Pinterest Challenge

One of my favourite bloggers Merrick, from Merricks Art, is currently completing a "Pinterest Challenge." This challenge requires you to pick 6 pins from your Pinterest boards and your aim is to complete them in 6 weeks. 1 pin a week. This is a great way to actually start doing or using the things you have pinned.



I, as a fellow Pinterest addict, am also going to participate in this challenge! Here are the 6 pins I am going to be using (in no particular order):

 

 Baked Cauliflower Poppers

I have seen quite a few of this type of cauliflower recipe floating around so I am really interested to see if it really does taste like chips!

 

 

DIY Couch Covers

Our couches are granny-floral so i'm going to (attempt to) recover them!

 

DIY Ironing Folding Table

Such a genius idea! I'm getting Kenneth on to building me a folding table so I can try this out.

 

Fashionable Fabric Key Chain

I do have a spot in my bag for my keys but they hardly ever find their way in there. Here's hoping this helps me find my keys easier...

 

The Spring Cardi

So cute. So easy. Just need to find some cute material to give this one a go.

 

 

Tea Lights

Easy and it looks so good! Am going to try these on my dining table.

 

I will keep you posted on each of these projects to let you know how I went!

 

- J x

 

 

Easy Everyday Eye Look

I don't have a lot of time for any complex makeup looks in the mornings, so I love being able to achieve a smart makeup look for work in minimal time.

I have seen a lot more smokey winged eyeliner looks on Pinterest recently using black eyeshadow as opposed to liquid or gel liner. Here is my version.

 

You will need:

- a crease colour of your choice (I chose a light gold colour from Natio)

- black eye shadow

- angled eye liner brush

- eye lash curler

- mascara

Step 1. Apply the crease colour using light forward and back strokes along your crease

Step 2. Using your angled eye liner brush, apply a thin line of black eyeshadow to the top of the lid, stopping before you reach the inner corner of the eye.

Step 3. Following the line of your bottom water line, create a small "wing" on the end of your eyes and connect to the rest of the eye liner.

 

 

 

Step 4. Curl your lashes

Step 5. Apply mascara

 

Easy!

 

- J x

 

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

Yummy and easy. That's the best way to describe the mini chocolate cheesecakes I made for dessert on Sunday night. 

They were inspired by the mini lemon cheesecakes in this months Coles magazine. I am not a huge fan of lemon, and I knew my sister would eat it if it was chocolate! So I changed the recipe slightly.

You will need:

250g spreadable cream cheese at room temperature

Packet of chocolate biscuits (I used Arnots choc ripple)

500ml chocolate ice cream

12 hole muffin pan

12 muffin casings

Flake chocolate for serving

Step 1. Once the cream cheese has reached room temperature (this is really important otherwise the mixture will turn out lumpy), place it into a large bowl and scoop in the chocolate ice cream. Wait 5 minutes for the ice cream to melt.

Step 2. While you are waiting for the ice cream to melt, place the 12 muffin casings into the muffin pan and place a chocolate biscuit at the bottom of each.

Step 3. Once the ice cream has melted, use a metal spoon to combine it with the cream cheese and immediately place into the muffin tins.

Step 4. Freeze for 4 hours or until firm. Sprinkle the flake on top when you are ready to serve.

Happy Eating!

- J x

New discovery - The Braided Scarf

The braided scarf. Not something you can buy in the shops but something you can do with any scarf in your wardrobe! 

I discovered this on pinterest recently and thought it was such a cute idea, especially for wearing lighter scarves in the warmer months.

image source here.

 How cute is does it look! And it is so easy. 

To find out how to braid your scarves, you can see the tutorial from Krissa's Creative Hands here.

NB: As Krissa states in her blog post, this looks a lot nicer when you use thinner scarves as the braid is more defined.

- J x

 

Instagram/Photo Diary - Streaky Bay 2012/13

I had an amazingly relaxing summer holiday in Streaky Bay recently and wanted to share the beautiful scenery I saw with you!

smooth pool // jetty swims //surfers

cooling off // diving // granites 

rock pools // rock pools 2 // pub view

jetty walks // back beach // hally's 
high cliff // crab friend // high cliff 2
granites // jetty view // home time

Streaky bay is a truly amazing place. I hope you all had amazing holidays!

- J x

New Year Update

Wow. It has been a really long time since I have posted anything on here! A very late welcome to 2013! Things got absolutely crazy at the end of last year.

I will be doing regular posts this year on all things crafty, beauty and life related! I did start another blog at the end of last year - but have decided to shut that one down and concentrate on A Little Bit of This!

- J x

Cushion Covers

We recently bought a bed for my partners sister, and to make it more decorative, I wanted to buy cushions in her favourite colours. Unfortunately, I could not find exactly what I wanted in the shops, so I decided to make my own. Luckily for me, Mum had some spare cushions she was not using, so all I had to do was make the covers!

I found this great tutorial from thriftyandchic.com. It is sooo easy, and I had these 3 pillow cases knocked up in around 30 - 45 minutes. And the best thing is NO ZIPS!

 

I pressed these folds down before I sewed them to ensure the fabric would not move. I lined the foot up with the edge of the fold.

 

I also decided to sew the opposite side where the material was folded. Not a necessity, but I think it made it look nicer!

Better view here. Sorry the white cotton is hard to see!

^^ Finished! ^^

I think they turned out really well! By the third cushion, I was on a roll and finished it in about 10 minutes. 

^ from the front ^

 

^ from the back^ 

I think the fold makes it look a lot neater than a zipper - and so much easier! 

I chose three different types of fabric to make them more interesting and to give them all different textures.

Will definitely be keeping this tutorial handy!

- J x