Amongst the Trees ~ Outfit Thirty

I wore this outfit on the weekend when Husband and I went to AQWA, which is Perth’s Aquarium.  Unfortunately, I totally forgot to get any photos!   I decided to repeat it exactly the same for today’s outing to the Salvation Army, a charity shop fondly known as Sally’s to most Aussies.  
I hope to find something awesome to share with you later, but it’s really the luck of the draw so we will see how I get on.   ^ u ^



Personally, I have found that Vinnie’s {St. Vincent de Paul’s ~ you have got to love Australian colloquialisms; mozzies, barbys, gummies, trollies…  It has got to end with an ‘ie’ sound, ‘o’ sound or ‘ah’ sound.  As in Davo,  Robbo, Timbo, Daza, Jeza, etc.   Sorry, side track!} have a better supply of vintage.   I am hoping to uncover some treasures none the less.   Wish me luck! 


Also, I am sorry for the photo fails ~ I think I look a bit like a deer caught in the headlights….   =___=;      I really have to work on my self~snapped photographs!  I am so used to having Husband behind the camera that I seem to lose all ability to take a good shot without him.  Grr…..  So annoying, but what can you do?   At least these next two pictures turned out well. 

Accessories   ~    Filigree Hair Bow  {Target}   Silver Hoops  {Christmas’08} 

Pearl Marquis Flower Necklace  {V’Day’11}    Rose Bracelet  {Equip}  

Lacy Scarf worn as Belt  {Valley Girl}

Top  ~  Tempt    Skirt  ~  Thrifted    Shoes  ~  Betts 

Baby Bump at eight months!   Ohmygoodness, so much to do and so little time to do it in….   *freaks out!* 32 weeks and four days into baking the bean sprout and I haven’t even begun to unpack our new house, let alone set up a nursery….

Thank goodness we are booked to fly home this Saturday night  ~ I really cannot wait to get cracking with everything I need & want to do.   > o <

xox,

bonita

My own Coveted Scandal Resolved!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that branding issues between Mr Brown and myself have been resolved amicably. 

In further discussion, Mr Brown revealed some details of his planned Depict This project, and because of his doing so I was able to see that our target audiences are not as close as I had initially thought. 

Although I still very much regret that I did not purchase the depictthis.com URL when I the opportunity,  I am glad to know that Mr Brown’s Depict This is sufficiently different from mine.  There may be a slight overlap in the target market {the art community}, but I do not think that there will be much, if any, over lap in the general readership of either blogs.

I am greatly relieved to discover this, and am quite happy to believe that our respective blogs/brands will be able to coexist quite peacefully.   It may not be the perfect ending, but it is far better than what I was hoping for.  Yay!

xox,

bonita

Cleaning out my closet ~ Seasonal Swaps

So it is that time of year again ~
Spring has sprung, the grass is riz; I wonder where the birdys iz?  They say the bird iz on de wing, but that’s absurd because the wing iz on de bird!    Well, actually if you are in my hemisphere it is the time of the falling leaf as autumn marches it’s way across the land.  But no matter north or south, unless you live near the equator it is quite likely that you have a winter and summer wardrobe. 

If you are lucky, you may have enough closet space to keep both wardrobes together all year round ~ and before I married I could do that. 

Obviously that has changed and even though Husband does not have an extensive wardrobe {he HATES shopping with a passion; which makes it even more great when he very graciously comes with me.  > U < } we do not have enough room to fit everything in. 

There are a few things I found that help with this seasonal swap over ~ some things have come through personal experience, others I have picked up but have not tried yet.  Hopefully they will be of use to you. 

Sorting Options:
What do you want to change over?  Sometimes the hardest thing is to know which items of clothing you want to swap out.   Now that layering is such a popular option through winter, you can also get a lot more wear out of your favourite pieces, making it even harder to decide what to keep out and what to store away.  

• Layering:  Most of the time I would choose whether I keep a piece in my wardrobe based on how warm it is.  Obviously for the spring/summer transition, you have to put away your warmer clothes because you just will not wear them! 
  
