Tangerine Taiyaki

Outfit Post- Pink Polka Dot Sweet Casual

2012-01-29T20:41:00.000-08:00

Here is what I wore Saturday while I ran some errands, went out for sushi, and made a trip to the craft store. This t-shirt is one of my favorites, even though it is very basic- I love the color. I bought two types of clay that I've never used before and I'm excited to try them out! I typically only use polymer clay (Premo), but I want to start using more varieties of clay.

Outfit rundown:

Skirt- Bodyline

Shirt- Aéropostale

Purse- Bodyline

Shoes/socks- offbrand

Accessories- handmade (except the bow ring)

Fairy Kei Heart Pendant

2012-01-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

New polymer clay pendant, inspired by fairy kei. I'm really happy with how this turned out. ♥

Etsy Treasury- Lolita Valentine

2012-01-15T15:34:00.001-08:00

Valentine's day is a month away! ♥

If you are purchasing gifts online, it is a good idea to order in the next week or two to ensure you're items arrive in the mail on time. Plus, this gives you plenty of time to prepare the items before giving them away (such as wrapping, attaching cards, or making gift baskets)

I created this Etsy treasury list full of cute gift ideas for your lolita friends or for your own cute Valentine themed outfit.

Lolita Valentine Treasury

Mango Ice Cream Scoop Ring With Strawberry Sauce

2012-01-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Hi!~

Here is a ring I made either last year or the previous year, but never got around to posting. Last week I added the strawberry syrup and rhinestones to it. Originally it just had rhinestones on the top, but I decided to remove them and replace the decoration with what you see now.

The "sauce" is just Scribbles 3D puff paint in a bubblegum shade.
I've previously talked about this paint in my post Dripping Chocolate Effect For Deco

Miniature Chocolate Chip Cookie Earrings

2012-01-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies!
I'm sorry this blog has been so stagnant lately. (I began waaayy too many blog posts with an apology for not blogging, don't I?)

Here is a pair of miniature chocolate chip cookie stud earrings that I made from polymer clay. The cookies are about 1.5cm wide.

I've been photographing and re-photographing many of my creations lately.
It was suggested to me that I should photograph my items with white backgrounds instead of the colorful fabrics and scrapbook paper I like to use. I'm trying it out, but I think I still prefer the colorful backgrounds, because I like cute and bright stuff. White seems so boring.

I have also been listing items in my Etsy shop lately. My shop was empty for a long time and I had pretty much given up on Etsy, but I have decided to give it another shot. I think this is the most items I have ever had in my shop at one time (16 items!)

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

2012-01-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year my dear readers! I hope this year treats you well ♥

Last year I decided to make some New Year resolutions for the first time in my life and I was very successful at failing at them.This year I intend to return to my anti-resolution mentality.

2011 felt like it was pretty uneventful, but when I think about it I realize that even though I may not have achieved anything I had planned for the year, things still worked out well.

The best thing that happened to me during the past year was when I realized what career I wanted to pursue and then went back to school on a whim. Yes, I made a huge decision without careful planning or thought in literally moments. It was a risk for me, because I honestly had no idea how I was going to pay for it. This was completely unlike me, I don't take risks or make major decisions without careful planning. It made me realize how much I've changed.

I do have a goal for this year, but it is not a New Year's resolution. My goal is to keep my 4.0 GPA and get accepted into the honors program. After spring semester I will have enough credit hours to be eligible to apply.

Speechless Sunday: Swan (p.s. Happy New Year!)

2012-01-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season full of friends, family, good food, and gift giving.
Here are some of my Christmas decorations:

We bought an inexpensive kit that had the gingerbread, frosting, and candy to make three houses.

Our table-top Christmas tree. It is a potted Norfolk Island pine.
After Christmas I will be re-potting it and putting it on the balcony, without the decorations of course.

Snowflakes on the window.
I made these the day my final grades for the semester were posted; to celebration, I used paper from my geology lab assignments.

Crafting Post- Miniature Chocolate Cakes

2011-12-22T20:48:00.000-08:00

Hello readers! I hope life is treating you well.

Today I would like to share some new miniature cakes sculpted from polymer clay.

I wish I had made either the frosting darker or the cake lighter. They are already two different hues of brown, but I would like there to be a more obvious contrast. Oh well, next time.

The Time Keeper

2011-12-12T13:36:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies! This semester is officially over and now I have a month off before school resumes. It was a great, yet busy, semester. I met some amazing people in my classes, especially my two lab partners in Geology. I am going to miss working with them in lab.

Today I am going to share something a little different from the usual: Poetry!
I haven't shared any of my creative writing with anyone in a long time. This is partly because I write less often than I used to, and partly because I never finish what I start.

Anyways, this poem hasn't really been edited. I got my inspiration from a line out of the short story "Night Meeting: August 2002" from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. From there, the poem formed by association of words and the influence of other interests of mine.

The Time Keeper

There are stars
burned into my eyes of molten gold.
Galaxies shine across my iridescent body;
moonlight melts with each sway of fins.
Forgotten goldfish, great koi of the pond,
swimming delicately swift through shimmering reflections
leisurely fixated on a universal rhythm of
beating, pulsing, vibration of strings.

Encircling the midnight sky-
sharply burning diamonds glow, trapped
within sheets of purple smoke:
veil of space-
visions of glitter, like stardust plastered across memory.
Silence echoes quietly
through the burning snow of ash.
Dark waters lap at the shores of time,
where the beginning and end collide.

Speechless Sunday: Lilac x Black Lolita Treasury

2011-12-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Lilac x Black Lolita Etsy Treasury
♥

Craft Post- Mint Polka Dot Star Necklace

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a fairy kei inspired necklace I created from polymer clay a few months back. Polka dots and stars have always been two of my obsessions.

I used to make the hole for the jump ring before baking the clay, but recently I have been baking it first and then using a drimel with a very small drill bit. I think it turns out much nicer this way and I don't have to worry about distorting the piece.

Speechless Sunday: Assorted Deco Supplies

2011-12-04T01:57:00.000-08:00

Outfit Post- The Squirrel and the Acorn

2011-11-29T19:58:00.000-08:00

I was watching squirrels searching for acorns in the morning and was inspired to wear brown. I love watching squirrels; they're so cute and they are beginning to get chubby for the winter.

Outfit Rundown:

Cardigan- Austin Clothing Co

Blouse- Xhilaration

Skirt- Malcolm Modes

Shoes- Nine West

Necklace & Bracelet- Handmade

Brooch- Vintage

Everything is thrifted except the skirt and accessories.

Speechless Sunday: Purple Flowers

2011-11-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

Steampunk Bazaar

2011-11-26T14:49:00.000-08:00

Today I went to a Steampunk Christmas Bazaar. There were some great booths, but unfortunately I didn't find anything I was looking for. Here are some photos from the event.

I didn't have my good camera with me, so the photos aren't the best quality.

Fresh Fruit Tarts

2011-11-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made these fresh fruit tarts with lemon curd mousse. They were suppose to be for dessert after our Thanksgiving dinner, but we were so full we waited until today to eat them.

Speechless Sunday- Star Glitter

2011-11-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

Speechless Sunday- Autumn Flower Arrangement

2011-10-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Crafting Post- Greeting Card

2011-10-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Very simple and basic design. I used thick, foamy double stick tape to give it that raised effect.

