DIY Inside: Trying out Wall Color

When we moved into our house 5 years ago, my interior style was based on neutral walls and pops of color through artwork and details. I painted an accent wall in our kitchen a cocoa color. The brown wall color has never really satisfied me and doesn't create an accent like it was intended to! So here's an easy way to try out wall colors without the commitment.

Tools:
Camera
Photoshop or a computer photo editing program
Computer

Step 1: Take a picture of your existing room or wall that you will be painting.

Step 2: Upload photo to a photo editing program like Photoshop.

Step 3: Select only the wall(s) in the photo and "color" them in using a color that you love. Do this again (as many times as you like) with different colors. You will then have several "samples" to compare. This will help you narrow down the right color that will give your room the wow factor you've been craving.

Here are some colors I've been considering:

Happy painting,
 Grace

Greeting Cards from Grandma

My 92 year old grandmother is the ultimate DIY'er. She is incredibly genius at repurposing, and coming up with creative ideas for her household. Today, I am creating one of her 4x6 greeting cards. Grandma makes her own cards out of paper and scrap fabric. They are personable and fun, and I always enjoy receiving one in my mailbox from her!

Tools:
construction paper or cardstock
white typing paper
glue
paintbrush
ruler
pencil
scissors
fabric scraps

Step 1: Using a 9x12" piece of construction paper or cardstock, fold in half. This will make a 6x9" rectangle.

Step 2: Fold 6x9" paper in half creating a 4.5x6" card. Measure 4" across and trim excess. Now you have a 4x6" folded card.

Step 3: Cut a 2x8" strip of fabric. Since card is 6" wide, this will give you 1" of fabric to wrap around on each side of the front cover. Wrapping the fabric will give you clean edges on the front of your card.

 Step 4: Apply glue to fabric, be careful not to use too much glue. Small dots of glue work best. Use paintbrush to spread glue evenly on to fabric. Attach fabric to front of card and wrap 1" excess fabric onto each side of the back of the front cover.

Step 5: Now we need to finish the card's inside and hide rough fabric edges. Using typing paper, measure a little bit smaller than 4x6"( I cut my typing paper  3.75x5.75"), so that the construction paper/cardstock creates a pretty border around the white typing paper. Apply glue sparingly to 4 corners of typing paper. Adhere paper to inside of card. Let dry 10 min.

Step 6: Let's hide the raw edge of the fabric on our card's front.  Cut two 6" pieces of fabric and fringe them. Glue fringed pieces to raw edges of fabric.

                                    

Now you have a beautiful and creative way to say hello!

Happy hello's,

Grace

DIY Style: Beach Hair

The soft wavy hair trend this summer requires little work. So put your flat iron away and rock some beach hair! Here's how I did it.

Tools:
mousse
spray gel

Step 1: Start with unwashed hair for best results.

Step 2: You will need mousse and spray gel. Place a golf ball size of foam mousse in your hand. (Golf ball size for shoulder-length, tennis ball size for long hair.) Any brand of mousse and spray gel will work.

Step 3: Pump 2 sprays of spray gel into golf ball sized mousse in your hand. Mix mousse and gel by rubbing both hands together. Starting from bottom of hair, use both hands and "scrunch" product on ends of your hair, moving upward. Try to leave roots untouched...putting too much product at roots will give you a glam 80's hairband look, and that's not beachy ;)

Step 4: Let hair air dry and don't brush it!!! Add a colorful hair scarf and now you have beautiful beach hair! Here is my before and after.

Before/After/+Scarf

Happy Styling,
Grace