  But for the fall/winter transition, you can think about the piece of clothing in terms of layer~ability.  Is it a neutral piece? A nice pop of colour?  Does the floral print have a dark background, making it more winter~friendly?  If you like styling with layers, do not worry about how thick and warm the clothing is ~ that is what layering is for after all!
  
• Shoes:   I have a lot of shoes.   And this means that I cannot keep them all out at once!  *sad face*  There are shoes that we do not wear as much depending on the season.  Long boots, ankle booties, a few of the more ‘closed in’ wintery~ish shoes like oxfords and warm lace ups.  If you know you will not wear these shoes, store them away.  You will be amazed at how much extra space this gives you, and how much easier it is to see what shoes you do have available to wear.
  
  Before you store all your summer sandals away for the fall/winter transition, remember that socks under your strappy heels is a hot trend on the run way at the moment.  Try out a few pairs and decide which ones you would like to rock this look with and store the rest.  If that style is not up your ally, that is okay; just pop all your summer lightweights away. 
  

Storage Options:
There are a few different ways to store your clothes ~ it really depends on how much space you have available to you.   If you have a spare room or garage, you can basically choose whatever option suits you best.   However, if you live in a small apartment, you may not have that luxury; then it is time to get creative with your storage. 

• Old Wardrobes:  When we moved into our new house, there where three old, but still good, wardrobes left behind that I knew I did not want.   I was going to throw them out when my MIL suggested that I keep them in the garage for storing clothes and other stuff in {and if I did not want them, she would take them!}.
  
  As our garage is large enough to keep them I immediately jumped at the idea.  With a few moth balls scattered around I can take all the summer clothes hanging in my wardrobe and swap them for the winter ones.  An easy storage technique that will keep everything organized and still hung so will take less time to swap over.  Plus, if you ever find you need some article of clothing that you have already packed away, you can access it without having to root through a bunch of boxes!
  
  If you have the space I would recommend finding some second hand wardrobes, or even dressers and implementing this system.
  
• Boxes:    It a pretty obvious storage option, but my tip here is to spend a little more cash and invest in plastic boxes with lock down lids.   They can be expensive, but they are pretty much guaranteed to keep you clothes free from bugs and moisture.
  
  You can use cardboard boxes, but if you store these for a couple of months, whether inside or outside, bugs and possibly mice will be attracted to them.   Outside storage is worse ~ but you’d be surprised how many bugs get into your stuff even when it is inside.  I should know, after living out of boxes for the last year or so!
  
  You really do not want slugs and mice poop through your clothes….  Ew! Gross!  To use cardboard boxes I would put all your clothes in a plastic garbage bag with some moth balls first.   Seal it up tight, and your clothes should be safe.
  
• Vacuum sealed bags:   This is probably the best solution for those that are in tight spaces, as there is less bulk with these.    You can buy them at most general stores; in Australia I would go to Big W, Kmart or Target to find them.
  
  You pop your clothes in the bag, attach the vacuum, hit reverse suction and voila!  Your clothes are sealed up safe from bugs, moisture, etc.  I do not think that I would put these outside without putting them in a box first though, for easier storage.
  
• Suitcases:  If you have suitcases that you do not use that often, you can put some clothes in them to utilize that space.   However, this is not the best solution if you travel a lot. 
  

Creating extra space in your wardrobe: 
There are always some  items that tend to take up a lot of space in your wardrobe ~ for me these are my coats in winter {and the accessories; beanies, scarves and gloves} and my hats in summer.   I try to store these else where to maximize closet room.

• Coats:   If you have the space, I have discovered that the best way to keep your coats is to keep the majority of them on a coat rack.   If you have space in your entrance way, or even in the corner of your bedroom, hang the coats you use the most on the rack, and keep the special ones tucked away.  
  
  You can hang the scarf that matches your coat on the same hook so you do not need extra storage space for that and pop your gloves in the pockets.   Also, hanging your coats up also makes it easier to grab them when you are running out the door in a hurry {like me!}.
  
