blogger | Artsy Teen

3 Easy DIY Earrings for Spring

Posted on April 8, 2017 by maya

So I’m not one to brag, but I guess you could say that I’m something of an earring connoisseur. My obsession began about four years ago when my mother innocently suggested I get my ears pierced one day, unwittingly laying the foundations for what has developed into a full-fledged jewelry addiction.

With Easter break coming up, I figured it’s the perfect time to get crafting and conveniently find an excuse to expand my forever growing earring collection. All these DIYs are perfect for spring time and can easily be personalized to suit everyone’s individual style!

While these beaded earrings are a little time consuming to make, I was so happy with the end result! I went for a simple green design, but you could definitely get creative and mix up colours and patterns.

All you need to make these are some beads, strong thread and earring hooks. Cut a few lengths of thread (I used two per earring) and thread them through the earring hooks. Tie a knot so that the hooks are secured midway up the length of thread. Then, just start beading (a little tedious, but it’s worth it) and tie a couple of knots at the bottom of each string to make sure the beads don’t fall off. Snip of the any end bits of dangling thread at the ends and your done!

I’m all for unique, quirky fashion statements, so I’m in love with these artsy collage earrings! They’re also a great way for recycling old earrings that you don’t wear anymore, which is always a plus.

To make them, you need an old magazine, PVA glue, a paintbrush and flat, circular earrings. Just tear up the magazine into little shreds, until you’ve got a range of colourful paper scraps. Then, glue the paper onto each earring to form a nice collage – making sure to finish it all off with a final coat of glue to seal it all in.

Aren’t these tassel earrings chic? They only took a few minutes to make and would add a splash of colourful glamour to any outfit!

To make them, you’ll need some black and yellow thread and earring hooks. Wrap the black thread around your two fingers about 30 times, then attach the top part of the loop to the earring hook. Cut the bottom part of the loop so that the thread is dangling freely. Now, wrap the yellow thread around the black thread and secure it with a knot to form the tassel.

. . .

That’s all I have for you guys today. Make sure to comment below letting me know which earring was your favourite and what other DIYs you’d like to see over the Easter break!

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

on Pinterest

Artsy Teen blog

on Twitter

@ArtsyTeenBlog

on Instagram

@artsyteenblog

on Bloglovin’

Artsy Teen

Sticky Syrup Bun Recipe

Posted on October 9, 2016 by maya

Hey

I hope you’ve all had a lovely week :). So based on the fact that my family have started arguing over whether or not we should turn the heating on, I think it’s safe to say that Autumn is officially here. And this could just be me, but in my head Autumn has always been labelled the ‘lazy’ season. Like, if Autumn were a person I feel as if it would just stay home and watch Netflix while Summer, Winter and Spring were off at the gym, you know? Basically, Autumn is a seasonal representation of myself.

Naturally, this means that the next few weeks for me will just be a series of consecutive lazy days – (much like the majority of my life, but we can ignore that part).

Of course if you’re a true Master of the Art of Laziness like myself, you’ll know that a lazy day is incomplete without a deliciously autumnal snack to go with it (because there’s no use trying to master the lazy lifestyle if you’re not committing to an unhealthy diet as well 😉 ). These simple syrup cakes make a perfect, cosy sweet treat on a rainy day and only take a couple of minutes to make!

Let me know in the comments below what other fall recipes you guys want to see this month and make sure to like and share this post if you enjoyed it :). Also in case you guys missed my previous posts, my 1 year blogiversary is coming up on the 26th of October and I’m trying to reach 3000 followers! If each of you could help me out and get one other person to subscribe to Artsy Teen I’d achieve my goal in no time!

Now without further ado, let’s get into this recipe…

Ingredients (Makes 20 Buns)

250g butter, softened

200g caster/granulated sugar

3 eggs

500g

300ml golden syrup, plus a few tbsp for drizzling on top of buns

50ml milk

Method

Preheat oven to 180’C (350’F) and line a muffin tray with 20 paper cases.
Cream butter and sugar together, then beat in eggs.
Warm the golden syrup in a microwave (or in a pan over a low heat) until it’s runny. Add to the mixture and beat well.
Add the flour and milk. Mix until well combined.
Spoon the mixture into paper cases and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes (or until the cakes are golden and springy to the touch).
Remove the buns from the oven and drizzle a teaspoonful of syrup onto each bun while they’re still hot.

