DIY Links of the Week 5.16 – 5.23.11

This week is starting off certainly better than last – I’m on another round of heavy-duty antibiotics so hopefully I’ll beat back this infection in my jaw this time – I just finished up a huge number of projects that have been looming over my head for weeks – and the weather’s turned nice and summery here in Portland.  (Finally!)

Img source

So onto what’s been going on in the DIY blogosphere this week…

Lindsay from Delighted Momma made these boho-chic recycled bangles with some hemp cords and old bangles.  What a lovely summery twist on an old staple – and can you imagine how gorgeous they would be stacked, wound with a variety of colored hemp cords?    (Find every color of hemp cord you may ever want here.)

I’m so glad to have found Fashion Attack, an amazing DIY-er who’s made a number of fashion-forward video tutorials, including those fringed YSL shoes, a fur handbag out of a pillowcase, and an over-the-knee boot.  So inspiring!

Lisa Salzer, the designer of Lulu Frost, stopped by StyleList to make a video on how to make a DIY sparkly necklace inspired by her latest collection, using rhinestone chain and long bone hairpipe beads.  I just love it when a designer shares her secrets!;-)

Curbly‘s video for making a handbag out of a recycled book makes me want to whip out a box cutter and a lovely old tome.  Olympia Le-Tan embroidered clutch, here I come!

Dismount Creative fashioned a faux enamel pendant necklaces…using nailpolish!  What a brilliant idea – and a great way to add some colors to metal stampings and blanks and incorporate them into your jewelry.

Refinery29‘s Slideshow of 9 Ways to Tie a Summer Scarf will hopefully help me infuse my normally sloppy summer style with a little bit of chic.

 

A Matter of Style‘s Neon Candy Bag Tutorial – made from clear plastic folders from the stationery store – now gives me something to do with all those colorful folders I’ve accumulated from the Dollar Store!  And I love her branded “M” on the closure – so amazing.:-)

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at the art of draping, follow Sew Petite Gal‘s lead and make a simple, one-shouldered DIY draped Grecian gown.  Perfect for summer pool parties and evening soirees!

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/2011/05/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>

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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Get Your Arms Ready for Sleeveless Season with Dove

I’ve never thought of my underarms as particularly attractive.  Though I have major and minor quibbles with many of my bodyparts, I’ve always felt a little bit embarrassed about my underarms.  Stubbly, sticky, bumpy, red…definitely not my best feature.:-/

So I was thrilled to hear about Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, that softens and smooths this hard-to-beautify area of the body.  I’ve been an avid Degree clear user for years, since I hate white mess on my clothing and tend to have very damp underarms year-round. (ew) Many deodorants just aren’t strong enough to combat this problem for me.

But the problem with Degree is that it’s so strong, it leaves a thick residue on me that numerous washings just can’t seem to remove completely.  My underarms always feel like they’re coated with something, even after scrubbing in the bath at night – and all that scrubbing makes my skin rough, red, and tortured.

When I received Dove deodorant in Nourished Beauty, I couldn’t wait to try it.  Upon application, the smell is a bit strong – kind of like baby powder with some added perfumes.  But the smell fades fairly quickly, and I was surprised how even after 2 days of applications, my underarms felt…well, smoother.  This may be TMI, but you know how those little bumps form in horizontal lines across your underarms the day after you shave?  Strangely, this time around they were much smaller/flatter for me, and were not red at all.  My underarms are looking better than they ever have…and though I never really thought about making them “pretty,” so to speak – whatever’s in this deodorant (extra moisturizers and Vitamin E and Vitamin F, according to the label – wait, there’s a Vitamin F??  Essential Fatty Acids, apparently), have really smoothed this area out!  Plus it keeps underarm dampness at bay, even when I’m working out, and leaves no powdery residue when I wash off in the bath.  I can raise my arm now that I’m SURE! (LOL) – that Dove has done its job.;-)  (I know you’ll all be checking out my underarms in the top photo – I did no Photoshopping precisely because of that!  The photo below looks…well…a little airbrushed IMHO…)

So anyway to get the word out about this new deodorant Dove has teamed up with the stylish Jessica Szohr (of Gossip Girl-fame), to inspire women to get more beautiful underarms and Go Sleeveless with Dove.  As part of this campaign, you are invited to design your own sleeveless top with the Go Sleeveless Fashion Challenge app on Dove’s Facebook page, where you can also view the sleeveless top gallery and vote on your favorite designs.  By submitting a unique design, each participant will automatically be entered for a chance to win a New York City shopping trip with Jessica Szohr worth $5,000!

Design Your Own Sleeveless Top Here

(Entries accepted until May 27, 2011 – so get them in now!!)

According to a recent study, nearly 100% of women surveyed think their underarms are unattractive, and more than half of

these women say the condition of their underarms affects their wardrobe choices.

 

The above statistic had me amused, because I’d be willing to bet that most women’s first reaction when being asked if they thought their underarms were beautiful was probably “Um, I never really thought about it.”;-)  Regardless of whether you’ve ever considered the question of Pretty or No? when it comes to your underarms, now you can have a chance to try this deodorant and see if it really, truly makes a difference.  (It improved my skin and deodorant build-up issue for me…now if it could only do something about visible stubble!;-)

The PR company who is working with Dove is generously offering full-sized samples of Dove’s new Go Sleeveless deodorant to U.S.-based Chic Steals readers – just leave a comment with your email address on this post and I’ll pick 4 comments at random after next Tuesday (May 31, 11:59 PM PST).

Leave your email address below for a chance

to try out the new Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant!

FTC Disclosure: I received a full size of Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, and am being provided with 4 samples for my readers.  I have not received any cash or compensation for this post; the above is my honest opinion and review of the deodorant.  To read my full Disclosure Policy, see here.

xoxo
Carly

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Announcing: BurdaStyle Fashion Challenge with Instructables.com!

Feel up to a little wearables DIY?

Instructables.com (the largest Do-It-Yourself community on the web) is partnering with BurdaStyle (the largest sewing community on the web) to bring you the BurdaStyle Fashion Challenge.  All entries must involve your own clothing creations, whether you’ve been inspired by the runways or had a vision in a dream. It doesn’t matter where the inspiration comes from, as long as the final handiwork is your own. This contest is focused solely on garment design and construction, not accessories.

To enter the BurdaStyle Fashion Challenge submit a Step By Step, Photo, or Video Instructable documenting the process and/or final product of a garment you’ve either sewn by machine or hand, knit, crochet or a combination of garment creation techniques.

They have a huge amount of amaaaaazing prizes (over $3500 worth!), including the Grand Prize: a featured blog post in BurdaStyle, a Singer 191-D20 Industrial Sewing Machine Singer Stylist 11 Serger, a $100 Indygo Junction gift certificate, and a $100 Sublime Stitching gift certificate.

The contest runs until June 12, so get those entries in soon!

Enter Here

****Contest only open to U.S. residents****
Good luck to everyone who enters!

xoxox

Carly

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5.20.11 Outfits: Oversized and Plastic

Batwing Sleeve Shirt: ASOS.com

Long Side-Tail top: Spiral Girl

Quartz point “Fang” Necklace: handmade by me

Rings: DIY Pamela Love Arrowhead Ring (tutorial here), Rock Crystal Heart Ring from a rock & gem show, Forever 21 Regal Knuckle Ring

Marbled Perspex Molded Hard Case Bag: ASOS Premium

Dark-Rinse Jeggings: Forever 21

Ann Demeulemeester-style Lace-up Boots: DIY of Forever 21 booties (tutorial here)

Feeling like crud.  (more…)

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