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Creative Self Care Ideas To Kickstart Your Spring

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February 28, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

Spring is a season of renewal. A fresh start. What better way to usher in spring than with self care? This collection of creative self care ideas are the perfect way to get your mindset where it needs to be. (And to finally tackle those New Years goals you may have fallen behind on!)

By now you’re probably familiar with the term, self care. And maybe, like many of us who have busy lives, you’ve probably pushed yourself too hard to get things done, take care of your family and bring home a paycheck. Pushing self care off to the side once again. However, as we find ourselves emerging from those winter blues that left us unengaged, overwhelmed and completely exhausted, spring provides the perfect opportunity to turn things around by practicing a number of self care ideas.

Keep reading for creative self care ideas to kickstart your spring! Plus learn how to make a decorative DIY spring mason jar to decorate your own or use for spring inspired gifts or wedding favors.

Creative Self Care Ideas for Spring

1. Visit the craft store. (This is probably one of my most favorite self care ideas of all time.) The bright colors and fun new project ideas – not to mention the walk! – are a sure fire way to bring a smile to your face. (Just avoid the floral aisle if you have allergies like I do!) I made this super cute, decorative DIY spring mason jar after a recent visit to A.C. Moore. (Keep reading to learn how to make your own!)

2. Organize your makeup – and throw out the old! Not only does the task of getting rid of old makeup save your skin from potential bacteria that can cause breakouts or worse, the act itself is grounding and therefore therapeutic. Plus it gives you the opportunity to shop for those perfect eyeshadow palettes for the new season.

Upcycle your old makeup for use in art projects, then get creative with a new look for spring. Or learn how to make your own scented unicorn eyeshadow palette!

3. Subscribe to a beauty box for a fun (and useful!) surprise every month. When all you get in the mail is bills, it can make checking your mailbox rather dreary. Treat yourself instead with your favorite beauty and skin care brands by subscribing to a monthly beauty box! For smaller budgets I love my Allure and ipsy beauty box subscriptions! However, when I have the extra money, I am all about the green friendly Love Goodly beauty box that comes every other month!

I love that sometimes I get beauty products that inspire me to be adventurous. Sometimes it’s fun to pretend we’re eight years old again, playing with mommy’s makeup box.

4. Learn a new craft! Stop playing Candy Crush Friends and get away from the television! Learning a new hobby is not only a better use of your time, it also gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Plus you can get some great new ideas for handmade gifts throughout in the year.

I love CreativeBug for learning new crafts. You can learn how to make a macrame plant hanger for spring, learn how to sew your own lingerie, learn how to draw & paint with ink or get started with meditative art journaling! Also be sure to check out Pop Shop America’s Craft In Style subscriptions boxes for monthly all-in-one craft kits. Or browse my fun collection of DIY craft kits for adults.

5. Make a homemade face mask. Not only will this improve the look and feel of your skin, but it’s a luxurious way to take a ten minute time out and do absolutely nothing at all. Choose from one of my many homemade face mask recipes. Or pick your favorite go to!

6. Read a book or magazine. Reading is one of the things that’s hardest for me to take time for. However, it’s something I really do enjoy. So take that hour and spend it reading that book you’ve had sitting on your shelf forever. Read a magazine or brush up on your favorite blogs.

Tip: Take all your favorite books with you on the go to indulge in waiting rooms or at the park with a kindle paperwhite! While paper is my passion, kindle saves my hands from cramping due to fibro. It’s a great accessory for arthritis sufferers too! The new kindle paperwhite is thinner, lighter AND waterproof – so it’s perfect poolside throughout summer.

7. Start planning your garden. Here in Southwestern Virginia we remain under a frost risk well into April. If you’re further north, that means you also have a wait before you can actually plant your veggies in the ground. That doesn’t mean you can’t plan your garden now! Decide which veggies or flowers you want to grow and draw up a mock garden bed. You can even start your seeds indoors to get a head start! Buy a garden planner to get started. Or shop for your favorite gardening supplies!

8. Dance your heart out. It doesn’t matter if you do it in your living room while watching YouTube, in the kitchen while you’re cooking or in a club to your favorite live band. Just dance! Not only will it help you sneak in a bit of cardio time, it’ll also boost those happy endorphins that will further energize you and bring a smile to your face!

Now that you’ve read my favorite creative self care ideas, I’d love to hear some of yours. So be sure to share your favorite self care ideas in the comments. Also be sure to check out my super easy tutorial below for crafting your own mini decorative spring mason jar! It’s just another fun self care idea to try to kickstart your spring!

