do it yourself Archives - Simply Happenstance

DIY Oatmeal and Lavender Bath Soak

March 4, 2015

DIY // Oatmeal and Lavender Bath Soak

Yay… It’s mid-week! All I’m dreaming of is a little rest, relaxation, and a warm bath {alone} tonight! If you’re a mom, you’ll especially appreciate the “alone” part! Am I right? It seems that every time I draw a bath for myself, I have at least a couple of my kids come in, splash their hands in the water, and ask if they can take a bath. It’s far from relaxing! So tonight, my plan is to take a secret bath {when everyone falls asleep}, immersing my body in this simple DIY bath soak!

I love a good bath soak, but they can be expensive to buy… and sometimes there are unwanted added ingredients. I first made this Oatmeal and Lavender mixture for my littlest guy, Finn, over Christmas. He had pneumonia and ended up with an itchy rash all over his body from an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. On Christmas morning, my heart was broken looking at his sweet face and little body. He was literally covered in an uncomfortable rash from head-to-toe. I decided to make my own bath soak to help soothe his skin and lift his spirits. It definitely did help, which is partly why I’m sharing it with you today!

I have since made this recipe a few times. I have used locally grown dried lavender, as well as, {kid-safe} lavender essential oil, from Plant Therapy. The bath soak has turned out great, regardless of which kind of lavender I have used. So my advice to you, is to use whatever you have on hand, or can find easily! [Read more…]

DIY: Pumpkin Succulent Harvest Decoration

October 14, 2014

DIY Pumpkin Succulent Harvest Decoration //

Hello, friends! About two weeks ago, I posted a photo of the pumpkin succulent arrangement my crafty mom brought over to me. It was such a hit on my personal Instagram and Facebook page, that I decided a tutorial was necessary. My sweet mama came over with the supplies, and I photographed her in action!

There are so many things I LOVE about this project! The first, obviously being, that I was able to create this with my mom! I also love that it’s super simple, completely gorgeous, and is a “green” project {not wasting or harming the plants in order to create this lovely harvest piece}.

{This arrangement would make the most perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving, or a great centerpiece for a fall gathering, in which you’re entertaining. It would also be a thoughtful, handmade gift for family, friends, teachers, or coworkers.}

Unlike many of the pumpkin succulent pieces you may have seen floating around the web or Pinterest… there is no need to actually cut into the pumpkin. {Unbelievable, right?} The steps are easy, and explained below in a tutorial with pictures. I’ve also included helpful tips {from my mom!} for keeping your harvest decoration looking great, and ideas for planting the top of Mr. Pumpkin when he starts to expire. [Read more…]

D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift

December 19, 2013

:: D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift ::

Do you have 12 holiday parties to go to and not a gift insight? This easy D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift is a great way to present wine at the next party you attend. Whether it be for Christmas or New Year’s, these two D.I.Y. ideas are a great way to use simple items to present that bottle wine you need to bring to your next event.

I love wine. Shane and I enjoyed our 10-year anniversary in Napa and Sonoma, so for us wine is a wonderful gift to both give and receive. I love to drink red or white as I like them both. I tend to sway more towards a Sauvignon Blanc or a lovely Bubbly as my choice for white, and as for Red I do enjoy the affordable yet sensational Layer Cake. Their Malbec is bold and earthy, while their Cabernet is spicy and fruity. Layer Cake pairs well with holiday meals.

[Read more…]

DIY Snowflakes

December 11, 2013

:: DIY Snowflakes ::

I have a super easy, and fun, three-dimensional snowflake tutorial to share with you today! My oldest son, Ryan, came home with one of these pretties last year. I immediately made him show me how to make them! The supplies are undoubtedly things you have around the house, and the steps are simple… especially once you’ve made the first section. This would be a lovely craft to do with the kids over winter break! They make darling seasonal decorations around your home… and can be made on a smaller scale to embellish gifts! So let’s get to it…

Supplies you will need:

6 sheets of paper {plain white, colored, patterned… whatever you prefer}
scissors
tape
stapler

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DIY Pinecone Garland

November 22, 2013

Since moving to the mountains a few months ago… I’ve completely fallen in love with pinecones! Of course, where we live… there’s an abundance! I knew for the holidays I wanted to make a pinecone garland because it looks natural, and fits perfectly in our new mountain setting. I figured the garland would last through Thanksgiving and Christmas, serving as winter decor, as well! To make it a bit more festive… I added some gold paint and sparkles… because I am just a tad obsessed with gold {in case you didn’t already know that – wink, wink}… and all things sparkly!

So, for this lovely DIY… you will need only a few supplies which can be purchased at a hardware store {such as Home Depot}, or craft store {such as Michael’s}. You will need: spray paint {I used gold metallic}, glitter {I used Martha Stewart’s Yellow Gold}, eye hook screws {the size depends on the size of your pinecones}, and jute twine, string, or ribbon.