Crafts DIY

Sew an Adorable Business Card Case

03/25/2009

I love this cute business card case. It’s an easy-to-make, quick project and it has such a big impact when it is finished. I love how easy it is to customize to your own taste (by choosing different colors and different ribbon) so it can really represent your own business style. I use a sewing machine to make it, but it would be perfectly fine to hand-sew the case if you don’t have a machine.

diy business card case

Supplies

1/8 yard of wool felt
12″ of ribbon (I used two pieces of 12″ ribbon in my case)
thread
optional: pinking shears

Instructions

1 Cut four pieces of wool felt: two pieces are 5.5″ by 4.25″, the other two pieces 4.75″ by 4.25″.
2. Fold the smaller piece in half so that the folded edge is the one that is 4.25″ across. Sew along the folded edge. I use the edge of my zipper foot as a guide when I sew to help make this seam straight – just line the edge of the fold up with the edge of your foot.
3. Optional: I use pinking shears to trim the seam and give the edge a more decorative look. You don’t have to do this step if you would like your edge straight.
4. Repeat with the other small piece of fabric.
5. Cut your ribbon in half. Pin one piece of ribbon onto each of the shorter edges of one of your larger pieces of felt. Fold the edges under your felt before you sew so they will be caught by your stitching and held securely in place. Stitch a seam across both edges of the ribbon to hold it in place.
6. Make a sandwich with all of your pieces: first lay your felt with the ribbon face down, then the other large piece of felt. Then place one of your folded pieces at each edge (with the stitched edges toward the center). Pin all these layer together so they don’t move while you sew them.
7 Stitch carefully around all the edges.
8. Optional: I use my pinking shears again to add a decorative edge to the bottom.
9. Yea! You’re finished! Fold your case in half, insert business cards into each side, and enjoy!

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Crafts DIY

Create Easy Macaron Charms with Clay

03/25/2009

Finally, I was able to catch some sun through my tiny window and take some photos, so here is the step-by-step process to make polymer clay macarons!

Easy Macaron Jewelry

Instructions

1. Make 5 balls: 2 bigger, 2 smaller and 1 of a different colour
2. Slightly flatten the 2 bigger, and completely the 2 smaller
3. Put each “slightly flat” with a “very flat” and flatten the different coloured one too
4. Make a “sandwich” with the 3 of them
5. Ruffle what exceeds form the sandwich with an instrument like a tooth pick
6. Put it in the oven for half an hour (depends on the clay you use)
7. Do not eat!

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Crafts DIY

How to Create the Perfect Polymer Macarons

03/25/2009

I believe many girls love macarons. Tell me who can resist the delicious and cute looking French macaron?

macaron diy

Besides the edible macaron, macaron accessories are also very popular in Japan and all around the world. There are may ways to make macaron accessories for yourself or for your little Blythe. The simplest way is to use air dry clay or polymer clay. In this tutorial, I choose to use air dry clay because I don’t like to use polymer clay that has to be cured in the oven.

macaron diy

You Need

Acrylic paint (any colour you prefer)
Clay cutter and measurement spoon (size is up to you)
9-pin
Embedded crystals (any colour you prefer)
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or hand lotion
Air dry clay (you can use polymer clay which needed heat up in oven to cure)

Steps

1. Apply the Vaseline (or hand lotion) on the tools and surface that will contact with the clay. This step is important to avoid the clay stick at the tools or surface.
2. Apply the Vaseline on the surface and your hands too.
3. Cut this amount of clay (enough to make two macarons).
4. Put a little red acrylic paint on top of the clay (I chose red because I want to make a pink macaron).
5. Twist and rub the clay until the colours mixed evenly with the clay.
6. Then put the measurement spoon on top of the clay.
7. Press down so to get a shape alike the shape of the measurement spoon
8. Please see if it looks like the photograph above.
9 Then use any flat surface to press it down until it looks like this.
10. Repeat the step 6 to 9 for the bottom piece. Some embedded crystals are put on top of the top piece.
11. As shown in this picture.
12. Cut this amount of clay.
13. Put a little bit dark brown acrylic paint on top of the clay (to add some colour to the filling) then twist and rub the clay until the colour mixed evenly with the clay.
14. Then use any flat surface to press it down until it looks like this.
15. Sandwich the white clay in between the top and bottom pieces of pink macaron.
16. If you want to make accessories with it, you have to add a 9-pin. Enter the 9-pin from the side.
17. Set aside the clay macaron for two days for completely air dry.

Tips

1. I recommend you to trim your nails first before handling the clay, because clay tends to stick to long nails.
2. Make sure all the tools and surface are dust free to avoid any dust twisted or rubbed into the clay.
3. In case the clay become dry, add a few drop of water to get back the flexible feeling.

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DIY Recipes

Sandwich Pressing for Lunch and Bento Boxes

03/13/2009

Want cute sandwiches and snacks in minutes? Don’t shell out a lot of money for the Japanese sandwich press kit, why not spend that money on the ingredients instead? All you need to create cute, crafted sandwiches is a cookie cutter of your liking and a surface to cut your food on. Just follow the DIY instructions next for an easy, cute sandwich for tea party guests and children to enjoy!

diy sandwich press

Need some sandwich ideas? Try layering these items to make cute, Japanese sandwiches:

Sandwich Ideas

cream, strawberries, bread
peanut butter, jelly, bread
egg, bacon, cheese, bread
Nutella, cream, bananas, bread
tuna + cottage cheese mixed, lettuce, bread
cream, kiwi, strawberry, peach, bread
sticky rice, seaweed, tuna + mayonnaise
deli meat, cheese, lettuce, bread
bacon, lettuce, tomato, bread
cookie, ice cream

sandwich press how-to

* If an item is thick, try cutting them individually and then stacking them. If you’re adding something creamy/messy try spreading it between bread first. Try a biscuit or sweet bread if you’d like something a little more sweet than plain bread!

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Business Features Visual Splendor

Thrifting and Touring Bloomington, Indiana

03/13/2009

If you’ve ever been to Bloomington, Indiana you know there’s no shortage on fun places to explore. It’s absolutely bustling with thrift shops, cute cafes and anything you could ever want to eat. The ever-growing small businesses are always changing for the thousands of college students which attend Indiana University nearby. It’s a great spot to find one-of-a-kind thrifty goodies and delicious food. Whether you’re looking for food to find old favorites in restaurants or to try something new, you’ll more than likely find what you’re looking for in Bloomington.

rosey outlook

follow the leader

enlightenment

My mother grew up in Bloomington and has always had a soft spot for the college town. She loves to see the new changes and reminisce about her old favorite hot spots. Luckily she wanted to take me around to some of her favorite places, recently, and I took my camera along for the ride. Feel free to skip along my steps and enjoy thrifting, international markets and fun for many.

Chow Bar

216 South Indiana Ave

Amazing buffet with delicious Chinese food and tons of bubble tea flavors/options! Better yet, the fortune cookie at the end of this meal is chocolate flavored.

bubble horizon

chow bar

Cactus Flower

322 East Kirkwood Ave # 202

this way

hotrod sinners

rainbow wave

heart string

on sale

step in time

heart sale

hidden away

looking in

see you

dressing

jewelery stand

Soma Coffee House

322 East Kirkwood Ave

soma

soma's tv

Vintage Warehouse

401 East Fourth Street

to the shop

array of clothing

Sahara Mart

106 East Second Street

In the market for chocolate? a new teapot or tea cup? Wine? Tea? Go here no matter what market goods you’re looking for because you’ll find it and a whole bunch of other things you always wished existed here.

chocoholic

dressing up

tea crazy

Oriental International Market

408 East 4th St

tasty joy

.. and as I traveled Bloomington, Indiana…
stumped

laughing planet

pick your poison

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DIY Recipes

Get in a Dandelion Daze with Recipes and More

03/10/2009

With spring just around the corner, you may find yourself longing for the childhood days of frolicking in flowered fields and making wishes on dandelion puffs. And why not? You may now settle for city parks in place of flowered fields, but you’re never too old or too urban to enjoy a fluffy dandelion.

But did you realize your favorite sunny weed has more uses than just wishful blowing?
Read on and stock up, but don’t worry, the supplies are located in your own backyard.

dandelion days

Nourishment

Yes, dandelions can be eaten. Full of vitamins and minerals, the leaves of the dandelion flower can be tossed in salads or layered into sandwiches for a healthy boost to your meal. However, these greens are best picked before the plant has flowered, otherwise they tend to be bitter in taste.

Drink

While your salad uses the leaves, dandelion wine uses the tiny yellow petals to create a unique beverage for your next picnic. Up for the challenge of making your own? Try this unique recipe courtesy of TheCompostBin.com.

Detox

Dandelions are chocked full of antioxidants, make wonderful diuretics, and act as amazing liver cleansers. Brew a cup of dandelion tea to ease stomach problems and detox your liver after overindulging in that dandelion wine.

Skin care

The juice of the dandelion plant has been used throughout the years to treat skin rashes and ailments. It’s said to have antibacterial properties and can supposedly clear warts and sooth eczema. Meanwhile, dandelion supplements have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The roots and leaves of the plant in pill form detoxify the blood and can help clear up acne.

Good Luck

Feeling crafty? Weave yourself some sunshine accessories in the form of a dandelion wreath and you’re on your way to a lucky day. Just make sure it’s one you’ve crafted yourself, superstition states that wearing one from a friend can actually take luck from you.

