Summer Bucket List

02.51 in bucket, canvas, diy, list, Paid, summer, wallpaper

Summer has officially arrived, Ive finally broken up from college! Its weird to think that Ive only just began my summer and students from other countries are in the period returning for their new school year.

Credit Jenny Rigby

                                                                      

Unfortunately, this summer I dont have anything big to look forward to such as a holiday or planned activities. Unlike last summer, as I took part in a summer programme called The Challenge and I had so much fun. I travelled up to Scotland, hiked and camped out, went gorge walking and jumped of a waterfall all in a few days. This was then followed up by living in uni halls and volunteering for a local community and to top it all off we then organised and held our own fundraising day. You meet some amazing people who start of as strangers and end up becoming like a summer family. (I definitely recommend you check it out).

Anyway, after reading Caitriona Tighes Summer Bucket List I thought it would be a great idea to create my own - to save me from spending my whole summer on my laptop all day, everyday (it would happen). Also, theres no doubt it will create some great memories.

I really enjoyed thinking about and writing this blog post, there are so many things that are popping into my head that Id like to do. But for now I think Ill just stick to these. I may even blog about some of the things I complete.

Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people, for those few months youre not required to be who everyone things you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you dont have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. Summer just opens the door and lets you out. - Deb Caletti

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DIY Wallpaper Folders

00.17 in bites, diy, dust, first, folders, one, Paid, the, wallpaper

So it seems its already the start of back to school season, when all the shops are stocked up with uniforms and stationary. Though Ive got a good 4 or 5 weeks before I head back to college, I decided to get all my stuff ready way before so nothing is forgotten and also so its cleared from my mind.

Folders is one thing I hate buying because I want nice unique, quirky patterns and I dont always find ones I like in shops. When I do however, they usually are quite expensive and the plain ones just dont do it for me. So Ive resorted once again this year to covering plain, boring folders with wallpaper. Yes, once again the trusty free wallpaper samples are of use. 

This DIY is cheap, simple and because you made it yourself - unique, so you wont have t worry about matching with someone else. Also, I found that by doing this last year as well, the folders where more durable and didnt get them annoying, flappy, split corners.

You will need :

• Folder(s)
• Wallpaper sample(s)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Something to protect your work surface - newspaper, art mat etc

1. Whilst your hot glue gun is heating up, start off by drawing around your folder. Make sure to leave enough excess room around the folder. Doing this will make it easier to place when gluing - so you arent short of paper.

2. If your wallpaper is on the thicker side, lightly score it being careful not to cut through the paper. This will make an easier, cleaner fold around the folder.

3. Now, working side by side, you can begin gluing the folder to your paper. Make sure to firmly press the folder down allowing time for the glue to set (only a few seconds).

4. Once the folder is fully stuck down, begin drawing lines on the folders creases.

5. Cut the line and cut the tab smaller. I found without doing this the paper began to crease up of peel off when in use.

6. Stick the tabs down.

7. Again draw a line and snip up it - on the edge of the folder.

8. Then proceed to stick each of them tabs down, not forgetting to firmly press them down. You should be left with something like this.

9. Oh look the ruler and pencil and returned once again. I decided to cut this part on an angle to make it look a bit neater.

10. Voilá, its complete! If you arent happy with how the inside looks here are some ideas you could glue down to cover it:

• A thin whiteboard (or make your own by laminating some paper)
• Left over wallpaper or other decorative paper
• Paper Folder (to store loose sheets)

We are all creative. Creativity is the hallmark human capacity that has allowed us to survive thus far. Our brains are wired to be creative, and the only thing stopping you from expressing the creativity that is your birthright is your belief that there are creative people and uncreative people and that you fall in that second category. - Shelley Carson

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DIY Wallpaper Canvas

00.48 in at, backwards, canvas, coming, diy, forward, Paid, wallpaper

This little DIY was a spur of the moment thing. But it turned out to be really effective and worth it! 

Whilst walking around B&Q ,searching for wallpaper to complete my room and cover a bare looking wall, quite a few samples stood out. But I just couldnt decided on one. So I thought, why not have them all! It just so happened that I had an abundance of unused canvass ,that I kept meaning to use, lying around. So I tore off a sufficient amount of each paper I liked, topped up my empty collection of glue gun sticks and headed home.

A bonus to this DIY is that not only is it quick, its cheap. So it would make the perfect decoration if you are on a budget, maybe at university, or would also make a great and easily personalised gift.

You will need :

• Canvas(s)
• Wallpaper sample(s)
• Hot glue gun
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Something to protect your work surface - newspaper, art mat etc 
• String, ribbon or any other decorations (optional)

1. Firstly, whilst your hot glue gun is heating up, make sure your wallpaper is big enough to fold over the back of your canvas. You can neaten up the edges if you want (I was too lazy to.)

2. If your wallpaper is on the thicker side, gently score it being careful to not slice through. This will make a cleaner fold.

3. Next, draw a line from both corners of opposing sides  and cut along the lines.

4. You should be left with this.

5. Now glue both these tabs down and firmly hold down to ensure it sticks.

6. Next, draw another line from the corner and cut along it.

7. Resulting in this.

8. Again, glue these two tabs down and firmly press.

9. And its complete! As I said in the beginning you can neaten the edges - which will help the canvas hang better.

10. You could leave you canvas bare, maybe if the wallpaper was really decorative itself, or you could tie ribbon/string around it, glue buttons or even stick photos to it to make a great personalised gift - its your DIY.

Creativity is a great motivator because it makes people interested in what they are doing. Creativity gives hope that there can be a worthwhile idea. Creativity gives the possibility of some sort of achievement to everyone. Creativity makes life more fun and more interesting. - Edward De Bono

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Memories

11.08 in diy, folders, memories, Paid, wallpaper

Somehow we are already in August. Where has this year gone, it feels like its flown by. To be honest I feel every year goes by quicker and quicker, and Im only 17! 

Just the other day I was looking through photos on my laptop from holidays and concerts, the memories they brought back put a smile on my face. It was so nice to just sit and enjoy looking through these photos and feel very grateful that Ive been able to create so many great memories.

But another thing struck me while I was looking at my concert photos - was I just living the moment through my camera? Ive seen a lot of comments on this topic recently, how many think we no longer live in the moment but instead through screens. To an extent, I personally, think this is true. I mean, just look around you next time you are at a concert, spending time with family or on holiday. How many people have a camera or phone in hand? Are you one of those people who has a item of technology between your eyes and the event?

However, as I said I only agree with that opinion to an extent because though it may feel like technology takes some of the sentimental value from the moment, it also enables us to reminisce in years to come. We are able to almost re-live that moment in are mind. Photos and videos allow us to never forget ,even little events such as a meal out with friends, when we are of old age. We are practically building up a document of of lives so we can share our stories in a visual way to the next generations. And I love the thought of that. Especially as I have been looking through my grandmas photo albums. 

What are your opinions? 

What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment thats gone forever, impossible to reproduce - Karl Lagerfeld

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