My 5 Favorite Japanese Fake Sweets and Deco Blogs

2011-10-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! ♥
Today I would like to share with you five of my favorite fake sweets jewelry and deco blogs. They are all by Japanese artists whose work is amazing and inspiring.

Sweeter
Her work is detailed and realistic. As you browse her blog you will clearly be able to see her growth and progress as an artist. Her most recent work is beautiful and, in my opinion, seems more mature and elegant than the average sweet deco.

☆えみ☆のKirakira Sweets Deco
I've been following this blog for a long while now. Her blog is filled with pastel colors and lots of cuteness. I love the variety of her creations, anything from pistols to cupcakes.

Up To Yuu Fake Sweets
Amazingly realistic and detailed items. I'm not going to lie, I have actually gotten hungry from looking at her creations.

Rosemary ～こたのフェイクスイーツ日記～
I love that she posts a lot of WIP photos. I enjoy seeing what the little parts and pieces look like before they're put together into a completed piece. And her finished projects are wonderful.

Dream Cream DECO☆Kocochaのスイーツデコブログ
Her sweet deco creations are amazing. The fruit she makes is so realistic and there is so much detail in her work.

I hope you enjoy these blogs and find lots of inspiration! Please let me know which one is your favorite.

Speechless Sunday- Time

2011-10-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Crafting Post- Pink Floral Whole Cake Necklace

2011-10-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I hope you are all doing well.
Classes and homework have been taking up most of my time lately, but I recently managed to make this cake necklace.

When I've made these whole cake necklaces in the past, my biggest problem was always the weight. I was excited when I found some Scupley Ultra Light at the local craft store; it seemed perfect for cakes and other large and bulky items.

I was unsure how the texture would work out. I must admit, it isn't as good as the texture I achieve using regular polymer clay. I only used the Ultra Light clay for the cake base. I used regular polymer clay for decorating and the plate.

Crafting Post- Purple Polka Dot Bow Necklace

2011-10-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! Hope life is treating you well. ♥

Here is a necklace I made last month, but I procrastinated when it came to posting it on the blog.

I had just enough ribbon left on the spool and it was the perfect color.
I also uploaded this necklace to my closet on Poupee Girl.

Speechless Sunday- Collectible Hello Kitty Lunch Boxes

2011-10-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Speechless Sunday- Fill In The Blank

2011-09-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Outfit Post- Pink Sweet x Classic Lolita

2011-09-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an outfit from last week.

I was hoping to go ice skating, but it didn't happen.

Small mirror = awkward pose. (please ignore the kitty toys behind me)

Skirt- Bodyline

Accessories- Handmade

Everything else- Offbrand

Oh, these are the shoes I wore ♥

Pink Two Way Fluffy Star

2011-09-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to make one of these chocomint inspired fluffy stars for so long. I've had all the supplies for months, but haven't had the time/motivation. Over the weekend I finally got around to making one. It isn't actually 100% finished, because I still need to add glitter to the white star.

I attempted a fluffy heart awhile ago, but it was an experiment and turned out not so puffy and fluffy. I only had green to work with and the wire I used was too soft, therefore it easily bent out of shape.

I used the wrong glue on my first try. The fluffy material just sucked it all up like a sponge. That's when I realized I needed to use hot glue. I'm surprised I even own a hot glue gun, since I only use it once or twice a year.

I Miss Lisa Frank

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Outfit Post- Gingham Lolita

2011-09-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! Just thought I would post another outfit.

I have a Geology test coming up soon, therefore I'm busy studying. I thought Geology would be more exciting. The reason I chose Geology as my science course is because I love watching shows on PBS about earthquakes, volcanoes, and other Earth systems. It isn't the class that bothers me, but rather the textbook. Oh well.

Now that I'm finished with that digression lets get on to the outfit. ♥

I only took two photos and the one of the front of my outfit didn't turn out well, so I'm just posting the back view. This is my favorite lolita skirt I own, as well as the only brand piece. It fits me much better than the rest of my skirts.

I have trouble when it comes to tying waist ties. I spend so much time tying and untying them, in a desperate attempt to make it perfect. I never do achieve that perfection. In the end I will finally decided they are good enough and give up. I don't know why I have so much trouble, after all, I feel I am pretty good at tying ribbon bows.

I actually made a set of bows for my braids, but decided only one holding back my fringe would look better. It still felt like it was missing something, so I added the lace. I don't like this lace much, it is only temporary until I buy some that I find more suitable.

Skirt- Baby, The Stars Shine Bright

Hair bow- handmade

Everything else- Off brand

Speechless Sunday- My Dresser Top

2011-09-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Outfit Post

2011-09-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

I wore this outfit a couple days ago to class. I regretted it later, because it was so hot and this outfit didn't help out too much.

I bought this skirt on EGL awhile back. It is longer than I had imagined, but I like it regardless. I'd been wanting a brown skirt for a few months. I was pleased when I saw someone selling this one and bought it, even though it isn't exactly what I'm looking for. Unfortunately, most of the ones I really want are out of my price range.

The skirt looks much longer in this photo than it actually is.

Without the blazer.


Shoes.

Blue Mushroom Brooch

2011-09-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

I started school last month, so between classes and work I've been busy.

Yesterday I finally got the chance to do a little bit of crafting. I came up with this plush mushroom brooch made from felt, with cute mini buttons and a bow. ♥

I'm thinking it would look really cute with a fairy kei outfit.

I have pretty much given up on 52 crafty projects.
I only made it to number 21, how sad.

Creative Paper Clay Review

2011-08-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

Awhile back I picked up a package of Creative Paper Clay at my local Hobby Lobby for $4.99

I have used paper clay before, but not this brand. Previously I've used a couple different Japanese brands including Fuwa Fuwa. I decided to try this since it was easily available and I needed some lightweight clay for a project I'm working on.

Here is the texture of the clay.

I made this rose as a test run of the clay.

I was disappointed that the clay doesn't dry bright white, but rather an antique or off white.

It developed some cracks while it was drying. They could be filled after it has dried with wet clay, but since I don't really have plans for this rose I left them as is.

Plus I figured they would be less noticeable after paint and gloss.

Here is the final piece.

I painted it with acrylic paint and used a coat of Triple Thick gloss.

Although the cracks are still visible, the paint and gloss did indeed smooth them out, just as I had anticipated.

Paper clay isn't my first choice material for a reason, however, I like it for lightweight pieces. I prefer not to use it in jewelry because in my experience it isn't as durable as other clays such as polymer, but I think it works well for jewelry box deco and other home decor projects.

Overall I liked Creative Paper Clay. My only real complaint is the color of the dried clay. You can't get nice colors by blending pigments while it is wet like you would with plain white, it is probably best to paint the dried piece to achieve good color.

Owl Watch Necklace

2011-08-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

While browsing Hobby Lobby I came across this amazing owl pendant. I was even more excited when I picked it up and discovered it is a working watch. It was the last one left, so even though it was more than I went in intending to spend, I bought it and a 60 inch chain. I cut the chain in half and doubled it up.

Tutorial: How To Make Paper Clay From Newspaper

2011-08-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hello! Today I want to share with you how to make your own recycled newspaper air dry clay.

Besides being an environmentally friendly craft project, it is also very easy and inexpensive.

This clay is lightweight and works well for large and bulky pieces. It doesn't, however, hold detail well.

Click the image below in order to full view the tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

If you choose to share be sure to provide a link back to my blog.

Brief Update and Design Seed Color Palettes

2011-07-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sorry it has been so long since I've posted anything. I'm disappointed that I have not been good at updating on a regular basis. I've been busy lately getting ready to start school and searching for a new home. Our lease expires in a couple months and we do not plan to renew it. I'm hoping to find a nice duplex or house to rent instead of an apartment.

Lately I've been looking at home decor blogs, because after moving I typically like to change up the decor. But these blogs usually make me really wish I owned a home, that way I could paint the walls, install nice cabinets, and other drastic changes that cannot be done when you rent.

It was during one of these decor reading sessions that I came across this blog, Design Seeds, which is full of color palettes. I wish I had come across this website when I was designing my blog layout.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 21- Pink Double Scoop Ice Cream

2011-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello!

This week I created this polymer clay ice cream cone charm. I used my last length of chain on this necklace and the craft store was out of the chain I like.

It seemed a little dull, so I added a pink rhinestone for some sparkle.

I used a self-made mold for the waffle cone and colored the clay with powdered chalk pastel.

This item is currently for sale here ♥

Strawberry Lolita Love

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have a strawberry obsession. For this reason I love lolita prints with strawberries. I would like to own at least one strawberry print lolita skirt, preferably one of the ones below. The following skirts are my favorites, in order. It's like the beginning of a strawberry wishlist.

Innocent World's Annette Skirt in the green colorway.

I love the placement of the print on the apron.

This one is probably my favorite, but I wish the apron was detachable.

BTSSB Chained Berry Memoir JSK in the brown (soda candy?) colorway.

I love that this print isn't too busy, which I believe makes it look more elegant.

I typically dislike stripes, but these ones are thin and don't stand out too much.

The strawberry design on the lace is a very nice touch.

Angelic Pretty Sweet Ribbon Strawberry Skirt.

I like this colorway because of the contrast of the berries against the yellow.

Strawberry divider credit: Cherri Drop

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 20- Glittery Red Strawberry Ring

2011-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have somewhat of an obsession with berry motifs. I especially love anything featuring strawberries, they're just so cute. I created this strawberry ring to match a strawberry print shirt of mine.

I knocked the tube of glitter over while I was working on this. There was red glitter everywhere! Luckily none of the surrounding items had wet coats of varnish.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 19- Cookie Jar Necklace

2011-06-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hello! Hope everyone is well. ♥

Here is my most recent complete project.

A miniature jar filled with super tiny chocolate chip cookies on a dainty chain.
The cookies are handmade from polymer clay.

Fabric Stash

2011-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

The best two are the cherry print and the yellow floral stripe next to it. The grey one with the hearts is pretty cool as well, it's one of those glittery fabrics. Unfortunately I can't think of anything to make with it. It was a bit expensive, but I had to have it so I bought a small amount.

PoupeeGirl Talk- Rainy Day Event

2011-06-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies!

The rainy day event on poupee has ended, so here are my favorite outfits during the event. The first one is from the day before the event started, it's like I had a premonition or something, haha.

The green one is my favorite, I was The Frog Queen.

I'm looking forward to June Bride, except it's always so expensive. Sadly they have announced the end of the ribbon campaign, so getting ribbons will be harder once again. Now I wish I hadn't bought some of the items I've recently purchased...

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 18- Leaf Print Magnet

2011-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

I decided to try out a glazing method where you use TSL mixed with pigment powder. You paint it over an already baked polymer clay piece, then bake a second time. I used powdered chalk pastel instead of pigment powder.

I pressed a real leaf into the clay to create the impression. I love the result and plan to make some necklace pendants in the same way.

The only magnets I have on my fridge are ugly free advertisement ones. I'm glad to add some color and interest, hopefully I'll soon replace all my magnets with handmade ones.

Outfit Post- Happy International Lolita Day

2011-06-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

Since today is International Lolita Day I figured I might as well dress up. It's a good excuse. There was a local meet up, but I had to work this morning so I was unable to attend. But that's okay, it was outdoors and today is super hot. Instead I went and treated myself to pearl milk tea. ♥ I tried taro flavor for the first time. The taste was different from what I had imagined, not that it's a bad thing.

This skirt is kinda heavy so I have to wear entirely too many petticoats to achieve poof and it didn't last long. Maybe I should invest in a super fluffy one (like that classical puppets one), as it would be more comfortable with less waistbands and more practical.

I like the way these two necklaces look worn together. This cameo necklace is probably my favorite necklace I own. It was originally on a gold chain, but I think it looks nicer with pearls. The pink ones are freshwater pearls. They're really nice and almost all round and symmetrical. The white ones are glass with a pink ribbon.

Cute Fish

2011-06-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

I had some free time in which boredom was beginning to trickle in, so I decided to do some stuff in photoshop. It has been awhile since I've done anything, other than simple photo editing. And what's more fun than animated GIFS?

Even though I've known how, I've never actually made an animated GIF in all 9+ years that I've been doing graphic design/image editing. Maybe this is why I found so much excitement in making cute bubbles float around...

Yay, fishy! ♥

PoupeeGirl Talk- Fairy Event

2011-06-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! How is life treating you?

I must admit, I am so addicted to PoupéeGirl. I love all the cute items and coming up with dress ups. I try to dress up everyday, sometimes multiple times a day because I buy new items that I can't wait to wear.

Luckily I have avoided the jewels, although it is hard sometimes. A few times I came very close to buying some, but I remind myself that I have a rule against spending money on pixels. My solution to keep from lusting after jewels too much is to simply not look in the jewels shops. Of course I can't help myself and always end up taking a peak.

Last month was the fairy event, which I love so much. I didn't buy many items during the event due to a lack of ribbons and trying to buy older items before the time was up. But I had a perfect excuse to wear my previous fairy items. I did buy some of the limited sunflower items, I love the big flower and didn't want to miss my chance. I still plan to buy more fairy items, but I'm behind on buying from previous shops and the current rainy day event isn't helping.

Anyways, here are my favorite dress ups from the fairy event. Once the rainy day event is over I will post my favorite outfits from the event as well.

Do any of you play poupeegirl? If you do, leave me a link to your profile so we can be friends ♥

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 17- Strawberry Creme Heart Cookie Brooch

2011-06-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is another brooch, this time a strawberry creme filled heart cookie. I made this using polymer clay and chalk pastel. I like the way it turned out, except that it is a bit heavy. The next time I make one I will use something other than polymer clay for the filling in order to lighten it up a bit.

The pink I used is pretty pale, so if I make anymore pink ones I will try using a deeper pink. I already started mixing my clay colors for a whole batch of them with assorted fillings. So far I've gotten lavender, mint, and lemon colors made.

You can make your own baked cookies by following my polymer clay sugar cookie tutorial ♥

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 16- Deco Pink PSP Case

2011-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Awhile back I purchased this PSP accessory set. It was discounted because of a discoloration/flaw on the metallic circle. Since I brought it home I have been planning to deco it in order to cover that area up. I finally got around to doing it.

