Easy Last Minute Halloween Looks

[image source 1 & 2]

Halloween is right around the corner! Of course, we are the ultimate procrastinators on costumes, so for our other fellow procrastinators, below are two super easy Halloween looks that you can shop from your own closet or you can easily order online! Links and descriptions are provided below!

Skeleton woman

How to create the look:

Click here for the exact look!

Cat woman

Here's how to create this look:

Black bodysuit
Cat ears
Black knee-high boots

Happy Halloween!

Best DIY Halloween Costumes

[image source]

Halloween costumes can be super expensive so we're really loving the idea of making them this year. Back in our college days, Halloween was reserved for an entire week. So for one week you recycled Halloween outfits with sisters in hopes that you weren't caught in the same costume from the party the night before (#CollegeProblems). DIY Halloween costumes usually get more attention than store bought costumes! One year Co Founder Karen painted herself into a tiger and she was turning heads. Sakura kept it simple and cute with her BFF rocking the Audrey Hepburn classic look. This year, get into the Halloween spirit by making your costume. Below are some super easy, cute, and affordable costumes you can make yourself.

Cat Woman

What you will need: A Black body suit, black eyeliner to draw on cat eyes, whiskers, nose, and lips. Add in cat ears and you're all set!

Little Mermaid

What you will need: An old bra to glue purple sequins, jewels and seashells on. Green pants, leggings, or skirt. A red wig to look like Ariel!

A Nerd

What you will need: A plain white tee, suspenders, jeans or jean shorts, Thick glasses and your hair in pigtails.

Jungle Woman

What you will need: Fake leaves from the Dollar Store and old clothing to hot glue the leaves to. Add some branches in your hair for a more jungley feel.

What are some quick & easy DIY costumes that you've created? Share with us below!

DIY Fabric Covered Mason Jars!

Things you’ll need: Glue, scissors, fabric, a mason jar (duh), and a small sponge brush.

We feel silly writing steps, because really all you need to do is cut the fabric into strips that are the length of your jar, dip them in glue, and stick them to the walls of your jar. Once they are dried, you can begin using them! It also works best to use fabric with a pattern that doesn’t get too mismatched when layered on top of itself!

Have fun crafting!

DIY Humongous Piñata Letters!

If you're a Pinterest fanatic like we are, you've probably already seen these adorable piñata letters!  They're so fun and festive but we have always wondered how to make these darn cute things!  They seem really complicated, but they're actually pretty fun and easy to make.  They are a bit time consuming so we would recommend grabbing a few of your girlfriends to make it a group project or keep the word simple and short!

Things you’ll need: Cardboard letters (we found ours at Joann’s), hot glue gun, tissue paper in a few different colors, scissors, a ruler.

Step 1. Keeping the tissue paper folded, cut into sections about 3″ wide.

Step 2. Cut a fringe about 0.5″ long onto either side of the tissue paper section. Make sure you aren’t cutting the folded sides or else you’ll end up with tons of small pieces instead of a nice long strip of fringe.

Step 3. Unfold each section and re-fold it in half lengthwise. Using a hot glue gun, attach strips of tissue paper to the cardboard letter. A ruler comes in handy for making sure you’re gluing each strip straight across.

Step 4. Alternate colors to create your pattern. Continue gluing your tissue paper fringe pieces onto the cardboard until the entire letter is covered. Repeat with as many letters as you want, and spell out something fun!

Have fun crafting!

DIY Butcher Paper Wall Calendar

Staying organized can be tough. But when it looks this good, it is actually pretty easy!  With different events, study sessions, and all of the birthdays we have to remember, things can fall through the crack easily!  That is, unless you have a ginormous (cute) calendar hanging on your wall!

Things you’ll need: A roll of kraft paper, a roll of string or cord, a wooden dowel, washi tape, scissors, a hot glue gun, chalk pen markers, a ruler and Command hooks.

Step 1. Roll out your kraft paper and draw your calendar. Here is where a ruler comes in handy. We traced ours out before, creating a grid that was seven squares wide by five squares long.

Step 2. Tie your cord around the end of the wooden dowel. Measure out about six feet in cord. You’ll have plenty leftover, but it is better if you have too much than too little.

Step 3. Secure the cord to the end of the dowel by wrapping it around a few times and gluing it down.

Step 4. Thread the dowel through the middle of your kraft paper roll and repeat steps 2 & 3 on the opposite end.

Step 5. Use washi tape to mark important dates, appointments and meetings on your calendar. You can write the details (time, place, etc.) directly on top of the washi tape with a permanent marker.

Happy Crafting!

Last Minute Cute & Simple Easter Egg Decoration!

Holy moly! Easter is tomorrow!! 

For those that want to decorate Easter eggs, but don't want the plain ol' dyed egg- try this out!  Instead of dying an egg, why not paint them in your favorite pastel colors and add gold flakes to them?!  They're super easy, fast, and super cute!  Give it a try!

Things You’ll Need: Hard boiled eggs (keep the egg carton, too!), a paint brush, glossy Modge Podge, gold foil pieces (these can be found at most craft stores).

Step 1. Paint your eggs! Paint one half, and rest with the wet side up in the carton to dry. When that half is dry, paint the other half.

Step 2. Once all eggs are painted and fully dry, brush glossy Modge Podge on the bottom half of each egg.

Step 3. Dip your brush in the gold foil bits, and apply to the bottom of each egg. We placed more foil on the bottom and faded out toward the middle of the egg for a gradient effect.

Step 4. Apply another coat of Modge Podge all over the egg to smooth out the foil pieces and so that the egg has a glossy finish.

Happy Easter, everyone!
 

DIY Coffee Sleeves (…and They're Reversible!)

Photo  credit: Crafty Staci

Ok, so yesterday we stumbled across the cutest coffee sleeves made by Martta Howard, a Theta from Austin. So many of you wanted to know how to make these cute little coffee sleeves, so Martta was nice enough to share with us the site she used to make them. Below is a tutorial taken straight from Crafty Staci on how to make these convenient, custom coffee sleeves for your next cup of morning brew. For step-by-step pictures, be sure to check out the full post at Crafty Staci.

What you will need:

1. This coffee sleeve traceable pattern (click here) printed. *Note: Make sure it doesn't scale down to print.
2. Cotton batting
3. Iron board cover fabric
4. Cotton Fabric (your choice of a design)
5. Elastic hair band (1)
6. 5/8" buttons (2) *preferably with two holes
7. 3/4" buttons (2) *preferably with two holes
8. Needle
9. Pins (5-7)
10. Thread
11. Toothpick (1)

How To Make the Coffee Sleeve

1. Print the coffee cup sleeve pattern.  The pattern should measure 10 3/4″ straight across the top (corner to corner, not on the curve) and 9 1/8″ across the bottom (again, corner to corner).  It’s just barely under 3″ wide. Use “borderless printing” in your print options to make sure the pattern prints full size.

2. Using the coffee cup sleeve pattern cut out the following: 

• One coffee cup sleeve pattern from cotton batting
• Two coffee cup sleeve patterns from ironing board cover fabric 
• Two coffee cup sleeve patterns from cotton fabric. 

 Note: Make sure you flip the pattern piece over to cut the second pieces, so they’re opposite the first. 

3. Locate the elastic hair band and zigzag stitch through the center (about 3/8" long) then clip through the center (you will only need half of the elastic hair band).

4. Next, layer all the pieces of coffee sleeve fabric starting with the ironing board fabric (face down).

5. Next, layer the cotton fabric (face up).

6. Next, with that same cotton coffee sleeve fabric, place the elastic hair band in the middle of the straight end, with the ends even with the edge of the fabric.

