DIY Donut Bath Bombs With Sprinkles

I wanted to share a cute idea that makes me think of Valentine's Day, but it's adorable anytime of year. And y'all already know I love to make DIY beauty that looks like food. Get ready to get all pinked up with these adorable DIY Donut Bath Bombs (With Sprinkles and More):

Ingredients:

• bath bomb mold (I got mine at Hobby Lobby
• 1 c baking soda
• 1/2 c cornstarch
• 1/2 c citric acid (online, canning section, health food stores)
• 2 tsp water
• pink soap colorant or food coloring (I used neon food gel)
• favorite essential oil + 4 tsp coconut oil or oil of choice (optional)
• for decoration: candy sprinkles and meringue recipe

Instructions:

Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl, mix the water and coloring (and oils if doing that). 

Very carefully add a few drops at a time of the colored water to the dry ingredients and mix. Be patient with this step because the mix will begin to bubble if you add too much at a time. It should look as pictured above. 

Allow to dry for an hour. Package or display. These keep for around a year.

FOR SPRINKLES:

Place candy sprinkles in bottom of donut mold. Then add the mixture on top. Allow to dry.

OTHER IDEAS:

I used this recipe for the meringue and placed it on top of the mixture. I then baked it. But for this, I didn't bake it so I could add the sprinkles.

How cute are these?
Do you make Valentine's Day crafts?

More DIYs with SPRINKLES:

• diy Birthday Cake Sugar Scrub
• DIY Sprinkles candle (with surprise inside)
• Donut Sprinkle Nails
• 20 Valentine's Day DIY ideas

DIY Sprinkles Candle With a Surprise Inside

Since January is practically over, I thought I'd go ahead and share some Valentine's Day DIYs, starting with this adorable DIY Sprinkles Candle! I've shared sprinkles candles before, but this one has a surprise inside, making it a fun treat for Valentine's Day, a birthday, or just something to cheer you up after scrolling through the negativity on Facebook. Just me? 

These are really easy! Here's what you'll need--

Materials:

glass container (I reused an empty candle jar)

wax (I used soy)

candle dye (I used crayons, but you can use color blocks, pigments, or liquid candle dye)

wick

sprinkles

Karo syrup

fragrance (optional--mine smells like birthday cake!)

surprise treat

Don't forget--double boiler, oven mitts, glass containers for melting, glue, something to hold the wick in place, scissors for cutting the excess wick, tin foil

First, you'll glue the wick down to the bottle of the candle jar. Next, coat the inside with a thin layer of Karo syrup. I like the light version since it's pretty clear. You can use a finger or brush. Next, add the sprinkles! Shake out excess.

Melt your wax, preferably in a double boiler on the stove. At the end, add the color and fragrance and stir. Once it has melted, carefully pour into the candle. If it's too hot, like boiling, it will melt the candy sprinkles off. Make sure you have something to hold the wick in place while it's cooling down. I taped two straws together and slid the wick through them.

If you want a surprise inside, you can either purchase clear containers online and fill or get something from one of those toy machines. Wrap the container in a little tin foil. Pour in wax to desired amount. Allow to cool before adding in surprise. Then pour the rest of the wax on top. Allow to cool and don't forget to trim the wick!

How cute is this? It makes for a fun decor item or as a great gift--it's a hit for birthdays. You can buy different colored sprinkles, too! Don't forget to use caution when burning a candle. Enjoy!

Extra Elle:
Did you ever get those toys out of a coin machine when you were little? I have actually saved one for over 20 years! When one of my brothers was 5 (he's 26 now), he bought me one as a gift--it was the first time he'd ever bought me anything. I am much older than him, so it was an especially sweet gesture. Now he's a married man with kids, so he's busy and we don't talk as much. But that little container of earrings that cost a quarter is always with me as a good luck charm of sorts.

Check out 20 DIY Valentine's Day Gifts

20 CUTE Valentine's Day Beauty DIYs

I love Valentine's Day, y'all. I do.

I see it as a day to celebrate love. All kinds of love: family, friends, pets (Have you seen my dog Charlie? Adorable), and of course, romantic.

You don't have to buy anyone anything, but it's fun to make something, regardless of the occasion or the recipient.

I've got over 100 diys on the blog, but picked over 20 that would make perfect diy ideas for Valentine's Day. Or any day. Enjoy these sweet treats!

DIY Heart Funfetti Fizzies--The first bath bomb recipe I ever shared! These are heart-shaped and have a fun confetti surprise inside.

DIY Bubblegum Lip Scrub--Because who wants to pay those Lush prices? Your lips and wallet will thank you!

Beauty DIYs With Valentine's Day Roses--Have you ever wondered what to do with those roses from Valentine's Day? Instead of throwing them out, give one of these 6 recipes a try.

DIY Chocolate Bath Salts--You won't believe how easy these are to make! Add some to the bath and soak.

DIY Macaron Bath Bombs--How adorable are these? I mean seriously!

DIY Strawberry Milkshake Masque--If you have acne-prone skin, try this.

DIY Chocolate Sugar Scrub--Your skin will be soft and smell amazing!

DIY Cupcake Bath Bombs--These make the cutest gifts and are always a hit!

DIY Solid Perfume Made from EOS--You probably have everything you need to make this! One of my favorite and first diys!

DIY Cherry Ice Cream Solid Sugar Scrub--Looks like the real thing and is a twist on the regular sugar scrub. Great for travel, too.

DIY Chocolate Body Butter--No description needed! Smells delicious and your skin will feel amazing.

DIY Tinted Lip Balm--Another I-had-no-idea-how-easy-this-is diy! You seriously have everything you need!

DIY Shower Jellies--Just like LUSH, but in easy-to-use form! These have been a huge hit!

Rosemary Mint Bath Salts--So relaxing! No tub? Try these in a bowl for your feet. Ahh!

DIY Chocolate Milkshake for Hair--Don't drink it! It's a hair masque. And it is SO good for hair.

Glitter Heart Nails--One of my favorite nail art ideas ever! The trick is a glitter pen. 


BONUS: Sweet ideas for your Sweetheart and over 50 CHEAP DATE IDEAS! These have been used in marriage seminars nationwide--my first "big" post I ever did!

Which of these would you like to try?

Extra Elle:

• A friend of mine said she was going to hire a professional to take pics for her blog. I told her to keep practicing. I showed her this post--it amazes me how far I've come in a few years from a cell phone camera with too many filters. You can tell which of these are some of my earlier diys.
• I'm heading to Walt Disney World for the next week, so there might be a post here and there until I get back. Be sure to follow me on Snapchat (ellesees) or Instagram to see! See ya real soon!

Solid Perfume Made From EOS! Two Methods!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner (I still can't believe it's February), I thought a DIY was in order. And this one is super special to me--the first time I was published in a magazine was for the original version of this DIY.

I wanted to update the solid perfume DIY a bit and thought I'd use EOS containers, since I have a dozen of these that I normally store in a vase. If you have 5 minutes to spare you can make these! They make great gifts or just a treat for yourself.

Version #1 (no color)

You'll Need:

• EOS container (I've tried similar versions, like REVO and they worked too)
• unscented lip balm--1 tube
• body-safe essential oil(s)
• glass bowl
• microwave or double boiler
• pot holder
• spoon or toothpick to stir
• knife
• freezer

Take the cap off your EOS. Use a knife to carefully pop the middle section (where the lip balm is) from the bottom, as pictured.

Scrape out the EOS contents. Since EOS is scented, we will use an unscented lip balm as the base for the solid perfume.

Add the lip balm to a glass bowl and melt. This takes about a minute in the microwave.