Here you can see the discoloration in the bottom photo.

I was originally planning to fill in the edges with tiny pink rhinestones, but I couldn't get them to look right so I left it like this. The little bow is made from polymer clay. I am also planning to deco the accessories that came with it. I'm not sure exactly how I want them to look, I'm still giving it some thought.

Lolita At The French Bakery and The Catnip Mouse

2011-05-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I hope life is treating you well.
Today I have more photos to share from the past month.

I went to a french bakery downtown to eat some macarons and drink mocha. They were good, except a bit too sweet. I really wanted lavender flavor, but they were all out so instead I got rose and caramel. The caramel ones were my favorite. The first two I ate at room temperature and the one I took home I enjoyed cold. It tasted less sweet that way.

So pretty.

This is what I wore for the day. The girl at the bakery was asking me questions about where I was going and if I had something special planned. I could tell she wanted to ask about my outfit without sounding rude.

I had the ends of my hair curled, but it didn't last.

I made a catnip mouse for my kitty. He is very aggressive when it comes to playtime so it only lasted a day before it was ripped apart. He had a stuffed bird that he tore the head off and scattered the stuffing all over the house, I'm still finding pieces laying around. Maybe I should buy him those stuffing free plush dog toys...

Anyone know where this cute pixel art is from? I found it on a Japanese site, but forgot to bookmark and now I can't seem to find it. If you happen to know I'd love if you'd give me the link! ♥

Thanks for reading!

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 15- Sweet Biscuits With Chocolate Brooch

2011-05-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

This was originally going to be a hair accessory, but in the end I decided it would make a cute brooch. I don't have nearly enough brooches, but I have lots of hair accessories and necklaces, so I plan to focus on making more brooches as well as bracelets.

I recently bought some really pretty toggle clasps for making bracelets. I made a pearl one with the clasp, but it broke the first day I wore it. It didn't even get caught on anything, the clasp simply broke in half. I'm very disappointed because the clasps were not cheap. The circle side of the clasp is still intact, it was the bar that broke, so I will probably use that part as a pendant for a necklace.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 14- Rainbow Ribbon French Memo Board

2011-05-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting a bulletin board to keep important bills and other papers organized. Originally I was going to use fabric covered cardboard in a picture frame. I had one made this way before and it worked well.
Instead I decided I would rather have a french memo board so I wouldn't have to use tacks and put holes in the papers.

This was very simple to make and took less than an hour. I used a cheap stretched artist canvas, covered it with fabric, using a staple gun to keep it in place. Then I added the ribbons, using hot glue to hold them in the back and sewing through the canvas at the ribbon intersections.

I'm planning on making some polymer clay buttons to sew onto the board where the ribbons intersect. I'm still deciding on the shapes and colors for the buttons.

Playing Catch Up- Updates and Purchases

2011-05-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hello readers! I hope life is treating you well. Sorry I haven't been blogging much or posting my craft projects. I have a few finished projects that I will be posting over the next couple of days.

I bought these shorts a couple days ago for a really good price, 70% off the original price. I was in desperate need of a new pair since the weather is so hot and I only had one pair of shorts, excluding gym shorts.

I love this mascara! It is physicians formula. It isn't much more expensive than the usual drugstore mascara, I bought it for around $8.99 and I have no problem with it clumping or flaking.

My cat lounging around being his usual lazy self.

There's Always Less Perfect Days Made For Crafting

2011-05-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks I've been busy spending the majority of my spare time doing activities other than crafting. The weather is warm, it calls me out of my craft room and into the world. It is only a matter of time before it gets so hot I lose all interest in going outdoors (unless swimming is involved.)

Instead of spending my days at the sewing machine, I venture outside to photograph the world, stroll in the parks, enjoy my balcony garden, and ride my bike to the tea house. These days are too perfect to turn into crafting marathons. The only problem is that my crafting suffers. Or does it? No. I know in the long run my crafting benefits.This is an opportunity for creativity to renew itself, find new inspiration from external sources, explore new possibilities.

How can you expect to be a great artist when all you know is what's inside?

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 13- Black Bow

2011-04-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! (｡･ω･)ﾉﾞｺﾝﾁｬ♫
Last week I made this fabric bow. I originally planned on putting it on a hair band, but my attempt at covering the plastic hairband with fabric was a huge fail. I'll figure it out, eventually. Instead it is a hair clip/brooch.

The sparkly thing the bow is on top of is a plastic case I bought the other day. Its scuffed up so the store had it marked down from $16.99 to $4.57. I'm using it to store my fabric stash, all but one piece fits inside.

Thanks for reading! ♥

Updates: New Hair Color, Thrifted Lolita Skirt, Pen pal

2011-04-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

I dyed my hair the other day. I went from a medium-light brown to dark brown. The color was suppose to be medium dark brown, but it ended up being very dark and looks black in certain lighting. I like the end result even though it turned out a little darker than planned.

Here is my new hair color, as well as a quick shot of my outfit.

I was going to get rid of the skirt because it is short and I didn't think I had anything to wear with it. While cleaning my closet out I came across this skirt I haven't worn in awhile and some black leggings, so I decided to pair them all together. I like the outcome and the skirt length isn't an issue when worn with the leggings, so I will be keeping it after all.

I received a letter from my pen pal, she included some cute stickers and a handmade cookie charm. She lives in Mexico and apparently the mail between here and there takes forever.

I found this skirt at a thrift store. I was super excited, it seems like a great find, and would work well for a lolita outfit. Unfortunately it is a bit too big, but I'm planning on attempting to resize it. I looked around online and it doesn't seem too hard of a task. Besides, even if something goes terribly wrong it won't matter much since I only paid $4.

Thanks for reading! ♥
The cute pixel dividers were made by Cherri Drop, they can be found here.

Sailor Moon Figurine Collection

2011-04-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

As a child I was really into Sailor Moon when it was first aired on TV in the U.S. (1995, I do believe)
I never really got into collecting the merchandise, but I do have a little set of action figures and a large amount of VHS tapes. Here are the figurines I have.

I wish Chibiusa was Sailor Chibi Moon instead of Black Lady. She looks out of place as amongst the Sailor Scouts.

The only ones that will stay upright for a prolonged amount of time are Sailor Mars and Black Lady. The others always topple over, despite their bulky white leg braces. Because of this I do not display them on a shelf as I would like, but instead just keep them in a box.

Outfit Post: Vintage Cream

2011-04-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

Here is an outfit I recently wore. The cardigan is vintage, a gift from my sister. I hadn't wore it before because nothing really matched it well. I love the beading on it, although it adds quite a bit of weight to the garment.

Cardigan: Vintage
Blouse: Offbrand, Ross
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Claire's
Accessories: Handmade

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 12- Plastic Pink Bow Bracelet

2011-03-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! I hope everyone has been well.
I've been busy trying to organize my craft supplies, cleaning, tending to my little balcony garden, as well as working hard at my job. I worked overtime this week, I was so surprised! I still managed to do a weekly craft project though.

This week is another reconstruction project.
I had bought this plastic hair tie at the bargain store, but it was poorly put together by hot gluing the metal part of the elastic hair tie (a thick hot pink one with poor stretch) to the back of the plastic bow. And it looked strange when worn. So I decided to turn it into a pearl bracelet.