•  Hats: I like to put these on my coat rack in summer for the same reasons as I hang my coats ~ more room in my wardrobe and easy access.  As I have a lot of different summer hats {and winter ones} this really helps.  But if you have only one or two, you can always ‘display’ your hats by hanging them on some hooks on the wall, or on your bookshelf, or dresser; the options are as limitless as your imagination.   They can add a really nice touch to your decor and you do not have to worry about them getting squished. 
  

My last tip is to enjoy the swap over!  Now is a great time to ‘shop’ your wardrobe and discover your old favourites all over again, as well as those pieces that you forgot you had….   Of course, this is also a great time to do a through clean out, and throw away/donate the clothing you have worn out, or do not wear; but as that is a whole other post in itself, I will leave that one until later.   

If you have any ideas or tips about changing over wardrobes, please leave a comment to share.   I love to hear your ideas; it is great to learn about more tips and tricks for managing my clothes!  

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ What kind of blogger are you?

I always thought I was a hobby blogger because I do not make any money from my blog, but after reading this post from Brunette Blogging I realized that I actually I am a semi professional blogger.

Knowing what kind of blog you have, and what you are aiming to achieve with your blog can be really helpful in your planning for the future.  Hopefully, this post will help you figure it all out.   ^  w  ^

Blogging Walhalla

Blogging walhalla, what does it mean for you? One thing bloggers have in common is that we blog because we love it. But, but, but: the reason why we love it can be quite different, depending on why you’re blogging in the first place.

Are you doing it because you want your blog to help your career? Is it purely a hobby? Read on to find out in which category you belong….

xox,

bonita

Stepping Out ~ Misprint

This is the second outfit I have put together that forces me to step out of my style comfort zone and try something new ~ mismatched prints!

I usually stay away from brightly coloured prints in general ~ let alone putting two coloured prints that are very distinct together.  So I never thought when I brought these two pieces that I would pair them up.  However! 

I like how the two floral prints seem to compliment each other, even though they are both very different.  I think the trick is with this is to have a dominant colour in both the prints that matches. 

In this case it’s the pinks in the top and skirt that echo each other even though the blouses’ pinks are lighter than the skirt, they are still a similar shade.  It is same with the blue backgrounds of the prints as well. 

Of course, seeing as this is the first time I have ever put two prints together; I am no expert so experimentation is probably better than taking my word for it!

 

~ Stepping Out Details ~

~ Differences to my normal style:   Obviously the mismatched prints, but also the untamed hair.

~ Similarities to my normal style:  The belted waist, or rather, what is left of my waist{!} and the feminine feel, i.e., skirt, shoes with bows on their toes and the pretty floral fabric. 

Accessories  ~  Belt  {came with skirt}   Top  ~  Tempt    Skirt  ~  Tempt    Shoes  ~  Tightrope

I was really inspired by Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky when pulling together this style.  I figured that if she can mix her prints and pull off some amazing outfits; then I could too.  That is also why I let my hair go a little nuts ~ I wanted to see if I could do the ‘big curl’ look.    

   

Do you think I got it right?

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  This is also my second go at using a tripod/timer to do my outfit shoots.  All I can say is; I wish I had a camera remote!  

Embroiled in my very own Coveted scandal…

This last week has not been the greatest….. 

Somehow I managed to end up in the middle of my very own brand theft/copyright struggle and I thought I would share what is going on. 

Early last week I received an email from a gentleman I shall call Mr Brown.  Mr Brown sounded really nice.  He wanted to start up his own brand/art website/blog and was considering the name “Depict This” until he did a search and found out that there was already a “Depict This!” which, of course, is my blog.   He wondered if it would be okay if he used a different variation of the title {Depict This Blog: Thoughts on Art and Theology} and whether I would be cool with that.

I sat and thought about his request, but had to admit that I was not comfortable with the idea of Mr Brown having a blog title that was essentially the same as mine.  I explained my reasons to him as I wanted him to understand why I felt that way.

Firstly I said that I felt we were trying to reach a very similar target audience ~ I write about art and photography on Depict This! as part of my life style blog, but also I use Depict This! as the writing portfolio for my B dot Depictions studio.  I am trying to reach the online art community.   Mr Brown wants to create an art brand and start an art blog using the same name; he is trying to reach the online art community.

I also explained how I had worked excessively hard in creating exposure for Depict This! and that I would hate to lose any of that ~ particularly with Google searches, etc.  A great deal of my traffic comes through Google so if anyone was to search Depict This, I knew Mr Brown’s site would come up as well and there would most definitely be a conflict of interest.

I sent that email and received a reply.  All was well.  Mr Brown responded politely, saying that he understood where I was coming from and stating that he would not use Depict This because he also did not want a conflict of interest for his work. 

I thought everything was settled.  

I was wrong.  

Suddenly I receive a bombshell email from Mr Brown.  He decided that as he could not come up with any other titles for his brand that were not already taken, he was going back to his original idea of calling his brand/blog Depict This.  He also decided to buy the URLs depictthis.com and depictthisblog.com.

When I got this email, it really upset me.  The last two months have been difficult for me.  I have been  living out of a suitcase; a stranger in a strange city.  On top of that I have been shuffled from pillar to post ~ from room to room, hotel to hotel.  And if that does not seem like such a huge deal, I agree.  It probably isn’t.  But add the fact that I am in the middle of my last trimester, expecting my first child {which, let’s face it, is never a smooth ride!} and everything goes up in smoke! 

To be honest, at this stage I was {and still am when I think about it} on the verge of tears.  I really just wanted to pack it all in. 

I have poured my heart and soul into this blog ~ I love it.   I love the writing.  I love creating outfits and taking photos.  I love sharing with a community of likeminded people.  I just love most everything about it {except writer’s block!}; but after reading that email from Mr Brown I felt like I could not go on.   That I just do not have the strength to fight for my blog and frankly, I had no idea what to do about it.

I sent a reply to Mr Brown, offering to assist him in creating a brand/blog name that would benefit the both of us, but he was not having any of it.  So here I am; completely stuck and completely miserable.   Husband steps in at this point and he emails Mr Brown.  We have not heard back from him yet, and I am not sure that I want too. 

I really am devastated about this turn of events.  I do not know if Depict This! is going to survive a branding battle, but whatever the outcome, I am going to keep writing.  I am going to keep on blogging.  I feel like giving up; I really do. 

I won’t though.  

See, in the end, I am not fighting for my right to blog under this name ~ I do not have any aspirations to become a professional blogger; I know in my heart that’s not what I want.   I would love it if I could still be the only Depict This! blog; I have worked so hard under that name and to have that snatched away by someone else is just shattering.

In the end, I feel like I am fighting for the right to enjoy my blog.  At the moment it is like someone has taken a knife and spray paint to my work; hacked it up and said “Here, you can have the leftovers.”   I just want to be able to blog without worrying about competition, confusion and conflict.

It does not look like that is going to happen. 

So please, if you love blogging and care about your blog name; register it as a URL.   It does not matter if you never go pro, it does not matter if you never use it.  At least you have the peace of mind knowing that your blog name is safe. 

Do not make the same mistake that I did and leave it until it is too late.  

xox,

bonita

Dappled Lights ~ Outfit Twenty Nine

 

We are moving hotels this Saturday ~ from City Stay to Riverview {Last move until we go home!  Yay!!  Two weeks and one day until we fly home!  Double yay!!!!}; so this was my ‘goodbye’ shoot in Howard Boas’ Gardens.   This tree is definitely one of my favourite elements of the landscape ~ it has such solid character and twists in the branches. 

     

Yes, I know this skirt has figured in my last outfit post, but this is my version of a remix!  I went for a sort of sweet romantic look.   I wish my hair was longer because I think that long tousled locks really finish off that sort of style, but unfortunately my hair positively refuses to grow past my shoulder blades.  That means that when it dries, it ends up around the tops of my shoulders.  Curls can be such a pain! 

Accessories  ~  Earrings  {Equip}  Bracelet  {Equip} 

Toe Rings  {#1 Sydney Markets, #2  Florence, Italy, #3  Pisa, Italy}

Under Skirt  ~  Cannot remember, it’s too old      Top Skirt ~ Thrifted     Top  ~  Tempt

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ This is why I’ll never be adult

I found this post by Allie{and consequentially the blog of awesomeness ~ Hyperbole and a Half} through a FB post and just had to share. 

It’s humour in pictures and text and well….  I can’t really explain how funny I found it, so I’ll let you read it yourselves.   But I must add a warning: strong language is used, so if you find that offensive, please do not click through. 

This Is Why I’ll Never Be Adult

I have repeatedly discovered that it is important for me not to surpass my capacity for responsibility.  Over the years, this capacity has grown, but the results of exceeding it have not changed.  Normally, my capacity is exceeded gradually, through the accumulation of simple, daily tasks.

But a few times a year, I spontaneously decide that I'm ready to be a real adult.  I don't know why I decide this; it always ends terribly for me.  But I do it anyway.  I sit myself down and tell myself how I'm going to start cleaning the house every day and paying my bills on time and replying to emails before my inbox reaches quadruple digits. 

Schedules are drafted.  Day-planners are purchased.  I stock up on fancy food because I'm also planning on morphing into a master chef and actually cooking instead of just eating nachos for dinner every night.   I prepare for  my new life as an adult like some people prepare for the apocalypse….

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

Oh and if you liked that one; you should try this post:

Dog

and this one:

Dogs Don’t Understand Basic Concepts

because after reading them I swear my ribs felt like they had split from laughing so hard.  And there were tears.   These posts are pure gold.   Enjoy!

xox,

bonita

Poll Results!

Hey everyone,

I thought that it might be a good time to put up the results of my content poll. 

So at the top: outfit posts ~ which is fine with me; I love putting outfits together!  I just have to figure out how to dress up the bump in different ways…  A little hard as baby keeps getting bigger, but I will try my best!

Tied for second place; Crafts, Deco, Vintage and Art posts.  I must admit, the votes for more art and photography posts surprised me ~ I do not get many comments on those, if any at all, so I was under the impression that they were not really what you guys wanted to see.

The poll speaks louder than comments, as it were, and I am more than happy to put up more art and photography posts as I am very passionate about my art and I love to share it!

Last up are the thinking and review posts.  I like writing these, but I am glad they are not that high on the list of content you want to see.  I tend to do these only when I really have something to say, or I just have to tell you all about a new product I love.  Because neither event seems to occur that often I guess it is a good thing you only want to see them once in a while! 

I am looking forwards to writing these new posts for you and I hope you all enjoy reading them.
^ ω ^

xox,

bonita

Guest Post ~ Lottie Loves

Hi everyone! 

I am over at Lottie Loves today with a guest post about tea!   Please check it out because Lottie is one of my favourite vintage bloggers, and she is super sweet and nice.   Plus, this is my first ever guest post.  > 0 <   I have my fingers crossed that her readers will like it!  Hopefully I can entice you further with a snippet from my post….

All About ~ The Perfect Pot of Tea

Today I have the honour of writing a guest post for Lottie Loves!   I adore Lottie’s posts on vintage etiquette and her darling thrift finds, so I thought for all the vintage lovers that follow her blog I could write about another aspect of vintage {and modern} life ~ tea.

 

Ahhh…..   Tea.  What a glorious beverage indeed!  Whether it be morning, noon or night, you really cannot go wrong with a steaming pot of tea.

I find that even in the swelter of an Australian summer, a good cup of tea really hits the spot.  But what constitutes a good pot of tea and how do you tell when you drink it if it is good?

 

…. Click to read more ….

Theatre Thrills & Frills ~ Outfit Twenty Eight

Husband took me to me to see Riverdance at Burswood Theatre on Wednesday.   It was a great experience ~ I absolutely adore theatre and because of my Scottish blood, anything Gaelic is just resonates within me.

