Do It Your Freaking Self - Blog - Page 13 of 23

The Last Minute Loom Knit Hat for Beginners

on December 20, 2016

As with most stories of my crafting, this one started at Michaels. During a sale. Lord help us all when that happens.

Okay, so I’m there and theres a sale on like… everything having to do with yarn and you know I’m all over it. ALL over it! And somehow, a round loom ended up in my basket and it was cheap and I had a coupon and well, I took it home.

Fast forward a year and I remember I have the darn thing and it’s hat weather, so I figured now was the right time to pull it out. Especially since I needed to knit up some hats really quickly for some Christmas presents. If you’ve never used a loom before, a loom knit hat is probably one of the easiest things ever. These hats are perfect for beginners and experts alike. So lets make a loom knit hat! K?

Loom Knit Hat for Beginners
Cost: $15-20 for multiple hats
Time: 2 hours or less (depending on thickness of yarn)
Skill Level: 2 out of 10

ByChelsea

Personalize Some Cross Stitch Gift Tags

on December 15, 2016

I’m not big on wrapping things. I mean, I love to do it, but I get really overwhelmed with the idea that it has to be perfect and then I get sad that it’s going the be just ripped open later. It’s kind of like temporary art. BUT!!! I like to add little flares of personalized things that can also be used later. These cross stitch gift tags are really great because they can also be used as bookmarks, quick tree ornaments, or re-used for another gift or in a scrap book.

One of my favorite things to do as a kid around Christmas time was to sit on the couch in front of A Christmas Story and cross stitch. I always did smaller projects because I obviously do not have the attention span to do those huge projects with a million different colors and very intricate patterns. I get lost and lose string and well, it’s overwhelming to even think of to be honest. So yes, simple projects. Even if you’ve never cross stitched before, you can make these in a snap and impress all of your friends!

Cross Stitch Gift Tags
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: Under $5
Seasonable decor level: Bright

ByChelsea

Stamped PacMan DIY Gift Bag

on December 13, 2016

Gift wrapping is serious business. Well sometimes. I waffle between shoving it in a bag and calling it a day, or actually making an effort. Anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all? Like… if I make this thing look ridiculously pretty, where is it setting the bar? Do I have to live up to that every year? Sheesh! The holiday pressure guys!

Okay, so yes, this tutorial is going to teach you how to stamp up a gift bag, but it’s really cute and great for group gifts where you feel like you actually have to put in effort (you know what I’m talking about). Fill them with some fun gamed themed mini-gifts, your favorite chapstick and lotion and you’re good to go. My favorite thing about this Stamped PacMan DIY Gift Bag is the really simple perler bead gift tag you can make for an extra wow factor.

So follow the power pellets, grab the cherries and let’s stamp some ghosties!

Stamped PacMan DIY Gift Bag
Cost: $10 or less for 5
Time: 30 minutes or less
Maximum possible score: 256
Continue reading

ByChelsea

Mix Up an Easy DIY Sugar Scrub

on December 8, 2016

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. This post may also contain items gifted for consideration.

Tis the season to be gifting! But let’s be honest here, no one has the time for a ridiculously personalized gift for everyone. But you’re a crafty pinterester/blogger right? So it’s kind of expected? What’s a girl to do? Make some DIY Sugar Scrub! Everyone likes clean hands and you’re basically telling someone to pamper themselves. They’ll thank you and admire your craftiness… even if the teacher in the other room got the same thing.

Follow along with me and we’ll make some DIY Sugar Scrub to rival Mary Kay’s Satin Hands at 1/6th of the price and a personal touch that is sure to be remembered.

Easy DIY Sugar Scrub
Cost: $15 or less for 12
Time: 1 hour
Regiftable? Yes, but why would you want to?

ByChelsea

Temporary Tattoo DIY Star Wars Mug

on December 6, 2016

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. This post may also contain items gifted for consideration.

I’m going to be honest here and tell you guys that I’m sitting here in a Darth Vader Onesie sipping hot cocoa. Because it is cold and I threw out my back. It could be worse right?

Did you know that you can use temporary tattoos for more than just your skin? Yep! Wonders never cease. This time, I’m going to show you how to use them on ceramics to create a cool dark side DIY Star Wars Mug…. because that’s how everyone likes their coffee right? Maybe not. Anyway!

And if you really need some cookies to dip into your mug… go ahead, make some wookie cookies!

DIY Star Wars Mug
Time: 30 min + dry time
Cost: $15 or less (supplies can be used for other projects)
Light Side or Dark Side? Dark (for now)

ByChelsea

DIY The Snuggle is Real Stenciled Sweatshirt

on December 1, 2016

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. This post may also contain items gifted for consideration.

Break out the sweatshirts and boots, winter (or what passes for winter) is finally upon us in LA! Yes folks, sweater weather is here and the snuggle is real. So much so that I decided I MUST make one this year. And you can too! Honestly, I’m a bit obsessed with this idea and will probably end up making a mommy and me version for all of my mom friends. Is anyone else excited to snuggle up with a good book, cozy slippers and your best furry friend?

As much as I love to freezer paper stencil things, I fell in love with these woodland stencils from Plaid and Handmade Charlotte. I only used the letters for this project, but the designs and the modern retro feel in the package gave me a ridiculous amount of inspiration for one of my nanny kid’s birthday parties.

DIY The Snuggle is Real Stenciled Sweatshirt
Time: 1 hour or less
Cost: $15 or less (depending on whether you have the sweatshirt on hand)
Cozy/Cuteness level: 12

ByChelsea

DIY Art Deco Crystal Headband

on November 29, 2016

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. This post may also contain items gifted for consideration.

We’ve all been there. It’s the day before a party, you’ve got the dress and shoes picked out, you’ve got your nails done and you’re ready to party the night away. But as the day approaches you realize that your hair that day is just not going to cooperate. The curls keep frizzing out. There’s not enough time to go to a dry bar and your go-to top knot just won’t do. Does any of this sound familiar?

If it does, then you were probably me last week. Anyway… let me let you in on my favorite hair piece. These DIY headbands are perfect for when you need to fancy up your bun or top knot and super hero hair clip just won’t do. These are my GO TO accessory any time my hair decideds to misbehave for a fancy event (which is basically always). They look like you probably spent at least $40 on them, but really, if you do it yourself, you can make a crystal headband for $15 or less and still have a ton of supplies left over for your girlfriends. Did I mention they make great gifts? No skill required!!! Let’s do this!

DIY 1920’s Style Crystal Headband

Time: 1 Night to Weekend Project (because drying time)
Cost: Under $15
Fancy level: Off the Charts

ByChelsea

DIY Nightmare Before Christmas Zero Pillow Pal

on November 22, 2016

Does anyone else have a pillow that they take everywhere? I do. Well… not a pillow per se, but a pillow pal. Yep. I’ve got one and I have no shame. I have a Stitch Pillow Pet that I take with me any time I have to spend the night somewhere that is not my home and I love it. The kids I babysit do too!

So… when my Nightmare Before Christmas obsessed friend had her housewarming party and casually (but not really) mentioned how Disney had yet to come out with a Nightmare Before Christmas Zero Pillow Pal, the wheels started turning. Using mine as a guide, I made one for her as a christmas present and I gotta say, it turned out pretty awesome.

Do you have a Nightmare Before Christmas/Disney obsessed friend? Is it you? No judgements! Make your own after the jump!

Zero Pillow Pal

Time: Weekend Project
Cost: Under $20
Cozy level: 9

ByChelsea

DIY Sharpie Plate and Friendsgiving

on November 17, 2016

Let me start out by saying that I wasn’t even going to do a DIY this week because of all of the holiday crazy but when inspiration strikes, you gotta follow it and make a DIY Sharpie Plate. I was a little nervous to try it after having read of some pinterest disasters with the baking process, but you know what? This turned out dang cute! And looks really good as a display or on your table!

Like many of my friends in Los Angeles, I am a transplant and I really don’t have the money to go home and visit my family every year during the chaos of the season. And that is okay. Really it is, because in the last 3 years, I have made another family of sorts because sometimes you have to make your own. Part of what I absolutley adore about the season is the togetherness that happens with conversations shared around a table groaning with the weight of delicious holiday staples. And for me, it is my way of giving thanks to the people that have made a difference in my life.

DIY Sharpie Plate:
Time: 30 minutes + cook time
Cost: $15 or less
Festive level: 12

ByChelsea

Easy Crochet Slippers

on November 14, 2016

Cold weather is on it’s way in! That is, unless you live in California where it’s in and then it’s out and then it’s in again. But yeah, so cold weather. I am so down for it. One of my favorite things to do when it starts getting cold is throw on my batman onesie and some cozy slippers, and curl up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa. Oh, and the cat. We can’t forget kitty cuddles. Does anyone else have a cold weather tradition?

Anyway…. these easy crochet slippers are on my “handmake for people” christmas gift list. They take a few hours to make and are great for getting rid of excess yarn. For these easy crochet slippers, I used left over yarn from my hogwarts house ear warmers so now I have matching sets! But like I was saying, not only are they super cozy and easy, they make great gifts. Because everyone needs cozy footware.

NEW: You can buy the finished product in my Etsy Shop!

Time: 1 evening
Cost: Under $5
Cozy level: very

ByChelsea

Older Posts

Newer Posts