I pulled the hair tie off, drilled some holes, and threaded a string of pearls on clear elastic thread through the holes. Super easy and much nicer looking than previously. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like before.
Thanks for reading!

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 11- Lollipop Pendants

2011-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, sorry for not posting a project last week! But here is what I created for this week:

To match the lollipop earrings I previously made, I decided to make some lollipop pendants. These will go on chain, one silver and one gold. I am unfortunately out of chain, so that has to wait until I get some more.
I've been having fun making lollipops lately because they're easy and fast to make, which is important since I've been busy with lots of other things recently.

The week prior to this I worked on a couple different crochet projects, but only finished a dishcloth and a cat toy, neither of which I felt were interesting or cute enough to blog about. The other projects I started on are a choker, brooch, and I worked on an ongoing blanket. I'll post up the choker and brooch when I'm finished.

Outfit Post: Pink & Blue Rainbow Bliss

2011-03-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here is an outfit I wore over the weekend. I wasn't going out for anything special, just running errands. After I got home my boyfriend convinced me to go with him to a BBQ place down the street. It was filled with the typical Texan cowboy-type and I got plently of weird looks and comments that made me giggle.

Outfit Rundown
Jacket: Sanrio

T-shirt: Hai-Koo
Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Sketchers
Hair accessories: Sanrio and Handmade
Shooting star brooch: Handmade
Cupcake Necklace: Handmade
The hoodie is one of my favorite jackets, mainly because of the bright blue color. The pattern is has Hello Kitty, stars, rainbows, and the words "super cute". I've had the t-shirt for a very long time, I've searched for the brand recently and couldn't find anything. I guess they aren't around anymore.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 10- Lollipop Earrings

2011-03-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

This week I chose to make pink and white polymer clay lollipop earring studs.

The white and pink are not as blended as they look in the photograph.

Kawaii Iwako Eraser Collection

2011-03-06T12:15:00.000-08:00

Here is my current collection of Iwako erasers. Sadly my cat ate part of my collection, he has a weird thing for erasers and rubber bands. I plan to replace the ones he ate, plus I have some more I would like to add to the collection.

I was keeping the erasers in a jewelry box, but the cat knocked it off the desk and got the lid open. Now I am working on a shadow box with a clear lid and latch to display them in.
The ones at the top of my list to buy right now:

Taiyaki
Cake slices
Pastel Biscuit
Pink and Purple Pigs
Fruit in a Can
Unicorn

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 9- Eco-friendly Mail Holder

2011-03-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Hello!
This week I decided to solve an organizational problem while helping out the environment. We have too much mail but no where to keep it. I could go buy an organizer, but why bother when I have materials around the house to make one myself. For free. I got to work making a mail holder using a cereal box and scrap paper left over from previous projects.

I try to reuse or upcycle items before throwing them into the recycling or trash, since reusing, up-cycling, and re-purposing is much better for the environment.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 7- Classic Lolita Headband

2011-03-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

I had some computer issues last week, which prevented me from blogging my weekly project.
Last week I converted the bow brooch from my Bodyline skirt into a hair bow. You can see the skirt and original bow in this entry.
I had planned to use a clip on the back, but after some thought decided a headband would be more suitable. The project was simple and quick.

I used a beadable wire headband bought from Hobby Lobby. I took the pin back off the bow and I removed the strand of pearls that hung down from the bow. I used the pearls for the headband along with some smaller glass pearls.

Originally I was planning to use some gold/tan pearls (not really sure how to describe the color) that matched the yellow of the bow, but the holes were too small for the headband. When I tried to use a pearl reamer I just ended up breaking them in half so I gave up.

Thanks for reading!~ ♥
(｡･ω･)ﾉ

Polymer Clay Miniature Tutorial Scans for Fruit, Flowers, and Teapots

2011-02-21T22:09:00.000-08:00

Recently I downloaded a Japanese book titled 200 Polymer Clay Miniatures. Overall its a decent book with step by step instructions. It isn't in English, but the photographs are pretty straight forward and easy to follow.
I would like to share with you a few of my favorite pages. These pages include tutorials for polymer flowers and dishes (including teapots).

Tulips are my favorite on this one.
I'm planning on making some polymer clay miniature plants, this should be helpful.

I collect teapots, so my reason for liking this page should be apparent.

Click the photos to full view.

I don't remember the direct link to the book download, but I found it somewhere on giftjap.info

These photos/scans and tutorials are not mine, all rights belong to the authors of the magazine 200 Polymer Clay Miniatures. I am posting for educational purposes.

Recent Purchases- Black Bolero and Brown Shoes

2011-02-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to share two of my most recent purchases.

I bought this black bolero from a girl on egl_comm_sales to match many black dresses I own. I love the dresses, but they all have straps and most of the time I would prefer my shoulders to be covered.

I have been looking for a nice but inexpensive bolero or cardigan for awhile now. When I saw this I knew it was perfect! I bought it new with tags for $8 shipped.

I also have been wanting some new shoes, its been awhile since I've bought any. Most of my shoes are flats or sneakers, so I was looking for something dressy with heels or a platforms. Also, I have quite a few brown outfits but no brown shoes other than my hiking boots. I typically wore gold or black shoes with those outfits.

I came across these shoes at a store called Shoe Carnival. I paid only $7.50 for them on clearence, the original price was $44.99 so I got a really great deal!

Yes, I have a strange love for getting a good deal, to me it is the ultimate shopping experience and makes me feel great. My bank account appreciates it as well. I like getting the most from my hard earned dollars. And I have lots of bills to pay so I'm on a pretty strict budget.

Thanks for reading! ♥

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 6- Mini Button Hair Bow

2011-02-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I didn't do a weekly craft project due to sickness, so I'm making up for it now.

Here is a bow that I made and then sewed on these adorable miniature buttons.

As soon as I saw these buttons at the store I knew I had to have them! I felt they'd be a cute detail on bows as well as using them in various other crafts.

There's a hair clip sewn on the back.

It has been awhile since I've sewn anything, I was worried it wouldn't turn out, but I'm pretty happy with the result. I have a lavender blouse I will probably pair this with.

Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells No. 5- Ice Cream Cone Charms

2011-02-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovelies! ♥
Today is the first post of 52 crafty projects under the new name, chosen through a recent reader contest.
This week I created polymer clay ice cream cone charms. I made three pieces, two mint and one strawberry.

My favorite is the strawberry mint ice cream scoop. The other mint scoop is drizzled with hot fudge. I used brown puff paint as the deco sauce. The pink double scoop is suppose to be strawberry ice cream.
I haven't decided if I will attach these to cellphone straps or make necklaces out of them. I might do both.

Thanks for reading!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Blackberries

2011-02-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines day everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones.

Today I made chocolate covered strawberries and blackberries. I love them, they're so delicious and easy to make.

Here's the recipe
Ingredients:
strawberries, blackberries, or whatever other fruit you want
Chocolate chips or a good chocolate bar broken into small pieces (I used semi-sweet chocolate chips)

1. Wash berries ahead of time, be sure they are completely dry before you begin.

2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, stir until chocolate is smooth and remove from heat.

