INSPIRATION NATION | FALL 2018 BULLET JOURNAL SPREAD TUTORIAL!

A warm hello to all of my fall-owers! I've been requested my loads of my friends to start filming art-based tutorials and being an introvert, filming and walking through how I design and create artwork makes me chicken out every time even though I'd love to share step by steps. So while that idea is brewing in my head, I decided to do my first walkthrough on my blog instead! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll often see me post my watercolor projects there and behind the scenes for the blog's freebie designs; so if I end up doing a video walk-through I'll post it on Instagram since it's fast and convenient to save!

Moving on, today we will be learning how to create this gorgeous October bullet journal spread (if you like artsy journals that is) or are more into art journaling. There is no pressure to have your journal be aesthetically pleasing; just go with a system that is function for YOU. That being said, if you think you have zero artistic skills, I'm here to change that with this super easy step-by-step tutorial.

INSPIRATION NATION // 16 TRENDY ESSENTIALS FOR THE #GIRLBOSS!

You see them spanning your newsfeed in Instagram, their sassy lifestyle bits cropping up on Pinterest and their fun Snapchat stories and you're pretty much one yourself (or are on the road to being one) but girlbosses are now gaining recognition and they are here to stay. That being said, no such charming lady can function flawlessly at life without having her own manwomancave which is where I've come to help.
Whatever your style may be, you'll fall in love with at least one of these beautiful essentials every lady needs in her private comfy nook. My style has to do all with balance, having loud, make-you-look-twice pieces coupled with understated beauties, modern in vogue pieces paired with a little vintage decor and finally pieces that invoke relaxation therapy while others that get you all upbeat. Have a look!

PS: None of the mentioned products are sponsored whatsoever. Let's get that straight first. :) Okay, now have a look.

1.FABULOUS SEATING FOR YOUR GIRLGANG: 
Remember I said we're trying to be a modern stylista here with luxurious vintage pieces here and there? I think on the whole counter stools are a better bet than a couch because they'll keep your work mode going at the table with the girls. I found these charming vintage wrought iron ones (which come as a set of four <3) from Chairish with a quirky palm print.

2.UPLIFTING SUCCULENTS/FRESH FLOWERS:
Okay fresh flowers/planters are just a given. You simply cannot have a haven without them. I'm reaching out to succulents like these a lot more than flowers these days but it's up to you. They add a vibrant color pop as well. Remember those macrame planters that are bombing pinterest? Time to put some DIY skills to test.

3.A FAB WOVEN RUG:
Rugs = comfort after an exhausting day. If you don't have time for a pedicure, you make sure at least your rug pampers you. This feminine hemp-woven Indian rug from Society Social looks solidly gorgeous and does the job too. (And it's Fair Trade)

4.AN ENGAGING COFFEE TABLE BOOK
Coffee table books can spark a lot of inspiration if chosen right. They're even the perfect companions for someone who visits your den while you prep some things up for them all the while showing your amazing style. Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautful Things is the coffee table book which just screams to be flipped through.

5.A CLASSY OFFICE TABLE
You'll never feel long drawn out working hours if you have an office table you absolutely adore. If you need more space to pack in stationery make sure you have some storage but this gold and marble table from cb2 doesn't weigh down valuable room space and feels luxe. (or get an identical one custom built, simple enough to do)

6.CHIC DESK ACCESSORIES
Kate Spade desk accessories have suddenly seemed to gone too mainstream in decor roudups and Instagrammer favorites which is why I chose the same gold flair with a little more oomph. This stylish file rack is part of a whole range from Anthropologie and yep, the others look just as divine.

7.GORGEOUS CATCH-ALL ACCESSORIES
Have one huge tray to showcase your collectibles or multiple mini ones like these to store different pieces, but you absolutely need to have a go-to knickknacks storage space.

8.A STYLISH TABLET/PHONE CASE
More than anything, this is a huge expression of who you are so make sure you're sending the right message. Whether you are an understated elegance kind of girl or a bold and colorful lass or maybe even both, Society6 has a darn huge collection of all kinds of gorgeous gadget cases. I just adore this one.

9.AN ECLECTIC ENSEMBLE OF PILLOWS
Ah pillows, prop them against your back or tastefully arrange some throw pillows on the floor for extra seating, but; don't play safe. This is one territory where you should definitely experiment, so mix and match away! I've combined some from Studio McGee here and a tasseled pillow from Target. As you can tell by now, I'm absolutely digging palm prints. (Hey- it's summer!)

