Apr 5, 2012 | DIY
No, it’s not April Fools’…this skirt is really made from a lace curtain!!
I’m sure you’ve seen these curtains hanging in people’s houses…maybe you have them hanging in your own house. (I know I did while living in Japan as it’s standard there to have lace curtains on the outside, and patterned curtains on the inside, of the curtain rails there.)
And if you check out your local Goodwill, you can find the most lovely lace curtain panels for a steal.
I found one huge panel for a mere $5.99. That much beautiful fabric for that price is a bargain!!
So I set about using that lace fabric…and I found a ton of uses for it. But FIRST…the DIY Lace Maxi-Skirt, a Spring 2012 staple. And it’s sooooo easy! Here’s how to make it: (more…)
Leave Comment
Mar 27, 2012 | DIY
So how fantastic was Honestly, WTF‘s reinvention of the sunglasses case into a DIY Alexander McQueen-inspired box clutch last year? I think it’s safe to say that we all loved it – and all went out to the nearest store in search of a hard-sided sunglasses case forthwith.
However, I got to thinking: why not use something that may already be in your closet to make this?
Enter the velveteen jewelry box: often when we ladies receive or buy a piece of beautiful jewelry, it’s housed in its own velour-lined box. And those boxes are so pretty! Why not reinvent them?
I’ve held on to most of my velour jewelry boxes, not because I use them to store jewelry in still (I use flocked jewelry trays that stores use in their display cases), but because I thought to use them again somehow. And some of them were sentimental to me.
Take this shell-shaped velour box – it used to hold a string of my grandmother’s pearls that I received when she passed away. The insides of the box had gotten old, deformed, stained, and crumbly over time…but the outside was still quite pretty. I thought it very Art Deco. And so decided to give it a second life, as a pretty box clutch. Here’s how I did it: (more…)
Leave Comment
Feb 18, 2012 | DIY
counter-clockwise from top right: Free People Vintage Bolo Necklace ($298), Elliot Atkinson Runway (photo by Morgan O’Donovan for DazedDigital), Egoist Cross Stone Bow-Tie NC (1,995 yen), DIY by me
I am such a necklace person; I always feel naked if I’m not wearing a strand (or two or three) of something metal and glittering at my neck. But sometimes I want to break away from the something-pendantlike-strung-on-a-chain rut…and the bolo tie necklace is the perfect piece to do that. Whimsical and retro, this style of adornment has been seen lately in the offerings at Free People and the runway at Elliot Atkinson (and was in countless shops when I visited Tokyo last Summer). Of course you can find bolo ties on Ebay or thrift shops…but you can also make one that’s all your own quite easily – and from stuff you probably already have in your craft drawer! Here’s how:
Materials: (more…)
Leave Comment
Nov 1, 2011 | Fashion, Life
Creative Director of Elle Magazine Joe Zee posted a great little article in this October’s Elle, on how to upcycle certain Halloween costumes into daily wear. Going as on-trend as possible, taking cues from designer collection, and re-interpreting what you already have on-hand is exactly what I’m always taking about! Though some of the updates are only do-able if yo only happen to have…certain costumes…just a chop of a skirt or the pairing with modern accessories can definitely re-invent the cheesy, costumey, and polyester. (Though I’m a little perplexed as to how those front slashes in the Freddy Krueger sweater magically healed themselves in the updated version…;-)
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween – and here’s to reusing what you can from this year’s costume!
xoxox
Carly
*scanned from Elle Magazine, October 2011
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
Sep 23, 2011 | DIY
I’m so thrilled to have been featured on the I Love to Create blog as a guest poster!
They sent me a lovely package of goodies from their immense ILoveToCreate.com website a little while ago (chock-full of Tulip-brand and Aleene’s products, fabric dyes, finishes, paints, and embellishments…if you haven’t checked it out for all your crafty needs, or for tutorial ideas and inspiration, please do!! You’re so missing out!!). I’ve used the contents of the package to create a couple tutorials for them that will be featured on their blog in the coming weeks. My first project, a Leopard-Print Infinity Scarf, repurposes the bottom of an old t-shirt and uses a stencil from one of their tie-dyeing kits to create a fancy feline look. Here is the tutorial in full below:
Fashion blogger Carly J. Cais of Chic Steals will be featured in the next few weeks as a guest blogger here on the iLoveToCreate blog! She has created some trendy and fashionable looks and she shows you step by step how to make them! Take it away Carly…
How to Create a DIY Leopard-Print No-Sew Infinity Scarf From an Old T-Shirt
Nothing could be easier than re-purposing the bottom of an old t-shirt as an accessory! Wear as a simple scarf for a pop of pattern at the neck, a lightweight hood, or sew the bottom closed and add a drawstring to use as a pouch for makeup. By using two colors in the leopard print and varying the size of the spots, you get a much more finished, high-end look than by just using the stencil alone.
Materials:
– Tulip Tie-Dye Fashion Kit in Wild Thing (stencil, gloves, Aqua dye, Cobalt Dye)
– white t-shirt
and…
– garbage bags
– paper towels
– cotton swab (not pictured)
– small bowl for paint (not pictured)
– fabric scissors or rotary cutter
How To:
1. Begin by creating the leopard pattern on the t-shirt. Wash the shirt in the washer (do not use fabric softener) and dry in the dryer to remove sizing.
2. Place onto a garbage bag, laid onto a flat surface. Place another garbage bag in-between the fabric layers so the dye does not seep through.
3. Place the leopard stencil from the Tie-Dye Fashion Kit onto the shirt, and cover around the stencil with paper towels to prevent overspray.
4. Put on the gloves in the kit. Mix the Tulip Aqua Tie-Dye according to the kit directions, and spritz onto the fabric using the spray bottle. Be careful to not spray too much; just enough so the stencil shapes are visible (too much and it will seep under the stencil and the pattern won’t be crisp).
5. Remove the stencil; wipe down with a paper towel.
6. Repeat Steps 3) – 5) to cover all the area below the underarms of the t-shirt on the front. Turn the shirt onto the back and repeat.
7. Allow to dry about an hour.
8. Mix the Tulip Cobalt Tye-Dye according to directions, and squirt some dye into a small bowl (not used for food). Dip a cotton swab into the dye and dab it onto the t-shirt, on top of the aqua spots you made with the stencil. (Reference a photo of what a leopard’s spots really look like to help with placement.)
9. Cover with plastic and allow to dry 4-6 hours. Once dry, wash in the washer with a small amount of detergent and water at the hottest suitable for the fabric. Dry in the dryer.
10. Once dry, cut off the top part of the shirt, from side to side right under the sleeves.
And you’re done! Wear the fabric loop as an infinity scarf for a punchy pattern at the neck, or customize further with a little craftery on your sewing machine.
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly J. Cais
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment
