DIY Anchor Tank

When I started prepping for my 30x30 project, I knew I wanted some sort of graphic tank, and had been looking for an anchor tank for some time. I couldn't find one that was EXACTLY what I wanted for what I wanted to spend, so I set out to make my own.

I bought this tank at Target for about $15. It is actually a workout tank, but had the length and shape and color that I wanted, so I bought it (also knowing that it's breathable quality would be perfect for our upcoming Disney trip).

So how did I make it?
Step One: Insert cardboard inside the shirt. This will keep the bleach from bleeding through the shirt and onto whatever you put it on.

Step Two: Use a bleach pen (I used Clorox because that was what I could find) to draw out your pattern. I did a simple anchor, but you could do just about any pattern you want!

Step Three: Let the bleach dry over night (or all day if you do it in the AM). It will flake off when it is completely dry.

Mine was not as vivid as I wanted it to be after the first try. I think this is due to the type of fabric.
So in my case, Step Four would be repeat the bleach step!

Here is my completed shirt! It isn't perfect for sure, and I may even go back and make the design thicker, but I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I can't wait to style it for the 30x30 challenge!

Linking up to: Rae Gun Ramblings, This Gal Cooks, I Gotta Try That, and Sew Much Crafting.

Disney Craft

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this before, but Ben and I are taking a week long trip to Disney World in September. We were given the trip as a wedding gift by two very good friends! We will be staying 6 nights at the Animal Kingdom resort on the Disney property and we are SO excited! I have been actively researching what to do for our trip, and one of the things I came across was a count-down calendar. I instantly knew I wanted to make one and set to work. 

I already had this shadow box on hand so I wanted to use it. (Please excuse the dirt on the frame-it has been in storage since we moved a year ago).

I bought some craft paper in Disney-theme colors to use as the background. I got the paper onsale from Hobby Lobby and I think I paid less than a dollar for all 3 sheets.

The first sheet was the perfect size for the frame (12x12) so all I had to do was tape it down to the frame. You could not attach it or use scrapbook tape or even straight pins, but I went with scotch tape because that was what I had on hand.

I didn't use any specific measurements when I cut the paper. I just lined it up until one side looked like what I wanted and cut that off, then made a square. I would definitely recommend using some sort of paper cutter for this part of the project. I actually attempted it one time prior just using scissors, and let's just say it wasn't pretty.

After I cut the paper to the size I wanted, I attached it to the paper below it.

I knew I wanted some Mickey ears as well as a Disney font. I started with just the Mickey ears and tried to write out my own font, but it was not as pretty as I wanted it to be. I began to search around and found a Disney font generator online. I typed in the words one at a time and pasted them, along with the Mickey ears, into a Word document. I played around with the size until it looked perfect, then printed it out. I cut the page down to size and attached it to the other 2 sheets.

Please excuse the poor lighting and yellow looking wall color. Its actually a tan but I think I am painting it soon!

Here is the finished product hanging on the walls! Since it is in a glass frame, I can use a dry-erase marker to change the date out every day. I can't wait to re-use this frame for other events we have coming up! What do you think? Would you make a count-down calendar?  What big events are you counting down to?

Sources: I found the Mickey ears here. Click here for the Disney font generator.

I also am including the printable I used so you don't have to go through all the trouble! Feel free to use it. Please send me any projects you use it for so I can see them! Click here for the download.

Linking up to: Marvelous Mondays, I Gotta Try That, and Funday Mondays.

Friday Fancies: Short and Sweet

This week's Friday Fancies' theme was "Short and Sweet." It focuses on shorts, which are a daily staple here in Florida. For my board, I wanted to pick something summery and vaguely nautical without being too literal. I started with the lace shorts and knew I wanted to pair it with a blue and white stripe top. I chose the tan wedge for its versatility. The turquoise and gold accessories are the perfect nod to the beach without screaming "I'm Beachy!".

Friday Fancies: Short and Sweet by candbselman featuring a turquoise purse

Linking up to Long Distance Loving and XoXoRebecca. 

OOTD: Leopard

Today's OOTD was inspired by the Trend Spin Linkup, hosted by The Fashion Canvas and Walking in Memphis in High Heels. This week's theme is....ANIMAL PRINT!! Ahhh words cannot express how much I love animal print. It is my 2nd favorite print, second only to stripes (and how can you get any better than stripes?). I was so excited to come up with an outfit displaying my love for this print that I could have come up with a million different ways to wear it, but I went with something that is super comfortable and appropriate for just about any occasion!

My OOTD is a casual look that would be great for a date night or a night out with the girls.

Cardigan: O.B.O.E via Gumption Gals
Shirt: Gap, similar
Shorts: Loft, similar 

Shoes: Bamboo, sort of similar

Earrings: Francesca's Collection, almost identical 

Watch: Michael Kors, similar (mine has rose gold crystals on the face-they dont seem to make that one anymore...)

How do you wear animal print? Would you wear this look?

Also Linking up to: Style Elixir and Real Girl Glam. 

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend Ben (my husband), my father-in-law, Ellie (our dog), and I went to the hunting camp to celebrate his 24th birthday. We spent the weekend driving around to different hunting sites, sitting by the camp fire at night, and generally doing nothing. It was so relaxing and exactly what I needed after the last week or so. Here are some instagram pictures from the weekend!

Our co-pilot guiding us on the drive.

Birthday breakfast: steak and eggs!

Rainy afternoon nap.

No trip would be complete without a flat tire!!

Hope you all had great weekends! 

Linking up to:  Sami's Shenanigans, Join the Gossip, and The Molly Buckley.  

Happy Birthday Benjamin !!

Today is my husband Ben's 24th birthday (I know, he is a baby!!). In honor of this special day, I want to share with you some of my favorite pictures from the last 3 years. Happy Birthday baby. I love you so very much!!

 

I'm Back!!! + Friday Fancies

I'm back, y'all! I had to take a very unplanned hiatus from blogging. I found myself getting very stressed and having major anxiety about writing for this blog. I think I put too much pressure on myself to constantly put out new and interesting content when I should have been focussed on writing for myself. So I am back! I am excited to get back into the blogosphere, especially since I lost my job last week. Now before you all freak out and send me messages about what happened, let's just say that God's will won out. And I could not be happier! I am spending time with my husband and getting to travel with him for his company, as well as having more time to devote to more creative outlets (and let's be real here-THAT is what I really love!). So without further ado, my first post since my hiatus!

FRIDAY FANCIES: STYLE CRUSH

The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) is definitely my biggest style crush.

source

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She is always flawless, elegant, and appropriate. But she isn't my inspiration for this week's Style Crush. My inspiration for this week's Friday Fancies (theme: Style Crush) is Jeanette Scott from J's Everyday Fashion. This is one of my favorite blogs and one that I frequent literally every day. She recreates outfits from her inspiration files and shops on a budget. She is pretty much a genius!

This is one of her recent outfit recreations:

source

I saved this to my personal inspiration file, thinking I might save it for fall when I could theoretically have some colored denim. Then I realized I had a pair of shorts very similar to this color. I decided then to use the concept to create my own version of the outfit. I decided to go with a more climate appropriate version (it is upwards of 90 degrees here in west Florida!) and swapped the sweater for a purse in the same color. 

So here is my recreation of J's recreation! (Please excuse the no-makeup look. I was running a little late this AM!)

Shirt: Francesca's Collection, similar 

Shorts: Loft, similar 

Purse: Hobo, similar style, similar color

Shoes: Target, similar 

What do you think? I really love this outfit and probably never would have paired it together if it wasn't for my style crush, J!

Linking up to Long Distance Loving for Friday Fancies!