Browsing Tag

summer

Drinks

Cocktail: Blood Orange + Rosemary Fizz

I have an inclination towards anything fizzy, especially in the summer. So what better way to kick of my FAVORITE season (the blog name didn’t give it away?) than with a from-scratch cocktail that incorporates all of my favorite things. Now I’ll admit, I really don’t like rosemary in food so Continue Reading

DIY Home decor

Floral Wall Hanging

floral wall hanging

I’ve been struggling with a serious creative block lately. One thing that I’ve realized, however,  is that creativity will find you the second you stop looking so hard for it. After racking my brain for weeks to think my next DIY, one day I randomly decided to Continue Reading

Drinks

Cocktail: Blackberry Spritzer

Hey Stranger, remember me?

I know, I know – it’s been quiet around here. I’ve seen all those comments and emails enquiring where TF I’ve been and when I’m posting a new DIY/recipe. I’m right Continue Reading

Drinks

Summer Drink: Frosé

I was waiting for even the slightest hint of Spring to whip this recipe out, and thanks to my friends at 90Plus Cellars I already had this bottle of delicious rosé waiting for me. In my humble opinion, there’s no better combination than alcohol and something sweet – and this is both! Enter frosé, a frozen Continue Reading

Drinks

Hibiscus Mojito

Try this perfect end-of-summer cocktail. Hibiscus mojitos are the perfect marriage of tangy and refreshing that all will enjoy! \\ Essie Does Summer

Labor day was a quiet one for me and M. We stayed at home most of the day with the exception of a pseudo-barbecue, but it was the most excellent day because of these mojitos. As you may already know, I love to experiment with mojito recipes Continue Reading

dessert Drinks

Strawberry champagne jello shots

Summer is the time for soirées, but a soirée isn’t a soiree without champagne – it’s pretty much just a meeting, and you can quote me on that. But if you really want to wow your guests you’ve got to take your bubbly up a notch with these champagne Jell-O shots. Continue Reading

Food

Blueberry Smoothie Bowl

Hands up if you are a breakfast person! I love breakfast, people, and there are often times where I’d go to bed dreaming of what to make in the morning. I keep things relatively simple by eating the same thing almost every day – no fault of mine. When I have time Continue Reading

Free Stuff

Freebie: You Got This Wallpaper

It’s been quiet around here lately, and there are some very legitimate reasons for this. I recently decided to take a leap of faith and do something that had been on my heart for a while. I sold my creations at my first market! I wish I had video evidence to show you Continue Reading

DIY

Abstract Painted Bowls

If you’ve ever shopped for dinnerware on a budget, chances are you own the same plain white Ikea set that I have. Literally EVERYONE I know has this set and I don’t blame them – it’s cheap! But eventually you start to get very tired of the same old boring white plates and long for a new look. This is why I was tempted to spruce up these bowls after having them for two years. I researched what method was best to make painted bowls + how to make sure my design would stay on the bowls, and found that enamel paints would do the trick.

painted bowls3

Now that I’ve made these painted bowls and successfully so, I’m afraid I’m going to have to paint all of my dishware now if someone doesn’t stop me. But hey, those could make for some more DIY posts in the future. Looking for a DIY way to update boring kitchenware? Read on for more!

 

what you need:

  • Enamel paints( I like these ones the best)
  • paint brushes
  • plain bowls
  • newspaper to protect your surfaces
  • optional: acrylic spray sealer

painted bowls4

the how-to:

step one: make sure your bowls are clean and dry.

step two: starting with your lighter colors, paint random brushstrokes all over the bowl.

step three: paint brush strokes and smaller patterns using your darker color(s)

painted bowls5

step four: allow to dry for about 10 to 15 minutes. place in an oven (to “set” the paint) at 150° for 5 mins.

step five: remove from oven and allow to cool and you’re done!

Optional step: the paint is already pretty secure but if you want to make it more durable spray some clear acrylic sealer on to the bowl, making sure to avoid the inside.

The best thing about this paint and the technique is that you can literally paint any of your dishware. It works on mugs, plates and glasses too – so the possibilities are really endless. I see myself painting some champagne glasses in the future.

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Another thing; right now I can’t say whether or not these painted bowls are dishwasher safe but I’ve washed mine twice so far without an issue. I’ll update you on how they do, but for the meantime please hand wash only!

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