10.THE ULTIMATE  # GIRLBOSS MUG
Because your morning cup of addicting coffee brew should also double up as your inspiration for the day. Some searching around and I came across these really pretty girlboss mugs

11.THE FUN ACCENT WALL
O.M.Goodness. How can I not have known about these guys before? Since we are keeping everything else patterned/colorful, I decided to go with this simpler cheeky, dotty wallpaper but you could paint the accent wall a coordinating solid color (cue: Pantone's colors of the year are superb) or choose one from this gallery. Instant room pick-me-up!

12.EMPOWERING ART PRINTS
Society6 again. If you are not checking out their or even Minted's collection of Art prints you are honestly missing out on bouts of energy boosts! Check out the ones featured in my round-up here, here, here & here.

13.PRETTY MIRRORED STORAGE
You can keep everything else pretty affordable but splurging on one of these babes will magically turn the entire room expensive looking. I found this mirrored storage to be great for the price and it is 60% off. (or go check out some Youtube tutorials and convert an existing Ikea dresser to a mirrored spectacle)

14.ELEGANT PENDANT LAMP(S)
Okay, so the site does not feature a price tag for these pendant lamps and you need to send an enquiry for these to the designer, BUT they were just so gorgeous I couldn't resist. Metallics always combine beautifully with everything so if you're undecided on what kind of lighting to go for, I suggest golds or coppers for finishes.

15.THE CUTE TO-DO LIST
Rifle paper co. had to make it to "this list". They make some of the cutest and also well-known stationery around so to-do lists or agendas, whatever your pick, gives you the sublime satisfaction of ticking things off at the end of the day and give yourself a pat on the back.

16.A WHIMSICAL MIRROR
Because at the end of the day or whenever you head out, you should look at  yourself and have a little you got it girl pep talk with your reflection. Definite essential for me. ;) How beautiful is this mirror from Lulu & Georgia?

What are your essentials? If you are smitten by any of these, pin and share around!

Have a lovely week and follow me:

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

INSPIRATION NATION // DIY ORIGAMI FLOWER CURTAIN

First off, I haven't yet decided where would be the perfect setting for this craft project to revel in full glory. My initial idea was to use it as the title puts it, a flower curtain. I had fantastic visions of friends walking in and recognizing this from one of the many snapshots that I sent them of my behind-the-scene crazy woman workings. But then while I was actually photographing the whole thing, it occured to me that it would pose as gorgeous replacement of a bed's headboard. That's positive though right? The fact that I'm unsettled about where to hang this curtain is what makes it so flexible. So use it at a whimsical party for your girlfriends, for your little girl's room or to add that tipsy dimension of fantasy to your own bedroom or workspace. This is bound to look ravishing!

Espcially when people notice they are not real flowers and that are so, so many origami flowers strung together lovingly by you in hopes that you could transition yourself back to when you could wear as many tutus and tiarias as you'd want in a day.

We could still do that though. I know I could!

The kind of origami roses I used for this project are a little different than the normal origami rose tutorials. The toughest rose being called the Kawasaki rose even of which they have several versions. We also have a standard rose. But I chose a simpler kind for this project which looks equally pretty and it's called the Bird-Base Rose or the Twisty Rose because the entire effect of the rose comes from twisting the folds at the end.

You could use any light-weight craft paper for this. Since it's Spring, I specifically chose pastel colors from a huge bundle of colored A4 copy paper. I also made the roses in two different sizes to add a little visual interest and alternated the colors between pink and yellow.

You could leave out the leaves but then if I were you I'd think hard on that one! The leaves are so easy as well, the only setback being the project is time-consuming. But think of having a gatehring of friends, maybe pizza-delivered at your doorstep, chilled summer drinks,humming your favorite tune and voila. you wouldn't even notice you just made 24 roses and 48 leaves. At least that's as many as I made. :)

INSPIRATION NATION // DIY STYLED PHOTOS!

Styles photos are all the rage these days on blogs and websites which want to be seen as more chic and professional and certain people have jumped on the bandwagon to make big sales out of creating stock photography that's truly eye0candy! Not to bash those amazing brands doing all the people who're short of time or maybe not so experienced with the camera a stunning benefit  but...wouldn't it be so much better if you could make your own styled photography? If you're an owner of lots of pretty baubles, have a good eye for photography and this manual at hand, it's no biggie! I'll give you a plentiful list of tricks to do those gorgeous styled photographs and be a master at it!

This article features 10 fool-proof tips to get those styled pictures everyone craves! Don't forget to share and... to thank YOU. for going through my tidbits of wisdom, I've even got a free surprise at the end of the post!

1.Choose a theme.

You can't get the best out of styled photography without choosing a theme.I don't mean any rigid constraints with the word "theme". It could be a color theme. Or a seasonal theme. (If you're choosing spring, you could go with a selection of lots of pastels. If it's summer you could choose something bright and fruity. If it's a winter theme you'd like to go for, you may wanna shift to more cooler tones like blues and purples in your photographs). In addition you could also choose a topic based theme: I've compiled a collage of some popular ongoing themes for styled images: take a look at this ridiculously beautiful styled pictures!

