DIY: Personalised Notebook

1.       Clear file and tape / sticky back plastic

2.       Magazine cut out(s)

3.       Glue

4.       Scissors

5.       Notebook

Stick your cut out(s) onto the cover of your notebook with glue. 

I like to use old magazines but you could also print out some photos or pictures. I've only used one cut out here, because I’m lazy, but feel free to fill up the cover if you want. Whatever floats your boat.

Trace your notebook onto the sticky back plastic. 

I didn't have any so I used a clear file pocket, which isn't as good but it get’s the job done. Add an inch and trace the shape shown above.

Cut out the stick back plastic / file.

If possible, try to score the lines outlining the notebook (this makes it easier to cover later).

If you’re using sticky back plastic, take off the backing and stick to the cover.

If you’re using a file, tape the edges on the inside of the cover, as shown above.

(not really sure why there are scissors in the photo, ignore those)

The clear cover should protect your notebook, so that the photos don’t fall off or get damaged.

And you're done!

Here are some other examples of notebooks I've covered.

I know this DIY is really boring, but I think it makes your notebooks much more interesting, and I need every little bit to get me through a school day. It's also a great way to use any old magazines you have laying around.

-Blanc

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HOW TO: Tattoo Tights

In my last outfit post I promised to do a DIY on these tattoo tights that my cousin made me:

Since then I have improved the technique to try and minimise the tattoos looking stretched out. It is a tiny bit trickier but nothing too hard. This DIY is really quick and easy and a lot cheaper and more customisable than going out and buying a ready made pair.

Draw out a tattoo design onto the centre of your piece of card.

You can google some stencils if you're not too keen on freehanding it and I found doing it in pencil rather than pen was easier to then tell where I traced over it on the tights later.

Roll up your card so that it is of roughly the same width as the part of your leg where you want the tattoo to be placed. Secure with tape.

I wanted mine on my lower thigh which is why it's a slightly conical shape. You may also need another sheet of card if your card isn't long enough.

Place the rolled up card into one of the legs of the tights, making sure that it is at the right height.

You'll probably want to try on the tights beforehand and draw on a small dot in biro where you want your tattoo to be, to make sure it's placed in the right place. I also found it easier to put the card into the tights when I put the card around my leg to stop the card from scrunching and then putting on the tights as you normally would.

This stretches out the tights so that the design doesn't become distorted once you actually put the tights on.

Trace the design with a permanent marker.

This photo is just for a comparison of thick and thin markers. You can choose to use whatever thickness you want. 

This is what it should look like once you've finished.

I found it easier to trace the design in short strokes or dotting motions. Otherwise the pen seemed to drag on the tights, then moving it into a different position from the stencil.

And you're done:

Hopefully you should tell that the tattoo comes out a lot less distorted when drawing it onto stretched tights rather than onto non-stretched tights (comparing the tights my cousin made and the ones in this tutorial).

You can trace over the stencil multiple times to make the tattoo darker but I was a bit too impatient for that. You can also draw on multiple tattoos of various sizes as my cousin did in the first photos or shade in your tattoo with coloured permanent markers.

Hopefully this was helpful and I've explained it all clearly :-)

-Blanc

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