Holiday Greetings from Depict This!

     Hi everyone!  I hope you have, and have had, a marvellous Christmas!!   I wish you much happiness and laughter in this season of celebration, and all the very best for the upcoming year… 

     

See you in 2011!!   

xox,

bonita

How to ~ Tea Paper Tutorial

Remember I showed you how I dyed some cloth for my Vintage Styled Hair Bow Holder Tutorial using tea bags to get an ‘antique’ look?   Well, I thought I’d also do a tutorial on using similar techniques to antiquitize paper as well!

This tutorial is super easy and simple, but has a lot of potential if you do any sort of paper craft {ie, scrapbooking, card making,  origami, etc.}.  And even if you do not do any of those crafts, you still might find the principles of the technique useful as it can be adopted to dying natural cloths and other organic materials as seen in my previous tutorial.

Materials you will need:

~  Something to weigh the paper down ~ I used four glass cups

~  Paper to dye (the thicker the better, but this will work with ordinary printer paper}

~  Absorbent paper to go underneath so you don’t make a mess everywhere

~  A Tea Bag {black ~ I used English Breakfast}

~  Bowel {sorry, forgot to put this in the picture..  = __=’ }

 

Step One:  Lay out your absorbent paper, place the paper you are dying on top of it and weigh it all down with your glasses.

 

Step Two:   Wet your tea bag in a bowl of water.

 

Step Three:  Rub your wet tea bag over both sides of the paper and leave to dry.    This might take a while so be prepared to wait.  The thicker the paper is, the longer it will take to dry out.

Note:  An extra step to finish the paper quickly is to set your iron on low and iron the paper until it is dry.   Just remember to place the paper between two pieces of old cloth to keep it from dirtying your ironing board and your iron.

 

Step four:   Take your dry paper and use it to make something pretty!    As you can see, the colouration of the paper is very subtle, but this is because I only used one tea bag to turn it a light creamy colour.  If you wish to make it darker, use more tea bags the first time around and repeat the dying process after letting it dry. 

You can also use the iron trick noted above.  But if you are trying to make the paper darker, set the iron to high so you ‘burn’ the paper as well as dye it with the tea.  If you iron to ‘burn’ the paper, leave the top piece of cloth off so that the iron base has direct contact with the paper.  It will be more effective this way. 

Note:  With this technique of tea dying, it is not about getting a vibrant colour ~ you would be better off buying paper from the store if that is your desired outcome.  Tea bag dying is more about achieving a natural brownish hue/tone with whatever item you dyed to make it look older than what it is.  The darker you dye it, the older it will look, but as a reverse, the more you dye it the more fake it can look!  Experiment to find the right balance for the look you want.  

 

~ * ♥   I used the paper to make some labels for a customer who purchased an amigurumi charm from my Etsy shop  ♥  * ~

 

I hope you enjoyed this easy tutorial, and if you make anything cool {or anything at all!} using these techniques, please send me photos ~ I’d love to see what you make.

xox,

bonita

 

P.S.  ~  How exciting!!  Only two more days {a day and a half??} until Christmas!  Yay!!    

P.S. II  ~  Oh golly, I better get on with wrapping all the presents….  > o < !

P.S.  III  ~  I did get my Christmas cards sent out incidentally!  I am so stoked that I managed to get that far this year.   Now I just have to keep it up for next year!  ^ w ^

Stepping Out ~ Grunge

Ever have those days where you feel like doing something different with your style and step out of your comfort zone?   I do, and what I end up with outfit wise is usually really off track from my normal ‘look’  ~ whatever that is, ‘coz I still haven’t pinned it down!  I thought I would start a “Stepping Out” feature for the outfits that are outside of my style comfort zone. 

~ Stepping Out Details ~

~ Differences to my normal style:   I went with a big hair style, aka; Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky, and loose layers which I usually avoid like the plague. 

~ Similarities to my normal style:  Monotone!!  I adore black ~ it is THE base colour of my wardrobe and most, if not all, of my outfits involve some sort of black.  Oh, and the bows.  I can’t stay away from hair bows, no matter the style.  Yay for head eating hair bows!!

 

 

    I feel so young in this outfit….  > O <   Just like a  teenager again!  Dressing with a vintage inspiration definitely makes you feel classy, and as a result, more grown up I suppose.   I had not even realized that I’d crossed that line from ‘hip’ teen wear to ‘elegant’ adult wear until I put this outfit on and felt like I was eighteen again!  It’s funny because I always wondered how I’d know when to make that transition, but I guess it just happened naturally. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we took these the sun was just right, which was lucky because we were in such a rush I wasn’t sure that I even got enough to do an outfit post!  Then when I was editing them, I ended up deleting some of the pictures out of the final post.   So there you go…. Good photographs sometimes appear by accident!

{I’d say magic, but we all know that’s not quite true…  ^ w ^ }

 

 

 

Outfit keys ~ layers, lace and leather {faux ~ but we’ll just pretend m’kay?  > __ <}  The black ‘dots’ on the middle white layer are actually tiny pirate skull pictures and love hearts.  I should have gotten a close up of them, but that really would have put this post in over drive!

 

 

Accessories  ~    Black Satin Hair Bow  {Diva}      White Lace Hair Bow  {Diva}    

Earrings {Some random shop in Scotland}      

Chain Link Wrist Cuff  {Diva}      Wrap Around Studded Strap  {Random shop}      

Ribbon used as Wrist Cuff  {Random piece I decided to use as jewellery}    

White Bow Double Finger Ring {Diva}

Crop Top  {Best&Less}      Cream Top with Black Lace Embellishment  {Tempt}

White Skull Skirt  {A bargain basement shop in Germany!}   Black Sheer Skirt  {Best&Less}

Boots  {New Look}  

~  Extra Note/Rave:   I found out that New Look ships internationally and nearly died… They sell the cutest shoes I have ever seen for really cheap and no shoe shop in Australia even comes close to having as on trend, stylish and different looking shoes as they do!  I am so glad I can order from New Look now, especially as they stock all these gorgeous vintage styled shoes!!

These boots are my first pair from them and I am really happy with them.  For the height of the heel they are really comfortable, and they are exactly what was pictured on the website.  And for $67.00 AUD you really can’t go wrong comparing them to other similar shoes you might find here in Australia.

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

   This outfit is what I wore to the Linkin Park concert in Canberra last week.  I went with DH and my two youngest sisters whom also love this band ~ we’ve all been fans from a fairly young age.

I had a lot of fun at the concert ~ about half the set list I loved and half I did not really like at all, but that was ok because it’s exactly the same for me with Linkin Park’s CDs.   I only listen to about half of every one!  But the songs I do listen to I really love, so it was awesome to hear them live.

I must say, Chester and Mike are great performers and I thought the rest of the band was great too.  Fun times!!  ^ U ^    Mind you, it went pretty late, so of course I was absolute knackered the next day.  As I had so much to do I found it really hard to recover and felt exhausted for the next three days.

In hindsight, I don’t know that I would go if I had the time over.  But at the same time I am glad I went, so it’s one of those mixed feeling memories for me….  I can’t quite sort out if I am coming or going, but to be honest that happens a lot  with me, so what else is new?!

xox,

bonita

3 Things they don’t tell you…

Until you are actually already pregnant!

1.  Your hips will hurt.  All the time.  Apparently as the baby grows and your body is constantly shifting, your hips, and most likely your back, will bear the brunt of the changes, making them permanently sore and tender.  And speaking of tender ~ the chest area?  It’s a no go zone.

2.  Morning sickness.  Some women are blessed and never get it, some women can’t get out of bed because the nausea makes them feel like they’re on a boat….  Oh, and the name is a fallacy.   Morning sickness can visit you morning, noon or night, and sometimes decides to hang around for all three!

3.  You will feel like you have been hit by a steam roller, a cargo train, and a tanker ~ everyday.   Energy?  What’s that?

And basically that’s the summary of how my pregnancy is progressing.  Yay.   : |    But to end this mini rant on a positive note, all though I might be putting up with a host of uncomfortable sensations, it’s totally worth it.  

When you feel the baby move and kick inside of you, you conveniently forget about all the other things ~ there is a baby growing!  How cool is that?  And I am so grateful that I have the chance to be a mother.  Finally, I think I am growing up. 

xox,

bonita

A few of my favourite things….

~ ♥  Tea & pretty tea cups  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Bows! Hair, jewellery or print  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Cute things ~ particularly plush ponies  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Books of any sort  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Shoes in every shape, size and style  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Cute notebooks for writing in  ♥ ~

And these are a few of my favourite things!

What are your favourite things?  Join this photo meme and post to your blog a few pictures of your favourite things that brighten your day.  I would love to see what is on your list.

xox,

bonita

Christmas and Candy ~ Yum!

 ~ ♥  My half finished ginger bread house ♥ ~

Christmas is coming and I am so excited!  I do have to admit that this is a change to my usual feelings however….

I guess I was always excited as a child for Christmas ~ all the bustle of people, presents and pretty decorations?  Who wouldn’t be?   And as a teen I loved hoarding my money, saving every cent for the perfect gift for each of my family members.  I remember my sister and I would have secret Christmas conferences that would last all afternoon where we would calculate how much money we needed, who we needed to buy for and what we would buy them! 

Of course, there would be the sneaky entry under each other’s name and stern warnings not to look at each other’s notebook!

I guess as I got older, the feeling that I missed the most was that excitement of expectation.  Oh, the day was fun, and I enjoyed spending it with my family, but the thrill was lacking….  Christmas was just Christmas. 

 ~ ♥  House complete with candy dripping from every available spot!  ♥ ~

Then, all of a sudden there was a whole new world of possibilities!   I was married, my husband and I were starting our own family and our own family traditions.  Plus, maybe, just maybe, we might be in our new house for Christmas.

Well.  That did it.  I was all excited for Christmas and all the fun things I could do for it.  Decorating the house, cooking, Christmas cards ~ the list of ideas was endless! 

 ~ ♥   The back view  ♥ ~

Now, although the purchasing of the house has progressed {what a relief…}, we won’t be in it for Christmas.  But I am still excited anyway.  Last week I decorated a ginger bread house to share with my in~laws, and this week I sung with a church choir for their community carols concert which was so much fun! 

I am planning to have my Christmas cards sent out by the end of the week; I am also planning to actually send them this year….  > O < 

Last year with all the hectic end of year fuss {wedding, honeymoon, getting sick. graduating ~ all that in the end of November/December!} I wrote the cards out but never sent them.  So some of our relatives will end up with two Christmas cards and a Christmas letter this year!   The more the merrier right?

 ~ ♥   Close up ~ I love how the front path turned out with pink stars scattered in the ‘crazy paving’  ♥ ~

How are your Christmases shaping up?  I hope they will be lots of fun for us all ~ a fantastic celebration.

xox,

bonita

Another Award?

Carys of La Ville Inconnue  is totally awesome ~ she’s so sweet and this is the third award she’s bestowed upon Depict This!!   It’s so nice when all your hard work is recognized, and I really appreciate it.  Thank you Carys.  ^__^

I am going to pass it on to:

~ ♥ Amber Rose from Laughing with Broken Eyes ♥ ~

~ ♥ Jennifer from Jennifer’s Blog ♥ ~

~ ♥ Katie from Katiefoolery ♥ ~ 

~ ♥ L. from Only Half Dressed ♥ ~

~ ♥ Lulu from Lulu and the Locket ♥ ~

~ ♥ Miruku from Milk Tea  ♥ ~

~ ♥ Violet from Tales of an Ingénue ♥ ~

 

I really enjoy reading your blogs and I hope you don’t mind if I call some of you ‘friend’.  I like getting to know you all through your blogs and also through some of the lovely comments I get at Depict This!.  Isn’t the world wide web fantastic at promoting communities of people that would never otherwise meet? 

I think so!

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ The wrong era?

Please visit this link to read an excellent post on the merits of being vintage in 2o1o.  I found it an excellent read ~ very thought provoking for the vintage lover. 

Snoodlebug: Born in the wrong era? A vintage rant.: "I am a tad (read hellishly) hungover and so I apologise for the rant but this blog is about something that really bugs me.

What is it that causes me such rage? It is when perfectly intelligent, reasonable, adult women state that they were "born in the wrong era." So many vintage aficionados seem to do this and it is something I'm seeing mentioned more and more. Personally I find this sort of comment incredibly naive and shortsighted...."

xox,

bonita

Rain drops are falling on my head ~ Outfit Twenty Two

Okay, these photos were taken on Wednesday last week.  But the weather has been the same from then until now!!  Wet, wet. wet.  I can hardly believe it is summer, because it sure doesn’t feel like it.  I am only just now going out without a cardigan for the day. 

