DIY Ribbon Bracelet/Necklace

I found this little bobbit on etsy and it was what inspired this tutorial in the first place.

It's a slide of some sort. I didn't (and still don't) know what it's for, I just knew that I wanted it and that I was determined to make something of it.

So! With that in mind, I made this tutorial for those who have a slide like this one AND for those who do not. It CAN be done without this little slide, so read on. You will need: ribbon, a lighter and scissors.

Measure out the ribbon to your desired length and cut it. I always OVER measure my ribbon because it's easier to trim a ribbon than to try to make it longer. I measured mine out 42 inches and cut it. Next, light your lighter and lightly burn the edges of your ribbon.

This will make the fabric curl in on itself and it will NOT fray. Seriously. Like, ever. The ribbon might light on fire if you hold it too long, but it WILL NOT burn so fast that you can't lick your fingers and pinch it out. So never fear!

Now, drape the ribbon over the back of your hand like this. It should be pulled so that each side has an even length of ribbon.

 Now, get the right side of the ribbon and pull it under your hand and over onto the left side of your hand. Basically, act as if you are wrapping the right side of the ribbon around your wrist but, instead of wrapping it around your wrist, tuck the ribbon between your thumb and index finger, like this.

 Pull it taunt (don't cut off your circulation, no one likes blue hands) and hold it safely between your fingers like this.

 Do the exact same with the left side of the ribbon. Bring it across the palm of your hand, bring it up the right side of your hand, and place the ribbon between your pinky and ring finger.

 Pull it taunt, you now should have an X on the back of your hand like this with the two ends of ribbon dangling from between your fingers to the palm of your hand.

 Take your ribbons like this, and tie them into a knot.

 Like this, leaving the ends dangling down.

 And there you have it- a very simple yet elegant bracelet made out of ribbon.

 I assure you, this looks much better when your nails aren't all chipped. >,< 

Easy, right? It adds a small bit of interest to any outfit, and I like to do this when I'm dressed like a Victorian whore. :3

Now, for those of you who have a slider thingy, this is how you can do the same with the slide.

 Take the ribbon and pull it through each side of the slide.

 Push the slide down so you have a loop behind it, like this. 

 Slip your wrist through that look and position the slide so it rests on the back of your hand, the ribbon with equal slack on each side.

 Do the same as before, pull the right side of the ribbon across your palm and over the left side of your hand, placing that ribbon between your thumb and index finger.

 Pull it secure.

 Repeat with the other side of the ribbon. Take the left side, pull it across your palm, bring it up the right side of your hand, and tuck it between your pinky and ring finger.

 Pull it taunt so you have an X on the back of your hand.

 Take the ribbons in your palm

 And tie them together.

 Voila! Now you have a FANCY ribbon bracelet all your own.

Again, looks fancier with painted nails. :p

 Now, here is one more variation of the slider that makes it into a necklace. Again, the same long length of ribbon is used. Pull the ribbon through the sides of the slider.

You now have that loop behind the slide, like this.

Now, slip your head through that loop. Your ribbon is long, so it ought to fit around your head and neck, like this.

Push the slider against the base of your throat, or wherever you would like it positioned.

And pull the ribbons to the side, right side to the right, left side to the left.

And pull them behind your neck.

Tie the ribbon into a know, I prefer a bow so that I can easily take it off later on or adjust it throughout the day.

And there you have it, a slider/choker/ribbon necklace thingy!

It's really simple to do, and I really like how I can alter this little slide. I had no idea when I bought it how I would use it until I played with it a bit. Hope you like it! <3!

Hospital, Pastries, and Shopping [IMG HVY]

I hate waking up early to go to the hospital, yet I've been doing it since I was 3 years old. I've had this image burned into my memory for about 21 years now. 

 White, sanitized corridors devoid of life... it's soothing. And doesn't this map just make you feel like you're at Disneyland?

 There's nothing quite like a sprawling, glass windowed edifice to make you feel at ease at the butt-crack of dawn. :P

But hark! There is salvation to be had! For, since certain temperatures and fluids of my body were taken (I REALLY want a vial of my own blood, why is that so hard for these doctors to conceed?), it had to be replenished with my favorite type of meal- sugar! Just look at these cakes!!!

 There is a lovely bakery by my hospital, and I got to voyage there for a bite or two. Just look at all these pastries!

 Okay, if food porn disturbs you, please look away. Scroll down a lot, seriously.

 These are red velvet cupcakes... with ROSE PETALS on top.

 These are all cheesecakes. From the left to right, there is New York cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, mango cheesecake (I'm allergic), and oreo cookie cheesecake.

 I saw this and thought it was funny I chose to wore my Nightmare Before Christmas sweater today. I would like to go back and try these someday.

 Everything looked sooo good! And the smell in here was making me salivate like mad.

 These cinnamon rolls were HUUUGE! Bigger than my opened hand.

 And out of all the beateous sugary snacks that could be digested, I went with my favorite- an eclair.

 Soon after, I felt guilty for walking around on a stomach full of eclair, so I went to the mall. I wanted to buy some beauty supplies from those little odd stores you never really pay attention to in the malls. They have tons of stuff, and I was just looking to kill some time. Amongst the gothic vestements I saw, this one was soooo pretty!

 I have to make this, I have a cameo around here somewhere. Feathers too...

 A silver bracelet with a mood ring cross, it was 99 cents too.

 A wooden, tribal looking Ankh.

 Fishnets... on clearance! I have to come back for some of these.

 Stockings (of course).

 Some Gothic looking cell phone covers. I like the black, cross one. :3

 Some left over Halloween stuff they had on clearance.

 Then I just started taking photos of glittery, glam stuff. I like that pill box, it came with a mirror inside. Just because you're crazy and need a pill to survive doesn't mean you can't look good.

 Super glittery nail polish. I would probably put this on my dog if he wasn't a male. :[

 A preeeeetty bodice! I loved that taffetta fabric, it was so lovely!

 My heaven... @,@

 I went inside a lot of little stores, and got a handful of beauty items shown here:

 I always have my eyes opened for a new glitter liner, I'm addicted to this stuff now.

 It applies smoothly, and even when you rub it out, it looks lovely.

I've needed a plain lipgloss for a while now. I was shocked to find that it SMELLED wondrously like watermelon and tasted like nothing. Why don't these come flavored anymore? 

 A lipliner! This is THE ABSOLUTE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHADE I HAVE EVER FOUND!!!! It is the EXACT shade I have been looking for, a sort of brownish petal pink with a blue red undertone. Yeah, I'm buying this shade for life. 

I also bought some white cracked nail polish. Basically, you put on your nail color then layer this on top. It dries, and cracks, exposing your color underneath. I layered this on the black with red glitter I already was wearing, but I think this would look awesome on top of hot pink, hot green, or even purple.

 And I bought some clear nail varnish as well. Always good to have. :P

 And some huuuuuge eyelashes. I put this tape measure so you can see what I mean.

 And new socks! All of my socks are black, red, and white, or some variation of that color scheme, so these were perfect.

 I love the greens, all the colors are really vivid. :3

 And a book. I can't help buy go inside of a dollar bookstore and not leave with AT LEAST one book.

 This intrigued me.

I know it's a scholastic book and probably was written for junior highers, but I don't care.

Overall, a nice day. I hope I didn't kill your computers with my photos. ^^; <3!