7. Then, layer the other piece of cotton fabric (face down).

8. Then, layer the second piece of ironing board fabric (face up).

9. Last, layer the batting.

10. Pin all the layers into place.  Stitch around the edge with a 1/4” seam, leaving about 2” open on the bottom edge for turning.  Backstitch over the elastic when you reach that point.  Clip the curves and corners. 

11. Turn and press, turning in the opening.  Stitch all the way around, close to the edge.

12. Lay the now stitched fabric flat.  Fold both sides in so the edges meet.  Stick a pencil through the elastic and mark the farthest point it will reach without stretching.

13. Stitch a button on each side over the mark, sliding a toothpick under each button.

14. After stitching, remove the toothpicks.  Wrap the thread around under each button a few times before knotting the thread under one of the buttons.

COFFEE SLEEVE COMPLETE!!

Big Sis Tip:  Remember to ask for your drink without a cardboard sleeve and remember to remove your reversible coffee sleeve before you throw away your cup!

Gobble Gobble: A Turkey Cooking Guide

We love everything about Thanksgiving dinner... it's one of our favorite holidays!  But before you get ready to sit down with your loved ones to share a delicious meal, one thing must happen first:  someone's gotta cook that turkey.  That delicious bird isn't going to roast itself, and there are a few key steps to ensure that it's cooked to perfection.  Nobody likes a dry turkey, and nobody likes salmonella.  However, ranging from 14-20 lbs a bird, cooking a Thanksgiving masterpiece can be nothing short of intimidating.

Here's a few pointers that we found to be very helpful, to get that turkey in tip-top shape!  Not cooking the turkey yourself?  Share our turkey cooking knowledge with the one cooking your Thanksgiving dinner, and offer to lend a helping hand.  Now, let's talk turkey!

1. Thaw accordingly.
Depending on if your turkey is fresh or frozen, be sure to thaw it out accordingly.  Make sure that your turkey is at room temperature before popping it in the oven.

2. Add some kick.
Olive oil, butter with fresh herbs, aromatic vegetables... all of these help to add flavor.  Coat the outside of the turkey with one of these fats as well.  There are plenty of excellent turkey recipes available!

3. Foil is your friend.
Cover the breast of the turkey tightly with aluminum foil; just remember to remove it about 45 minutes before the turkey has finished cooking.  At this time when you take the foil off of the breast, you can also lay a piece of foil over any areas that you think might be getting too dark.  You don't want that baby to burn!  Do this while opening/closing the oven door quickly; no need to change the oven temperature.

4. Rack it up.
Cooking your turkey on a rack helps to make things cook evenly on all sides, to get that juicy tenderness throughout.  Bonus: you can use it anytime you cook poultry!

5. Don't stuff the stuffing.
Not stuffing your turkey means that it will take less time to cook- a plus!  It also becomes more risky for food safety, in case the stuffing inside the turkey is not cooked to proper temperatures.  Our advice: cook stuffing as a separate side dish.

6. Take the temperature.
We like to reference temperature guides when cooking, and always use a meat thermometer.  Each time you open and close the oven door, heat is lost, and your turkey will suffer by drying out as well.  Because of this (and because of the need to check the temp) we suggest a meat thermometer with an alarm built in.  Super handy!  Stick the thermometer into either the thick part of the thigh or thickest part of the breast, and you will be golden. 

7. Have a turkey nap.
Once removing from the oven, allow the turkey to rest for about 20-25 minutes before beginning to carve.  This allows the juices to absorb into the meat, and locks it all in.  Hey, if it helps to avoid a dry turkey, we're all for it!

8. Dinner is {almost} served.
Use a very sharp knife when you're ready to carve, or an electric knife if you have one.  Need to brush up on your carving skills?  We found a video to help with that! 

Gobble, Gobble... Happy Turkey Day, everyone!