And if all else fails: find a fluffy one, close your eyes, make a wish, and blow.

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Crafts DIY

Inexpensive Do-It-Yourself Gifts

03/09/2009

This whole economic downturn has left a lot of the country in a sorry mess, but I’m not here to wallow in financial troubles. No way! I view the scarcity of cash as a wonderful excuse to get crafty! And it’s always more fun to craft for someone else which is what inspired me to create this article.

These gifts are easy to make and inexpensive, to boot! You can make them for a loved one “just because” or give it away for a special holiday. The choice is yours.

diy gifts

Hearty Bread and Jam

For you domestic creatures out there, put your skills to use! Everyone loves an edible gift, especially if it’s made by you! Jam/Jelly is a very easy item to make, it just takes a little bit longer than some foods. Bread and jam come in a variety of forms, so choose the best one for your recipient.

Cozy Blanket

Blankets are also very customizable, making them an ideal gift for any time of the year. Try these different types of blankets:

Crocheted – Choose your recipients favorite colors and have at it! They’ll be thrilled with the amount of time and effort you put into their present.

Tied – Buy two different types of fabric that complement each other. Make sure that you get a big enough size that it serves as a blanket. Both fabrics should be the same size. Next, spread the two fabrics on the floor (one on top of another) and cut around the edge. Each cut should be 2-4 inches deep. Next, tie the two fabrics together (double knot). Do this all around the edge of the blankets. Viola!

Customize – (an already made blanket) One of my favorite gifts from a friend was a blanket that she bought inexpensively and did stitch work on. It was thoughtful and unique!

Quilt – You don’t need to necessarily buy quilt material, but you can if you want. Choose several types of fabric that you like and cut them into squares all the same size. Next, sew them all together. Buy another piece of fabric and sew it onto the quilted part of the blanket.

Lovely Soap

I come from a very large family and some of my fondest memories are from the holidays when we would all work together to make presents for extended family members. One of my favorite things to make and give away was soap and other DIY beauty gifts.

The great thing about soap is that it’s practical and customizable. This is an easy soap recipe. (You can make your own from scratch with this recipe from www.thefarm.org) Here’s what you need — You can find all these items at your local craft store.

– Soap Block (available at your local craftstore)
– Soap Molds
– Scented oils (your choice)
– Other items for your soap (eg. Lavender, oatmeal, almonds, cinnamon, chocolate, etc.)

There are step by step instructions on the soap blocks and it’s very difficult to mess up. Melt your soap blocks, add scents and ingredients of your choice and let it sit in greased soap molds until hardened. Remove and place in pretty packages or gift baskets!

* Also get some wonderful ideas for soap from this Miseducated article.

Scrumptious Chocolate Covered Strawberries

First, buy about 5-15 healthy-looking strawberries. When you get home, make sure there aren’t any bad spots (if there are simply cut them away). Choose the prettiest ones and keep the green leaves on top – they look more beautiful that way.

While you’re at the grocery store, pick up some dip-able white chocolate. You can usually find this in the crafts section or near the produce. Also pick up some red food dye.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave in bursts of 15-20 seconds. It doesn’t take long to melt the chocolate so be sure to keep an eye on it.

Set aside some of the white chocolate and then add 2-3 drops of the red food dye to the remaining white chocolate. Dip your washed strawberries into the pink chocolate and place on wax paper. Next, dip the bottom part of a spoon/fork into the white chocolate and drizzle on top of your pink strawberry to add a decorative effect. Place in the refrigerator until they are cooled.

You can mix up the chocolate colors (ie. White dipped, pink drizzle; dark dipped, white drizzle) and place the strawberries in a sweet box. Add a ribbon and a card!

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DIY Recipes

Sensational Seaweed and Beauty Recipes

03/05/2009

Seaweed is one of the healthiest things out there and it can do wonders for your hair, skin, nails and body. You can often find seaweed in the exotic food section of your grocery store or seaweed products (ie. Kelp, dulse, nori, sea lettuce) at a health food store/online. The following are great DIY beauty recipes that you can prepare and use in the comfort of your own home.

seaweed

Seaweed Detox Wrap

This recipe cleanses your body of all unnecessary that build up by simply walking around. It also relieves stress, slims and is a lovely treat after a long day at work. Here’s what you need:

8 ounces powdered seaweed (kelp is easiest to find)
1 cup hot warm water
2 plastic sheets (saran wrap works well).

Before you begin, prepare your bathroom for the wrap treatment. I like to lay a blanket down in the bathtub, light a few candles and let hot water run for a while to get that steamy effect (if you run water in the bathtub, lay the blankets down afterward obviously). I’ve also heard of people putting space heaters in the bathroom to keep it warm.

