A Modern Twist On A Bun

Howdy lovelies! Found this cute alternative from the usual ho-hum buns that's super easy!

Source

1. Take a section of hair at the crown of the head, use a ton of hairspray and backcomb.

2. Pull your hair into the highest ponytail you can. Secure the hair tie as tight as you can, but make the ponytail a few inches away from your scalp.

3. From underneath, find the approximate middle of the ponytail and put your fingers through to the other end.

4. Grab the end of the ponytail and pull it through the hole. Pull about two or three inches of hair through and no more.

5. Pull the base of the ponytail so it becomes tight to your scalp.

6. Your hair should now look like this. See how the top of the bun kind of goes off into a V? Gently pull those pieces forward if it happens to you and use bobby pins to secure.

7. Secure the ends of the ponytail around the base of the hair tie with bobby pins. Spray the hair to take care of the fly-aways if you like, though if you prefer a messier look, I'd leave them like I did here.

DIY Bow Shirt

SOURCE

I saw this shirt idea on Pinterest, and I fell in love with it. I found a tutorial that a girl posted on her website, so I reposted it here. You can read the original post by clicking the link above.

What you’ll need:

1. Scissors

2. Liquid stitch

3. A rotary cutter

4. A piece of cardboard

5. A shirt you are willing to cut (mine was $3 from H&M)

Step 1: Using your scissors, cut the bottom hem off of your shirt (you’ll need the material later)

Step 2: With the cardboard inside of the shirt, cut slits in the fabric with the rotary cutter. It doesn’t matter how far apart you make your cuts, as long as they are evenly spaced. I used the hem of the shirt to help guide my cuts so they were all the same width, but this step isn’t necessary.

Step 3: Using the extra material, cut 2-3 inch long strips (make sure to cut off the thread). 

Step 4: Pinch the fabric in the middle, creating the “bow” shape.

Step 5: Wrap one of your fabric strips around the area that you pinched, and apply the liquid stitch. Make sure that the glued section ends up in the back, so you have a smooth looking bow on the outside.

Step 6: Once glued, your bow should now look like this.

Step 7: Repeat steps 4-5 for all of the other bows until you reach the bottom. Your shirt should now look like this.

Step 8 (optional): If you want, you can also add another bow on the very top. First, cut off the edge of the hem around the neck with a pair of scissors. Cut however much you want off, depending on how deep you want your shirt to go in the front and back. Repeat steps 4-5 for the bow and voila! I haven’t done this step to my shirt yet, but i think i might later.

And there you have it! I love this DIY because it’s quite simple to do (seeing as there’s no sewing involved), and it ends up looking adorable! JUST BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR ROTARY CUTTER! I was lazy and didn’t want to cut up a cardboard box, so i just used 2 paper bags instead. I ended up cutting through the front of my shirt a little when i was cutting the slits in the back, and wasn’t a very happy camper. So don’t end up like me, put something STURDY underneath your shirt! Hope you guys have fun with this, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

NOTE: You can ask the questions here, but if either myself or July can't provide an answer to your question, it would be a good idea to ask the original girl who made this. (:

15 Minute Fringe Tank Top

Hello, lovelies! Hope your February is going well! I was browsing Pinterest (an online website that has become my recent addiction), and I saw a little how-to on how to make a fringe tank top. It's totally optional whether or not you want the beads on there. (:

Chinese Staircase Stitch Ponytail

Hey, it's July! So I stumbled across this video on YouTube and thought this looked so cute and easy! Try it out!

Just One Cookie

You know those days where you just want ONE cookie? I found a recipe for one cookie, so I thought I'd share it with you all. Now, I don't know if this recipe actually works, but I'm hoping to give it a test soon. If any of you give it a taste, let me know if it's good!

Source

Ingredients:

- 1 tbsp. butter (melted)

- 1 tbsp. white sugar, 1 tbsp. brown sugar

- 3 drops of vanilla, pinch of salt, 1 egg yolk

- 1/4 c. flour

- 2 tbsp. chocolate chips

Steps:

- Mix the ingredients above in a small bowl (the one in the picture is a deeper dish) or a mug

- Microwave the batter for 40-60 seconds in the bowl/mug

<3 Seana

Finally the Results of Our Mini Christmas Recipe Contest!

Sorry it took so long! I was sick during Christmas break and so I waited until after break to do this. Now I'm cramming for exams this week, so I'm still really busy but I found time to squeeze this in :)
Thankfully, I got four entires (more than zero) and it was really, really hard to pick. Thanks to all those who submitted a Christmas recipe! I chose Lily's submission which was actually a video on YouTube that she found! Congrats Lily!
So I'll include the video and then pictures from what I made and little changes I did to the recipe!

This is the 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 of milk combined along
with two teaspoons of hot chocolate. In the video she used
instant coffee, but I substituted hot chocolate instead
because we didn't have instant coffee.

