Day 4 of #DIY Bloggers Fashion Week and now it’s my turn to host!!:-D

collage by A Matter of Style

Though technically seen backstage at the Fall 2012 runway show in Milan…I couldn’t resist DIY’ing these Dolce & Gabbana sunnies for Spring.  After all, this year it’s all about flowers and pastels…and what could be better than pastel flowers adorning your sunglasses??!

photo from Vogue.com

If you want to go about making these, you have a couple options.

Honestly, WTF DIY’d a similar headband from this collection a little while ago using pre-made resin flowers.  Totally easy to get – just search on Etsy for resin flowers and there will be a bunch that are pastel and pretty.

But I wanted control over the flowers – I wanted sprays of buds and super-large roses and leaves – so the solution was of course to DIY.  Here’s how:

You Need:silicone push-molds in flower shapes you like / white air-dry Japanese resin clay OR polymer clay in the colors you want /

acrylic paint if you’re using resin clay

glue for plastics (recommended: Loctite) / pair of sunglasses with a wide frame around the outer edges

Tools: X-acto knife (optional) / toothpick (optional)

How-To:1. Warm the clay up to use for your silicone push-molds by kneading it.  (I’m actually using Grace clay, which, in retrospect, was not the best choice as the white is translucent when it dries.  Hearty would have been a better choice.)  If you’re using resin clay, knead in drops of acrylic paint until you get the color you want.  For polyclay, just mix the colored clay with white to get a pastel tint.2. Push the tiny details of the flowers into the molds first.  First the colored centers of the flowers, then the leaves, and finally, the main petals.  It’s not completely precise but creates a very pretty layered look.  I also added some larger green leaves later, just hand-rolling them and sticking them to the larger roses.

3. If using air-dry clay: allow to dry as-is while in the molds for about 5-10 minutes.  Pop out and then cut the excess clay around the edges with an X-acto knife.  Allow to dry completely 2 days.  If polyclay: Bake in oven in the molds according to directions.  Pop out and re-use molds for more flowers until you have enough.

4. Determine placement on your sunglasses.

5. Spread glue on the frames where you’d like to add the flowers, and position your clay flowers.  (Using a toothpick to position properly and clean up excess glue can be helpful here!)

  Wear with a retro-inspired, pastel ‘do…or add to a minimalist outfit with stark neutrals to offset the playfulness of the sunglasses.

P.S. You can also freehand-form your flowers!  Check out here for a great tutorial for making itty-bitty clay flowers like these, but without the silicone push-molds.  This video is great too!

P.P.S. I personally loathe polymer clay…it’s very sticky, oily, and retains fingerprints.  Plus you have to bake it in the oven and let all those fumes intermingle with things you cook!!  Once you try resin clays, I swear, you will never go back.  (Grace, Hearty, and Modena are personal faves.)  This stuff doesn’t retain fingerprints, is so malleable and lightweight, and can simulate all kinds of textures and finishes quite simply!  Definitely check it out if you are a clay enthusiast!

Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly

~If you liked this DIY, please share it with your friends!~

Save

Tags: