TUESDAY-HOW-TO: a BURLAP PILLOW

/ / photo's + DIY by the fashion gal / /

today's fantastic TUESDAY-HOW-TO is all about home decor and how-to spruce up your place on a budget! i picked up this vintage burlap sack at the flea market for a whopping 20 BUCKS! it's unusual peach stripe and perfect imperfections had me at hello.... and i just knew it would be the perfect addition to our white ((Z Gallery)) couch. now this simple white couch feels complete with it's touch of fur + my new homemade pillow!

*check out more TUESDAY-HOW-TO's here!

step one: stuff the burlap sack with your two pillows

step two: cut your batting that same size as your pillow

((side note:)) you can always stuff more batting in between the 2 pillows

step three: cut your excess batting and start sewing up the open end of you burlap sack

step four: continuing stitching and finish off with a couple double knot stitches

annnnnd voila!

charlie loves the new pillow too {wink!}

well, what do ya think??

pretty easy huh?!

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: wall art

// photo + DIY by the fashion gal //

today's HOW-TO is all about decorating your house on a budget! like art work for a $10 budget! not bad right?! this project is also great if you have a large wall to fill, but want want something simple and tonal to the colors in your room. i had a big empty wall ((in our office)) that needed a little somethin-somethin. so i scored a couple wood panels that my neighbor was throwing away, picked up some tonal paint samples, and went to town! 

**want more HOW-TO's??? go here to cover a chair, or here to learn how-to do a messy bun!

YOU'LL NEED: (above) a paint tray, painters tape, a yard stick, roller brush, & two sample paints.

(below) recycled wood panels or store bought wood.

let's get started...

STEP 1: draw out your geometric design on a piece of paper... then draw the same design onto your wood panel. use your yard stick to make your lines as straight and consecutive a possible.

STEP 2: using your roller paint brush, go over the straight lines in your design... 

you will want to do two coats of this paint.

STEP 3: once your second coat is dry, tape off where your original lines were. 

STEP 4: once your tape is secure, use your roller brush to paint over the tape...

you'll want to do two coats of this too. once the paint is dry, GENTLY pull the tape off...

and voila! 

i used a light grey & white for my $10 wall art... so my now the accessories ((pillow n' props)) in my office can really pop!

will you be making some wall art any time soon???

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: tie a tie

/ / photo via / /

it's that time of year to know HOW TO tie... a tie! if your weekends are anything like mine, you may have either a wedding or a graduation every other weekend. let's face it, it's wedding season! now remember that Sex in the City where Carrie was tying Big's tie... and he thought it was the sexiest thing on earth??? well today's the day to get those tie-tying-skills ((just incase your Mr. Big needs a little help one day)). so here are a couple helpful HOW TO's i found for tying a tie, oh and a bow-tie too!

**check out more TUESDAY-HOW-TO's here!
***speaking of ties... need a Father's Day gift???? get a little inspiration here.

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did you already know how to tie a tie

... i think it's easier then you'd expect, right?!

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: chair recover

/ / photo's + DIY by the fashion gal / /

today's TUESDAY-HOW-TO is all about taking something old {& funky} and making it new... and super bright! i picked these little gems up down the street from my house... on the street corner... with a FREE sign on them! yup, free! the fireman is ((now)) definitely used to me walking into the house with a new crazy project... so this was just another one of those crafts on my {on-going} project-list. without further adue, check out HOW-TO recover {funky} old chair cushions!

**the first step is to repaint the chairs. i went with a simple white paint. i thought white iron chairs with bright colorful cushions would look great on our deck for the summer ahead!

cut your fabric about 2.5" wider then your seat cushion.

use your first piece of fabric as a guide to cut your second piece ((this is if you have 2 chairs)).

start folding your fabric up and around the bottom of your chair. staple about 1" apart.

gather your fabric on the corner {like your wrapping a gift} and then staple.

feel free to cut your excess fabric & hammer in any loose staples.

and voila!

your chairs are ready for a summer brunch!

charlie claimed her chair right away.

do you have any funky old chairs you could recover in something bright for the summer?!

check out more TUESDAY-HOW-TO's here!

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: a messy bun!

/ / / / / / photo's by the fashion gal... taken by the fireman! / / / / / /

today's TUESDAY-HOW-TO is all about that super-high-messy-bun that (i) have come to love! this messy bun can give any day a {little} boost! i'm just so happy that those Kardashian gals made this due cool to wear out-and-about. ya just throw on a killer outfit ((my outfit here is NOT a good example)), your messy bun, and a pair of those fabulous cat-eye sunnies... and {boom} you're good to go! **keep in mind that my hair is a bit shorter right now, so this is a messy high bun HOW-TO for shorter hair... go here to check out a how-to for longer hair. 

*ok so i am NO hair expert ((i probably shouldn't be saying that before i do a hair-tutorial)) BUT... here is my messy-high-bun-how-to!

flip your head up-side-down *this bun works better {for me} with clean hair.

gather your hair & start making your bun.

pull your bun gently to make your bun big.

now pull it the other way to make it a {little} messy!

messy right!? good!

now twist and pin up your stray hair with a couple cute bobby pins!

and TA-DA!

... well, what do you think???

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: beach waves

today's TUESDAY-HOW-TO is all about those effortless-looking-beachy-waves! this is a talent i have not yet mastered ((even though i tried very hard to last night.)) it's just one of those hair-do's i see and think, man that girl's good! i just don't have the beach-wave skill set, YET! so i am learning today's TUESDAY-HOW-TO right along side with you! below are a few video tutorials & step-by-step how-to's that i found super helpful. it seem as if there are two ways to execute these gorgeous waves. ONE. with a small (slightly rounded) flat iron. and TWO. with a curling wand (like, a curling iron without the original clamp thingy.) so here is a tutorial for each! i hope this helps you get those perfect beachy SPRING TIME WAVES!

////// THIS was my original inspiration for wanting to conquer the wavey look for Spring. you see, my hair is pretty short right now... and i've been feeling like i'm running out of fun hair-do options! hence, today's fabulous HOW-TO! photo via //////

BEACH-Y WAVES WITH A CURLING WAND.

////// here's a helpful HOW-TO video on curling with a wand... this girl is funny. //////

/////// check out HOW-TO make your very own curling wand!! go here! //////

BEACH-Y WAVES WITH A FLAT IRON.

////// check out this HOW-TO on making waves with a flat iron! this girl knows her stuff. //////

////// flat iron tutorial here //////

i hope your learned a little somethin-somethin today. i know i did!!

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: frosting cupcakes

///////// photo via /////////

hello Tuesday! remember {this} post where had our first "Tuesday HOW-TO"??! well today's lovely how-to is all about that sugary sweet dessert we all know and love........ we're talking cupcakes people! and with Spring in the air and Easter around the corner, i figured it's the perfect time to learn how-to properly frost a cupcake. like, really frost. so i found a few fabulous tutorial's that can help us become the pastry chef us cupcake connoisseurs always wanted to be! yay!

**make sure to check out each of the video's below... there are some really great tips in each one! enjoy!

FROSTING TIPS: (Left to Right)  Large round tip, Open star (Wilton 1M), Closed star (Wilton 2D), French tip {photo via}

{ great tip on how to fill your piping bag! i love the rose frosting too! }

{ this seems like a technique that would be fun to try and master. }

{ now these puppies look like the perfect little treat for Easter Sunday! i might have to try out this recipe too! }


{ Man, she's good. }


what do you think... are you going to try and whip together some frosting-skills before Easter sneaks up on us??? it could just be the perfect little treat to wow your family with on Easter Sunday!

TUESDAY-HOW-TO: head scarf

//////////\ photo via \///////////

today seems like the perfect day to start a wonderful new tradition here @ A Fashion Gal & A Fireman! doesn't it??! starting today {TUESDAY} & almost every Tuesday going forward... we're going learn HOW-TO do something we may {or may not} have known how to do yesterday...... like properly tying a Head Scarf! and we're calling this mini-segment the "TUESDAY-HOW TO"! yippy! so let's get started... 

**here are a few lovely photo's, a little inspiration, and a helpful HOW-TO video below. so sit back relax...... and learn how to tie a funky head scarf, like a pro!

///// photo collage via /////

/// photo by the fashion gal ///

make sure to watch this HOW TO video...

    
great HOW TO right?!?! i'm inspired!

hope you are too.