DIY Passport Photo

I used to cringe every time I saw a CVS photo specialist take a passport photo in direct flash and white projector screen; police stations take better mugshots.

I decided to take my sister’s passport photo for her Japanese transit visa. I looked up the passport photo requirements on the Japanese embassy website. She needed a 2x2in photo attached to her visa application so here’s what I did:

DIY passport photo lighting diagram

The setup was simple. One flash on high power to overexpose the backdrop; one flash for soft light bounced off the ceiling while the subject held a reflector to fill in the shadow.

However, if you don’t have flashes, you can use a light tube fixture to achieve similar result.

DIY passport photo lighting diagram (for non-photographers)

 

Once I took the photo, I adjusted the exposure and contrast in Photoshop, uploaded it to this passport template website, it spit out a ready-to-print 4x6in file that I could print on regular photo paper.

DIY passport photo 4×6 template

And the last step was to cut out the 2x2in squares.

DIY passport photo

The whole setup took me about 30 minutes. I could be more picky and fix her collar but I was rushing and I didn’t think it would be a problem for the purpose of obtaining her transit visa.

DIY Painted Deer Head on Canvas

When I first moved into my new apartment, I bought all my furniture new so I had no money left for decorations. I really wanted a deer head, not a taxidermied one but a faux one. But they costed somewhere in the $200 range and I didn’t have that kind of budget to splurge. I decided to make my own. Pinterest became my best friend. I found a board with some really good DIY tutorials (here), and decided to paint one on a canvas.

I went to Michael’s to buy a cheap starter canvas (or you can buy them here) and borrowed some acrylic paint from my sister.

Here’s what you need:

• canvas (any size bigger than 8×10)
• acrylic paint
• paint brush
• 8×10 adhesive shipping label

Step 1: Print out a silhouette of a deer head on a 8×10 adhesive shipping label. Cut the outline of the deer head, leaving a hollow on the shipping label.

Step 2: Stick adhesive label on canvas.

Step 3: Paint over the hollow.

Step 4: Remove adhesive label and let the canvas dry.

Caution: Lay down the canvas horizontally to dry, otherwise the ink will drip down.

Total cost: less than $10

Not to mention this was my first time painting.

Difficulty level: extremely easy.

DIY Reusable Dryer Sheets

Am I the only one who’s too cheap to buy dryer sheets and think they’re not worth the price?  I could spend $5-10 on a box of dryer sheets, depending on the brand, or I could spend the same amount and make my own DIY alternative, and last 10x longer.

Now I’m all about being frugal if doing so doesn’t significant’y alter my normal lifestyle. I figured I can make these DIY dryer sheets once and they’ll last for a while, and I would use them the same way as dryer sheets. If they’re as effective as regular regular dryer sheets, and I can save money, then it’s a win-win.

They’re super simple to make. A trip to the dollar store will get you everything you need.

• fabric softener ($6)
• 1 tupperware container ($1)
• 2-3 dish-washing sponges

To prepare your DIY reusable dryer sheets:

Step 1: Cut the sponges in halves.

Step 2: Soak them in fabric softener in the tupperware container.

Step 3: Squeeze out the excess fabric softener in the sponges and air dry them.

There you have your DIY reusable dryer sheets. Use them like regular dryer sheets in the dryer.

The Result

They worked! I put 4 sponges in a medium load, my clothes were free of static cling. I couldn’t be happier. Although they were not scented like most conventional dryer sheets in a box, it was probably better this way because my clothes weren’t coated with a chemical scent, they got the job done and saved me money. I’m a happy camper!