DIY Matching Concert T-shirts [ The Weeknd ]

 I seem to be have some sort of T-shirt theme starting here. Un-intentional but I'm going to go with it.
Back in May We spent a Weekend in Toronto to see a The Weeknd concert. [try and say that sentence 10 times fast] We had an absolutely amazing time with great friends and the most incredible concert of my life to date.
Thankfully for me Cody also loves a shameless matching concert Tshirt! I just can not pass up a chance to hop on a little DIY action!                   On to the Tutorial.

What You Will Need: 

~ T shirt(s)

~ Fabric Paint (acrylic will also work)

~ Paint brush(s)

~ Iron On Letters

~ Iron

How To:

Be sure to wash yous shirts before you use any kind of Iron on products so if you plan on mixing techniques like I did i recommend washing your shirts before you paint to help protect the integrity of the paint design.

I used a combination of hand painting & Iron on Letters & the entire Project cost less than $10.00 per Shirt [included all supplies & the Cotton T Shirt(s) which I picked up from Michaels]

I wanted The X & O on the front of the shirts to cover the entire front of the shirts, so I decided to go ahead and hand paint these designs for simplicity
  (if you're slightly delusional like me & think spending hours hand painting minorly intricate designs the night before you leave to go out of town is the Simplest way)

My Nana was so kind as to lend me her Iron to complete the project!
I used Black and white 'Varsity' style Iron on Letters to add our chosen song titles to the backs.
(very similar in application as an Iron On Patch which made this half of the shirt much more time efficient!)

In the summer time, I seem to focus a lot of my creativity towards concert // beach wear 

DIY Beach Skirt I made last year for Beach Club

DIY Beach Bag

DIY 'It's Just A Phase' Moon T-shirt

DIY Watermelon; Ice cream; Doughnut Flats

& I am currently working on something for Îlesoniq, & perhaps it will join the list

What's In My Adventure Bag

In the past 'What’s in my Purse' Tags have been a little bit more difficult for me. 
I wish I had my sh*t situated and simplified enough that one bag would be enough for me, but Alas that is simply NOT the case!
 I have 3 bags packed pretty much at all times, & carry a different one – sometimes multiple – depending on what my day is going to look like! 
I really don’t want to be lugging around all of my work stuff in my purse. Lugging around my massive work tote on beach days, to the store or on a Day Trip would be a bit *extra* but .. I certainly can’t fit everything I might need in a day into my Purse.
Essentially I have one go to purse, a large work tote, and an ‘Adventure Bag’ or Backpack. This is the bag I reach for most often in the Summer if I am heading out for the Day (but not to work)! I can fit everything I know I will NEED and a bunch of stuff I just might want to have on me depending on where the Day takes me!  That being said maybe I do have my sh*t somewhat together / organized after all!

So... What Goes into my ‘Adventure Bag’
~ The Wallet & Pineapple Change Purse (for impromptu ice cream cones) go without saying.
~ The PomPoms & Bells (Keys) again crucial!!
~ The ‘I Got This' Bag (the bag of randomness I or someone I am with may need in a day) what’s in this bag changes often but right now it includes
~ ‘The Best Lip Shit’
~ Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, Flaws
~ Mini Deodorant & Spritzer
~ The Makeup Bag (those are the basic cosmetic Items that come with me on a given day and are packed in a way that allows me to move them easily to whatever bag I chose to carry)

~ The Cell (emoji of annoyed face)
~ The Headphones (music is life)
~ The Notepad (quick notes for when I don’t have my agenda with me)
~ The Candy / Gum ( Ew Bad Breath )
~ The Sunscreen
~ Market Bag
~ Sunglasses

Handbag Essentials  |  Spring Essentials  |  Beach Bag Essentials  |  Back To School Essentials  |  Fall In My Bag

High Tides & Good Vibes

Our Friendship is like WATER

No taste, 

No shape, 

No colour, 

But essential for life

The water is historically high right now

so we decided to take advantage of the New Tide

Summer Bestfriend Photoshoot

Location  / Thousand Islands st. Lawrence River High Tide June '17

Photography
 Makeup
Eyelash Lips T 

Winter      |     we are still without a Fall shoot 😉winkwink      |  Spring      |      (another) Summer

Canada Day [150] DIY Geometric Maple Leaf Logo

Canada Day is coming up this Weekend! & it’s going to be a BIG one!

I started decorating earlier that usual with this DIY ‘Sweet As Maple Syrup” Garland
( scroll down to the very bottom to see pictures of this as well) 

Not being in Ottawa this year, where the decorations start going up before the snow is all gone & the warm weather even rolls in… I decided to take matters into my own hands (pun intended) & created an [Upcy] up-cycled version of this Year’s 150^th Canada Celebration Logo. 

I didn’t plan on sharing this as a Tutorial when I originally made this, but after sharing a snap I took while making it I received a LOT of feedback, and requests for a tutorial, & decided to go ahead and share it for those of you who enjoyed it & would like to make their own!

Supplies Needed: 

~ Popsicle Sticks 

~ Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks 

~ White & Red Paint

~ Paint bush(s)

~ Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Sky Blue, Navy Blue, Violet, Purple, Lime Green, & Grass Green  Cardstock
~ Small length of ribbon or rope. 

How To:

(constructing the basic Gemotic Shapes)

To construct your Geometric Maple Leaf you are going to make 5 large ‘Diamond’ shapes, 4 Small ‘V’ shapes, as well as the stem as shown above. I have broken down how to make all of these key shapes into steps & step by step images below. For this you are going to need Popsicle sticks & your glue gun.

Step #1. Create 11 double length Popsicle sticks by slightly overlapping the ends of two and gluing them in place using a small dab of hot glue.  Step #2. Glue The top of two of the ‘double lengths’ you made in Step 1 to create a large ‘V’ shape

Step #3. Using single popsicle sticks this time attaching one popsicle stick to the open ends of the V to continue the process of creating 5 Large Diamond shapes.

Step #4. Once those are secure in place move on lastly to gluing the ends of the single popsicle sticks together {closing the Diamond shape} 

repeat this process 5 times, creating 5 Diamond Shapes, &

one double length popsicle stick left over which you will use later as the Stem

Step #5. Create the small ‘V’ shapes by gluing the tips of two singular popsicle sticks, with an opening of roughly 1.5”.

(Assembly Required)

Using your Hot Glue Gun, & Refer to the Images directly above for Assembly Instructions– I kind of get why Ikea uses Images over text as this is very difficult to explain verbally

Step #6. Begin by laying down two large Diamond shapes as shown above, attach them with Hot Glue overlapping the two base Popsicle sticks. [Referring to Image 1 directly above]
Step #7. Attach a third large Diamond shape in the center (as shown above) with the place of attachment for the first two being placed in the direct center! [Referring to Image 2 directly above]
Step #8. Attach the fourth large Diamond shape to either the left or right side ( I chose the right when referring to the images above) do this by overlapping again with the outer-edge of the center Diamond the same way you attached the first two) [Referring to Image 3 directly above]
Step # 9. Attach the fifth and last large Diamond shape to the apposing side to that chosen in Step #8. Repeating the same process. [Referring to Image 4 directly above]
Step #'s 10-13. Chose either the left or right side to begin (I chose the right when referring to the images above). Using your Hot Glue Gun I swear you could make a drinking game out of my Blog where you take a shot everytime you read the words "Hot Glue Gun" apply a small dab of glue to each end of the small V shapes and begin applying them into the 'spaces' between the large Diamond Shapes [Referring to Image(s) 5-9]

(Adding The Colour)

Step #14. Time to paint – the ‘Leaf’ portion white
Step #15. ... & the ‘Stem’ Red!

Step #16. Refer to the ‘Trace & Cut by Numbers Chart' & the Images as a guide for tracing & Applying the Coloured Card Stock.
Again be sure to use your Hot Glue Gun to keep this process quick and simple!

Summer Bucket List FREE Printable

Today is the first official Day of summer!!

 something you may or may not know about me, is that I am absolutely obsessed with the changing of seasons. I Just love the new feelings and all of the smells, {& minor decor changes} it just feels so brand new & welcoming to me.

Summer is an exciting time [not so much around the Blog due to me spending the majority of my time outside], but I have a few things in the works that I am super excited about sharing this Summer!

Cody and I recently relocated our selves back to our Home Town of Brockville & our making ourselves home again in a new space. There is something even more exciting about celebrating a New season in a New place. We have so many New things on our Summer Bucket List this year, & a few that have become Traditions for us over the summer.

Cody made me this super fun Summer Bucket List & he has been so kind as to let me share it with all of you absolutely FREE!

I will be sharing some of the things that are on our Summer Bucket list over the coming weeks!!
What are some of the things on your Summer Bucket List, Do you have any Traditions?
Have you crossed anything off your List -- We Have & plan to knock a few more off this Week!

[scroll down to the very bottom to get yours]

If your Feet aren't Dirty by the end of the Day you're Summering wrong!

To get your very own  Summer Bucket List printable by Chopfyt / Upcy ;

As easy as clicking HERE & clicking PRINT 

DIY Watermelon Ice Cream & Doughnut soled Shoes

As we head into the May long Weekend & what feels like the not so official kick off to summer, I decided what better time to get back into the Up-cycling game & share a fun little DIY perfect for the coming long weekend & Summer!
I had been holding onto these flats for over a Year , I got them during one of those classic " 3 for $10.00 " Ardene Sales, They are a little bit worn (some more than others) & I find I don't get a lot of wear out of Any of them now, so I decided to show them a little love. In my attempt to live a more minimal life I am doing my best to not hold onto things that aren't practical. I decided it was a great opportunity to experiment with my creative side . I truly am sweet steppin' now in these babies.
Watermelons, Ice cream cones, & a Doughnut {what's not to love}

What You Will Need: 

~ Flats 

~ Acrylic Paint (colours needed specified above each Tutorial)

~ Ruler

~ Small Cup 

~ Paint brushes / sponges 

~ Clear Spray Paint //  Polyurethane

How To : 

If you are upcycling a pair of your old flats be sure to begin by washing the soles of the shoes & drying them completely before you move on to any of the following Steps.

Watermelon Slice (s):

Paint Colours Needed:      Red      White      Black      Green.  

Step 1. Begin my painting the entire sole white as a base.
Step 2. Paint 2/3 of the shoe Red (starting at the toe & working your way just past the natural arch curve in the shoe) [see Imagine 2 above] allow time to dry & apply a second coat. 
Step 3. Paint The heal portion Green (leaving a roughly 1" white line between the two) [see Image 3 above] allow time to dry & apply a second coat.
Step 4. Finish your watermelon design by adding seeds by gently touching your paint brush using black paint.  [see Images 5 & 6]
Step 5. Apply a coat of clear spray paint or Polyurethane to seal in your design!
Repeat on the Second Shoe

Ice cream cone (s):

Paint Colours Needed:      Brown      White      Pink      Blue      Yellow

(or whatever colour*flavor* of ice cream & sprinkles you would like) 

Step 1. Paint a white Base (to ensure paint goes on evenly & helps the colours POP)
Step 2. Using a ruler and pencil draw a straight line across the shoe
just under the thickest portion
Step 3. Paint below the line light brown [See Image 2 above]
Step 4. Paint the top portion Pink & dont forget the drips!
{learn from my mistake & Whip back out that ruler and pencil and draw the done lines before painting them}
Step(s) 5 & 6.  2" below the 'top of the cone' using a beige tone (which i created by mixing white, brown & yellow) paint a single relatively straight line with two diagonal lines inside to create the top of the cone. [as shown in Image 4 above]
Step 7. Using the beige again, paint pines in both direction to create the Ice cream one grid.
[Images 4 & 5 above]
Step 8, 9, & 'however many sprinkle colours you choose to add'. Get To Sprinkling! Using a very fine paint brush draw tiny straight lines [ Images 6-9above]
Step 10. Apply a coat of clear spray paint or Polyurethane to seal in your design!
Repeat on the Second Shoe 

Doughnut: 

Paint Colours Needed:      White      Brown      Black      Blue      Lilac      Pink
choose your own colour *flavor* of the icing & sprinkles OR pick another style of doughnut entirely!

Step 1. Always start by painting  the entire sole of your shoe white! [Image 1]
Step 2. Repeat with light brown. [Image 2]
Step 3. Using a pencil & small cup or three wick Bath & Body Works Candle  whatever you've got handy, trace half a circle onto the inner/center of the shoe. [Images 3 & 4]
Step 4. Paint the inside of it black to create the HOLE for your Doughnut shape! [Image 5]
Step 5. Using whatever colour you chose colour icing (I chose a pale Blue) paint over the doughnut (keeping in mind it's icing & the lines aren't perfect so unlike the lines from the previous Tutorial... free handing this is ideal) [Image 6]Step 6.SPRINKLE time.. Draw straight lines, or gently dab your paint brush to create a sprinkled look using your choice of colour(s) [Image(s) 7 - 9]
Step 7. Apply a coat of clear spray paint or Polyurethane to seal in your design!
Repeat for the other side of the doughnut // shoe

Thank you so much to the amazing team of Ladies!
 it was a pleasure working with you All!

Photos By :  KM Photography

Models : Kielah Crowder       Karen Macnuall

Shoes & Styled By: Upcy // Jennie Matthie