And of course, it is the perfect excuse to dress up {not that I really need one!} so I donned my glad rags and went as full out as I could with such a limited travel wardrobe.

I must admit, however, I did not feel fully dressed without my high heels….   There is just something missing without them. 

I will be home soon; reunited with my heels!  Not that I can wear them much these days, but oh well.  I will still be glad to have the option if I do want to wear them.  > u <

 

I was totally unsure as to whether these night time photos would work but I am loving the film noir effect from the strong contrasts!   I felt like a Hollywood screen siren; even though I do not look anything like that, particularly with the baby bump.    ^ __ ^

    

Of course I had to take my 1950s tapestry purse with me; I adore this bag so much!  I really like the colour detail it adds to my outfits.

     

Accessories  ~  Feather Headband  {Equip}   Earrings  {Equip}  Necklace {Valentines Day ‘11}

Sleeveless top  ~  Tempt      Cardigan Bolero  ~  Tempt   

Skirt  ~  Cannot remember; I have had it for too long!     Shoes  ~  Big W      Handbag   ~  Etsy

I am thinking of going to the library sometime this weekend; and maybe visit Perth docks if we can get there.  What have you got planned?  Whatever it is, I hope you all have a great weekend.  ♥

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ DIY Seamed Stockings

I love this tutorial from Kate of Vintage in a Modern World!  I recently ordered myself some seamed stockings from What Katie Did because they were having a sale so I knew it was worth it.  However, I do not know about you, but my stockings seem to snag like crazy and I am pretty sure that I will go through the three pairs I bought all too quickly for my taste.

So this is a fantastic way of keeping my ‘good’ stockings for special events and still having seamed stockings for everyday wear.   Do check this post out if you are a vintage gal that relies on her seams… 

DIY Seamed Stockings

…I love stockings. They are about a hundred times better than pantyhose in terms of look, feel, and cost (when one legs gets a run, you don't have to throw out both legs!). 

When it comes to seamed vs seamless I would always choose seamed. The only problem is that around here real seamed stocking are nearly impossible to find! When I do find some (either in store or online) they are at least $20! Being a university student means that at the moment I have very very little money (stupid tuition...) so spending that kind of money on something I can only wear a few times is not an option.

For daily wear I have some seamless stockings I buy at the Bay for $4 or less. I suppose I could always draw seams on with eyeliner like some ladies did in WW2, but I would worry about getting eyeliner on my dress! Instead I have come up with a simple method to create the look of seamed stockings….

xox,

bonita

Old and New Older Handbags

 

Random screen shot curtsey of Youtube!! > >’

I will not add much more to this post as I am pretty sure you have probably heard enough from me for the moment { I do ramble on don’t I?  > O < }  but I just want to say that I will be posting the results of my poll soon. 

Five people have voted so far {yay for you!}, but I am afraid that the results will not really represent what everyone wants to see.   Or maybe you do not mind?   Anyway, if you want to put in a word, pleeease do:  I really do want to hear what you have to say. 

Last chance to vote on the content of Depict This! right here!!   Go for it; click those buttons! 

xox,

bonita

P.S. ~   A big fat sorry from me as this is a technically an extremely late post.  No, I did not forget to post on Tuesday ~ this video was supposed to be up then but I have had some {!!!} technical difficulties.  I had to rerecord 3 times and then it would not upload to YouTube properly.  It has taken me two days and two nights of trying to upload this video to finally get it posted!  Sometimes tech is such a pain.  T ^ T

C-c-c-c-changes!

Do you like the new theme I have created for Depict This! ?   Personally, I have never really liked change ~ I do not like moving furniture, or houses, or fiddling around with my environment.   Once anything is set up the way I like it ~ I hate changing it!  I am a bit like a cat in that regards {and in my sleeping habits….}; my fur gets all ruffled when I have to move around.

So it is going to take a while for me to get used to the new theme, but it is based off my new B dot Depictions studio website and the design I created for it.

The reason I changed the blog theme to match my studio’s look was that my blog is actually part of the studio, so I really need to have the two looking coherent.  Slowly, but surely, the studio is all coming together and for that I am super excited!! 