Alternatively you can melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave at 10% power for 2 mins. Stir. If not melted heat in additional 30 second increments, until smooth. Be sure to stir after each 30 second period, often times chocolate chips will look unmelted but once mixed you will discover they're fully melted.

3. Hold strawberries by stem, dip into chocolate. Swirl as you lift from chocolate, give a light shake to remove excess chocolate. Turn the strawberry upside down, so that the tip is pointing towards the ceiling. This will ensure the chocolate sticks to the berry and is sealed.

4. Place berries on wax paper to cool and harden.

5. To dip blackberries, stick them onto a wooden toothpick and swirl in the chocolate. Use same technique as you did with strawberries. Slide berry off toothpick onto wax paper and repeat with remaining blackberries.

It is best to make them the same day you plan to eat them. Eat within 24 hours, served at room temperature for best results. The berries will leak juices and make the chocolate weird if you wait too long to eat them (usually past 24 hours)

If you want to make them more fancy you can melt some white chocolate to drizzle over them.

Thank you for reading, please enjoy! ♥

Mutsumi's First Giveaway

2011-02-12T00:19:00.000-08:00

Hello! I want to let you all know about Mutsumi's first giveaway.
If you are interested in gyaru fashion you should definitely enter.

Look at all these amazing items you could win.

I love the strawberry bag and the Coco Lulu tote! The little bear is so cute as well.
♥

52 Crafty Projects Contest Results

2011-02-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone
Its time to announce the winner of the contest, but first I would like to thank everyone who entered. All the entries were great and I loved them all!

The entries were judged by myself and three others. I typed up the entries without names and gave them to the judges, who then chose their favorite title.

Here are the results

Two votes went to "Magic to Craft: 52 Sweet Spells"
One vote for "52 Weeks of Cuteness Overload"
One vote for "52 Innovative Ways Of Kawaiiness Ingenuity"

The winner is NanaChan. Congratulations!

On another note, this week there will be no project post due to sickness. Next week I will be completing an extra project to make up for this week.

Thank you for reading!~ ♥

52 Crafty Project No. 4 - Chocolate Filled Heart Cookies

2011-02-05T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hello sweet readers! This is my 4th weekly project. For my project this week I made heart cookies with chocolate filling.

These fake sweets pendants are made from polymer clay and colored using chalk pastel. I mixed a small jar of powdered pastels together so I won't have to mix colors again for awhile. I didn't photograph them with the chain, but one is gold and the other is silver. The gold chain has pearls and belongs to the one with the heart.

The one with the star is my favorite.

I might make a hair bow that matches the one with the star, but I'm still brainstorming. I haven't used my sewing machine since I moved. It has been sitting in the closet because we moved into a smaller place and I just don't know where to put it.

Reminder- the 52 crafty project naming contest ends on Monday, February 7, 2011 enter here

Thanks for reading! ♥

Snow Day

2011-02-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last night it snowed!~
It didn't snow much and it melted quickly, but its more snow than I've seen since I moved away from New Mexico. I'm not sure if I miss the cold weather or not, but it was always nice to look out the window at the snow-covered Sandia mountains.

It was only 1 inch of snow & people were calling it a "huge storm"

In order to enjoy the little snow I decided to walk to a coffee shop for breakfast then go to the nearby park. I get to the coffee shop to discover they were closed because of the weather! There were several other businesses closed for the day, as well as the schools. I was disappointed my day didn't go as planned, but I did find the reaction to this small amount of snow pretty funny.

New Pink Rose Classic Lolita Skirt

2011-02-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

I just got home from work and I'm so excited. My new Bodyline classic lolita skirt arrived today! I couldn't even wait to open it until I walked upstairs, I just started tearing open the package as I ran towards my apartment. Once inside I couldn't get it on fast enough! Sadly today is too windy and cold so I took it off shortly after.

I traded a handmade necklace and bracelet in exchange for this skirt read here. I am very happy with the trade, the skirt is in great shape. There are a few changes that I will probably make on the skirt and the bow, which are mentioned below. Overall I love the skirt. I have been wanting a skirt with rose print.

I don't like these bows, I plan on replacing them or removing all together.

The bow is detachable. I might remove the pearls and turn the bow into a hair accessory.

Contest: The Naming of 52 Crafty Projects

2011-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hello! As you may know I have started a weekly craft project read here. Unfortunately my project's blog posts are still missing a great title. In order to solve this issue I need the help of my lovely readers to come up with a title for my weekly posts. Think cute and simple. The prize is a set of mixed pink cabochons for decoden or other kawaii craft projects. I feel that craft supplies work well with the theme of the contest.

To enter please comment here with the following information
1. Your name and email address
2. Your creative and original title idea

The contest will be open until Monday, February 07, 2011 at midnight US central time.
All entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and relevancy.
You must be a follower to enter. Open internationally.
The winner will be announced February 09, 2011.

I look forward to hearing everyone's ideas. Good luck! ♥

52 Crafty Projects No. 3 - Lollipop Trade

2011-01-28T11:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! ♥
This weekly project was very exciting! I made a bow necklace and lollipop bracelet for a girl on egl. She is trading me a bodyline skirt for the necklace and bracelet. I'm very satisfied with the way everything turned out. When I get the skirt I will be sure to post some photos of it.

52 Crafty Projects No. 2 - Large Cookie Necklace

2011-01-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

Hello! This is the second installment of 52 crafty projects. This week I created a sweet chocolate chip cookie necklace. I've previously made smaller cookie necklaces and they turned out great, but I wanted a larger one for myself. It seemed like an obvious choice for my second weekly project of the year.

The end result is ♥.

The pendant is made from polymer clay using techniques similar to this cookie tutorial. The cookie measures 3.5cm wide. I love the way it turned out and I plan to make matching earrings and hair clips.

Thank you for reading!

Decoden Sugar Cookie Polymer Clay Tutorial

2011-01-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

Hello! (｡･ω･)ﾉﾞｺﾝﾁｬ ☆彡

I have a new tutorial for sugar cookies, perfect for decoden and sweet lolita jewelry projects! This tutorial covers how to make polymer clay cookies that are textured and browned. This technique is simple and the project doesn't require many supplies, which makes it good for beginners.

Please enjoy! ♥

You can also view this tutorial at deviantArt

Click image to enlarge.

Tips
♥ After you have applied the chalk pastel you may have to touch up your clay's texture.
♥ A soft toothbrush will create a different texture than a hard toothbrush, you can also use a nail brush or sandpaper. Experiment and try different textures.
♥ A soft paint brush also works well for applying the chalk pastel, especially for smaller pieces.

52 Crafty Projects No. 1 - Shirt Improvement

2011-01-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is the first of a weekly post based on my 2011 new year's resolution. I will be completing one craft project a week for the next year, totaling 52 projects. Each Wednesday I'll blog the finished craft piece.

For the first week of 2011 I improved one of my shirts. I love this shirt, but it has a few light bleach spots that bothered me, even though they weren't very noticeable.

I love the end result and it was so easy!

I had a pink shirt that didn't fit well, it was the perfect material for making heart patches. This worked great to cover the spots on the bottom of the shirt. The upper part of the shirt seemed bare. First I tried adding hearts to the top, but I didn't like the way it look. In the end I chose a pink ribbon sewn onto the collar, which I felt completed the look.

