Related: Taco Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, Fajita Seasoning, Chili Seasoning.

Uses for Everything Bagel Seasoning include: the tops of hamburger or hot dog buns, sheet pan breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, pigs in a blanket, and of course …everything bagels.

It’s easier to make a large amount of Everything Bagel Seasoning from standard size containers of the ingredients, so unless you can buy things from bins (and thus buy small amounts) you’ll likely end up with a good amount of this on your hands.

If you like, package a few up and share with your mom or friends who like to cook. This recipe would also make a fun homemade gift or part of a larger gift for a foodie friend.

Everything Bagel Seasoning Ingredients

–Dried Onion
–Dried Garlic
–Poppy Seeds
–Sesame Seeds
–Flaky Sea Salt
–Black Pepper

If you make your own, you can also make substitutes or go heavy or light on ingredients you want.

Instructions

Once you mix together all the ingredients, you can reuse and refill a larger container or add the seasoning to new glass containers (especially if you are gifting).

I made a little funnel from parchment paper (you can also buy one) to make it easy to fill my jars without making a too big a mess.

Here are the spice jars I used. And if you’d rather buy Everything Bagel Seasoning, here is an option from Amazon and one from Target. xo. Emma

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Everything Bagel Seasoning

how to make your own everything bagel seasoning mix

Keyword everything bagel seasoning

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 minutes minutes

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

• 3 ounces dried onion
• 2 ounces dried garlic
• 2 ounces poppy seeds
• 2 ounces sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons sea salt flaky
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
• Stir together until combined.
• Store in a container that can be sealed shut (with a lid or cap).

Notes

The measurements can vary slightly. For example, if the container of poppy seeds you buy says it is 2.3 ounces (more than the 2 ounces I list above) you can still use the entire container for this mix recipe. The measurements here can be thought of as ratios. You can also change this up based on your preferences. 

Hummingbird food is easy to make, you can even make it with young kids. It only requires two ingredients, sugar and water, and just a few minutes to make.

Ingredients

• Water – tap water is fine
• Granulated white sugar

You will also need a hummingbird feeder to store the homemade nectar in. We have a cactus shaped feeder that I love. My son thinks it’s a pickle. Whatever you choose I recommend something with an easy to open top so you can fill it. You will also want something that is easy to clean.

How to make Hummingbird Food

Hummingbird food is made of one part sugar to four parts water. My feeder easily holds 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of sugar.

Combine the sugar and water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Then pour into your feeder and hang in a prominent spot outside.

You do not need to boil the water. I do not recommend adding red food dye, it’s not necessary and may not be healthy for the birds.

More Outdoor Projects

• Weatherproofing Metal Furniture for the Outdoors
• Converting Indoor Pendant Lights for Outdoor Use
• DIY Outdoor Pillows
• DIY Painted Outdoor Rug
• Porch Plants that are Hard to Kill
• How to Make a Raised Garden Bed
• Fairy Garden Tour
• DIY Giant Slip and Slide (100 ft!)
• Make Your Own Fire Pit
• DIY Curved Fire Pit Bench
• How to Build a Greenhouse
• DIY A-Frame Playhouse
• Homemade Flower Beds
• DIY Porch Swing

Print

Hummingbird Food

homemade hummingbird nectar

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Author A Beautiful Mess

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• ½ cup granulated white sugar

Instructions

• Hummingbird food is made of one part sugar to four parts water.
• Combine the sugar and water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
• Then pour into your feeder and hang in a prominent spot outside.

Notes

You do not need to boil the water. Tap water is fine. 

I do not recommend adding red food dye, it’s not necessary and may not be healthy for the birds.

Do not use honey, corn syrup or powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar).

With macrame you can create usable items like handbags, plant hangers, or straps, or projects that are purely for decor like wall hangings, jewelry, or table runners. You can even make your own Christmas stocking!

Related: Simple Macrame Handbag Tutorial, Macrame Camera Strap Tutorial, Simple Macrame Table Runner, Macrame Christmas Stocking, Macrame Room Divider, Macrame Yarn Garland, Make Your Own Macrame Bracelet, Macrame Curtain, Macrame Plant Hanger

What is macrame?

Macrame is a crafting technique where you create a texture through making a series of knots and loops with either rope, yarn, string, or cords. The top of your project is secured onto either a mounting ring or tied to a stick or dowel and then the pattern is created through handmade knots.

Often the hobby of macrame is combined with other crafting mediums like weaving or knitting, but pure macrame is when the full piece is made of knots made by hand.

What’s the history of macrame?

Macrame may go back as far as the ancient Persians and Babylonians who used macrame-like knotting in artifacts in centuries BC.

The more modern macrame was brought to the west from more Arabic countries who mainly used the knots in the 13th century to tie ends in items like rugs, shawls, or other items that had fringe. By the 17th century, ladies in waiting for Queen Mary II used the technique as the pastime spread through England.

Sailors started to use the macrame knots to pass the time on ships and would even trade made items like belts or hammocks once they got to shore, which also helped the craft spread through Europe. Macrame remained popular through the 17th and 18th centuries until the Industrial Revolution brought about the sewing machine and then the technique fell out of favor until the 1960s and ’70s brought the craft back to popularity as part of the handmade movement.

The word “macrame” either comes from the Arabic word “migramah,” meaning ornamental fringe or it may also come from the Turkish word “makrama,” which refers to a towel or napkin.

Is macrame easy or hard to learn?

Good news! While it may look complicated, macrame is actually very easy to learn and it’s very similar to making friendship bracelets if you remember doing those as a kid.

There are a few basic knots that we will teach you, and once you get those down you’ll be able to make almost any macrame project you want!

How long does it take to complete a macrame project?

The time needed to complete a macrame project will vary greatly depending on your level of skill (your first macrame project will take more time and experts will knot much faster), material, size, and complexity of your project.

While smaller/simpler projects can definitely be completed in a short afternoon, you may need several hours spread over a few days for larger wall hangings.

What kind of cord do you use for macrame?

There are several types of macrame cord that you can use for your macrame project.

