1 YEAR ON!

Hey guys!

So today is pretty special for me, it just so happens to be exactly a year since I started writing this blog! Last February I began to think about whether I could write something that people would want to read, and two months later I took the plunge and wrote my very first post! I've come a long way since that first 'hey there' in my 'welcome' post and at first I didn't even tell my family, it was just my own little space where, if I messed up, it wouldn't matter but now a few more know about it! (I know you're reading so, Hi!) It's been such an amazing time and I've loved finding new things to write about each week, I really can't wait to blog some more awesome things!

I figured I should make this post pretty special so it's another DIY one. I spotted this idea on Wantfeed yesterday (if you follow me on twitter, this is what my tweet was about) and they're these cute little candle holder jars from Etsy. I was pretty sure I could make a pretty good replica (whether it would work or not was another matter!) of them so decided to give it a shot, here's how if you want to make some too! I think they would look so cute on a shelf or to give to someone as a gift! It doesn't even have to be a candle holder, it could be used to hold make-up brushes, pencils or even a plant! There's a whole world of possibilities!

First, you will need; jars, these can be any size, shape and colour you want, you could even make some bigger and some smaller ones for decorations! 

You'll also need; PVA glue, some string, beads (my ones are old glass ones I found in a bead box we have) and an extract from a book. 

If you want to use an actual page then I suggest buying an old book from a pound shop or charity shop (don't just go cutting extracts from your favourite reads!) but you could also print a paragraph off the internet to make it easier. (The book I'm using is 'From the Thorenson Dykes' by Sam Mcbratney that I got from a charity book shop a few months ago. I'm also going to use it for a few other ideas so it's completely worth the 50p I paid!) A paintbrush or glue spreader will also come in handy when putting the glue on the book page and a tealight finishes the overall look of the candle holder.

To start off, you will need to cut the extract to the right size for the jar, There should be bands along both the top and bottom of the paper that are the same width (a.k.a it should be in the middle). I chose a paragraph that was very full and filled the whole bit of paper because I felt it gave a better appearance. 

Cover the back of the page with the PVA and spread it across. To get mine to stick properly, I rolled the jar along the paper but make sure, if you do this, then you line it up properly as the first time I tried it, it came out wonky! 

Whilst this is drying, you can cut the string into two lengths, one marginally shorter than the other but both long enough to tie around the top of the jar. Then thread the beads onto each end and tie a small know to hold them on. This decoration can then be tied around the top of the jar to complete the look. 

If you're using it as a candle holder then the light should shine through the paper to create a soft orange glow (mine didn't work that well as it was only a battery LED tealight!

Jars seem to be in a lot of my blog posts, I hope you aren't tired of seeing them! Have a wonderful weekend and week, and I will see you again next Saturday for my next post!

Until next time!

Grace

X

Liebster Award Tag

Hey guys!

So I figured that while I'm on my last DofE weekend *sad sniff* you should have something cool to read. 
About a month and a half ago I was nominated to do the Liebster award tag. It was created to help promote new bloggers and I think it's an awesome idea! The person who nominates you sets you 11 questions to answer. You give them appreciation/credit in the post and then nominate up to 11 other bloggers who have less than 200 followers and set them 11 questions of your own. Don't forget to let them know they've been nominated though! (As I almost did!)

I would like to thank Abby at Be Bold for the nomination! Her blog is so awesome and you should really check it out! I love it! http://bebold01.weebly.com/ . Her Twitter is @bebold01.

These were the 11 questions she set for me:

1. One place you want to visit?
The other day I was casually surfing the internet and I found a picture of Glass Beach in California. It's now one of the top places I want to visit!

(Photo from: http://matadornetwork.com/trips/22-stunning-photos-californias-glass-beach/)

2. Favourite drugstore makeup brand?

I don't think I really have a particular favourite but if I did I think it would be Make Up Academy (MUA)!

3. Your 'go to' 'quick and easy' meal?

Probably cheese and ham pasta! It's as plain as it sounds but nice when you just want something simple, either that or cheesy beans on toast. Cheese seems to be a recurring factor here...

4. One fashion 'no-go'?

For me, probably tight dresses or leggings, they really don't suit me! Haha!

5. Favourite music artist?

At the moment, probably Ed Sheeran! I really love 'X', it's my favourite album and has some really lovely songs.

6. If you could only use one make up product, what would it be?

I think it would probably be mascara because it's good for highlighting your eyes and if I don't use things like foundation, my face becomes clearer and I end up using less anyway.

7. Favourite trait about yourself?

I think probably that I'm quite creative, I like to try making anything I see and even if it fails, I like to try! 