Now I just have to wait for warmer weather to arrive...

Three Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-03T00:12:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Since this is my first post of 2011 I'm going to talk about new year's resolutions. This year I have a short list.

1. Get organized in all aspects of life.

2. Complete one craft project a week.

3. Have more fun!

My organizational skills are a little lacking, especially when it comes to supplies, receipts, computer files, and more. I downloaded free bookkeeping software to help with organizing receipts and payments. I also have begun to sort through my craft supplies and label bins.

I haven't been crafting as much as I would like. I became inspired after coming across 365: make something everyday. As great as that sounds I know I don't have the time to make something everyday, therefore I'll instead complete at least one craft project every week. I will be posting the results of the first two weeks soon.

I chose having more fun as a new year's resolution due to the fact that I can be a workaholic and stress out easily. I believe this year I have chosen three great resolutions that I will be able to keep. The most common reason people break their resolutions is because they didn't set reasonable goals. I kept this in mind while making my list and picked tasks I feel I can complete, find enjoyable, and enrich my life.

What are your resolutions for 2011? Do you think you'll keep them or break them?

Red Strawberry Cookie Sweet Deco Necklace

2010-12-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Here is my newest polymer clay necklace featuring a cute strawberry cookie necklace. For this necklace I used two of the finished handmade cabochons from my previous post plus a cookie I made awhile back. I applied one coat of Triple Thick gloss to the cabochons, it leaves a nice finish that is much shiner than some of the glosses I have previously used. I used powdered chalk pastel, a cosmetic sponge, and a paint brush to shade the cookie.

Originally I was planning to decorate the cookie with silicone frosting and fruit. When I laid the pieces out on top of the cookie I discovered that I liked this design much better. I usually use silver chain, but decided to go for gold this time instead. I am happy with the way it turned out and think that the gold goes well with the colors of the pendant.

Strawberry, Umbrella, & Bow Polymer Clay Cabochons

2010-12-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some cute strawberry themed jewelry. I painted these cabochons made from polymer clay, I still need to gloss the pieces before using them for decoden and kawaii jewelry.

I am going to put red glitter on one of the red strawberries and maybe rhinestones on a few others. I can't decide if I want to use red or clear rhinestones for the red strawberries. I am planning to make a couple of rings with the strawberries and use a few for decoden projects. The umbrella cabochons and blue bow will most likely be made into hair accessories. The small bows are for decoden and the pink biscuits are for a necklace.

I like the way everything has turned out so far, except the purple umbrella. I'm not sure about my color choice and wish I went with my original idea of purple & white instead of the pink. I plan on making another batch of umbrellas and including more colors such as blue, black, and red. The large bows still need more paint before they are ready to be glossed.

Flying Heart Kawaii Stationary Sheet

2010-11-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies! I hope life is treating you well. ♥
I have reached 25 followers! I never expected to get more than 10.
I have a kawaii stationary sheet for my readers plus a 25% off coupon code for my etsy shop.

This stationary sheet is designed by me and free to print for personal use.
It's just a little thank you. Sorry, I know it isn't as exciting as a giveaway.
Perhaps I will have a giveaway when I reach 50 followers.

The coupon code for 25% off any purchase is 25BLOGFOLLOWERS. Etsy has enabled coupon codes, so now all you have to do is enter the code at checkout.

For personal use only. Please do not redistribute, remove URL, or alter the image.

New Haircut

2010-11-22T18:09:00.000-08:00

Do you cut your own hair or does someone else do it for you? I typically cut my own hair unless the style is more advanced and I don't feel confident enough to do it myself.

Here is my most recent hair cut, done myself. At first I didn't like it at all, I thought it looked weird, but now that I've gotten used to the change I'm kinda diggin' it. I still think the bangs are a little too short and will look better after they are long enough to add a slight curl.

Previously I had side swept bangs, they got in the way sometimes and were too thin. So I decided to cut my bangs and make them thicker, I also trimmed about an inch off the rest off my hair.

Before & After

Kawaii Strawberries n' Cream Deco Barrette

2010-11-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

This sweet deco hair clip is one of my favorites that I have made. The strawberry is made of polymer clay and the whip cream/frosting is silicone. Of course I had to sprinkle pink glitter and gemstones on there as well, I'm addicted to all that sparkly stuff. The glaze I used to gloss the strawberry is Triple Thick. It was the first time I've used it, so far I really like it.

This hair clip is available in the Tangerine Taiyaki etsy shop, along with other kawaii jewelry and accessories.

Sweet Heart Compact Deco

2010-10-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

When I saw these heart compacts with cute little combs I fell in love, I knew these would be perfect for deco. They came in two shades of pink and have glitter inside the plastic. I only bought four, two in each color. I wish I had bought two more.

I love the heart comb that fits inside. I might add some rhinestones to it.

I like the one with whip cream on only half of it the best, even though it didn't turn out the way I had envisioned it.

WIP Deco- Cookies, Ice Cream, and More

2010-10-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

I had the past few days off from work, so I got busy making parts for deco and sweets jewelry. This is the batch I made on Tuesday night. I'm very happy with the way the chocolate chip cookies turned out!

I will be making earrings, necklaces, and rings out of the cookies and ice cream scoops, as well as keeping some for some upcoming deco projects. The tiny ones are for cookie jar necklaces using miniature glass bottles.

I want to make more cupcake bases in other colors, but I don't have the right colors at this time. Next payday I might buy some new chalk pastels so I can make the additional cupcake bases. I want to make pink, blue, and orange bases.

"Chaos" Eyelashes

2010-09-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

I got these awesome eyelashes at Sally Beauty a very long time ago, maybe 2 years. I found them in the backroom while doing inventory in a box that was suppose to be shipped back to the warehouse. I fell in love with them and the store manager agreed to sell them to me for 50% off! (even though she isn't suppose to sell them at all and I was willing to pay full price)

Sadly I don't remember what brand they are. A bottle of shower gel came open while moving and got all over the packaging, so I threw out the cardboard part of the packaging. All I know is that they are called "chaos".

Anyways, here they are worn. I've had some really long eyelashes in the past, but I think these might be the longest yet.

Please ignore my eyebrows, I couldn't find my tweezers or brow brush.

I really love the rhinestones and the inner part of the lashes where they crisscross. The only thing I didn't like was the band was very stiff, which made it hard to apply them and they didn't want to curve well. However, they were surprisingly lightweight regardless of all the rhinestones, the length, and the thick/stiff band.

Sweet Decoden Tutorial from Love Deco

2010-08-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few scan pages from Love Deco magazine. I thought this sweet deco tutorial was really cute and could be very helpful for beginners. These tutorials show you how to make clay macaroons, cookies, ice cream scoops, and other sweet clay desserts. Besides being helpful for deco, you can also use this for jewelry making.

This is something I would have liked to have seen when I first started out with sweets jewelry, instead of having to figure it out myself with trial and error. Because of this, I want to share these pages.

It's in Japanese, but the pictures are easy to follow. In this tutorial paper clay is used, but I typically use polymer clay.

Click on the photos for the larger version and please enjoy.

Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, TX

2010-08-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend my boyfriend took me on a date to the Texas State Aquarium. I have only been to an aquarium one time before this and that one was very, very small. The aquarium here had many animals that the one I had previously been to did not. Here are a few favorite photos from the day.