• Rope: The twisted strands of cotton cord rope give macrame projects durability and you’ll get a defined thick knot that is unlikely to unravel. The most common kinds are twisted three-ply and braided six-ply ropes for macrame and rope comes in a large variety of thickness for larger projects as well.
• String: A string is a much finer twisted strand compared to rope so you get a smaller and softer look than with rope. Your knots will also be much smaller so it can be better for finer, more delicate projects.
• Yarn: While yarn is often used for knitting, you can also use it for macrame. Wool, acrylic, and hemp are common bases for yarn and this option provides the biggest color range.
• Waxed cord: A waxed cord is smaller in diameter than a rope and it is coated in beeswax to make the cord more waterproof. The wax also strengthens the cord so it makes for strong knots as well.

100% Natural Cotton Macrame Rope Cord

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Soft Cotton Macrame String Thread

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Bulky Wool and Acrylic Blend Yarn

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 1.5MM Waxed Cotton Macrame Cord 

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How much macrame cord do you need for a project?

When measuring out how much cord you need for your macrame project, you’ll want to determine the approximate length of your finished project and cut your cords 4 times that length.

If the cord needs to be folded in half for the project, then you want to cut the cord 8 times the finished length.

What supplies do you need for macrame?

To make your macrame project, you’ll want the following items:

• Macrame cord
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• A stick/rod or a mounting ring (a metal hoop) to hang your project on
• Wooden beads or other beads for decoration (optional)

5 Basic Macrame Knots

While there are more than five knots you can use in macrame, if you practice these five simple knots, there are so many projects you’ll be able to tackle right away.

1. Lark’s Head (aka Cow Hitch Knot)

A Lark’s Head knot is so easy! Fold your string in half and place the halfway loop behind your hanging rod.

Slip your two string tails through the top loop and pull.

2. Square Knot

Tie two Lark’s Heads knots side by side on your rod. This knot uses only the strands on the outer left and right edges and the middle two strands stay put.

Take the strand all the way on the left and cross it over the middle two strands but then behind the strand all the way on the right. It will look like a number “4.”

Next, take the right strand, keeping it over the strand that came from the left, and go behind the middle two strands coming out where the hole in the “4” was created in the previous step. Pull that knot tight to the top.

Now you’ll repeat the process backwards by taking the right strand and creating a backwards “4” that goes over the middle two strands and under the strand on the left.

Take the strand on the left, keeping it over the strand that just came from the right, go behind the middle strands and come out again where the hole in the backwards “4” was created.

Pull strands tight and you’ll see a square knot!

3. Spiral Knot

The spiral knot is basically the same as the square knot except that you keep making your “4” shape in one direction so it creates a spiral shape.

Tie two Lark’s Heads knots side by side on your rod and continue to make your first knot like your would with a square knot.

Rather than reverse the direction to complete a square knot, keep making the same knot over and over, pulling each knot tight to the top.

As you make more knots, you’ll see the spiral pattern start to emerge.

4. Berry Knot

Start by making a square knot but when you tie your knot at the top, leave a little room above the knot so you can turn your tails through that hole later.

Make two more square knots so you have three square knots in a row.

Take the tails of your cords and push them all through the small hole in the middle you left above your first square knot.

Pull the cords all the way through and you’ll see that your square knots have created a ball-like berry shape.

5. Double Half-Hitch Knot (DHH)

This knot is often used to create lines in your work and you’ll want to start with at least four Lark’s Head knots side by side. The outermost left cord will be your working cord and the next three cords in line will be your holding cords.

Use your left cord to loop around the first holding cord so that the loop is facing down and the tie of the loop is facing up.

Tighten the loop to the top.

Repeat the action so you have two loops tied at the top of the cord.

Take your working cord and start to tie loops on the second holding cord in line and tie two loops at the top of that cord.

Repeat again tying two loops with your working cord onto the third holding cord and then let your working cord hang (it should now be the fourth cord in near the middle of your project).

Now you just repeat the process backwards on the other side by using the outermost cord on your right side as your working cord and tying two loops on each of the next three hanging cords.

Now you should have both your working cords in the middle of your work.

Now you’ll tie one last Double Half-Hitch Knot by using your left working cord to tie a loop around what was your right working cord.

Avoid these common macrame mistakes:

• Cutting cord too short: Rather than just eyeballing your cord, make sure you are measuring that you have at least four times the full length of your finished project to ensure you won’t run out! There’s nothing worse than not being done with your piece and suddenly you run out of cord.
• Pulling knots too tight: It’s a very similar thing with friendship bracelets, that if you are pulling your knots too tight, then your knots will look deformed and your project will start to twist and curl. Pull your knots just snug enough without over tightening and try to keep all the knots the tied at the same tightness. As you start your projects, you’ll know if your knots are too tight if your project curls and you’ll want to start over not pulling your knots so hard.
• Not practicing/giving up: Like all new skills, it takes time to feel more confident and take on harder and bigger projects, so keep practicing and don’t give up as you get the hang of it!

Love crafting? Try these weaving projects!

• Weaving for Beginners
• Easy (Faux) Weaving DIY
• 15+ Woven Crafts and DIYs
• Woven Jute Mat Tutorial
• Chunky Woven Scarf Tutorial
• Textured Woven Pillow DIY

Making candles does require a few basic supplies, including a stovetop or something similar to melt the wax.

I love to make candles for myself, as I almost always have a candle burning in my kitchen every evening. I also love to give homemade candles as gifts.

A DIY candle makes a great housewarming gift, wedding gift, birthday, Mother’s Day, or holiday gift. Or at least I think so, as I LOVE candles!

