wrapped

Luv AJ spike knucklebuster $150 {here}

the second i lay eyes on this magical, spiky, wire-wrapped two-finger ring i was smitten...buuut i wasn't really in the market to spend that much on a ring i didn't think i would wear that much...SOO {insert brilliant exclamation!} i decided to make-an-afternoon of it an Do-It-my{Yourself}!!! below, the inspiration versus the MINE!!  read on for details!!

YOU WILL NEED:

wire

{lots, all kinds, any kind - just make sure it's bendable with your fingers}

spikes w/ SCREWbacks

{!! one for each 'ring' -- or more if you so choose!}

scissors, screwdriver

ya know...tools...

here is my spikes + wire...so once you have everything together...wrap some wire around your finger {to whatever size ya like} about 5 or 6 times, securing the ends of the wire by wrapping it around the bundle

my ring wraps...after you've got your rings figured out pick a spot to add your spike...just screw the spike in in the middle of all the wrapped wires...

like so! then cut a piece of wire pretty long to wrap around the entire ring {also securing the spike to the wrapped wire} and wrap, wrap, wrap,   w r a p . . . .

and wrap and wrap and wrap the other ring...then wrap the two together!!

voila!

yumm. 

also look out early may for a first look at my etsy store alex marie designs!! enjoy!!! xo

nut knotting

recently there has been an amazing nut knotting bracelet DIY floating around the interwebs and the second i came across the tutorial i KNEW i had to partake in the madness (so lucky for all of you living under a rock, you will learn how to HERE!).  upon a trip to ACE i found some interesting types of nuts -- like these square little guys -- and i was totally inspired!! check it out!!

you will need:

16-20 small nuts (mixing silver and brass would probably be pretty cool...)

3 strands of twine (i tried to find some blue or orange but had no luck...)

20 minutes of free time (preferably while watching jersey shore)

how to:

tie twine together leaving a few inches from the top

braid (1-3")

add a nut to the far left string of the braid before crossing the strand over the middle (make sure the nut stays to the side of the braid)

cross the left strand over the middle

add a nut to the far right string of the braid before crossing over the middle (still making sure it is on the outside of the braid)

continueeee, keeping your fingers at the base of the braid when threading each nut so it doesn't fall apart

**its easier to tape the ends of the string so they do not unravel**

when done adding nuts, braid (1-3" more)

tie off!!

tada!! for another set of instructions (i am so ocd i like to read like 10 different ones before i start it myself...) go here - also i am SO trying gradually increasing the nut size...

technicolor

totally obsessed. will be going to get some colored extensions like asapppppp!! x
here

how to: bling and feather

before i left for utah, i discovered the coolest thing i have seen in a while...feather hair extensions. [here] the idea that they are totally natural {rooster tails} and will stay in as long or as short as you'd like - is totally in line with my impulsive tendencies - so i obviously had to learn how to do them.  also, my sister finally got her hands on some bling string {hair tinsel} so i was expected to figure that out too...

best thing about both these hair trends -- they are EASY to apply and pretty hard to mess up so i definitely recommend trying them on your own!

the feathers come both separately and in little "bunches" and the bling string comes in spools {and also in like 6 colors...}

to get the feathers into your hair: 

1. isolate a small bit of hair that you would like to affix the feathers to - i have done them both on the upper sides of the head as well as under the ear - they look good in both places but under the ear is more apparent

2. [not pictured] slide a metal crimping bead {they sell them at beauty supply stores for extensions} onto the bit of hair and then slide in the feathers of your choice - 3 to 7 feathers per bead...

3. CRIMP with metal pliers! voila! you are "feathered"! [to remove simply un-crimp the bead and pull out]

to get the bling string into your hair:

1. cut a piece of tinsel long enough to be doubled and still the length of your hair

2. isolate TWO or three STRANDS of hair and affix the sting by pulling the hairs through a slip knot at the end of the bling string

3. tie the string and hair in a few knots -- ta dah! [it will fall out in a week or so but it looks super festive in the meantime!]

if done correctly - the bling string looks like subtle highlighting that shimmers in the light - which is actually quite pretty. watch out for the colors though - at one point i had red in my hair and looked like a wanna-be pirate...ha.

anyway, i am totally in to change-able looks, especially for my hair, so if your itching for something new...try one of these temporary embellishments!!  enjoy!!

