Chain Collection: Necklace, Bracelet & Ring

Chain Collection: Necklace, Bracelet & Ring
These were made specially for my sister's 17th birthday.

Necklace

All 3 pieces together

Bracelet

Ring



Chain Collection: Chain Wallet

Chain Collection: Chain Wallet

Chain Collection: Necklace & Bracelet

Chain Collection:Necklace & Bracelet

New ring

I've been feeling crafty & wanted to make some jewelry.  While flipping through a book at Michael's I saw this ring and loved it and had to make it.

I used:

-Beading Wire

-3mm Diamond Cut Faceted Glass Beads (68)

-3mm Silver Beads (4)

-Wire Cutter

-Wire Rounder

The beading wire i used was already raveled in a ring shape tightness.  I cut it so there were 3 complete circles, with the cut off pieces both in the back.  I looped one end with the wire rounders, so the beads wouldn't fall off.  I put about 10 of the amethyst diamond cut beads, then one silver bead.  I continued with this pattern, off setting the silver beads, until the ring was filled up.  I looped the other end and was done! 

The beading wire I used is pretty tight, but you are able to stretch it or tighten it a little to fit your finger comfortably.

I'm working on a necklace & bracelet...those should be up soon!

I LOVE Bare Escentuals!

I just got some awesome eyeshadow kits from Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals that I want to share, but I feel I should back peddle & explain how I got turned onto Bare Escentuals in the first place.

For the past 6 months I have been attending Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics & Massage Therapy to become an esthetician.  There are 3 components to our course, Theory class, Practical class & Make Up class. 
In our Make Up class we were introduced to mineral makeup.  I'm not too familiar with it, I tried Sheer Cover before & I like it (coverage wise), but I could never mix the powders properly to get the right color so I stopped using it. 
Elizabeth Grady has their own line of make up and mineral foundation is one of their products.  We started using it in class & I liked it alot.  It's real easy to use & you can decide what kind of coverage you want.  Mineral foundation is buildable, so you can do a light application for sheer coverage, or keep applying until you achieve the coverage you want.  It blends right into your skin, so no harsh lines of where your makeup ends, you know what I'm talking about...that dreaded line along the chin!  And its "good" for your skin as well!  It's natural, doesn't contain all the chemicals in a lot of makeup and there is SPF in it also!
After trying it in class I was sold on it.  I love the way it blends into your skin, looks natural, but covers all your blemishes.  Only one problem, they did not have a color that matched my skin.  :/  I used to 2 non retail powders together to get the right color. 

I went to Sephora on a mission to find a mineral foundation for myself (thanks to Jimmy for the gift card for my bday xo).  I went to each brand that had a mineral foundation & swatched a few colors on my face to see what matched.  After what seemed like forever, and a lot of lines along my face I asked an employee for help.  I told her I was looking for a mineral foundation, didn't have any specific brand in mind, what do you have for me.  Immediately she said Bare Minerals, it's our #1 selling foundation, everyone loves it. She put it on my face & I was impressed.  I decided to go with the bareMinerals Customizable Get Started Kit.

You pick out the foundation color(20 shades to choose from) that best suits you & add it to this kit that comes with:

- 0.05 All-Over Face Color in Warmth

- 0.07 oz Original Mineral Veil

- Full Flawless Face Brush
- Flawless Application Face Brush
- Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush
- Get Started DVD
- BONUS - Exclusively for SEPHORA : 0.5 oz Prime Time Foundation Primer

To me it is really a great deal to buy this altogether because it would be so expensive to buy each thing separately.  In addition to the kit I also bought a concealer.

I have been using it for about a month now & I'm really happy with it.  I like that I don't have to worry about applying too much & it feels good on my skin.  I forget that I have it on. I never have that suffocated feeling.

This brings me to my new eyeshadow kits I purchased.  It's called bareMinerals Tutorials™ Library. 

It's another great kit by Bare Escentuals where you purchase this all together & you save so much money by not buying each shadow & brush separately.   Bare Escentuals has another line out, Buxom.  I have been using the mascara for a long time now, and I just found out that it is exclusive to Sephora.  I also have a black cream eyeliner from this line too. 



In the Buxom line they have the Buxom Stay-There Eye Shadow which I have been drawn to for a while because of their awesome colors.  They are all named after different types of dogs, I got Pug.

All my goodies!

Buxom Stay There Eye Shadow in Pug. Its a pretty steel grayish color with a little hint of purple.  I like the consistency, its almost like a creamy powder.

They recommend using the Buxom Stay There Eye Shadow Brush

 

The 4 Tutorial Kits

Rocker Eye

I really like the Rocker Eye.  It gives you a couple options, so you can make the look really dark & dramatic, or leave it not so "heavy metal."   The Pug Stay There Shadow I got works are a great base for this too! 

*omg.  awesome catepillar brows.  glad I dont have to deal with that anymore.  lol

Eye Lining Tutorial

This kit comes with 3 different brush heads, one handle, and a case for them to be stored.  They snap on & off the handle easily.  

 Smoky V

   

I really like this tutorial/kit.  The V brush is great for creating a smoky look, especially for someone that isn't sure where to apply the color.  I love the color Pacific Heights, it's a pretty light gray purple. 

Foiled Eye

This tutorial is awesome!  Just by adding a little water to the eyeshadow you can achieve a completely different look.  It makes the eyeshadow look textured & shiny.  Very fun for a night out at the club, or if you want to catch someones eye.

I am very happy with my purchase.  I've been using the kits all weekend & I really love them.  The colors within the 4 kits are all pretty much dark smoky colors, blacks grays browns, so I will definitly be purchasing some other colors, maybe purple & greens, in the near future.

I <3 Bare Escentuals!

40 Beauty Questions

TAG: 40 BEAUTY QUESTIONS

1) HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WASH YOUR FACE A DAY?
Usually twice, morning & night, sometimes 3 though if I'm getting ready to go out.

2) WHAT SKIN TYPE DO YOU HAVE? NORMAL/COMBO/OILY
Normal to Oily.

3) WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FACIAL WASH?
Vitamin E Cleanser by Elizabeth Grady

4) DO YOU EXFOILATE? FACE/BODY?
Exfoliating is usually done at school, but I do want to get the Premium Blend exfoliating scrub from EG to use at home. 

I'm using a body scrub from VS, but thinking of finding a new one.

5) WHAT BRAND DO YOU USE? EXFOILATER?
Victorias Secret

6) WHAT MOISTURIZER DO YOU USE?
Elizabeth Grady Optima C

7) DO YOU HAVE FRECKLES? FACE/BODY?
Lil bit on the bod...nothing major

8) DO YOU USE EYE CREAM?
Elizabeth Grady Anti Age Eye Cream

9) DID OR DO YOU HAVE ACNE PRONE SKIN?
Not really.  Hormonal breakouts mostly

10) DID YOU EVER HAVE TO USE PROACTIV?
Hah...I did try it.  Definitly not right for my skin.

11) WHAT FOUNDATION?
Oooo...my next post is going to be all about Bare Minerals & the stuff I'm using & new products I just got!

I'm using Bare Minerals foundation in Medium :)

 

12) WHAT CONCEALER?
Bare Minerals in Summer Bisque

13) DO YOU KNOW YOUR UNDERTONE COLOR?
I believe it was Yellow maybe...

14) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FAKE EYELASHES?
Love them!

15) DID YOU KNOW YOUR SUPPOSE TO CHANGE YOUR MASCARA EVERY THREE MONTHS?
Yes. 

16) WHAT TYPE OF MASCARA DO YOU USE?
Bare Escentuals Buxom

17) SEPHORA OR MAC?
I'm going to have to go with Sephora.  I do love MAC, but Sephora just offers SO much.

18) DO YOU HAVE A MAC PRO CARD?
Yes

19) WHAT MAKE UP TOOLS DO YOU USE WHEN APPLYING MAKE UP
Right now mostly BM brushes, along with a few from ELF that I got for a $1/ea & really love for packing on eyeshadow, a couple MAC, some Sephora.

 

20) DO YOU USE MAKE UP BASE PRIMER FOR THE EYES OR FACE?
Yes.  I used to use Smashbox oil free, now I'm trying the BM that came with the startup kit.  I use a discontinued Benefit eye primer, so if anyone has any suggestions for a new one let me know!  I'm almost out!

21) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EYESHADOW COLOR OR SHADE?
I love purples.  Its my favorite color & really brings out my eyes.

22) DO YOU USE PENCIL OR LIQUID EYELINER?
Ususally pencil, sometimes liquid, but I'm not great at applying it.

23) HOW OFTEN DO YOU POKE YOUR EYES WITH AN EYELINER PENCIL?
haha, not too often

24) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PIGMENT EYESHADOWS?
Messy, but great when you want intense color

25) DO YOU USE MINERAL MAKE UP?
Yep!  LOVE ITTTTT

26) WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LIPSTICK? LIPGLOSS?
Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss in Rave

I had one from VS that I LOVED.  I think it was in a bronzed line or something.  They don't make it anymore :(

Avon Glazewear Diamonds in Pink Tiara (i think that is the color)

27) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BLUSH?
NARS Orgasm

28) DO YOU BUY YOUR MAKE UP ON EBAY?
Nope

29) DO YOU LIKE DRUGSTORE MAKE UP?
Maybelline Define A Brow Pencil.  There are a few mascaras I like.  The Loreal Hip line is pretty good for fun colors.

30) DO YOU GO TO A CCO?
Whats a CCO

31) DID YOU EVER CONSIDER TAKING MAKE UP CLASSES?
Yes, and I am!  Love them!

32) ARE YOU CLUMSY PUTTING ON MAKE UP?
haha.  When I rush.

 

33) NAME A MAKE UP CRIME THAT YOU HATE?
#1 Not Blending.  Spidery eyelashes.

34) DO YOU LIKE COLORFUL SHADES OF MAKE UP EYESHADOW, LIPSTICK OR NEUTRAL ONES?
I like both.  Sometimes I want to be fun & do a bright color ful eye, other times I want to keep it simple & neutral with browns.  I'm also a big fan of using a neutral/browns then throwing a little color in the crease to mix it up a bit.

 

35) WHICH CELEBRITY ALWAYS HAS GREAT MAKE UP?
Beyonce always looks pretty good.  Kim Kardashian too

36) IF YOU COULD LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH ONE MAKE UP ITEM WHAT WOULD IT BE?
mascara

37) WOULD YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT MAKE UP ON?
Yes, all the time.

38) DO YOU THINK YOU LOOK GOOD WITHOUT MAKE UP ON?
Sure, make up enhances your natural beauty ;)

39) IN YOUR OPINION WHAT IS THE BEST MAKE UP LINE?
I'm really digging Bare Escentuals right now...their Bare Minerals & Buxom lines.

40) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAKE UP?
I love it.  It's a great tool/accessory in a womans life.  The list is endless when it comes to what you can achieve with makeup.

Color Wheel Project

I am currently learning about the Color Wheel in my Make Up class & have to do a little project to represent it.  We are required to include Primary & Secondary colors, but Tertiary colors are optional. 

I decided to make a necklace with little beads.

I had wanted to include Primary, Secondary & Tertiary in my project but I couldn't find all the beads to do that.  My other idea was to make a tshirt and have each wedge of the wheel be a cool design instead of just a solid wedge of color.



Halloween costumes

I spent last week being a slave to my sewing machine finishing my Halloween costumes. 

I deconstructed a Fangtasia t-shirt to turn myself into a "Fangbanger," from HBO's True Blood.

Front:

Back:

End Result:

This costume did not originate from TB, I was not dressing up as an actual character.  Fangbangers are characters on the show.  Fangtasia is the vampire bar they hang out at.  I came up with my own idea of what the costume should look like.

I bought the wig at Savers for cheap money.  The choker & arm fishnet things came from Hot Topic.  The t-shirt came from Newbury Comics.  Everything else I had from previous halloween costumes...jean skirt, red fishnets, black thigh high fishnets & huge platform boots.

I cut the t-shirt in half, so the back & front were separated.  I added side panels that I made from black cotton fabric w/ a red lace over it.  I then added a skinny piece of fabric on each side of the panels & attached eyelets to them.  I sewed the panels to the shirt to make the panels, front & back all one shirt.  I laced up the eyelets on the sides with skinny ribbon to give the sides a corset look.

My second costume I made was Captain Spaulding from Rob Zombies House of 1000 Corpses & Devils Rejects.

This costume used to be available in Halloween stores, but it is now discontinued.  

 

I was able to find one on ebay with the mask included.  Since I didn't need the mask & they were unable to sell me just the costume, I had to get creative.  I really didn't want to have to make this costume myself, so I found something else he wore in the movie that I could work with.

Yes this is a picture of an action figure.  haha.  I can not find any good/clear stills from the movie where he is in this clothing, but the action figure shows it perfectly!

Originally I was going to go all out & wear the bald cap & look just like him.  I'm REALLY glad I decided to do a girl version instead. lol

Starting from the top:

I found a small patriotic hat, very similar to this one, at iparty.  PERFECT!  I sewed/glued on a couple hair clips underneath it to keep it clipped in my hair, then secured the 2 sides with a bobby pin.  I used generic halloween face makeup that I got at the halloween store.  White, Black & Blue. 

(creepy)

I was able to find the t-shirt on ebay.

massive ink

I found the fabric for the bottom at Jo-Anns Fabric. (<3 that place)

I made a skirt out of it instead of pants since I was doing a girl version.  I sewed the body of the skirt & then added a ruffle bottom.  I already had white fishnets left over from my halloween costume last year (Alex from A Clockwork Orange).  I got some cheapy plastic clown shoes at the halloween store & just had to paint the black part white.

My finished product:

I finished both of these last minute, hours before I needed them.  Ugh.  Talk about down to the wire.

I am SO happy that I don't have anymore sewing/costume making to do Saturday before the halloween party!  :)