DIY Chevron Nails

Ever since I saw this tutorial for chevron tip nails from Dana at The Wonder Forest, I've been playing around with all kinds of color combinations. I love her tutorial because it's so simple and easy to do. But since I wanted to use 3 colors, this tutorial is a little more complicated. (It's still pretty simple and you don't have to be a skillful nail artist or anything.)

I love this color trio right now: fuchsia, gold, and navy. You can choose any 3 colors you want.

What you need: Three shades of polish, a top coat, and some tape and scissors.

What you do:

1. Start with the bottom color (the gold). Paint all of your nails gold. Since you will be doing a lot of layering, it's best to use just one coat when possible. Sometimes you will need two.

2. Cut out 5 triangles from tape (right angles work best). I used blue painters tape which worked well. Washi tape or scotch tape would also work. If you use tape that is too sticky, it might peel off the bottom layer.

3. Make sure that the first layer is COMPLETELY dry or it will peel. Put the pieces of tape on all of the nails on one hand. Now paint over the whole top of the nail with the second shade (fuchsia). Remove the tape before the polish starts to dry to keep it from attaching and peeling.

4. Use the same pieces of tape once again after the second layer is completely dry. I placed the triangle tip just under the edge of the nail. Now paint over the top of the nail with your third color (navy). Again, take off the tape before the polish has a chance to dry.

5. Make sure that the polish is all completely dry, and then paint your nails with a clear top coat. If you skip this step, your nails will be bumpy and will chip and peel more easily.

What color trio do you love right now?

Braided Bead Bracelets

These bracelets are so easy to make, and you can really make them with so many combinations of cord and beads. I made two different versions to share with you.

Version 1 - Brown silk cord and coral beads. Both of these materials are so easy to find at any craft store. Keep in mind that you will need a bead with a large center to fit the thicker silk cord. Sometimes you find the silk cord in the kids' section of the store.

How to: This is just about as simple as it gets. Tie off three strands of silk cord. Start braiding. After an inch or two, start adding beads. Make sure that you add the beads in exact increments.

Version 2 - Hemp and Seed Bead Bracelet. You can also follow this same idea to make a simple braided hemp bracelet. I used to make this kind of bracelet when I was a teenager. Use hemp and seed beads. I used different colored seed beads for this one. I think it's interesting how the shades of orange beads blend into the orange hemp.

The Cure for the Common Monday #52

Welcome!

This week my son Benjamin started preschool (3 year olds) for the first time, my 20 month old daughter decided to potty train herself, and I did my first makeup tutorial.

I also guest posted how to make these felt apple gift pouches (and watermelon ones too) over at one of my FAVORITE blogs, Live Laugh Rowe.

Now to the features:

1. Geometric Painted T-Shirt from The Winthrop Chronicles






2. Fabric Crate Seats from Wait Til Your Father Gets Home

3. Window Coffee Table from Marty's Musings

4. Portable Homework Station from Uncommon Designs

5. Bracelets from Handmade by Is

If you were featured on Facebook this week feel free to grab a featured button.

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/Iwasfeatured2.png" /></a>

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20Cure%20for%20the%20Common%20Monday"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/TheCure2.png" /></a>

Everyone is welcome to join this link party. Share something crafty or creative. Share a recipe or a household tip. There are three simple rules.

1. Follow Lines Across (I also will be sharing some of my favorites throughout the week through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest).
2. Post the Cure for the Common Monday button somewhere on your blog (or link back to Lines Across).
3. Visit and comment on at least one link for every post you share.

Make Your Eyes Look Bigger and Brighter

This is my favorite way to wear eye make up. It makes your eyes look bigger and brighter, and is perfect for someone like me, who has flat set eyes and heavier eye lids. It's also pretty quick... just 8 simple steps.

I used:

Bare Minerals Correcting Concealer (Light 1)
Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright Pencil
Clinique Creamy Gold Shadow Base
Stila Eye Shadow Trio, Ethereal
Lancome Dark Brown Eye Liner
Lancome HYPNOSE Drama Volume Mascara

Basically, you are using your eye makeup to make your eyes look like the have more depth, and making your eyelids look less heavy. If you have heavier lids (like me), avoid using just a light or shimmery shade of shadow. Although the color is pretty, it will make your lids look even heavier (for example look at the step 2 photo). When you apply a lighter shade just under your brow and on top of your lids, and then a darker shade across the crease, you are giving your lids more depth. Also, when you apply eyeliner in the inside part of your eyes (see step 3), it closes off your eyes and makes them look narrower. Likewise, using white liner or eye brightener in your waterline (see step 8) makes your eyes appear bigger and more open.