1) Beauty/Outfit/Accessories potpourri

1.Connie Cao @kisforkanithelabel 2.blushshop @blushshop  3.Nat @n4tic  4.Raffaella @raffaellferrigno 5,Jenny Jovanovic @crazystylelove 6.lenie @lenieloves

2) Breakfast and food, tantalizing food!

2 & 3. Maimona Jamal Badi @dreamy_touch 7.Utosh @ utosh  5.Princess inspiration @ princessaddictions 9.@cathycouture

3)That dre-a-a-a-my workspace.

4,5,6 & 7 Jessica Clinch @simplyjessicamarie 9.blushshop @blushshop

2.Choose a carefully thought out background in relation to your foreground objects and props

If you have a careful look at the pictures above you'll see there's a variety of backgrounds, from plain to textured with wood, marble or even glass (in the workspace collage). Neutrals backgrounds like these are always the best bet to add that little something that's so important because it holds the entire picture together. You'll wanna make sure your background is not overpowering but if you'd like to choose a bright, fun background, go to the next point..which is...

3.Contrast, contrast, contrast!

It doesn't just have to be between colors, it can be between materials too: pair hard rough wood with soft, flowy textiles. Monotoned marble with bright colors and on and on.
This account on Instagram (@zynp) is what made me believe that while it's tricky to have a bright background against bright colorful objects, if done right, the results can be stunning. You'll need a bit of practise for this but here's one tip: Look for the opposite colors on the color wheel to pair or colors within/around the same color family. Think berries with blush pinks or colors normally found together in nature: woody browns and deep greens; and keep the contrast in couples: stark blue background against juicy orange foreground objects or the the likes. (so that's just two colors: blue and orange but so much to swoon over!)

    (Zeynep Albayrak) @zynp on Instagram, she knows what she's doin'! Go ahead & follow her!

4.Layering

Layering gives so much more dimension and depth to what could otherwise be flat photography and that which lacks in character. Try layering with different napkins that fit in your theme, maybe cutting boards, textiles (the more frayed, the better), scrapbook paper, giftwrap, pretty books,place-mats or even shimmery bling!

1.  Jenny Jovanovic @crazystylelove  2.Nash (@candygloss006)  3.Nash (candygloss006)

5.Fluidity

Sometimes if your object looks too static, you could use a bit of dynamism in the picture. The best way to add this may be a crumpled sheet in the background (maybe a picture of breeakfast or five-star dessert in bed?) that signifies movement had taken place or even a scarf in a vibrant color sprawled across the picture's width or height. You choose. This isn't always necessary but see if it works for you. When it works, you'd immediately know because the picture suddenly gets a whole lot of oomph.

1 Zeynep Albayrak @zynp 2. Nash @candygloss006 3.Melissa @milkthistles   4. Zeynep Albayrak @zynp

6.The human touch  

This is another optional. You might want to add a slight part of your hand going over the keys of your laptop. Or maybe fingers curled around that beautiful coffee mug. This adds so much more dynamism and relatability!

7.The little details

There's the big focus of your picture, and then..there's the little details and the props that just kick it up that extra notch. This could be anything from sprinkles thrown in around your cake (yes, around!) or confetti sprinked in around your stationery. Or maybe some delectable macarons placed by your current favorite novel. They don't have to get the spotlight, but they sure do make a difference.

8.Doodles and lettering

Adding doodles and lettering is completely in vogue right now. So if there's a little too much of empty space that shows up in your photo, try adding a bit of doodling or lettering overlays. There are so many apps for this.Apps I use for Android include Doodlesnap, Photofy and Shii Overlays.

9.Never stop looking

Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you have enough inspiration. Get started, yes, and do what you need to do but always keep looking for more. Coffee shops and bakery shops do such beautiful styling; it's hard not to get inspired. And so do glam decor editorials. I usually pick up inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. (To see which boards I usually follow on Pinterest and Instagram, follow me from the sidebar!)

         You can like a picture on Instagram and it will instantly get saved by default in your profile (you can access all the pictures you keep liking through the settings menu on the app.) The problem here is: if all the pictures you keep hitting like for pile up in your account, it does away with some of your earlier liked ones to accommodate space for the newly liked pictures. To bypass that nuisance, download an app that saves pictures/vids from Instagram and use to to constantly save those pictures on your gadget. I use Instasave for Android if you were wondering. :D

9.Try not to be a perfectionist

Sometimes Instagrammers put all those beautiful pictures out there, it's easy to be caught in that culture where everything needs to be poetically set up. I need to tell you that even if those tricks above are for significantly improving your styled photography, sometimes it's good to leave things messy, untended to or to show flaws. After all, a little embarrassment brings in more friends than appearing impeccable!

