Nail it: Ditsy Daises

Flocking of hundreds of music-loving Aussies, stylish bohemians and trend-setters to our annual music festivals is a sure sign that Summer is in full swing. With the promise of sweet tunes, what better way to prepare you for the arm waving and fist pumping than with this easy daisy nail art!


 

 

What you'll need:

 

 © Nail polishes

© Sharp pointed tool (eg. nail striper, tooth pick, bobby pin or even a paint bursh!)

© Your imagination!!

 

 

Now to nail it!

1. Apply 1-2 coats of a colour of your choice, until it forms an opaque base.

 

2. Using a sharp pointed tool, draw in petals using small lines.

 

 

3. Using the same tool, place a dot at the centre of each daisy.

 

 

4. Apply a clear top coat to seal in your design...

 

Ta dah!

 

If you liked this post, make sure you check out our other Nail it posts! Also, make sure to follow us on GFC and Bloglovin' for our next post, where we'll be showing you some festival outfi ideas to help you brave the mosh pits and let loose!

 

©M + K

Frock O'Clock: New Year Outfit Ideas

While most of us are still recovering from the excitement and chaos of Christmas, the New Year is edging closer which means the party season is still in full swing.

But with the Christmas damage to your bank account still fresh, splurging on a NY frock is probably the last thing on your mind.

In the style stakes, NY has always been about all that glitters, and this year is no different. But having a tight budget doesn't mean that you have to hold back on the wardrobe bling. We decided to get back to our old roots and bring you a few outfit ideas for the 1st of January which don't require you to squander your life savings.

 

 

Neon lights

 

This outfit has all the right ingredients for the perfect NY ensemble. Sequins- check, a bright pop of colour- check, and of course some foot bling- check!! We also can't pass over the fact that we picked up this dress for only $9.95, or to put it into perspective, we only paid around 8% of the original price!

 

 

Lipstick: Revlon Kissable balm Stain in Sweetheart Valentine from Priceline $17.95 $9

Dress: Portmans $119.95 $9.95

Shoes: Grendha from NOVO $39.95 $15

 

 

Silver Linings

If you aren't brave enough to embrace all the sequins and sparkle that embodies NY, then something like this top is ideal. The silver thread woven into the top, is a more subtle alternative to a heavily beaded or sequined ensemble. Up your party girl status with a statement necklace like this vintage-esque one.

 

Necklace: Gift

Top: Portmans $69.95 $19.95

Romper:  Paper Scissors $19.95 $13.95

Shoes: Kagui $59.00 $25

Life of the Party

 

For those who prefer something a little less form fitting, but will rival the fireworks nonetheless, then this is the perfect ensemble! This flowy top isn't for the spotlight shy with enough beadwork and sequins to  make you the star attraction of the party!

 

Most of you are probably wondering how a pair of $80 shoes fit in to the concept of 'fashion on a shoestring budget'. Well, we never used to be big on shoes, let alone spending big bucks on them. But our experiences of limping around with blistered feet have convinced us that shoes are one thing you should invest in. While we still think that you can find quality shoes for less than $50, don't feel guilty for spending a bit more on shoes that are comfortable and versatile.

 

 

Top: Just Jeans 

Romper:  Paper Scissors $19.95 $13.95

Shoes: Airflex from Betts

 

 

 

Radiant Orchid

This whole outfit is a frugal fashionistas paradise! To add an extra sparkle to your outfit, opt for something with a unique cut or hem just like this scalloped top. Radiant Orchid is also the colour of 2014, so we think it is only fit for heralding in the New Year!

Top: Glassons $59.99 $12.50

Skirt: Supre $10 $7

Bracelet:Gift

Shoes: Diana Ferrari $89.95 $20

 

 

 

We've never been ones to make New Year's resolutions, but this year, we endeavour to reach 2000 GFC followers by the end of 2014! What are your New Year's resolutions?

 

♥ M + K

 

Disclaimer: The prices quoted for the pieces listed in this post are what we paid at the time of purchase. The availability and prices of these may vary from the this time of purchase.