Candle Making Supplies – Basics

• Wax – beeswax, soy, paraffin, palm, or gel
• Wick – ECO wicks, hemp, or wood (different sizes based on how thick your candle will be)
• Wick stickers or hot glue and glue gun
• Scent – essential oils or blends
• Containers/vessels
• Melting pot and larger pot – to create a double boiler
• Kitchen thermometer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing spoon
• Clothespin or other stick to hold wick in place (pencils, skewers, chopsticks, etc.)
• Candle wick trimmer or scissors
• Kitchen scale (optional but helpful)

How to Make a Candle – the Basics

1. Measure out your wax. The easiest way to do this is to fill your container that will become your candle with the wax pellets. Then, use your kitchen scale to find the weight so you know how much scent oil to use.
2. In your melting pot, add the wax.
3. In your larger pot, add enough water so it will cover your melting pot at least halfway.
4. Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat. This is essentially a double boiler, like you might use to melt chocolate. While you can melt the wax in the melting pot directly, using a double boiler ensures the wax doesn’t overheat.
5. Heat the wax to 185°F. Use your thermometer to check.
6. Stir in the scent oil so it gets well distributed.
7. Turn off the heat and allow your wax mixture to cool to 125°F before pouring.
8. While the wax melts (or as it cools off), add your wick to the container. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to stick the metal bottom of the wick to the bottom center of the container. Then, use a clothespin or stick to wrap the top of the wick around so it will stay center once you pour in the wax.
9. Pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts around, fix it while the wax is still hot and very liquid.
10. Once your candle hardens, you’re ready to trim the wick and use it!

Types of Wax & Wicks

• Beeswax – natural, has a subtle sweet fragrance without adding oil, but can be more expensive. See how to make your own beeswax candles.
• Soy wax – natural, but often a blend so check the label. Usually more affordable than beeswax. See how to make soy candles.
• Paraffin wax – most economical but the least natural of these options
• ECO wicks – made from cotton and paper
• Hemp wicks – made from hemp
• Wood wicks – check out DIY wood wick candles to learn more

While there are other types of waxes and wicks beyond those listed above, these are likely what you will want to use as a beginner.

What is Scent Throw?

Scent throw is exactly what it sounds like; it is the radius around your candle where the scent will reach as it burns. There are four factors that affect scent throw:

• The type of wax
• Thickness of the wick
• Amount of scent oil used
• Temperature of the wax when you add the scent oil

While you may want to use different types of waxes for cost or health reasons, just know that generally the hotter the melting point of the wax the smaller the scent throw will be.

As far as how much scent oil to add, you may think adding more will always mean a larger scent throw. Not true. If you add too much oil, it can weigh down in the wax.

You should aim for 1 ounce of scent oil for every 1 pound of wax (generally). This is why you may want to use a kitchen scale once you’ve measured how much wax will fit your container so you can best calculate how much scent oil to use.

How to Make Molded Candles

Making a candle in a mold is a little different because you will not need a container. You can reuse molds over and over if you care for them. See this tutorial for a flower pillar candle DIY for step-by-step instructions and tips for success.

Here are some cute molds:

• Bubble candle molds
• Twisted candle stick molds
• Knot candle mold
• Geometric candle molds

Where to Buy Containers:

• Used: thrift stores, cleaned out food containers like pickle jars, or other used glass or porcelain containers you may have. Do not use containers that can melt or catch fire, like plastic.
• New: pretty pink glasses, colorful handblown glass, a footed planter
• See how to easily remove candle wax from used candle containers so you can reuse them again!

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How to Make Candles: Beginner’s Guide

step-by-step tutorial on how to make candles at home

Keyword candle making

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Author Emma Chapman

Equipment

• melting pot
• larger pot
• kitchen thermometer
• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing spoon
• clothespin or sticks or holding wick
• wick trimmer or scissors
• kitchen scale optional

Ingredients

• wax
• wick
• wick stickers or hot glue
• scent oil or blend
• container or mold

Instructions

• Measure out your wax – the easiest way to do this is to fill your container that will become your candle with the wax pellets. Then, use your kitchen scale to find the weight so you know how much scent oil to use.
• In your melting pot, add the wax.
• In your larger pot, add enough water so it will cover your melting pot at least halfway.
• Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat. This is essentially a double boiler, like you might use to melt chocolate. While you can melt the wax in the melting pot directly, using a double boiler ensures the wax doesn’t overheat.
• Heat the wax to 185°F. Use your thermometer to check.
• Stir in the scent oil so it gets well distributed.
• Turn off the heat and allow your wax mixture to cool to 125°F before pouring.
• While the wax melts (or as it cools off), add your wick to the container. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to stick the metal bottom of the wick to the bottom center of the container.

  Then, use a clothespin or stick to wrap the top of the wick around so it will stay center once you pour in the wax.
• Pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts around, fix it while the wax is still hot and very liquid.
• Once your candle hardens, you’re ready to trim the wick and use it!

Looking for more holiday ideas? Christmas Cake Pops, Melted Snowman Cookies, Christmas Nail Ideas.

Homemade Advent Calendar

As children, we loved the tradition of an advent calendar counting down the days until Christmas. Today, I’m going to teach you how I made a reusable advent calendar for my kids.

Ideas for Advent Stuffers

Much like stocking stuffers, we like to stuff our advent with a variety of candies, small toys and trinkets and activity ideas.

Candies – For our advent, I like to get a couple bags of pre-packed holiday candies and spread them out randomly through the month. I suggest getting one bag of chocolate candies and one bag of gummy candies.

Toys and Trinkets – Try a new toothbrush, matchbox cars, Lego characters and bookmarks make great gift ideas.

Activities Print – A sheet of fun to-do items and and pack the weekends with fun activities such as watching holiday movies, driving around to see lights on people’s houses or visiting shops to buy gifts for friends and family.

It took me around a week to complete my advent calendar. If you want to save a lot of time, choose pre-made mini stockings.

Instructions

Let’s talk about the DIY steps. This is E-A-S-Y. There’s nothing in this that you can’t just see from the photos, but I will still explain all the steps just in case you’re curious about exactly how I did it.

1. First, cut out 24 stockings from felt. I mainly used felt I already had, so it’s a mix between high and low quality (and I’m a-OK with that!). I made a few paper templates for stocking shapes and used them to cut out all the stockings.

I didn’t want mine to be exactly the same shapes and sizes, but you can do that if you want a more unified look. Next, embellish each stocking on the top side with hand embroidery and/or by gluing things onto the stockings.