And here's your surprise: Three high-resolution styled photos you can include in your website/blog promotions or themes! If you do happen to use any of these, don't forget to drop by and let me know so that I can have a look as well! :D

DOWNLOAD FREE STYLED PHOTOS HERE!

                                         

PS:I've tried to link back as many Instagram photos to their accounts as possible which was a tough job. If you find one of your photos here and I haven't listed you please let me know so that I can title the photo to the correct owner. If anyone of you would like me to take their pictures down, please contact me via email. Thank You. :)


And now folks, a few examples of using styled photography for beautiful branding, magazine layouts and even opt-in boxes!

1 deluxemoderndesign.com    2.assets.lookbookpro.com   3.rosemarywatsonproductions.com 4.shaycochrane.com 5.lauradrayton.com


Need another article to pump up your lifestyle blog? Have a skim through my "Secrets to writing killer DIY blog posts" article here!

You can also download and print many freebies in my freebie gallery (in the nav bar) to primp up your photos! Orrr....check out my shop if you'd like to print papers for uploading images on commercial sites.

AND LASTLY, PIN AND SHARE THE FUN :)

Follow me xx,

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest 

Nash

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INSPIRATION NATION || CREATING YOUR OWN PRINTS! (YEP,PHOTOSHOP FOR BEGINNERS)

Ladies and Gentlemen (if any),I've been asked around a lot in real life and on the cyberspace how I create my prints in photoshop. A lot of my prints are mixed media, 1)something I've painted or 2)maybe something I've photographed orrr 3)Done straight in Photoshop drawing with the basic round brush and then manipulated in PS to create a pretty, pretty print that I occasionally give ya guys to download.

So here's the behind-the-scenes of how I made one the prints from my last free prints collection. ;)

Here's what you'll need:

1.Your PC
2.Adobe Photoshop (I recommend CS3 and above. I use CS6)
3.Your favorite pictures that we will be morphing into prints

Note: I'm showing how to do this by the route of absolute newbies, so if you know more or less of PS already, you'll find me a little slow. ;)

Let's start!

INSPIRATION NATION// HOW I STAY CREATIVE (AND YOU CAN TOO)

Ever wondered how you could bring creativity back to the plate after a burnout? I know for sure that fishing out one fabulous idea after another may be a treat to readers but behind-the-scenes? It's no joke. You can practically feel your brain getting drained.

So how do you get back on track after what seems like you've just exhausted all your creative resources?

Let me help!
PS: This is a slightly long article than my regular write-ups but I really wanted you all to connect with what I'm saying. :*

INSPIRATION NATION// ARCHITECTURE PROJECT REVEAL

Second year of Architecture came to such a dizzying end and the cherry on top was what you see right here. Like my last Architecture project: (the complete process of which is photologged here) French Consulate General in an Arab Country, this year's final project was to create a science and discovery museum on category of choice.

I chose an Islamic Art & Culture Museum of course since I'm always so smitten by the complex geometric and botanically intricate mashrabiyyas. 

The concept was multi-faceted especially because the Islamic Arab heritage is so rich. While primarily based on the Arabian desert aspects of undulating sand dunes and oasis, the concept was also supposed to represent the up and down graph of the Arab era, of scientific discoveries and inventions which marked its peak, of the birth of Islam, of the depression of the period before literacy in ancient pagan times. The synergy of these ideas led to an edgy, modern form of the building jutting out from the roof, interspersed by skylights to break what would have been an otherwise "heavy" shape and lots of green outdoor areas for lounging in terrace cafes.

Let's start from the entrance,shall we?

The main entrance is dominated by two mashrabiyya canopies (the webbed geometric design is what you call a mashrabiyya, It has plenty of intricate net-like detailing and was used in traditional Arab houses as windows to control humidity, air current and provide privacy).

There are all in all four floors to the museum:

Floor 0 : Reception, ticket booths, gift shops, stores, outdoor cafe, office administration A separate staff entrance lies on the right lateral side of the entrance.
Floor 1: Exhibition Floor. Main exhibition. An outdoor exhibition area and two secondary exhibitions.
Floor 2: A theater, an "indoor" amphitheater space. A couple of multipurpose halls
Floor 3: Learning resource center: Library, digital and interactive areas for learning, etc.

The lengthy trapezoidal terrace you see covered in lush grass is the outdoor exhibition on the first floor. I hope things are slightly starting to make sense now. (lol)

And oh, this is the seaside elevation (below). The whole outdoor exhibition and cafe lounge (which is the green area on the ground level) faces the Red Sea.

