DIY Floral Chandelier

I am so excited to bring you this new DIY to celebrate the new Love Sparkle Pretty blog! It was so fun to collaborate with Afloral on this! See the DIY Flower Chandelier over on the new blog right here!

If you aren't a DIY kinda girl, no worries! You can also purchase a floral chandelier from the shop!

DIY: At Home Steamed Lavender Facial

If I were to guess was heaven smelled like, I think it would smell of Lavender-the most relaxing, therapeutic and enchanting aroma I've ever encountered. Needless to say, it is my favorite scent that takes me to childhood memories where stress and worries didn't exist.

Yesterday, I visted my grandmother for a bit and before leaving, she snipped handfuls of fresh Lavender from her garden for me to take home. I love to have bundles of it throughout our humble abode where you can catch a lingering scent from any room in the house. I also like to use it in my weekly steamed facials to unwind from a busy schedule.

Here's what I do to create a quick and relaxing steamed facial right at home.

I use a 3-qt saucepan (large enough for the round of my face), place about 4 cups of warm water in the saucepan along with about 6 sprigs of fresh or dried Lavender (I've also used rose petals). Heat the water and Lavender to a simmer-just until you can see steam coming from the pan. Do not let it boil. Once you can see steam, turn off the heat.

Place a CLEAN face carefully about 6" away from the rim over the pan. Remember that the pan is HOT so do not touch it by any means. Use a small towel to drape over your head and around the pan to trap the steam inside. If the steam is too hot, drift further away from the pan until it feels right. Let the steam embrace your skin for about 10 minutes (you may need to take a little break in between if the steam is too much at once). During this time, the steam will open your pores and cleanse your face of impurities and the scent of the Lavender will relax you as you drown out the days to-do list.

Once you are done, cleanse your face with your usual face wash and add just a bit of baking soda (I use ~1 tsp. because I have sensitive skin) to act as a natural exfoliant.

Your skin will feel so soft afterwards and you will feel rejuvinated! Remember to drink planty of water as well throughout the day.

How do you unwind at the end of the day?

DIY 'CREATE' Glitter Banner

This year, I wanted to have a craft studio that inspired me. With a larger space, the creative possibilities are almost endless! 

The word, "create" seems to bring inspiration and I wanted to display it not only for myself but I wanted to share it with a couple of friends as well. So, as a part of a few Christmas gifts, I made some of these "create" banners to serve as reminders throughout this new year.

Here's what you'll need:

*6 pieces of cut (~4"x3") fabric. I used muslin.

*Elmer's white glue

*Hot glue

*Glitter

*A scratch piece of paper

*A pencil

*Lace &/or trim (or any other type of ribbon or twine you'd like to hang the letters from)

First, you will lay your cut pieces of fabric out and if you need to, trace your letters onto your fabric (one letter to each piece). Next, take your Elmer's glue or any other white school glue and trace one of your letters you wrote. *If you are confident in your handwriting, you probably don't have draw the letters first with pencil.

Next, pour your glitter carefully over the letter you just drew. Once it is covered, gently pat the excess glitter onto your scratch piece of paper. Set aside to dry.

After your first letter, write your next letter with the glue. You can use the excess glitter from your scratch paper to cover the rest of your letters by creating a small crease in the paper to let the glitter slide down easily. Use the glitter from your jar/tube when needed.

Also, you can use the tip of your pencil to smooth any edges that may be uneven from the glue.

Once all of your lettering is finished, set aside to dry for about 10 minutes or so.

If you are using lace fabric (like I have), you can cut a strip about 1" by 26"-30". Your letters will hang from this strip of lace. If you are using ribbon or trim, just cut it so the length measures about 26"-30".

When your letters are dry, you can now attach your letters to your trim/ribbon. Leave about 3"-4" on the end of your trim and start to glue the top of your letters to the trim about a .5" apart. You can use the white glue if you prefer but I find that hot glue works best for this because it dries much quicker.

If you are using lace fabric, you may see the glue show through so for my solution, I used another lace trim to attach to the top of each letter and folded over.

& your banner is done and ready to hang!

What's your word of 2014?

Have a beautiful New Year! 

Last Minute DIY Christmas Ornaments

The other night while going through the organizing stages of my craft room, I got a bit side-tracked (not the first time) & instead of cleaning up, I ended up creating new Christmas ornaments! I found 2 clear ornaments and decided that I needed to use them within our tree decor since I have yet to finished holiday decorating.

Here's what I did:

I used gold beaded ribbon. For the large ornament, I used about 40" and the small about 25".
Cut strips of old book pages (you can also use old music sheets).
Cut 2 small strips of burlap and lace for each ornament (about 5" each).

I placed the gold bead strand inside of the ornaments first.
Then, one by one, I placed the strips of book pages inside and tried to place them around the ornaments in different angles.
Once I filled them up, I put the top on and tied a burlap and lace fabric strip to each.

VOILA! Super easy, unique and they go perfectly with our neutral/rustic living room decor.

Have a beautiful Christmas my friends!

A little home makeover

A few days ago, I went a little crazy with redecorating our home. Most of this creative rush was brought on by the Creative Tea Time event I went to this past weekend. While I was there, I made a few pieces that had to be showcased in our home so how. Thus, the small home makeover.

I created the "choose joy" wooden plank at CTT. It was a bit larger but the top piece of it had broken off which is why the letters don't look very centered. I still love it anyway!

The "my cup runneth over" print was in our swag bags donated by the ever so talented Rebecca of A Sweet Little Note.

I still have to paint the book shelf. Not sure what color yet...

This frame used to be black and have chalkboard painted glass inside. Well, the glass broke and I painted the frame the same color as our refurbished coffee table. I love it! I'm not too sure what I'm going to put inside the frame just yet. Antlers? The letter L? An old book?

I received the "Happy Days" banner from my friend Aurora of Unconventionally Vilchis. Cute right? Sorta matches the DIY home banner I recently posted.

These shelves used to be filled with modern teacups and random decor. I took all of that down and added the letters "EAT" which I spray painted gold, my succulent terrarium I made at CTT and added the cutest mason jars ever created by Beach Blues.

I'm thinking of adding a collection of vintage forks spoons and knives to each jar??

I also want to paint the shelves but since there is some black decor in the kitchen...I'm not too sure yet.

I took the large frame above our mantel (which used to be a bright teal frame) and painted it ivory with gold trim. I'm going to distress it a bit so you can see the details in this pretty frame a little bit better. I also painted the inside of the frame with chalkboard paint. Since my other chalkboard decor broke, I needed a new one.

I love the clean look of all of this. Makes me look forward to the cold months so I can light some candles (see the pumpkin spice one on the mantel?!) and cozy up on the couch with several knitted blankets!

I'm still in the middle of  repainting things and decorating which is a little strange, I think, since we should be moving soon (hopefully). I love the ambiance of a newly re-decorated home though. Makes the home feel refreshed. I think our bedroom will be next!

Have you re-decorated recently? Even just for the change of seasons?

DIY home decor banner

Today, I am sharing a DIY tutorial for a sweet paper rosette banner for your home. This banner has graced my home decor for quite some time and now, I am showing you how to make one as well!

Check out Sinea's blog, Ducks n a Row to view all of the easy steps!

Have a beautiful day!

DIY Arm Candy (Part III)

I am finally sharing Part III of this DIY Arm Candy Series. See Part I and Part II to create the ribbon and chain bracelet as well as the beaded bracelet to add to your pretty collection.

Today, the tutorial is all about the gold faceted button and chain piece.

What you will need:

cable chain (I used ~5.5" in length)

large faceted button (I found mine at Joanns within a variety pack)

2 large jump rings

link connector

lobster clasp

needle nose pliers

Start by measuring the chain around your wrist. Create the chain by making it about .5-1" shorter than the circumference of your wrist. I measured my chain at 5.5". Set the chain aside.

Take a jump ring and your needle nose pliers and open the link. Push the jump ring through one of the button holes.

Attach an end link of your chain to the jump ring and close it using your pliers.

Do the same with the other jump ring and button hole.

Once your chain is now connected to the faceted button, remove the middle link of the chain to separate it. 

Attach the lobster clasp to an end chain link using your needle nose pliers to open and close the link back up. Do the same with the link connector by attaching it to the other end link of your chain.

Voila! If your bracelet is too small or too big, you can always add or remove links in your chain.

If you make any of the bracelets from these tutorials, I'd love to see them! Use hashtag #lovesparklepretty via social media to spread the love and who knows, you may even see yourself on my blog. ;)

Have a beautiful day my friends!

DIY Arm Candy (Part II)

Last week, I shared a tutorial to make a pretty chain bracelet with ribbon to add to your arm candy. Today, I am sharing a tutorial for a simple yet versatile beaded bracelet.
I created these bracelets using these same steps.

What you'll need:
small gold colored cable chain
4 beads in colors of your choice
2 small-medium crimp beads
2 small jump rings
gold jewelry wire (size 49 strands or smaller)
lobster clasp
clasp connector
wire cutters
needle nose pliers

First, measure your chain around your wrist and cut it just a bit smaller than the diameter of your wrist. (You can always cut off more of the chain if it's too big once you're done).

Next, cut about 4" of your jewelry wire and thread one end through an end link of your cable chain followed by a crimp bead. Then, thread the same end of your wire back through your crimp bead so you have a loop.

Clamp down and close your crimp bead using your needle nose pliers to secure the wire to your chain. Be sure to get the crimp bead as close as you can to the end of the chain so your wire loop isn't too big.

 Now, thread through your beads and add a crimp bead at the very end.

If you'd like to create a bracelet similar to the mint one, then, thread a small crimp bead between each bead. Be sure to add a crimp bead at the end.

Once your beads are on your wire, thread the other end of the wire through the other end link of your chain. Then, thread your wire back through the crimp bead. Pull on the wire to tighten it and make the loop smaller. **Be very careful not to pull too hard and break your end link!

Once your loop is small, take your needle nose pliers and clamp down tightly on your crimp bead once again to close it. Cut off any excess wire using your wire cutters.

 Then, cut your chain in half using your wire cutters once again.

Place your bracelet over your wrist and measure it once more to make sure it will fit OK. Cut any excess chain off from each side. Then, get your lobster clasp, link connector and 2 jump rings ready to add to your bracelet. Keep in mind that these will add a little bit of length to your bracelet in case you need to trim your cable chain a bit more. 

Using your needle nose pliers, open one of your jump rings and place it through an end link of your chain and chain connector. Close it to secure it.

Do the same with the other end and your last jump ring. Close it to secure it.

Voila! You have a new bracelet to add to your arm candy this season! I am loving these color combos!

(Excuse the crazy veins above...My nursing school brain would want to stick 'em! lol)

Next week, I will post the last DIY tutorial for this set of bracelets so if you don't already, be sure to follow along on Bloglovin'!

Have a beautiful day friends!