2. Machine stitch or hand-stitch each stocking. Then, add a loop to the top of each stocking with felt or yarn (something to hang them from).

3. Paint small wood stars white and drill or punch holes. Use a stamp set to add numbers one through 24.

4. Add the stars to the stockings with string.

5. Use wooden rods, yarn, and wood beads to make the hanging structure. You can see below that my stockings are permanently attached to the rods, but you can tie them on instead if you’d like to be able to remove them each day.

Bonus step: After I was done, I wanted to add a little more detail, so I hung a bunch of larger wooden stars on the rods.

6. Fill your stockings with candy, small toys, and notes with fun activities like movies to watch, crafts to do or special places you will go each day.

Note: If you don’t have the time to make your own this year, there are lots of cute felt calendars out there, or you can just buy the mini stocking part and go from there to save a little time.

More Holiday Crafts to Try

• Vintage Christmas Tree Marquee
• Oversized Christmas Wreath
• Bottle Brush Christmas Trees
• Holiday Garlands

Holiday Gift DIYS

• Homemade Bath Bombs
• Crystal Soaps
• Marbled Clay Ring Dish
• We’ve also made a few advent calendars over the years here on the blog, so see if one of those seems perfect for you!

From snowman to Santa, shades of red and reindeers, silver and gold, pretty plaids, festive French tips, and lots of glitter in between, we’ve got tons of ideas to satisfy all manicure tastes. So give yourself the gift of a cute Christmas manicure this holiday season!

Looking for more nail design ideas? Check out:

• 55+ Winter Nail Designs
• Beginner’s Guide to Gel Polish
• Get The Perfect Manicure at Home
• Nail Design Ideas (125+ ideas!)
• 30+ Chrome Nail Designs
• 100+ Summer Nail Designs
• 50+ Spring Nail Designs
• 45+ Easter Nail Ideas
• 45+ Halloween Nails
• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)

At home Christmas nails vs. salon nails:

While you can do so many manicure looks at home now with gel manicure kits, it can be a little intimidating to some who are not as steady with their hands or just generally prefer the pampered experience at their local nail salon.

While gel manicures will generally last longer than traditional polish (usually 2-3 weeks for a gel manicure), there are traditional polish brands that boast several weeks of wear from their products and you don’t have the longer gel removal process at home if you choose to take off your own polish.

Some of the trickier techniques like chrome or magnetic polish also might be a little easier in the hands of a professional, but if you have a gel nail kit at home, they are looks that are fun to try and master. You can also stamp your nails so you can get delicate items like snowflakes perfect every time!

Of course, doing a press-on nail is the easiest way to get your perfect spring style at home by yourself, so there’s no shame in finding your favorite look and grabbing your nail glue.

Evergreen Accents

This deep forest green manicure has all the classic looks of French tip nails with a festive twist in a bow accent nail.

Try a French tip stamper to make your manicure easier to do at home!

Candy Cane Lane

This festive design features all over candy canes to keep your nails looking sweet this Christmas. This is also a cute design for short nails!

Just take a dotting tool and alternate dots of red and white in a “J” shape to create the design.

Oh Christmas Tree

These abstract Christmas trees are a fun way to add some holiday cheer to your manicure.

Peppermint Patty

These peppermint red and white nails are Instagram ready and just right to be the star of any holiday party.

Mistletoe Lane

Wear this sweet mistletoe manicure design and you just might get your crush to kiss you this holiday season!

Dab some glitter polish on the end of each nail with a makeup sponge and use a dotting tool for the berries and small brush for the leaves.

Gingerbread Man

How about a set of Christmas nails featuring a gingerbread man that looks good enough to eat?

You can ask your nail artist to paint your cute cookie or use a nail sticker to easily create your own look.

Golden Touch

We love when Christmas nail art ideas bring in some sparkle, so this golden look will help you shine.

Christmas Wreath

These green pearl nails feature a festive Christmas wreath that would make any front door proud.

Pearlized Cranberry

Pearl nails are super trendy and you can mix and match French tips and full color nails in a deep red shade.

You can create your own pearlized look at home by adding a coat of pearl polish, and before setting, dotting the nail with drops of more polish before swirling the dots together with a dotting tool.

Christmas Checkers

This trendy manicure brings in all the fun of the checkered print in a classic festive green shade.

Santa Haute

This adorable Santa hat idea is one of our favorites and looks really pretty with an almond shaped nail.

Snowy Day

These pearlized white nails look like ice crystals on a snowy morning.

You can create your own pearlized look at home by adding a coat of pearl polish, and before setting, dotting the nail with drops of more polish before swirling the dots together with a dotting tool.

Winter Pearls

These half moon pearl accent nails remind us of snowballs and would look pretty with just about any outfit.

Just create a half moon shape with white over a nude shade and then glue nail pearls across the line with rhinestone glue.

Glitter Lined

For a holiday twist on the standard French tip mani, try this doubled lined glitter option to add a little ooh la la.

Candy Cane Lane

These nails are holiday perfection with red French tips and candy cane accent nails.

Classic Christmas Plaid

What’s more classic than a red and green plaid manicure for the holiday season? You can also do just a few accent nails with this look for a toned down version.

You can also DIY this look with plaid nail foils and nail foil glue to get the perfect plaid without having to paint each line individually.

Peppermint Tips

For a twist on a French manicure, this merry manicure adds a peppermint swirl design to your nails’ tips.

Reindeer Love

This sweet little reindeer is ready to join Santa’s sleigh! Try just one as an accent nail or add to every nail for a whole team.

You can also add a reindeer nail sticker to the perfect at-home manicure for a festive DIY look.

Green Waves

This wavy green pattern is modern but keeps you in the Christmas color palette.

Santa Baby

This sweet Santa face will add some jolly to your December days.

Holiday Bows

Add some girly flair with festive vibes to your classic French manicure with this red polish bow design.

To create bows at home easily, try a bow sticker or charm to get the same look.

Golden Tips

Go high style with this wavy gold tip design that are press-ons, so it makes DIY-ing your own nails a snap.

