DIY Rose Sugar Scrub

Happy Valentine's Day! Being in the middle of yet another snow storm and having my fill of cheesy love movies for the day I was looking for something to help me procrastinate from studying. A craft project seemed just the thing!

I've been eyeing DIY scrub pinterest projects for a long time and today seemed like the perfect day to try it out. As I didn't dare to venture out to get odd ingredients that most scrubs seem to require I was looking for one that items I had on hand. I found one that only had 3 easy ingredients: sugar, baby oil, and rose petals.

W and I celebrated Valentine's a week early so the roses he got me were starting to get a bit ragged. Making a scrub out of some of the petals seemed the perfect way to continue to enjoy them and get some silky smooth skin!

DIY Rose Sugar Scrub
     yields approx 1 cup of scrub

1/8 cup baby oil
3/4 cup sugar
6-12 rose petals

Add ingredients to food processor and blend until well mixed. Scrub is more on the dry side. Apply about 1 teaspoon of scrub to wet hands and rub it all over hands. Rinse off and you should be left with silky smooth skin. Store it in airtight container.


Step by step photos

I used the magic bullet instead of a food processor and it worked wonderfully.  I layered sugar, then oil, then petals ripped in half. You may need to stop halfway through to mix it up a bit as some of the rose petals were still in larger chunks after a minute or so. 

When it is all mixed up it  the red petals made this gorgeous shade of lavender pink! Depending on the number of petals you add you may get variable color results. It's more of a dry scrub, I know others are more gelatinous. Add some water to your hands before spreading it out.

In total it takes about 5 minutes to make and yields about 1 cup of scrub.  This would be an excellent gift and you could find super cute mason jars to store it in! I think this might have just been my gateway scrub in to making all sorts of others...who knew it was this easy!

Just as a FYI the baby oil smell for sure takes over at first and then you are left with faint rose. It's not horrible and I happen to like the smell of baby oil, but I think for next time I might search for a different oil to use or add an essential oil for a different fragrance profile. My skin was so soft after using this and I will for sure be keeping some in a jar next to the sink for use after washing dishes. Plus it's such a cute shade it'll help brighten up the dreary weather.

ugh I know it's nothing like Boston but I needed
 something to brighten up this overcast day

Fun science fact: Did you know sugar is a natural exfoliate? It contains glycolic acid a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which helps breaks down the glue like substance that keeps dead skin cells attached to the epidermis (top layer of your skin). The sugar grains are abrasive so that helps too. Your skin cells naturally shed but as you age you might need to help it along a bit. Exfoliating a few times a week especially in winter helps  moisturizers penetrate deeper and keep your skin hydrated longer.

Exploding Box Gift

W and I decided to be a bit more low key and not buy gifts for each other but make something instead for our 3 year anniversary. I was searching for something different than just a card and I knew I didn't have time for a T-shirt quilt (someday sigh). I stumbled upon this idea that is a kind of interactive mini scrapbook contained in a box.

take off the lid and BAM!

So I decided to go all middle school style and make him this exploding love box and a mix tape to help pass the drive time as we travel back and forth to see each other.

my color pallet  

Materials you need for the project are super easy: 4-5 sheets of 12x12 card stock, ruler, scissors and double stick tape and tacky glue. 

 There are tons of tutorial on pinterest, youtube or online. I based mine off of A Cherry on Top's tutorial. It is pretty easy to follow and has great step by step photos. Check it out! I switched mine up a bit to make it 4 layers instead of 3.

  I wrote little notes as well as some ticket stubs from events we've gone to over the years. It was a lot of fun to look back through photos and see what all we've done and all the different hair styles!

It's easily adaptable to make as a mother's day gift or if sewed it a baby book even. Oh the possibilities. This is a project that you could spends weeks on or just a day depending on how wrapped up you get. Good luck!

Champagne for a year Gift

congratulations!

One wedding gift I like to give if I am in the wedding or for those close friends that enjoy the bubbly is 12 months of champagne basket.  Who says the party should stop once the wedding is over? This gifts lets the bride and groom celebrate each month anniversary during the first year of marriage. It is a cute and easy project and depending on your craft skills you can make this gift as elaborate and customized as you like!

All you need is: 

-a large sturdy basket (those bottles get heavy)

-tissue paper, bags or plastic air cushions to help protect bottles/give support to display

-12 mini champagne bottles they usually come in packs of 4

-ribbon

-hole puncher

-12 tags for months- i used cute scrapbook paper 

-champagne glasses (optional addition)

First find a large sturdy basket that will hold all 12 bottles. I liked using a rectangle basket, the bottles seemed to fit inside it the best. Next design the tags.

making the tags

The tags were pretty easy to make. I used scrap book paper and made circles with numbers in publisher program...sorry I can't get it to upload a copy to add to post. I attached them to the bottles using curling ribbon.

these had quite a distance to travel so the cases came in handy

To fill the basket I used tissue paper (lots), plastic bags, and the air cushion pillows you get in shipments to hep prop up the bottles and keep them from rolling all over the place. 

so cute!

You can also make a sampler of different champagne types and add glasses too! I've also made tags that are related to the seasons or themed around their wedding colors. The sky's the limit on how you want to customize this. 

*12 months of celebration champagne sampler*

I have to give credit to my sister's friend Cassity for this awesome idea. Thank you. It has been a blast making these baskets and I hope you can use this idea to!

DIY Wedding Gifts- Ring Holder

*super easy to make*

I know...I know this wedding season is pretty much over, but the holiday will fly by and next thing you know weddings will be right around the corner. So get ready!

For wedding gifts I try to stick to the registry. Why else would couples spend the time making one and who really needs 5 of the same kitchen gadgets right?  But for all those other occasions surrounding the wedding celebration I like to put my own personal touch on the gifts. 

 I was perusing magazines and saw a picture of a DIY own ring holder but no directions. I thought I can make this! So off I went to Hobby Lobby to find supplies. 

This is a great little bridal shower or engagement gift. I like to send it to the bride right before the wedding as part of "the big day is almost here" package. This project is quick and easy and won't break the bank!


Supplies: small picture frame (2"X3" works well), spray adhesive, corsage pins, scissors, 3mm craft foam, fabric-satin or anything you like

   * Hobby Lobby has a great selection of very elegant small frames. The frames are often on sale or there is a single item coupon you can show on your smart phone from their website. 

  *3mm foam is best otherwise it's too flimsy or too thick and back won't close

Step 1: Disassemble your frame, you won't need the glass at all for the project. Use the paper insert as a template for your foam shape and fabric. 

*Hint I usually cut fabric a bit larger just so I know it fully covers and trim it later. 

Step 2: attach fabric to foam using spray adhesive  This stuff is super tacky and a little goes a long way. Be aware of where you spray it, anything that comes in contact it will be sticky for a long time. Currently I have a thumb covered in fabric fuzz ugh. Smooth out any bubbles or creases and trim fabric. 

   * This step is optional but I've noticed if you don't tack down fabric it can bubble a bit after putting it in frame and may not be the look you are going for. 

Step 3: Put foam into frame and secure backing. Bend corsage pin near the top 1/3 into a 45 degree angle.

Step 4: Decide if you want frame to be vertical or horizontal and slide pin through fabric/foam layer leaving enough room at the top for the ring to rest comfortably.

Voila you are done!