Of course, that also means changing my Etsy and Cafepress shop banners and styles too, but I will get around to that soon {hopefully!}.

In keeping with all the changes, however, I am keen to know what you all like to see on my blog ~ so I am going to do a content poll.   Now is the time to speak up about what topics you prefer to read about and what you would like me to post more on in the future.

 

poll by twiigs.com

 

If I have missed out on anything you would like to see on Depict This!, just leave a comment and I will put in my blog ideas list.  Thank you for your input ~ it is very important to me.  ^ w ^ 

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Indelible: making marks…

I really like this post because a long lasting red lipstick is something I definitely need to invest in.  It is not the lasting power that I am so concerned about as the staying power. 

This post has it down  ~  “when my beau sees my glossy, gooey red lips coming toward his mouth...  He gets this look of fear in his eyes, like he is going to look like Heath Ledger as The Joker when it's done.” because that’s exactly what Husband looks like when I go to kiss him with red lipstick on. This post is a good review and how to; so enjoy. 

All hail the long lasting lippy!

Indelible - making marks that cannot be removed

…I tried the reds out and for a long wear lipstick, they are pretty nice. If you are not familiar with long wear lipsticks, their basic concept is that they start wet, dry after application, and you use a lip gloss over them to keep your lips feeling moist and you need to use the gloss that comes with. Regular lipgloss has some sort of weird reaction with the lipstick and starts to feel like sandpaper on your lips.

I am really bad about keeping up with my lips when I go out. I have fun, talk to people...and then I go to the lady's and catch a glimpse in the mirror! Ugh! Where'd my lips go? Also when my beau sees my glossy, gooey red lips coming toward his mouth...he gets this look of fear in his eyes, like he is going to look like Heath Ledger as The Joker when it's done.
So, for me, long wears are great for reds especially…

xox,

bonita

How to ~ A Beginner’s DecoDen Tutorial

Disclaimer:  This is the first decoden project I have ever done myself ~ so I am not an expert, but I did learn a few things doing it so I thought I would share them. 

For the first ever decoden project I have ever done I must say I really quite enjoyed it!  It is a great way to make something boring look pretty and unusual at the same time.  Plus, it is a totally personal thing.  You can do whatever you want and you will be guaranteed to end up with a unique piece, which is something I really like about anything ~ not just deco.  

I think next time though I will make sure I am in a room with better ventilation as I got dizzy from all the epoxy glue fumes!   > O <

Maybe a higher table too, so I do not have to bend over so far?  Anyways, I loved it and I can not wait to do more deco when I get the chance!  However, on the tutorial we go.   As it is another long post I will highlight things that I think are important in pink.

These are the supplies I got for my project:

I did not end up using everything I bought, but it was helpful to have the different cabochons to choose from when deciding on my design.

Basic supplies:

• One clear Gen 3 iPhone case
• Two parts Epoxy glue ~ Araldite for Australians. 
           {My epoxy had a five minute drying time which was ok, but meant that I wasted a lot of the glue.  I have heard that the longer setting time is recommended; but I kind of liked being able to pick my project up without bumping and ruining the work I had already done.  Try both to figure out what works for you.  I think I am going to use both types next time to test which one is better for me.}
• A picker ~ mine was homemade; just a skewer cut down to size with a blob of Blutack (the stuff you use to stick posters up for non~Australian readers ~ I am sorry I do not know what it is called overseas….  T ^ T } on the end. 
• Pointy nosed tweezers ~ I bought these half way through the project and they certainly helped to save my sanity when it came to the smaller gems.  Get some ~ you’ll use them.
• A plate/piece of cardboard for the epoxy to go on.
• Toothpicks to apply the epoxy with.
• Shallow dishes to put your deco pieces/rhinestones in.
• Something to lay underneath your project so you do not get glue everywhere.  I used paper towel. 