Mad For Plaid

This red and cranberry plaid is what holiday dreams are made of! Add a few snowflake accents and your look is holiday party ready.

You can also DIY this look with plaid nail foils and nail foil glue to get the perfect plaid without having to paint each line individually.

All That Glitters

These glitter ombre nails will bring just the right amount of sparkle to your winter season.

Dab some holographic glitter polish on the end of each nail with a makeup sponge and fade it out 1/3 from the top of the nail.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Find yourself saying yes to Santa this holiday season with these adorable Santa nails!

Ornament Nails

How cute are these tiny 3D ornaments that accent this design?

You can take this idea to your nail tech, or try your hand at mini tree painting with a dome of clear nail art glue for the 3D effect, OR, just use a Christmas ornament nail sticker for an easy DIY dupe.

Wine and Dine

Usher in the festive season with this wine-colored cat eye, which is perfect to add a bit of drama to your Christmas manicure.

Snow Place Like Home

These large snowflakes make a statement on each nail, and on a nude background they are subtle yet sweet.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Ho Ho Ho

Feel merry and bright with this Pinterest-pleasing Santa and candy cane design that will match your favorite pair of Christmas pjs.

Beary Christmas

This cutie Christmas bear manicure is ready for winter with just a few sweet nail stickers.

Half Moon Merlot

This half moon design done in a deep merlot color is the perfect red to carry you through the winter season.

Snow Drifts

These white abstract lines remind us of curving snow drifts in winter (and they would be really pretty in white glitter too!).

Frosty Accents

This winter scene is downright storybook on a snowy, starry night and cute through Christmas and beyond.

Lace and Pearls

Add the look of lace and pearls to your winter manicure for a fun yet sophisticated look.

Fir Forest

Add a snowy Christmas wonderland to your nails with this winter design.

For an at-home version, you can paint your nails a neutral color with a perfect at-home manicure, add some snow banks at the base of each nail, and then use snowy tree nail stickers to complete the look.

Snow Way

You don’t have to give up pink nails in winter! Keep your favorite shade and add pretty snowflake designs over the top.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Oh Christmas Tree

Bring the holiday spirit to your nails with this pretty Christmas tree and sweater nail accent.

White Christmas

These shimmering white cat eye nails are perfect for the snowy winter season.

Snowy Sweater

These half sweater nails are a great way to add in a sweater pattern as an accent to a nude nail.

Chrome Snowflakes

This chrome periwinkle blue looks so pretty under some delicate white snowflakes.

If snowflakes are too tricky for you to freehand paint yourself, try using a snowflake stamp or snowflake nail stickers for a similar look.

Gold Reverse

Add some gold chrome to a reverse French tip design for a touch of shine.

Greensleeves

These forest green nails with greenery decorations are delicate and festive without being too busy.

Silver Tips

Add some silver chrome to your French tip nails with this shiny manicure.

Hot Cocoa Vibes

As if you need an excuse to get hot chocolate, give these hot cocoa nails a try!

Pink and Red Tips

These fun tips with the gold stars and gems add color and pattern to your holiday mani.

Try a French tip stamper to make your manicure easier to do at home and add some gold star nail stickers to complete.

Rose Gold Shimmer

This design with double outlined glitter French tips is perfect for Christmas into New Year’s Eve.

Forest Green French

Pick your favorite shade of green and do a French tip for a colorful take on a classic.

Try a French tip stamper to make this festive manicure easier to do at home.

Cranberry Punch

For a monochromatic Christmas look, a classic red manicure with a glossy top coat is a classic for a reason.

Silver Bells

These silver glitter French tip outlines are just the right touch of sparkle and will match any holiday outfit.

Green Velvet

This minty green cat eye mani gives the look of soft velvet and it’s so pretty!

Burgundy-Kissed Tips

For a pop of holiday color, these berry tipped nails are perfect to keep things classy but festive.

Try a French tip stamper to make this crimson manicure easier to do at home!

Icy White

These hologram nails remind us of pretty icicles and will still look on trend for New Year’s Eve.

Candy Cane Stripes

Glitter outlined candy cane stripes is the ultimate look for the Christmas nail maximalist.

For a DIY look with no striping brush involved, try a nail polish strip to easily get a similar look.

All That Glitters

These soft golden glitter tips are all you want for Christmas if Santa and candy cane nails aren’t your thing.

Hologram Holidays

Since the holidays are officially sponsored by all things glittery, these icy hologram nails will look great by the fire as well as by the disco ball for New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Classic

While it may not be sparkly or colorful, the classic French tip design is always a good choice if you want to do something elegant for the season.

Try a French tip stamper to make this classic manicure easier to do at home!

Looking for more nail ideas? Check out:

• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)
• Easy Gold Stripe Nail Tutorial
• 10 Easy Nail Art Tutorials (Step-by-Step)
• Emoji Nail Decal DIY

Related: Check out our entire Halloween archive of spooky decorations, recipes and more! You’ve Been Booed (with Free Printable), Halloween Cake Pops, Caramel Apples.

Aunt Emma (as she is known in my house) came up with the idea to make our girls a Halloween countdown calendar. I immediately said “YES, YOU’RE BRILLIANT.”

So why not start this fun (and very spooky!) tradition to enjoy a little bit of Halloween magic all month long in October? I pretty much set out to make a Halloween version of our Christmas advent calendar since we love that one so much.

We created this Halloween activity printable. My suggestion is to use a mix of activities and then in some of the days, just put in a candy. And, use a calendar to strategically place the movies on the weekends (or whatever adjustments are best for your family’s routine).

Feel free to add your own activities and traditions. The printable we made is mainly just stuff my little kids would enjoy and nostalgia from my childhood. Other things you can include are stickers or coloring pages. Customize it to fit your kiddos!

As far as the DIY goes, this is a pretty simple project. I completed it over a two-day period. I probably spent about 4-5 hours on it. It would take half the time if you just eliminated the embroidery stitching, but I really enjoy doing that and like the look of it.

