DIY Studded phone case

August 9, 2012

I have successfully held out against the iphone to avoid more distraction and higher phone bills, but I must say I wish I had one just for the phone case options! My lovely HTC inspire doesn’t quite have the case options, so that is why I decided to bling it up a little. I have seen many versions of studded phone cases (like such) and new it was as easy to DIY myself. I am sure many others have had this same idea, so if you have done this, show me your pics!
Here is my version for all you iphone and non-iphone users alike, here is the easy way to stud your case!

Supplies:
Studs in your color of choice (got mine on etsy)
Super Glue or E- 6000
Phone Case
Pliers (optional)
Here’s the trick: You need studs with iron backs on them for even gluing surface vs. the hollow studs. The iron backed studs are filled with an adhesive that is hardened so you can add super glue or E-6000 to the backs.
Instructions:
1) Pre-design your back so you know where to place your pieces.
2) Add a dab of glue to the center and use pliers to place evenly. You can also use your hands if you are steady enough!
3) Let dry long enough to ensure no smudged pieces.
Time: 15 min
Total Cost: (Varies on case and stud cost) My case came with my phone and the studs were $5.00 with plenty leftover!
Hope you enjoyed the back to back DIY’s this week! More coming up next week:)
P.S. I have a new feauture called the DIY Gallery in the link bar! Should be easy for you to find any DIY ideas posted in the past. Will be adding more soon:)

DIY Leather Pocket Tee

August 8, 2012

This Leather pocket tee DIY inspiration came from a Zara Tee. It only requires beginner level sewing skills – no machine needed! I plan on added a few more pockets to a dress or shirt here and there because its so simple to do and the result is really fun:)
{Wrap Bracelet: c/o Conversation Pieces, Craftsandlove, gift from sis, Jeans: Levis, Tee: Target to DIY}
Supplies:
Grey Tee (Got mine for $8 at Target) 
Leather or faux leather fabric 
(This swatch I picked up from a local interior design store – often they get rid of their old swatch books for free!)
Thread and Needle
Scissors
Pliers
Instructions:
1) Pre-shrink your tee so that you can prevent unwanted wrinkling around the pocket.
2) Pre-measure and cut your pocket shape of choice out of your leather fabric. 
(It makes it easier to cut 1/2 of the pocket, fold in half, and cut around the folded edge to finish a symmetrical pocket.)
3) Hand stitch or sew along the edge with a strong needle or leather needle and thick black thread. 
Time: 15 -30 minutes (depending if you machine sew or hand stitch)
Cost: $8

Tips for sewing with leather:
Use a pliers to pull the needle in and out or you will get blisters! If its faux leather it is a thinner fabric and easier to sew.
Check often that your pocket is lined up straight with your tee so that you prevent crooked lines. 
Using a thimble might also help when you are weaving the needle in and out.
And now for a little humor, I present to you the pony tail flip (inspired by my sister Madeline)….
gj3vmr on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs
You know, just letting my personality shine through here….;)

Meet: Shannon Hearts + Giveaway

August 7, 2012

Shannon is one of those girls who has a natural beauty about her. I think its her genuine smile and classy style. Her kind heart is contagious! I hope you enjoy her blog as much as I do, and I promise you will get some fantastic style inspiration while you are there!
She is generously giving away a 3 month large ad space to an IHOD reader on her largely popular blog! Easy to enter through rafflecopter below! May the best reader win! 🙂

Swatch Style: Blush Pink + Yellow

August 3, 2012

{Source: 1, 2, 3}
I have been working with blush pink in some design projects this week, and I love how feminine and modern it can look when paired with golden yellow. 
And here is your fun links round up for the week!:
My favorite recipe of the week was pretzel rolls and beer cheese dip Milwaukee style!
Summer Olympics in a Box!
This blogger finds the most delightful things.
The most adorable instagram wooden camera for tots. 
Convert window shutters to mail organizers!
Happy August Weekend!

5 Blog Boosters : Growing Your Blog and Brand

August 2, 2012

I started this blog a few years ago with a clear goal in mind of where I wanted it to be, but with no idea how to get there. It has been a learning process to fine tune the content I wanted to share, establish a brand, and create a space where I loved to keep coming back to design and lifestyle inspiration. It is still a work in progress! I get emails often asking similar questions about growing your blog, so I hope these tips I learned along the way will help you in your blog experience too!

1. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY – This point is two fold.  It is SO important to focus on the quality of your content AND the quality of your readers. I think often the focus is on numbers, and bloggers seek to grow their numbers quick and easy, when in fact what will grow your blog naturally is creating good content. Also think about what type of followers you would like to have. You would much rather have readers who come to your blog because they actually enjoy the content, because those will be the readers who support your work and engage in your content.

You can build a strong readership base when you find your niche and consistently work your personal style into your posts. Whether you are a fashion blogger, DIY- er, lifestyle, foodie, interiors, or even just a personal blogger, it will make such a monumental difference when you offer your bery own unique consistent style throughout your posts. (More on establishing your niche later!) When I first started out I was more of a curation blogger – sharing inspiration and design through other’s work and images. I decided to really start growing the blog, I needed to be a source of inspiration and creativity. This challenged me to use the skills I have and put them to good use. My blog took a big turn after that, and started to grow significantly. So, start thinking about what your strong points are and do more of it! You may be a brilliant writer – write more on topics that are current and relevant to you and your readers. You may love to travel – invest in a good camera to capture and log your adventures. Ultimately, find your voice and run with it!


2. CLEAN AND CLEAR BLOG DESIGN – I don’t know about you, but I find it so refreshing to visit a blog that easy to navigate, isn’t too cluttered, and is visually pleasing. Keep it simple, and establish your brand or blog feel through your design. It doesn’t take much! If you don’t feel comfortable designing your brand, or don’t have the programs to do so, it will be worth your dollar to hire help and establish your look and feel that best represents your blog space. (I highly recommend Blog Milk or FabulousK for blogger based blogs.) I did design my own space, but I had to do a lot of my own research for html coding. I am a graphic designer, and not an expert coder, so it was a learning process! Pugly Pixel has some fantastic tutorials and free downloads if you aren’t yet familiar! Take a look at some of my favorites for beautiful blog examples, such as: Hooray Blog,  Fifteen24, DesignLoveFest,  Creature ComfortsOh Hello Friend, A Daily Something, etc. and notice how they successfully transmit their style through their design AND their content.

3. NOTEWORTHY PHOTOGRAPHY – If you want your content to stick and be noticed, good photography is almost as important as the content. For instance, when Tiffany shares a recipe, you can guaranty the photos will do the recipe justice. This is why I am much more likely to pin her post to pinterest to share with others, or mention it in a Friday link up. Wouldn’t you agree that you gravitate towards the blogs that have great imagery to go along with their content? When Design*Sponge accepted my DIY to feature, guess what the main request was? You got it. Great photos. 

You don’t have to have an expensive camera to create amazing photos. Just make sure you use a lot of natural light, an attractive set up, and an element of your own personal touch to make it work. There are so many great tips for photography available on the web. Hands down, A Beautiful Mess is an incredible resource for further tips.

4. NETWORK – Depending on your type of blog, its so important to network in ways that will build not only good readership, but a good community of support. I have rarely advertised my blog since starting, but I have been consistent in networking. Be accessible. I would find it so refreshing when a favorite blogger would take the time to respond to your comments or visit your blog. Blogging is not a one sided relationship. My goal is to treat my readers like friendships – responding to their questions, answering their emails, and whenever I have extra time, visit their own blogs. Not everyone is able to do this, or even has the desire to, but I can tell you the bloggers I have kept up with over the years are those who have made an effort to communicate with their readers.

When you do advertise, make sure it is on a blog that is relevant to your content. When I have advertised it was helpful to work with bloggers who were drawing the same type of readership base!
Also consider button swapping! I have swapped ad spots throughout blogging with other bloggers who have about the same amount of readership base. Its a win win! There are different ways to network, but social media is a key factor, which brings me to my next point.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA –  Its a love/hate relationship. As you remember from my Over Socialed post, I make a lot of effort not to spend too much time on social media. There can definately be too much of a good thing. You can easily go overboard, and you don’t want to be a feed clogger. Too much updating can turn people away. However, for the most part, I tribute, facebook, twitter, and pinterest as the main sources traffic for IHOD. Its a great way to access people in their free time, since often times those are the outlets you turn too when you have ten minutes here or there. I myself will find myself clicking over and visiting new blogs and old favorites alike through these sites. Even just sharing your posts on your facebook page will boost your visits each day. IFB has some great tips on social media for you to check out!

And a little inspiration to close today’s lesson;)
Stay tuned for more blog tips coming up in the next few weeks!
Hope this is a help to you! 
Love, Anna

Ode to Summer – Part 1

August 1, 2012

Gabe went back to work today which means his summer vacation is over. I say summer isn’t over till Labor Day, but in many ways the best parts of summer have come to an end for us. We loved having him home, traveling, and creating our own adventures. These are just a few of summer’s best moments…

{Father’s Day Surprise.}
{Market Finds}
{High School bestie visit}
{Veronica and her sunnies.}
{The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.}
{Sisters and Spouses.}
{Cousins.}
{Best of friends.}
{Father – daughter time.}
{The entire fam + husbands and children.}
{Re-celebrating birthdays with Maria. Our birthdays are a day apart!}
And many more that I will save for another day:)
And now you see why its hard to part with such a summer.
I am sure you can relate!
*More summer moments on instagram.
P.S. How incredible was the Women’s Gymnastics last night?! I get so nervous/excited about it all. My favorite event:) Cheers to the Fab 5!

True Beauty Files: Top Knots and Stripes

July 30, 2012

{Top: c/o Conversation Pieces, Denim: ON, Sandals: c/o Windsor Store, Necklaces: DIY, Bracelets: gift, c/o Loren Hope, Shades: Urban Outfitters}
The kind of summer weekends that you live for…
…making no plans till Friday,
watching late night movies,
morning porch or patio talk,
lazy afternoons blowing bubbles, and running the sprinklers,
shopping with a friend,
pool side basking,
catching up with family over brunch,
Olympics,
evening run with Gabe and the kids,
bedtime stories with the fans on high,
and knowing your husband doesn’t have to go to work the next day….
Only a few of these kinds of weekends left.
How was yours??

The True Beauty Files:
A lookbook for the modern modeste.
“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” 
~ Audrey Hepburn
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