Deco parts {sorry, I do not have the size details of the cabochons or pearls}:

• One white glitter rose cabochon   ~  from a local bargain shop
• Two large glitter pink rose cabochons  ~  ordered from modes4u; unfortunately they do not seem to stock them any more
• Four small pink rose cabochons {there were advertised as nail art pieces, but they work perfectly with my design}  ~ also ordered from modes4u; but not in stock
• Three small heart shaped flat back pearls   ~  from a local bargain shop
• One large heart shaped flat back pearl   ~  from a local bargain shop
• Five assorted size round flat back pearls    ~  from a local bargain shop
• Approximately 500 round flat back rhinestones   ~  from a local bargain shop:

~ 6 mm stones:   37 {I would round that up to 40~50 gems so you have spares if you need them}

~ 4 mm stones: Approximately 250 {Round to 300~350}

~ 3 mm stones: Approximately 200 {Round to 250~300}

Note:  I did a price check on how much the Swarovski crystals would have cost me and I was looking at about $40.00 USD for the lot rounded up; not including postage.  

However, my plastic crystals were $6.00 AUD in total….   So yeah.  Huge price difference; but at the same time, I can see how the Swarovski crystals would be totally worth it. 

One, you can clean the excess glue off them {more on that later!}.  Two, they would last longer as well as being more sparkly.    Three, you wouldn’t have to worry about the gems falling off their bases which has already happened to one of mine.  : /   And four, which I like the most ~ you would have left overs, plus, if you do a smaller project it would not cost as much.

But between you and me, I think this is why sweets deco is so popular now ~ silicon for whipped cream costs around $15.00 ~ $35.00 USD {depending on the size of the tube} if you buy the Japanese craft silicon and cabochons can be found relatively cheap. 

I think it ends up heaps cheaper to do sweets deco; especially if you make your own cabochons, but I guess it depends in the end what you are willing to spend. 

Step 1:  Set up your deco area.  Make sure you have plenty of room on your table and desk so you can find everything when you want it.

Top Tip:  It is a good idea to make sure you are in a well ventilated area as epoxy glue has quite a strong smell and the fumes can make you dizzy. 

 

 

Step 2:  Clean the surface you are about deco with a damp cloth and then lay out your design.

I only had ideas about the cabochons because I basically wanted to pave the empty space around them with rhinestones; so this is what I laid out before I started gluing.

 

 

Step 3:  Lift up your cabochons and glue in place.  I also made a quick decision to add some pearls so I glued them down next.

Then start gluing your rhinestones on around them.  I started up the top and did a straight row across.   I left the sides for later as I put larger stones around the edge.

Top Tip:  Only do a small area of glue at a time ~ no bigger than 1 1/2 cm square.   This is particularly applicable when using the fast drying glue.  You do not want your glue to dry out on your project before you get your stones stuck on.

Step 4:  Put a small patch of glue on your project.  Stick rhinestones on, making sure to choose the best sizes so there are as few gaps as physically possible.  You want the stones to sit next to each other as closely as they can ~ sort of like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle.  

Step 5:  Lather, rinse, repeat until the project is entirely paved with rhinestones!   Bear in mind that this process will probably take a few hours depending on the size of the area you are decoing.

Step 6:  Allow your project to dry for the recommended drying time.

Top Tip:  If you are using glass, crystal or Swarovski gems {possibly resin; but I am not sure about this so do a tester first!!} you can clean off any excess glue using am acetone nail polish remover.  Clean the excess off BEFORE it sets.  DO NOT use nail polish remover on plastic rhinestones because it will melt the plastic and turn it cloudy; i.e. ~ your gems will stop sparkling and you probably do not want that!

Step 7:  Enjoy your pretty new sparkly!!    > U <  ~  ♥

Top Tip:  My iPhone case did not have a place to hang mobile phone charms off, so I super glued a a loop of ribbon to the inside of the case and hung my pony off that.  It works great and the case still fits like, well, a charm!   > __ <

Well, that’s it for my first decoden project but I hope to be back soon with more deco bling!   If you have any questions at all, just leave a comment and I will do my very best to answer them. 

xox,

bonita