Decoden Laptop Tutorial- It’s Finally Finished!

I have been trying to decoden my laptop since around 2008. How embarrassing is that! Especially because since then I’ve gone through 3 laptops and managed to finish… none of them *_*

But look, I finally did it!!!

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I think what stopped me for so long was lack of design inspiration. I have seen many deco laptops over the years but none of the designs really jumped out at me. I wanted something special that was perfectly my taste and I wouldn’t get bored with after 10 minutes.

But first let me show you how to protect your gadgets before you deco them so you don’t damage the actual product.

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You need clear book covering contact and scissors. Start by cleaning your item and making sure it’s completely dry.

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Cut a piece of contact which is a few inches bigger than your surface.

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Fold the edge over a few inches.

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Peel back to reveal the sticky side of the contact to the fold.

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Carefully stick it down to the edge of your surface and make sure it’s completely straight and has no bubbles. It’s important to get this foundation right otherwise you will have a lot of trouble with airbubbles on the rest of the surface.

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Gently pull the paper away from the contact and press it down using something flat like a ruler or piece of cardboard to make sure there are no bubbles.

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So now you’ve got this, smooth but lots of overhand to get rid of.

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For the corners, cut a bit diagonally and smooth down. My corners were curved so I had to cut further in.

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Snip around the edges very closely.

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Done!

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Shiny and protected from dust and glue now!

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So deco time!

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It took me quite a while to decide what to do with it so I started the design at the center.

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From there it kind of evolved into a chandelier design.

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And just became more elaborate.

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It was at this point that I got a bit stuck design-wise and it stayed half done for around a year. I had to take it traveling and it got a bit destroyed. Small stones which aren’t part of a larger design are less stable and more likely to be knocked off.

Then a few weeks ago I decided that it was time to bite the bullet and finally finish it. This is the year of finishing long term projects after all 😀

Here are two instagram videos of how I did it:


I’m so glad to be done with it!!

 

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My favorite part is when the Apple logo glows it looks like the cameo behind the chandelier is glowing!

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The design ended up being quite art deco!

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Clearly I’ve been watching far  too many eps of Poirot lately, as if there is such a thing!

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I’m so happy with how it turned out… and to be able to cross it off my list after so many years. Now it’s time to start some new projects!

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How To Do A Twisted Plait Hairstyle – Video Tutorial

Happy Monday!

This week’s video tutorial was a reader request. I wore this style in a couple of outfit posts and the hair was a lot more eye catching than I thought it would be. It’s so easy that I usually wear it on my lazy days XD

Hope you enjoy!


Written transcript:
Hey besties!
Welcome to another hair tutorial!
This one is a viewer request from an outfit post I did a while ago while I was wearing it!
Twisted Plaits
Start with some clean, brushed hair and divide it into two sections.
Take the first section, divide it into three sections, then plait it down to the very bottom.
Make sure you start the plait fairly high up, just behind the top of your ear.
You want the plaits to be quite tight otherwise the end result won’t stick up correctly.
Now secure it in place with a hair tie at the end!
Now repeat on the other side!
Plait! Plait like a swiss mountain girl in a fairy tale!
Secure it in place and you’re halfway there! Or you know, leave it like this and call it a day! Lazy win!
Now take the first plait and twist it backwards as tightly as you feel comfortable.
Then roll it around it’s self into a little bun and then pull the hair tie off at the end.
Once it’s off, continue wrapping the hair tightly around the base.
As you go, pull the plait out a little bit and it will form a twist, like this!
Once you’re finished put a hair tie back on it to keep that sucker in place!
The end result should look like this.
Now (obviously) repeat on the other side!
Twist it backwards…
…roll it up on itself…
…pull it out a little bit…
…and hair tie it in place!
Adjust it as necessary so they are the same length.
Accessory time! You can go big with a hair flower but I like to wear this with a simple pearl headband.
Tadaa! Cute, adorable and a little bit different to plain old buns or plain old plaits.
This looks a bit different because of my gradient, but it looks GREAT with dark hair colours.
Let me know if you give this one a go and thanks so much for watching, bye!

How To Turn a Kids Sweater Into A Puppy Sweater

I admit that I am a craft supply/clothes horder. I love finding new uses for items of clothing which I can no longer wear and that’s how Lottie came to have a cute new sweater.

While she doesn’t really *need* a sweater because of all of that fur, she is a total baby when it comes to the cold so the second it’s under like 15 degrees she’s trying to take my hot water bottle >_> we are both only children so neither of us share well and this was the compromise. Luckily it works so she can have her warm tummy and I can be selfish and not have to share my hot water bottle!

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I started off with a children’s jumper that I picked up at a thrift store 8 years ago for $2. I wore it a bunch but the neck was just a bit small to be comfortable. I couldn’t get rid of it, that embroidery was just too sweet.

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So let’s get started! I turned it inside out and measured Lottie. I cut it in the shape of… a smaller sweater ;D I cut off the ribbin at the bottom too to resew on and make it shorter in the middle.

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I overlocked all of the edges again. Keep in mind if you’re sewing or cutting knitted fabric you need to be very careful because it will completely unravel if you don’t seal the seams well. If you can’t use an overlocker then use French seams so every single loose end is encased. I’ll add that technique to the Sew Fun list.

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To make the neckline a bit more fur friendly I snipped it down the front into a V shape.

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Then I stitched it up by hand. I pleated it a little bit so there was extra room in the front for her mane.

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Done! This took me around 15 minutes start to finish and how cute is Lottie? I think she’d probably rather the hot water bottle but that’s one of the perks of being pack leader ;D

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You guys have probably seen this photo before but it’s the creepiest photo of Lottie I’ve ever taken. Her little arms *_____*

“Hello fellow humans let’s all walk on two legs together and have bacon parties!”

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Fun Printing Shirts

I’ve been experimenting with painting different fabrics lately. Later this week I’m hoping to get some silk painting supplies to play with which I am super excited about. My two favorite things in the world: painting and silk scarves!

Back on topic, my first attempt with printing was for BraveBirdFly’s birthday last year. I made her a kitty shirt!

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This isn’t going to be a real tutorial, more of just a rough guide to what I did on my first few tries.

I made a basic shirt out of some nice drapey fabric.

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I made a stamp by cutting out a piece of cardboard in the shape I wanted and sticking it to another piece of cardboard.

I tried a few of the inks I had to find the one with the most staying power after washing.

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The process was really simple: paint ink on… then stamp!

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Because the cardboard absorbs some of the ink each print is a little different and it looks really vintage-y.

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After a few test runs I decided on a pattern and stamped away!

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Once it was done I ironed it to seal the ink and then washed it to get rid of any ink which didn’t take. Make sure you put it in a load by it’s self so it doesn’t transfer to any other clothes!

Yay kitties!

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I enjoyed this so much that I decided to do something similar for myself. I used an old shirt James didn’t want/would notice was missing.

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After cutting the seams off it to make it more feminine, I made my stamp. This time I printed hearts.

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Lottie found watching me work very tiring apparently.

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I snipped at the neckline and wove them together to make it a bit cuter.

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Done!

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I loved making my own fabric, I want to try doing some more using different colours and techniques. I can’t wait to get my hands on some silk!

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Dumb Ways To Die Nail Art Tutorial – Violet LeBeaux

If you haven’t already seen the original Dumb Ways To Die video, you totally need to because it’s freaking adorable. The downside is that you’ll have the song stuck in your head for WEEKS… and then you’ll have to download the game too and then you’ll never get it out of your head >_<

My favorites are the kidney seller and the piranha bait guy! Poor sad little guys XD

Let me know if any of you guys try it out! I am really getting back into nail art at the moment and I want to practice a lot and improve my skills again! I’ve got a few still on my list but if you have any requests make sure to let me know!

Credits:This nail art was inspired by the Dumb Ways To Die video produced by Metro Melbourne.

Watch the original video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jw
Watch the karaoke version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QV2HAYKP7E&feature=youtu.be
Dumb Ways To Die website: http://dumbwaystodie.com/
Music is by Tangerine Kitty and is the karaoke version of Dumb Ways To Die provided for download for fan use.

Here is the text transcript!

Hey Besties. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t fallen in love with these cute little morbid characters.

So here’s my take on Dumb Ways To Die nail art!

If you like to use a protective base on your nails then apply that first otherwise start with some base colours.

I didn’t have some of the colours I needed, so I had to mix my own.

Paint your base coat till it’s completely opaque.

the colours we are using match the backgrounds from the video.

Each little guy has their own colour, so if you choose to do different characters you’ll need to work that out.

Otherwise you can paint your the same colours I painted mine.

Sell both your kidneys on the internet.

We’re going to be using acrylic paint to paint the characters.

For all of them, start with a colour that matches and then apply details in a slightly darker shade.

For the kidney sell we start with, of all things, a kidney shape.

Then add some little legs with feel and arms to hold a wad of cash.

Now the details. First off he needs a fist full of money in green and then a cool scar in red.

He has a big cheesy grin in white and then black dots for eyes with tiny little white highlights.

I also gave him a dark circle to stand on for some added dimension.

Once it’s dry, give it a top coat.

Stand on the edge of a train station platform.

I ended up redoing this guy because I didn’t like the way he turned out.

Start with an egg of pink for the body with thin arms and legs.

He’s got some floppy yellow hair and I used some dark pink for the shading.

A red headphone cord and a black dot for his mouth.

In the redone version I added a train station platform and made him a little smaller.

Use your private parts as piranha bait.

This one is my favorite!

He’s only half a kidney shape because this guy knows how to have fun!

So start with a light pink, then the details are a circle below him as well as eyebrows and a lower lip.

His face is a big scared mouth with two little eyes.