Mini Decorative DIY Spring Mason Jar

This mini decorative DIY spring mason jar is so simple to make. In 10-minutes or less you can create a decorative mini mason jar that’s perfect for decorating your small spaces. You can also use these cute little mason jars for storage to stash trinkets like jewelry and rings. Or utilize them as pretty canisters for your homemade bath salts or Easter treats this spring. While I used mini hinged jars for this DIY home decor project, you can recreate this DIY idea on storage or mason jars of any size!

Ready to get started?

First choose your jar. Then choose a small feathered bird to fit the size of the mason jar you’ve chosen. Now pick a collection of paper flowers or 3D stickers that work well with the colors you’ve chosen elsewhere. I used Little Birdie flowers and Little Birdie mini succulents. You’ll also need a strong glue that adheres to the surface of your jar. I used E6000 – my typical go to for bonding everything to everything else.

For the next step, you’ll begin by gluing the flowers onto the lid of your storage or mason jar. (I also glued a mini succulent to the inner bottom of my jar.)

Continue working by gluing more flowers in layers onto the lid of your jar. You’ll want to leave a small space in the center for your bird to nest.

Finally, glue the bird onto the lid of the jar. Once you’re sure the bird is firmly glued down, set the jar aside to allow the glue to dry and cure. (E6000 requires 48-72 hours to cure.)

Once the glue on your mason jar has cured, your decorative spring mason jar is ready to use!

For more self care ideas you can practice throughout the year, be sure to visit Soap Deli News here. Also follow my boards on Pinterest for more great spring craft ideas and wellness tips.

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Filed Under: Decorating, DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home, Health & Wellness, Homemade Gift Ideas, Lifestyle Tagged With: 10-minute crafts, crafts, decorating, decorative jar, diy, Easter, easy, favors, home decor, mason jar, party favor, self care, spring, storage, wedding favor

No Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Fall

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October 10, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

If you’re ready to decorate with pumpkins for fall, then be sure to check out this amazing collection of no carve pumpkin decorating ideas! These handmade fall pumpkins are exactly what your home needs! Whether you’re buying seasonally inspired pumpkin fall decor for your home, or you simply need some inspiration for your own DIY no carve pumpkins, you’ll love these handmade fall pumpkin ideas!

I loved carving pumpkins a kid. And then, of course, doing it all over again with my son throughout his childhood. At this point in my life, however, I’m kind of over the gooey, slimy pumpkin guts, kids stealing through the night to smash the neighborhood jack-o-lanterns and the eventual downfall of my creations.

Assuming my carved pumpkins survived being demolished by tricksters, watching something you spent a good deal of time on shrink and fade and rot, seems almost self defeating. To be honest, I’m of that mind to simply paint a faux pumpkin that I can reuse every year. If dealing with messy pumpkin guts and seeds aren’t your thing either, then consider these fall pumpkin decorating ideas instead.

No Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Fall

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Decor

As featured in the ‘House Beautiful’ October 2017 issue, this collection of one of a kind handmade crocheted & knit pumpkins from Candyfleece are a must for your Thanksgiving tablescape. These pumpkins will add a wonderful rustic touch to your holiday or fall home decor. Offered in an assortment of colors, you’ll receive these pumpkins in orange, rusty brown, oatmeal, white and blue. Shop now. (Or browse pumpkin patterns to create your own!)

Live Fall Succulent Pumpkin Decor

If you love the look of real pumpkins and have a weakness for succulents, then this pumpkin centerpiece is a must for your sunny dining room. Available from PetalsPetiteSD, live succulents are arranged on a real pumpkin ready to be used as living decor in your home throughout fall. Shop now. (Alternately, you can also create your own similar faux arrangement using a Durafoam short foam pumpkin and faux succulents.)

Velvet Pumpkin Centerpiece

Velvet pumpkins are all the rage this year and are one of the top no carve pumpkin decorating ideas this fall. This collection of four handmade velvet pumpkins from Your Heart’s Content is the perfect way to stay on trend. You can buy this collection of velvet pumpkins nestled in a round metal tray with faux grapevine and sunflowers to make a gorgeous, fall centerpiece! Or purchase the any of the elements separately based on your fall decorating needs. Shop now.

Rustic Pumpkin & Black Cat Fall Home Decor

If you’re looking for outdoor no carve pumpkin decorating ideas, then look no further than this rustic, pallet wood pumpkin with a black cat from Polished Expression. This kitty cat pumpkin stands on his own and would look super cute on a porch, patio, or even indoors with your Halloween decorations. This hand cut pumpkin is marked by attention to detail and is well constructed for many years of use. Shop now. (You can also create your own version using a pre-cut wood pumpkin.)