DIY Holiday Table Glitter Vase

Make your dinner table sparkle during the holidays with this super cute and easy DIY glitter vase creation. Here's what you will need:

-Mason jar or empty glass bottle
-Foam paintbrush
-Glue
-Glitter of your choice
-Masking tape
-Flowers (optional)

Step 1: With your masking tape, place a strip of it about 2-3 inches from the bottom of your mason jar/glass bottle.

Step 2: Using your foam paintbrush, coat the surface of the jar up to the masking tape with glue.

Step 3: Sprinkle your glitter onto the glue. Let dry for a couple of minutes then remove the tape.

To decorate, place flowers inside the mason jar/glass bottle and your holiday glitter vase is complete!

Happy Holidays!

DIY Holiday Cards

Whether you’re in college, have a family, or you’re going off on vacation/staying home for the holidays, sending a holiday card is a fun, creative, and inexpensive way to get in touch with people during the jolly season and fill them in on your year.

Every year since middle school, I’ve taken on the challenge of writing and sending my family’s Christmas letter (what can I say, I love to write!) Coming from such a small town, it is tradition in the community for each family to write letters about their year and to send them off to all the other friends and families. For this reason, I’ve seen a full spectrum of the possibilities for Christmas/holiday cards, and they’re just as much fun to create as they are to give out! There are also many options out there for card giving, just make sure you’re starting early enough to get them out before the holidays!

The Letter:

This is what my family does every year, sometimes with a card, and on busier years just the letter. If there are a lot of individuals behind the sending of the card, it’s a fantastic way to make every person seem just as important. It gives the receiver an idea of what each person has been up to. A really fun way to do the letter is to make a cute header and play with fonts and colors. I generally create a letterhead on publisher or Photoshop, and place it into the document. With some sophisticated ivory cardstock, print your letters off for a look that makes it seem you’ve had the letter custom designed!

The Card:

This is one of the best ways for someone living on their own, or in college, to send off Christmas/holiday cards to their friends away at other schools, or to friends they see on a regular basis. Plus, it’s a really unexpected touch. This year, I’ll be doing this in addition to my family’s Christmas letter, so everyone back home can know what I’m up to, but my friends can have something a little more, well, me! As I’m sure I’ve said before, cute stationary is one of my weaknesses, and I’ve found some adorable  holiday designs at places like TJ Maxx, Target, and The Paper Source; the hardest part is deciding which I like best!

The Photo Greeting:

I mentioned earlier, that it’s still super easy to make something last minute to send out even if you’re not going to be home for the holidays. Although something detailed and prepared early on is really intimate to receive, a fun option that has become more popular is the printed out picture. Many families have started doing this on their busier years, and a lot of places have great templates for you to choose from. You can even choose the message you want to be on the card, so it gives the picture a more personal feel. You can get these done at so many places, some of my favorites are minted.com, shutterfly.com, and peartreegreetings.com. They have fantastic selections, I almost caved in and did that instead!

Overall, it’s the season to go out of your way; to be festive, happy, and care for others by reaching out and wishing them the best. Giving holiday cards is a traditional but timeless way to do this, and it’s one of my most favorite parts about the holidays. With that, Happy Holidays to you all, may your hearts be merry and light this season.

Jollily yours,

A Day At The Pumpkin Patch

TSS Readers, meet Maddie... an Alpha Chi Omega from San Diego State University!  Maddie is the newest addition to our It Girl team for 2014.  Want to learn more about her?  Well, you're going to have to wait a little bit-- our new It Girl team will be unveiled soon!  Until then, here's a sneak peek into the life of the newest member of our It Girl family!  Welcome, Maddie!

There’s something magical about fall- the leaves change, the air is crisp, and you can order pumpkin-flavored anything. We don’t exactly get a traditional fall season in San Diego; we’re still wearing flip-flops and going to the beach. But, our sisterhood event at the Pumpkin Station in Del Mar let us pretend! We picked out pumpkins, rode the rides, bought huge buckets of caramel corn, and pet adorable animals. It was a great way to bond with our new members and celebrate this beautiful season.

