Oh, hi. I'm alive.

Oh hey girls!!!

Blaise and I last year at Karaoke.

I'm visiting my girl Blaise for the weekend in lovely Ferndale, MI.  Jealy! So, we're sitting here talking, I say Chenyways and that B calls me out for not posting lately.  I figured it'd been like a week....and then I realized, it's been over 2. Cue the "dude, I suck" music. I didn't realize!

I guess I can probably blame it on a recent explosion of etsy sales--listen, people are all over my Muggle Born onesie!   So I've been super busy making and sending out orders. And then there was some sickness, including J Chen getting the flu over Valentine's Day. It was cool, you know, hanging out in bed drinking wine from a coffee cup while he was passed out. Ah, romance.

Then there were the Grammy's. And 400 Facebook fans. And searching for a buffet--sideboard, whatev!--for the dining room (getting it tomorrow!). Um, and working my "real" job. And smiling, and talking loudly, laughing even louder, and being awesome. Girl, I've been busy!  ;)

The worst part? I totally missed my very own Blog-aversary on the 12th! WTF. I blame Whitney.  And Cheesecake--it was her 4th birthday. And J Chen--he made me go out to dinner....  Chenyways, hi! I'm back!  And better than ever in year 2. So, thank you ALL for caring enough to read all these crazy ramblings, and for everyone who left a nice comment--I freaking adore you!  :)

So, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive, and that I'm looking forward to a night of karaoke tonight!  Did I ever tell you I'm a karaoke whore? Cause I am.  Maybe we'll have a video to post tomorrow--ya neva know.


Big (Sing it, Bitch!) Smile,

Also, Blaise's creepy cat keeps staring at me. Ugh.

Admire? Acquire!: Spinning Yarn Nests Necklace

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Hey Pretty Gals!

Well I'm back with another "Admire? Acquire!" post, and I'm super excited about it, dammit.

I LOVE jewelry.  Always have.  Especially the of-the-moment kind, which is why I would never pay over $20 for it.  My go-to sites for on-trend jewelry are usually pretty cheap conservatively priced, and conjure up a ton of inspiration if not a full shopping cart.  I found my latest A?/A! over at Mod Cloth for around $28. Sorry friend, over the limit.  But for about $3, I made it myself.

I jazzed mine up a little bit more--I used more of a ghetto gold color (SATC, anyone?) wire and added the PMS Color of 2012--TANGERINE, GIRL--by way of glass beads, to the center of the nest.

Ingredient List:
16 Gauge Wire
Upcycled necklace chain
Glass Beads--optional
Pliers

Step One:

Wrap your wire around the bead--this gives you something to center around as you wrap and wrap and wrap.

Step Two:

So wrap your wire around the bead until you reach the size you're looking for.  This necklace uses 3 nests of assorted sizes.  Once you're satisfied with the size, use the cutter portion of your pliers--or wire cutters, duh to ME!--to snip off the wire.  Leave yourself enough room to curl the end into a loop for your necklace.

Step Three:

Finish up your nests and then simply string them on to your necklace chain.  

Step Four:

You know what time it is!  Time to ROCK IT GIRL!  

That's the end!  Thanks for hangin girl. :)

Big (Ghetto Gold) Smile,

How To: 5 Minute DIY Dreamcatcher Earrings

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Heyyyyyy!

Let's do some math.  5 minutes + $3 = Stupid Awesome Dreamcatcher earrings.  It's true.  And I barely passed my college courses.  But let's keep that on the DL--J Chen still thinks I'm super smart ;-)

I'm in a weird mood, so I'm gonna cut to the tutorial chase.  No ramblings tonight.  Sorry, question mark?

Ingredient list at large:
Dreamcatchers--$3 at Hobbit Lobbit
2 jump rings--free (for me anyways)
earring thingys--free (for me anyways)
Pliers.


Step One:
and really the only step.....using your pliers, separate your jump rings.  Once open, hook in earrings and dreamcatchers.  Squeeze shut with pliers.

open up and hook in.

squeeze shut!

 Step Two:

Oh girl, you're already done!  It's time to ROCK IT GIRL!

I can't decide if I love this photo or hate it.....Eh.

Cute, huh?  YES!  :)

Thanks for hangin!

Big (catch THIS dream, bitch) Smile,

A Donut Wreath for Valentine's Day!

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Hi Girls!

I'm super excited to show you my new Valentine's Wreath!  Last year I made this one, but I up-cycled it into this one for St. Pattys, so I had no choice but to make a new one.  :)

When I started out, I was looking to do a tradish wreath--you know, red and purple flowery-thingys.  THEN, as I sat down to make it I got the BRILLIANT (if I do say so myself, and I do) idea to make a donut wreath.  Ah yeah, that's what's doin for Val 2012!

