Sep 15, 2011 | DIY
I’ve been utterly exhausted this week since it’s Lil Tot’s first full week of school, and driving him to and picking him up from requires a total daily commitment of about 3 hours from me. Three hours in the car, every.day. This means that although I do have a block of time uninterrupted at home, I now am spending so much time behind the wheel I’ve found I’ve had to skimp on time spent elsewhere. And what’s first to go when I get busy? DIY’ing. Then updating my blog. It’s unfortunate, but I have to figure out some compromise here.
This week I managed to do a mini-DIY with my nails. Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Pure Chrome (Sally Hansen Titanium Chrome
is similar), with Essie’ Chinchilly dotted on. Finished up with some messy splotches with Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Black, and a clear topcoat (because this nail art pen’s doodles come off fast if not sealed with a topcoat). Of course you could always use Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Kitty, but I wanted a silvery manicure anyway.
Now off to pick Lil Tot up from school! Just how does one deal with school commutes when there is no bus and no public transport??
Hope everyone’s having a great week!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 12, 2011 | DIY
70’s-style colorblocking is a hot trend for Fall 2011, seen on the runways and now beginning to trickle down into street style and retailers. I was hankering after a colorblocked purse, but didn’t want to pay a lot for it. Thankfully, thrift stores are a wonderful source of older handbags, and I found an adorable cross-body bag for a mere $4.99. But it was rather beat-up and needed a little makeover, so I figured it was time to break out the brushes and do some leather painting! Though technically when you paint leather, what is most recommended is to use paint that is specifically formulated for use on leather, like Angelus.
However, if you are feeling squeamish about buying an unfamiliar product online, or they don’t ship to your country, or you want to use some acrylic craft paint that you already have on hand, fear not! Leather and suede can actually be painted with acrylic paint, with fairly good results if you take the time to prep the piece properly. So here’s how to add some vibrant color-blocking to some leather or suede pieces you already own:
How to Add Some DIY Colorblocking to a Leather Bag
You Need: (more…)
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Sep 11, 2011 | Fashion
The 9/11 Monument that stands in New Jersey – a gift from the people of Russia.
Diverging from my usual topics of fashion and DIY, today I just wanted to post something simple. It’s been 10 years since the tragic date of 9/11/01 – and if you are an American like myself, you probably know exactly where you were when you heard the towers had been hit.
I was in Japan, visiting my then-boyfriend [now Hub]’s house. When he came upstairs to tell me that the World Trade Center had just been hit by an airplane, it took me awhile to put it all together in my head and realize he was talking about the World Trade Center, in New York City, NY, USA. I turned on the television and was stunned, thinking I had tuned into some Hollywood movie halfway through. For the next day or so I was unable to reach many of my friends who lived in New York due to the phone lines being completely tied up.
Though I was lucky enough to not know anyone personally who was involved in the terrible loss of life on that day, it was a moment felt around the world that impacted everything since, and changed the way the world sees terrorism.
The names of all the victims killed in the attacks.
I just wanted to step back a moment and remember that day, and all who gave their lives then, and even now, in the aftermath of 9/11.
xoxox
Carly
photos source
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Sep 9, 2011 | Blogging, Fashion
Though I sometimes post a big-name brands piece that I feel was “inspired” somewhere else in my Inspired Alert! posts…this is an entire blog filled with that – straight from the runways.
I’m utterly inspired in turn…and in awe of how much time is put into all of this, as well as the blogger’s fantastic eye for similarities. Author Diana Marian Murek is a German fashion designer who now lives in Milan and writes for Italian Grazia, and her comparisons of newer runway looks and advertisements with looks and ads from the past is mind-boggling.
from INTO THE FASHION
For tons more whoa!-like moments and interesting similarities that make you go “hmmmmm…..,” check out
Just amazing!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 7, 2011 | DIY
Another week gone by! Whew. I’m making progress on my office re-organization and cleanup, but it’s still taking awhile. Lil Tot is finally back at school, so now I have a long chunk of the day uninterrupted where I can (hopefully) get some more things done. Ummm….personal website???!!! Yeah. That. And some DIY’s here and there if I can manage it. Here are a couple things I noticed around the blogosphere this week…
Essential reading for all of us who get easily buried under the to-do pile. (*ahem) Tips for finishing all our DIY projects from Simple Mom is a must-read!
For those of you who want more Anthropologie DIY’s, Made by Lex‘s Pratia Tanktop is for you! Just lovely.
And in the same flowery vein, Desde Tenerife Con Amor was inspired by the lovely flowered Gucci dresses from Spring 2011, and made this pretty flowered top. (Just run the page through Google Translate if you can’t read it.) Canvas and flowers are all you need!
Feeling crafty? Tip Junkie has a great roundup of 12 Necklaces, Accessories, and Tops Tutorials. Just some more to add to your must-do list.;-)
Make a fringed purse courtesy of Melissa Esplin and N.E.E.T. Magazine – pattern included! It’s super-cute and you can even make it mini-sized to use as an accessories holder/keychain to attach to your handbag like the author did here.
It seems like glittery shoes are the way to go this Fall. Honestly, WTF made a Miu Miu-inspired pair out of some Vans. Bling on, everyone! (And seriously, Google “DIY Miu Miu glitter” and you’ll come across a billion tutorials for this already. Promise this will be the last one I feature!;-)
Kojo Designs is doing a sew-along for a pretty Strapless Dress. Sew-alongs are soooo (sew?) fun! Jump in at the beginning here.
I love reading the BurdaStyle blog because I often come across a post about advanced construction techniques, and learn a whole lot in the process. Heard of a waist stay? No? Find out more in Invisible Secrets of a Couture Garment: The Waist Stay.
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://www.chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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