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

on Twitter

@ArtsyTeenBlog

on Pinterest

Artsy Teen blog

on Bloglovin’

Artsy Teen

on Instructables

ArtsyTeen

How to Make Simple DIY Bracelets

Posted on August 7, 2016 by maya

I hope you guys all had a good week! For once, mine was relatively eventful. I got my first part time job which I think basically qualifies me as a mature, responsible adult. Also, not to contradict the last point, but I went to see ‘Finding Dory’ at the cinema and had a terrifying dental appointment (obviously not simultaneously). Honestly, I can’t believe I actually payed someone to stab my teeth for half and hour with sharp metal objects that tasted faintly of washing up liquid.

Anyways, I’ll stop rambling and get into this DIY. As usual, it’s really simple as my artistic skill set is pretty limited despite the fact that I brag about my ‘artsy-ness’ in my blog title. Really that was me being presumptions, I just like gluing random stuff together -which is basically what this entire tutorial is about. That being said, I was surprisingly pleased with the end result. These bracelets are actually really pretty! The whole wrapping-the-thread-around-the-bangle process is a bit time consuming, but I managed to make three of them and I have the patience of a 5 year old, so apparently it’s not that bad.

What I love about making your own jewelry is that you can really personalise it. Let me know in the comments below what pendants and colours you’d use for your bracelets, and why. And don’t forget to like and share this post if you enjoyed reading it!

What you need

Tutorial

Step 1: Using the glue gun, place a small amount of glue onto the rim of your bangle and quickly wrap the thread around it.

Step 2 Continue to do this until the entire bangle is covered in thread. Make sure to only use small amounts of glue at a time, or the glue will dry before you have a chance to wrap all the thread around it.

Step 3 Attach the pendant to the clasp, and then attach the clasp to the bangle.

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

on Twitter

@ArtsyTeenBlog

on Pinterest

Artsy Teen blog

on Instagram

@artsyteenblog

on Bloglovin’

Artsy Teen

on Instructables

ArtsyTeen

7 Types of Tourists

Posted on July 31, 2016 by maya

How are you guys? It’s been a while! For the last two weeks my friend and I have been traveling around Europe and it was amazing. First we visited South Tyrol in Italy, then we spent a few days in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and finally we stayed in the city of Munich in Germany. You guys know I love travelling and whenever I’m abroad, I find that there are some types of people that I always see. These tourists include, but are not limited to, the following:

The paparazzi

I have to start out with one of the classics. Probably the most recognisable tourist stereotype, the paparazzi often move in packs, armed with enormous cameras and selfie sticks. And you always know when the paparazzi have arrived because all of a sudden you’ll see a bolt of lightning but then realise it’s just the flash on their cameras. Really, it’s a bit annoying. I mean, I understand wanting take a few pictures to remember the trip, in fact I always have my camera with me when I’m away, but if you’ve turned this museum exhibition into a photo shoot you need to stop.

The backpackers

As the name suggests, these types of tourists can be identified by the enormous hiking backpack on their back. Usually these people are young, pretty broke and looking to have an adventure. And I know that these people have memorable experiences because my Dad went interrailing around Europe like 20 years ago and I’m still hearing stories about it.

The Foodie

This is the person who went on holiday for one reason and one reason only: food. And can I just say that I fully respect this decision and this stereotype is heavily based upon my own character. Seriously, when I go abroad all my money’s spent on trying local dishes and going to restaurants. In fact, every single outing I go on will ultimately end up with me eating. Going to the beach? Time to enjoy some ice cream. Visiting the city centre? More like spend two hours at the food market. I won’t even buy souvenirs to bring home, I’ll just buy more food 🙂 .

The Honeymooners

Don’t even get me started on these two. This is the couple that will turn any place they go to – a park, a beach, a restaurant -into the set of Romeo and Juliet. If I wanted to see a romantic teenage drama, I would’ve have stayed home and watched the Fault In Our Stars. But I don’t, so please could you and your “significant other” go giggle and hold hands somewhere else and stop ruining my view.

