Oct 25, 2011 | DIY
It was my son (AKA LIl Tot)’s 6th birthday on Friday. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 years since he was born and he is now a robust kindergartner. I never imagined myself having a child in kindergarten! This year just seems like a huge milestone, marking the end of his babyhood and beginning of the next stage of his life.
Each year I do my best to create a cake based on his favorite toy-of-the-moment. I just used a boxed cake mix, but the decorations are an opportunity to flex my creative skills. And he just loves Beyblade, so this year was a Beyblade cake, decorated with real Beyblades, sprinkles, and a Lego audience.
Last year I made a Mario Kart cake with details I created in rolled fondant; some molded over marshmallows, and the Mario Kart toys attached to the top of candy dispensers.
His 4th birthday cake was Lightning McQueen out of a specially-shaped cake mold
; the first time I ever worked to tint icing black. Which makes, incidentally, very nasty stuff.
And for his 3rd birthday I made a cake train diorama, with decorated cakes made with another specially-shaped train cake pan
, wheels from Junior Mints, and trees made from cake baked into cake cones. Ice cream cakes!
(For his 1st and 2nd birthdays, I just bought his cake.)
I wonder what next year will be?
Have you even made a themed cake for a little boy? How did it turn out? Do tell!!
Happy Birthday, Lil Tot!
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 24, 2011 | DIY
Cut a number of star-shapes out of a thrifted leather or vinyl skirt; wear over a slip or even bright tights for a fun layer.
xoxox
Carly
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Photo from Love Aesthetics.
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Oct 24, 2011 | DIY
The organic quality to much of Pamela Love’s work captivates me. I love the metals mixed with gemstones; the rough shapes coupled with geometry. Trending this Fall are her fabulous pieces for Spring: rough-hewn, almost spiritual works. This crescent-shaped necklace studded with gemstone points is surprisingly easy to make – and satisfyingly chic.
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Oct 21, 2011 | Fashion, Score!
It’s now technically mid-season and clothing sales are in abundance! Though many of us are beginning to think about Halloween costumes as well, now is a great time to scoop up some fashionable finds for a deal – what with Summer and early Fall merch being heavily marked-down and pried to move. Here are a couple of my faves:
~ J. Crew ~ 
Get 25% off and Free Shipping on orders over $150 with code LOVEFALL. Valid until Sunday 10.23.11.
~ Romwe ~
Get $10 off orders of $50+ with code StreetFashion3, and $20 off orders of $100+ with code StreetFashion4 …and receive FREE SHIPPING! Valid until 11.30.11.
~ ASOS ~
Save 50% off Select Dresses for a limited time from 1:00PM EST on 10.23.11 through 3:00AM EST 10.24.11. (14 hours only!)
Also: ASOS.com is currently having a HUGE 70% Off Mid–Season Sale…and you can get an Extra 10% off Sale Items! Use code BONUS10. Valid from now until 8:00 p.m. EST on 10.23.11!
~ Alloy ~
Get 30% off all outerwear, Free Shipping on orders over $25 with code 25AFFNA, 15% off any order with code 15AFFNA, or $20 off any order over $75 with code 75AFFNA. Whew!
See anything that catches your eye? I’m drooling over the Alloy beaded bracelets (so I won’t have to DIY my own!) and that tweed ASOS cape!!
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 18, 2011 | DIY
Wow, those four weeks went by in a blur! With school starting for my son – and for me too! – Portland Fashion Week – my husband being out-of-commission with his bad back – it seems that I’ve completely ignored listing what’s been going on in the DIY blogosphere. But not this week! Here’s another round-up of great projects that should inspire anyone to get their DIY on:
Refinery29‘s DIY Missoni Sneakers uses just a fabric marker and a zigzag stencil. What a cool and graphic result!
Sah-Rah posted an easy DIY $2 felt iPad Case tutorial, made from two IKEA pads and an old scarf. And did I mention it cost just $2???! (Now if only iPads were that affordable…)
“DIY Creates a New Field of Fashion” for Epsom Day, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Love that DIY is getting the headlines and recognition as a creative, cost-saving method of expressing one’s own uniqueness! (Though we all already knew that, right?;-)
Fabulous and chic DIY D&G Star Earrings are an accessory to fall head over heels for…courtesy of the incredibly talented Desde Tenerife Con Amor. Easy and so do-able with items that may be bouncing around in your bead drawer already!
Soccer Mom Style took my DIY Colorblock Painted Purse tutorial and gave it her own spin, using contact paper that is removable when she tires of the colored area. Just genius!! DIY Colorblock Purse with Painted Con-Tact Paper
Black & White & Loved All Over created her own DIY Elbow Patches out of pretty, contrasting fabric and added them to a hoodie. Besides being super-cute, it’s also a great way to cover up holes or wear on a garment!
Giving a pair of boring pumps a DIY Lace makeover is so simple, and creates such an elegant result! Carry on…carry on… has all the details.
Sweet LemoNayde posted this great tutorial on Live. Love. Craft. on how to make this uber-cute hobo bag from an old pair of jeans. Now I can’t wait to raid my closet!
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://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/diylotwfeaturedbutton.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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