Now I know there have been a million and one tutorials floating around the internet for glittery, blinged-out items…including shoes. So this may be a little superfluous, but it’s a little bit of a different method than the other tutes I have seen, hopefully resulting in a very permanent DIY! Read on for the how-to…
You Need:
How many of you have tried your hand at screenprinting before? I honestly didn’t know much about it until I designed a top for my now-defunct RIVETED clothing line back in 2007. I wanted the top to have a pretty chandelier screenprint on it, and I would decorate it with crystals. Screenprinting, no problem! I thought. Boy was I wrong. (more…)
If you celebrate the holidays with trees and wreaths – have you got your decorations up yet? Or are you maybe thinking something…maybe…a little different this year?
When it comes to indoor decor, I’m definitely not a Pottery Barn or a Crate & Barrel person…but when Crrte & Barrel launched their modern-aesthetic catalog, CB2, I feel in love. The spaces are minimalist and well-designed; contemporary and unified. Maybe a bit youthful and hipster (but when did that become an insult, O Internet?) The design sense is just amaaaahhhzing.
In any case, I always love falling into the CB2 catalog and dreaming of redoing my spaces…perhaps it’s just the lack of kid-clutter I find so appealing? 😉 Their ideas for DIY alternative holiday trees are a great place to start:
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2011/10/20/how-to-create-a-whirly-tree.html
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2011/10/20/how-to-create-a-string-lights-tree.html
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2011/10/20/how-to-create-a-frame-tree.html
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2011/10/20/how-to-create-a-chalkboard-tree.html
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2010/10/14/how-to-make-a-bubble-wreath.html
http://blog.cb2.com/home/2010/10/14/how-to-make-a-snowball-wreath.html
P.S. They also post other DIY home and decorating ideas, so check through the blog archives to see what makeover awaits!
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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Wow – a Links of the Week posted on Thursday! This week it’s super-late because I’ve been involved a bunch of projects that threatened to take over everything for awhile. There were the 3 Bear Costumes, 3 pairs of Bear Mittens, 3 Bow-Ties, 6 Lacy Aprons, and 6 Lacy Hair-Bows I made for Lil Tot’s class Winter Performance (tomorrow!). And the two HUGE projects I have due in my classes tomorrow: one a CD design prototype done in Photoshop and Illustrator, and one After Effects rough cut of a 1-minute composited project. Then I got an email on Monday that a company wanted me to come in for an interview (I had applied for an internship with them) – so I redid my entire portfolio. All at once everything was happening, and despite the DIY I did for my son’s costumes, I wasn’t able to do much for this blog for a couple days.
Anyway, the world has still turned and much DIY goodness came out of last week! Here are a couple things that caught my eye:
I’ve discovered another DIY blog – called I Have a Deer – and I loved this tutorial on how to make glittery epaulets from an old bra. Repurposing at its finest!
DIY your own velvet skirt (from a thrifted velvet dress) just in time for the hollidays! Chictopian Headbandit has the tutorial here.
Inspired by a pearl necklace seen in Vivi Magazine (I think I bookmarked the same necklace!), Sparks in Spring made this super-cute Peter Pan Collar Necklace. It’s so sweet – and surprisingly easy to do!
Though I don’t normally post non-wearable DIY’s, I couldn’t resist with this Glitter Flatware from Oh Happy Day. I mean, it’s so sparkly -how could one resist?!! Perfect for your next holiday fete.
For this time of year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), staying toasty on chilly days is a must. This ingenious DIY from The Style Projects repurposes an old sweater for some new and fabulous legwarmers. Now I’m waiting for the next frigid day with bated breath!
Thinking along the same lines, Whitney at Freshly Given posted her sweater to Cowl tutorial. A great way to re-purpose old sweaters – and then cut the arms off for legwarmers!
The Free People blog has come up with a couple ideas to turn holiday ornaments into accessories. (I’m sure it helps if the ornaments you pick already resemble accessories, LOL!) But seriously, this time of year is great to find some things that normally might hang off a tree…and re-purpose them into things for necklaces, bracelets, headbands, and earrings.
FashionDIY101 is a new blog I’ve discovered, and I love her chic, simple DIY’s Check out her gold wire bracelet tutorial to get you started!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
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
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Oh, Anthro – such a source for DIY inspiration, as always! Though Alicia from Dismount Creative was similarly inspired by the latest catalog, I wanted to post a few more things that could be DIY’d straight out of the pages of Anthropologie’s most recent offerings. And besides, who wants to pay $500 for a sweater? (Or $2,175 for a box set of books, for that matter??…marked down to a mere $1400 on the website, I now note.)
Use neon fabric paint and masking tape to liven up a bland clutch with a bright stripe.
Add candy-colored lace edging to a neutral cardigan for a Jason Wu-inspired feel.
Easily DIY those boots by gluing some printed fabric onto the shafts of some vintage boots. And the earrings? Snake chain on french hooks, with clipped feathers hanging off the bottom. (Use a glue-in cord end to connect the feathers to the chain.)
Pretty up a chunky cropped sweater with hand-sewn clusters of crystals.
DIY some party booties with a handful of tulle and some sparkly beads.
DIY a formed bangle with some white Polyshrink plastic, forming the curve while still warm and wearing oven mitts.
Make a bustier extra-special with the addition of velvet ribbon and gold nailheads.
Make slippers all your own by hand-sewing vintage keys or buttons onto the toes.
Dress up your favorite mocs with the addition of some pretty trims, tied in a bow.
xoxxo
Carly
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Can you believe Thanksgiving is only in a couple days?? I braved the market today to get everything I need for the holiday (I hope), but am having mini-panic attacks that I forgot something and will have to go back tomorrow – or worse – Thursday. Since I make dinner every year for my family, it’s always DIY!
Modern Rosies has a great tutorial for adding painted pop art to any canvas shoe. You could also use this technique for canvas totes or hats as well…I’m beginning to get excited just thinking of the possibilities!
LOVE this Burberry-Inspired Clutch by Inked and Sewn. Sooooo chic!
Monique (aka Chictopian PetiteAvenue) posted this great article about Quality vs. Quantity, regarding fast fashion, our need to accumulate and appear “on-trend,” and the hidden costs of purchasing vast quantities of cheap items. A very pertinent issue, especially with so much of manufacturing having moved offshore to cheap labor sources, and the current Occupy Wall Street manifesto.
If you have a lot of glitter from various craft projects lying around (guilty!), try repurposing it into your very own DIY Glitter Nail Polish! Youtuber QueenBeauty has the video.
Use vintage-style coins and make a unique DIY Coin Ring, with the help of Cheap Chic Obsession. Imagine stacked, with various finishes, patinas, and shapes of coins – wouldn’t that look fabulous??!
Whoa. DIY your own pair of sexy Sam Edelman Lorissa pumps by following Instructables user Imnopeas. Warning: requires an electric drill. But so utterly awesome!
Have an old coat? Check out this great list of 14 Easy Ways to Refashion a Winter Coat from Tatertots and Jello. Just in time to breathe some more life into that ol’ closet!
Add a little bit of sparkle into your life with this tutorial for a Glitter Striped Tee from Growing Home. A great update on the classic Breton shirt for the holidays!
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
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
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Carly J. Cais I am a DIY’er, designer, sewist, maker, and marketer. Chic Creative Life is where I share what I do, and help others bring their unique style into their own lives.