The Cure for the Common Monday #51

Welcome!

Our Internet isn't working right now so I'm creating this post from my phone.

(ps follow me on Instagram. My user name is Linesacross.

If you were featured on Facebook this week feel free to grab a featured button.

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/Iwasfeatured2.png" /></a>

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20Cure%20for%20the%20Common%20Monday"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/TheCure2.png" /></a>

Everyone is welcome to join this link party. Share something crafty or creative. Share a recipe or a household tip. There are three simple rules.

1. Follow Lines Across (I also will be sharing some of my favorites throughout the week through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest).
2. Post the Cure for the Common Monday button somewhere on your blog (or link back to Lines Across).
3. Visit and comment on at least one link for every post you share.

Back Home

We are back home in Orlando. Finally!

Benjamin (3), Lyla (20 months), and I have been on the road/in the air for over 2 weeks now. We had a lot of fun and were able to see all sorts of family and friends. I'll post more pictures and little stories of our adventures later.

Here is a quick summary of the craziness. In the past 16 days we have slept in Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and now again Orlando. I flew alone with both kids for the first time. In fact, it was Lyla's first time on a plane. I also drove from Chattanooga to Orlando alone with the kids today (a 9+ hour trip) for the first time.

I have a lot of fun tutorials planned for you next week, plus at last the opening of our (my cousin Stacey's and my) awesome Etsy shop.

Yesterday, we went to downtown Chattanooga with my mom (who lives there). The downtown area is really amazing. It is so different from what I would have expected. We especially love the unique fountains near the Tennessee River that kids can plan in, and the soft green grass on the hill leading down to the river.

I took a lot of great pictures the past few weeks, and I'll share more with you over the next few days. It was difficult being away from my computer for so long.

The Cure for the Common Monday #50

Welcome!

We are out visiting family in Dallas this week, so the features will be short and sweet.

Features:

1. Free Social Media Icons from Craftiments

2. Orange Lamp from Nokoikonomia

3. Stop Light Cookies from Blissful and Domestic

4. DIY Filigree Earrings from The Gilded Hare

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/Iwasfeatured2.png" /></a>

<a href="http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20Cure%20for%20the%20Common%20Monday"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h379/linesacrossmyface/TheCure2.png" /></a>

Everyone is welcome to join this link party. Share something crafty or creative. Share a recipe or a household tip. There are four simple rules.

1. Follow Lines Across (I also will be sharing some of my favorites throughout the week through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest).
2. Post the Cure for the Common Monday button somewhere on your blog (or link back to Lines Across).
3. Visit and comment on at least one link for every post you share.

Fun Summer Braids

Between the hot humid summers in Florida, and the adorable little grabby hands of my two toddlers, I have been wearing my hair up almost every day. Most of the time, you'll catch me wearing at least one little braid to make a simple pony tail a little more fun.

I also love to braid my little girl Lyla's hair.

Here is a little bit of inspiration for some stylish summer braids.

The Herringbone Braid (via StyleUnited)

The Side Braid (via Join the Mood)

Double Lace Side Braid (via Cute Girls Hairstyles)

The Braided Pony (via The Small Things Blog)

The 5 Strand Braid (via Luxy Hair)

The Zig Zag Braid (via Love Maegan)

Braids Braids Braids (via Hair Romance)

Thin Braided Headband (via Sea of Shoes)

Make Your Own Beads

This is a fun and simple project... a great way to use up those little scraps of paper and thread that you don't want to throw away.

What you need:

1. Scraps of paper or card stock

2. Scraps of embroidery thread

3. Mod Podge

What you do:

1. Cut your paper to the width that you want your beads to be. Wrap the paper around something like a BBQ skewer (other ideas: a long nail, a thin paint brush, a toothpick...) and glue the ends together. Make sure you don't glue the paper to the skewer.

2. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the outside of the paper bead. Start wrapping the scrap piece of thread around the paper.

3. Trim the extra thread and add a thin layer of Mod Podge to the outside of the bead. Let the bead dry (I moved the bead along the skewer a few times while it was drying to make sure it didn't get stuck).

Now you can use these beads to make a bracelet, or you can mix them with other beads. I think they would look especially cute as a part of a hemp friendship bracelet.