Wanna see how I did it?  Cause I really wanna show you! :)

Ingredient List:
Socks--I used 7 pairs of little boys, 8-2
Sheets of Felt
Beads
Hot Glue
Wreath--I used a 10inch form wrapped in purple yarn

OPTIONAL:
Scrapbook Paper to add a Pennant-Like Message

1.  I made up 7 mini donuts (the same ones as I use in my hair) using little boys socks, size 8-2.  Why I had these?  Zero idea.  I ended up doubling up the socks--rolling one into a donut, then taking another and rolling it up into a double donut.  Ohhhh, double donut?  Gimme 5, right now!
2.  Felt Frosting time!  I used hot pink, violet and red felt, then traced the bangle to use as my circle.
3.  Once you have a circle cut out, fold as shown, and snip off the middle to make the opening of your frosting.
4.  This is more of a "TAH DAH!" photo only :)  Oh, and get your "sprinkles" ready.
5.  Freehand a scallop edge around your frosting.  Hot glue the top of your donut and set frosting atop.  Add your sprinkles to your liking--I like LOTS of sprinkles.  SHOCKER.
6.  Another "TAH DAH!" Photo :)

Here's your Optional Step:
I used my Sily and cut out this "Love" Shape and just glued it to a piece of scrap ribbon.  Then it just glued to the back of the wreath.  Easy, girl.

Your final step!  Glue your donuts around your wreath.  Things that are easy for $1000.  :)  You know what's next, right?  YOU ROCK IT, GIRL!!!!  Rock it like you MADE it.  Like you MADE a KICKASS DONUT wreath.  CAUSE YOU DID!  And now all your neighbors are jealy.  You're welcome.

Thanks for hanging!

Big (Rock that Donut Wreath, Girl!) Smile,

Admire? Acquire!: Up-Cycled Feather Necklace

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Girls, I TOLD YOU I was working on some other projects this week! This one is another up-cycle; but even easier than than the last one. Believe it or not. But you really should believe it.  :)

So, it's looking like feathers will continue to be a big trend in 2012, which I'm happy about, seems how I didn't really jump on the fashion bandwagon with them in 2011.

ADMIRE
You see feather necklaces all around the inet and Pinterest:

Natural Feather Necklace Bronze Turquoise Blue Accent from Etsy

Ivory Leather Feather Necklace

Feather Necklace-De-Plume

ACQUIRE

Cool, huh? The answer is yes. Sooooo, I decided to make one of my own for zero dollars.  

Ingredient list:

Feather Brooch--or any other brooch if feathers aren't your thang, girl

Necklace Chain

Super Glue

Step One--The ONLY step :-)  Super clue your chain to the back of your brooch. DONE. Let it set overnight to secure firmly.

Here's the finished product! All pretty and ready to ROCK!

And this would be me ROCKIN IT, GIRL!  

That's it!  Super easy, stupid cheap, and totally on trend.  Yeah Yeah Girl!


Big (Keep it simple!) Smile,

Admire? Acquire!: Drop Earrings

So....they're not an exact match. 
They're just B.Chenified a little more :)

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Hey girllllls!

So.  What do you do when life gives you a broken necklace? You make cool shit! Earrings to be exact.  Knockoff Kate Spade Earrings. You break that sucker up and up-cycle, yo! That's what I did anyway.  :-)

So....I hoard everything. Just in case. And tonight, it paid off. I was looking for a third project of the night--the 2 others aren't ready to show quite yet--and came across it in one of the many crevasses of the Creation Station. My Mother would call it a "hell hole." My dad would appreciate the mess.  :-)

I had this necklace from Target Boutique I bought a couple years ago--it was a J.Crew knockoff--and I think it broke before I even wore it. I'll bet the J.Crew necklace wouldn't have broken. If only I could afford J.Crew whenever I want......#brokeisthenewrich.

Chenyways, here we go!
Ingredient list:
Broken Necklace (or one you're sick of)
Pliers
Earring Hooks

Step One:  Using the pliers, I broke up my necklace to begin my earring design.

 Step Two:  I added parts of the chain to to support the sides.

Step Three:  Next I used a jump ring from the necklace to attach the earring hook.

Step Four:  Well, girls, that's it.  And it appears that these babies are READY TO ROCK!

What do think????  Cute, right?  Rock-tastic, right?  RIGHT!  :)

Your turn!  :)

Big (damn it feels good to be a gangsta) Smile,

Sick, so I'm pimpin my goods!

Oh Gals....Girlfriend has been super under the weather the past week.  So that has clearly interfered with creation station time, resulting in zero posts.  Sorry. :-(

I do have some cute new onesies to show that are up for sale on my etsy page--howsabout I just pimp them here?  Ok then!

For all the Harry Potter Fans out there, I introduce "Muggle Born"

 For flat-chested girls (and BABIES!) like me, please meet "Yes, they're real."

 And for all those babies that just need some space, DAMMIT, here is "if you can read this, you're within roundhouse kick range."

Who doesn't love The Office!?!?!  Ode to Michael, "That's what she said."

That's pretty much all I have the strength for tonight friends.  Thanks for stopping by!

Big (this better be worth it!) Smile,