Jan 1, 2011 | DIY
Now with almost midnight and 2011, while catching up on Gossip Girl episodes and eating peppermint ice cream, I just wanted to take a look back at 2010 and all the DIY tutorials I’ve shared here (and elsewhere). Missed any? Here they are, one more time:
Hair Accessories
Accessories
Jewelry
Clothing
Men’s Clothing Remakes
Shoes
Home Decor
Recipes
Wow, it’s a lot when you look at them all like that! 63 tutorials and how-tos (and I only did 51 in 2009). I hope this last year has been a wonderful, amazing year for everyone, filled with happiness and DIY!
Here’s hoping that 2011 is even better!
Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers, friends, fellow bloggers, and family!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 17, 2010 | DIY
So sorry for the slowdown in posts as of late. I have been consumed by doing the Christmas shopping, putting together boxes of gifts, making goodies and cookies, writing Christmas and New Year’s cards, and standing around at the Post Office that this holiday brings. I think I have things a little more under control now, but there’s still an overwhelming amount of things to do and get and wrap before next Saturday.
In the meantime, if anyone has any free time and would like to make some jewelry and accessory pieces (maybe as a last-minute gift?), here are some Free Projects from Michael’s:
And some Free Project Downloads from Interweave (require E-mail mailing list signup, but just unsubscribe after you’ve received your freebies if you’re not interested):
Also: Free E-Book on the power of making things by hand to get you inspired:
You can never have enough techniques for DIY’ing in your trick-bag…and the more you know, the more you can apply that knowledge to problem-solving in many different areas.
Enjoy!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 13, 2010 | DIY
My tutorial for this sparkly, holiday-style jeweled DIY cardigan clip was featured in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Style Sample Magazine (see pg. 20!). It’s super-easy to make – with just a glue gun, some sparkly buttons, and some trim scraps you too can make one in no time.
As the holidays approach, we’re all looking for that perfect accessory to elevate a blah outfit into FABulous; office-wear into party attire; the everyday into elegant. And what better than a functional closure to your sweater (or jacket, or scarf) that can double as a statement brooch? Clip it on, bling it out – however you wear it, it’s sure to be the focal point of any outfit!
Materials:
*stiff felt, cut into 2 circles (each about 1.5″ diameter)
*scrap of lacy ribbon
*assorted jeweled buttons
*2 shoe clips
*short length of chain (about 3″)
*Optional: 2 jump rings
*Optional: 2 brooch pinbacks
Tools:
*scissors
*glue gun & gluesticks
*pliers
*needle &thread
How-To:
1. Start by stitching the lace around the edge of each felt piece, in a spiral. (Although you can use the hot glue for this, the stitches look neater.)
2. Hot-glue the buttons on top of the lace.
3. Turn each felt piece over, and hot-glue a shoe clip onto its back. Keep in mind that in order to wear at the front of a jacket or cardigan, each clip has to open outwards, so make sure they face the right way before you glue them down.
4. Add the chain to the bottom of the felt pieces. I attached it using jump rings, but if you like you can just use hot glue to affix it, hiding the ends underneath the lace.
5. Optional: If you’d like to wear this piece as a brooch, also glue a pinback to the back of each felt piece.
You can try a number of configurations, using ribbons, soutache braid, fancy trims, different chains, studs, vintage findings, or even stick-on jewels (form the scrapbooking section of the craft store!) The sky’s the limit!
And make sure the very next time you rock it out – you tell everyone that you didn’t buy it…you DIY’d it!
I love how it looks like a little smiley face! (Once you see it..you can’t UNsee it!:-/)
And if you’re interested in the other features in this issue (like an interview with Project Runway Season 6 finalist Althea Harper and the how-to on making your own badge for your blog)…
Read the full issue online here
Thanks so much to Tamia and the team at Style Sample! I truly appreciate the inclusion and am honored to be a part of this great publication.
[And since they are the only magazine currently dedicated to bloggers and the art of style blogging, please help support this great publication by reading, contributing, or even purchasing the print version online. Thanks so much!]
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 10, 2010 | DIY
Feathered things are experiencing a revival lately – and I’ve been hankering after a maribou feather clutch for awhile. But I’m not going to buy when I can DIY for much cheaper! It’s sooooo easy too…
DIY Marabou Feather Clutch
Difficulty: (Easy/Beginner)
You Need:
*old clutch-style purse
*tacky glue
*marabou boa
*scissors
How-To:
1. Lay your clutch flat and visually estimate how far apart the pieces of your boa need to be to get the kind of coverage you want.
2. Spread the tacky glue in vertical lines down the front of your clutch, and across the top below the clasp.
3. Starting from one side, lay one end of the boa onto the glue at the bottom of the clutch.
4. Fold the boa piece over at the top of the clutch, and then loop it down towards the bottom. Snip at the bottom of the clutch.
5. Repeat for all the lines of glue until the front of your clutch is completely covered. Allow to dry and then trim the ends so they’re all one length.
Pretty easy, right? To cover both the front AND the back using this method, you’ll probably need two boas. And you could use any type of feathers that suit your fancy…they don’t have to be marabou, and they don’t have to be in boa-form, either.
Did You Know?
“Marabou” is a term for fluffy feathers – and most “marabou” feathers available for crafting, fishing lures, garment trims, or millinery supply are actually turkey or chicken feathers, not feathers from the Marabou Stork (which are extremely expensive). Feather supply companies may obtain their feathers from birds that are killed by the meat industry, or the down may be plucked from the bird as the seasons transition and it has no need of it anymore (termed “live-plucking”). Feathers also may be collected as they naturally molt (like peacock feathers), or from birds’ nests (like eider down).
So finally, welcome to DIY Roundup 8! If you’re unsure how to link up your tutorial (or finished project), here’s how:
Just click the light blue “Add Your Link” button that appears to the bottom left below. Follow the instructions in the Inlinkz window, pasting in the URL of your project or tutorial (from your own blog, Facebook page, Flickr account, Craftster.org, CutOutandKeep.net, etc). Don’t forget to write the NAME/DESCRIPTION of your project – like “Bow T-Shirt” or “DIY Lanvin Necklace” – not your own name or your blog’s name!!! You can link up any piece you’ve made or tutorial you’ve written from any time, not just in the last two weeks (though it would be nice if it’s a recent project, just to keep the content fresh). It’s all about sharing and bringing in more like-minded visitors to your site!
So now you get to share your own DIY’s! If you have a DIY project or tutorial that you’d like to share, please feel free to link below! (However you can only link YOUR OWN PROJECT. Please do not link others’ projects!)
If you’ve linked up your project to the Roundup, feel free to grab the button below.
Can’t wait to see everyone’s projects!
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 24, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
LS Tee: Petit Bateau
Draped Rose Chiffon Skirt: DIY
Studded Cuff: Target
2-finger Pyrite Ring and Spike Ring: handmade by me
Diamond-pattern pale blue tights: unknown
Suedette Tie Shoes: Lela Rose for Payless (2009)
Quilted Bag: indio (Japan)
Pierced Rose Brooch: DIY
Day 21 in my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 21.
Sunday at home recuperating from the long shoot from the day prior. But I still wanted to take a couple DIY items for a spin – and put together an outfit in dreamy pastels.
When I first saw luv aj‘s pieces, I thought they were a wonderful solution to connecting large statement pieces onto ring bases without soldering. Many jewelry artisans cannot solder (myself included). Not being able to do this simple construction method (though goodness knows I’ve tried!) often limits the designs you can create, especially when it comes to rings (which usually need to be soldered together lest the stone pop right off the base).
But wire-wrapping is an ingenious solution to the problem of connecting the top to the ring, and completely eliminates the need for soldering! I tested it out on a couple similar designs. (The drawback is the rings are incredibly uncomfortable on the fingers. I wonder if luv aj’s versions are easier to wear?)
This skirt I made from a curtain valance. Yes, a curtain valance!! If you ever check out Goodwill (or any thrift store that sells home items), you can probably find some curtain valances that have chiffon overlays to them. I was struck by how beautifully they were draped – so I bought the pair ($3.99) and made a skirt out of one. When I draped it onto my body I found the waistband wouldn’t sit right, so I did have to make some darts at the waist…and sew a front-seam and hidden fly. It’s not perfect – it’s DIY, after all!
But if you have any valances at home lying around, or spot any at the secondhand store – they really look lovely as a draped, twisted skirt – a style of skirt that is so popular now (just look at the recent collections of Alexander Wang, Burberry, and Celine, for example).
The Pierced Flower Corsage is so easy to make: just a silk flower from the craft store, with rings threaded through it, or grommets added and rings and ball beads through those. I made two and thought the rose one went better with this outfit.
Hope everyone had a great Sunday!
xoxox
Carly
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