Tie Dye DIY Using Bleach

I think it's pretty cool considering I only used bleach. 

Tie-dye is back in fashion. Was it ever out of fashion? Not if you ask me. I don't know where or even if fabric dye is available here in Egypt to the general public, so I decided I'd try it using bleach. I found a Youtube video tutorial and got to it.

I took photos throughout, unsure if it would actually work or look decent. I'm actually really happy with the end result. 

Here's how to get a groovy tie-dye shirt in 9 easy steps.

1. Find a T-shirt that you wouldn't mind possibly ruining.  
2. Wet the T-shirt thoroughly. You want it damp, but not dripping wet, so wring it out.
3. Use a fork to spin the T-shirt around itself from the middle.
4. Wrap any extra pieces in the same direction as your swirl.
5. Secure this with 3 rubber bands to keep the T-shirt tightly spun.
6. Place it in a bucket or washing basin. 
7. Use an old water bottle and fill it with half water and half bleach. Poke a hole in the top.
8. Squirt the bleach on both sides of the bundle and let it sit for about half an hour.
9. Remove the rubber bands and rise your T-shirt well with plenty of water.

And there you have it. You've breathed new life into an old T-shirt. I would wash it alone the first time before putting it in with the rest of your laundry to avoid any residual bleach from ruining your clothes.

Here it is after drying.

I was expecting varying shades of blue but was pleasantly surprised when the T-shirt turned out mostly pink. Maybe if I had left it longer, but I really like the way it turned out. It's colorful and I only used bleach. If you use a black T-shirt, you can achieve an orange-y tie-dye effect. We will definitely be doing this again.

Would you give this a try?

Bullet Journal Basics

For years I tried to use a dated yearly planner and I would always give up or lose interest. I have a huge pile of old, half-used planners and notebooks. I always had one or two around to jot down notes or to-do lists, but it wasn't until I tried bullet journaling that I really enjoyed planning.

This coming week's layout

Basically, a bullet journal is a planner that you design yourself in a blank notebook. The name bullet journal came from the symbols people use that are like bullet points. Originally, they were all about following a key and using various symbols to indicate different things.

  credit reddit.com/r/bulletjournal

However, a bullet journal can be whatever you want it to be. You don't have to follow any certain rules or systems. It can be really organized or messy, simple, or complicated. It can be a month, a week, or a day per page. Whatever you feel works best for you and your life. You can create a new design or layout every week, and that's what I usually do. It keeps things fresh and interesting for me.

If I'm really into cherry blossoms right now, I can make that my design. Feel like using every color in the pack of markers? Why not!? Whatever you imagine, you can do. The sky's the limit, really, in terms of how you want your journal to look. The internet is a great source of ideas if you need some inspiration.

All you really need is a notebook and a pen. If you want to get artistic, you can also add the following to your planner supplies:

• markers
• a ruler
• washi tape
• stickers
• mechanical pencil
• eraser
• white paint pen

Some tips: I usually use a pencil, go over it with a felt tip pen or a marker, then erase the pencil marks. A ruler is very helpful of course, but I prefer dotted notebooks. They make it easy to create a box or draw a straight line. Make a mistake? Cover it with a sticker or draw a black shape and write over it with a white paint pen. You can use washi tape to create tabs on important pages.

With a bullet journal, you can skip weeks when you don't have much going on, and pick right back up on the next page when you feel you need to plan again. This isn't so with a dated yearly planner.  It does take some effort, but it's fun and kind of relaxing for me. 

I have found that this way of planning or journaling is infinitely superior to pre-printed planners. It's a creative outlet as well as a great way to stay on top of your tasks and habits. It's actually something you can pick up as a hobby with supplies you probably already have. Do you use a planner or a journal?

The Purrfect Cuppa

I started writing about  Purrfect Cuppa in my Hurghada post, but I just had too much to say and to share about this wonderful place. It's truly a haven. It's my happy place.

It's an English tea room and a cat cafe. The cafe is owned and run by two lovely women with hearts of gold. They serve a wide variety of items from delicious soups and sandwiches to mouth-watering homemade cakes and pies. That's of course, alongside fresh coffee or your choice from a wide variety of teas. You can even have a proper full English cream tea, including finger sandwiches, scones, and dessert!

Meanwhile, cute cuddly kitties are around giving out positive energy. The cats at Purrfect Cuppa are all rescues and they're so well taken care of that we joke that all the street cats are jealous. The nearby cats outside are fed and given water and little beds, so they have it pretty good as well I'd say.

I swear I'm not sitting on him.

My absolute favorite is Apollo. He's like the mascot to me. He's regal, majestic, and quite large. He's basically one step away from being a panther.

God bless him, he's gorgeous.

There's also Tyson who's pretty much the boss but he loves cuddles. Shady is a real beauty as well.
You get the idea. I believe there are about 20 cats roaming around. They're very sweet. It goes without saying that visitors need to be gentle and treat the cats with respect.

Tyson, you sweet thing.

They also have a crafting club that's a lot of fun. It's really therapeutic to lose yourself in a project and think of little else for a few hours. In the end, you have things you can be proud to display in your home. It's a really great way to spend an afternoon, learning something new, and meeting people.

I made this mirror using cut up old CDs! 

String art birds, in case it's not completely obvious.

A painting class. I think it came out ok for a first try, but more importantly, it was a great experience.

The Purrfect Cuppa has games and puzzles you can use while you have your tea or whatever. It's such a homey atmosphere that you could easily spend the day there. 

A family game of Monopoly

I was in Hurghada one day over the weekend during the school year. I got my lesson plans done and had a lovely iced tea.

Chillin with Baloo.

There's also Purrfect Cuppa merch! 

Obviously, at the present time, Purrfect Cuppa is closed due to Covid-19 but you can still order food to take away.  Hopefully, when everything is back to normal, I can return. It's truly my favorite place in the world. If you're in Hurghada, do check it out. You'll love it too.

How To Make Origami Stars

These origami stars are different than the ninja stars that come to mind when someone says "origami star".

My love of these started when a girl came into my sociology class carrying a large jar of little orange stars. People thought they were candy and asked her for some. She explained it was a gift for her friend, 1000 folded paper stars. I thought to myself, that must have taken a lot of time and effort. She must really care about that friend. I later looked for these in one of those beautiful Asian stationary stores that have tons of Hello Kitty stuff and other equally adorable items.

The tiny, puffy, paper stars originate from the land of all things kawaii, Japan. They are used as a symbol of love and good luck and people often make a jar of 1000 stars to gift to a loved one. I just think they're really cute and pretty.

I recently made this using a RIBBA frame from IKEA and roughly 275-300 stars. It's hanging in my room, bringing me joy on the regular. I learned how to make these years ago but I could never find the paper strips here in Egypt, until recently. It might look difficult, but it's an easy process once you get the hang of it. 

So, full disclosure: I was going to make a video tutorial but I'm in dire need of a manicure right now and I wouldn't subject anyone to such a sight. 

The video below does a good job of showing the steps quite clearly. It's also easier to learn with the larger strips of paper she's using. 

You can even measure and cut your own strips of paper. It could be a nice quarantine activity. They look great in anything glass and can even be strung with thread for a decorative garland. 

Give it a try and let me know if you do!