The Valentino Vacationer

These types of tourists are a lot like the ‘backpackers’ I mentioned earlier. Except that instead of backpacks, they have prada suitcases and instead of hiking boots, they’re wearing stilettos. These are the type of people you see staying at those 5 star hotels and eating at fancy restaurants while you’re in those touristy souvenir shops trying to find the best value post cards (because if I pay 90c for a post card, and then see the same one being sold somewhere else for 60c, that’s enough to ruin my whole trip).

The “local”

Last week I was on a train in Italy and sitting behind me was this blond American who spent the entire journey talking on his phone (the fact that he was blond is completely irrelevant, but you know some description just adds to the narrative ;)). Now I’m not one to eavesdrop but this guy honestly had the loudest voice and so I was forced to spend two hours listening to Blondie brag about his many traveling exploits, talking about all these countries he’d visited as if he’d lived there his whole life. And honestly these people are so annoying because they will act like they know everything about every country in the world, just because they’ve done a bit of traveling. You know the type.They’ll correct your pronunciation of a foreign word, even though they don’t speak the language themselves. Or they’ll act like a tour guide even if they’ve never been to the place before. And if you’re thinking ‘hey, I don’t know anyone like that’, you are that person.

The Lost Puppy

You will usually see this tourist wandering around holding a map upside down and looking extremely confused. They’re most likely first time travelers and are always asking people around them for directions. Also this person is 100% me ;).

. . .

Well, that’s all I have for you guys today! I’m so sorry my posting schedule has been all over the place while I was travelling, but now that I’m back I promise everything will go back to normal. Let me know in the comments below what type of tourist you are or if you can think of any other types of tourists. Also, don’t forget to like and share this post if you enjoyed reading it, which I hope you did!

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

on Twitter

@ArtsyTeenBlog

on Pinterest

Artsy Teen blog

on Instagram

@artsyteenblog

on Bloglovin’

Artsy Teen

DIY Painted Celtic Stones

Posted on July 20, 2016 by maya

I hope you’re all having a lovely week and enjoying your summer :). When you’re reading this I’ll actually be away on holiday in Slovenia, but in an attempt to be a dedicated blogger I’ve tried to write I a few posts in advance.

You’re probably wondering what purpose a painted rock serves. Honestly, none. But really who doesn’t like a bit of useless Celtic-inspired room decor lying around the house? It adds to the atmosphere ;). Plus I’ve seen decorated stones all over Pinterest so apparently there’s something likable about them.

But why ‘Celtic’ you ask? Well, I study Art History at school this year and seeing as I live in Ireland there’s a huge focus on Celtic Art. Now, while I didn’t particularly enjoy having to describe ancient Celtic artifacts in excruciating detail, it did give me the idea to decorate these stones with Celtic designs like spirals, triskeles and interlocking patterns. The really intricate Celtic artwork I studied was often made of gold, which is why I chose metallic golden paint for this DIY. Top Tip: If you don’t have any paint, just use nail polish. Works every time.

What you need

Paintbrush
Stone (make sure it’s got quite a smooth surface)
Gold Acrylic Paint

Simple Celtic Designs*

Method

First, you want to wash and dry the stone to make sure it’s completely clean.
Next, paint a celtic design* onto your rock.
Leave to dry and you’re done!

Well that’s all for today. Let me know in the comments below if you guys have gone to any fun places over the summer and make sure to like this post if you like stones, or the Celts, or pointless room decor!

Pros and Cons of Having NO Social Life

Posted on June 29, 2016 by maya

I’ve been on Summer Break for the past couple of weeks enjoying the lack of homework and remaining in denial of the fact that next year is my last year of school. But you know one thing that holidays tend to do is emphasise the fact that I really have no social life. I mean, of course when I’m at school I socialise, but when I’m at home there are just so many other important things I have to do. Like eating…and blogging…and eating…

Anyway it got me thinking, maybe this whole social life thing is overrated. Maybe being antisocial is where it’s at. So, like the logically minded person that I am, I decided to figure this out by putting together a list of the Pros and Cons of Having No Social Life.

Let me know in the comments below if you can relate, or if you actually have friends and just feel sorry for me ;). Also, comment if you have any suggestions for future ‘Pros and Cons of…’ Posts.