Last minute DIY Christmas ideas

Christmas is only 3 sleeps away. In other words, if you haven't bought, wrapped and placed all your gifts under the Christmas tree, then you better get a hurry on! We know that finding the perfect present is itself stressful, but for us, it is only half the battle. Gift wrapping and cards are also part of the challenge. As big DIY-ers, we love making our own Christmas tags and cards, so we thought we'd give those struggling to get everything done a help in hand. Here are some snaps of our Christmas handy work.

 

 

Christmas cards

For those, thirsty for a challenge, here is a Christmas card we made using quiling. It will take some time to get a grip of it, but trust us, with a little bit of practice and a few failed attempts, you'll be popping out cards fit for the stores in no time!


What you will need:

Card

Craft glue

Scissors

Ribbon (of your choice)

Quiling paper

Quiling tool

Glitter glue
 

 1. Start off by printing or writing your Christmas message on the front of your card.

 

 

 

2. Using a cylindrical object, form a circle with your strip of quiling paper.

 

3. Glue the circle slightly off centre to leave room for some ribbon (don't worry,the craft glue should dry clear!)

 

 

 

4. Roll the quiling paper using a quiling tool.

 

 

5. Paste the completed pieces into the circle

 

 

 

6. Use different sized circles to fill up your bauble

 

7. With some glitter glue, draw in a bow and string for the bauble

 

 

8. Paste a strip of ribbon vertically down the side of the card and voila!

 

If you're still stuck in a rut, here is another of our Christmas cards that we conjured up.

 

Christmas gift tags

 

Below are some cute tags we made which are quite simple, but are great for personalising gifts for loved ones.

 

Good luck and Merry Christmas one and all!

 

Do you like to DIY when it comes to Christmas wrapping and cards?

 

♥ M + K

Nail It: Sweater Nails and Bonus Outfit of the Day

 When it comes to Christmas, there is no point in doing things by halves. Considering that the day only comes around once a year, we love to pull out all the stops for the biggest holiday on the calendar. Don't just stop at erecting a Christmas tree, plastering your house in all the lights you can dig up, or even at decking out in head to toe Christmas threads. Why not take it one step further and try your hand at DIY nail art to add an extra sparkle to your Christmas.

 

 

 

What you will need:

                                 - top coat                                      
- nail striper or bobby pin
- nail polishes of your choice
- sticky tape 

 

1. Paint your nails in a colour of your choice. This will be your base colour.

 

 

2. Using the tip of a bobby pin, dot on your nail polish. You can cover your entire nail in dots for a simple look, or add a more festive feel to your nail art by dotting a Christmas tree and add a star for the finishing touch!

 

3. A simple trick to achieving straight lines is sticky tape.

4. Apply a clear top coat to seal your design, and voilà, you have nails fit for any festive occasion!

 

Outfit of the Day

We went out for lunch and a quick spot of Christmas shopping the other day, so we thought we'd show you what one of us wore! For a twist on the all black look, we opted for a top with pale lilac flowers to keep the outfit Summer appropriate.

 

We've been on the hunt for a versatile black bag for quite some time, and knew we had found the perfect one when we laid our eyes on this beauty. We think that the structured shape of the bag and its gold hardware give it a classy feel. With online shopping, it is always a gamble. Sometimes it is a hit and you get exactly what you expected, and some. Other times, it is a complete miss. This time OASAP hit the mark with the quality of this bag exceeding our expectations. The bag is sturdy and well made which has made us keen to try out more of their bags.

 

We were also pleasantly surprised with OASAP's packaging of the bag. Tissue paper stuffing helped to maintain the shape of the bag while the exterior was protected by a reusable tote (although there was a small scratch at the front of the bag).

Earrings: Lovisa

Top: Temt

Skirt: Cotton On

*Bag: OASAP

Shoes: Ipanema
 

 Let us know how your Christmas shopping Is going. Have you bought, wrapped and thrown all your gifts under the Christmas tree? Or are you a last minute shopper?

 

♥ M + K


DISCLAIMER: the items marked with a * were sent to us for consideration, but as always our reviews and opinions are honest ones.