DIY Rhinestone Ear Cuff (from an old necklace)

I've been wanting an ear cuff from the moment I saw them popping up on Pinterest. I couldn't find anything I liked that was affordable, so I set out to make my own. So, this project has been on my to-do list for ages. It took me a while to figure out how to make it. Then, I had one of those lightbulb moments when going through a box of miscellaneous items. I found this vintage rhinestone necklace I got from my Grandma. There were some rhinestones missing, so it had become unwearable. I love that I could give it a new life. Every time I wear it, it reminds me of my Grams. I love things that have a story to tell! And the end result looks simply stunning, non?

Here's what you'll need to make your own:
♥ Old rhinestone necklace or separate rhinestones
♥ Wire cutters (if using an old necklace)
♥ Earring studs and backs
♥ Strong gel adhesive (like E6000 or similar)
♥ A simple nose ring

A little tip for glueing the rhinestones together. After adding the adhesive, I'd recommend placing the earrings on plastic to dry. There's going to be some glue residue on the back and the earring will stick to  whatever you place it on. Plastic is more inconspicuous and easier to remove once the adhesive has dried.
After you're done with the above steps, glue the earring studs to the back of the earrings and let dry. Finally, glue the nose ring to the back top part of the ear cuff. It should be positioned so that you can attach the nose ring to your ear. This makes the ear cuff stay in place. Without the ring it'll just fall down because of it's weight.

I hope this tutorial helps anyone wanting to tackle an ear cuff DIY.

Favorite Things: Just breathe

I've been trying to be more present in my life lately. It's so easy to get lost in the bits and pieces of everyday life, that it can quickly feel like time is just passing us by without us even realizing it. I don't want to someday wonder where all the time went. The only time we have is right now. We should make every day, every moment count. It's all we have.

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Why do I blog?

It seems that Elsie's post about blogging sparked a discussion in the blogosphere. For me, it couldn't have come at a better time. I've been asking myself some hard questions lately, one of them being "Why do I blog?". Not an easy question to answer as it turns out. Elsie and Melissa both wrote about some interesting points that made me dig deeper into the question of why. So, to organize my thoughts, and maybe spark yours, I thought I'd write about my own blogging journey and the reasons behind it.

the design of my first blog is still a little embarrassing

I started my very first blog back in February 2008. I shared my craft projects on a very popular Estonian crafting site that brought together a community of like-minded people, and I really wanted to be a part of it. I remember the anxiety and excitement before hitting the publish button for the very first time. Will people like what I do? Will anybody comment? Will I be accepted into the community? I couldn't check my comment form often enough to see whether someone had noticed me.

Fast forward to 2009. I got some attention, but I wasn't really happy with my blog. It just wasn't inspiring me anymore. I craved change, a wider audience, and a fresh start. So, I created my second blog Hapa's Eco Renewals (not the best name, unfortunately) and started blogging in English instead of my native Estonian. That's when I really dove into the blogging world. I started following other creative bloggers and blogging more and more. A year into my second blog I first started to think about maybe someday turning my blog into some sort of business venture. At that time I wasn't really sure about my university studies and I couldn't seem to find my true passion. I loved making things, so why not make that my career?

Then, in 2011 I decided to go for my childhood dream of becoming a singer. From the first lessons I was hooked and I felt I'd found my true passion. That feeling has not changed. All the while I kept blogging and even with my passion for singing, my multi-passionate mind couldn't let go of the idea of creating a successful blog. So, in 2012 I created Pearls & Scissors.

Finally, after all these years of trial and error I created something I was proud of. I worked very hard on this blog, at the same time getting my Master's degree in psychology, and studying singing full-time. It was a crazy year, but I managed to juggle it all. Then life happened and I had to put the blog on the back-burner. Now, I finally feel settled again and I find myself at the cross-roads, again - do I continue blogging as just a hobby, or do I turn it into a side business?

I still haven't made up my mind. There are pros and cons to both ways of blogging. But, no matter what road I (or you) take, the most important thing is to remember why I started in the first place, and why I keep on blogging. Here's my top 3 reasons:

1. It's fun! For me, this has always been the point that brings me back to blogging, even if I've lost the drive for awhile. I think it should always be fun. Even if you're monetizing your blog, blogging should still bring you joy. Without the fun factor, it can feel like just a lot of hard work (which it is). That's also the biggest concern for me when it comes to monetizing my blog. I wonder if I'm still going to feel the excitement when I know I have to create posts to keep my promise to my sponsors? Will I have enough creative energy to keep this blog thriving? And, above all else, do I really have the time to give it my best? I wouldn't want to compromise my dream of becoming an operatic singer, because that is my ultimate goal. But, that is a longer discussion for another post.

2. I love to share and interact! Connection is the second key concept in blogging for me. I wouldn't be blogging if I just wanted to document my creative endeavors. I wouldn't be creating tutorials, if I didn't want to share my knowledge. I wouldn't be commenting if I didn't want to connect. Without you to share my thoughts, inspiration, ideas, and projects with, this blog would be worthless to me. So, thank you for sticking with me for a shorter or longer period! I value every single comment and e-mail you've sent. And I'd love to connect even more in the future.

3. I want to inspire! Seeing that somebody is inspired by my tutorial or has used it to make something for themselves is like a high for me. I love helping people, so it's such a thrill to see that my knowledge and ideas have helped someone bring more creativity into their lives. Because, creativity is the best therapy, right? I truly believe in that, and I hope I can keep on inspiring.

Now, I'd love to hear from you - Why do you blog? 

Thank you for reading!