Supplies:

-dowel rod
-large piece of felt for banner (I got a half yard at the craft store).
–colored felt for pockets
-embellishments for pockets (I used a lot of buttons, some embroidery, stamps with permanent ink, a bit of paint, and some wooden stars).

My complete banner is 18 inches wide and 32 inches long. Each pocket is 3×3 inches.

The first step is to cut out your banner and the 31 pockets. I embellished all the pockets before gluing them down. You can also sew them if you like.

I like to lay them all out and embellish until it feels done. I did a lot of stamped buttons and stars. The buttons are sewn on and the wood stars are glued on.

After all the embellishments were done and dry, I used glue on three sides of each piece of felt to create a pocket.

Next, use glue to create a loop that holds your dowel rod in. Then, tie a string to each side of the rod to hang it on the wall.

As you can see in my photos below, I also used halloween garland to make mine a little more spooky. This pumpkin button is so cute, too.

Here’s the completed calendar! I can’t wait for October to start using it with our girls, but I wanted to post it here early enough for you to have time to get all the supplies and make yours before October begins!

It looks so cute with a garland hanging around it too (here’s a DIY for a cute wooden spider garland!). Wishing you a magical spooky season. Soak it in! xx. Elsie

More Halloween Ideas

• Halloween activities for children
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• The best Halloween decor for your home
• 15 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations

Print

Halloween Advent Calendar

How to make a cute felt calendar to count down the days to Halloween!

Author Elsie Larson

Ingredients

• dowel rod
• large piece of felt for banner  (I got a half yard at the craft store)
• colored felt for pockets
• embellishments for pockets  (I used a lot of buttons, some embroidery, stamps with permanent ink, a bit of paint, and wooden starts.

Instructions

• The first step is to cut out your banner and the 31 pockets. I embellished all the pockets before gluing them down (you can also sew them down, but I just moved and I don’t even know where my sewing machine is at the moment).
• I like to lay them all out and embellish until it feels done. I did a lot of stamped buttons and stars. The buttons are sewn on and the wood stars are glued on.

  After all the embellishments were done and dry, I used glue on three sides of each piece of felt to create a pocket.
• Next, use glue to create a loop that holds your dowel rod in. Then, tie a string to each side of the rod to hang it on the wall.

Just follow this step-by-step beginner’s guide or watch the easy tie-dye video below to make your own tie-dye creation at home!

Love tie dye? Then you may also want to try: Shibori Tie-Dye, Resist Dye Basics, and How to Double Dip Dye (similar to ombre).

Tie-Dye Basics

The history of tie-dye dates back thousands of years, with evidence of similar techniques found in various cultures around the world.

However, the modern form of tie-dye that is most commonly associated with colorful patterns and designs on clothing emerged in the 1960s during the counterculture movement in the United States.

The basic idea is you cover areas of fabric by tying them off with rubber bands. Then, you dye the rest of the fabric, possibly in multiple colors. The tied-off areas do not get color, since they are not exposed to the dye color.

Tie-dye, like many projects, is about experimenting and enjoying the process while also at times being surprised by the results. If you want a perfectly curated look, tie-dye is likely not the best option, as it’s meant to look messy, colorful, and fun!

Looking for more nostalgic crafts? Check out How to Make Friendship Bracelets!

Tie-Dye Supplies

• Dye: There are so many dye colors you can choose from and you can mix and match to make your own custom colors. To make it easy, buy a tie-dye kit like this Tulip kit that has your dye all ready to go in prefilled bottles. Just add water and shake!
• Rubber bands: You can either use rubber bands you have around the house or buy a kit that has them included.
• Gloves & drop cloth: These items protect your hands and working surface from the dye so make sure to use them. You can use dish gloves or plastic gloves and any sort of waterproof or plastic sheet will do. A tie-dye kit will include these as well.
• Garments or items to dye: White cotton is best for tie-dye application although you can also dye other natural fabrics like rayon, silk, linen, or hemp.
• Ziplock Bag: You’ll want a ziplock bag or some kind of plastic grocery bag you can tie closed while your dye sets in.
• Drip pan (optional): A plastic sheet is helpful for protecting your work surface, but it’s also very handy to also use a drip pan under the item being dyed (something like a dish pan or plant saucer will do).

Do I have to use a pre-made dye kit for my tie-dye colors?

While the all-in-one kits like these Tulip dye kits are super helpful to get everything you need in one place, you can also mix your own colors for your tie-dye creation from dye concentrate added to water in your own squirt bottles.

Start with one tablespoon of liquid dye added to one cup warm water in a bottle and shake. Test on a scrap piece of clothing to see if you want to add more dye for brighter color or more water for a more subtle color.

Tie-Dye Garment Preparation

Begin by washing the garments you plan to dye. If they are things you already own and have washed before, you can skip this step. But anything new should be washed to remove any residue from the making of the garment.

Tie-Dye Tip: For the best color adhesion, soak your items in soda ash mixed into water for 20 minutes before tie-dying. While this step is optional, it will help make the colors on your tie-dye creation the brightest they can be.

How to Tie-Dye

Prep your workspace: Put down your protective cloth over your work surface and get your dye bottles ready with your chosen colors (these kits simply add water to the bottles and shake).

Dampen shirt: A slightly wet shirt will spread out the dye better than a totally dry shirt, so fully wet your item and then wring it out fully so it’s just damp.

Band and Dye shirt: Fold or swirl your shirt based on the design you want (check out our pattern options below!), add your rubber bands to keep in place, and add your dye.

Flip the shirt over and repeat on the other side trying to keep the same colors in similar spots.

Seal for 24 hours: While you can unveil your creation after about 6 hours, the best colors will come if you place it in a ziplock bag (to keep the dye from drying out) and leave it there for 24 hours.

Rinse and wash shirt: Remove your shirt from the bag, take off the bands, and rinse in a sink or tub with cold water until the water runs clear (you’ll want gloves for this step as well). Wash in cold water with a small amount of detergent in the washing machine, and add an extra rinse cycle if that’s an option on your washer (wash apart from other laundry for the first wash). Dry and wear proudly!