***if you are a Santa Barbara {or neighboring area} resident and would like someone else to apply your feather extensions - i am currently prepared to deck you out! shoot me an email and we can chat!! xx***

bling string here

sparkling zebras

skipping cheeseball xmas nails, here's a shot of my most recent manicure that had the ski lodge all abuzz today!! sparkling zebras. haha. and sorry, the dryness here is doing NOTHING for my skin/cuticles.

festive posts to come...xx!!

water marbling DIY

i got a rather large response last week from my water-dipping manicure post (here) so i am posting a DIY! i am technologically challenged so i have no fancy video but i do have plenty of pictures!!

the manicure works because of the differences in polarities of the two substances (nail polish + water) and can be really cool when done properly.

you will need:

*a cup full of water (make sure you don't really care about the cup because it is going to get all gross and you probably won't want to drink out of it again) - i guess a disposable cup would work best but i'm a terrible planner so whatever.

*a bunch of nail polishes - really try everything from sparkles to mattes...everything looks different

*top coat

*tape (duct tape probably isn't the best for this but again with planning/it was all i could find when i decided to do this)

*q-tips

*nail polish remover

*isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

*newspaper/paper towels/magazine to work over (i am really trying to make an excuse to throw away this table...)

to do:

1. paint nails whatever color you like - this will serve as your background color

*i am using OPI: The Show Must Go On from the Burlesque Collection (swoon)

2. when they are dry, wrap as much of your finger tip as you can, avoiding the nail.  the easiest way is to put one piece of tape on the very tip of your finger and curl it round the edge then take another and wrap your actual finger -- it doesn't really matter except for clean up because all exposed skin is going to get polished

3. drip (large) drips of polish into the water one after the other -- you will see them spread out so just keep going until you think you have enough (again, try everything -- that's the only way you'll figure out what works for you) -- work quickly and when you are satisfied, run a de-cottoned q-tip (or toothpick) through the polishes to swirl the colors.

*for my first nail, i used OPI: You Don't Know Jaques and milani holographic "3D"

4. visualize what part of the swirl you want on your finger and DIP! (nail first, let your finger go into the water)

5. wait for the polish on the top of the water to dry and with your q-tip/toothpick dettatch the polish from your finger so when you pull it out all of the polish doesn't stick to your design

6. the polish will be dry due to the thinness of the layers in the water so you can immediatly pull off the tape to expose your finished product!

7. once the tape is removed just clean your exposed finger with nail polish remover!!

*for this manicure i did a separate color combination for almost every nail -- here are some more photos and TIPS at the end!!

much more successful color combo: Essie Playa Del Platinum + OPI: You Don't Know Jaques

much more controlled swirling 

voila!

finisheeeed!

hand 1 (note my ring and index finger are not marbled)

thumbs up!

hand 2 (all marbled)

TIPS...:

*work quickly

*don't use "quick dry" polish

*solid color polish leaves the cleanest swirls and a sparkle will kind of get mixed up in everything

*try EVERYTHING

*all different nails are fun - and creative -- so just do, do, do!!

happy friday!! xx

snowy d.i.y

i have become particularly annoyed with the lack of wintery weather in santa barbara as of late.  i am ready for the freezing winds and cozy sweaters.  trying to make myself feel better, i found this wonderful winter wonderland snowflake d.i.y. from free people and since it is one step up from elemetary school arts and crafts, i will be partaking.  check back to see my southern california snow-scape!! xx

d.i.y. HERE!!

if you decide to cut out some of your own flakes please share them!!! also, because facebook is apparently the lifeline of all 18 to 30 year olds, LIKE ivoryinklings HERE!!

photos via free people bldg 25

ear feathers

tank: F21 jacket: H&M

so the spring/summer LF sale came and went and i am still lamenting a wonderful, long feather earring that i passed up {probably overlooked due to over stimulation}...  i have been so upset/desperate/frustrated that i could not find one similar to it - let alone one like it at all - that i have activated every crafty bone in my body and actually made two versions of this wonderful piece.  and just in case anyone wants to recreate my fantastic art i am posting the d.i.y.!!

you will need: 

FEATHERS (the prettier the better but i had some in a vase that were about 3" and worked perfectly)

6" of suede rope (whatever color you fancy...mine sort of matches my hair)

beads (matchy-matchy is ugly so have fun with the colors)

earring backs

jumprings

krazy glue (i never actually heeded the warnings that this stuff is dangerous so watch out)

to make:

- feed the rope through a bead and the jumpring then back through the bead and glue (you can do however many beads you want - my first one had two, the second only one) -- this is the top of your earring and you can put it onto the earring back

- glue a bead on the feather about 1 cm from the tip (like the "bony" tip)

- add another bead to the bottom of the suede rope and insert the "tip" of the feather with the glued on bead into the new bead -- GLUE.

ta da!

yay! im crafty!! hope you enjoy!!! xx shoot me an email if you'd like to buy one of these lil guys!  xo

fishytales

finally! here is the PERFECT fishtail braid how-to.  thank you free people for making this whimsy hairstyle cool enough for fall :)



i added some extensions and made myself a looooong one!

sorry that i am CLEARLY mid-sentence buuuuut in brad's car it's unusual that i am not talking :)