I love turtles, especially sea turtles. They're so cool!

It was feeding time and they knew it! They started pressing themselves against the glass in anticipation.

Cute little otter feet. They were swimming too fast for me to get a clear photo.
They were my favorite animal at the aquarium, so cute!

They have a short dolphin show. This was the first time I have ever seen dolphins, they are so cute and fun to watch!

I got to pet this stingray, he was slimy and felt strange.

Bow Tutorial

2010-08-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a simple method for making bows. Click the image to view the large version. You can use either handsew or use a sewing machine. Before I bought my sewing machine I made bows by hand using the same method, it just takes longer.
You may recognize this bow from my recent post about the hairbows I made.

I hope this is helpful to some of you, please enjoy.

I am working on another tutorial right now for making cute and tiny pincushions. I'll post it when I am finished, so keep an eye open.

I have also submitted this tutorial to my deviantart. If you have an account and like this tutorial please fav it.

WIP Decoden Project - Phone Case

2010-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

I recently bought a new phone and decided I wanted to make it pretty and sparkly. So I bought a hard case for it and began a deco project. This is what I have completed so far. Everything is going to be covered in rhinestones. Its going to take a long time, but so far I am happy with the results.

Originally I was going to have a cute pink deer cabochon and a few roses on the back, but when I was laying out the design I discovered the shape of the deer made it hard to fit the rhinestones around. Even with my smallest rhinestones it wasn't working out, so I decided to go with a rhinestone star design instead.

I am going to add one more row of rhinestones around the stars, in hot pink. The jewels that I will use to fill in the back are going to be clear, with a few hot pink ones scattered around. The front jewels will continue their current pattern. I think I will use hot pink jewels around the sides.
When I am finished I will post the final result.

Strawberry-Kiwi Cupcake Necklace

2010-08-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have listed anything on etsy, but after months of inactivity I finally listed something new tonight. I listed this cute cupcake necklace. More items might come later, but for now this is the only item in my shop. Lately I haven't been making alot of sweets jewelry, hopefully that will change soon. ♥

Pink and Puple Hairbows

2010-08-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

These are two hairbows I made recently. The purple one is my favorite, I added a few hotfix jewels on it which is an extra touch that I really like.

It was the first time I have used hotfix jewels and I had some trouble at first. I don't have one of those special hotfix irons so I just used my normal iron and the gems kept moving out of place and it took a few tries before I figured out the right temp and time. I had lost the instructions...

Both bows are on plastic headbands that match the bow color. I have two more headbands that came in the pack that I plan to make bows for, one is white and the other is blue. I'm not sure if I will keep these for myself or place them up for sale.

Product Review: Long Term Relationship ♥♥♥♥

2010-08-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have really dry and damaged hair. It is always getting tangled with itself because of the split-ends, and it feels brittle.

I have been looking for a good leave-in conditioner for awhile now. I've tried many different brands, including some higher-end salon brands. Many left my hair stiff, like styling gel, while others left it greasy, and some just didn't seem to do anything at all. The salon brands were alright, but way overpriced and the results weren't good enough to offset the cost.

A couple of months ago I decided to pick up a bottle of Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-in Split-End Protector. I typically don't use Herbal, but it was on sale for a good price so I thought "why not?"

Before I go into further detail, let me explain my hair more. It is on the longer side, straight, very fine, and color treated. I just wanted to give more info since different hair types might have different results. What works for my straight hair might not work as well for curly hair, and so forth.

The first day I used it I combed it into my towel dried hair, giving the ends of my hair a little extra. The first thing I noticed was that the product wasn't really sticky like many of the other products I have tried, which is great. It also has a very nice scent. Once my hair had dried it was noticeably silkier, smoother, and tangle free! The scent lingered all day.

I have continued to use the product everyday for the past two months. There has been visible improvement in my hair. It isn't as dry anymore, the split-ends haven't gotten worse, and my hair has more shine. Overall, it just looks and feels much healthier.

Average retail price is $3.99
I recommend this product and give it a 4 out of 5
♥♥♥♥

I might possibly try out the shampoo and conditioner as well! But for now I have giant bottles of TRESemmé my boyfriend bought me.

Dripping Chocolate Effect For Deco

2010-07-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

This box is unfinished, but was the best example I have

Ever wonder how to get the dripping chocolate effect on your sweet boxes, like the one above?

It's actually super easy and inexpensive, all you need is puff paint (aka 3d or dimensional paint). It can be found in the fabric paint section of your local craft store. Just squeeze it on your item in a dripping chocolate pattern and allow it to dry.

Scribbles 3D Paint is the brand I use

A few tips:

♥ When you squeeze it on, you want to make sure to apply it thickly.

♥ If you apply it too thin it won't be puffy and won't look much like chocolate.

♥ I always start at the end of the drip, using more pressure, then move upwards and lighten my pressure as I go, that way there is more paint at the end than the rest. Sorry, I don't know how exactly to explain what I'm trying to say.

♥ Avoid the paints that are shimmery or have glitter, instead choose the one that is labeled as "shiny"

♥ You can use it on other items other than boxes, I use it on ice cream scoop jewelry as a topping.

Hope this was helpful! ☆彡

Outfit Post- Red Dots

2010-07-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies ♥
I'm here to share another outfit with you today. I wish I had a cute white cardigan to wear with this dress, I think that would look even better. I would also like a white wide belt, but have yet to find one.

Dress: Forever 21

Shirt: off brand

Necklace: Claire's

Hairbow: Handmade

Hot Chocolate Design

2010-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Here is my most recent digital illustration. Created in Adobe Photoshop CS2, used my pen tablet. I'm planning to make some hard plastic charms with this design, probably necklaces and rings.

I need to buy some new ring bases. I'm looking into getting a different type then I normally do, as well as some gold ones. I'm looking for inexpensive small quanities of various types so I can compare, but it is much cheaper to buy it in bulk. In bulk it is around $0.09 per ring, in small quanities it is around $0.50 per ring. I wish someone sold a mixed sample set, but the only mixed sets I have found are assorted colors rather than style/type.

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara Review ♥♥

2010-07-11T23:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this mascara in the store and said to myself "Whoa! That's a crazy looking brush!"

I'm normally a Rimmel girl, but I decided to give it a try since it was so weird looking and I was almost out of mascara. Plus there was a $2.00 off coupon hanging next to it.
The normal price was $7.99

The brush is small and round, so it makes it easy to apply mascara to the corners of the eyes. However, the size of the brush also means it takes longer to coat the entire lash line.

The mascara is unimpressive. It is thick and sticky, so it clumps easily. It dries super fast and it was kinda flaky. It definitely adds length, just as it promises, and it makes my eyes stand out. But not really in a way I like. I prefer my lashes to look feathery, not heavy and crusted. I only applied one coat, I guess you could say a little goes a long way. No need for a second coat, but it would probably be a clump disaster if any more coats were applied.

There is a reason I typically don't buy L'Oreal make-up, it usually leaves me disappointed. Although I really do like the brush idea, they just need to work on the formula. Really, I don't want to have to use my eyebrow brush to get clumps out of my lashes.

I wouldn't recommend this product and give it a 2 out of 5