Rue La La » Rue How-To

Rue How-To: DIY Summer Wine Stopper

Julia Ivins — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:22 +0000

Cheap. Easy. So fun. Wine drinkers? This one’s for you. Everything you need is in your house except for the knob that will top the stopper. Thankfully, you only need one – so spend $8 or so (love these) for the soon-to-be cutest wine stopper ever.

First, dig up a few old corks to practice. The trick to a successful stopper is a perfectly vertical twist through the cork – otherwise, the knob will not lie flat. If you have one of those handy-dandy mechanical wine openers, I encourage you to use it here. If not (I don’t), that’s what practice is for.

In terms of wine corks, synthetic is ideal. Not only do synthetic corks keep wine fresh longer by eliminating bacteria, they also make for a DIY wine stopper that you can use again and again (or give as a gift!).

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Questions? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: Personalized Welcome Mat

Julia Ivins — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:00:28 +0000

If you visited Rue La La at all last month, you probably saw our April login page. (If not, peep it here.) A personalized welcome mat? Needless to say, I was inspired.

One trip to Home Depot, a few printouts, and some work with an X-ACTO® knife later, my front porch has serious personality. Here’s how to create your own.

What you’ll need:

Door mat (about $10 at Home Depot)
Black spray paint ($2)
Stencils – I printed mine on regular printer paper, in a few different sizes
X-ACTO knife
Scissors
Thumbtacks
Newspaper
Tape measure, if you want to be precise

How to do it:

Print out your mat message. (Need an idea? How about a Rueism?) If you have heavier paper, it might make the cutting process a bit easier, but I used regular and it worked well.
Decide what size your font should be by placing the pages on the mat and eyeing them from standing level. If you can’t read it clearly, it’s too small.
Use the X-ACTO knife to carefully cut out the letters. Do this on a safe surface, like a thick piece of cardboard or magazine (I used an old Rue La La box). Make sure to save the letters that need fill-ins, like Es and Os.
Go outside (inhaling toxins is no fun) and place your stencil plus fill-ins – tape measure optional – on the mat where you would like the message.
Secure the pages and pieces with thumbtacks. Don’t be modest – the spray will cause lightweight paper to blow around a bit, and you want these as stable as possible.
Cover the rest of the mat with newspaper to prevent the paint from spreading.
Spray the stencils completely.
Let dry for a minute or two, then reveal!

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

What will your welcome mat message be? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: DIY Liquid Eyeliner

Julia Ivins — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:00:42 +0000

If you’re determined to master the coveted cat-eye (it took me months), you’ll appreciate this DIY. Before you head to the makeup counter and spend upwards of too much money on liquid eyeliner, make your own out of eye shadow already in your arsenal.

All you need? Contact-lens solution. I used Bausch + Lomb ReNu® multi-purpose solution. You’ll need three or four drops at most. Keep it on the dry side – you can always add more when you’re ready to use it. If you’re not a contact wearer, steal some from a friend or head to the drugstore and pick up a travel-sized bottle.

Tip: Hesitant about mixing a whole palette? Try dipping your eyeliner brush into contact-lens solution before applying your shadow.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Did you find this beauty tip helpful? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Creative Culture: Rue Gets Crafty

Jess Huckins — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:00:52 +0000

Here at Rue, we pride ourselves on our creativity – and that doesn’t end at our love for great writing, design, and killer fashion. Take, for instance, the newest addition to the after-hours lineup: the How-To Half Hour, designed to help each of us embrace our inner crafty kid.

Yesterday, we tried out this week’s Rue How-To and upcycled old T-shirts into Nantucket-inspired bracelets. How’s that for Earth Day spirit?

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Are you creative like Rue Associates? Check out all of our openings on Rue La La Careers.

