbecue party. Going for a Western, all-American barbecue theme? Don cowboy hats and plaid shirts. How about a little Asian, Hawaiian or Middle Eastern flavor? Make sure your theme translates not only to your decor and costumes but also to your food, especially your spices and sauces, for a sizzling good time.

5. Challenge friends to a barbecue cook-off. Invite your neighbors to a barbecue cook-off. Not only will this encourage friends to get their game on, you’ll also have lots of food for the barbecue party!

6. Play old school backyard games. While the barbecue’s cooking, kids and kids at heart can enjoy hours of fun playing horseshoe toss, croquet, bean bag toss, tug-of-war and other group games. Be sure to get everyone involved!

7. Do a restaurant hop. If you don’t have plans of throwing a barbecue party but still want to celebrate barbecue month, try going on a restaurant hop. Check out local restaurants or barbecue festivals for their specialties and savor the goodness of these sizzling treats as you move from one venue to another.

If you want to find out more on barbecue month, visit the National Barbecue Association’s official website. Happy BBQ Festival!

Photo credits: Photo 1: hcabral / Foter.com / CC BY-NC; Photo 2: freecandy13 / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND; Photo 3: woodleywonderworks / Foter.com / CC BY; Photo 4: Tavallai / Foter.com / CC BY-ND;

Posted in Tips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kawaii Accessories from Di Depux

Posted on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Once in a while, the Tiny Hands blog features a crafter whose work we truly admire. While we try to feature as much artists as we can here, we only get to showcase the work of some crafters we stumble upon or find through social media sites, search engines and through other bloggers. If you know of any crafter who does amazing work and would want to be featured here, just give us a heads up and we’d be happy to take a look at their projects. :)

In case you missed our featured crafters from last year, here are just some of the posts on HandyMaiden, Hanaletters, The Honeycomb Shop, and Fairyfolk and The Magic Onions that feature these artists’ charming crafts.

This week, we’d like to share some of the work of our featured crafter, Despina Bournele of Di Depux. Her cute accessories are guaranteed to satisfy your kawaii cravings, just like many of her customers. Despina creates items which are laser cut from plexiglass and we just love her word and nameplate necklaces. She creates custom orders, too! Have a look-see:

Aside from nameplates, Despina also makes accessories with cute characters and designs. How kawaii are these? :)

Browsing through her Etsy shop and picking out the items we like best is sooo hard. They’re all delightful and look fun to wear! :)

Head on over to Di Depux’s Etsy shop to see more! Hope you had fun going through Despina’s kawaii accessories as much as we did! :)

Posted in Fashion, Fun Finds, So Cute! | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Clean & Green: How To Make Safe Home Cleaning Solutions

Posted on Thursday, April 25th, 2013

We just celebrated Earth Day last week, but as we mentioned in our previous post, doing your part in saving the environment should always be on top of your daily to-do list. However, going green and helping reduce your carbon footprints can sometimes be quite expensive.

If you usually shop for green, eco-friendly items, you’d notice that they’re a bit pricier compared to traditional stuff, especially when it comes to home cleaning solutions. But did you know that you can create your own cleaners using ordinary household items? Not only are they safer to use because they don’t emit harmful, foul-smelling chemicals, they’re also a cinch to do. What’s more, non-toxic cleaning solutions are environment-friendly. If you’d like to learn how to make your own safe home cleaning solutions, read on!

1. Use baking soda to clean surfaces. Baking soda can do wonders for the kitchen and even the bathroom. Not only is it inexpensive, you can find it in any grocery store, plus it’s mighty powerful, too! Your home will look spic and span with this simple and ever-reliable multi-purpose cleaner.

  • For cleaning tiles and surfaces such as counter tops and stoves, dust surfaces with baking soda then scrub the tiles with a moist cloth or sponge.
  • To get rid of the grime and clean burnt bottoms of pots and pans, soak them overnight in a mixture of baking soda and water.
  • To remove stubborn stains on plates, cups and other ceramics, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Rub the paste on the stains and leave for five minutes, then clean with a cloth or sponge.

2. Deodorize with baking soda. Didn’t we just say that baking soda is a wonder powder? Yes, you can use it to deodorize cupboards or even your refrigerator. Simply place a portion of baking soda in a bowl and leave it in these areas to deodorize (some actually place an entire box inside the fridge which shouldn’t be a problem at all).

3. Make a vinegar cleaning solution. Don’t you just hate the harsh toxic smell of chemical cleaners? Not only are they headache-inducing, they can also harm your body since you get to inhale their fumes whenever you clean. A safer and cheaper alternative to chemical cleaners and disinfectants (yet quite powerful, too) is white vinegar. Here’s what you can do with it:

  • To clean glass windows, simply mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar to 1 liter of water. Place this mixture in spray bottles and use them to clean marks and grease on glass. You can also use crumpled newspaper to wipe away dirt.
  • To get rid of mold and mildew, apply undiluted vinegar directly on the surface. Use a toothbrush to clean tiles or a sponge to scrub on surfaces.

4. Clean and disinfect with lemons. Lemons are known for their anti-bacterial properties and stain-removing strength. To clean and disinfect chopping boards, rub a slice of lemon and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub clean and rinse with water. Do the same for counter tops and other surfaces. You can also add coarse salt prior to adding lemon juice if there are stubborn stains.

5. Combine all ingredients. Have a little fun and go full power by mixing the ingredients we’ve highlighted: baking soda, lemon and vinegar.

  • To make a toilet bowl cleaner, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Pour inside the bowl and brush clean.
  • To clean wood, linoleum and stone flooring, combine a gallon of water with 4 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of lemon juice. Mix well then use a mop to clean the floor.
  • A nifty trick to deodorize your microwave: Place a cup of water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave this mixture until half has evaporated then open the door but allow the mixture to cool before removing.

These are just some of the basic DIY home cleaners you can easily create using things in your pantry. Got your own safe home cleaning recipes? Share them with us!

Photo credits: Photo 1: The Survival Woman / Foter.com / CC BY-NC; Photo 2: incanus / Foter.com / CC BY-NC; Photo 3: cafemama / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA; Photo 4: rachel_titiriga / Foter.com / CC BY; Photo 5:  swirlspice / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Posted in Tips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Be a Queen on Your Big Night With These Prom Essentials

Posted on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

All psyched for prom night? :) Gown…check. Shoes…check. Accessories…nada. Oops! Don’t wait till the last minute to complete your prom outfit. If you still don’t have jewelry and accessories to wear with your dress, it’s time you did some quick shopping.

Accessories can make or break a look, so you should choose them well and make sure that they coordinate with your gown. If you need a little help deciding what to shop for, take a look at these handmade prom essentials so you can feel like a queen on the big night.

For the Sweet & Sophisticated Queen:

Rhinestone Hair Comb from BridalAffair

White Rosette Rhinestone Purse from bloomsnbrides

Pearl and Rhinestone Set from QueenMeJewelryLLC

For the Free-Spirited Queen:

Raspberry Peonies and Chocolate Brown Floral Crown from rosesandlemons

Crazy Burgundy Fabric Collage Clutch from Cesart64

Pink Chocolate Flower Necklace from rosesandlemons

For the Queen of Dark Romance:

Black Swan Feathered Fascinator from kathyjohnson3

Secret Romance Statement Necklace and Earrings from auralynne

Black Beaded Beauty Purse from HopscotchCouture

For the Modern-Day Queen:

Sparkling Rainbow Rhinestone Statement Bib Necklace from SparkleBeastDesign

Peacock Fabric Clutch Purse with Chain from Upstyle

Rainbow Tiara from merrittgade

I hope these prom essentials will give you an idea on what you need to complete your prom look. Just remember that you shouldn’t over-accessorize. Choosing a key statement piece to complement your dress is what truly counts, be it a necklace, purse or hair accent. Finally, in the words of Lady Gaga, don’t be a drag, just be a queen!

Which prom queen are you? Let us know! :)

Posted in Fashion, Fun Finds | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

4 Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Friends

Posted on Thursday, April 18th, 2013

As we celebrate Earth Day next week, the 22nd of April, we’d like to contribute in our own little way to help make our world greener by providing some tips and recycling ideas. We started off with a feature on recycled finds and we’re finishing this week’s blog posts with a few ways to celebrate Earth Day with friends.

We all can do our share in keeping our world a cleaner, greener and healthier place; all it takes is a few minutes of our time while having a little fun! Here are some ways on how to commemorate Earth Day–and enjoying it:

1. Join a tree planting activity. Get your hands dirty by joining a reforestation project with your friends. Don’t have one in your area? Try planting a tree in your own background or some smaller plants in your garden. You can plant flowers, vegetables or herbs even in tiny pots. Picking up a shovel is a great de-stresser and a good way to bond with friends. Check out other benefits of gardening in our previous post.

