Do It Your Freaking Self - Chelsea, Author at Do It Your Freaking Self

How to make Perler Bead Princess DIY Chip Clips

on July 26, 2018

These Princess DIY Chip Clips are so fun and easy to make! And they make your kitchen look super cute!

If you’ve been to my apartment recently you’ll know I use clothes pins for just about everything. Sure they’re great for hanging up clothes, but they’re also great as chip clips, holding embroidery floss, twisting tie dye shirts, etc. I use them a lot okay! and they’re cheap which is like a magic word in my language. They also tend to go missing a lot, those things are like socks! I’m sure one day I’ll find all the missing clothes pins wherever my missing socks are – in an alternate dimension. So cheap and useful are super high up on my MUST HAVE list. Another thing I like? Cute. Yes. Add all the cuteness to everything.

The kiddos I watch have been on a classic Disney princess kick (when are they not?) so we’re princess-ifying everything around these parts. We’ve been using these DIY Princess Chip Clips for brown bag lunches, road trip snacks and picking up pom poms (because motor skills ya’ll). You can even use the patterns to create your own cupcake toppers or puppets! Just glue them onto some popsicle sticks instead of clothes pins.

Princess DIY Chip Clips

Time: 1 hour or less
Cost: I used stuff on hand so… FREE! If you don’t, probably about $5 for a set.
Suggested viewing: Little Mermaid!

ByChelsea

90’s Nostalgia: We Went to Saved By The MAX!

on July 21, 2018

Whether you are a huge fan of Saved By the Bell or 90’s nostalgia – Saved By The Max is for you!

When I was a kid, I very distinctly remember waking up early so I could get ready really really fast and watch Saved by the Bell with my sister before school. Was I too young for this? More than likely, but Power Rangers was on next – which was much more kid friendly?!? – so my parents allowed it.

Then came the college years and eventually “The Wedding” episode which we forced my dad to tape because we had basketball and probably dance practice that day. But the wedding of the century?!? Oh man, we were not missing that for anything. Not when our friends would be talking about it in homeroom the next week. No sir.

So imagine my excitement when the Saved by the Max pop up was announced in LA. Okay, that excitement was tempered a little by the fact that I have had a few not so great experiences with the “instagram/pop-up museum things” that there seems to be an over abundance of over here. But I digress.

MAKE IT: Wookie Cookies

I was stoked. And at nearly $50/person. It better be effing magical and in all of it’s retro 90s. Glory. So here is my Saved By The Max review – in case you wanted to go or were thinking about it or are living vicariously through people.

ByChelsea

Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches

on June 26, 2018

These patriotic ice cream sandwiches use home made cookies and your choice of ice cream to really wow at this year’s 4th of July cook out or any other USA event!

I took an extra day off this week and I’m feeling so much more centered. Usually I get one day off and that is for laundry and meal planning and you know… adulting. So it was nice to not have too much planned – I did purchase a knitting pattern of which I know nearly none of the stitches so that will be an exciting journey!

Okay seriously though, the summer is upon us and that means the 4th of July is near. Ya’ll I don’t know about you, but I get ridiculously excited about the summer section at Target and all of the cute red, white, and blue stuff. I think it’s mostly because I am ready for the cookouts and the full day of community and friends that the 4th usually brings for me. Whether it’s a church cookout, neighborhood thing, pool party, friends getting together – I LOVE IT! With everything that is going on in the world I really think we could use some more togetherness and remember what is really important.

Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cost: $10 or less
Time: 20 minutes
Suggested Viewing: Independence Day – Because it has the best movie speech of all time

ByChelsea

Hello Summer Fruit Banner (free printable)

on June 19, 2018

This free printable Hello Summer fruit banner is currently hanging in my bedroom/craftroom and I have no chill about it. None. It is awesome and I love it. Also, I’m pretty stoked it’s summer. (Come back in about a month and I’ll be complaining that I ever felt that way – It gets so stinkin hot!)

ByChelsea

Neverending Story Book Trinket Box

on June 12, 2018

Add some geek chic to your home with this Neverending Story Book Box!