Tie-Dye Patterns

While there are so many options when it comes to tie-dye patterns, here are 4 classic methods to achieve different cool tie-dye looks for your personal creation.

Spiral Tie-Dye

This classic tie-dye shape is beautiful and easy to achieve!

Twist: Start with your shirt flat on the work surface. Pinch a small section in the center of your garment or stick a wooden dowel or cooking utensil end into the middle of the shirt. Twist the fabric around this point and keep twisting until the whole garment becomes a round disc. It should look like a cinnamon roll!

Secure: Secure the shirt with at least four or five rubber bands, crisscrossing them over the center of the disc. The tighter you bind the shirt, the more white there will be.

Dye and finish! When you dye, add color to different wedge sections on the disc (you can also do a different color in each section created by the rubber bands). Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Bullseye Tie-Dye

The Bullseye pattern is a great option for beginners.

Pinch: Pinch a section of fabric in the middle of the garment. Pull the fabric up the whole way off the floor, creating a fabric cone.

Secure: Wrap rubber bands around the cone of fabric, adding a band at each spot where you want to change colors. You can add as many or as few rubber bands as you want. 

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add a different color to each section between the rubber bands. Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Stripes Tie-Dye

The Stripe pattern is a fun and easy way to get a cool graphic look.

Fold: Lay the garment flat. Starting from the left or bottom side, fold the shirt in a series of small accordion-style folds. If you start folding from the left side you’ll create vertical lines, and if you start from the bottom you’ll create horizontal lines.

Secure: Zig zag the accordion folded shirt into a “Z” shape with the folds facing up. Wrap the folded shirt with rubber bands to secure.

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add color to each section (between rubber bands). Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Scrunch Tie-Dye

This Scrunch tie-dye pattern gives you an organic marbled look that is another classically cool tie-dye look.

Scrunch: Lay your garment flat. Pinch a series of small sections and pull them up a bit to create small mountain shapes.

Secure: Continue until the whole shirt is scrunched into mini mountains and secure the whole shirt with overlapping rubber bands.

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add color to different areas and try your best to replicate the color placement on the back of the banded shirt as well. Add dyed shirt to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

More Craft Projects

• Weaving for Beginner’s
• Experimenting with Natural Dyes
• How to Make Bath Bombs
• Shrinky Dinks – Ultimate Guide
• Resin Art – Beginner’s Guide
• How to Make Candles
• Clay Bead Bracelet Ideas
• Make Your Own Tie-Dye Soap
• No-Sew Fleece Tie Blanket

Print

How to Tie Dye

Step by step instructions for the best supplies and classic tie dye patterns for beginners.

Keyword scrunch tie dye, spiral tie dye, stripe tie dye, tie dye, tie dye instructions

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Soak Time 1 day day

Total Time 1 day day 20 minutes minutes

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

• white cotton shirt or garments
• tie-dye kit or bottles of dye
• rubber bands
• gloves
• drop cloth
• drip pan optional

Instructions

• Begin by washing the garments you plan to dye if they've never been washed.*
• Mix your dyes according to the package instructions.
• Cover your area with a drop cloth to protect it from any dye spills and wear disposable gloves as you work to protect your hands.
• Scrunch up or fold your item as desired for your pattern and then add rubber bands to secure.
• Add dye to the prepared fabric in your chosen color pattern until the top is saturated. Turn over and repeat on the other side.
• Add your dyed fabric to a sealed off plastic bag (or twist a plastic grocery bag closed) and let it sit for 6-24 hours. The longer the better for color saturation.
• Remove from bag and rinse your garment in the bathtub or kitchen sink until the water runs clear (wear gloves again for this step). 
• Wash the tie-dye item (or items) in the washing machine on cold separately from other laundry and dry or as you normally would.

Notes

TIPS:

• If the garments you are dyeing are things you already own and have washed before, you can skip washing them. 
• A plastic sheet is helpful for protecting your work surface, but it’s also very handy to also use a drip pan under the item being dyed (something like a dish pan or plant saucer will do).
• You can also add an extra rinse cycle to your washer when washing the clothes for the first time if you machine has that setting to make sure any extra dye is rinsed out.

*Optional but you can soak in soda ash if you want for 20 minutes for better color adhesion.

Related: Elsie’s Historic Home Tour, Removable Wallpaper, Floral Wallpaper.

This first selection, for our bedroom, is Katherine Sage Wallpaper by Lulie Wallace. It also comes in dusty blue, which is so pretty.

Medlar Wallpaper. In this breakfast nook, adjacent to our kitchen, I wanted a pattern that felt cozy and homey in all four seasons. We’ve had this up more than a year now and it’s absolutely perfect. My only regret is that I want to repaint the built-ins a dusty blue to match the blue in the wallpaper print.

Butterflies Wallpaper in Parchment. This window little nook is on the third floor in our home library. The entire room is painted the moody trim color (including the ceiling) except for this nook. Originally, I thought about doing a mural in this space, but then I fell in love with this butterflies pattern and the rest is history! I’m absolutely in love with it!

Saint Sebastian by Rebel Walls. I love this soft, low-contract treescape. I think it looks very authentic to the era our home was built. Again, my big focus was finding the perfect paper that I could imagine in all four seasons. How the papers go with Halloween and Christmas decor or a kids birthday party is a big deal to me.

Storyline Wallpaper in Delft Blue. This is my second Hygge & West design in our home. I’ve used this one in a previous home (in a lighter color). You know it’s a really good design when you come back for it a second time!

What I love about this design is that it’s subtle, but there are a dozen cute character like swans or pigs to find within the pattern.

Morris Wallpapers Fruit Design in Wine. I love this deep, moody pattern. So far every time I choose a darker print it turns out to be my favorite spot in the home!

House of Hackney London Rose Wallpaper in Smoke Grey. I also considered this paper in pink. This print has been around for a very long time and I have always absolutely loved it. I’m so happy I finally found a space in my own home to use it. This is our guest bedroom.

