Below is a list of my top ten new favorite DIY things from last year and into this year too. I have been stopped in the street and asked by many people how I have done some of these to my hair and nails. That makes you feel good about yourself!
Number 10: Cooking
This is last on my list because it's not necesarily "new" but something improved this year. I posted a recipe for Lentils before. Here is a quick recipe for my Ranch Dressing.
Stacey’s Ranch Dressing: Now, I do not usually measure the ingredients out, so, each time I will come up with a sauce that is a bit different. In my opinion, as long as you use plenty of garlic it will always be delicious! When I first tried to make Ranch while I was in Spain it was difficult to find sour cream. There was crème fraîche at some of the larger stores like El Corte Inglés, but it was not quite the same. So, I tried some Greek yogurt, which was nice a creamy and tasted much better to me. You can experiment; both sour cream and Greek yogurt are good.
You will need:
2 part mayonnaise
2 part sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/2-1 part milk or buttermilk
Dry ingredients-
2 parts dill
2 parts garlic powder
2 parts dried parsley
2 part dried cilantro
2 parts dried chives
1 part basil
1 part oregano
1 parts onion powder
1 part salt
1 part ground pepper
Mix all dry ingredients in a small dish and set aside.
Whisk the mayo, sour cream, and milk in a bowl and then whisk in seasoning. Use more or less milk to make the sauce thinner or thicker. I prefer creamier, thick dressing for dipping veggies and thinner dressing over a salad, for example.
Try it with 1 cup mayo and yogurt, 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup milk. For the dry ingredients do 1 tablespoon dill, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and chives; 1/2 tablespoon onion, salt, and pepper. This will make an amount for 2-4 people to dip lots of veggies; about 2 cups.
Number 9: The Romantic Braid/Valentino Braids/Boho Braids
I have been really into the loose crown braid Heidi Klum wore this summer and have done many different types of braids throughout the year. The Valentino Braids, from the runway Spring/Summer collection 2012, are so romantic and soft and lovely! The reason they are at number nine here is that I have yet to duplicate them...but I will keep on trying!
Number 8: Creative Writing
I have been working on a novel for awhile now, which I had never imagined doing. I have always been interested in writing, but I told myself that since I hadn't studied for it I would never get published. We'll see about that, but I can tell you that I have enjoyed every moment of it!
If you want to try getting creative without having to go back to Creative Writing 101 I have found many useful sites via stumbler.com. There is a great site with 346 Creative Writing Prompts. Could be good for my English teachers out there! ;)
Number 7: Instagram/Photo Albums in Physical Form
This one is a little vague since photography it's something I've been in to for a long time. I'm in love with instagram, which if you've never heard of it is an app for the iPhone where you can share photos you take. Say what you will about digital photography, but I have seen some lovely work there, and it's fun to get creative right on your phone.
Now, I don't really do scrapbooking, though I'd love to be good at that, but I love going through my pictures and reminiscing. All you need to make a DIY photo album look nice is the type with the full pages (not with slots for each photo) and some colored paper. You can go with a theme for each section if you want, but no matter what a little time on it can make a world of difference. Oh, and don't use glue, I use tape or these tiny sticky dots, by Martha Stewart (of course), I used to have which worked wonders.
Also, since we live in a digital age, you can upload photos straight from iPhoto on Mac and create books, calanders, cards, etc. And I just made a cookbook for my dad for Christmas full of recipes I have created or adapted over the years from Spain, Catalunya, Eugene, and Michigan. I used a free application which I downloaded called Blurb. It's easier to edit and move things when you do it in free format, but I do like the interface of iPhoto much more. With blurb you can also do just print, like if you are writing a novel and want to see it in real life...
Number 6: Painting Plaster Sculptures
I love those cheesy plaster sculptures, like a teddybear that says #1, or a sandcastle, or little farm animals. When I find a good one, usually pretty damn cheap, I have to bring it home. If you want to do it right you have to use a little sand paper and a file to get all those crappy bits off before you paint it. I just use acrylic, and actually I don't know if that's what you're supposed to use because it can peel right off of some of them, but I spray a clear glaze over them afterward to seal it all on there. If you wanna try it check out your local craft store. If you don't have paint, all you really need is red, yellow, blue, black and white (as long as you remember your color wheel!). I painted a Christmas house for my parents and they loved it, who cares if you're grown up! You can still bring arts and crafts creations home to mom and dad, they'll love it!
Number 5: Konad Nail Art Stamping
Ok, so I have not actually done this yet, but I know I will be hooked! I just used my Christmas amazon.com card to order the "starter kit."
When I was in college, and even up until about last year, I would put on nail polish about once a month and let it chip away until it was just flecks of color. I even had a student once ask me why I never put polish on my entire nail.
Then, some time last year, I realized that nail art was a fun (allbeit tiny!) form of expression and just a fun project for me. It kept my hands busy doing something productive, instead of munching in front of the tv, and my creativity flowing. I started with multi-colored french manicures, to making designs with toothpicks, to creating my own nail stickers (all you do is paint your design on plastic wrap and let it dry) and now I can't "just paint my nails" anymore, it's a process, but I LOVE it!
Konad, check out their site just to see what I'm talking about, has millions of these kind of stencils that you paint, scrape, and then roll onto a stamper, which you then stamp onto your nail. There are some REALLY cool designs out there!
Number 4: Organic DIY Lip Balm
As a Christmas gift this year I made my mom a basket of beauty products that I made myself. I made lip balm in Coconut-Vanilla as well as in Peppermint, I made body lotion, hand cream, bath salts, and even deoderant all in "Earl Grey Tea" scent (which is basically bergmot). My favorite was the chapstick, which I made using little containers I bought here in Eugene from Glory Bee (direct from the store by the airport, otherwise they are expensive little buggers to buy individually).
Here is a link to a pretty simple one by Yours Truely, G if you want to try yourself. Also, it's fun to experiment with the scents and flavors and you can even add some shavings of lipstick if you want to add a little color. Don't use food coloring though, it's water based and won't mix. Personally I prefer to just put on a little lip stain (like Benetint) and use the chapstick over it. Natural and healthy!
Number 3: The Hair Bow
Ok, Lady Gaga rocked this one ages ago, but I've been in love with it and was not about to buy some fake hair headband to try it myself. So now I have found two ways to do it, one a bit more complicated than the other, and each are a little different. Here is a half-up Hair Bow Tutorial like a Christmas Ribbon by Justbebexo. And the other way is to simply put your hair up into a half ponytail, split it in half, and use the "tail" underneath to pull back over to make the center of the bow. Elise Larson explains it best on her blog "A Beautiful Mess."
Number 2: Leopard Print Nails
These are very easy to do, for me, and I get loads of compliments. I try to tell people that you can do it easily, but no one ever believes me. I use Stripe Rite Nail Polish in black to draw the outside part of the leopard spots, and all different colors imaginable for the inside part of the spots as well as the base coat. Here is a video that shows a Super Easy Leopard Nail Tutorial by HelloMaphie in which she uses a nail art pen instead of the stripe polish, both work but I prefer the polish. Let me know if you agree with me that this is pretty easy, or if you think it's hard and I'm being silly!
Number 1: The Sock Bun
This is a perfect looking bun that you create using a sock with which you cut off the toe, roll it into a donut shape, and then roll on to your ponytail. Here is a video from Loepsie from youtube. I have gotten so very many compliments on this and it is very easy to do!
The sock bun secret
