Nicabella

DIY // Painted Laptop

diy-painted-laptop

So far I’ve done tutorials for a DIY Doily Mousepad and a DIY Doily Pencil Cup in an effort to beautify my office space. It was time to take things up a notch….

I have an old Toshiba laptop, and although functionality wise it’s never missed a beat, let’s get one thing straight. It ain’t no glossy white Mac. And my budget right now simply does not extend to purchasing one.

So how about a brilliant idea to give it a makeover. Mac style. Or as I like to call it, pimp your tech!

SUPPLIES
Laptop
Masking/painters tape
Scap paper
X-acto knife
ESP (or any other suitable surface
primer)
Spray paint, colour of your
choice
Clear acrylic spray

Step 1 – First remove any dirt or greasy finger marks from anywhere you intend to paint, by using a surface primer. I used a product called ESP, purchased from a local hardware store and simply followed their instructions. It was more or less a wipe on, wipe off deal.

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Step 2 – Using the masking/painters tape, carefully cover any area you do not want painted. It may seem like a lot of tape, but seriously go crazy with it. You want to make sure everything is well covered, taking particular care to seal any vents and ports.

HOT TIP: Use scrap paper to cover larger areas such as the screeen and keyboard. You’ll feel less guilty about the horrendous amount to tape you’re using and it’ll save a whole lot of time. See, not just a pretty face…

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Step 3 – Now you’re ready to spray on your first coat of colour. Granted you may be packing it a little. It’s the moment of no return right?  I suspect you’ll also have an ‘OMG what have I done’ moment after that very first coat, just as I did, but go on, just DO IT!

Allow to dry for approximately one hour (or as per directions).

Step 4 – Apply any additional coats required, allowing to dry completely between each one.

Step 5 – Now you can apply a coat of clear acrylic. Allow to dry for approximately one hour (or as per directions). Apply a second coat to finish. Allow to dry completely.

Step 6 – Carefully remove the tape and voila! One perfectly painted laptop.

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Phoof…where has this week gone? One thing for sure is I am welcoming this weekend with open arms. After two VERY late night baking marathons (or should I say early hour finishes…gulp) I am exhausted. Proud of what I achieved, but exhausted. How about chuffed, but stuffed.

baby-magpie

Anyway let me introduce you to Baby Maggie. One out of three baby magpies, that have become so tame they take bread tidbits from my hand and think nothing of lining up alongside Sooty and Fo in an attempt to share from their dinner bowls 🙂

Have a lovely weekend xx    

https://hellonicabella.com/nicabella/2013/03/phoofwhere-has-this-week-gone-one-thing-for-sure-is-i-am-welcoming-this-weekend-with-open-arms-after-two-very-late-night.html

Showstopper

Usually I am my own harshest critic, often deeming finished projects as somehow falling short of my level of perfection, but not this time. I don't think I've ever been as proud of something as I am of this beauty. I literally could stare at it all day long. And it won me first place at our local show over the weekend, how awesome is that!

sugar-flowers-wedding-cake

I love the simple three tiered design, and the cascade of sugar flowers consisting of an open peony, buds, pom pom dahlias, hydrangeas and peiris. Having never made sugar dahlias before I must say it was quite a challenge, having to cut and shape over 70 individual petals!

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And the sweet cotton lace (raided from Mum's stash) helped complete the look.

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Simply stunning. Sigh…

 

Happy Birthday

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(image via here)

To the best Mother….EVER! Hope you have a wonderful day today!

Happy Monday

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{image via Once Wed}

Well thanks to a new pair of heels and a long overdue opportunity to carve it up on the dancefloor at a wedding on Saturday night, this week I'm sporting a rather large blister. Nice. Yesterday was another day under the pump finishing off sugar flowers and covering cake tiers, and so far so good. Can't wait to see it all come together!

P.S Jodie if you've found me, and are now stalking me 🙂 I just wanted to say thanks for being such awesome company on Saturday night!

DIY // Doily Mousepad

diy-doily-mousepad

Here is the second instalment of my DIY Desk Accessories tutorials. And you see, I’ve used that not so awful after all vinyl runner again so it matches my lovely DIY Doily Pencil Cup.

SUPPLIES
Mousepad
Vinyl doily runner
Mod podge
Spray paint, colour of your choice
Foam brush
X-acto knife

Step 1 – Spray a couple of even coats of coloured spray paint onto your mousepad. I used white. It took three coats all up to cover the print on mine.

Step 2 – Using the foam brush, paint an even layer of mod podge onto the mousepad.

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Step 3 – Quickly place the vinyl on, positioning the pattern where you think it looks best.

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Step 4 – Allow to dry completely.

Step 4 – Turn the mousepad face down onto a cutting mat and trim away any excess vinyl.

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And there you have it, a super easy and chic new mousepad.

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Sweet Eats // Lavender Ombre Layer Cake

lilac-ombre-cake

OMBRE LAYER CAKE
{Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart}

INGREDIENTS
For the cake…
3 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (396g), room temperature, plus extra for pans
6 1/2 cups sifted cake flour, plus extra for pans
3 tablespoons baking powder
Pinch salt
2 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sugar
10 large egg whites
Gel food colours

For the buttercream…
2 1/4 cups sugar
10 large egg whites, room temperature
Pinch of salt
8 sticks unsalted butter (904g), room temperature, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups shredded coconut


Preheat oven to 175° C. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment.
Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a large bowl. Combine milk and vanilla. Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until very smooth. With machine running, gradually add sugar, and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat until just combined; do not overmix.

Beat egg whites in a clean mixer bowl on medium speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gently fold egg-white mixture into batter in 3 additions.

Divide batter among 3 bowls, and tint each with food colouring to create different pastel shades. Spread each into a prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pans on wire racks.

Loosen edges of cake with a small metal spatula or paring knife; invert onto racks. Discard parchment. Reinvert cakes, top side up. Let cool completely.


To make the buttercream…
Heat sugar, egg whites, and salt in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisking, until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.

Return bowl to mixer, and whisk, gradually increasing speed from low to medium-high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Switch to a paddle attachment. Beat until air bubbles are gone, 2 to 3 minutes more. 


To finish…
Trim top of each cake to make surface even. Spread 1 cup buttercream onto top of 1
cake. Top with another cake. Repeat with the final layer. Frost cake with 1 1/2 cups buttercream. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Frost cake with remaining buttercream and then coat with shredded coconut.