I hope you guys like it, as always it’s just a bit of fun! Now without further ado, here are the Pros and Cons of having No Social Life…k

Pro Your phone isn’t buzzing all the time with notifications.

Con That feeling of disappointment when you finally get a text and it’s from the phone company.

Pro You don’t have to waste money buying new clothes because you’re always at home

Con You literally wear the same three pieces of clothing over and over again.

Pro You don’t have to deal with all the drama that comes with socialising.

Con The most exciting part of your day is finding out what the latest google doodle is.

Pro Your parents don’t have to drive you everywhere.

Con Your parents start worrying as to why they don’t have to drive you anywhere.

Pro You can take part in marathons…reading and movie marathons that is.

Con The lines between reality and fiction begin to blur…

Pro You don’t have to share your food with other people.

Con This results in a pretty unhealthy diet, but you’re OK with that.

Pro You have more time to be creative.

Con There are none! Okay so maybe I’m not a social butterfly, but if I was I probably wouldn’t have this blog and all my amazing readers! And on that note (awesome segue), Artsy Teen just reached 2000 followers so I wanted to take a second thank all of you guys so much for reading my posts every week, and encouraging me to keep up my creativity!

. . .

Enjoy the rest of your week 🙂

Rich Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Posted on June 19, 2016 by maya

Every once in a while we all crave something rich, decadent and chocolatey (unless of course you’re allergic/don’t like chocolate, in which case you’re unfortunately missing out on one of the great joys of life). The summer holidays are a great time to bake a batch of brownies and share them with friends and family (or alternatively, enjoy them by yourself on the couch while watching your favourite TV show 😉 ). For years this has been my go-to brownie recipe and I’ve included step-by-step photos to make sure it’s really easy to follow. I thought this was the perfect thing to post on Father’s Day, since I’m absolutely certain that no Dad could resist freshly baked brownies. Let me know in the comments below what you guys like to bake/do during the holidays and if you found this recipe helpful!

Ingredients

100g/ 1/2 cup butter

175g/ 3/4 cup caster (granulated) sugar

175g / 1/2 cup dark muscovado sugar

125g dark chocolate

1 tbsp golden syrup

2 eggs

100g / 3/4 plain (all-purpose) flour

2 tsbp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

Method

1. Gently heat butter, sugars, chocolate and golden syrup in a heavy based saucepan. Stir until mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

2. Beat together eggs, then whisk in the cooled chocolate mixture.

3. Sieve together the flour, cocoa powder and baking sugar and fold into the egg and chocolate mixture.

4. Mix until ingredients are well combined.

5. Spoon the brownie mixture into a lightly greased cake tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180’C/350’F for approx. 30 minutes, or until the top is crisp and the edge of the brownie starts to shrink away from the tin.

6. Technically, you’re supposed to leave the cake to cool before cutting it into squares to serve. However, seeing as you’ve put in all this hard work, I think its perfectly acceptable for the chef to try some while it’s still warm ;).

DIY Summer Fruit Garland

Posted on May 5, 2016 by maya

I hope you’re all having an amazing week! Here in Ireland we got a whole two hours of sunshine today, which can only mean one thing… summer’s finally on its way. Now I know summer technically starts in June, but I thought we could get a head start. Plus, in my opinion there’s never a wrong time to hang up a bunch of paper fruit in your room. This DIY is the first of a series of DIY room decor posts I’m planning, so let me know in the comments below if you guys have any ideas for spring/summertime decor!

What you need:

red, yellow, dark green, light green card paper
twine
sharpie
scissors
glue
sticky tape or glue gun*

*If you’re using a glue gun, please be careful. I’ve burned myself countless time with hot glue and I can tell you it’s not fun.

Cut out pineapples and watermelons from coloured card.I feel like this step is pretty self-explanatory, but basically I recommend just sort of randomly cutting out shapes until they look somewhat fruit-like. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, but if you’re really struggling just google watermelon and pinapple templates and you’ll probably find something helpful.
Glue the shapes together and draw little seeds onto the watermelon with the black sharpie.
Using tape or a glue gun, stick the paper fruit to your twine.
Leave glue to dry and hang your garland up on the wall. And voilà, just like that you’re room’s transformed into a tropical paradise, more or less ;).