8. Favourite book to read?

Definitely any of the Harry Potter books! I just love them all, but if I had to pick just one, it would probably be the Deathly Hallows! I can't even describe my love for them! (As you may or may not guess, I'm a bit of a book-a-holic!)

9. Favourite 'old-school' song?

This one's pretty easy for me actually! I love 'Tell Her About It' by Billy Joel! I'm not sure if it counts as 'old school' but I like it!

10. Tea or coffee?

Neither actually! I've never really liked tea or coffee but I'd choose hot chocolate instead usually.

11. Your dream?
My ultimate dream is to travel around the world and then go to Uni to study and become a helicopter paramedic! I've always wanted to work in medicine but also see the world!

Now for my nominations! Have fun answering my questions guys!

@CakeCrumbsblog  http://www.cakecrumbs-and-pages.co.uk/

@Georgina1x1  http://confessionsofateenageblog.blogspot.co.uk/

@littlemisswynn3 http://littlemisswynne.blogspot.co.uk/

@balleticbeautyb  https://balleticbeautyblog.wordpress.com/ 

@bmarw_  http://bmarw.co.uk/

1. Favourite pastime?

2. Best childhood memory?

3. Do/did you have any secret hideaways?

4. What did you want to be when you were younger compared to now?

5. Fizzy drinks or milkshakes?

6. Favourite colour combo to wear?

7. If you were a superhero, what power would you choose?

8. Favourite film?

9. Least favourite food?

10. Sweets or Chocolate?

11. If you could be an animal, what would you choose?

This was so much fun to write! There should definitely be more tags like this!

Until next time

Grace

X

11 Songs

Hey Guys!

I hope your Easter was good and the rest of your week was awesome!

For this week's post, I'm doing a list of 13 of my favourite songs. They may be your kind of style, or not, or they may influence you to try out a new artist! I change the songs I love a lot of the time and change my mind about artists almost every day but there are a few songs that I can't seem to shake! 

There is no way I'm going to be able to write more than a sentence for each song though! I just have no words to describe how much I love them!

1. Don't - Ed Sheeran 

This first song has been on my favourite list since I heard it for the first time. It's just so catchy and just cool!

2. Lay Me Down - Sam Smith ft. John Legend

This one is so beautiful, their voices blend so well and it is a really lovely song! 

3. Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran

This one is a relatively new find for me, even though it came out a while ago, but I have since added it to my playlist and haven't stopped listening to it!

4. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars 

I'm so sad that the Civil Wars broke up! Their voices are just so melancholy and go so well together. This one is my favourite one of their songs as it has a very quick beat and cool lyrics.

5. Tell Her About It - Billy Joel

My friend, for my birthday last year, made me a CD with lots of really upbeat songs on it and this one was in the mix. It's just so awesome and I love it!

6. Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne 

This song is a bit of a random one actually because I love the tune (and the words) but I don't particularly like anything else that Avril Levigne has done, I just don't feel like I particularly connect with any of her songs, except this one!

7. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

This one will always be one of my favourites, I love the music video for it and the words are just so beautiful. It's just all round nice-ness!


8. How To Save a Life - The Fray 

I'm not too sure why this song made it onto my list, because it brings me pretty close to tears every time I hear it. I can't put my finger on what it is about this song but hopefully someone else will notice and let me know!

9. Blame It On Me - George Ezra 

This one is such a catchy song and I can't help but sing along when it comes on... which is bad because sometimes it can be in public places... but I sing anyway!

10.  Shake It Off - Taylor Swift 

Not everybody likes Taylor Swift but she will forever be one of my favourites, I just think she writes some really cool songs! This one being one of them! Ever since I saw my cousin dancing and singing to this song at Christmas, I can't help but smile when I hear it!

11.  All Of The Stars - Ed Sheeran 

This song is just awesome. It can't be described very easily! It's on the sound track for The Fault in our Stars film and I think I may have mentioned it before. *goes to check* It was in my review of TFIOS actually! I'm still loving it!

Wow! That was slightly harder than I thought it was going to be and there are so many words! I think I'm going to have to add lots of pictures to my posts for the next few weeks to balance it out! However, describing songs, I now know, is not my forte! I'll just stick to making things I think!

Next week's post is going to be a review as it's my last DofE weekend! The real thing *sharp intake of breath as I realise that it's quite soon* but I'm super excited for it!

A quick question first. Blogger shows me where my page views come from by country and in the past few days I've had a lot of views from Russia. I'm thrilled there's someone (or more than one person) who enjoys reading but I'm slightly confused about how you've suddenly found my blog! It would be great if you could let me know! I'm always glad to hear from people who read my posts! (but don't feel like you have to comment, you can always message me on one of my social media profiles).