And last week this outfit was constructed around a wool skirt!   Wool!!  In an Australian summer!!!  Trippy….   > > ‘

  

Because of all the rain, it sure makes it more difficult to get on with normal life ~ like looking after Copper {my horse} or doing an outdoors photo shoot!  Yays for verandas because I have no where nice to take photos inside at the moment. 

  

Accessories  ~  Silver Hoop Earrings {Christmas Present 07}   Hair Bow  {Best&Less} 

Pearl Necklace  {Thrifted}    Floral Cardigan  ~  SES     Top  ~  La Pearls

Skirt  ~  Thrifted     Shoes  ~  Payless 

     Baby Bump at 4 months.  

Gosh, my spine looks like it’s made of jelly the way it is curving so much!   I used to have a much better posture, but thanks to the little one, that’s flown out the window….  > <

The greatest news I have to share is that DH and I have finally gotten through some of the things that have been keeping us from finalizing on the house we wanted.  The bank has decided to play nice, so we have signed our lives {and subsequent children….. Just kidding!  > <} away on the mortgage documents and completed the exchange.   39 days and 5 hours until we can move in!!!   *eeeee*  >______<

It is all very exciting.

xox,

bonita

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Packages, Presents and Stuff ~ Modes4u Review

I was online a week or so ago, and the cuteness of Modes4u brainwashed me into making a massive bulk purchase!  Deco, stickers, stamps, and more ~ I just couldn’t resist.  And when the package turned up on my doorstep yesterday?   >_____<     *eee*  Very happy!!   I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you.

     

♥   L to R clockwise  ~   Face Clothes: my favourite is on top!   ♥  Two stamps:  one panda with strawberries and a cupcake one with sweets and a bunny and a bear   ♥   Two packs of puffy stickers:  Food bunnies and cute kitties   ♥   A fairy tale note book:  No lines ~ perfect for my notes and pictures!   ♥   Pacer pencil: cute bears, cakes and doughnuts and I love the doughnut charm hanging off the top of it!!   ♥   Deco items: Large roses, small roses, and cookies with strawberries on top   ♥ 

Modes4u had really great customer service ~ there was some sort of problem with my order and it wouldn’t go through, but they sorted it out really quickly and helped me finish the payment.

I was also very happy with the quick delivery ~ I ordered these items on the 22nd of November and received them on the 1st of December.  It was only just over a week before I got my items!  Plus, everything was packaged well, so that was great.

I am not so much a fan of the prices though….  I love what Modes4u do ~ their shop is clear, easy to order from and, obviously, they sell super cute stuff.   The only drawback for me was the prices of everything.   The Australian dollar is doing pretty well at the moment, so at least I didn’t have to worry about the exchange rates.  But even then, I found that while the notebook was a reasonable price at US$6.49 the pacer pencil cost US$5.07 which seemed excessive to me for what you got.   I don’t think I’d buy many of the deco items either ~ I love the strawberry cookies I got, and I want to get some of the cherry cookies too, but at US$2.59 for 5 pieces, when I can buy more than that for AUD$2.00, it just seems a little over the top.

All in all, I found the service and items from Modes4u great, but the prices a little expensive.  I’d save and buy things you really want from the site, but I’d also think twice about what you want to get.  To be perfectly honest, you might find it cheaper else where, and I’d rather having to wait a while longer if I could spend less! 

I know it’s early, but I am very excited for Christmas this year.  I think it’s going to be awesome and that’s why I have a special surprise!  I thought it would be really nice to do something celebrating Christmas on Depict This! so I am going to randomly give a Christmas present to one of my readers.   Okay, so it’s more like a really small version of a giveaway, but it’ll be fun anyway.  ^ w ^

~ *  You’ll receive an ice-cream bubbler, a snowman coin purse and a mystery present!  * ~

To put your name in for the present, please just comment and leave your email address so that I can contact you to send your Christmas parcel to you!

There is just one rule; please follow Depict This! publicly through Google Friend Connect so that I know you actually read DT!.  Other then that, anyone can enter.  Good luck everyone.  ^__^     GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

xox,

bonita