DIY Wine Cork Board and the "Zig" Eye

Phew! After having time off, this first full week back to work was a long one. Ziggy and I give it the "Zig" Eye.

My min pin Ziggy

Now that the weekends here though I'm ready to have some fun and get some things taken care of. My to do list this weekend is lengthy, but I will check it all off by Sunday night. For starters, this tree must come down!

Here's a project I finished up over the break. I had been collecting wine corks for some time now and wanted to actually do something with them.

 I bought the frame at Hobby Lobby for under $3.00 a couple years ago and hadn't done anything with it since this photoshoot. The A is from our wedding reception centerpieces, and the burlap was leftover from the runners. This project was practically free other than the craft board (under $2).

First I cut the wine corks in half lengthwise with a steak knife (be careful!), this took the most time and I finished it over a couple sessions.
Next I cut the craft board to fit under the frame, then hot glued the burlap to it. I started to lay out the corks how I wanted them and placed the frame over top to make sure they fit snug. Going through the corks and seeing the one from Biltmore Estate and a few Moet made me smile to remember the special occasions those wine bottles were opened for.
After I had my desired layout, I started to hot glue, row by row. Last was affixing the "A" to the corner and finally gluing the frame to my board.

via Instagram

I'm happy with how it came out and I expect to have this board for a long time. Whenever I look at it a lot of memories will come back to me. :)

How was your first full work week of 2014? 

Do you have any wine cork projects that you've finished or would like to do?

DIY Clay Heart Drop Necklace

If you're into DIY and blogging, you've surely heard of P.S.- I Made This. Her new book P.S. You're Invited is full of crafts for your home and your wardrobe.
The first project I've tackled is the heart drop necklace made with polymer clay. I'm super crushing on burgundy(/oxblood/vamp/what are we calling it this year?) and this necklace is perfect!

Rolling it out was a little harder than I expected, put some elbow grease in it!

I used a toothpick instead of a cocktail straw as recommended, it worked fine.

Next it went in the oven, then once out and cooled I assembled it with the O rings and looped it up on the leather cord.

 Yes my tree is still up, it probably will be until mid-January. That popcorn garland took a good couple hours, and I want to enjoy it as long as possible.

 I finally got my hair dyed dark "for the winter" today. Since I went blonde over the summer (big mistake) I've been battling the fade. My stylist left some peekaboo highlights in it of the lighter color to break it up too.

Thought I would bring Ziggy in for a little bit of dog modeling. I think I more so creeped him out with the self timer. But his spiked burgundy collar matched too perfectly to not include him.

I've gotten a surprising number of comments on the necklace, and for under $12 you can't beat it!

Have you splurged on a drop necklace yet or made one of your own?

DIY for Fall

Today I thought I’d share with you some of my recent DIY projects. I saw a tutorial on Pinterest for a burlap wreath and realized my 2 year old fall wreath was ready for retirement this year. It was pretty easy to complete, really just weaving the fabric in and out of the wire frame and fluffing it out to fill the wreath.

With a new last name (yay newlyweds!), I of course had to put an "A" on the wreath. The cute glittery pumpkins were just enough to give my wreath the classy simplicity it needed.

I also picked up a foam white pumpkin from Michael's, unsure of what exactly I was going to do with it when I bought it. Again I consulted Pinterest, and saw chevron pumpkins! With some gold paint I had and a bit of painters tape, here's what I came up with.

It will be a good decoration through November 30th, not too "Halloweeny" to keep out for Thanksgiving.

I found my major fall/winter learning project yesterday at a yard sale. Knitting. Any tips for the newbie? I'm thinking of starting off with a scarf, good or bad idea?

Have you started any DIY projects yet for the fall season?

Link Lovin'

I'm heading off to Maryland for a family reunion and to spend Father's Day with my Dad. It will be the first one since I was in high school, 8 years ago! Enjoy your weekend, and be sure to spoil Dad just a little this weekend.

Here are some of my favorite links I've found around the web/Pinterest this week.

Pinterest

I love this idea! I have a few Ravens shirts that I will definitely be doing this to before we go to Jamaica.

Summer 2013 Hair Trends from Organic Color Systems

This is a great hair color, Bronde.. I went for a blonder ombre a few weeks ago and it's a little much for me.  Come fall I will be strongly considering this color.

DIY Ombre Wedding Cake Piñata

What a cute idea! Very different, I would consider doing something like this at our 2nd reception.

Ahhhh....yes a great reminder to just take a minute and breathe.

Just Breathe via Pinterest

Such a cute little guy! Looks a bit like my Min Pin, Kaya. :)

What do you think of bronde? Any plans for DIY projects this weekend?

Up-cycled dress & an arm party of meaningful stones

As previously mentioned here, I was finally able to figure out my sewing machine and took an old dress & tank and up-cycled them into a new dress.  It was a bit chilly on Saturday so I paired it with some cream leggins and my boots from Papaya. The necklace is a rudraksha bead, you can read about their benefits here and here.  Mine has 5 faces and keeps the wearer peaceful.

This is the extent of my arm parties. ;)  My malachite & rough diamond bracelet, aventurine bracelet, recycled glass and bronze Buddha Mala bracelet, and faux wood bracelet.  

Malachite & Aventurine are both meant to bring wealth, while Aventurine is also said to be the stone of chance or luck and assists in making the right decisions.  As I'm on the hunt for a job, I need help in all of those realms.  Do you have any jewelry you wear that is said to bring you any type of good fortune or luck?

Ombré hair and sewing dresses!

Finally went and got the Ombre touched up...3 months later.  Oh the  things we go through as women for beauty (i.e. looking like I could get some pretty good stations on an oldschool TV Antenna!)

I figured out my sewing machine and what was going wrong, I am a dummy and didn't have the bobbin threaded correctly.  Now it's working like magic! :) So I took 2 old dresses and gave them new life with the help of this tutorial from A Small Snippet

This was a maxi dress that had shrunk way too short, and a tank that just wasn't fitting right anymore.

This was a little sundress with a tube top the elastic was all worn out in. I absolutely loved the print on here and held onto it knowing someday I could save it.  Another tank top that wasn't fitting so well for the top.

They both actually came out really good, I will try to get some pictures with them on sometime this weekend as laying flat gives them no justice.  I plan to make a few more dresses in this style, it was just so easy and each one took about an hour or less. A girl can never have enough strappy short dresses, especially in Florida.  Hello cover-ups! :)

p.s. Don't forget to Like my Facebook page for Just Me aghan here! Thanks!