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Rue How-To: Nantucket-Inspired T-Shirt Bracelets

Julia Ivins — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:00:57 +0000

Remember when you were a kid and you spent summers making friendship bracelets and reading Judy Blume? Well, this week, we have a slightly elevated version of that. Slightly. You know that pile of T-shirts you’ve been hoping to donate for the last year or so? Now’s your chance to wear them in a whole new way.

Say hello to summer’s most versatile accessory. These upcycled bracelets can be stacked with colorful enamel bangles for work and cocktails, or worn on their own for beach weekends. You could even weave in chains, studs, or charms for an of-the-moment look.

Once you get a rhythm down, the process will speed up. For the details on this braid, visit New York City blogger Lana Red – she’s broken down the steps in a helpful diagram. Not in a particularly crafty mood? Try a (super easy) traditional braid with multiple colors woven in.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Would you add these T-shirt bracelets to your stack? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: Repair Your Cracked Pressed Powder

Julia Ivins — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:00:21 +0000

No matter how careful you are, eventually that pressed powder becomes just thin enough to crack into a million pieces. Maybe it spent the night in the car when it was negative 12 degrees out, or you left it in your checked bag by accident (dreaded baggage handlers). Or perhaps, like me, you’re a klutz, and you’re constantly dropping things.

Before you toss that can’t-leave-the-house-without-it bronzer in the trash, check this out. A couple of drops of rubbing alcohol, a few dabs with a spoon, and voilà – your once-on-its-last-legs powder has two more weeks to live.

Tip: If there’s not enough powder left to re-press (or if it’s on its third drop), scrape it out of the compact, dice it up with a sharp knife, and pour it into a smaller mineral powder container.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

What do you think of this makeup tip? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: Mix Your Own Nail Polish

Julia Ivins — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:00:22 +0000

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a stash of old eye shadow that you know you’ll never use again, but you just can’t bear to toss. Here is a simple, inexpensive way to make it new again – all you need is a bottle or two of clear nail polish. If you don’t have any at home, search the drugstore for the best, least expensive clear polish you can find (I wouldn’t go above $3.50).

Mixing Tip: Boost your new color up a notch by mixing multiple powders. Try purple with grey for a matte mauve, or lighten any dark shadow with white.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Did you find this beauty tip helpful? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: Coffee Bean Candles

Julia Ivins — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:30:16 +0000

From backyard cocktail parties to Sunday barbecues, springtime festivities call for a change of décor – and these candles are just the thing. Prep time: five minutes. Cost: pick up a box of tea lights at the dollar store, or at the grocery store where you buy your coffee – all in all, about six dollars. Result: candles that make the house smell like a coffee shop. By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

What do you think of using coffee beans for candles? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: Wear a Scarf as a Wrap Skirt

Julia Ivins — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:00:59 +0000

From headband to halter top, there are many ways to repurpose a scarf… safely. So when blog browsing taught me a way to easily transform one into a miniskirt, I immediately thought wardrobe disaster – but then remembered my affinity for free clothes.

Start with a scarf. The one I used here is cashmere, 72 inches long, 32 inches wide, and fringed. Fold it in half (the long way) and begin. Tip: Unless you’re wearing it over a bathing suit, use a safety pin or fancy brooch for secure fastening.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

How else would you wrap a scarf skirt? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Rue How-To: DIY Bath Salt Scrub

Julia Ivins — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:00:44 +0000

Life moves fast (deep, I know). Chasing the bus down the street and getting to work on time is a daily challenge in itself. In an effort to slow the pace, I encourage you to rediscover the magic that is a bath. Spoon in a few scoops of these vanilla eucalyptus bath salts, light a candle or two, and inhale the soothing aromas.

A few helpful tips: Skip the first step and pick up a large jar of combined Epsom and Dead Sea salts at the craft store for only a few dollars. Also, if you don’t love the smell of eucalyptus, use any type of dried herb or flower (like lavender or rosemary). Finally, I used the same coloring and fragrance as I did for this DIY soap, so if you have any left over, save yourself the extra trip.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

How did your bath salt scrub turn out? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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