by Stephanie Gerber

DIY bracelet with old brooches tutorial

Today: old brooches turned into a DIY bracelet tutorial for your Wednesday, just the way you like it.

DIY Bracelet with Old BroochesAn old box full of beautiful brooches sits on my dresser, most of them inherited from my mother and grandmother. Almost every day I look at them and think, ‘I really should wear those more often.’ And then because they don’t match or I’m worried the kids will pull at them, I throw on a bracelet (either sequins or studs) instead.

When I saw this pretty Anthropologie bracelet I had an epiphany – I should be wearing my old brooches as bracelets; they definitely add a touch of glam to a basic bracelet and I knew a bracelet would be so easy to make so I created this DIY tutorial so you can make your own old (grandma inherited) brooch bracelet.

Anthropologie Bracelet Tutorial

Supplies for a DIY bracelet tutorial with old brooches:

  • A cuff bracelet. Chances are you have one of these on hand. If not, you can get a cheap one at any craft store.
  • Ribbon. You can make a couple of bracelets out of a yard.
  • A sparkly old (or new) brooch. One you don’t mind removing the backing from.
  • Glue

    • … >> 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 Allison

How to home made marshmallows

make your own marshmallowsHomemade marshmallows are my a dream come true.  They can be as thick and pillowy as you want them to be, melt like buttah in your hot steamy drinks, and one more time just a little bit louder now: they’re HOMEMADE.  Can’t beat that business back with a stick.

YUM.

how to homemade marshmallowsSo how does one make these tasty home made marshmallows?

Easily, so so very easily, you might just swoon from the simplicity of it.  This recipe is from Martha Stewart (perfection) and these marshmallows were whipped together in well under an hour (by my 13-year-old).  YOU can totally make home made marshmallows, and once you do you’ll probably absolutely never go back to the store bought nonsense.

how to homemade marshmallow

Ingredients for Homemade Marshmallows

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • vegetable spray
  • 2/3 cup cold water
  • optional: I would add more vanilla or another flavoring to give the marshmallows a little more boom in your mouth, 1 teaspoon wasn’t enough for me

1. Spray a cookie sheet with vegetable spray and line with parchment paper.  Spray parchment paper with vegetable spray and put cookie sheet … >> 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

Valentines day movie and a beauty surprise

You’re all beauty box fans, right?  You’ve heard of these subscription services where a beauty box filled with a random assortment of surprise fabulousness shows up at your door once a month?  Well, if you haven’t, I’m here to give you an introduction.  By giving you an insiders peek and a chance to win a little slice of heaven a beauty box of your own.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all entrants. Our 3 winners are

Comment # 39, Comment # 67 and Comment #81.

Please contact us immediately to claim your prize!

romantic comedy and beauty surprise

In collaboration with POPSUGAR, and to celebrate today’s release of the new Valentine’s Day movie Safe Haven (romantic drama/thriller), Petit Elefant is giving away 3 POPSUGAR must-have beauty boxes filled with some stylish surprise (s) featured in the movie.  (p.s. each box is valued at over $100)

What, what?  Aww, yeah.

Three (3) winners will receive this beauty box:

romantic comedy

one of which I was lucky enough to receive, and let me tell you there is some fun stuff in there.  Cool, neat-o, beauty, boxy, fun surprises for the YOU in your life. (don’t share this with someone you love, … >> 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 make your own strawberry facial

Learn to make your own strawberry facial; it’s what separates the women from the girls.  What separates the ladies from the gents, and … I’m all out of clever and it wasn’t even that great.  That’s it folks, nothing to see here!

DIY strawberry face maskBut seriously, let’s talk about how to make your own facial: a strawberry one at that.  I love me a good DIY facial, and this one is fantastic.  You only need three ingredients to whip up this face mask and it is so deliciously fabulous for your skin.  Strawberries are filled to the brim with healthy antioxidants, vitamin C, and salicylic acid (found in good acne creams) and let’s face it: strawberries make a girl feel nice and pampered.  Don’t they?  Is it just me?

Strawberries remind me of champagne, which although I don’t drink, feels glamorous, and feeling glamorous reminds me of a spa.  And when there’s a spa, there’s probably a facial.

If you give a mouse a cookie he’s going to ask for some milk, and if you give a girl a strawberry, she’s going to ask for a facial.

(mad props to Laura Numeroff for keeping me entertained at story-time)

DIY strawberry face mask

Alright, enough … >> 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

How to old book desk organizer DIY

Have a book or two laying around?  An old book you don’t want to get rid of, but really don’t read anymore?  Maybe you love to go to the thrift store and buy a good book here and there because you love the way they look, and you’ve acquired one too many.  No matter your bookstore habits, (I’m a bookstore whore, and I’m not ashamed to say it) today Steph is here to teach you how to turn an old book into a super cool DIY. – Allison

Upcycled Book Organzier

Hey! It’s me again, Steph from Stuff Steph Does again, and I’m here to show you a super simple DIY project from old books that will help organize your work space while looking really cool at the same time!

While out flea market shopping with my two girlfriends in Chicago last year, we came across these beautiful, old, vintage-looking folded books for sale at a vendor’s booth. While they were cool, we balked at the 20 dollar price tag. Twenty bucks?! We can totally make these ourselves! And just like that our day of flea market shopping was cut short and we made our way to the thrift store to find … >> 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.

Comments are off for this post
by Allison

How to make a Valentines centerpiece

valentine themed vase

Make a Valentine’s Day centerpiece.  Making one is surely at the top of your to-do list right this very second.  I know it’s late, you’ve procrastinated a little, you’re not really feeling it this year (I’m projecting, I do that on Valentine’s Day) but I still want you to make a Valentine craft, spruce up the old homestead for the holiday.  No?  Play with me here, it will end better for all of us.

Learning how to make a Valentines Day centerpiece will: cure cancer, make your mother-in-law love you, end childhood poverty, and make your mama proud.  No, that’s not true, none of those things will happen if you use a bunch of conversation hearts to make a pretty something-something for Valentine’s Day.  But it might make your holiday a little lovelier, and if you put it on your nightstand your kitty will be thrilled with an extra toy to knock over in the night and interrupt your slumber.

Jerk.

valentine heart filled vase

Supplies for a Valentine’s Day centerpiece:

  • a few bags of conversation hearts
  • vase
  • smaller vase
  • flowers

valentine's conversation hearts

This whole Valentine’s centerpiece thing is pretty simple, you just need a few sundries and about 5 minutes, max.  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.

Comments are off for this post
by Stephanie Gerber

Make your own DIY kiss stamped jeans

You can make your own DIY kiss jeans, did you know?  I’m all about learning how to make my own inexpensive DIY versions of awesome stuff, and these jeans are no exception.

Read on to learn how to make a pair of your own.

DIY Kiss Stamped Jeans

Most of the time February is all about hearts and flowers. But my favorite part is the hugs and kisses. For one day, it’s allowed – encouraged! – to shower the people you love with affection.

Ok, the chocolate is important too. Every holiday needs a dose of chocolate. You can show you someone you love them with a Whitmans Sampler, right?

DIY Jeans

But back to kisses. I recently saw a fun pair of kiss stamped jeans online and thought how fun they would be to make. Wearing more prints definitely takes your outfit up a notch. Sort of like wearing your heart on your sleeve … only it’s your lips on your pants. Same thing really.

And you know what’s great? Unlike hearts and flowers, you can wear these pants long after the holiday craziness has passed.

DIY Jeans with Kiss Stamps

how to stamp jeans

To make your own DIY kiss jeans, you need:

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 Allison

Have a Valentine movie + dinner on us

Dinner + a movie, that’s how we usually roll, on an early Thursday night matinee movie for date night at my house.  We’re a little bit gangsta like that.  I need to be in bed before 9 o’clock, and you know, school night!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks everyone for entering!  Comment #93 is our winner.

valentine movie + dinner

Please tell me you’re less of an old lady than me and have regular dates at normal times of the day (and night).  Please bless you see a movie in the dark of night (not the afternoon matinee special I’m so fond of, just like the rest of the retirement community) and as you’re planning a little something with your Valentine it won’t include an early bird special dinner (my favorite!).

One of you lucky non-boring movie goers has the glorious opportunity to have a Valentine movie + dinner on us, Petit Elefant this Valentine’s Day.  Or whatever day, I don’t like to label what we have together.

Here’s the skivvy on this Fandango (onomatopoeia!) giveaway:

One (1) winner will receive:

  • $30 Fandango gift card
  • $100 Visa gift card

 

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 get the Downton Abbey style

Style mavens do you know how to get Downton Abbey style?  I’m sure you’ve heard of Downton Abbey by now:  the British period drama (my favorite kind!) about some upstairs aristocrats + downstairs servants on a gorgeous country estate in England and all the surrounding drama at the turn of the century?  No? 

It’s AMAZING.  So juicy.

how to downton style

With all the hubbub about the show I’ve been thinking about all the onscreen style.  It’s hard to miss.  Sir Matthew Crawley dresses like a proper gentleman complete with a hat for every outfit (swoon) and Lady Mary dresses for dinner every night in elbow length gloves and pearls.  I can’t get enough, I really can’t.

I put together a fashion board of Downton style: 1920′s, elegant, lacy, ladylike fashion, fancy, white-gloved, post WWI fashion.  Here are the pieces how to get the Downton Abbey style (aristocrat version):

  • 1 part fancy ankle length dress with lace detailing
  • Pearls, natch
  • Fur stole, (for the English weathers)
  • Bejeweled hair piece and/or bracelet
  • Art deco clutch or purse
  • Simple T-strap heels
  • Sneer

Mix all those up, add a dose of sass and an air of superiority and you’ve got yourself a perfect Lady Mary Grantham.  I … >> 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.