DIY Easy Christmas Ornaments

Christmas trees are so fun to decorate! Every year, my family has a tradition of putting up the Christmas tree together. Remember, the ornaments made with your heart are better than the ones bought. These diy's can also be used as gifts. Here are some cute ideas on DIY ornaments!

Penguin Light Bulb

How to:

1. Paint the entire bulb black.
2. With white paint, brush it to form a pear shape on one side.
3. Use the black paint to create arms.
4. Paint a nose, eyes, and eyebrows with orange, black, and any color you want the eyes to be (You can also use a Sharpie!)
5. Draw on a little wreath and write in your name. Tada!

Reindeer Thumbprint

How to:

1. Dip your thumb into some brown paint and press it onto an ornament.
2. With a black Sharpie, draw on the eyes and the antlers.
3. Using a red Sharpie, make a little dot on the end for a nose! So cute and easy!

Cut Discs

How to:

1. Using cheap CD's, cut them all up into little shreds.
2. Glue the pieces down onto a clear ornament with the shiny side showing.
3. Let it dry and hang it up. Super easy!

Reindeer Puzzle

How to:

1.  Piece together two puzzle pieces to form the head.
2. Glue one of them on the back side and two more on the corners to create ears.
3. Paint it brown
4. Add googly eyes and a red nose.
5. Glue some ribbon so you can hang it up. Very simple and cute!

Melted Snowman

How to:

1. Fill a clear ornament with salt about one third of the way or as much as you like.
2. Mold some orange clay into a carrot shape and bake it to keep its shape.
3. Use some black peppercorn for the buttons. Voila! This made me smile :)

All of these ornaments are super easy and fun to create. They are all so cute and cheap to make. This would make a good craft to do with your family members and hang up on your tree or even gift to someone else!

Which one is your favorite? ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3

DIY Positivity Jar

Positivity Jars are amazing. They help you with staying positive and keep you thankful every day.

To Make the Jar

You will need:

-mason jar
-utility knife (you'll need parent supervision for this!)
-ribbons
-letter stickers
-any embellishments you like to decorate it to your own personal style

Directions:

1. Cut a slit on the lid of the mason jar. This will be used as a slot to put your positive  notes in.
2. Decorate your jar! Everyone's is going to be different, but you can wrap ribbons around it, stick on letters to mak
e you name, or even label it as Positivity Jar, and so much more! Make it your own!

What to Do

Everyday, for a year, write down something good that happened that day, and it can be more than one. I think starting on New Year's is a good time to start as it's the beginning of a new year, a new you. This project really helps with your character, and you will notice yourself being happier. I really encourage you to do this, as it is really good for your character and inexpensive.

A-Z: Reasons to be Thankful

Happy thanksgiving, you turkey lovers! You can obviously tell by the name of the holiday, but this is a time for being thankful. I tag you to write from A to Z things you're thankful for. It doesn't have to be a full elegant sentence, but it also doesn't have to be a one word answer. Write what you feel. Hopefully this will bring you a thankful spirit. Here's mine!

A- Acceptance. Thank you to those who accept me as I am. 

B- Books. They take you to another world. 

C- Clothes. I'm blessed to have an abundance and nice clothing to wear.

D- Dreams. A dream is a wish your heart makes.

E- Education. Many people don't get the opportunity.

F- Food. America is blessed with so much!

G- GOD! He is our Almighty Creator and we are nothing without Him!

H- Health. I am blessed with a healthy body.

I- Imagination. We wouldn't have a lot without it. 

J- Journals. A way to express your feelings. 

K- Kindness. It's free but worth so much. 

L- Laughter. It's timeless.

M- Music. A form of expression. 

N- Now. It's great to live in the moment!

O- Opportunities. This gives us chances. 

P- Parents. What could you do without them?

Q- Questions. It's what motivates us.

R- Relationships. Being alone is a difficult way to live.

S- Sunrise. A symbol of a new day.

T- Thoughts. I have a lot of them. 

U- USA. America is blessed to be one of the richer nations through God.

V- Vacations. Whether big or small, they let me relax.

W- Wifi. It's just awesome.

X- X Chromosomes. They make me, ME!

Y- Youth. I am able to move around with ease.

Z- Zeal. What's life without excitement!

 

Stay thankful! ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3

My Favorite Clothing Stores!

Here is a list of my favorite stores to shop at and a description of each. Enjoy!

1. Pacsun

This shop is definitely for hipster/tumblr girls. I love this store because of the amazing quality of each item, but it is a little pricey. They have a variety of cropped tops, jean shorts, kimonos, and so many much more! The Pacsun that I go to has a Brandy Melville section and they also came out with a Kendall and Kylie line. Check out their stuff, it's so cute!

2. Forever 21

I'm pretty sure this is on every one's favorites list. This store has good quality and amazing prices! The store is also divided into sections based on your personal style like a more floral area, edgy, boho, and so on. I love the jewelry section! All their pieces are so cute.

3. Urban Outfitters

This store has a ton of different styles like grunge, boho, and girly. Right now they are having a 25% off all sweaters sale! UO not only has clothes, but cute little knick knacks like Polaroids, record players, mugs, etc. S'cute!

4. Free People

Let me start off with saying that this is definitely a boho store. I love so many things from Free People, I basically stalk their website and love looking at their dresses and such. Beautiful pieces of clothing. Although their prices are pretty high, the quality and looks totally make up for it.

