Feb 3, 2014 | DIY
Inspiration: Prada on the runway vs. Topshop’s low-priced alternative.
With Prada’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection we saw a fun throwback to 60’s-style oversized flowers: a reincarnation of Mary Quant’s iconic daisy design. That graphic floral element has remained strong throughout the Fall and Winter, popping up on fashion’s trendsetters and street style mavens everywhere. DIY-able? I think so. Stay tuned for a how-to coming up soon!
xo
Carly
Image sources: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Feb 2, 2014 | DIY
Who isn’t obsessed with French macarons lately? They seem to be everywhere: flooding Pinterest, on inspiration boards, in recipe guides, and all over Instagram. Though I love love love the real ones as an occasional indulgence, sometimes I want to have some around as sweet little objets d’art, and as the basis for another fun craft for Valentine’s Day I have coming up. 
They could also be used in jewelry and accessory projects too! (More on that later.) In the first of my series on Japanese-inspired Deko Sweets, here is how to make your very own (extremely realistic!) pastel-colored French macaron out of clay:
You Need: (more…)
Feb 1, 2014 | DIY
We have just about 2 weeks until the big V-Day and it’s getting time to figure out how to celebrate it. Will you celebrate with a kind gesture towards your loved one, whip up a favorite dish, splurge at a pricey store, or go anti-V-Day? If you are actually celebrating it with your sweetie, why not make something personalized that is uniquely representative of you two as a couple? Here are some great DIY ideas to get you started: (more…)
Jan 21, 2014 | DIY
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Gradually I’m going to be adding these Must-Have Tools for DIY lists for my DIY Resources page, and the first one I’d like to share is this one. I’ve been making a number of jewelry projects lately, both for my WeHeartThis guest posts and for my own blog (like the Free People Wrapped Quartz Bangles, Anthropologie Beaded Tassel Necklace, and the 80’s-Style Acrylic Triangle Rhinestone Earrings). For these and all the other projects I’ve been making since I started crafting jewelry many, many years ago, I find myself reaching for the same tools repeatedly. Here is my recommended list of really great tools for DIY Jewelry Projects:
1. Chain Nose Pliers with Side Cutter
A MUST when working with wire, chain, or even soft metal sheet (to be used in a pinch!), wire-cutters are an essential tool to jewelry-making. Mine do double-duty with their half-round (also called “chain nose”) ends, for when I need to use them to grip, and not cut, things.
2. Round Nose Pliers
For making loops in headpins and eyepins you need a perfectly-round pair of pliers. I put off buying these for a long time, reasoning that I already had a pair of half-round pliers: wouldn’t they do? (And I always wondered why the loops in my jewelry were so lopsided and squashed-looking.) If you need to string anything on a headpin or eyepin, and connect it to anything – get these pliers, you’ll thank yourself for them!
3. Jump Ring Tool
Where would I be without my jump ring tool? This saves me so much time and fiddling with two sets of pliers (though low-gauge jump rings or steel cable chain will require the double set for torque).
4. Beacon Dazzle-Tac Jewelry Glue
I prefer this over any other jewelry adhesive out there – and was so thrilled to have discovered this a few years ago. Technically it’s a flexible adhesive, but is far stronger than the ubiquitous E6000, and much more spreadable and viscous, with a slightly longer drying time. I haven’t had a tube’s contents dry out after opening and using it once (unlike E6000, which, no matter how tightly I close the cap, dries out completely within a couple uses). Even in projects where it’s recommended to use G-S Hypo Cement, I use DazzleTac instead, since I find cryanoacrylates (like Hypo Cement or Crazy Glue), tend to dry very brittle, chalky, and eventually crack. My hands-down MUST-HAVE adhesive for any metal-metal, metal-plastic, plastic-plastic project!
5. Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic Repair Adhesive
For mixed-media jewelry projects, or projects involving leather, suede, or vinyl, LocTite cannot be beat. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it holds super-well on all projects requiring a flexible adhesive. I also use this on foam and fabric pieces, though if trying to adhere metal or plastic items to foam or fabric, I will use DazzleTac.
6. Sunshine Polishing Cloths
An excellent tarnish remover for a variety of materials, these can make anything I’ve worked on look brand-new again! They work on all precious metals, brass, copper, chrome, wood, ceramic, hard plastic and glass.
7. Mod Podge Gloss Finish
When sealing my mixed-media or painted projects, I tend to use this formulation of Mod Podge over any other: it imparts a glossy, finished look to every piece. I also have recently discovered Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
, which is even thicker and glossier, and does not require multiple coats. My new love!
8. Curved Nail Scissors
Though scissors are a tool that of course is necessary to many projects, I find myself using these tiny, sharp, curved nail scissors the most. They get into small areas easily, are razor-sharp, and the pointed ends are great for piercing materials. (Make sure you find the kind where the center screw is a real screw and not just a rivet so you can re-tighten them over time!)
9. Dritz Fray Check
Necessary for daubing on the ends of silk thread, cord, rope, or other stringing materials to prevent fraying. If you’re working with synthetic stringing materials, you can also heat-seal raw ends by holding near an open flame.
10. Multisizer Ring Tool
This is a lifesaver when it comes to creating rings and sizing them properly. If you make a lot of rings (in different sizes), I’d also recommend a mandrel to help size your finished creations accurately.
11. Gauge Chart for Jump Rings
This is very helpful when determining the design of a piece, or labeling jump rings I have floating around. Click here to download and print the chart actual size.
12. Small Plastic Sealable Bags
I use these for sorting and keeping beads and findings separate from one another. So much better and more affordable than Ziplock!
xo
Carly
*This post contains affiliate links. For my full Disclosure Policy, click here.
Jan 16, 2014 | DIY
Hello again, friends! I just couldn’t wait to share this chic and easy bangle bracelet project with all of you.
I am always drawn to rough, organic crystals and gemstones rather than perfectly-faceted pieces, and much of the jewelry available at Free People satisfies that sparkle-lust. I fell in love with this Crystal Flame Cuff by Vega Jewelry, but the $258 price tag was much more than I could afford. I realized I could easily make the same kind of look for a steal – hence this project. (And it’s so, so quick to whip up!!) Here’s how I made my newest FAVORITE bracelet:
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My eye fell upon this pair of gorgeous, over-the-top, beaded rhinestone cat-eye sunglasses in a recent issue of Marie Claire. Of course they were by 
With 
