diy

The writing’s on the wall.

I think a space doesn’t feel yours or feel homely until you have stuff on the walls. This could be anything from photos to a painting or a piece of art it can really bring a room together. If you don’t own much furniture hanging a piece on the wall can help fill a space which would other wise be bare and impersonal. Adding something with colour can bring a theme together or lift a space will lots of dark furniture.  In my eyes a space isn’t mine until I’ve hung something on the wall. But if like me your renting and banging nails into a pristine wall isn’t an option don’t you worry I will show you some great ideas.

4185caWkOWL._SX522_ (2)Command Brand Damage-free Hanging are an amazing damage free hanging system perfect for renters or anyone. Its an inexpensive sticky back velcro system. You stick them to the frame of a picture and stick them to the wall. You can then remove the picture easy and as many times as you like and put it back in exactly the same place by lining up the velcro and then to remove the strip completely from the wall you simply pull the sticky tab downwards and it comes straight off. It leaves no mark or residue on the wall and it’s the ideal system for hanging anything.

Another alternative is to rest frames against the wall either on the floor or on furniture or shelves. This creates a really minimal modern finish and it’s non damaging and a great way to display art.

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Framed Quotes At the moment I am really loving framed quotes. I think they look super minimal, super classy and they are a great way to fill you mind with positivity and really make a space yours. I am in love with this piece I saw on Pintrest. It’s such a gorgeous print that would look so lovely in a hallway near the front door. 15250e2d6669d2d115c20f5a58182fcd

A framed quote is also a super easy DIY project you can do yourself. In word simply type out a quote, phase or anything you like. Chose a font and increase the font size until you are happy with the composition. Print and put in a frame. Homebase, B&Q, Matalan, Asda and more all sell cheap minimal frames that look great.

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Minimal Abstract Art When it comes to Art abstract is where I am drawn to. It’s the style I like to paint in myself and the types of pieces I like to have around me. Something that plays with texture and shape in a limited often muted palette. At the moment I absolutely adore dusty muted pinks and neutrals mixed in with blacks and whites.

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For more inspiration check out my Pintrest board.

Heels in the Perfect Colour

asos black heels

I got these shoes back in December and they are my all time favourite. They are the classic barely there, strappy heels in black -they go with everything and they are surprisingly comfortable. They are from Newlook and the reason I like these so much is most Barely There Heels have the single ankle strap which on me doesn’t give my foot enough support and my feet are always sliding around making it impossible to walk. These on the other hand are strappy and elegant but with the sling back design it holds my foot comfortably in place. Also as a side note -because the strap in just below the ankle it elongates the leg giving the appearance of longer legs which is a must for me. h10-(2)

So I love these heels and have been looking for something similar in a muted nude but I couldn’t find what I was after. Then when I was looking through the Newlook sale I found the same shoe in silver. I tried them on and they were just as comfortable as my black ones but I really wasn’t a fan of the metallic silver finish but they were reduced down to £8 for I brought them.

I decided to get all creative and paint over the silver with a nude nail polish. This technique would be great to up cycle an old pair of shoes you don’t like the colour of or to revamp some faded or scuffed shoes.  I know it sounds bananas to paint a pair of shoes with nail polish but it worked for me. I used Rimmel London Salon pro in shade 128 Mistify Me.

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Using the brush applicator I applied to a thin layer over all of the silver of the shoe. I let it dry and then applied another layer. I then went back in to any areas where the colour wasn’t even. It used up the whole of the bottle but I am so pleased with the end result. They have a gloss finish and the snake skin texture shows through which I really like and for £8 plus the cost of the polish which I already had I can’t complain.

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I’m not saying this is the best thing to do to a new pair of shoes but these were reduced down so I didn’t mind and they have turned out exactly how I wanted.
This technique won’t work on suede or other matte fabrics and it is always a good idea to test to see if the polish holds in a hidden part of the shoe before to go in and possibly destroy them, also I would suggest only applying a light colour on to a light shoe, if you paint a black pair of shoes with a cream nail polish the colour may come out looking different to how it does in the bottle.

This can be a great way to breathe some new life into some old heels or help you match a pair of shoes with your favourite bag or outfit but like I said it is always a good idea to test it out first.
Has anyone ever painted a pair of shoes you didn’t like the colour of? Leave me a comment bellow 🙂

 

 

The perfect trim at home.

Getting your hair cut professionally is always going to guarantee you a good hair cut but sometimes there’s no time to get to the hairdressers and when you just want a trim to loose those scruffy ends I can’t see the harm in doing it yourself. I have very long, brunette hair which comes to almost my waist at the back, my hair is extremely thick so I have a couple of layers put in to lift the weight and a few slightly sorter pieces around the front to frame my face. I like me hair to be easy to wear and style, I like not having to worry about my hair or what it is doing during that day. This may not be the best technique for you and your hair type but if your hair is long then I’d give this a go.

You should always cut your hair immediately after washing when it is still damp as this makes it easier to get a clean cut. First of all I separate out the top section of my hair (from just above my ears) and clip it in a bun on top of my head out of the way, leaving the bottom section down. I then divide the bottom section into two and bring all my hair round to the front. I brush through the lengths of the hair to ensure they are smooth. I then clamp my hair between my first two fingers and draw down to about an inch before the ends; using sharp scissors I cut about 2cm off the ends of my hair. Always cut parallel to the ends of the hair to keep it even and consistent. Do this on both sides until you are satisfied the hair is even. By bringing all your hair round to the front and cutting it straight across this will result in the back being slightly longer than the front this helps it fall more naturally and give it a slight V shape.

Next take down the bun and again brush through the hair. Divide the top section into two, the top back section (the crown) and the top front section. Take the back section and gather all the hair up vertically from the head. Again clamp the hair between the first and second finger and drag through to the ends maintaining the vertical of the hair. Again snip about 2cm off the ends of your hair. Let go of the hair and let it fall into place. Cutting it vertically gives your hair layers with out horrible staggered straight lines, this way will give it a feathered softer finish.

Repeat this with the front section. I like to ensure the front section is a little shorted than the back to give me the framing pieces around my face. Afterwards I let it fall again and ruffle it up to see how it looks. It’s good to gather the top section up vertically one more time to check the hair is even through out.

That’s it! It’s that simple. Cut away the dodgy edges from the bottom section of hair and then do the same with the top section but vertically from the head, cut to a straight line and let it fall.