DIY // Glass Etching

Glass etching is a great way to personalize glass items in your home as well as a way to create unique gifts or wonderful party favors. For our home we wanted to label our cruets, and wanted them to have a warm feel but not to scream DIY. 

[Supplies]

Armour Etch, Tape or Clear Con-Tact 

[Step 1 ]

Stick your design onto the surface of the glassware. Then paint on the etching cream with a disposable brush.

[Step 2]

After about 5 - 10 minutes and remove the cream and tape under warm water. 

[TIPS]

• Start with clean and dry glass
• Remove any clumps of the cream
• Press all you tape down firmly and make sure there are no tiny cuts in your design. 

Best Thrifting // North Side Chicago

Several years ago, when Ace and I were planning our wedding we decided to thrift for almost everything to stretch our minuscule budget. We jumped into the car with very little thrifting knowledge and drove from thrift store to thrift store with little to no luck. We eventually found a few amazing thrift stores that had the items we needed at a great price. Seeking out flatware, plates, cups, and fabric for the wedding we were soon regulars for the weekly sales. During this time we discovered hidden gems that expanded our wardrobe and furnished our apartment and served 50 of our closest friends and family at our wedding. 

[1] Unique Thrift Store

This is a fabulous place to find kitchenware such as glasses, knives and bowls. They also have an incredibly wide selection of curtains, sheets and scrap fabric. Every Monday, every week, everything is 50% off, yeah that’s right, 50% off. But, be careful it gets really busy be ready to fight for your items. 

[2] Unique Thrift Store

Much like the Unique Thrift Store on Sheridan, this store also has weekly sales and great prices but is considerably smaller and doesn’t much carry furniture. Its location keeps it from getting picked over so the clothing selection is often higher quality. 

[3] Green Element Resale

Recently opened this thrift store has something different of offer; the large backroom is full of antique and uncommon furniture as well as old windows and stained glass. Books and back issues of several popular magazines line the far wall.  Mid-century clothing and shoes are frequent finds at this location. 

Two Tickets to California

We recently visited family in California.  Along the way we found some great spots to eat, shop, and hangout. 

[Handsome Coffee Roasters]  

Handsome coffee roasters is a fairly new shop celebrating their first anniversary on Friday still they have gotten a lot of attention. The menu is simple, just four items, but don't let that intimidate you the drinks are exceptional. 

Located in Los Angeles Arts District, Handsome is an open and inviting shop with long wooden tables and simplistic metal stools.  

[French Press]

French Press is a fantastic coffee shop in Santa Barbara, CA. Since our last visit they have only grown. 

[The Refill Shoppe]

The Refill Shoppe is a place where you can refill bottles with shampoo, conditioner, and various soaps all of which are made locally. Once you have filled your bottle you can also create a custom scent.

The colorful wool balls are dryer balls that replace dryer sheets. They reduce static and make clothes fluffy but never need to be replaced and you can add any essential oils to them.

[The Vinyl Warehouse]

We got a record player for Christmas and have been searching for vinyl to add to our very small collection. Our friends told us about a warehouse that was converted into a record store and said it was full of cheap vinyl, almost everything is 3 dollars or 2 for 5! 

[The Ventura Pier] 

A wonderful place to take in the ocean and not a crowded as the Santa Barbara Pier. Also, it was made famous by Little Miss Sunshine.

DIY // Cake Stand

When Ace and I were deciding on things for our wedding one of the first decisions we made was to have cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. Not only where they cheaper but we could pick more than one flavor. NO brainier, right? Then, we were on the hunt for cake stands of all different size and in colors that matched our wedding. I realized quickly that we did not have the money in our wedding budget to buy several cake stands.  I found an easy and affordable solution; I’ll make my own with some thrift store plates and candlesticks. Several trips to the thrift store and an afternoon of gluing we had five cake stands.  

[Supplies]

Plate, Gorilla Glue, and candlestick

[Step 1] Add glue where candlestick and plate make contact.

[Step 2] Place weight evenly on candlestick for 1-2 hours.

Scrapbook // Wedding

Creating a wedding scrapbook is a intimating task, the pressure to make something that will be passed down from generation to generation is daunting. You want it to be beautiful and capture that perfect special day. After a year, we couldn't put it off any longer. To the craft store we went.  

The scrapbook we had in mind was clean and simple with a burst of color so, we bought colored tape and a box of cute cardboard cutouts and printed paper.

This is our scrapbook:

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DIY // Valentine's Day Box

Thanksgiving is a time when we are all thankful of the wonderful things life has granted us; family, friends, delicious meals, a roof over our heads. But, we often forget about the smaller everyday things that make us smile and brighten up our day.  This Valentine’s Day project is all about highlighting those smaller moments.

This project is for everyone, roommates, families, co-workers.

Every time someone dose something special or nice or you think this person is wonderful because…write it down, fold it up and put into the Valentine’s Day box. After a week or a couple days of everyone having written messages open the box and pass it around the table having everyone taking a turn to read a message out loud.  

Supplies

[Step 1]

Wrap the box just like you would wrap a present.

[Step 2]

Cut a hole through the top of the box.

[Step 3]

Decorate, with your own handmade stamps!

[Step 4]

Cut up some paper and start leaving notes.