The continuity of the triangular mass is seen on the landscaping. The function of the mashrabiyyas here is to serve as shade as well as aesthetic. The perforation allows the visitors to enjoy the sea side view as well.

A closer look at the voids and skylights in the roof. The texture was done using parchment paper (Hah!). The mashrabiyyas were done using Autocad of course in a laser-cutting lab especially for students. :D

The front elevation of the buildings and the two lateral sides all have the mashrabiyyas but the back side looks a bit different. Like below.

Here's the side opposite to the seaward side.(along with the main elevation you see on the left)

 And that pretty much sums up the facade of my second year's project!

Oh, and tiny little details like this made me feel happier about it!
The pavement work leading to the outdoor exhibition!

How did you like it? Lemme know!


Are you a design oriented fellow? Pin this onto your board to bookmark some inspiration!

Check out my DIY gallery for other wholesome DIYs and fun eye candy!

Love,
Nash

INSPIRATION NATION// GRAD GIFTS ALERT!

It's all about celebrating incredible futures this month as I wrapped up the best of the best deals for you in a neat pinnable graphic. From inexpensive gifts that are worth far more than their price to moderately priced gifts they will cherish for a long time to come; these gifts range from hers, to him and gender-neutrals for those who aren't that sure what their grads may prefer!

I've also included my own DIYs as well as featured a couple of other talented bloggers because let's just put it straight, everyone's got such droolworthy ideas!

TO DIY:

For her:

1. Set of notepads/ mini journals : Can be used for pasting keepsakes or writing brilliant ideas. These are so easy to make, totally customizable and can be made in many, many numbers!
See the link for DIY Notepads here.

2. DIY Ethinic Envelpe clutch: Which girl doesn't adore a doze of high-end fashion? Get the luxe look with a homemade version now. She'll be delighted!
Get the link for DIY Envelope Clutch here.

3.DIY Botanical Pen Bouquet: Pens or Pencils, this DIY Bouquet for the creative, writeoholic grad will totally light up her workspace and home decor! 
Get the link to the tut here!

For him:

1.Gym-worthy Ipod Holder: It can't get better than this! This easy-to-sew Ipod holder by Design Fixation fits snugly on your arm while you burn those pesky calories!
See the Ipod holder tutorial here!

2.Copper-pipe pencil holder: He'll be super-impressed with this classy industrial-lookin' copper DIY pencil holder by A Fabulous Fete fit to liven up even the plainest of desktops!
See the Pencil Holder tutorial here!

3. DIY Ipad Case: Have a faux animal skin placement mat or something of the likes? It's the shortest cut to make an Ipad Cover for a bit of fashionable protection! Roughly fold in half and fold over the extra onto the initial side securing with velcro like a clutch!

....................

TO BUY:

For her:

1. Floral Cnavas Backpack ($ 26) : Charlotte Ruse really knows how to do summer with this beautifully feminine backpack! Great for summer time trips and effortless style!

2.Rosa Pocket Notebooks ($ 10): If there's any stationery brand that can steal a girl's heart in an instant, it's Rifle Paper Co.! These two pretty notebooks are perfect to jot down memos in style!

Assemble:
3.Neon Nailpolish in Rainbow Sherbet ($3.99) - Best-selling and oh-so-vivid
4.First Blush Eyeshadow Palette ($ 1.99)- Double them up as rosy blushes!
5. Summer Strut Heels ($29.99) -Coral is always in!

from Rue 21 and Style For Less is a pretty package to make a fabulous gift for the summery fashionista!

6. Rue 21 Gift Card : If you'd like her to decide for herself what'd set her heart racing, give her one of these!



For him:

7. Thumbs up UK Fli-Tunes Sound Amplifier. Frisbee ($16.43)  A Flying Disk and sound amplifier for your phone in one? No way! Yes way!

8.IPhone Pocket Projector ($69) This product will be so worth the price to be shelled out! Perfect for travel and has first-rate reviews so you know he'll rave about it as soon as it's put to use!

9. The Inkless Metal Pen ($ 28.00)  No sharpening, never runs out of ink and made of metal. How much more swag can this have?
                    
10.Word. Notebooks,3-pack ($9.99)  Don't guys get swanky ideas too? Let his keep track of to-dos with flair!

...........................

Gender -Neutrals:

1. ITunes Gift Cards ($25, $50, $100) : Include your personal message and give this fanciful card to a very overjoyed recipient!

2. Mosaic Photo Book ($20) : Lets grads stow away their priceless moments and breathtaking photography in a stunning photobook straight from their...phone! Check out the ultra-cool and easy process on the homepage!

