Polaroid Heart Collage

Hey Everyone!

Here's a little project I decided to try a couple weeks ago.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to start it until last night because it took a week or so to get my photos printed.
It's SUPER easy to make, it only took me about an hour!

You will need:
- a heart shaped cardboard cut out (about 2 feet wide)
- polaroid or square photos (50-60)

- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- string

Seriously, this is the easiest thing ever.


Get an idea of where each picture should go.
And then glue them to the cardboard.

aaaaaaaaaand

you're done!

FOR HANGING:
(sorry, I totally spaced and didn't take pictures of this process)

Basically all you have to do it take your string, run it from one side of the heart to the other,

keep it taut and glue it into place.
SUPER easy.

Thanks for stopping by loves!
See you next time!

Movie Time: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1611224/

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell and Dominic Cooper

I have been looking forward to this movie for a LONG ASS TIME.

The film follows the life of Abraham Lincoln, one of our countries greatest presidents to date. Beginning with his childhood, it tells the story of young Abe losing his mother to something he wouldn't understand until years later: a vampire.
Once Abe makes this discovery, he devotes his life to purging the United States of these blood sucking demons, and becomes one of the greatest hunters in American history.

For those of you who do not know, this film is based on a novel.



Seth Grahame-Smith did quite an incredible thing here.
He created this fabrication based on the "secret diaries" of our former president, using an epistolary-style composed of at least a dozen different documents.
The book follows Abe throughout his struggle with vampires as he grows from a young boy to a weathered man, until his assassination in 1865.
It shares the secret behind the Civil War, and introduces us to many different characters (some we are all very familiar with) 

as they pass in and out of Abe's life.

For those of you who knew that, I caution you...
THE MOVIE IS NOTHING LIKE THE NOVEL 

Thankfully, a friend of mine saw the movie before I did and gave the heads up.
And thank God she did because if I had gone into that theater unaware of that little fact, I would have been one pissed off cookie.
 

The underlying plot of Abe and his quest for bloodstained vengeance is the same, but everything else is either altered from the book or none existent.

The movie introduces 3 main characters that aren't in the book whatsoever.
Other smaller characters are left out completely.

(Abe's sister, step mother, and his friend Jack)
Events are changed, probably to cut down on time (which is something I understand)
And there is much more action, and by that I mean, scenes of fighting and...I hate to say it...awesomeness that weren't anywhere in the book at all.

But the thing is, I feel that the movie wouldn't have been as good if they hadn't made some of these changes.
I know, I know, the book was amazing so why fuck with the movie?
But here's the thing:
The novel was written more like a biography, with lots of small little stories and details and people. That's what was so great about it. 

When you read this book, you feel like you're right there with Abraham Fucking Lincoln and he's telling you the stories of his life,
and you follow him and see what he sees and it's extraordinary!

But the novel doesn't have the plot structure that a movie requires.
It has action all throughout, but never a big climax.
It has a shit ton a characters, all only appearing for sections of the story.
But I think the biggest fact that needed changing was that
there was no face to the villain.
Vampires, sure, but no head vampire that needs to be slayed.
No constant bad guy that had you counting the chapters until he dies.
And the thing is, a movie needs that.

But don't worry, Seth Grahame-Smith wrote the screenplay for the movie,
so at least it's still coming from the same mind.

 

But, overall it was a really good movie.
I'm a total history buff, so when I heard about this book / movie I knew that I would love it.
And like I said, I'm really happy that my friend warned me,
because it gave me time to mentally prepare so that I could actually enjoy the movie without being let down.
The cast (and Benjamin Walker in particular) did a wonderful job and the special effects were incredible.
Great movie!

OVERALL:
 

Thanks loves!
See you next time!

Nailed It: Stars & Stripes

Cap Manicure

Hello Everyone!
Here is a manicure inspired by Captain America, my favorite Marvel Hero:)
And just in time for the Fourth of July!


 

You will need:
- red, white and blue polish

- tape

- sharpened pencil (not pictured)
- paper plate

Step 1:

Start off with 2 coats of white polish.

Step 2:

Cut out thin pieces of tape.
Apply two to each nail, vertically from cuticle to tip.

Step 3:

Apply a single coat of red polish.

 

Step 4:

Remove tape.

Step 5:


Paint half of the nail blue.

Step 6:

Using your pencil, draw little stars on each nail by dipping the pencil in white polish.
Be sure not to press too hard.

**Note**
The stars on my fingers are much less defined than the ones on my thumbs.
You may do this technique, or have all the stars exactly the same, whatever you wish!

Ta-da!
Just add a top coat and clean up the edges and you're done :)




Thanks for stopping by!
Have a safe and wonderful holiday everyone!

Getting Crafty: Dot Dot Dot...

