Mar 29, 2011 | DIY
How was everyone’s week? It’s been Spring Break for one of Lil Tot’s schools…which means he’s been home a lot and I’ve been in full Mom mode. But somehow despite the little [3-foot-tall] distractions I managed to get through a whole pile-up of DIYs and projects that have been sitting on my to-do table (yes, I have a whole TABLE of stuff to do…not just a pile;-). I can’t wait to share them all with you!
Here’s some food for DIY’ing thought…
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But first, onto other DIY stuff from around the web!
DIY maven Maya from Bye, Bye Soccer Mom shared her Ice Cube clutch, ring, and miniaudiere – inspired by Chanel. Her creativity gives me goosebumps!;-)
Reader Sara from Short of Something sent me a link to her Faux Headboard DIY…and I love it!
How on earth did I miss this??? The Glamourai gave her Forever21 crystal rhinestone necklace a vintage-style makeover…with brown and black Sharpies. Awesome idea for faux-ageing your jewelry. Check it out here.
Style Hurricane posted a how-to for a DIY Jil Sander Market Bag. Very easy, with an amazingly chic result!
This Detachable Coat Skirt Tutorial from Rosy Red Buttons makes me a little sorry it’s Spring and I’ll be putting away my winter coat for awhile. Oh wait – I live in Portland – which means it won’t actually start feeling like Spring until June. I still have 3 months to make this amazing, multifunctional piece!!
April Fools’ Day is coming up this Friday – so why not try a DIY April Fools’ Day Dinner for your loved ones? Meatloaf as cupcakes – candy bars as fishsticks…I can’t wait to see what my son says when dinner looks this bizarre. From AllRecipes.com.
Sarah (from Welcome to the gOOd Life) posted a guest blog on Whatever Dee-Dee Wants on how to DIY your own Anthropologie-inspired “Squeezebox” pleated top. Sarah is an incredibly talented sewist, and her Anthro and J. Crew DIY’s are the best replicas I’ve ever seen! This amazing shirt is no exception.
Art Clay World USA is sponsoring the 2011 North American Design Competition, which has an Open Theme this year. Submit your best projects made in Art Clay Silver, Gold, or Copper, and compete for cash prizes and Art Clay World credits (up to $1500!). Deadline is June 20, 2011, and all the info is here – scroll down & click on the news for March 02, 2011 for the downloadable pdf and details.
Recent favorite affordable and cute shopping destinations:
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation 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!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Mar 22, 2011 | DIY
Condensing the last 3 weeks into one, since for various reasons I haven’t been able to post my usual DIY Links of the Week. My final project due for class, my husband’s country hit with three disasters one after the other, undertaking a sock drive and letter-writing effort…it’s taken some time to gather myself after these events and turn my eye back to DIY. Since I’ve grouped the last couple weeks of DIY’s and other things, there’s a few more than I normally include. Ready…?
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And isn’t that what DIY is all about??! Doing it as best you can, on a shoestring budget, certainly fosters creativity!
So onto the Links of the Past 3 Weeks…
When you hear of acrylic vase filler and balloon weights…what DIY project springs to mind? A necklace? Well, if you were Modanista Junkie, they would – and she DIY’d a lovely sparkly ribbon necklace out of those amazingly counter-intuitive materials. Gorgeous!
Customizeable Melissa Plastic Dreams shoes…just cut away the parts you don’t want! Strangely reminiscent of those grippy pads I use in my kitchen sink…What’s the verdict: chic or sheesh?!
Sick of all those ugly, bulky black nylon camera bags? Learn how to turn a regular purse into a camera bag courtesy of Tater Tots and Jello…and never go back to the ugly.
PINNACLE: Reinvent the Icon was a pamphlet handed out during New York Fashion Week, showcasing a beautifully-shot editorial with a number of fur-free contemporary designs from labels such as Vaute Couture, Olsenhaus, VPL Victoria Bartlett, and Cri de Couer. Though a little graphic, it definitely makes the point that fur-free can be just as fabulous – and high-fashion! – as the stuff in Vogue. (And Anna Wintour tied up gave me a little chuckle;-)
Domo-kun Sandwich Cookies from Diamonds for Dessert are totally delish-looking! (Though I have to admit I’ve had a little crush on Domo-kun since like…1998 or so, so I’m a little biased…;-)
DIY Woven Chain Bracelet from Jagged Paper Doll uses beautifully-colored embroidery thread to add pizazz to a chain bracelet. Perfect for Spring!
In the same spirit of weaving, …love, Maegan shared her Leather Lanyard woven bracelet tutorial. It looks great stacked with other silver bangles and chains!
I had some leftover galaxy-print fabric from a little I had custom-printed awhile back…just a little, mind you…so I went old-school and made a scrunchy with it! Here’s how, from About.com.
These Embroidery Thread Tassel Earrings from Studs and Pearls are just the colorful 70’s vibe I’m hankering after at the moment. Check out all the colors she made!
I love how UtBwB turned a men’s shirt into this vintage-style ladies’ blouse! She took something for HIM and made it PRIM…and perfect!
Speaking of men’s shirts transformations (okay, let’s acknowledge my obsession now;-), here’s a doozy: a cute little DIY check skirt made by here’s looking at me kid. Western-style and adorable, you have to check it out! (yuk, yuk yuk;-)
Bye Bye Soccer Mom made this cool crackle-finish Maltese Cross Cuff, using the same cross base from Jo-Ann Fabrics that I used in my double cage cuff DIY awhile back! The crackle-finish turns it into a completely different piece…and it looks fabulous in this reincarnation!
Who isn’t drooling over the bright zip clutches spotted all over style-sharing networks recently? DIY your own zip clutch, with the help of Style Scrapbook. (She made hers in a lovely yellow leather.)
Recent favorite affordable and cute shopping destinations:
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation 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!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Mar 2, 2011 | DIY
Wow, March already! February always seems to fly by as if on rails, and this year was no exception. I spent a lot of time with my family this month; Hub’s parents came to visit, we went skiing and my son had his first-ever skiing adventure, we played in the snow in the backyard and went sledding on the first Snow Day of the school year, and then we wrapped it up with my son having his adenoids out yesterday, which involved a lot of crying and anxiety leading up to it, but he’s now on the mend and installed in front of the TV once again. (Okay, yesterday was March 1, but still..)
So now it’s March and it’s Annual Craft Month!! I’m so excited – and can’t wait to peruse all the cool crafts and projects that are popping up on Craftzine, ILovetoCreate, HowAboutOrange, One Pretty Thing, BurdaStyle, Angry Chicken, Martha Stewart, and DesignSponge…and the coupons from Jo-Ann’s and Michael’s are sorely tempting me…
Exactly!! So onto the Links of the Week…
Studs and Sequins DIY’d a Lanvin Necklace with her own version: the Watercolor Petal Necklace! Beautiful, dreamy, and feminine…
There are so many great projects over at Michaels.com. This Long Layers Jewelry Set is fantastic – and imagine the possibilities if you replaced the pearls with crosses, or spikes, or skulls, or other hard-edged things…or tried silk flowers, jumbled coral, colorful beads… Also check out the many hundreds of projects they have available on the site for some major creative inspiration!
TipJunkie posted 21 Free Tutorials for Making Headbands. Flowered, sequined, knitted, Anthropologie…check it out if you love headgear!
Ah, Outsapop. Constant and amazing source of DIY inspiration. Love her DIY Balenciaga Shirt idea…so simple, yet so perfect.
New fabulous DIY Blog Alert! Rar Traum Store: haunting, fetishist, bizarre, addictive DIY and inspiration. Check out her Givenchy-inspired Clutch Box attached to glove…and scroll back through her posts for a Pierrot Neckpiece, mesh shades, and off-the-hook embellished punk jacket. (I fell in for a couple of hours, I have to admit…;-)
Ruffled is doing a DIY Wedding Favors Contest. Submit your best handmade wedding favor project ideas here until March 13, and be eligible to win up to $400 in cash prizes!
Maxi skirts are in right now and Sew Much Ado shared her tutorial for making a triple-tiered maxi skirt. She looks beautiful in it!
Sweetie Pie Bakery shared her advice on Designing for Less: how to look at the clothing you want and find and alter patterns to make it yourself instead of buying it. Which is a thought-process that I am always, always using when I look at items in stores…and essential to a DIY frame of mind!
Modanista Junkie made some super-cute sparkly toe-cap pumps. Just adding some rhinestones can make any shoe look expenive (even when they originally weren’t) and cover up any scratches or damage! A great idea.
Blogger Phosphene revamped an old blouse using iron-on dome nailheads and grosgrain ribbon on the M&J Trimming Blog. What a fantastic way to add some edgy and on-trend details to your clothing! (And check out her Tulle Brooch and Gold Pompon Headband too!)
Recent favorite affordable and cute shopping destinations:
I’m loving all of the fashionable indie finds on Moxsie.com…and drooling over the affordable but incredibly chic jewelry on RachelRachelRoy. Yummy!
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll feature it in one of my Links of the Week posts!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Feb 23, 2011 | DIY
I’m getting behind! Hopefully in the coming week Ill be able to post this on Monday…when I intended to. And the NYFW Fall 2011 runway collections are over?? Already???!
image by me.
Sometimes it’s harder to go simple and let your greatness speak for itself.;-)
I’ve been nominated for an About.com award in the DIY Fashion Blog category!
Vote for your favorite blogs (you have until March 8) – and it will only take a second
>>click here to vote<<
These Hermes Knotting Cards from MaiTai’s Picture Book are super-duper helpful. All the ideas! All the DIY possibilities! How many of you are running to your closet to pull out all your scarves and try this out? I am!
Speaking of knots, I’m also drooling over this knot book! Just think of all the belts…brooches…barrettes…earrings…rings…and other numerous accessories you could fashion out of knots!! Really, REALLY early birthday present, pretty please?
I’ve just discovered this fashion blog that focuses on the cheap, but chic: the creator only showcases outfits bought at Wal-Mart…yes, I said “Wal-Mart“! Check it here at PennyChic.com
DIY: Quick Gifts for Chic People posted by Chictopia user Le Petit Lapin. LOVE the sequined collar and bag covered with cut-up CD’s. What great ideas!
Maegan from …love, Maegan has launched a new series called “Maeg it Yourself,” where she DIY’s items suggested by her readers. Go here and let her know what you’d like her to make, and you could even win her creation!
Samantha Baldwin (AKA blogger Bromeliad) of the Examiner.com has posted oodles and oodles of DIY inspiration from New York Fashion Week for Fall 2011. Phillip Lim? Alexander Wang? Betsey Johnson? It’s all there, ready for the DIY’ing.
Plus she also posted a great tutorial for a DIY book clutch, inspired by Kate Spade. The cover is interchangeable = ingenious!!
I’m loving Girlie Girl Army‘s comprehensive list of Vegan/Eco Shoe, Handbag, and Clothing Lines. Since oftentimes “Vegan” is synonymous with “affordable”…there’s a lot of great chic and cheap shopping gems on that list!
Recent favorite affordable and cute shopping destinations:
(Right now I can’t get enough of SockTheory‘s crocheted anklets, rugby striped overknees, and pothole backseam stockings! Plus, you can use coupon code PERFECT10 for 10% off your entire order, and get $3.99 shipping (and free shipping on orders over $50!) to a US address!)
And, if you haven’t already – don’t forget to enter the Dahlia Soleil x Chic Steals Giveaway of a beautiful crocheted slouchy hat! The giveaway is open to readers worldwide…so head on over and leave your comment to enter!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Feb 15, 2011 | DIY
A week that had me scrambling with a bunch of projects due at once and my in-laws visiting. So they never noticed that I neglected to vacuum the house before they came…I met most of my deadlines! But I have a HUGE one coming up on Friday involving…SOCK PUPPETS…a $6 million budget…and somebody from a Robert Zemeckis movie!! (I know, I know…it’s a looong story. Don’t ask.;-)
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Ain’t that the truth??! So onto DIY and other awesomeness…
DIY Lanvin Necklace by Chic Intuition. Love the safety-pin through the grommets!
Refinery29 is searching for The Next Big Style Blogger! Could that be you? Enter and find out!
Stina Jimerson created a ring inspired by my DIY Edwardian Cuffs! It’s so amazingly textural and feminine – yet so strong at the same time. Definitely scroll through her blog and check out the rest of her amazing work!!
And, a cool project from a blog run by a MALE DIY-er (Andrew from Pull Teeth…and lord knows there’s two few of you guys out there making non-techy DIY projects!!): a DIY Sunglasses Holder. Check out all his other DIY projects and inspirational photography on his blog here!
Cut Out + Keep‘s Best 100 Projects of 2010 (as ranked by most favorited). My Men’s Shirt to Ruffled Shirt tutorial was #13!! (And check out their Best 100 Projects of 2009 compilation as well…4 of my projects made it to the list at #39, #72, #77, and #88.) I’m so flattered that so many people favorited my projects – and there’s so many amazing projects to look through, one could get lost in the DIY for days…;-)
~L~ from Avid Accents posted a great series called “Shopping 101” in which she offers some great tips to make your buying decisions more informed, less impulsive, and into decisions that truly round out your wardrobe. First you need to Know Your Style, then Know What You Have, and finally, Know What You Need before hitting the mall. Invaluable!
DIY Girl Scout cookies. You can buy the real ones online to support the organization if you want to…or if you don’t have access to them, want to have more, or just want to try your own hand at making them…here’s how.
I’ve just discovered a new DIY fashion blog called Studs and Pearls. Check out her DIY faux blazer – refashioned from a Hanes sweatshirt and a beautiful brooch!
Luxirare made her own dress + jacket pairing for all 5 days of the week in a variety of luxurious fabrics, leathers, colors, and textures. Not DIY so much as just straight-out off-the-hook design + planning + execution. It’s amazing that she is able to sew those garments so skillfully without multiple samples/prototypes. As always, I am in awe.
I’m loving this No Sew DIY Shirt Dress as posted on Cut Out + Keep by user selena. So simple…so pretty…so love! So if you’re not into sewing your shirts into dresses, you can definitely get beautiful results by just tying strategically.
Maya from Soccer Mom Style created these two fabulous projects: her “White Swan Gone Bad” studded clutch, and a DIY Armor Knuckle Ring. I’m officially drooling over both – she’s so talented! And check out her blog for many other great DIYs as well!
Recent favorite affordable and cute shopping destinations:
(And Sheyna.com is also a DIY Link of the Week – since it offers jewelry that you can customize into literally hundreds of combinations, choosing gold or silver, gemstone briolettes, chains, etc. – to make your own, one-of-a-kind DIY jewelry piece!)
And since I’m not doing my DIY Roundups anymore, if you have a DIY project, tutorial, or creation that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll feature it in one of my Links of the Week posts!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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