This post has been a long time coming you guys. Seriously like I bought the supplies for it a year ago – long time coming. So yeah, great idea…. lots of time spent googling on execution and I am so glad to say that this Neverending Story Book Box is FINISHED!

Okay, story time-ish. Maybe. Eh, here’s some random things about my relationship with this series.

Turn up the nostalgia/nerd factor in your home with the DIY Neverending Story Book Box! Great for a remote holder! #HomeDecor #Geek #NerdHome

When I was a kid, Falcor the luck dragon weirded me out but I still wanted to hang with him because DUH! Luck!

MAKE IT: DIY Harry Potter Makeup Brushes

I cried actual tears, multiple times when Artax died. I dare anyone not to. If you did, comment so I know I’m not alone okay? You can use like an emoji or a code word if you’re too cool to come out and say it.

The giant turtle is also weird, but I did not want to chill with him.

Okay, so basically everything about that movie weirded me out as a kid and I don’t think I’d let any of the kids I nanny for watch it. That’s not even counting the second one in which my dad says I begged and begged to see it in theaters then hid behind a chair because it was scary. Ya’ll, I don’t remember this but I was probably only 3, so ya know. Priorities.

Add some geek chic to your home with this Neverending Story Book Box! #Geekcrafts

Wanna make your own Neverending Story Book Box? I saved your a lot of time googling techniques and stuff. You’re welcome.

Neverending Story Book Box

Cost: $20
Time: Weekend project (there is a lot of drying time)
Suggested Viewing: The Neverending Story – Duh!

ByChelsea

DIY Floral Laptop Case

on June 6, 2018

Protect your laptop from the daily grind with this fun DIY Floral Laptop Case!

You guys!!! I took my Chemistry final yesterday and I am officially done with school for the summer! I seriously never though I’d end up going back to school at this point in my life but here we are. It has been super hectic over here for weeks and I’m still working on trying to find that balance. On the plus side – at least I have an excuse for cute school supplies again?

MAKE IT: Magestically Awkward Llamacorn Pencil Bag

Anyway. One of the things that helped keep me sane during my one day off a week was crafting. I kinda realized that it totally is my self care and I need to make time for it. I’ve got a lot of projects done so hopefully they’ll be posted soon! What do you guys do to keep sane when everything else is nutty?

This DIY Floral Laptop Case is one of the projects I am ridiculously proud of. I put a lot of wear and tear on my old Macbook pro and realized that carting it around without some kind of protection was probably not the best idea. Hands up if you’re also super hard on your electronics! Want to make your own? It’s super easy! Let’s get started!

DIY Floral Laptop Case

Time: 1-2 hours
Cost: $15 or less
Suggested listening: I’ve been listening to a lot of audio books recently so I’m going to go with The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. (Try audible and get 2 free books here!)

ByChelsea

May Music Playlist

on May 23, 2018

Check out the Do It Your Freaking Self May Music Playlist 2018! Great for jamming out to while you’re crafting or doing homework!

Hi! **Peeks head out from behind computer and chemistry notes** I promise I didn’t forget about you. School however has been kicking my butt and I’m ready for a break. I honestly thought I could do it all – work, school and running the blog. I was doing well there for a minute – RE January and February – but then it all fell apart and I’ve been struggling to keep my head above water while also trying to maintain some semblance of mental health. I guess what I’m trying to say is that its okay if you can’t do it all. Sometimes you’ve gotta prioritize and get things done so you can come back to things.

CROCHET IT: Crochet Cactus Hat Pattern

I will tell you guys that I haven’t necessarily been idle during this time. I mean, yes… I was studying, but I was also crafting – mostly to keep myself sane. I had to start blocking out days to do laundry and meal plan etc – aka adulting as well as blocking out time to craft. I (for some reason) am able to hold it all together better if I actually make time to do it without pressure of posting. So, I have some projects backlogged. They’ll make it up here sooner or later especially since I have finals in less than 2 weeks and then I’m taking the summer semester off of school.

GET LAST MONTH’S PLAYLIST

In the meantime, I’ve been making playlists. I use film scores to study and usually podcasts and audiobooks to drive and craft. Sometimes though, I get to play music with actual words and then I make playlists. Here’s my May Music Playlist – I had hoped to have this out earlier but see above. Summer Jams are happening soon and I wanna hear what you’ve got planned!

May Music Playlist

ByChelsea

Simple DIY Star Wars Sweater

on May 4, 2018

Make a simple DIY Star Wars Sweater for your office sweater, Disney bound or dapper day outfits! Show off your Rebel Alliance allegiance!

I know this is a little late for Star Wars and #Maythe4th but in my defense, school has been kicking my butt.

But you’re not here to listen to me talk about being burried in school work. No, you’re here to geek out and make all the things. Okay, so I was brought up with a healthy dose of scifi culture. My first R rated movie? The 5th Element. My first midnight showing? Star Wars Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith. And while I’m not the biggest fan of the first 3 movies – as a kid I thought they were cool, now – totally cringe-worthy. But anyhoo… I remember my dad taking us to see the original trilogy when they came to theaters again. He was so excited! And my sister and I had no idea what we were walking into.

Make It: Wookie Cookies

One of my favorite things about this series is not the themes or the characters, while they are very awesome, it is the fact that my dad and I can connect over it. We don’t agree on a lot of things, but we can definitely talk about some Star Wars. In fact, we both waited to see The Force Awakens until we were both in the same city – it took a lot of spoiler avoiding thats for sure.

So, if you’re like me and you LOVE Star Wars and maybe wanna let your geek flag fly without being super obvious, this project is for you! This is also a super fun project for a Rebel Alliance Disney Bound and a Star Wars Dapper Day costume!

Simple DIY Star Wars Sweater

Time: 10 Minutes or less
Cost: $15
Suggested viewing: Rogue One
Continue reading

ByChelsea

Magestically Awkward Llamacorn Pencil Bag

on April 17, 2018

Express fabulous self with a fun Magestically Awkward Llamacorn Pencil Bag. Make custom holographic pencil bags for your fabulous self and friends!

There are 3 things I know about myself.

I am super awkward.
I like soft fluffy things
I am damn magical. I’m effing Mary Poppins Ya’ll!

Okay, some of those things sound made up, but I’m going somewhere with this, I promise. Where you ask? To the magical land of the Llamacorn. Have you ever heard of them? They’re basically what happens when an awkward Llama and a Unicorn have a baby. They’re brilliant and fabtabulous. Yep, I have given up being a perfect unicorn and am moving on to being a Magestically Awkward Llamacorn – they have MUCH more fun and so much less pressure.

Moving on.

As you also begin to take up your new monicer of Llamacorn, you’re going to want some sweet sweet swag to announce to the world how awesome you are. For that, I give you these Llamacorn pencil bags! If you’re not in school like me, you can also use them for your cosmetics, snacks, glitter for sneak attacks – all sorts of things.

MAKE IT: How to Make Unicorn Bark

To create these bags I used my Cricut Explore – one of my favorite purchases EVER and I use it for EVERYTHING. Some holographic bags from the $2 section at Michaels and Permanent adhesive vinyl – because you want that sucker to stick!
Continue reading

ByChelsea

How to make a Chunky Knit Blanket

on April 12, 2018

Cozy up with a giant chunky knit blanket that won’t cost an arm and a leg. A great alternative to arm knitting or making your own needles too!

I know that spring is here, but I couldn’t move on from the cold season without sharing this chunky knit blanket with you guys. As I shared earlier, I have conical shaped arms. What this means is that arm knitting is not for me because it comes out looking really weird and pulls. I’ve tried using size 70 needles but those were still not as chunky as the chunky knit blankets I’ve seen so I had to resort to other measures… and I gotta say… I’m pretty stoked. I made a few of these as Christmas presents before I finally made one for myself and its so cozy and warm… you’d never believe that it cost me a crafter noon and about $50 TOTAL. For a chunky knit blanket thats 5×5 foot? No.. I am not kidding you.

Chunky Knit Blanket

Time: Afternoon or weekend project
Cost: $50 or less
Suggested viewing:

ByChelsea

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