29 April 2013

DIY: Skateboard shelves for boys room




Found this amazing upcycled skateboard shelves by Lecons De Choses on Pinterest and had to share it with you all. If you have unused skateboards lying around the house, you could repurpose it! Would be perfect for a boys room don't you think?



DIY: Super easy glitter nails tutorial




Do you like my gold glitter nails I just mastered in 5 minutes? 

It's super dooper easy! All you need is a clear nail polish and glitter of your choice. Note that the more glitter, the thicker the texture...

Directions:

1. Roll up half an A4 piece of paper to make a funnel.
2. Pour the glitter into the clear polish little by little. 
3. Once you’ve poured your desired amount of glitter into the nail polish, shake well and you're done! 

Easy as that! Now, go and rock those glam nails of yours!




The boys are back~!




The boys + George the dog are back by popular demand to brighten up your Monday morning! Again, you're very welcome ♥

From top left: Jake Gyllenhaal, Johnny Depp, Ryan Gosling and his pooch, George!

Enjoy~!




Image source 1, 2, 3

28 April 2013

MAC Lipstick Dupes by Life Unsweetened




Check out this fabulous MAC lipstick dupes chart by Life Unsweetened. There are surprisingly so many similar shades and textures of lipsticks that are half of the price!! Thanks, Life Unsweetened - this is just what I needed!
Enjoy~!

25 April 2013

DIY: Washer and ribbon neon necklace tutorial




Hey, check it out! I just made this spunky Anni Albers inspired neon statement necklace out of two things - some washers and a piece of ribbon!

Here's what you'll need:
- 17 - 20 metal washers (I picked up a packet for $2 at a hardware store)
- Neon ribbon (around 1m in length depending on how long you want it)

1. Thread your ribbon up through washer '1'. Leave enough ribbon on the end to tie the necklace when finished.
2. Thread the ribbon down through the top of washer '2'.
3. Thread the ribbon back down through washer '1'
4. Pull the ribbon tight, so washer '2' is laying flat on top of washer  '1'.
5. Thread the ribbon back up through washer  '2'.
6. Repeat steps 2 - 5 for the rest of the washer. Once you're done threading all the washers, tie the ends of the ribbon into a bow. Voila~!

I’m fairly active on facebook, pinterest and twitter, so let’s stay in touch!I love it so much I'm wearing it right now!


21 April 2013

DIY: Upcycled milk bottles as art supply containers




This is a genius idea by Make. Check out their amazing blog for more genius ideas here.

Upycle milk bottles as convenient containers for coloured pencils, markers, and other craft supplies. This is a perfect trick for kids’ supplies!

Happy upcycling!




19 April 2013

Freebie: Printable gift wrap designed by Maiko Nagao




Need last minute gift wrap? I designed some spunky FREE printable gift wraps for you all. They are A4 in size but they can be easily A3 if you print two out and tape together! Make sure you set the page 'to fit' when printing! Download yours below.



//  Polka dot  //  Tape  //  Skull  //



If you like the blue paper ribbon, I made it with some scrap paper. View the tutorial here.


*Please note these gift wraps are for personal use only and not to be shared on other websites or sold.

I’m fairly active on facebook, pinterest and twitter, so let’s stay in touch!

Happy wrapping!




14 April 2013

PicPokket DSLR camera bag/case by Maiko Nagao via Etsy


I have something very exciting to share with you all. To be honest, I have been quite nervous to launch this particular project as it means a lot to me. Why? I have selected my mum to be my partner in crime! Yes, she's the woman behind the scenes hand-sewing these babies away. Isn't she talented?

So here we go, this is what we've achieved as a team. PicPokket dslr camera bags gives new life to old unwanted clothes. We wash them with enviro-friendly soap and upcycle the material in a bid to reduce textile waste! PicPokket is so compact, light and practical that you can pop it into your bag OR hang it around your neck and it's instantly scratch proof. Trust me, you can say goodbye to those ugly, black and bulky standard camera bags!

Each PicPokket is handmade (by my mum) and one-of-a-kind as it is limited to the amount of material we have at the time so be in quick!

Would make a great gift!

I hope you love it as much as I do! It's a must for EVERY spunky DSLR owner. Would make a great gift too don't you think?

Comes in 2 sizes to fit all! Check out other funky PicPokket designs here!




13 April 2013

DIY: Super easy cookie monsters by Icing Designs




How AMAZING are these cookie monsters by Icing Designs! I spotted this on Pineterest and had to share their super cute creation! For more pictures and full tutorial, make sure you check out their site!

Happy crafting!

Follow me on facebook, pinterest, instagram and twitter, for more daily creative inspiration!





Freebie: Mother's day card by Maiko Nagao




Would you like a super cool card for mother's day? I tweaked my 'You're so freakin' awesome' card I designed earlier this year for mother's day! You mat download it for FREE, on me. Hope your special moma will love it as much as I do!

Oh and wait, I have two versions: UK - 'mum' and US - 'mom' so make sure you click on the right link below!





Make sure you print on a thick A4 card and set it to 'fit to page' when printing. There are two grey lines at the top and bottom as markers for you to cut in half. 

Don't forget to check out my brand new hand-lettered Mother's Day card here!

I’m super active on facebook, pinterest and twitter, so let’s stay in touch!

*Please note these cards are for personal use only and not to be sold.

Enjoy!


12 April 2013

DIY: Upcycled magazine gift wrap & bow



Mother's day is coming up and what better way to read, wrap and upcycle! Colourful magazine pages make unique wrapping paper for small gifts! I ripped 2 x pages from a magazine, folded the long edge (the ripped side) of both, and taped them together to make an A3.You can also turn old magazine pages into beautiful, one-of-a-kind bows for your pressies. Diagram above by Martha Stewart.

You'll need a page per bow and some double-sided tape.

Instructions:

1. Cut the page lengthwise into nine x 1.5cm (0.5") thick strips of heights shown: 
Three x 20cm (7.8"), three x 18cm (7"), two x 15cm (6"), and one x 6cm (2.3").
2. Twist each strip to form loops at both ends. Make a circle out of the smallest.
3. Secure the ends with a piece of double-sided tape.
4. Layer and stick, starting with the longest strips. End with the circle in the center and double sided tape to stick onto gift!

Happy crafting!





11 April 2013

DIY: Dr Oz cellulite fighting coffee scrub





Is anyone else addicted to The Dr. Oz Show? I saw this amazing cellulite fighting coffee scrub recently and I had to try it myself! On his show, he talks about how caffeine enhances fat metabolism. So when it is applied to the skin, coffee absorbs and removes liquid and fat from your skin, which can decrease the appearance of cellulite. Thank you Dr. Oz! 

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup coffee grounds
- 1/4 cup brown sugar 

- Olive oil


Apply olive oil to areas with cellulite. Mix together the coffee grounds and brown sugar and use like a coffee scrub on the areas you just oiled by moving in circular motions. Rinse off right away in the shower. Dr. Oz recommends doing this once a week.

My thighs were super plump like a baby's bottom...  How did it go for you? I'd love to hear your feedback! 

I’m fairly active on facebook, pinterest and twitter, so let’s stay in touch!





DIY: Champagne bottle jewellery storage by I Spy DIY




Happy Friday~! Now, go on and open that favourite bubbly of yours! Oh wait, and when you're done, you might as well upcycle it into a jewellery storage... Umm... what a genius idea by I Spy DIY!! Check out their page here.

Instructions:
1. Finish a bottle of your favourite bubbly with your buddies
2. Stack em' up! (your jewellery)

Enjoy~!



Image source

10 April 2013

Inspiration: Sometimes I have to remind myself...




I spotted this on Pinterest and had to share it with you all. Sadly, I couldn't find the source. If anyone knows, please let me know! "Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don't have to do what everyone else is doing". So true.




Polka Dog and Cat series by Maiko Nagao on Society6





My Polka Dog and Cat series is now available at Society6! Use this link for FREE shipping worldwide until 14th April ♥

Check it out when you can here!




9 April 2013

DIY: Natural all purpose cleaning spray & FREE label download




Here's my favourite DIY natural all purpose cleaner recipe for you. I found myself always complaining about the prices of eco-friendly cleaners so I've been making it myself for a while now... You can use this for almost everything in your home, from kitchens to floors to laundry to the bathroom. In addition to being super-eco and inexpensive, it's non toxic so it is extremely child and pet friendly! P.S I designed a spunky label you can download to go with it - for free! (download link below).


All Purpose Cleaner
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 4 tbsp white vinegar (a natural disinfectant)
- 400 ml warm water
- 10-15 drops of your favourite essential oil (optional)

Don't worry about the initial vinegar smell. It goes away in 2-3 minutes and leaves behind a pretty scent of your favourite essential oil. I personally like to use tea tree and lavender oil as they have anti bacterial properties.





If you have any questions or suggestions, please do leave a comment below! 

Happy safe cleaning everyone!



7 April 2013

My top 10 baking soda uses




Baking Soda has been a natural and affordable way to clean and freshen all around our homes for ever! It's pure, safe, and effective, which makes it a great alternative to using harsh chemicals. The best part is that it's eco, cheap and safe around kids and pets!

Here are my top top 10 baking soda uses

1. Exfoliate skin: Wash your face, then apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently avoiding the eye area. Rinse clean.

2. Refrigerator deodorizer: Place an open box in the back of the fridge. It will absorb nasty odours.

3. Unclog a drain: Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar after it. Let sit for five minutes. Follow with a litre of boiling water.

4. Toilet cleaner/deodorizer: Add a cup of baking soda into the toilet, leave it for 30 minutes, then flush. It will clean the toilet squeaky clean and absorb the odour.

5. Scrub pans: Sprinkle baking soda on crusted pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.

6. Relieve diaper rash: Put two Tbsp of baking soda in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.

7. Cleanse hair: Sprinkle 1Tbsp baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. Baking soda helps remove nasty residue that styling products leave behind.

8. Remove odour from carpets: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight, or as long as possible. Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest.

9. Feet soak: Soak tired feet in a basin of warm water with 3 Tbsp baking soda.

10. Fruit and vege scrub: A safe way to clean dirt and pesticides off fruit and veges. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. 

- A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (it’s pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and absorbs odours from the air.

What are your favourite baking soda uses? I'd love to know!

You can follow me on facebook, pinterest and twitter, for more daily creative inspiration!




5 April 2013

DIY: Pocket T-shirt tutorial plus free pattern




Give your old and boring T-shirt an easy DIY makeover! It took me less than 10 minutes and look how cute it looks...

You will need:
- Old T-shirt
- Fabric of your choice (I used fabric from an old dress)
- Pocket pattern
- Iron
- Scissors
- Pen
- Needle + thread or fabric glue
- A piece of paper

1. Print the free pattern and cut along the external solid lines. If you don't have a printer, just cut the fabric to 13cm x 16cm (5.1"x6.2").
2. Place the pattern on your fabric, trace and cut.
3. Fold along the dotted line on each side and iron flat.
4. If you're using fabric glue: Apply fabric glue along the edges. Place your pocket onto your tee, press firmly and let dry with a heavy book over the top for 30 mins.

If you're sewing: Place pins on each corner and carefully hand sew around the edges (except for the top).

VoilĂ ! Enjoy it!




Free: iPhone wallpaper designs by Maiko Nagao




I have some more exciting prints on Society6.com and wanted to give my beautiful readers FREE iphone wallpapers just to show my appreciation!







How to install wallpaper on your phone
The easiest way would be to actually download it directly onto your iPhone.
1. On your iPhone, open up your browser and navigate to this page. 
2. Choose the wallpaper you wish to download by clicking on the link. Once the image displays on your screen, press down firmly on the image until a menu pops up and then click 'Save Image".
3. Open the "Photos" app and go into "Camera Roll". Select the wallpaper that you would like to use. Press the arrow button in the bottom left hand corner of the screen and a menu should appear. Select "Use as Wallpaper". The rest should be self-explanatory.

*Please note these wallpapers are for personal use only and not to be distributed or resold.




I’m fairly active on facebook, pinterest and twitter, so let’s stay in touch!


4 April 2013

DIY: Tiered jewellery stand




Look at what I just put together in 5 minutes! If you have some pretty vintage teacups or plates, you can make a gorgeous tiered jewellery stand!

Materials
Teacups with saucers
Super glue or hot glue gun

All you need to do is glue it all together. Could this be the easiest DIY yet?! It doesn't matter if the cups are different, it only adds to it!

Enjoy~!




3 April 2013

App find: Artkive - a clutter-free way to save and enjoy your child's artwork




Another app discovery! Artkive - a clutter-free way to save and enjoy your child's artwork. It is truly genius plus it's FREE! Check it out here.

Here's how it works

1 Create it: Your child comes home with art or schoolwork they’ve created
2 Artkive it: Use Artkive to take, tag, and store an image of their work in just seconds
3 Enjoy it: Turn your child's Artkive into a book or other great gifts and keepsakes!

www.artkiveapp.com




1 April 2013

What?! Ryan Gosling was seen wearing my Geo Skull T-shirt?!




He he he sorry, Urban Outfitters did a similar stunt and I was in hysterics that I just had to do it too! Happy April fools day everyone! Ryan could however, purchase my T's here!

What kind of crazy stunts did you pull today?

Image source // 1 // 2 //