DIY Bleach-Dye Scarf

I saw this tutorial for a DIY bleach-dye scarf over on Made By Andi, and thought...what the heck, why not? It might just turn into some really neat Christmas gifts.

Supply list:
Coloured scarf - make sure it's a natural fibre like linen, silk, rayon or cotton. My scarf was rayon/viscose
Bleach
Vinegar
Ribbon - I had some blue plastic raffia ribbon on hand, so that's what I used
Rubber gloves

Top l to r: all bunched up, getting bleached. Bottom l to r: vinegar soak, all done!

Edit: Before you get started, make sure that you open the windows, or better yet...do this outside or in your garage. Holy fumes, batman and those fumes can be dangerous for your breathing!!

1. Bunch and scrunch and roll your scarf, then tie it with the ribbon.

2. Place your bunched scarf/scarves in a basin. I did this project right in our laundry room, in the plastic wash tub. This made clean up a breeze!

3. Carefully pour bleach onto the scarf balls, first one side and then the other.

4. Let stand 20 minutes or so.

5. Repeat if necessary. I was happy with the first two, but not the chocolate brown one. Keep in mind that if you only pour a little bleach on your scarf ball, then only a little of it will lose its colour!

6. Pour vinegar into a seperate basin.

7. Dunk your scarf balls in, one at a time, and let stand 10 minutes.

8. Squeeze out the excess vinegar, and toss the scarves directly into the washing machine.

9. I washed my scarves on the delicate cycle for 45 minutes, and washed them twice before tossing them in the dryer.

Eggplant purple hand dyed scarf

Chocolate brown hand dyed scarf

Eggplant purple hand dyed scarf

I'm thrilled with the results, and what's even better is that they were really inexpensive to make. I picked up the scarves (two purple and one chocolate brown) at Walmart for $10 each. The bleach was $1.77 for the entire jug, and vinegar $1.98. Gloves to protect my precious hands were $3.00.

Each scarf $12.25

Have fun with bleach-dying! The impact is amazing, and I'm excited to see what people think of their custom made gifts!

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

I am so happy to announce that starting October 2012, I will be featuring two guest bloggers a month over here at Sweet Stella's!

Have something artsy, crafty, DIY, fashion or inspiring to share? Here's the place to do it!

Everyone is welcome to apply, and after reviewing your entry, I'll let you know if you were selected, and when I will need your post by!

Applying couldn't be easier!

DIY Upcycled Bedsheet Fringed Garlands

A couple of weeks ago, I was brainstorming how to decorate our home for my best friends baby shower.

The theme was a You Are My Sunshine type shower, in grey, white and yellow and I wanted something that was easy, but stylish and something that I could drape in doorways, across our fireplace and our 13' spruce shelf near where guests would be sitting.

What'd I do? I got two double/full size flat sheets, a pair of scissors and I started cutting.

Step 1: pick out your bedsheets

Step 2: cut sections 6" wide and the whole length of the sheet

Step 3: cut thinner strips as accents {or even easier...get yourself some spools of ribbon!}

Step 3: cut your 6" wide sections into strips. Be sure not to cut all the way to the top. You'll be left with a really long fringed piece of fabric {which is awesome in and of itself}

Step 4: tie your thinner strips {and ribbon}

Step 5: swag across door ways, fireplaces, wherever you'd like!

Seriously, one of the easiest things I've done in terms of decor. I tied the yellow and charcoal ribbons on with just one knot so that I can replace them and use the fringed garlands over and over.

Pastels for Easter

Red and gold for Christmas

Orange and black for Halloween

The possibilities are endless from just a simple bedsheet that otherwise would have been thrown away!

Anticipation is high!!

Gees, the title of this post might be the biggest undersatement of the year!

In just two days, after a little car ride from London to Toronto and saying farewell to my boys, I will be boarding a plane and headed to NYC to BlogHer.

In just two day, I will be able to put my freshest face forward for the sponsors who have supported my journey to the largest blogging conference in North America.

In just two days, I will converge with over 3000 like minded individuals to engage, connect and learn.

Gosh!!

I have probably packed enough dresses, wedge heels, ballet flats, skinny jeans, and accessories to clothe myself for a few weeks...but I figure one outfit for day, and one outfit for night...with different shoe options. Flats, obviously for walking through out the city and Central Park.

Ack!!

TWO DAYS!!

How are you handling the anticipation?

Why BlogHer?

A few weeks ago, I engaged in a #mombizmondays chat where we got talking about conferences...

Who's going to what conference?
Will you blog while you're there?
What social media tools are you going to use?
Are you bringing a laptop?

Then the big question...

Why did you choose the conference that you're going to?

This led me to think about why I'm going to BlogHer'12 and what I hope to get out of it. Of course I want to promote myself as a freelance writer, artist and excellent, quality blogger, but at the heart of it I want to...

Connect
Engage
Network

I want to meet the people who inspire me to blog like Mrs. Gloves, Jenni From The Blog, and Goober Monkey. I want to have a blast with my roommates Baby Shmizz, Living With Peanut and Never a Dull Moment and tour the sites of NYC.

I want to picnic in Central Park with Shizz on the Thursday, kick up our feet on a rock, and be silly.

I want to go to Tiffany's and treat myself to something for my 30th birthday.

I want to live...and experience every piece of BlogHer that I can. I want to soak it all in, write it all down, and blog about it when I get home and am able to digest the most influential weekend of my professional career.

So...why did you choose BlogHer'12?