DIY Links of the Week: 10.17 – 10.23.11
Another week – and that much closer to Halloween!! How many of you have figured out your costumes for this year yet? (I’m still undecided…but there’s still 4 days left, right?!) I’m swamped with projects for school and getting all the Halloween decor and activities done before the big day…so I may just go as myself! But I’m sure you guys are formulating some great ideas…
Meanwhile, the blogosphere has been a-buzz with Halloween costume ideas, contests, and a sudden spotlight shone on some DIY bloggers as of late…
MSNBC Today covered DIY Fashion in their article “Make It, Don’t Buy It,” citing a few DIY blogs you may know…like Honestly, WTF and P.S. I Made This. The consensus from the comments? This is old news! Seems most people are already quite aware of DIY as a crafty way to save money – which is no big surprise there.;-) Also check out their slideshow of a new project submitted by DIY bloggers daily this week.
Squiggles & Scribbles posted a FABULOUS DIY for that YSL Arty Oval Ring – using a pebble, nail polish, duct tape, and a glue gun. It looks so much like the real thing – and I can’t wait to hear how it holds up with wear. Major props!!
Chictopia is having an I DIE FOR DIY Halloween Costume contest with a $300 grand prize, judged by some guest judges you may already know…like Geneva of a pair & a spare, Jenni from I Spy DIY, and Syl and Sam from lipgloss and black. Upload a photo of your DIY costume creation, pair it with a creative write-up, encourage your friends to vote, and see if you win. Contest runs until November 4th.
Need some false eyelashes for your Halloween costume but don’t want to shell out the big bucks? Check out Chezlin‘s tutorial – where she uses the bristles from a makeup brush and some eyelash glue to make her own fabulous DIY version.
Behind the Seams shared a tutorial for creating a colorful faux fur clutch, inspired by Phillip Lim and Prada. Word of warning though: the blogger in this case got lucky with the color! Both RIT and iDye are formulated to work on natural fabrics – i.e., not synthetic faux fur, and color adhesion to synthetics is incomplete or not true-to-color. (I’ve had difficulties with RIT dye in the past not adhering to higher-end acrylic faux fur, especially kinds that have coated strands.) Acrylic fibers can only be dyed effectively using Disperse Dyes (for lighter colors – here’s an EHow on it), and Basic Dyes, like Aljo (for darker colors – these are possibly carcinogenic and very toxic dyes; and very difficult to get ahold of non-commercially). Everything else is non-permanent, so experiment at your own risk! (It’s still a pretty result nonetheless.)
How about some DIY studded Versace-inspired jeans? A Matter of Style made her own – and they look so chic. Love the architectural designs down the leg – tres Versace.
Inspiration & Realisation put together a tutorial for this sweet little DIY fishtail sweater, as inspired by Phillip Lim. What a chic makeover to the basic wardrobe staple!
If you crochet, here is the most awesome crochet pattern EVAH: a Crochet Skull Necklace from Shara Lambeth Designs. Now I’m dying to pick up a crochet hook and get crackin’! Found via Transient Expression.
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
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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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.
; the first time I ever worked to tint icing black. Which makes, incidentally, very nasty stuff.
, wheels from Junior Mints, and trees made from cake baked into cake cones. Ice cream cakes!
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.
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.
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:
Sah-Rah posted an easy 
Black & White & Loved All Over created her own 