Once melted, add a couple of drops of essential oil to your melted lip balm and mix. Carefully pour the mix into the cap of the EOS. Freeze for about 5 minutes. I do around 15 just to make sure.

Pop the middle section (I call it the grate) back into the bottom of the EOS. Take the cap out of the freezer after 5-10 minutes and carefully remove the solid perfume from the cap. It might pop out or you may have to use a knife to carefully cut around it. Place back onto the grate (middle section that looks like a pie piece) and that's it!

Version #2 (with color)
You'll Need:

• Same ingredients as before, but you will need a colorant. You can use a bit of a tinted lip balm, eye shadow, or shavings from a non-toxic crayon*. You need just the tiniest bit because we aren't creating a tinted lip product that will tint lips, but a solid perfume, so we want no transfer of color.

Follow the same steps as in method 1. But this time, cut the solid perfume in half (pictured). Pop the grate back on (pictured) and twist it in. And then melt more lip balm and your colorant. Add essential oil(s). Mix. Pour over the grate so the product is now in the cap. Freeze 10 minutes. Carefully twist the grate away from the cap. You should now have your half color/half non-tinted solid perfume. Carefully pop the solid perfume (it should be attached to the grate) back into the bottom of the EOS.

And that's it! Apply the solid perfume to your wrists whenever you'd like a bit of fragrance. These keep for about 2 years and should not be used on lips (because they're perfume!) or on broken skin. 

Let me know what scents are your favorite!

Q&A

• Do I have to use lip balm? You don't have to use EOS. You can use any unscented lip balm. You can certainly make your own, but this is the easiest way I've found. If you would like directions of possible ideas to make your own lip balm base, email me.
• Can I use EOS lip balm? EOS is usually scented, so unless you are going to mix an essential that is scented like your EOS, I like using an unscented lip balm. Also, EOS was recently sued for causing a reaction to a girl's face. This case was dropped. While no single product will work for everyone, and after studying the ingredients, I feel safe using EOS.
• Can I use food coloring? No. That's water-based. It won't mix. Same for any colorant that is water-based, like cold press soap colorants. Try a powder pigment or a tinted lip balm.
• *Crayons? I heard there's lead in them! That study was from 1994 and from crayons found in other countries. I've used natural beeswax crayons I found online or shavings from a Crayola crayon. 
• Because I'm crazy thorough, I conducted my own lead detection test and found none. 
• I contacted a corporate Environmental Health & Safety director for more information. Via the MSDS on Crayola, it was determined they were nontoxic. Am I going to ingest these? No. Am I going to use them as body paint? No. They are art products. But since the amount I used was so small, it was considered harmless. I gave a few options in the directions for other alternatives. 
• I even tried natural colorants, but in the end I the point of this diy is something cute, easy, and quick, which is my blog's motto, so customize this however you'd like.

Beauty DIY Chocolate Milkshake Mask for Hair

It is an annual tradition of mine to include a chocolate-inspired beauty diy on the blog during the week of Valentine's Day (check the end of the post for past recipes). So what's the deal with this diy? Despite the title, and the pic, this is actually a mask for your hair. I'm serious! And your hair is gonna love it.

If you want to know my little secret for soft, shiny hair, keep reading. If winter has been wreaking havoc on your hair, give this a try. I bet you've got just about everything you need in your fridge right now. Let's get into this diy chocolate milkshake for hair:

no chocolate chips were consumed during this diy #lies

You'll need--

• 1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder (I use a cup since my hair is longer)
• 1/2 c plain Greek yogurt (I use a cup for longer hair)
• 2 tsp aloe vera juice or purified water (if desired)
• towel
• shower cap (if desired)

To do--

• Place a towel around your shoulders if you aren't in the shower, because things are about to get messy. If I'm out of the shower, I'll use a shower cap to keep everything a little cleaner. You can get these at hotels, beauty supply stores, or ULTA.
• Mix everything together and apply to wet (preferably clean) hair. I like to be fancy and pretend I'm actually cooking something, so I use a handheld blender for mine. You don't have to include the liquid if you don't want to. It makes a little easier to blend.
• Leave the "milkshake" mixture on for 5-15 minutes, depending on the length and thickness of hair. 
• Rinse thoroughly.