More Wallpapers I Love:

• Somerton Wallpaper
• Mind The Gap Luggage Car Wallpaper
• Embroidered Fruit Vines Wallpaper
• Labyrinth Wallpaper

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments! xx- Elsie

Related: 300+ Pet Names, 300+ Girl Dog Names, 300+ Boy Dog Names, 400+ Cat Names and learn to make your own hummingbird food.

Popular Pet Bird Names

Here are a list of currently popular pet bird names. These names are commonly chosen for pet birds.

• Kiwi
• Sunny
• Sky
• Chirpy
• Tweety
• Coco
• Buddy
• Peaches
• Charlie
• Angel
• Mango
• Polly
• Rio
• Bella
• Pepper
• Gizmo
• Ziggy
• Mochi
• Jasper
• Ruby
• Max
• Ollie
• Luna
• Daisy
• Pip
• Sparky
• Olive
• Blue
• Goldie
• Penny

Unique Bird Names

If uniqueness is a factor to you, here are some pet bird name ideas that are a bit more uncommon. These unique bird names are cool and special.

• Talon
• Juniper
• Quill
• Saffron
• Nimbus
• Whisper
• Zephyr
• Orion
• Flit
• Lyric
• Serenade
• Nova
• Rhapsody
• Fable
• Halo
• Echo
• Aurora
• Vesper
• Mystique
• Solstice

Classic Bird Names

If you are searching for a classic bird name that feels a bit proper and fancy, here are some ideas to consider. We love a classical pet name!

• Periwinkle
• Juno
• Sylvan
• Taffy
• Nimbus
• Dandelion
• Vesper
• Echo
• Mosaic
• Gossamer
• Beryl
• Zephyr
• Marigold
• Jasper
• Cirrus
• Clementine
• Thistle
• Vega
• Fable

Cute Bird Names

Looking for the most adorable names? This list of cute bird names is sure to give you some sweet ideas.

• Sprout
• Pudding
• Waffle
• Bubbles
• Snickers
• Taffy
• Marshmallow
• Fizz
• Cupcake
• Nibbles
• Jello
• Pickle
• Butterscotch
• Snuggle
• Peep
• Fluffy
• Muffin
• Pipsqueak
• Twinkle
• Jellybean

Funny Bird Names

If you are attracted to quirky or pun names, this list is for you!

• Sir Cheeps-a-Lot
• Captain Beaky
• Flapper
• Birdzilla
• Cluck Norris
• Eggbert
• Feathers McGraw
• Quackers
• McFluffin
• Tweeter Tot
• Lord of the Wings
• Beakman
• Squawks
• Wingman
• CooCoo Chanel
• Gobblestein
• Pigeon Impossible
• Admiral Squawk
• Beaky Blinders
• Mr. Peepers

Boy Bird Names

Name ideas for your male pet bird.

• Ace
• Baxter
• Comet
• Duke
• Elton
• Finn
• Griffin
• Hunter
• Ivan
• Jake
• Kipper
• Leo
• Maverick
• Nico
• Oscar
• Pax
• Quincy
• Rex
• Spike
• Tucker
• Ulysses
• Vince
• Watson
• Xavier
• Yogi
• Zeus
• Andy
• Bruno
• Caesar
• Dexter

Girl Bird Names

Name ideas for your female pet bird.

• Amber
• Breezy
• Cleo
• Daphne
• Elsie
• Fifi
• Gigi
• Honey
• Iris
• Jewel
• Kiki
• Lacey
• Mimi
• Nellie
• Opal
• Pixie
• Queenie
• Rosie
• Starla
• Tilly
• Uma
• Viola
• Willow
• Xena
• Yvette
• Zara
• April
• Blossom
• Caramel
• Delilah

Parrot Name Ideas

• Saffron
• Pippin
• Kaleido
• Fidget
• Paprika
• Tiki
• Cobalt
• Ricochet
• Fiesta
• Mango
• Pesto
• Jester
• Rumba
• Azure
• Samba
• Limerick
• Prism
• Orbit
• Chutney
• Zinnia

Parakeet Name Ideas

• Skye
• Lulu
• Minty
• Sparkle
• Bubbles
• Cricket
• Twinkle
• Glimmer
• Peppy
• Mochi
• Puffin
• Beanie
• Sprout
• Pixel
• Noodle
• Tango
• Cupcake
• Ziggy
• Button
• Waffle

Lovebird Name Ideas

• Amore
• Blossom
• Cuddles
• Darling
• Elfin
• Fondue
• Gumdrop
• Honeydew
• Iridescent
• Joy
• Kisses
• Locket
• Mitten
• Nuzzle
• Peony
• Quaint
• Rosebud
• Snuggle
• Trinket
• Valentine

Bird Names A to Z

• Apricot
• Biscuit
• Coconut
• Dragonfly
• Evergreen
• Flurry
• Ginger
• Huckleberry
• Ivory
• Jinx
• Kiara
• Lemon
• Maple
• Nova
• Olive
• Peaches
• Quicksilver
• Ripple
• Sapphire
• Truffle
• Ursula
• Vanilla
• Wren
• Xanadu
• Yucca
• Zephyr
• Alfalfa
• Bilbo
• Cedar
• Dumpling
• Eclipse
• Freckle
• Gelato
• Hobbit
• Ink
• Java
• Kelp
• Lyric
• Muffin
• Nutmeg
• Omelet
• Pixel
• Quibble
• Rhyme
• Sushi
• Thimble
• Umbra
• Vortex
• Widget
• Wisdom
• Xylem
• Yodel
• Zoodle
• Archer
• Breeze
• Cider
• Dew
• Espresso
• Fluff
• Gadget
• Halo

Tips for Naming a Pet Bird

Choosing a name for your pet bird should be a memorable experience. When choosing a name consider your bird’s appearance—maybe their name could be a nod to their color or a character they remind you of. We also love a sentimental name or a name with a story behind it. We hope this article helps you find the perfect name for your new pet bird.

Still Searching?

If you’re still searching for pet name ideas, browse more posts from our pet names ideas lists:

• 300+ Pet Names
• 300+ Girl Dog Names
• 300+ Boy Dog Names
• 400+ Cat Names
• 200+ Black Cat Names