Category: Style

by Stephanie Hayward

How to recycle a thrifted purse this Summer

How to recycle a thrifted purse this Summer, a new DIY tutorial from Steph, whose last project: how to geometric earrings made my life complete.

recycle thrifted purseI’m a firm believer that Memorial Day definitely marks the beginning of Summer, more so than the “official” season change in June. School is getting out, theme parks and pools are opening up for the season, and shorts and sundresses are essential. It’s summer! Let’s make sure our handbag says its so, too. I have a simple how to DIY project you can do in an afternoon to give a plain straw bag some Summer-time glamour.

recycle thrifted purseHow to recycle a thrifted purse this Summer

  • Straw Bag
  • Bias tape with piping
  • Sequin trim
  • Fabric/craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Pins

During a past visit to the thrift store I found a huge selection of straw bags and it was just my luck that they were 50% off! So instead of splurging on a 2 dollar purse, I got this cute bag for a mere buck! How can you pass that up?!  I may or may not have 3 more in my closet right now.…

recycle a thrifted purseThe how to is pretty simple for this project:

1. Decide how to … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Robyn

How to womens dots on dots

Today’s how to comes to us from new Petit Elefant fashion editor Robyn Stewart.  We’re so excited to have her on the Petit Elefant team!  Robyn’s first post is all about how to wear dots on dots, mixing patterns, which is super trendy and fun right now.  Let’s welcome Robyn to the Petit Elefant hood. – Allison

dots copyHello lovely readers! I am Robyn from the blog Cleverly, yours and I am so excited to be joining the Petit Elefant team! I can’t wait to show off some of my favorite fashion trends and tips, starting this week with one of my favorite all time trends, polka-dots!  Today it’s all about how to wear dots on dots for the ladies.

Polka-dots are in no way a new trend, but today I’ve taken a little spin on the classic simple look and doubled up on the fun.  There are a few things to consider if you’re thinking of learning how to attempt the “double dots” look, so keep these tips in mind:

IMG_79581. Make sure your dots are sized appropriately.

A larger polka-dot layered over a small polka-dot chambray work well together. Or as seen above, a basic polka-dot top with a … >> find out more…

Robyn

I'm Robyn from Cleverly, Yours where I blog about life and fashion. I'm a Utah girl from a small town with a big town sense of fashion. I have a passion for fashion and love trying new things and being inspired by others. I love my blog and what I do; stop by and say hello!

by Allison

DIY how to home made facial with aspirin

DIY how to home made facial with aspirin.

//  While I’m away in Europe (hopefully not getting knifed on commuter trains) I’m running a series of Top 10 Favorite Posts on Petit Elefant for your reading pleasure.  These 10 posts are some of the most popular posts on Petit Elefant, so enjoy!  See you soon.  //

home made facial

Did you know Aspirin is kind of the unsung hero of skincare?  For serious, Aspirin does all kinds of awesome things when you smooth it all over your gorgeous face.  Those Native Americans really knew what they were doing, using Willow tree branches (Aspirin) to ease pain, and now I’m here to help you ease your pain.  The pain that comes with the price of a facial.

‘Ease his pain.’  (name that movie)

Go ahead give yourself a facial, you deserve it! (to all the men in the room, you need facials too, it’s not just lady business keeping that mug clean)

HOW TO HOMEMADE FACIAL MASK   <——— Click the link to go to the full post… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

How to DIY facial with fresh and healthy carrots

How to DIY facial with fresh and healthy carrots.

//  While I’m away in Europe (hopefully not getting knifed on commuter trains) I’m running a series of Top 10 Favorite Posts on Petit Elefant for your reading pleasure.  These 10 posts are some of the most popular posts on Petit Elefant, so enjoy!  See you soon.  //

how to carrot facial

Carrots are delicious, crisp miracles that work magic on us humans.  They’re great to eat raw, steamed, dipped in delicious things, and smothered on faces.

‘Wait, slow down a second.  Smothered on faces’, you say?

Yes.  Totally smothered all over your pretty face long enough to soak in and do some healing all up in there.  Your pores love it, and your skin has been crying for it.  It’s time, time to make dreams come true, so GIT!  Be gone.  Go rub some carrots on that face of yours.

DIY FACIAL WITH FRESH AND HEALTHY CARROTS   <——— Click the link to go to the full post… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

Wash your hair with natural household ingredients

How to wash your hair with natural ingredients found in your home.  Better for you and better for your hair.

//  While I’m away in Europe (hopefully not getting knifed on commuter trains) I’m running a series of Top 10 Favorite Posts on Petit Elefant for your reading pleasure.  These 10 posts are some of the most popular posts on Petit Elefant, so enjoy!  See you soon.  //

 

DIY natural hair cleanserIt’s almost Summer in the Northern Hemisphere which means one thing: I’ll be at the pool if you need me.  The kids will be there too, which is the whole point of this post.  The hair on the heads of my two short people was horrifically dried out and tinted green, crispy as straw.  So I mixed up a concoction of kitchen ingredients to help wash the nasty chemicals out and we’ve never looked back.  Every Summer we whip this up and pour it onto our long locks (some of us) to rinse that man right outta my hair.

