DIY: Dip Dye Festival Inspired Top

I wrote out this entire post and it then went and deleted itself so here's take two...

I was in Topshop last Friday in Croydon and found this beautiful top that was perfect for Reading Festival in a couple weeks time. However upon looking at the price tag I experienced that heart sinking feeling when you realise it's well out of your price range and in typical Topshop style, overpriced. 

Here's the top...

£28 no thankyou gurl

You can't really tell in the pictures but the tassels go from teal to black. When in the fitting room I then had one of those light bulb moments to make it myself for a much cheaper price, plus I could tailor the style to be exactly how I want it. So I ended up going for a long sleeve crop top so the tassels would come over my belly rather than the awkward length of the original. 

£10 Holla!

Other styles more similar to the original are also available at Topshop. Plus if you aren't as lazy as me you could shop around more and probably find suitable tops for even cheaper.

What you will need:

• A black top in your chosen style
• Two packets of dye, three if you want teal (mix Bahama Blue and Dark Green)
• I used Dylon hand dyes in Bahama Blue, Dark Green and Velvet Black £3-4 each (I got mine on sale for £2.85)
• Newspaper
• Salt
• Containers (tall to dip the tassels in)
• 5 inch tassels (£2.99 per metre)
• Plastic bag
• Sewing kit 
• Gloves

Step One: Prepare your Fabric

First measure the correct  length of tassel to fit round your waist or the bottom of your top and use a pin to mark where to cut. 

Then once you have the correct length fold it up into a smaller piece thats easier to dip into your container. 

Once your tassels are ready, wash them in cold water and leave damp. 

Step Two: Prepare your Dye

Now is where the gloves come in handy. 

*These measurements are what worked for me, they are in no way fool proof*

Taking a quarter of Bahama Blue and a quarter of Dark Green mix them together to make the equivalent of half a pack of dye and add to 125 ml of warm water. 

Now add your mix to 1.5 litres of warm water along with 1 tbsp of salt and stir well. 

Repeat this process with the black, only using a quarter of the packet so it's more dilute then the teal and won't over power it. 

Step Three: DIP DYE

Sumerge the tassels into the teal dye using a bobbing motion, only cover 3 quarters of your fabric so the top part is left white. The very top of the dyed part should only be in the dye for long enough to gain colour but do not let in soak any more or you won't get a gradient effect. The bottom should never leave the dye in order for it to become really dark. Do this for 15 minuets with teal and then 10 minuets with black. Don't ever submerge the black beyond half way up and alike the teal, focus on the bottom. 

Hang the tassels on a washing line and cover with a plastic bag, leave for 45 mins. Then rinse in cold water until it runs clear. Now put it in a warm wash and allow it to dry naturally. 

Step Four: Sewing

Now its time for you to sew your tassel onto the top using white thread, this is done best with a sewing machine. Voila you have your very own hand made top. 

Hope you guys liked this style of post and that it'll inspire you to become more creative and save money on your clothes.

Hannah xxx

Updates

Long time no see my daydreamers.

I'm so sorry that I gave up on you guys like that but I'm back and better than ever. So whats new, I hear you ask?
Lets have an overview of my goings on since my last post shall we?
Well I finished my GCSEs four months after my last post (the reason for the dry season) and this year I just did my AS-levels...awaiting the results *cry*
My style and the way I want to use this blog has changed at lot since when I first set this up so you may see a few changes around here and I'd love it if you'd stay and help me make them. That is...if your not too angry? (*cough* I'm so sorry *cough*)

First things first I have started doing more creative things and DIYs so you may see more of those then just beauty related blogposts.
Second things...second?...I feel the need for a new blog name? I made this three years ago now and I'm no longer really feeling the name...an ideas? I need help coming up with one.

I have my first (in a long time) blogpost all planned out for you guys and it's a money saving/creative kinda vibe so keep you eyes pealed for that because I wanna get that out by the end of the week.
Right Hannah stop blabbing and get to work then...

Happy Monday Daydreamers
Hannah xxx

NOTD: Nail Rocks Snowflake Nail Wraps

Hey everyone, for christmas I got these nail wraps but never got a chance over the christmas season to try them out so I decided I would wait and use them for skiing. This is the first time I have ever used nail wraps so I'm sure my application of them wasn't the best and it takes a lot of practice.

I think these nail wraps are so gorgeous and great for winter especially over christmas. They aren't the easiest to apply and it does take a while but they last really well and I have had them on for four days now and they've only just started showing signs of wearing. The only problems I have with them is they are very hard to get on flat and they crinkle up a bit but I guess practice makes perfect. The snowflakes also don't show up very well which makes me feel for this particular design its more cost effective and easier to buy the barry m foil effects. I have had compliments over these nails so that makes me willing to buy the barry m one.

I got mine at christmas time, as I said before, when they were only available from Selfridges so mine cost me just over £7 but they are now available from topshop for £6.50 but different designs can range in price a bit. For this particular design I will not be buying it again and I will go with the barry m foil effects but I would like to try out more of nail rocks nail wraps as I don't believe the first use can really give them justice as they take a bit of practice to perfect the application. I actually have another pack waiting in my drawer for me to use so watch out for a post on that!

Also I want to get a fairly high coverage (but natural looking) dewy finish foundation, got any recommendations? I've been looking at bourjois' healthy mix foundation, any good?

Ditzy Doll
xxxxxxx

Review: Sleek Eyeshadow Palette + EOTD

in oh so special 658

I have been looking at Sleek's eyeshadow palettes for a while now and I eventually caved in a couple weekends ago and bought 'Oh So Special'. I was tied between this and Au Natural but with the pinky-ier shades in Oh So Special I thought I would wear it more and went for that one. 

Top row, Left to Right: Bow, Organza, Ribbon, Gift Basket, Glitz, Celebrate

Bottom row, Left to Right: Pamper, Gateau, The Mail, Boxed, Wrapped up, Noir

I absolutely love all these colours and I can see myself using all of them. There are seven mattes and five shimmery/sparkly ones. I really like this as I change my 'finish' everyday as I love both the dewy, shimmery finish and the matte, powder finish. Three of the colours are also really great highlight colours as well so this palette is great for everything, from natural to smoky eye. My swatches were really bad as when I took the photos I was very rushed so I got an image from google.

As you can see the eyeshadows are well pigmented and a really lovely soft powder. The packaging is really lovely and sleek (teehee). It cost £6.45, very cheap! They are so lovely and I'm definitely going back to superdrug for some more palettes, next up, storm. 

Now for the eye of the day... obviously using this palette...

So as a base/primer I used, mac paint pot in painterly (review) Then I used, Bow, all over my lid and, Glitz, around the edge, I brushed on a heavy outline and then blended it out. Finally I used, Noir, in the crease and blended that out. On my lashes I used Eyeko's old collection mascara but it was applied much earlier in the day and isn't looking it's best.

Ditzy Doll
xxxxxx

Review: BarryM Fine Glitter Dust

in pale silver 
So I actually wanted a silver dazzle dust (eyeshadow) but accidently bought this which says you shouldn't use around the eye area... so the opposite of what I wanted. This actually made me really angry because they give two very different products the exact same packaging and put them right next to each other on the shelf so I'm sure many people, like me, made the same mistake and wasted their money! However I decided that now I have the product I might as well try it out.

So I decided I would apply this all over my face very lightly to give it a glittery finish. I applied it with a relatively big general face powder brush and just buffed it into my skin over my makeup. On the website it says you can also use this on your lips and body although I don't see why you would want to use this on your lips... Overall I liked the effect it gave on my skin and is a very good skinfinish if you are going out or even for a christmas party (although we'll have to wait another year for that) ! Although it did irritate my skin a bit and made it itchy but that soon wore off.

They cost £4.59 and are the same price as a dazzle dust. This is very cheap and now that I have it I'm glad because it's a really nice going out finish but I wouldn't buy it again as I probably won't wear it very often. I also thought it might be quite good as a highlight and will definitely be trying it out.

So overall I am happy with this product and I think it works well!
Have you ever made the same mistake I have? What do you think of the fine glitter dusts?

DitzyDoll
xxxxx

Review: Sleek Blush

in Pixie Pink
I actually went to superdrug wanting to pick up this blush in rose gold but as always it was sold out so instead I picked up this. I have been eyeing a colour very similar to this from mac for a while but I didn't want to spend the money on something that was so bright that I might not wear enough to make full use of the price paid.

This colour doesn't apply as strong as it is in the palette but for this thats definitely a good thing because it is really bright! (the picture isn't showing it as bright as it actually is) It gives a relatively 'natural' flush but very enhanced. It lasts quite well, it could do with a top up during the day but would be fine without. I really like the basic sleek black box packaging aswell, especially the nicely sized mirror in the lid!

These blushers are retailed at £4.30 and are super affordable! I definitely want to try out more of these, like rose gold, if I EVER find it in stock that is....

Have you tried any sleek blushers? What did you think?

Ditzy Doll
xxxxx

NOTD: Elegant Touch American Pink X-Short

Hey Everyone, so today I'm going to do a nails of the day for you. A while ago I brought some Elegant Touch classic french false nails in American Pink, X-Short. I used these once before a while ago but in a pre-glued form and they were really nice and I got so manly complements because they looked so natural but unfortunately they fell off like every 5 minuets which was very disappointing. So instead this time I tried ones where you used actual nail glue.

So obviously these take a bit longer to apply but they will hopefully be worth it and stay on longer. They are really natural looking and just look like I have really really good nice natural nails which is great! Unfortunately a few of them have already started falling off since putting them on earlier this afternoon which is very disappointing but hopefully after a second coating of glue they will be sorted.

Ditzy Doll

xxxxxx