Polka Dot Drinking Glasses

Hey everyone! I saw this on Pinterest about a week ago, and got really excited about it.
The only problem was there wasn't a tutorial, just a photo.
So I decided to make one :) 

Enjoy!

You will need:
- acrylic paint (at least 3 colors)
- cheap clear glasses (I got mine at the dollar store)
- paint brushes (or a pencil with an eraser)

- an oven (350 degrees)

** IMPORTANT **
I just want to apologize for the inconstancy of the photos. 

I took pictures of each step, but with different glasses, so the colors don't always match.
Sorry =/

Step 1:
Start with your first glass, making sure that it's clean.
Decide on a design.

Step 2:
Take the back end of your paint brush or pencil, and dip it into the paint.
This will be your dotting tool.


 

Step 3:
Make a basic outline of your design on the glass.


 

Step 4:
Fill in your design with one of the colors. Allow first coat to dry.

Step 5:
Pick a separate color and fill in void spots, creating a second layer. Let it dry.


 

Step 6:
Pick one last color and fill in the rest of the voids, creating the third and final layer.
Continue the same steps with each of the glasses.
When they are finished, allow them to dry overnight.

Step 7:
After they have dried over night, place them on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven.
Turn the oven to 350 degrees and let them sit for 30 minutes.
When the time is up, turn off the oven, allowing the glasses to cool in the oven before removing them.

aaaannnnnd presto!
You have a beautiful, hand painted glass set for a very low price!

 

Thanks for stopping by everyone :)
See you soon!

Mother's Day Project

I know, I know...

Mother's Day was over a month ago.

I am aware.

But this year for Mother's Day, I decided to make my mom a homemade gift.

I made her a hand painted sign that read:

"Home is where your mom is."

This present was something I put a lot of thought into, and I was very proud of the result.

So I figured it would be a great start for my "Projects" section :)

My mom loved it :)
See ya loves!

Ear Candy: Mr. Lambert

I couldn't live without my music.

Whether I'm singing, playing my guitar (or trying to at least),

or just listening to my favorite artists and albums,

music is a huge part of my life.

My current obsession:

"Never Close Our Eyes" --Adam Lambert

I became an Adam Lambert fan shortly after his season on American Idol. 

His voice is incredible and his music always lifts my spirits.
Not to mention his daring theatrical style (and BEAUTIFUL face :)

His latest album "Trespassing" was released on May 15, 2012.
And it is GLORIOUS.
The song above is one of my favorites from the new album,
I can't stop listening to it.
The music video is a little different,
not exactly what I imaged for the song when I first heard it,
but it's creative and entertaining all the same.

Enjoy;)

Getting Crafty: It's So Jarring...

Painted Mason Jar Tutorial
(such a creative name, right? ;)

Hello my loves ;)
This is my first tutorial, I hope you enjoy it!

I found this idea on Pinterest about a month ago, I wanted to make one ever since.
Here's the original tutorial:
http://thebeautydepartment.com/tutorials/page/3/

I used a different technique, but overall, it looked about the same.

You will need:

a mason jar (any size you want)

acrylic paint (at least 2 colors)

paint brushes

tape

a palette (optional)

an oven (350 degrees)

Step 1:
Decide where you would like your first painted section to be.
It can be anywhere; I chose the bottom half of the jar.
Take a piece of tape and mark off the area, making sure that the ends line up perfectly to keep a straight edge.

 

Step 2:

Pick your first paint color.

I mixed the green and blue together to make a nice turquoise.

Step 3:
Paint the section.
Make sure not to paint outside the tape.
(Get a little over zealous? It's okay, acrylic paint is super easy to remove with water)

Step 4:
Place the jar in a position that will keep the paint from touching anything.

Allow it to air dry.
This may take a little while.

Step 5:
Before the paint is completely dried (after about 10-15 mins), remove tape.

Step 6:
After the first section is completely dried, 

decide where your second section will be, preferably in the opposite direction.
Use another piece of tape to separate this section.

Step 7:
Paint it another color.
Then repeat steps 4 and 5 with this new section.

 

Step 8:

Fix any imperfections with a small brush.
But don't press too hard, for it may make the first section's paint peel off.
(and if it does, just cover it with a little more paint, no one will know ;)

Step 9:
After the second section is dried,

place the jar (in a position so the paint won't touch anywhere) in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cook for 30 minutes.
After the 30 minutes is up, turn off the oven.
After the oven has cooled, remove the jar.

**IMPORTANT**
Since glass is so sensitive to drastic temperature change,

it's important that the jar's temp rises and falls gradually with the oven.
So, try to make sure that step 9 is done correctly.

And ta-da!
A cool, hand painted jar that you can use for pretty much anything :)
I use mine for my make-up brushes!

Thanks for stopping by loves!
See you soon!