Purple & Gold Glam Hand Painted Pumpkin

This purple and gold glam hand painted resin pumpkin from Pearles Painting makes a super cute fall accessory for your home! It’s perfect for your fireplace mantel or as an accent to your living room decor. Or, buy several pumpkins to combine for a stunning Thanksgiving tablescape for the holidays! Shop now. (Inspired to paint your own pumpkin? This white pumpkin is up for the task!)

Black & White Fabric Farmhouse Pumpkin

This non-traditional, checked black and white pumpkin is making waves as another one of the top no carve pumpkin decorating ideas for fall. Handmade by SheriSewSweet, these stunning pumpkins are made with the latest trending black & white buffalo check fabric, and are guaranteed to make your fall and Halloween decor stand out from the crowd. These fabric pumpkins are a wonderful accent to your fall farmhouse decor in any room. Shop now. (Is sewing on your list of “I’ve got this!”? Craft your own fabric pumpkins with this easy sewing pumpkin pattern!)

Pumpkin Needle Felting Kit

Prefer your pumpkins in miniature? Why not try your hand at needle felting? These needle felted pumpkins are super cute! Not to mention, needle felting is a LOT easier than you might think. I made needle felted wine bags this past spring and had a blast making them. In fact, I’m all signed up for another needle felting class next week – to make needle felted pumpkins and gourds! This pumpkin needle felting kit from Bear Creek Felting comes with everything you need to make an adorable needle felted fall pumpkin for your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor. Shop now.

Repurposed Book Pumpkin

If your preference is paper crafts, then you’ll love this eco-friendly pumpkin crafted from an upcycled book! The repurposed paper book pumpkins from Treecycled Crafts are covered in hand cut paper book page roses made from old discarded paperback books. They are then decorated with twine, berries, ribbon or ink for unique, one of a kind fall decor. Shop now.

Ready to buy those faux pumpkins to create your on fall decor using these no carve pumpkin decorating ideas? Then be sure to check out the great selection of craft materials at Consumer Crafts. Or, shop my fab fall favorites for a creative selection of handmade fall style, accessories and home decorating ideas.

For more great seasonal decorating and DIY ideas from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Or, alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home, Holiday DIY Tagged With: decorating, eco-friendly, fall decor, Halloween, handmade home, home decor, no carve pumpkin, painted pumpkin, pumpkin, thanksgiving

DIY Painted Pumpkins for Fall That Will Wow Your Neighbors

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October 22, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Rather than fuss with the mess of carving Jack O’ Lanterns that don’t last past Halloween, this year I decided to create my own DIY painted pumpkins! I even hosted a pumpkin paint night for me and my friends. I thought everyone came up with some really fantastic ideas for painting their pumpkins. And not only are these DIY painted pumpkins perfect for Halloween, but they can also be brought indoors for a seasonal fall table centerpiece!

Hosting your own pumpkin paint night is a snap. I simply provided boxed wines, snacks, paints and craft supplies while my guests brought their own paper mache pumpkins. If you don’t already have an arsenal of craft supplies on hand, you could also request that each guest bring a small container of paint and/or their own brushes in addition to the pumpkin of their choice. A pumpkin paint night is also a great idea as an alternate adult or teen Halloween party!

Following are some of the highlights from my pumpkin paint night I hosted last week when my friends and I created our own DIY painted pumpkins. But don’t forget to read to the end to see how you can recreate my sparkle painted pumpkin – plus more fall craft ideas!

Everyone that attended had their own fantastic ideas for how to paint their pumpkins.

Whitney added orange and black stripes to her pumpkin while Allison created a bright and cheery teal and white pumpkin with pink glitter swirls and yellow accents. (Allison’s husband was in attendance too, however he worked on painting a t-shirt as a part of his Halloween costume.)

My friend Cathy created a multi-face painted pumpkin.

A post shared by Soap Deli News Blog (@soapdeli) on Oct 20, 2017 at 5:37am PDT

So as the pumpkin was turned you were presented with a new face! How cool is that?! (Be sure to hit play to see all of the painted pumpkin faces!

She also painted a wooden “poison” Halloween sign.

And I, of course, painted a sparkly glitter themed pumpkin! Here’s how it was done.

DIY Painted Pumpkins with Glitter

Materials & Supplies:

Paper mache pumpkin
Teal & lime green paint
Matte Mod Podge
Foam brushes
Krylon Glitter Shimmer Spray
Strong craft paint
Glitters
Ribbons

Instructions:

Cover your work surface with newspaper or a paper towel to protect it from paint. Then, using a foam brush, apply teal paint to the entire body of the pumpkin minus the stem. Allow the first coat of paint to dry completely then apply a second coat.

Once dried, use a foam brush to randomly apply Mod Podge to a front section of the pumpkin. Then sprinkle blue and green glitter onto the wet Mod Podge.

Once the Mod Podge dries, use a strong craft glue – I used E6000 craft adhesive – to glue a scrapbook chipboard phrase of your choice onto and across the front of the pumpkin.

Next, paint the stem of your pumpkin green. Then, while the paint is still wet, gently blow blue glitter into the wet paint on the pumpkin stem. Once dry, finish your pumpkin with 2-3 coats as desired of perfectly pink Krylon glitter shimmer spray.

Finally tie teal and green ribbons onto your painted pumpkin’s stem. I used long pieces of ribbon and tied the two ribbons together into a bow twice. Then I tied the leftover long ribbon ends into a bow again but this time I tied the teal and green ribbons into bows separately.

If you like our ideas for DIY painted pumpkins, then also be sure to check out these other no carve fall pumpkins. You may also enjoy my project for making DIY Halloween tombstones from upcycled cereal boxes. You can find that Halloween DIY here. Or gather even more fall inspiration from these non-food bath and body Halloween treats including anatomically correct heart bath bombs and bloody brains on foam deli meat trays.

If Halloween makeup is more up your alley, then you must check out my color customizable, bold DIY cream eyeshadows. They also have glitter. Or alternately, you may prefer my recipes for making your own DIY Halloween grease makeup paints. You can find that DIY via my guest post at The Nourished Life blog.

Prefer seasonal fall projects to Halloween? Take a peek at these amazing artisan fall soaps for inspiration or learn how to make my 3-D moldable pumpkin spice soap. You can also learn how to make your own natural pumpkin spice roll-on perfume (also via a guest post) or check out this fantastic collection of twelve fab fall skin care recipes you simply won’t be able to resist.

Also be sure to follow my Halloween DIY Projects & Ideas Pinterest board for even more great fall crafts ideas along with my Jonesing for Crafts and DIY Bath & Body boards. In addition, you can find and follow me on Instagram as well as G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Blog Lovin’. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Holiday DIY Tagged With: craft night, craft night ideas, crafts, decorating, diy, fall, fall decor, Halloween, Halloween decorations, home decor, paint night

DIY Coasters for a Make and Take Girls Only Craft Night!

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August 30, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This DIY coaster project is a fun way to spend an afternoon crafting! Dive into this easy weekend DIY with the kids, host a DIY craft night with the girls or simply lock yourself in your craft room and tackle these DIY coasters solo. Me being me, well, of course I chose to host another girls only craft night.

I started by purchasing a huge stack of blank letterpress coasters. Then I gathered my ridiculous craft stash of paints, washi tapes, scrapbooking papers, glitters and Mod Podge for what was probably one of the easiest make and take craft nights I’ve hosted. Combined with the wine and great company, this is the perfect project if life is weighing you down. Everyone came up with really creative coasters to take home and I felt like it was a great pick me up for all of us!

So get in some awesome adult time making your own functional and fabulous custom DIY coasters that your husband will never remember to use! Then, of course, be sure to share your finished project using the hashtag #soapdelishowoff on instagram so I can see what you came up with!

How to Create DIY Coasters

What You’ll Need:

blank letterpress coasters
craft paints & brushes
scrapbooking papers
clear acrylic sealer
assorted glitter
foam craft brushes
washi tape
Mod Podge Glue & Sealer
scissors or X-ACTO knife

What To Do:

If you want to make washi tape coasters, begin by applying Mod Podge to the top side of your coaster blank using a foam brush. (You can tell which side is up as the top curves down on the side to the bottom whereas the bottom is completely flat.)

Next, apply strips of washi tape across the top of your coaster so they line up and each tape edge touches that of the one beside it. Cover the entire top of the coaster with the washi tape. Once you’ve covered the top of the coaster, use a pair of scissors or an X-ACTO knife to cut off the excess tape from around the coaster.

Now add another layer of Mod Podge over the washi tape. If desired, you can then dust the top with glitter then cover with another layer of Mod Podge. Allow the Mod Podge to dry, then seal your coaster with several coats of a clear acrylic sealer.

To use scrapbook papers for your DIY coasters, flip the paper over so the image side is down. Then trace around the coaster on your paper. Carefully cut out the circle you traced just inside the line you drew. Then, glue the paper to the blank letterpress coaster with Mod Podge, applying one layer to the coaster, then another over the scrapbook paper once you’ve glued it onto the coaster.

Once dry, trim off any excess paper and seal with a clear acrylic sealer.

My friend, Hillary, chose to use a combination of techniques. She used scrapbook papers, washi tape, chipboard elements and paint on her coasters!

And because these DIY coasters were so quick and easy to make, she also had time to paint a matching planter from an unfinished modern ceramic planter that I’d picked up at Target!

(If you like Hillary’s artwork you can discover more via her booth at the Aurora Studio Center on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke, VA. Alternately, you can view and sign up for Hillary’s workshops or Wine and Art Wednesdays here.)

Once you’ve created and sealed your custom DIY coasters, all that’s left to do is enjoy them!

If you liked this DIY, be sure to check out some of my other craft projects on Soap Deli News blog here. Or visit my Jonesing for Crafts board on Pinterest for more ideas from around the web.

You can also follow me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Alternately, you can sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project Tagged With: coasters, craft night, craft night ideas, crafts, diy, easy, fun, home decor, make and take, washi tape, weekend project

DIY Cactus Ring Holder to Brighten Up Your Space

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August 14, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Learn how to make a DIY cactus ring holder! Made using polymer clay, this easy cactus ring holder offers a safe place to stash your rings! Molded onto the top of a decorative jar lid, this DIY cactus ring holder has space to stash your rings both inside the jar and out!

You’ll be using the same fun cactus silicone mold for this project that I used to create my DIY cactus soaps with eco-friendly biodegradable glitter.

I hope you have as much fun with this project as I did! I think this cactus ring holder would not only make a cute home decor accent piece in your own home, but it’s also perfect for gift giving!

DIY Cactus Ring Holder

What You’ll Need:

Darice 7 oz. Glass Craft Jar (1095-98) with Metal Lid
Blush Cactus Silicone Mold
White Original Sculpey Oven Bake Clay
Krylon Clear Sealer or similar
craft paints
craft paint brushes

What to Do:

Begin by kneading the polymer clay until it’s soft and pliable. Then press the clay into one of the cavities of your cactus silicone mold.

Clean any excess from the top of the clay in the mold.

Then carefully remove the polymer clay from the mold cavity. If you have trouble removing the clay cactus, set the clay aside for a bit to allow it to firm back up a bit before trying to remove it from the mold.

Now, using additional clay, cover the top of the metal lid to your jar. Try to keep the clay on top of the jar lid about the same thickness as your clay cactus.

Once covered, scoop out a small hole in the center of the clay on the jar lid that the base of your clay cactus will fit into. Place the clay cactus into the hole on top of the lid and use your fingers or a utensil to move the clay to hold the cactus in place. The clay covering the jar lid and the cactus on top should become one piece.

Leaving the clay attached to the jar lid, bake the lid and clay together in a 275°F oven for about 30 minutes on a baking sheet. Then remove the cactus lid from the oven and allow it to cool.

Once the cactus lid has cooled, use craft paints to paint the cactus and base as desired.

When the paint on your cactus dries, spray it with a clear acrylic sealer to protect it.

Now all that’s left is to fill the inside of your jar with rings or knick knacks and screw on the lid! You can also place additional rings on the arms of cactus! And that’s it!

I hope you enjoyed my project for making a DIY cactus ring holder. I know it’s not soap, but it does give you another fun use for your silicone molds!

If you enjoyed my DIY cactus ring holder project, I hope you’ll also check out my DIY cactus soaps! This fun soapmaking tutorial will walk you through creating your own colorful, glittery cactus soaps using a melt and pour soap base!

Want a cactus ring holder to spice up your space but don’t have time to make your own? You can shop for handmade cactus ring holders on Etsy here! I’m kind of sweet on this super cute cacti ring dish from Chicko Craft. But there are so many great ones to choose from!

For more DIY projects like this one, be sure to check out my Jonesing for Crafts Pinterest board. Or simply follow all of my Pinterest boards here.

You can also follow me on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or sign up to receive new posts from Soap Deli News blog to your email via FeedBurner so you never miss a post.

Filed Under: DIY Craft Project, Handmade Home Tagged With: cactus, crafts, diy, easy, fun, gift idea, handmade home, home decor, how to, jewelry storage, organization, organizer, polymer clay, ring holder, storage, summer, tutorial