When we got back to our chapter house, we held a decorating competition- it was so fun to see everyone’s crafty side. We split the girls into teams and gave them supplies to decorate with, including pipe cleaners, pom poms, paint, glitter, and different types of candy.   One team crafted a hilarious witch with hay, a paper hat, and a pickle nose.  Another team did a cute aqua ombre pumpkin using paint and glitter.  All of the pumpkins make a festive addition to the front of our chapter house.

We love the mix of Halloween tradition and glamour on the pumpkin with the jeweled spider on it. Some pumpkin patches sell kits with stick-on jewels, but you can also get large gems and rhinestones from any craft store and hot glue them to your pumpkin!  When you decorate your pumpkins, you can get inspiration from Pinterest, your favorite movies, and even the supplies you have lying around. We had a blast at this sisterhood event! I encourage you to go with your chapter or your friends. Even if you don’t pick a pumpkin, you’ll get loads of great photos together!

DIY: Photo Collage Monogram

Between move in, recruitment, big/little reveal, and initiation, there is no shortage of sorority crafts to be made. This is a fun, simple, and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to any of your upcoming crafts. You could make a monogram for your bedroom, spell out your chapter's name to hang in the chapter room, or even apply the same process to a picture frame or paddle! The best part is, it cost less than $15 and all of the supplies can be purchased at your local craft store.

Did you know that both Michael's and Hobby Lobby have free apps for your phone? You can look up and instantly download coupons, and the stores will scan them right from your smartphone. I saved 40% on the large wooden letter that I purchased from Hobby Lobby! 

All you need is:

-Large wooden letter 

-Mod Podge (the 4 oz. bottle is more than enough for this project)

-Acrylic paint (2 oz. Craft Smart acrylic paints are only 69 cents each at Michael's)

-2 Foam paint brushes

-Scissors

-Pictures printed from your computer at home

Step 1: Print out your favorite pictures. If you are making this for yourself or your little, these can be specific to a certain event or just from your whole experience in your chapter. Now in my senior year, I decided to make this one as a keepsake for myself with my favorite memories. If you are making them for your chapter house, you can do a collection of all pledges classes throughout the years! Be sure to use regular printer paper, not photo paper, and choose pictures in a variety of shapes and sizes. I did this example in black and white because I think it gives a cleaner look, but you can do it in color as well!

Step 2: Cut out all of your pictures and lay them out on your letter. Your pictures will probably shift, and not end up exactly like you have planned out, but this helps give you a starting point. If you are a perfectionist, like myself, this may drive you a bit crazy at first. However, that is one of the best parts about this project. You don't have to worry about straight lines, smudging paint, or uncooperative fabric. Collages aren't meant to be perfect, and I guarantee that you will be happy with the end result! 

Step 3: Starting at the top, remove one picture, cover the back completely with Mod Podge, place onto the letter, and Mod Podge over it. You will continue this same process until all pictures are glued to the surface. Don't be a afraid to overlap them, or fold them over the sides. Don't be afraid of the Mod Podge! It will dry completely clear. Just be sure to coat it evenly and don't leave any thick white lines. There is no right or wrong way to do this. You may have to shift and adjust your photos as you are gluing them down. The paper will become wet from the Mod Podge, and therefore very flexible to smooth over the edges.

Step 4: Once the Mod Podge is completely dry, which should only be a few minutes, flip the letter over. In any color paint of your choice, paint one coat on the back. Let dry. Now, carefully paint the first coat along all of the sides. If you accidentally get some paint on the picture side, don't freak out! It should wipe right off with a damp paper towel. Let the entire first coat dry and repeat. 

Step 5: Once the paint is completely dry, paint one more coat of Mod Podge over the entire piece, including the back and sides. 

Step 6: You can add any personal touches to the edges such as rhinestones or flowers, or leave it as is! 

Ta da! Your letter is now ready to give as a gift or hang on your wall!