I couldn't find any Hershey's candy cane kisses, so I came up
with my own thing: white chocolate chips and candy canes

I used 3/4 of a candy cane and ground it up into powder

Then I heated the white chocolate chips and ground candy
cane together for 45 seconds. This obviously doesn't look like
the video's, but oh well. One problem I had was that
some of the candy cane hardened again and it was a bit
hard to mix, but it worked out

This is the final product, I mixed the white chocolate/candycane
mixture in, but it didn't really melt, so I stuck it in the microwave
for a few more seconds. There was a small lump of candy cane
and chocolate at the bottom, but IT TASTED SOOOO GOOD!

This recipe is so easy to make, I bet it would be even easier if you had the right ingredients too :D

But it tasted so good! I've never had a Starbucks version, but I think I would choose this over that any day.

Thanks again Lily, and if any of you make this, tell me how it worked for you!

July

HELP!

Does anyone know where to find Hershey's candy cane kisses?
I need them for the recipe that I chose for our mini contest thing....
I can't find them anywhere!
July

Lemon Meringue Pie

So a while back, Sea posted a recipe for lemon meringue pie, but it was slightly confusing, so I was

inspired to do a post with lemon meringue pies too! This is a different recipe, and I think it is less

confusing, but something I would never attempt to make. 

Oh and somebody was wondering about our mini contest thing, and I have decided what to make! I was sick over Christmas break so I decided to make it afterward when I could enjoy it, but there is one ingredient I'm having a bit of trouble finding.... But I'll try to have that for you soon!Anyway, enjoy the pie!

*recipe credit goes to foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

Lemon Filling:

• 4 egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 (9-inch) pre-baked pie shell
• 1 recipe Meringue, recipe follows

Directions

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Whisk egg yolks in medium size mixing bowl and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine cornstarch, water, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine. Turn heat on medium and, stirring frequently, bring mixture to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and gradually, 1 whisk-full at a time, add hot mixture to egg yolks and stir until you have added at least half of the mixture.

Return egg mixture to saucepan, turn heat down to low and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and gently stir in butter, lemon juice, and zest until well combined. Pour mixture into pie shell and top with meringue while filling is still hot. Make sure meringue completely covers filling and that it goes right up to the edge of the crust. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until meringue is golden. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Make sure pie is cooled completely before slicing.

Meringue Topping:

• 4 egg whites
• 1 pinch cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Place egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form and then gradually add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Use to top lemon filling.

A Post Stolen From Dearest Emily Over At Emily's Chronicles (http://eklobb.blogspot.com/)

Hello everyone! July here again and I'm so glad that I've gotten four entries for the "contest" we were having. If you missed that, click HERE to read about it. 

So I'm sure you're all wondering about the title but wonder no more! I was browsing Emily's blog (http://eklobb.blogspot.com/) and I stumbled across this adorable piece of Christmas cheer! I asked Emily if I could snatch her post and stick it on this blog (with all credit going to her of course) and she said yes, so here it is! But she did have one condition: a spike in her followers! So go and follow her, also if you could tell her that July sent you, that would be great :) 

Anyway, thank you Emily of Emily's Chronicles! Is that enough advertising to help get you a follower boom? :D

You will need

~White card

~Four different patterned/textured papers

~A set of compasses or circular objects to draw around - you'll need one large, one medium and one small.

~Scissors

~Pretty things with which to decorate said patterned papers - as I was posting this I was limited to ribbon, lace and thread but if you're able you can use beads and sequins.

~Strong glue with which to stick down said pretty things - I used UHU but you may need PVA or a hot glue gun depending on what you're using. Adhesive pads also work well in some cases.

~Sellotape

~Black filigree paper - if you don't have this then you'll need black paper and a hole punch

~A glue stick

~A black fineliner pen

~A ruler

Instructions

1. Take your patterned papers and cut out four circles, one large, one medium and two small.

2. Start decorating! With ribbon/thread, squeeze a thin line of glue where you're placing it and stick it down...

...then tape it at the back. 

You get the idea...

...don't you?

Unnecessary pictures...

...tralala ^_^

See! You now have some pretty circle - or baubles, as we can now call them! I only decorated three because I wanted to leave the pretty patterned one.

3. Now cut a strip of black filigree paper - if you have none then just cut a normal strip with a scalloped edge and punch some holes in it.

4. Now comes the bit where you require ninja-like skills and precision.  Lay your strip of paper and your baubles on the piece of card and make small pencil marks at the top of each bauble and at the bottom of the strip of paper directly above the top of the bauble...if that makes sense. Draw on strings and hanger-thingies in black fineliner pen. 

5. Then...stick everything on! Pretty, riiight?!?!

6. At the bottom, in an amazingly brilliant font, write Merry Christmas.

TA-DAAAAA!!!! Is it not lovely? :D :D

Oh, and if you're super-cool like me, you can draw a puppy in a Christmas hat inside the card.

Need Your Help!

Hey Creative Cliquers! I, being July that is, need you to send me your favorite Christmas recipes to post on this blog! I'll pick one or two to actually make and review.....
I really need your help and I think this could be fun but the only way it will work is if you send me an email.
My email is julya.emmance@gmail.com and I'll be checking my inbox regularly for your favorite recipe.
I'm not going to set a date limit now, but ASAP please!
~July