HOW TO: CREATE A CAKE STAND

I've been experimenting more with baking this year, so I thought it was time to buy my own cake stand. To my surprise, cake stands are really expensive, so I decided to create my own. I bought a candlestick holder from the thrift store as a base for the cake stand and a big, white, simple plate to hold the cake. It's seriously easy and not too pricey either.


Materials: Candlestick holder, big plate, and super glue

1/ Flip your plate over and let it sit on a flat surface. Apply a generous amount of super glue around the edge of the candlestick holder.

2/ Center the candlestick holder and press it down carefully on the back of the plate.

3/ Carefully flip the cake stand over and let it dry for an hour or two. Don't move the candlestick holder around to test to see if it is dry.

xo

HOW TO: START A BLOG

One of the many things I've learned while blogging is that, it is not easy. A lot of work, time, and effort goes into a blog. I think the most difficult part is the beginning - starting a blog. Here are my how-to and tips on how to start a blog.

Choosing a theme is the most important key to starting a blog. It is your foundation and you can't go without it. Be sure you choose a theme that you love and are passionate about (ex. Fashion, Arts & Crafts, Style, Lifestyle, and Food). It's easier to write and post about what you truly love as oppose to what you think you should write about (it'll come off as inauthentic).

Your layout is the first thing a reader sees so it is important that it gives off your style and makes a statement. It should look neat and organized, but still personalized or custom to your style. If you can't create your own layout, you should work with for a blog or web designer that has a similar style to yours.

My personal style is clean, streamlined, modern with a vintage twist. I've had experience both working with a blog designer and mostly designing my own layouts. Personally, I prefer creating my own layouts since I'm very particular. I have even started my own blog/web designing business out of it.

I've had trouble finding my own voice when I first began blogging. I think it was because I felt like I needed to sound like every other blogger. Soon enough, I realized that I needed to find my own voice to set myself apart. The secret is  to just be yourself. Write as if you were writing to a close friend or family member. Your voice should also potentially create a connection with your readers.

Being honest, I hadn't really started networking since a few months ago. But I've seen a change in the number of followers I have since then. One way is simple: comment. Leave comments on other peoples' blogs and your audience will find you. Secondly, don't be afraid to email or reach out to other bloggers. They will reply and offer up their advice.

GLITTER TAPE HOLDER

 As someone at their desk almost 24/7, sometimes you get tired of the simple things you see. I added glitter to this tape holder to make it into something prettier - an accent piece. This tutorial is simple: just use a paintbrush to paint school glue on your tape holder, dump the glitter all over the tape holder, and then pour the excess glitter back into the glitter tube for reuse. Easy.

xo

WATERCOLOR GLITTER STATIONERY

When it comes to cards and stationery, I prefer homemade. Homemade stationery provide a customizable way to send a message. For mine, I painted the cards with watercolor paint and wrote little messages and pictures with glitter.

Materials: Pre-measured blank cards, watercolor paint, water, glue pen, glitter, iron

1/ Lay your cards on a flat surface and paint the entire outer part of each card using your watercolor paint and water.

2/ Let your cards dry. They will be all curled up. Iron your cards out to flatten them.

3/ Use your glue pen and write messages or designs on each card.

4/ Dump glitter over the design or message made by the glue. Once the design or message is covered, pour the glitter off of the design and onto a piece of paper. Fold the piece of paper, and pour back into the glitter tube for reuse.

xo

W MAGAZINE COLLECTION SHOWCASE

I've had these old W Magazines for a few years now and have been trying to find a proper place to store them. I don't like to throw away magazines because I feel like you can always seek inspiration through them. I consider this a special collection of mine and have finally found a beautiful way to showcase it. I was at a thrift store the other day when I found this magazine rack. I love the simplicity and how it ascends from left to right. I changed the color from black to gold to better compliment my work space.

xo

SMOKY EYE

I thought I'd share how I do my smoky eye with you. I love the smoky eye because it's so versatile. It goes well with anything I wear and makes me feel polished, but not too over-the-top.

xo

BOOKSHELF ORGANIZATION

Being a huge type A, I can never function efficiently when there's a mess around me. I always like something a certain way - clean, neat, organized, and pretty. Here's my guide to doing just that.

Pencil and pen holders. I can't just have one pencil or pen. Pencils, pens, and markers are separated into two holders. Pens get their own holder and anything that isn't a pen (pencils, markers, paintbrushes, highlighters, glue stick, etc.), go into a separate holder.

I like to showcase little trinkets or souvenirs I've collected from trips around empty spaces. In this photo, the empty space is above my magazines and publications (which are organized by date) and the souvenirs are a little glass dome with figurines and an amethyst geode.

I use this white bucket with colorful stripes to hide smaller things. It has dividers inside that separate a few things from other few things. Again, my souvenirs (gold buddha: China, eiffel tower: Paris) have a place to be next to the bucket.

This basket was originally dark wood. With some bright pink paint, I transformed it into a color pop. I keep cameras and photography items inside. Another souvenir (wooden colored pencils in floral mug: Costa Rica) sits beside it.

Books are alphabetized by the author's last name. A tiny buddha from China sits in the nook of a few books.

xo

NAILS WITH GLITTER ACCENT

Ever since I saw this post from Cupcakes and Cashmere, I couldn't help trying this myself. I used lesser sparkles since the sparkles I bought were bigger and I gently sprinkled them over my ring finger instead of dumping it. Just do two coats of your desired nail color, and while you're doing your topcoat, take a pinch of glitter and sprinkle it over your ring finger. I love it. It adds an extra dose of dressiness to your nails.

xo

HOW TO: GLITTER BELT

I came up with this quick little project when I was looking through my belts. I had one too many simple brown belts. Feeling ambitious, I decided to upgrade my once plain brown belt into a new gold glitter belt that I was planning to purchase before I came up with this project. This project was easy and went flawless.

Materials: glitter glue (of desired color) and a simple paint brush (size depends on how big your belt is)

How To: Pour some glitter glue out on a scrap page of newspaper/paper plate/painting dish. Lay out your belt over some newspaper (to prevent spills). Simply dip your paintbrush into the glitter glue and paint over the belt. I did one coat on my belt, but definitely recommend doing another coat for a fuller effect.

xo