FYI--

• So why did I pick these ingredients? 
• Cocoa is nourishing to hair. If used often, it can help naturally enhance hair color.
• Yogurt is a wonderful moisturizer.
• The aloe vera juice conditions and is great for damaged hair.
• Keeps up to a month in the fridge (depending on the expiration date of your yogurt). 
• Use up to twice a week if desired.

Try--

• If you have blonde hair and have concerns about using cocoa, use banana baby food instead.
• No yogurt? Try regular shower cream or conditioner.
• DIY Chocolate Bath Salts
• DIY Chocolate Sugar Scrub
• DIY Chocolate Body Butter
• DIY Hair Smoothies

Extra Elle:

• Believe it or not, many of my posts, like this one, are planned over a year in advance. That ended up being a good thing because yesterday was a nightmare. I almost didn't post today. I woke up at 3am with a migraine and vomited all morning. I finally made it into work at noon. Noon! I'm happy to report all is well now. Whew. Tmi?
• This week is dragging by! I blame it on the anticipation of vacation. ;)

How To: Twisted Rosette Half-Updo

"Make my hair a little rose like you do to your hair," demanded the 5 year old, while taking down her ballerina bun, post-class. I immediately went through my mental catalog of hair styles I wear at work, with "wearing my hair up in clip away from the death-grip of 10 month old" being the dominant style. I pressed her for more detail and finally figured out the "little rose" hairstyle she meant. I am sharing it today because it's easy, it's fast, and thanks to her, makes me forever think of roses--perfect for Valentine's Day...or just because.

You'll need--

• bobby pins--I used these mini ones from Sally Beauty, but regular ones will work too.
• optional: curling wand--I wanted soft waves so I used one, but this looks fine on straight hair, too.
• optional: dry shampoo or volumizing powder--I'm including these in case you need texture on your hair to hold the hairstyle or to to add texture to the waves.

1--To create the waves, I did the standard of taking various sections and curling them away from the face and towards the face. I have several tutorials and videos on this, like this one: (how to loose, beauty waves). I held each section for about 10 seconds before releasing from the curling wand. The waves you are seeing are about 12 hours after I had curled my hair, after a full day at work, so let's just say those waves were loose!

Optional: before beginning, feel free to use dry shampoo  or volumizing powder on your hands and then dispersed through the hair. This will give texture to the waves and texture to the hair to hold the style in place. BONUS TIP: I also like spraying the bobby pins with dry shampoo before placing in hair.

2--Choose a section of hair from each side of the face. I think these were about half an inch to an inch. The thickness will later determine how big your "rosette" is. Twist each section, as pictured above.

3--Join the twisted sections of hair at the back of your head, right in the middle, and twist them together. It will make forming the "rosette" easier.

4--Wrap the section around itself clockwise to form the rose. Try keeping it as flat as possible as you wind it around to avoid a big bun. Secure with bobby pins as needed. I check it in the mirror to see where the extra pins need to go. I used 2 or 3 here.

Here's the hair from the back and the front. This takes me 10-15 min. to curl my hair and then about 3 min. to twist, wrap, and pin. I can't wait to see you try this! Be sure to tag me to see your recreations!

Extra Elle:

• So much for that great weather! Monday was dreary and rainy. Just a few more days until that Florida sunshine!
• I picked up some tulips from Trader Joes (in the pic above) last week that are still going strong. They have such affordable flowers--just a little thing that makes me happy!
• Giveaway time because I LOVE y'all! Click the links to head to the giveaways.

• 5 $50 Walgreens gift cards up for grabs!
• $25 ULTA gift card giveaway
• $100 Visa gift card giveaway