Name that movie, then go rinse your hair with this cleanser and marvel in the glory of you.

WASH YOUR HAIR WITH NATURAL HOUSEHOLD STUFF   <——— Click the link to … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Stephanie Gerber

Makeover a mom handbag

mom purse makeover

Makeover a Mom Handbag

I’m a mom who needs a makeover for my handbag. My name is Stephanie.  I’m the mom who carries everything AND the kitchen sink in her handbag.  Don’t you? Do you remember Allison’s long running ‘what’s in your purse‘ series? I loved those posts because I’m always curious how other people, (mom-people specifically) organize their stuff. Seeing what was inside all those pretty purses was fascinating!

Once or twice I thought about submitting my own (mom) purse, but then thought better of that humiliation. Because on most days I’m lugging around a purse stuffed with notebooks and magazines, a diaper bag with paraphernalia for 3 kids, and a car seat with a 19-pound kid. No matter how hard I try there’s just a lot of stuff.

 

mom diaper bag

And this is my not-so-stylish diaper bag. OK, it’s not even a diaper bag – it’s what I call the purse side car. You know, the old, ugly, tired canvas bag that you fill with all the stuff that you don’t want in your purse.

what to put in diaper bag

In it you will find, diapers and wipes for the 10-month-old. Two complete spare outfits for the potty training 3-year-old. … >> find out more…

Stephanie Gerber

Stephanie Gerber is a mother of 3 who writes for pretty mommies on a budget. She shares stylish and crafty adventures on her blog Henry Happened.

by Stephanie Hayward

How to geometric earrings

Today, how to geometric earrings, a DIY involving clay and and Xacto knives.   Get excited, this is a how to DIY you want to pay close attention to so you can whip up some earrings this weekend.  Check out the how to details.

geometric earrings craft

Have you guys noticed this geo trend going on? There’s been geometric shaped everything lately, from how to jewelry to candles to how to geometric planters; even holiday decorations are getting geodified. Yes, geodified. Well, now it’s time to add some geometric flair to your ears with these simple earrings you can make in just an hour (and that even includes bake time)!

materials for geometric earrings

Materials for How To Geometric Earrings DIY:

  • Polymer Clay in the color(s) of your choice
  • Blank Earring Posts – available at most craft stores
  • Razor blade, Xacto knife or clay knife – something to carve and slice the clay.

how to make geometric earrings

  • Step 1: Cut off a ½” x ½” cube and then slice a tiny sliver off of the cube
  • Step 2: Place the post on the back of cube
  • Step 3: Stack the sliver on top and smooth together with your fingers
  • Step 4: With your cutting instrument start slicing different angles until

    • … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Allison

Whats in your purse stressed mom edition

what's in your mom's purse

I’m a mom.  Not to state the obvious, but there it is.  And as a mom I carry around a ridiculous amount of, well, crap in my purse.  I’m not sure there’s a euphemism for the stuff I haul around on a daily basis.  I’m super OCD (it’s not awesome like you’d think it would be) and my purse stresses me out to no end, all the mom paraphernalia I need just to get out the door.  It’s the stuff of nightmares.

About once a month, when it occurs to me my shoulders are extra achy, I look in my purse and realize I’m carrying enough nonsense to keep a small nation afloat for a month.  I usually put 5 things back into the purse and like magic, the junk multiplies and has junk babies.  And the cycle continues.  It’s pretty awesome.  No, not really, no it isn’t.

I’ve dumped out my purse before to show you what’s in my purse and what’s in my purse-within-a-purse and it’s like confessions-of-a-secret-hoarder every time.

This is what I found inside my current purse (T.J. Maxx) when I dumped it out this week.

what's in your purseHere we have everything.  Oh, hey!  There’s the … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Stephanie Hayward

Easy knit bracelet DIY

how to knit bracelet

My easy craft technique of choice is knitting. I love that it is portable, quiet, and easy to work on while relaxing for the night. However, now that the warm weather is finally starting to come, (knock on wood) I lose all motivation to make any sort of scarf, blanket or any other cold weather necessity.

What’s a girl to do?

Make easy knitted jewelry, of course!

diy easy knit bracelet

Don’t be intimidated by the small stitches, even if you are a total novice on the needles, this project is super easy, and is definitely something you can try to start mastering your knitting skills.

knit bracelet supplies

 

Materials for Easy Knit Bracelet DIY:

  • Scrap yarn – mine is leftover from this yarn ornament project from the holidays
  • 1″x4″ piece of leather (vinyl will work fine, too)
  • snap and tools needed to attach (I used these)
  • 2 double pointed needles (I used size 8, but it will depend on the weight of your yarn)
  • tapestry needle

Each of the knit loops are made by knitting an I-cord, a very simple knitting technique:

how to knit i-cord

  • Cast on 5 stitches and knit 1 row.
  • Instead of switching hands and knitting the next row, slide the stitches down to

    • … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.