Next, set your plastic sheets out (or sarah wrap) so that it’s ready to go. To prepare the seaweed past, simply pore the powdered seaweed of choice into a medium sized bowl. Next, add a little bit of a water at a time and stir. Do this until you have reached a consistency that is not too thick but still applicable and will stick to your skin.

Apply the mixture to different areas of your body, such as your stomach, arms, legs, feet. Wrap with the plastic sheet or saran wrap and sit in the bathtub under a second blanket. Listen to soothing music or sip on tea for 20 minutes. Next, remove the plastic wrap and soak in the bathtub for 10 minutes or so and rinse all the residue away. Apply lotion as desired and relax for a little while longer.

Lavender and Seaweed Bath Tea

I love this recipe because you can make it in bulk and it serves as the perfect gift. Here’s what you need:

Tea bags (or tea filters)
1/2 cup dried seaweed (kelp, seaweed flakes, nori)
1 cup dried lavender

Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, mix the seaweed and lavender until you have an even mixture. Next, divide the mixture up into the tea bags and tie (you may need to purchase string depending on the types of tea bags you purchase). Draw yourself a warm bath, light some candles and drop 2 tea bags into the water. After letting it steep for 5 minutes, hop in and enjoy!

Note: If you can’t find teabags in the tea section or your local craft store, try using pantyhose.

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Escapeland

Find a Penpal at the Penpal Café

01/30/2009

Penpaling is fun and swapping is extremely fun! Want to penpal but don’t have anyone to write? Why not join our penpal classifieds by listing your own information, you can also grab a penpal here if you don’t want to wait!

Remember, however, to execute caution when contacting new friends and sharing personal information. Most importantly, have fun and make new friends.

Please post your information here if you are interested in gaining penpals and meeting other Miseducated visitors.

penpal

Swap List

Tran Hong Nhi | 26 | female | Vietnam | email
Hobbies Waching news, listening to music ( pop, rock , rap, country music..),comic, action or kungfu films, fashion
About Just call me Nhi. I am 26 years old. i am living in Ho chi Minh city of Vietnam. i am single, attractive, friendly,responsible and good hearted. i want to make friends with the ones who have something common with me. i strongly believe that Good freindship is a good background for further relation.
I wish you all best health and success in life.

Bali | 20 | female | Taiwan | email
About
I am searching for a pen pal in English and Japanese. Nice to meet you!

Lana | 25 | female | Taiwan | email
Hobbies travel, make friends, music, shop,……….
About Hi, My name is Lana^^ I am a 25 year-old girl from Taiwan. I am here for looking for penpals who are really sincerely and can make long-term friendship with me, not just write one or two letters > < I know nowadays people like to use e-mails instead of letters to communicate with each other, especailly e-mails is faster and convenient for people. But I still prefer snail mails,and I really hope I can find people who like it,too. Anyway, I like to write by snail mails,and e-mails toghter. So, if you are interested , just write to me!! I think I am a good penpal^^I ok, see you I am looking forward to hearing from you soon!!

Lisa | 23 | female | England | email
Hobbies penpalling, reading, listening to music, photography, crafts
About Hiya i am looking for female only snail mail pals please email me with an introduction xxx

Natalija | 25 | female | England | email
Hobbies reading,cooking,shopping
About I enjoy reading,writing poetry and prose,listening to the music,taking photos,travelling,cooking and shopping. I am collecting DVDs,CDs,angels,souvenirs from all around the world,hair/scarf pins,badges,autobiography/memoir books. I love chocolate and candies.
I’d love to exchange letters and little packages with fun and cute stuff.Getting to know my pen pals and sharing our thoughts is amazing experience.Age is not restricted,but no males please.I’m looking for a life-long friendship.

Join?

Please let us know your name, location, age (18+), hobbies and a bit about yourself to be published here!

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DIY

Kao-Ani Club: Pixel Your Own!

01/30/2009

What is a kao-ani?
An animated face, it’s a cute Japanese emoticon.

How can I make one?
There’s a great tutorial here at this kao-ani fansite, if you’re just getting started!

What about more pixeling techniques?
Check this out for more information about pixeling and great tutorials. It’s a fun hobby to get lost in.

How can I animate my pixels?
Adobe Photoshop CS+ by using layers, it’s easy! How?

Rules

1. Create kao-ani that represents you :3
2. Swap with others, link kaos back to owners so swappers may explore through other kao member pages and swap with new friends.
3. Link back here wherever you decide to show off your kaos so that others may join, too!

Member Kaos

These kaos were left here by the members that created them~

amber renee's kao kimi/luna daisy's kao kimi/luna daisy's kao
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