Jan 1, 2012 | DIY
Happy New Year!!
As I do every New Year’s Eve, I planned to stay up late last night, watching old Law & Order reruns, and combing back through my blog archives to list out all the DIYs I’ve shared in the past year. But it didn’t happen this year; what with the dog howling continuously at the noise from the neighbor’s fireworks, and my husband sleeping downstairs in hopes that his presence would calm the dog, it was not an environment conducive to getting anything done except throwing the covers over my head, plugging my ears, and trying to go to sleep. So here I am posting all this today instead!
Clothing
Woven Ribbon Sweater
Chiffon Bow Blouse
Corseted Tee
Peter Som Fabric-Embellished Cardigan
Starburst Safety Pin Blazer
3 Men’s Shirts to Convertible Skirt
Jil Sander Maxi-Skirt
Mesh Insert Sweater
1 and 2/3 yd. Easy Summer Lace Dress
Screenprinted Tree Skirt
Bead-Edged Cut-Out Top
Accessories
Alexander Wang Stirrup Socks
J. Crew Flowered Neckpiece
Sequin Bow Belt
Alexander Wang Wool Glasses
Zac Posen Fruit Brooch
Marc Jacobs Colored Sunhat
Patriotic Pinwheel Corsage
Leopard T-Shirt No-Sew Scarf
Bead-and-Ribbon Fishnet Necklace
Sparkly Beaded Hairclip
Dyed Fabric Loop Scarf
Jewelry
Cage Cuff
Acrylic Bib Necklace
Woven Chain-and-Ribbon Earrings
Mesh Rhinestone Earrings
Gossip Girl Crochet Necklace
Pamela Love Arrowhead Ring
Bling-Bling Two-Finger Ring
Pamela Love Crystal Crescent Necklace
Ribbon-Wrapped Bracelet
Handbags
Pink Leopard-Print Luggage
I Love NY Tote Bag
DIY Colorblock Bag
Glitter Zebra Clutch
Shoes
Miu Miu Rhinestone-Embellished Flats
Balenciaga Cut-Out Boots
Painted Suede Heels
Glitter Faux Litas
Beauty
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Manicure
Eyelash Extensions
Minx Manicure with Nail Rocks Nail Wraps
Candy Cane Nails
Sequin Nails
Recipes
Hamburger Cookies
Meatloaf Cupcakes
(46 in total!!)
If you’d like to see the full yearly compilation of my DIY’s from other years, you can also check out:
(some of them may be missing photos b/c of my move to WordPress last year – if you see any posts missing photos, please let me know! {Leave a comment on the post} Thanks so much!)
So, as I raise my glass of sparkling grape juice this morning, I wish all of you a very Happy New Year! May 2012 bring even more wonderful things for everyone~
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 29, 2011 | DIY
I hate settling for something in a different color when the color I want is sold out. Take these faux-suede shoes, for example. I could only find them in a tan color (from UrbanOg.com, sold out now), but I wanted them in a dusky rose color. I already have a pair of tan suede heels, for goodness’ sakes!! And I wanted that pinkish color desperately. With leather, you can paint it…but with [faux] suede?
If you want to do it the right way, there are actual suede and nubuck dyes out there, but I wanted a faded , vintage-style look. This was accomplished easily and quickly with a marker.
Ideally I probably should have used a fabric marker, but I didn’t have one in this exact hue…and I did have a COPIC marker. So I filled in the parts I wanted pink, and paused every so often to rub the excess color off and massage it into the fabric fibers further.
And now I have pink shoes…until it rains the next time, I suppose!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 24, 2011 | DIY, Media
Nuno Magazine is a quarterly digital publication that showcases craft projects and creative ideas, all of which are eco-friendly, recycled, or upcycled. Its projects have an indie, homemade, Anthropologie-style feel to them, and they’re a great idea if you want to add some decor or try something different wrapping your presents this evening.
The PDF download for the full-length magazine is $5.00, and you can buy their latest issue (and back-issues) here.
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 20, 2011 | DIY
Every year I’ll do a DIY gift guide for my blog, but this year, I may just not get around to it. However, crafty sharing community Cut Out + Keep has got a leg up on me with their NINE fabulous guides for DIY gifts for everyone in your life. From Grandma to your kids (and even your cat!) Check out their great ideas for making it a Handmade Holiday:
I’m feeling so inspired just browsing – and now wish I had seen these before I sent all my Xmas packages out! (But of course all these gifts could just as easily be made for another event…Valentine’s Day, Easter, birthday, anniversary…)
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 14, 2011 | DIY
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of trouble drawing straight lines with my non-dominant hand. Whenever I attempt some nail art with straight lines, my efforts on one hand turn out perfect, and the other hand looks all wonky and wiggly. I figured a template or stencil would be the best way to combat this – so I thought why not DIY? These candy cane striped nails are actually a cinch to do, and if you’re using sticky color dots (found at any office supply store), they’re also cheap! No striper brushes or special nail polish required. Here’s how:
You Need:
*sticky dots (or you can using sticky labels, or even tape…anything that will stick to your nails will work)
*base nail polish color (I’m using Essie’s Russian Roulette
from my Secret Santa Miranda from the Portland Blogger Meetup)
*contrast nail polish color (I’m using white, from a Rimmel French Nail Polish Set)
*glitter nail polish/topcoat (I’m using Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Disco Ball
, which contains little holographic flecks)
And…
*scissors
How-To:
1. Paint the base color onto your nails. I had to do two coats to achieve uniform coverage. Allow to dry completely before going on to Step 3). (I couldn’t wait, so ended up making things a bit messy.)
2. Remove 5 dot stickers from the package. Cut each of them into a fringe, stopping the cuts before the edge of the circle. 
Fold every other fringe strip under itself…this will become the stripe stencil for your nails.
3. After your base color is completely dry, place the dots onto your nails, positioning the stripes how you like. For my shorter nails I made my stripes diagonal, like a candy cane, and for my longer nails I used an uncut dot to create the curve of the tip, and then placed the cut dot with the stripes going up-and-down on the tips only. Have fun with it and mix it up!
4. Use your contrasting color of nail polish to paint the stripes. You may have to do two coats for complete coverage. Make sure the stripes are strongly stuck onto your nails or else you’ll get leakage around the edges!
5. After the polish is dry, remove the stencils and finish with a swipe of glitter.
Now if only I had peppermint-scented nail polish…
Happy Holidays, everyone!
xoxox
Carly
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Dec 13, 2011 | DIY
Christmas is now only about a week-and-a-half away!! Can you guys believe it?? I’m swamped with classes ending, final projects and final exams, new pieces I’m trying to update my Etsy with, and a brand-new venture I’m trying to make live before the holidays end. Not to mention holiday packages, baking, and cards – and they all have to be done by Friday!! I feel mild panic setting in…
But a great thing about the holidays is that there is so much craftiness afoot. Check out what I’ve noticed lately…
Make it a fun and festive holiday with Make and Be Merry DIY Projects Roundup (3 pages of them!) from ReadyMade Magazine.
DIY Louis Vuitton Girly Girl Button Down shirt is pastel-sweet, with a lace collar to match. Check out Runway DIY for all the details!
This DIY has me totally LOL’ing…especially since I’m such a shoe-a-holic myself! Chictopians LipglossandBlack have posted their DIY Shoeaholic Christmas Stocking how-to…and who’s dying to make over their old stockings into something this fashionable??
Burdastyle is doing a daily giveaway this December – and I am remiss in not telling you guys about it! Check out their blog to enter every day, for great prizes including a brand-new Brother serger, thread collections, kits, and books that will make DIY’ing your wearables a breeze.
I just found a new DIY Youtube channel! Natalie’s Creations on YouTube will give you lots of projects to tackle, including that infamous Prada dress from a bunch of t-shirts and a manicure inspired by robins’ eggs. Check it out!
DIY Holiday Accessories – namely, headbands – are a must to make for your New Year’s Party. And you know they’re cool since they’re coming from former Threadbanger Meg (posted on Craftzine).
The In(ner) Sole of Cutie Boots and her latest DIY: a leather strap panja, inspired by a piece from Romwe.com. Chic and affordable, and a little bit edgy!
I’m itching to try this project: DIY Neon Jimmy Choos…with just a little bit of spraypaint, courtesy of Cheap Chic Obsession. I have been coveting a bright yellow pair of pumps forever…and just can’t find any pretty ones in my pricerange! Spraypaint to the rescue once again!
AND, if you’re still needing to get your craft on…I’ve also started a collection of Holiday projects in my Pinterest, where I’ve collected lots of ideas for alternative trees, ornaments, sweets, and wreaths – so please check them out and follow my boards on Pinterest if you’d like to see more!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
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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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