DIY Cute Electrical Plates

I should just start a "shit to paint with nail polish" section.  Seriously.

These electrical plates (is that the term, anyway?) I painted out of sheer boredom.  Easy and self-explanatory, I just painted the basic color, then added whatever simple designs I wanted, using a dotter for most of it.

I thought I had a finished picture of this one alone, but I guess you'll just have to check it out in bottom right in the next pic.  Pity because it was an impulse and turned out to be my favorite.

Moral of the story:  I am no longer allowed to paint stripes without a straight edge of some sort lest any more tragedies befall anything so harshly as the purple plate top middle up there.

<3 WW

Random Photo Post: Crafts 3.0

Wow so its been a while since I've done a random photo post.  They were supposed to be monthly, but it looks like I lost track of them a...a while ago.  Lately, I've been doing tons and tons of crafts, some I've been blogging and some I haven't.  Here's a few that have slipped through the blogging net:

These hair combs I did one day as a quick craft...I literally just glued cute things to them.

A quick, cheap update for hair accessories.

This is a lid I was working on for my craft bins.  I've since finished them and they are too cute.  This was also my first take of Gir for the DVD drive...Rough draft that came out good enough to paint and keep...yay!

This was a cookie tin I also cute-ified for craft storage.

I used leftover clay mousse from a craft kit for the top and gems and glitter I had lying around to decorate it with, then painted the sides of the lid and tin in stripes and cheetah print with nail polish.

Here's the rest of the tops for my other bins I decorated.

...Finally here's some plush zombies I made for part of an order several months back.  The one with the stitches over the the chest with the heart charm is my favorite.

What projects do you have going?

<3

Wookie Wifey

Phytocitrus Hair Kit Review

As with the Benefit Kit, this was also a gift, but opinions are my own.

This is the Phytocitrus hair care kit for color-treated hair.

It came with (L to R) Phytomist Instant Hydrating Conditioner (a leave-in spray), Phytocitrus Shampoo, and Phytocitrus Restructuring Mask.

I like the idea of the little metal bottles and tubes because I'm all for less plastic.  The shampoo cleanses wonderfully and smells like lemongrass, which is refreshing since I haven't seen many citrus-y hair products, but you have to be careful pouring it out as it is quite thin.  I have short hair, so this lasted me about 5-6 washes.

The mask works nicely as well.  I'd slather it on my hair then let it sit while I shaved my legs and scrubbed my feet with pumice before rinsing it out.  It is thick and has a nice smell, almost like baby powder, and left my hair feeling nice and soft.  While it is a good product, I couldn't find a price for it online, and to be perfectly honest, I get better results from Queen Helene's Hair Cholesterol which at a few bucks a tub I'd be willing to bet is MUCH cheaper than this.

This...I don't know what to say about this.  It did leave my hair softer and moisturized quite nicely, but it smells awful.  It reminds me of the aerosol deodorant my dad used to use when I was a kid.  While I like the performance, I've quit using it because I just can't handle the smell.  I used it faithfully while reviewing, though, so I could see how well it worked.  If you can get past the smell it is a great product.  However, I'll be holding onto it as it is also supposed to detangle and I'm growing my hair back out and it tangles badly when long, so I'll try and remember to update the review for the detangling aspect.

All in all, while good products, this isn't something I'd be rushing out to buy.  While I liked their performance I didn't notice a big difference in my hair between using this and, say, Tres Semme or Pantene, so if the prices were much higher than those, I wouldn't bother.  I couldn't find prices on their website, or I'd say so, so I'm assuming they are much higher than drug store brands.  These were fun to try, and I wasn't disappointed in them at all, just not superbly impressed.

<3
Wookie Wifey

Benefit Skin Care Kit Review

This skin care kit came in the Box O' Awesome, so it was a gift from a friend, but I decided since there were so many things in there I hadn't tried, reviews would be in order.  Still my honest opinions and all, just letting everyone know up front that while this isn't sponsored, I didn't pay for the products, either.

They came in this pretty, retro-looking little box.  I was going to re-use it for a craft project, but it was an epic fail, so so much for the cute box, hehe.

It came with Foamingly Clean Facial Wash, Triple Performing Facial Emulsion (oil free, SPF 15 PA++), and It's Potent! Eye Cream.

The cleanser was opalescent and had a fluffy, almost mousse-line consistency, and a wonderful smell without being too heavy.  It glides onto the skin and cleanses wonderfully and I LOVED that there are no scrubbies in it as exfoliants and my skin do not like each other.  If I want to break out and have awful skin, all I have to do is exfoliate.  My only con on the cleanser is that there wasn't much in the tube, so I had moisturizer and eye cream left over.

Here's what's left of the moisturizer and its adorable little glass bottle.  I'll use the rest right along with my regular cleanser as soon as I get done reviewing the other kit I'm testing now, because this stuff is great.  It is thin and absorbs into your skin quickly, so about a minute after applying, you feel nothing on your face...it just feels fresh, clean, and dewy.  In fact, I never really understood the "dewy skin" thing until I tried this kit.
It smells divine, which is something I look for when I'm going to be putting stuff on my face and risking getting some up my nose because I'm good like that.

On to the eye cream!  Even with my allergies, I noticed a reduced darkness and puffiness under my eyes when using this.  Also, this only takes a teeeeny dab, so there's still half of it left.  I'll be using this for quite a while and I'm happy for that as I love it.  It doesn't have much of a smell, but you don't sniff your eyeball area much, do you.  :)  If you try, please send a video.  This I gotta see.

And a close-up shot of this adorable little jar.  I will be re-purposing the bottle and the jar because they are so cute and dainty I always smile when I look at them.  Its the little things.

Overall, I noticed a big change in my skin with this stuff.  I asked the Wookie if he'd noticed since I like to get another opinion from the one that sees me daily, and before I could even finish the question, he said, loudly, 'YES!!' and nodded enthusiastically.  This is a big thing for me having, not only sensitive skin, but a genetic skin condition on top of that.  To find something that works this well is pretty awesome as I've found only ONE drugstore face cleanser I can use without my skin tripping the hell out.

This little kit goes for about $12 online and if there were anywhere in my town that sold it, I'd be all over that shit.  It will probably go on my amazon wishlist anyway so I can save Swagbucks for it, haha.  I'd go buy the little kits as the full-size prices are way higher than I could afford, but if I could afford it - I'd buy those, too, in a New York minute - so they aren't over priced, just out of my range.  This stuff is great.  The little kit lasted me about 2 weeks.  The products go a LONG way, you only need a tiny pea-sized amount to cleanse your entire face and neck.

HIGHLY recommend.

<3
Wookie Wifey

Neutrogena Hand Cream Review

*I received this item free from BzzAgent, but opinions are strictly honest and my own.

When I first opened this up when it arrived in the mail, I was dubious.  It had no smell, looked like Neosporin, and left an odd, waxy-feeling coating over my hands when I first used it as I used too much.  However, I was proven so, so wrong.

When used in tiny amounts, this does help on your hands and cuticles, and it does moisturize very well especially after doing dishes, sure, but that isn't what impressed me.

What impressed me was what it did for my feet.  My feet were very dry and rough on the bottoms despite the fact that I slather them in lotion daily and use a pumice stone religiously in the bath - mainly because I adore running around barefoot inside.  They were also dry and patch on the outsides of my ankles as I sit cross-legged on the floor a lot and lotion didn't seem to fix this at all unless I put it on 3-4 times a day and made it a point not to sit on the floor for a week.  I put this stuff on, put on socks, went to sleep, and when I woke up the next morning to check the results, my reaction was...how to put it without being too dramatic?...CALL THE VATICAN!  Seriously, this stuff is a miracle.  My feet have never been this smooth to my knowledge.  I'll definitely be keeping this on hand because I just still can't get over how soft my feet are.  Even the Wookie noticed the difference.

I can also see this being good for people who spend a lot of time in the winter wind.  As I mentioned before, when you use it liberally it leaves a waxy coat which would be great for any exposed skin if you were, say, hiking in the cold in high winds.

Verdict:  This stuff rocks.  If you have dry feet, go get some.  Nothing has ever worked on my feet like this, including things specifically labelled to do so.

<3
Wookie Wifey

Review - Piggy Paint Green

I had no intention of this becoming more of a beauty and craft site.  Originally, I'd intended it mainly for cooking and recipes, but I always forget to take pictures when I cook either all together or half-way through and end up with a camera full of shots of raw things with no end results which isn't very helpful.  Thus is life, never ends up as we intend, right?  :)

This Piggy Paint came in the cute kit from my post-Yule haul.  The colors weren't labelled anywhere I could see on the bottles or the box, but I believe from looking through the site this is Puttin' on the Glitz.  I've wanted to try Piggy Paint ever since I first heard of them, so I was very excited to get my hands on this kit for just over 2 bucks, but am very, very glad that's all it cost.  If I'd paid full price for one of their products from their site, I'd be stark-raving pissed.  In the spirit of completely honest reviews, here goes:

These are minis and they are quite cute.  I love the little cartoon pig on the front.  However, cute packaging doesn't make up for what, so far, seems to be quite shoddy quality.

This is three coats with a top coat.  As you can see, it isn't opaque.  As stated on their website, it isn't stinky...It does have a tiny smell to it, like Elmer's glue.

It applied easily enough, but the consistency was a bit rough, sort of gritty and I'd usually blame the glitter, except most glitter polishes don't have that issue except for the uber cheap ones and at 9 bucks a bottle I expect more.

To be perfectly clear, I'd NEVER, EVER spend 9 bucks on a bottle of nail polish.  Ever.  Never ever ever.  Ever ever.  I haven't even spent it on the silver Layla holo I want so very, very badly or on the super cute crystal-cap Nails Inc. ones I constantly drool over online.  I'd certainly never spend it on something with this quality.

Piggy Paint, - your prices are atrocious especially when the quality is factored in.  I'm glad these products are non-toxic and that would be great for absolutely everyone, not just kids, but also people conscious about the chemicals in their products, but a lot of people simply can't afford 9 bucks a bottle and certainly not for something where the quality is worse than most dollar store brands.  I had high hopes for these and am sorry to say I am sorely disappointed.  Happier review, next, though, as I do have a few great products I'll be posting about soon.  :)

<3
WW

*I don't judge on how long-lasting nail polish is as I am very rough on my hands, do a lot of crafting and cleaning, and everything usually chips by the end of the first 24 hours top/base coat or no - Yes, even China Glaze.

**I tried the pink before I posted this and its quality was just as bad.  3 coats - crappy opacity.  Very thin consistency, and without the glitter to thicken it up it made it hard to get enough on the brush to cover a whole nail evenly.

DIY Gift Bag Re-Vamp

This is a super quick and easy craft with only after pictures as it is just that simple!

I am a craft-hoarder.  I save damn near everything thinking "someday, I'll need that for a project", so I tend to have boxes, bags, canisters - you name it - of random odds and ends all over the place.  One of the things I'd saved were 2 bags from Bath and Body Works.  I loved the blue checker print and thought they were too cute and wanted to use them for gifts, but didn't want the label on them.

Quick fix!  A glue gun and some pretties!

I glued on some of the muslin strips I have for waxing and added some bows and felt roses.

Cute and easy and saved us from buying a few of the ugly, generic gift bags you see everywhere.

I do believe that catches me up on holiday-related posts...finally.  Now to work on more reviews, and there are tons and tons of those on their way.

<3 WW

Quick Earring Fix

I have seriously allergy-prone skin.  This constantly irks me as all the cute earrings I see are made of cheap metals that break me out something terrible, so I came up with a simple solution so I could wear the cheap cute earrings and not have the skin issues.

On the left, we have a cute pair of Hello Kitty earrings I got at the flea market for 2 bucks.  Those hooks would cause my skin to have nightmares.  On the right is a pair of sterling silver hooks I got at a craft store.  I attached some claw clasps to the hoops on the end of the hooks where the earrings would attach.  Now, I buy all the cheap and cute earrings I want, pull the hooks off with a pair of pliers, then clip them onto the silver clasps.  One pair of silver clasps that I can use with about 15 different earrings I've picked up here and there for a dollar or so a pair!

Easy fix!

<3WW

Kleancolor Eyeshadow - Swatches and Review

This is yet another eye shadow palette I'd bought before I knew I'd be receiving that major box of awesome goodies my friend sent.  I'm glad I did, though.  It is a wonderful palette for the price and I'd not have bought it had I already gotten all the amazing products and would have missed out.

This is just labeled Kleancolor Starry Eye.  There were 3 or 4 different ones and they were $2 each.  I got this one because I love pink eye shadow, but have a lot of trouble finding it, especially in pigmented colors.

Bright and preeeety.  I was pleasantly surprised by this palette.  I know Kleancolor is a cheapie brand, and I do love their nail polishes, but often those cheapie brands seem to do one thing well and all else sucks.  I didn't hold out much hope.

However, the colors are nice and bright and pigmented.  This was taken in sunlight, so the colors look much darker and more pigmented on, there is less fallout than ELF shadows (though I do like ELF), and they have a great shimmer than ELF can't even seem to touch.  Obviously, there is really no comparison with the high-end brands that were in the awesome box, so I'll just compare them to ELF and drugstore brands that I usually buy and can afford on our budget...And I have to say, this is my new favorite, go-to cheapie.

All in all, if you're looking for fun, cheap, pigmented shadows that come in hard-to-find colors, I'd say this is your best bet.

<3
Wookie Wifey

Makeup Box Re-Vamp

One of my more recent thrift store finds was this box:

A nice, flat box good for stashing craft goodies for only a dollar.  Problem?

Its FUGLY!  (But I can totally fix that.)

I used this Tulip soft fabric paint in black.  I've now officially lost count of the amount of projects I've gotten out of this one tube.  It cost about $4, so it is completely worth it and I will be buying more in the future.

The first thing I did was started putting the paint on the furry part.  I was going to do the fuzzy part black and the rest in a different color, at first, then realized I didn't have any other paint and nail polish wasn't going to cut it on something this size.

I used a q-tip with the paint and sort of pressed and rubbed it into the faux fur so it covered well.  It took me 2-3 coats to get it completely black.  Once that was dry and I was happy with it, I painted the rest black with a makeup sponge since my craft stash sucks right now and I seem to not have any brushes, but I neglected to take a picture of that step.

Note:  The fabric paint doesn't usually harden fabric much at all, but did harden the faux fur so it isn't all soft now, but honestly, it wasn't all that appealing to begin with, so I'm not so heart-broken over that.

Since everything needs embellishment and/or glitter, I used glitter glue to start drawing on little designs.

 Then I added some flowers to the swirls...

Here's what it looks like dry.

Here's the close-up.  I ended up putting a clear glitter nail polish coat over the top part with the swirls only because this is dollar store glitter glue, so it sheds when it dries and I wanted to stop the glitter-shedding as much as possible as there is already so much glitter all over the house from my projects.  Oops.

Didn't add a picture with the clear/holo glitter coat as it didn't show up in photos and looked the same.  >.<  I opted not to paint the inside, either, since it will be closed 90% of its life.

That's it!  Now its ready to be used and it is now my new marker case.

<3 WW

Heng Fang Eyeliner Review

Hubs got me a few makeup items for my birthday before the huge box-o-awesome showed up, so here's a review on one of them.  :)  He'd ordered me Coty Airspun powder, which is awesome, smells amazing, and the women in my family have used this stuff going back 4 generations that I know of.  There wasn't any powder in the box-o-awesome, so its all good, I needed this anyway!  ^_^

The other thing he'd ordered me was this Heng Fang gel eyeliner.  Its obviously a Dolly Wink knock off, and I knew it was a knock off when I told him I wanted it, so I'm not disappointed about that at all.  In fact, I'm not disappointed about anything about it.

I'd never tried gel liner of any sort and I think this was like $3 or $4 with shipping and all on Amazon so I decided it would be a good place to start.

There's plenty of product for the price and that packaging is just way too cute.  The brush that came with it actually isn't bad, but I used my MAC brush when I tried it out on my eyes.

It has a nice texture and is goes on very black.

And it goes on quite precise and has a longer drying time than the liquid liners I'm used to using, so you have more time to move it and play with it a bit before it sets.  That line was done with the brush that came with the liner, so you can see it gives a nice clean, clear line.

I like this quite a bit and will probably order more if I ever need to in the future.

So many reviews to post soon!  *.*

<3
WookieWifey

DIY Hot Glue Gun Plate

This idea stems from my life-long goal to make all the things cute.  Even the useful ones.  I'd seen lots of things bumbling around on the interwebz about baking sharpies onto coffee cups and such and it being washable, safe, etc.  I decided to use this tactic to attack the plain white salad plate I use for a hot glue gun rest.

Here's the salad plate...And my markers.  Some are Sharpies, but some I got from dollar stores so they are just labeled "permanent marker" although some of the slicker dollar store brands I have in this photo are labeled "Shoupie".  Oh yeah.  Be sure to clean the plate well so there isn't any glue or paint drips left on it as they will turn black in the oven, but you'll get to see that later.

First, I just started drawing on what I decided I wanted on the plate.

Then, I kept adding things until I liked the way it looked.  It isn't fancy, but I can't draw well at all, so this is what I ended up with.

Finally, I scribbled a stripey, colorful border, then it was into the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees...because I couldn't remember what the actual time/temperature was from any of the stuff I'd read and was far too lazy to be bothered to look it up.

The actual Sharpies didn't fade much at all, as you can see, but the off brand ones faded quite badly.  Its okay, though, it is still very cute and a big improvement on the plain white plate.  The dark spots are where there was super glue drips and things I couldn't get off of the plate and they turned black in the oven.  >.<

<3 WookieWifey