5. Ross

Honestly, Ross is an amazing store. They have amazing deals and prices and their quality is very good. Many people overlook it, but there are so many high brands like Micheal Kors, Calvin Klein, and more. They basically sell each item for half, even a third of the original price!

6. Express

The first time I walked in, I knew I would love it. They have stylish clothes with great quality. They are very hipster and grungy. Some pieces are even a little preppy! It's pricey, but if you look in the sale section, there are so many cute things!

7. Wet Seal

This place has great prices and great styles. They have tumblr type of clothes, and so many options. Wet Seal is a good option for everyone. They range from cute tank tops to skater skirts. I think I'm gonna go there soon!

8. VS Pink

Not only does Victoria Secret have undergarments, but they have extremely comfortable clothes! I am a huge fan of their half zip sweaters and their sweat pants. So cute! 

9. Hollister

 All of their stuff is so comfortable! You should search in the sale rack and you'll find amazing items! I used to have a ton of their shirts, although I grew out of most of them, but they were literally the only thing I wore.

10. Vans

I love their shoes! They also recently came out with a paisley style, and they are so cute! I kind of want the slip on style, but I mostly buy the classic (authentic) version. They are great quality but a little bit pricey. I'm definitely going to purchase more of their shoes and start a collection!

 

I hope you FALL in love with these stores as I did! ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3

DIY Halloween Costume: Elsa and Olaf

I know tons of people love Frozen, no matter what age you are! Anyways, this is gonna be a long, and more advanced one, as I'm covering 2 costumes (Anna's outfit is more intricate). Let's go... Or shall I say let it go? I'm pretty sure most of you started singing the song, I know I did :)

Elsa

You will need:

• A blue maxi skirt
• Blue tube top
• Blue glitter
• Mod Podge
• Sheer, glittery fabric (Get it here)
• Blue panty hose

To make the "dress":

1. On the bottom of the skirt, use the snowflake stencil and apply ModPodge. Then, apply the blue glitter. Do this until the bottom of the skirt is covered. Use Elsa's picture as a reference.
2. On the tube top, apply ModPodge again and dust the glitter over it as well.
3. For the glittery sleeves, I could not find a long sleeve to fit the purpose, so I made this really cool diy! Take your blue panty hose and around the crotch area, cut a half circle to fit your head. Now it is a shirt! Cool huh?
4. Cut the length of your cape from the blue, glittery fabric (it varies for each person).

To put it together:

1. After you put on your skirt, put on your diy top.
2. On top of that, put on your tube top and tuck the ends of the "cape" in the tube top.

3. French braid your hair and add some snowflake accessories!

That's it for Elsa's costume!

Now it is time for Olaf! Winters a good time to stay in and cuddle, but put me in summer and I'll be a... happy snowman! I thought this was hilarious (cause puddle).

Olaf

You will need:

• White beanie
• White turtle neck shirt
• White gloves
• White pants or short and tights
• Brown pipe cleaners
• Black felt
• Orange paper
• Stretchy string

How to do it:

1. Cut three black circles, one small, one middle sized, and one larger.
2. Super glue the black circles on your turtle neck from smallest on top to larger on bottom. You know what it should look like. It's a snowman.
3. Take (3) 4 inch pieces of brown pipe cleaners. Take the end and secure it on the beanie by pulling it through the inside to make little hairs.
4. Put it all on and zap!

Congratulations, you have mastered the art of freezing. Haha just kidding, but how awesome would that be? Pretty cool, but this was so much fun to create!

Let it go! ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3

DIY Halloween Costume: Lilo

Aloha! Lilo and Stitch is my favorite Disney channel... Who votes to bring it back? I do!! Anyways, even if Disney doesn't bring it back, we can dress like Lilo for Halloween!

You will need:

• A red dress
• White Contact paper (a self adhesive paper)
• A leaf stencil (Google: Lilo leaf stencil)
• (Optional) Stitch stuffed animal... Pillow pet?

To make the dress:

1. Cut out a stencil of the leaf. 

2. Trace it around the Contact paper and cut it out. You can make as many leaves as you like on your red dress. 

3. Peel off the backing so you are left with the sticky side and stick it onto the red dress. That's it! Super easy!!

Put on those sandals and carry Stitch around with you, cause you got a lot of cousins to catch!!

Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3

DIY Halloween Costume: Kim Possible

This costume is for those last minute people. Lemme just say this is one of the most simple costumes in the history of ever. Anyways you don't really need to make much, even though this is a DIY tutorial.

Here is what you will need:

• Cropped black (tight) shirt or sweater
• Green/ olive-y pants
• Brown belt
• Black gloves
• Any black shoes
• Brown fabric
• Black buttons
• Glue (hot or super glue)

To make the belt:

1.  Cut strips of fabric about 3-4 inches wide and long enough to fit around the belt. 
2. On one side, fold the corners to make it look kind of like an envelope. Then glue the point so that it has 3 edges. Sew a black button on there.
3. On the other side, cut a slit so the button can fit in there.
4. Wrap it around the belt and button it.
5. Ta-da!

 Put it all on and there you go, you are now super spy Kim Possible. The belt is optional, so you can always wear the brown belt by itself. Click here for more DIY Halloween Costumes.

So what's the sitch? ---Emily: The Girly Girl Department <3