3. Treatsie Gourmet Sweet Box Subscription ($29 and above) - Caramel popcorn, Espresso cookies, chocolate truffles, Almond Chocolate Toffee. Who canNOT relish this?

4. Custom Mugs, Shutterfly (Varying Prices)  Got any favorite pics they have while they sip on their cuppa joy? These cutom mugs from Shutterfly are definitely unique. Keep favorite snapshots hand because they're about to create a one-of-a-kind mug!

5. Collage Squares Ipad case ($49.49): Shutterfly is all about versatility so whip out an Ipad case that will be the crowd's envy using your grad's awesome snapshots! They'll treasure it, no questions!

Which one's your favorite?

Let me know!

Lookin' for other DIYs? I have hoards of ideas for you in my DIY Gallery!



Heart this? Show the love and pin it!

Lots of hugs,
Nash

**PS: I'm not sponsoring any of the brands mentioned above not do I have an affiliation program with any of them. All the ideas mentioned above were based solely on personal choice. 















1. 

INSPIRATION NATION//DIY PEN BOUQUET

This is a graduation gift special! A super-fun gift to make and an even more amazing gift to receive. Of course, as always this DIY is extremely versatile so you could easily replace the clay flowers for silk of even crepe paper/fabric flowers or you could use the air dry clay recipe to make other vibrant toppers like a miniature Starbucks coffee mug or some clay high heels to go on top of your pencils/pens. The possibilities are endless!
This DIY Pen Bouquet features some big colorful blooms and since I was topping my pens with florals, I decided to make a whole bouquet of them.

When your sweet grad girl runs out of ink over time, she could just use them as beautiful decor or even discard the pens and use just the flowers as keepsakes. Probably if she is a crafty soul like you, she may even figure a way to upcycle them!

I just used a glass vase I'd modpodged with glitter to add some classy glamour and popped the pens in. For an extra realistic effect I stuffed in some leaves spilling out of the jar's rim.

Here's how you can make your own:

Materials:
-A set of pens. I used a pack of six.

-For small quantities of air dry clay:

 Cornstarch &Glue (The Elmer's school glue kind) in 1:1 ratio
 A few tesaspoons of baby oil to reduce cracking
 A microwavable container and a stirrer
 Some lotion

Stir up all the ingredients in the container and microwave it with breaks in between; keep stirring the clay so that it doesn't stick to the bottom. Keep heating up until it no longer sticks to the sides/bottom and becomes smooth. Knead it by smoothing on some lotion onto your hands till the temperature reduces back to normal and store in clingwrap because air will dry it out if you keep it out in the open. Don't store in moist places to prevent mould!


For larger quantities:
Simply buy some, or maybe you already have some on hand?

-Acrylic paints
-Green electric tape or floral tape
-A jar or a ribbon to tie up the bouquet

How-to:
1.Once you have your clay ready, simply have a sample (or a photograph) of the flower you want to simulate and mold it accordingly. I used this and this picture to inspire me throughout. I also had one of my fake flowers in front of me while I was molding just to keep track.

2 For each petal, start off with a mini ball then flatten it out into the shape of a petal. For the bud at the center, cover the pen's cap top completely and then move outwards with the petals  making the flower larger as you make the petal curl outwards. Scrape of the excess clay accumulated around the cap (at the flower's base) after finishing the rose making sure you leave behind a very thin but smoothly merged layer so that individual petals don't crack and fall off later.

3.The result? A super natural-looking rose!

5. Air dry clay takes around 12-24 hours to dry depending on the size. So leave it out for a day!

6.Paint it any color you like. I suggest using different colors of the same family and adding a hint of yellow to give a little contrast.
Try experimenting with a variety of flowers

7. Dress up the pens (and any peeking  gaps on the cap which you should be having unless your flower is enormous) with green tape .

8, Finish off with a pretty bow and a gift tag or pop it in a cute mason jar or the likes for even more fresh effects!

Enjoy! The best part of the DIY is with the exploring and painting. You can never get enough of the combinations you'll get!
Even easier to create with a bunch of friends! You'll create a bouquet in no time!

This photograph is my mum's personal favorite. No.Idea.Why.

Zooming in on the other types of flowers I made. Was so fun to fashion flowers out of clay I didn't even know the name of. And now I made myself look like an idiot on the world wide web.

..........

If you liked this DIY, make sure you pin it so other peeps can benefit from it too! (cuz' sharing is hot!)


Subscribe to Craft A Doodle Doo ( in the sidebar) or join me on Pinterest/Facebook for endless more wacky DIY ideas and fab eateries!

Check out all my other fantastic DIY ideas in my DIY Gallery!



Wishing all the grads a great future,
Love you all,
Nash

INSPIRATION NATION// DIY ROSES FROM EGG CRATES!

Mommy dear has quite got the hang of my crafty endeavors now which is why she gifted me an empty egg crate last week. I suppose only us craftstresses would see the opportunity there; so I turned this basic kitchen trash into treasure : DIY Roses from egg crates! It was obvious wasn't it? I'm such a rose person, and all of us are looking for new ways to make this Spring pop! Thanks, mum!

The instructions are really basic. Just cut, paint, mold, repeat. Then fashion them into just the sweetest, romantic rose using your favorite super-glue and use them any way you wish. No one's even probably going to guess these beauties were made with egg crates!

You'll need:
-An egg crate, in a light color preferably.
-Acrylic paints in different colors and large-tipped paint brushes
-Newspapers (for easy clean-up)
-Super-glue of your choice

Optional:
-Sturdy wire for steams
-Green ribbon

How-to:
1.Begin by cutting across each row of little cones from the egg tray. Then cut out each row into individual cones. Don't worry I know these will be pointy for now.
  Snip off the pointy end of the cones to make them more curvy. Like rose petals, yeah? Paint them, preferably with a large fluffy paint brush! (I used two different colors, hot pink & bright cherry red to get a more natural effect.) Make sure to get around all the nooks and crevices.

2. For the center of the rose take the smallest half cone (you find them on the extreme left and right of each row of cones) and curl it inwards. Then glue down to secure and make it look like a bud.

3. For the rest of the cones. slit with a scissors as shown in picture across the length of the cone so that you get a longish petal and then mold this to fit around the bud.

4. Keep repeating and adding more 'petals' until you have a rose in full bloom!

5. If you'd like to pop 'em in a vase like me, wrap some green ribbon onto metal wire ( I used the ones from my foam curlers in my DIY Ring Box post). and glue them down to the base of the rose. (Don't forget to hold in place for a few minutes till the glue is dry and the rose sits smug!)

You can use these as gift toppers too or for photography props! Stunning either way!

Liked the idea? Pin  it! (cuz' sharing is hot!)
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And here's the DIY Ring Box I talked about above. The foam curlers have metals inserts in them which I used for the stems of the roses!

Check out the rest of my DIYs in my DIY gallery, you wouldn't know what you may discover. ;)

Lots of hugs,
Nash ( I think you can tell I love a lot of pink & red, lol)

INSPIRATION NATION// DIY STAMPS!

I'll ask this straight, are you up for some fabulous textile printing? ;)

Call me nuts, but I see a lot of potential in bottle caps. "Bottle caps, yep you're crazy!". Let's just date back and take a look at the in-door style closet organizer I made using bottle caps. It's still sturdy and rocking my wardrobe today, and let's not forget these come for free! So what else can you exploit these for? DIY Stamps of course! Stamps are for babies, you say.Maybe they were, but today let's make a rebel out of ourselves, shall we? :D

You'll need:

Bottle caps, lots of them!

Craft Foam (plain or patterned)

Super-strong craft glue

Stamp pads/Paint

A scissors and a pencil

Washi Tape (optional)

How-To:

1.If you'd like your stamps to look extra cute washi tape the tops first. Of course you don't need to do this, it's just one of the perks of being excessively girly.

2. Trace around the bottle cap's circumference with a pencil to determine how much area you have to draw and doodle any shape inside. I just made me an entire botanical set, so I began with a rose. If you need, you can have a template or anything of the kind for reference. :)

3.Cut out the shape you drew and glue it down onto the cap.

4.Grab your stamp pads, or paint (I used acrylic paints) and begin stamping away. I just used a pretty satin napkin to put my pattern on.

Tip: If you're using paint, it can be a tad difficult, so just make sure that:

       - You have a nice, even coat of paint on the stamp shape.

       - Make the paint a bit diluted (using water) so it's smooth and not gunky because

       that'll make the designs, uhhhh...weird.

5. Be awesome and make yourself a cup of tea! (or coffee if you're a coffee person. I'm more of a tea + iced coffee girl, I don't know why I typed that here.I know it isn't even irrelevant)

I poured myself some hot cardamom tea in a cute mug and my pretty new napkin to cheer me up. It's the little things that give me glee.

Here's a close up of the print. Don't they look pretty? How about making ombre patterns now? I think that's what these lil guys will do next.

Liked these idea? Pin it, sweetheart (cuz' sharing is hot)

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In the meanwhile, come join me at Pinterest and Facebook or subscribe to Craft A Doodle Doo if you'd like to get updated on loads more DIYs!

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A million hugs,

Nash

(PS #1: Need another textile design tutorial? This Cath Kidston inspired print tut may just bowl you over! Or check out other DIYs in my DIY Gallery!)

(PS #2: I apologize for the changing blog design, but I'm trying to get a hang of how I want it look eventually. Yes, I'm indecisive.)

INSPIRATION NATION//DESIGN YOUR OWN BLOG! (And a FAB one at that!)

I must confess, I've become disillusioned with my newest obsession, blog designing! Now I've never really designed anyone's blog per se (just a few tips and tweaks for other friends), but I think I'm kind of fancying the blog design bandwagon! So today, I'll let you download a super-easy tutorial on how you can design your own blog (on Blogger, works for Wordpress too) and I'll give you all the blog design elements I designed in this tutorial for free!
     Seatbelt on girls!

I'm honestly head over heels for this one, so much that I feel like switching like my own blog design to the one in this tut, but I'm still in the process of primping up my own. ;)

I used Photoshop CS6 for this tutorial (the version doesn't really matter though) but if you're good at other online editing apps like picmonkey and pixlr then you can probably use those too. Isn't is nice when everything is so versatile?

The blog elements include the header, the fonts, social media icons and the navigation tabs. The above is a screenshot for you to see how they all look like after put together. Such a happy family!
The zip file I put for download include the pdf file which lists the detailed tutorial as well as the individual design elements to upload onto a basic blog template.

Header:
Every blog needs a whopper of a header. It's the first thing that makes those eyeballs stay put on your blog or else close the window pronto! Here's how I made mine and you can make yours too. Begin by thinking of a theme. I love fresh. pretty colors and it's Spring too, so I grabbed this image from Pinterest for reference and began painting away.

Hand-drawn doodles or painted designs are so much the chic trend now and they really give that casual+professional feel to a blog. Here are the steps:

We now import the image in photoshop (it can be a scanned file from your printer or a photograph you took, I used the photograph) and continue with the editing to create our pretty blog banner.

You can see the rest of the steps in the pdf file because the post will run incredibly large if I do post everything over here. (Yes, Nash you say, please don't force us to read your long drawl-y posts!)

A nice way to give your blog a super-polished look is to choose colors with a contrast. Use a few colors from one part of the spectrum and then choose a few colors from a contrasting range of the spectrum. Like, me being me, used a rage of hot pink to pale pink petals to add a feminine pop of color in the header, and a lot of gender neutral blues and greens to give a beautiful contrast. Of course, if you like, you can still make it all your favorite color, but I just think having a palette adds so much more visual interest!

The best part? You don't even need to be a good painter. Posing as one will do (I do the same!)

Fonts:

Fonts make up so much of the blog's readability. Fonts look great paired with contrasts too (Sans serif with serif. Plain fonts with calligraphic. Serious fonts with playful, handwritten ones). Whenever you'd like to use a fancy font, make sure you use it where you need a large font size. Generally, fancy fonts are difficult to read when they are small-sized. Stick to the very basic of fonts for large chunks of writing, because they are more readable and pleasant.

See all the font-mantra I just mentioned down below. The blog title has been written in a calligraphic font (I list the fonts names in the downloadable tutorial file). The tagline for the blog is written in a simplistic font. It helps the fancy calligraphic font pop even more!

Textures and Patterns:

While you can use a multiple of patterns and textures, make sure that you either
1) Use a focal design on one area of the blog and keep the rest minimal or
2) Use a variation of textures on different areas while making sure they all tie up perfectly well together (Usually making everything look unified goes back to the colors you used.)

Obviously the second choice is more difficult to follow through. For this blog design I kept the background completely plain but you can use a very minimal background too and it would still look great.

My rule of the thumb for the perfect laid back+professional design is this, pair opposites but not to the extremes. For ex, I paired delicate flowers with some geometry(circles)! They are not really opposites but circles usually don't come anywhere near flowers, do they? :)

Social Media Icons and Navigation Tabs:
Since I used the same colors and geometry for the navigation tabs as the header (again to tie everything together), I used an ombre pink for the social media icons.

You can check out how to:

1. Upload a header images to blogger
2.Upload social media icons for blogger
3.Upload navigation tabs in blogger:
To upload navigation tabs, use the same technique as the social media icons but don't upload all the images into one widget but individual widgets and link each to it's url.

Everything includes psd files so they're editable or you can add extras by modifying the existing elements. :)
You can download the whole step-by-step tutorial here.
You can download the whole zip file for the design elements here.

Have any questions? Drop a comment! Or leave a comment on my Pinterest/Instagram/Facebook!
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Meanwhile, pin this and share it if you found this useful. *smile*

Check other design resources here

Lots and lots and lots and lots of hugs,
Nash, xoxo

(And oh yes, check how how the blog design looks over here!)