Anyway, have a wonderful week guys! 

Until next time 

Grace

X

Knitted Baby Bunnies

Hey guys!

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend! This post is a knitting pattern, as promised, and it can be Easter related but it can be just a regular knit. It is for these tiny little bunnies! I altered the original pattern so that it suited me and you can do the same, if needs be. 

These little bunnies are really cute and are only about an inch in length. You will need; some wool, in any colour you want; knitting needles; a tapestry needle to sew it up later; black/brown wool for the eyes and some stuffing, this can be excess wool or cotton wool etc. The needles you will need are US size 1 (2.25mm) UK size 13, but I think it would most likely work with a lot of different sizes, so long as the stitches are fairly tight so the stuffing doesn't show through when it is sewn up.

Abbreviations:
 st - stitches 
 kfb - knit front then back
 k1 - knit 1 stitch 
 bind off - cut the remaining wool (leaving a long-ish tail) and pass the end of the wool through the stitches on the needle and pull tight to bind it
 k2tog - knit 2 stitches together 

To knit front then back, you need to do a regular knit stitch but before you slip it off the needle, knit into the back of the stitch. This can be fiddly if your stitches are tight but if you practice then it gets easier to do. 

To knit two together, you need to do a regular knit stitch but instead of just going through one loop, you need to go underneath two instead.

This is the pattern, but feel free to change it in any way you like.

The body:

Cast on: 6 st
Row 1: [kfb] 6 times (to get 12 st)
Row 2:[kfb, k1] 6 times (to get 18 st)
Row 3: knit
Row 4: knit 
Row 5: knit 
Row 6: knit 
Row 7: knit 
Row 8: knit 
Row 9: [k2tog, k1] 6 times (to get 12 st)
Row 10: [k2tog] 6 times (to get 6 st)
Bind off

The ears:

Cast on: 2 st
Knit 10 rows 
Bind off 

To make up the rabbit, sew the long ear through the middle of the top of the head side of the rabbit (the end where you bound it off).  Each end should stick through, so that they look like little floppy ears. You can sew the ends in at this point. 

You then need to sew on some eyes, two little black lines below the ears, you can also sew a little pink nose on too. This will make the little face, you may have to practice a few times as every time I have tried, it has ended up looking slightly creepy! 

You also need to stitch on a little tail at this point, you just have to stitch it so it is vaguely in a circle but it doesn't really matter.

At this point, you need to insert some stuffing or the excess wool to pad it out and stitch up the bottom with the needle. The little bunny should be finished now.

I think these bunnies are really cute, the two that I have made both ended up different sizes, even though I did all the same things and used the same sized needles! 

Until next time

Grace

X

Easter nails

Hey guys!

Happy Good Friday (if you celebrate it!), and if you don't, Happy Friday! :)

This weekend, I'm going to do a post tonight and then another Sunday morning, as I'm out all day tomorrow and won't have any wi-fi to post, but I had 2 different things I wanted to post.

Today's post is an Easter nails idea. I'm not actually using these nails for my weekend but rather, I now have painted them nude with glitter on top, I'll Instagram a photo in a bit! The first one is supposed to be grass with flowers on it but, in hindsight, it kind of looks like vomit! (eww!) 

First, I painted a strip of green along the top edge of my nail and then, using my nail brush, I dragged the paint upwards to give the impression of grass along the bottom of the nail. This bit went well, and I think it looked ok, but then I added colour...

I added some different coloured spots and spread them out a little to create flowers. In my mind, this worked very well, but in reality, it looked dreadful! (or at least, I think it did. if you like vomit nails, then feel free to recreate it!)

The nails that I did (kind of) like, were these next ones. I painted one nail green and the other four white. Then, on the green nail, I painted the outline of a rabbit sitting down. This was a little difficult as the tool I was using was very difficult to use (I'd recommend using a toothpick if you're going to do this). Don't forget to add two floppy ears! I added a little silver tail to it too (because white wouldn't show up on white, haha) to add a little more detail. I think this little bunny is quite cute but the versions on Pinterest are so much neater than mine, but that always seems to happen! I think people on Pinterest must just have the magic touch!

On the four white nails, I painted a little carrot on each. As it was the first time I had painted a carrot before, I just did one bigger one but I think lots of smaller carrots would look much cuter, and more delicate.

I prefer the second lot of nails to the first, by far! I hope you like them too! Have a lovely weekend! And have a lovely Easter! Enjoy all your chocolate!

Until next time

Grace

X