2. Clean up the litter. Head to the beach, river or park and volunteer for an Earth Day cleanup. The more helping hands, the merrier! Why not hold a contest with your friends to see who picked up the most trash? The winner gets to treat her friends with a healthy lunch or dinner!

3. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Show your love for the planet by following these 3Rs, and add upcycling to this list. Read up on a related post on recycling and upcycling in our previous entry here. You can also organize a recycling drive in your neighborhood by placing bins for biodegradable items which you can drop off in recycling centers.

4. Ride a bike or commute to school or work. Let your car take the day off by riding a bike or by commuting. You can even have a carpool with your friends; not only will it be fun, you’ll also save on fuel and contribute to less air pollution.

As our final tip, make everyday Earth Day! Try to follow any of these tips as often as you can to contribute to a better world. How do you celebrate Earth Day?

Photo credits: Photo 1: wackybadger / Foter.com / CC BY-SA; Photo 2: USFS Region 5 / Foter.com / CC BY; Photo 3: greenerleith / Foter.com / CC BY-NC; Photo 4:  Todo-Juanjo / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Posted in Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Be Eco-Friendly with our Kitschy Recycled Finds

Posted on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Hello, dear readers! Since we’re celebrating Earth Day next week, I decided to make a two-part feature on ways to save our planet. :) Remember my post on eco-friendly jewelry? In today’s feature, I’d like to share some of my new upcycled and recycled finds. Do check out the tutorials linked to the captions because most of these items are fairly easy to do.

Recycling and upcycling are some of the ways to make our planet greener and more livable for us and for generations to follow. These various finds—some kitschy, a few pretty—might just inspire you to recycle. WALL-E will even thank you for the effort! :)

Plastic Easter Eggs (photo and tutorial on reusing plastic Easter eggs from Paper & Stitch)

Here’s a cool idea on what to do with those leftover plastic Easter eggs. Instead of throwing them away (and adding more trash to the planet), transform them into plant holders just like this project from Paper & Stitch.

Film Roll Candle Rings (photo and tutorial by Ty of Know and Tell Crafts)

I am absolutely going gaga over the cool projects (not to mention the cute cat) at crafter Ty’s blog, Know and Tell Crafts! Check out the film roll candle rings he made above, plus other neat stuff and photography tips on his site. Oh, and did we say he’s just 13 years old? Go Ty, you now have a new fan! :)

Owl Recycled Bottle (photo and tutorial by Lucy of Craftberry Bush)

Every time you have a party, plenty of soda bottles are thrown away. Try to minimize the Earth’s clutter by recycling these plastic bottles as shown by Craftberry Bush. Turn your bottles into decorative art and let your creativity flow!

“Dew” It Yourself Jewelry Stand (photo and tutorial by Jen of EPBOT)

Here’s another cool way to recycle plastic soda bottles! Love how EPBOT transformed a plastic Mountain Dew bottle into this pretty jewelry holder. It’s so easy to “dew”, too. Try it now!

Recycled Denim Journal (photo and tutorial by Life Made Creations)

Got a pair of denim shorts or jeans you don’t need anymore? Why not turn them into journal sleeves like this one by Life Made Creations. Add some trimmings, buttons or adornments for touches of whimsy.

Tin Can Caddy (photo and tutorial by Viola of Shabby Chic Inspired)

Transform old tin cans into shabby chic holders and containers! Shabby Chic Inspired gives us this lovely tutorial and I’m delighted with the outcome of her recycling project. Aren’t they all simple yet very, very pretty? :)

Light Bulb Hot Air Balloons (photo and tutorial by Tatiana of Art Drops)

Art Drops takes recycling to new heights with these light bulb hot air balloon wall decor. You can do the same with some old and busted light bulbs, craft paint and string. What a bright idea, right?

Upcycled Apple Computer Pet Bed (available on Etsy from AtomicAttic)

I don’t know what’s cooler, the iMac pet bed or the adorable fluffy calico cat inside? Check out other upcycled finds at Atomic Attic’s Etsy store such as their vintage suitcase pet bed and other fun stuff (cat included, I hope). :)

What’s your favorite recycled or upcycled item? I’d love to know! :)

Posted in Fun Finds, So Cute! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment