=^.^=

Oh hey, apparently it's National Cat Day! I was looking for an excuse to post another cat photo. 

Ivy is sure getting in the Halloween spirit! 

C r a f t B r e a k : H a n d P a i n t e d B e a d s

Here is some more inspiration for DIY jewelry! I've been seeing very similar wood bead designs popping up on Etsy and Pinterest, and as much as I like to support other DIYers, I have a hard time purchasing something I know I can make myself (of course I would never try to sell these).  I think it's so much fun to be inspired by others and when you like something that's out of your skill range or you know you would never get around to making it it's always great to support small businesses that sell all kinds of amazing products!

H a p p y C a t u r d a y !

F o o d i e : P u m p k i n C h o c o l a t e C h i p C o o k i e s

If you aren't sick of pumpkin flavored foods give this recipe a try! 

The recipe makes a huge batch of soft, cakey, delicious cookies.  

The only change I made was to use chocolate chips instead of cinnamon chips.

Enjoy!

C r a f t B r e a k : W o o d e n N e c k l a c e

I often come across pieces of jewelry where I think to myself, "I can make that." When I saw the necklace that inspired this project I thought, "My dad can make that." - And he did! I think jewelry making is the perfect combination of our skills, which makes for some fun father daughter projects. My dad has some impressive woodworking and metalworking skills and while I have more of the design role, it's fun to learn how to use different tools and techniques to make a neat piece of jewelry (the drill press is one of my faves)! I'm fortunate that my dad's skills allow for us to take on some more complicated jewelry designs, but you could still make a version of this necklace using wood cutouts from the craft store and paint or stain them to get your desired color, then drill small holes and attach the pieces with jump rings.   

So next time, you see an interesting piece of jewelry (especially if it's a tad out of your price range) take a moment to think about how you could DIY your own version. You might be surprised with what you can achieve! 

I have already have a couple new ideas lined up for the next time I'm home! 

FYI, Pinterest is a great place for inspiration (You can check out my jewelry inspiration board here). 

E t s y : S h o p U p d a t e !

Hey everyone, I just completed a shop update!

I restocked and added several new cowl colors and a few new styles.

Check it out!

www.etsy.com/shop/knackandwhimsy

H a p p y C a t u r d a y !

C r a f t B r e a k : C l a y N e c k l a c e

A great way to may your own statement piece necklace is to make a base shape out of polymer clay, bake it and then add decoration with paint.  To make my bird necklace I rolled out the clay to about a 1/4 inch thick, cut out the shape with a knife and used a big needle to make the holes where I wanted to attach the chain and baked it according to the instructions on the clay package. I added the design with acrylic paints and even some nail polish. After that was dry, I coated the whole piece with a thick clear glaze and added the chain. It's so easy to get creative with this project and customize the colors to match your wardrobe!

B e a u t y B r e a k : D I Y L i p S c r u b

I love wearing lipstick, but it often dries my lips out so I started experimenting with homemade lip scrubs. The scrub pictured is 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon sugar, a sprinkling of vanilla sugar and a squeeze of honey.  Its a bit messy to apply but it really makes my lips feel great. Another alternative I like is mixing equal parts coconut oil and brown sugar. 

Try making your own sometime! 

L i t t l e B i t s O f L i f e L a t e l y

H a p p y C a t u r d a y !

C r a f t B r e a k : H a n g i n g P l a n t

I really wanted to add some plants to my apartment but with a nosy kitty I needed to keep them out of reach. Enter the macrame hanger! Check out these instructions to learn how I made my hanger. As for the pot, I just used a gold sharpie to add a bit of decoration. 

So far I have been able to keep this guy alive but its been a struggle. I definitely do not have a green thumb! I was even able to kill an air plant....

Here's to hoping this one will hang in there! 

G e r m a n y : S w e e t T r e a t s

Just a few of the amazing treats Germany has to offer. 

Wish I could have one of these now!