For his bones add a spine, then a figure 8 for his hips, some legs and ribs in white.

Don’t forget to add the water and some biting fishes in red.

Oh no my junk!

Some little black eyes for the fish.

Poke a stick at a grizzly bear.

This guy is like the other half of piranha boy.

So half a jelly bean shape with little arms and legs.

Give him a darker blue shadow for some dimension and a poking stick.

Some pink for his exposed wound.

You need a bear to poke in brown.

Last but not lease you ened a dot of white for his spine and a little fountain of blood in red.

Don’t poke the bear!

Get your toast out with a fork.

This guy is just a sad little skeleton.

So, I round face with a spine, figure 8 for his hips, couple of hoops for ribs and two lines for arms.

Now some black for the ashes, fork, toaster lever and his sad sad face.

He really wanted that toast you guys.

Finally add the rest of the toaster and a frown in grey.

Use your clothes dryer as a hiding place.

First let’s do the clothes dryer.

My right thumbnail is really small which is why I chose it for this nail.

So a simple circle in white then another circle in purple.

Black for eyes and a frown that immediately regrets it’s hiding spot.

Once again some white highlights for the eyes and this is the only dummy who gets teeth.

Take your helmet off in outer space.

This guy is just a big red blob so let’s start with that.

Then give him a grey space suit, line back to the ship and a helmet.

Now add the details.

Some dark grey shadows on the suit and helmet, then two white lines to finish it off.

While you have your white out, you might as well give him some bulging eyes.

Dress up like a moose during hunting season.

This guy requires a bit of space so save him for a big nail.

So first paint some stripes on to be the background of the forest.

Once it’s dry, paint on a green blob with little string arms.

Then add a helmet in dark green and the face details in the same colour.

How are you guys at painting with your left hand? I could use a little more practise.

Let’s add some glorious antlers so everyone totally buys that he’s a moose.

Some entry wounds in red.

I went over the face in black but in the end I re-did the whole nail.

Again, not left handed.

Invite a psycho killer inside you house.

The psycho killer is a big oval of green with a darker green oval inside.

Use the same dark green for his arm then top it off with a dark brown blob.

He’s got a big white hockey mask that goes over most of the dark green circle.

And three white claws.

Three lines on the outside of the mask then just fill in the middle with eyes and random black dots.

Eat a tube of super glue.

Super glue dude is just a big round circle.

Clearly he needs to lay off the super glue.

Paint his legs in a darker shade then add a cute little smile and some eyes.

Lastly add the super glue!

Nom nom nom!

And there you have it, I hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial.

Of course once you have cute nail art like this you totally have to do the dance.

As Metro says be safe around trains.

Thanks so much for watching! Bye!

My First Cable Knit Cardigan! Finished Project!

This is the feeling of having finished your first cable knit sweater project:

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I have wanted to learn to cable knit for years but it looks so complicated so I was scared off. I was given a lovely birthday present from my friends Dino Slippers and I used it to bite the bullet and purchase yarn and cable needles to try it out.

Of course I didn’t try a small project first, I made a gigantic cardigan XD

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After a little trial and error I found some good online guides including this one on cable knitting and just kind of went with it. I’ve never knitted a cardigan or jumper before so this was a big project for me.

I didn’t have a pattern, I pretty much just winged it!

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I did the arms first, they had a 2 strand cable up the middle and were stockinette stitch either side. I can’t remember how many stitches I used so I will give estimates for everything. Obviously do test swatches and see how many stitches you need. I used 7mm needles and 8ply yarn for a loose finish.

Arms- make 2!

Knit 10, purl 2, 2 strand cable, purl 2, knit 10.

Once it’s long enough to reach your arm pit, decrease one at the beginning of each row until you have only the cable and purl stitches left. Cast off.

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Back – make 1

Knit 9, purl 2, 2 strand cable, purl 2, knit 5, purl 2, 6 strand cable, purl 2, knit 5, purl 2, 2 strand cable, purl 2, knit 9.

When it reaches your armpits decrease one at the start of each row until you think it’s long enough. Cast off.

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Front pieces- make 1 then make one in reverse.

Knit 9, purl 2, 2 strand cable, purl 2, knit 5, purl 2, 6 strand cable, purl 2, knit 3.

Knit until you reach your arm pit. Decrease 1 at the beginning of each row until it’s as long as the back piece. It can get a bit tricking decreasing with the 6 strand cable. When you get to that section just decrease and entire cable and continue with it as a 5 strand cable. Cast off.

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Sew all of the pieces together. I added a collar by picking up stitches from around the collar area and doing a knit 2, purl 2 rib along the edge.

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All done!

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I was really surprised how easy it was to cable knit. If you can plait or braid it’s really easy to see where the strands of knitting need to go next.

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I had a great time making this cardigan and I really want to try another one in a smaller gauge so you can see the pattern!

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What do you guys think? More cable knitting? I’m totally obsessed XD