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Monday 18 February 2013

DIY: Jeans to Shorts

This is a DIY classic - it's easy, quick and looks good (all the ingredients of a good DIY!)

    Materials:

  •  Jeans: To transform into shorts. Try the DIY on an old pair first if you're a bit unsure!
  •  Ready-made shorts: Find a pair that fit you well and that you like the style of.
  •  Ruler
  •  Scissors: Fabric scissors would obviously be the best, but I don't any. Regular scissors are a little bit                                  more difficult to cut with but totally usable.
  •  Pencil: Pen, marker, chalk - whatever takes your fancy.



  • Align your existing shorts with the jeans you're planning to DIY with to get an estimate of the length/shape you want.
  • Draw a straight line (Tip: Make your line slightly diagonal, which will make the hem of your shorts slant upwards instead of just being horizontal. This provides a more flattering cut and elongates your legs) to mark off your desired length. 
  • Draw a second straight line slightly below the first. This will give you room to make mistakes or extra fabric to distress/cuff. You can always cut your shorts shorter, but you can't really make them longer!
  • Try them on to check the lines are where you want them to be.



  •  Cut along the second line you drew for Step 1.
  •  You don't have to cut incredibly neatly...I'll tell you why in Step 3

  • Well done! You are now 'kind of done'.
  • Now, you can cuff your shorts and keep the cuff in place by ironing/sewing the sides of the cuff
  • You can also chuck them in the washing machine to give a frayed, distressed looking hem
  • (You won't see the original cut if you cuff them/distress them, therefore you don't have to be super neat in Step 2.)
  • Feel free to customize them even more... here are some ideas:
    • Studding
    • Bleaching/dyeing
    • Lace/cloth appliques
    • Distressing
I hope you enjoyed this super, easy DIY :-)
If you try it, please send me pictures or tell me how it goes! And feel free to ask me any questions.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Happy Valentine's Day ♥

I am so sorry guys, my time management skills completely suck so I haven't blogged much this week :(

I'm drowning in school and other commitments at the moment but I hope to have a new blog post up this weekend,
Thanks for understanding!
And I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day

Danielle

Saturday 9 February 2013

Happy Chinese New Year 2013

source: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk
2013 is the Year of the Snake, so good luck to anyone with the same zodiac!

If you are a bit confused, click here.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Gifts for Her- Valentine's Day 2013

Please keep in mind that my suggestions reflect what I would like to receive/what I think others would like to receive, and it's for that reason I'm only going to be talking about gifts for females (sorry boys!)

Below are some ideas on what to get a special girl on Valentine's Day, regardless if she's your girlfriend, mother, best friend or even yourself. Girls, don't stress if you don't have a Valentine! The concept is kind of overrated anyway.. Why not be your own Valentine? After all, you know yourself better than anyone. Treat yourself!

*Please keep in mind that my suggestions reflect what I would like to receive/what I think others would like to receive, and it's for that reason I'm only going to be talking about gifts for females (sorry boys!)*

Valentine's Day: Gifts for Her

1. Books: This probably isn't a very common gift idea, but I think books can make a great gift. You could find a pretty looking book that is about something she likes but what about a book full of lovely poetry? That would be the sweetest thing! You could even add a few of your own poems, illustrations, photos etc. to make it a bit more personal. Speaking of photos, Photo albums are also good.

2. Fragrance: I've never met a girl who doesn't like smelling nice, something about a nice scent just makes you feel happier.The only difficulties with perfume is that everyone has different scents they like and dislike, and also that nice perfume can be pricey. So make sure you know what scents she likes, maybe even sneakily ask her just to be safe! Diffusers can be a easier option than perfume, since they all have classic scent combinations (with names you can understand, e.g What does a 'Wonderstruck', 'No. 5' or 'Red Door' even smell like?!).

3. Flowers: A classic Valentine's Day gift that you really can't go wrong with. I personally flowers are great, sure they're not really anything new but they're like the 'Chanel Little Black Jacket of Valentine's Day' presents. So a bouquet of her favourite flowers is a wonderful idea, simply go with roses if you don't know what her favourite flowers are! ;) I also think wildflower bouquets look super cute and give off a shabby chic/bohemian vibe.

4. Jewelry: Definitely on the more expensive side of things but it usually will give the 'wow factor'. For jewelry, I recommend going for simple pieces in higher quality materials. I really like Karen Walker jewelery (pictured) because many of her pieces are really simple but beautiful. The prices aren't too outrageous either, so do check it out!

5. Candles: They add a touch of luxury and relaxation to the room. I adore candles, there is such a wide variety of candles these days. You can get so many different shapes, colours and fragrances - there is definitely one for everyone. They are a lovely decoration piece but are functional at the same time. And who doesn't like fire?

6. Chocolates: Okay, personally I don't know how I feel about this one.. I mean, chocolates are certainly delicious and another veteran Valentine's Day gift but they can kind of backfire too (well in my opinion). A lot of girls are conscious about their weight these days, I know I am one of them. I would probably devour the whole box in a matter of hours, I have no self control,...and then feel really guilty afterwards! So maybe a modest box of chocolates can accompany another gift, or just eat them with her haha.

7. Soft Toys: I miss receiving soft toys as a gift :'(. They are an adorable present, in my opinion. Soft toys give off a sentimental and some-what nostalgic feel. Also they won't wilt, get eaten, be used up etc. and will still  be there in a few years time and provide a fond memory, hopefully. It's undeniable that giant, human sized soft toys are wicked but the average teddy bear is still cute too. Many places also do personalized soft toys, which will add more sophistication to your humble soft toy.

8. DIY: The internet is crawling with Valentine's Day DIYs. I think a handmade gift is lovely, it can carry more emotions/memories than something store bought. If you lack in the craft skills department (like yours truly) you can combine a store bought gift with some simple DIY to make it more personalized or you could simply add a nice handwritten card.

 I hope I managed to give you all a bit of inspiration. Wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day! ♥ 

Do you have a Valentine this year? Also, don't hesitate to contact me if you need any advice!

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Valentine's Day Series - 2013

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is nearly upon us again!

With a week or so to go, I've decided to do a little series of posts in relation to the holiday.


Please excuse the slightly sickening amount of pink used in the graphic above.