Sep 15, 2011 | DIY
I’ve been utterly exhausted this week since it’s Lil Tot’s first full week of school, and driving him to and picking him up from requires a total daily commitment of about 3 hours from me. Three hours in the car, every.day. This means that although I do have a block of time uninterrupted at home, I now am spending so much time behind the wheel I’ve found I’ve had to skimp on time spent elsewhere. And what’s first to go when I get busy? DIY’ing. Then updating my blog. It’s unfortunate, but I have to figure out some compromise here.
This week I managed to do a mini-DIY with my nails. Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in Pure Chrome (Sally Hansen Titanium Chrome
is similar), with Essie’ Chinchilly dotted on. Finished up with some messy splotches with Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Black, and a clear topcoat (because this nail art pen’s doodles come off fast if not sealed with a topcoat). Of course you could always use Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Kitty, but I wanted a silvery manicure anyway.
Now off to pick Lil Tot up from school! Just how does one deal with school commutes when there is no bus and no public transport??
Hope everyone’s having a great week!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 12, 2011 | DIY
70’s-style colorblocking is a hot trend for Fall 2011, seen on the runways and now beginning to trickle down into street style and retailers. I was hankering after a colorblocked purse, but didn’t want to pay a lot for it. Thankfully, thrift stores are a wonderful source of older handbags, and I found an adorable cross-body bag for a mere $4.99. But it was rather beat-up and needed a little makeover, so I figured it was time to break out the brushes and do some leather painting! Though technically when you paint leather, what is most recommended is to use paint that is specifically formulated for use on leather, like Angelus.
However, if you are feeling squeamish about buying an unfamiliar product online, or they don’t ship to your country, or you want to use some acrylic craft paint that you already have on hand, fear not! Leather and suede can actually be painted with acrylic paint, with fairly good results if you take the time to prep the piece properly. So here’s how to add some vibrant color-blocking to some leather or suede pieces you already own:
How to Add Some DIY Colorblocking to a Leather Bag
You Need: (more…)
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Sep 7, 2011 | DIY
Another week gone by! Whew. I’m making progress on my office re-organization and cleanup, but it’s still taking awhile. Lil Tot is finally back at school, so now I have a long chunk of the day uninterrupted where I can (hopefully) get some more things done. Ummm….personal website???!!! Yeah. That. And some DIY’s here and there if I can manage it. Here are a couple things I noticed around the blogosphere this week…
Essential reading for all of us who get easily buried under the to-do pile. (*ahem) Tips for finishing all our DIY projects from Simple Mom is a must-read!
For those of you who want more Anthropologie DIY’s, Made by Lex‘s Pratia Tanktop is for you! Just lovely.
And in the same flowery vein, Desde Tenerife Con Amor was inspired by the lovely flowered Gucci dresses from Spring 2011, and made this pretty flowered top. (Just run the page through Google Translate if you can’t read it.) Canvas and flowers are all you need!
Feeling crafty? Tip Junkie has a great roundup of 12 Necklaces, Accessories, and Tops Tutorials. Just some more to add to your must-do list.;-)
Make a fringed purse courtesy of Melissa Esplin and N.E.E.T. Magazine – pattern included! It’s super-cute and you can even make it mini-sized to use as an accessories holder/keychain to attach to your handbag like the author did here.
It seems like glittery shoes are the way to go this Fall. Honestly, WTF made a Miu Miu-inspired pair out of some Vans. Bling on, everyone! (And seriously, Google “DIY Miu Miu glitter” and you’ll come across a billion tutorials for this already. Promise this will be the last one I feature!;-)
Kojo Designs is doing a sew-along for a pretty Strapless Dress. Sew-alongs are soooo (sew?) fun! Jump in at the beginning here.
I love reading the BurdaStyle blog because I often come across a post about advanced construction techniques, and learn a whole lot in the process. Heard of a waist stay? No? Find out more in Invisible Secrets of a Couture Garment: The Waist Stay.
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/2011/09/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>
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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Sep 2, 2011 | DIY
Nude shoe + Leather paint = Colorblock Pump
(photo: ASOS PATCHI Cylindrical Heel Platform High Shoe)
90’s-style clunky boots + Belts (glued on with Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic Glue
= Motorcycle Boots
(photo: Balenciaga Cut-Out Flat Boots)
White blouse (back cut away) + Lace curtain (thrifted) = Lace-Backed Blouse
(photo: PUFFY Roll-Up Sleeve Lace Back Shirt)
Shirt collar (cut off a white shirt) + Scrapbooking stickers (fixed with Aleene’s Glitter and Gem Glue) = Embellished Collar
(photo: TopShop Cream Mixed Stone Collar)
Sweatshirt + Chiffon (hand-stitched to seams, laid over front) = Mixed-Media Sweatshirt
(photo: Alexander Wang Silk-Chiffon Paneled Sweatshirt)
Black cord + Brooch (pinned in center) = Bolo Tie Necklace
(photo: Vintage Zuni Thunderbird Bolo Necklace)
Embroidery thread + Grosgrain ribbon + Bangles = Colorful Wrapped Bangles
(photo: JewelMint Garden Patch Trio)
T-strap sandal + Glitter (adhered with Mod Podge or Tulip Fashion Glitter Bond = Glittery Sandals
(photo: Jeffrey Campbell Foxy Glitter Sandal)
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 25, 2011 | DIY
The lovely girls of A Beautiful Mess, who run the vintage boutique Red Velvet, are offering a DIY Dress Up e-Course where you can learn sewing techniques to help you make a variety of projects. From a headband to a stylish bag to even drafting your own patterns for a dress that fits you perfectly – the course is organized into 17 “sessions” on a private, password-protected blog. You can take this course any time, 24/7, to view the in-depth photo tutorials for each session. In the tutorials they instruct you on utilizing your sewing machine to its fullest, thinking like a designer in designing your DIY pieces, reading patterns, and making many items to add to your closet. And the cost? A mere $29!
They’ve posted a FAQ here as well.
So here’s a question for all of you: do you believe reading a blog series online would be beneficial in upping your DIY skills? Or do you feel the online format would not be able to provide enough of the assistance necessary? Or perhaps that photo tutorials on blogs are a dime a dozen and that all of these techniques could be learned elsewhere?
Discuss! Is this the future of DIY classes?
xoxox
Carly
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Aug 24, 2011 | DIY
It’s that time again!
I’ve been preoccupied with family visiting and my mother’s birthday, and so am still a couple days behind my blog “editorial schedule” LOL. (I can’t believe I’m at the point where I even have one??!!) I can’t wait to finish cleaning out my office and get back to the DIY! So here’s what’s been going around the Internet this week…
Create your own Burberry-style Emu Coat at ILoveToCreate! No, not made of emus…or emu-patterned…or looking like emus…well, you’ll just have to see for yourself. Is this extreme crafting in the making?? 
Michael’s Medieval Cuff Project has shades of Dannijo written all over it…and all you need is some general-purpose craft glue for this fabulous metal and chain mishmash!
A Pair and a Spare had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with J. Brand, and created some Jason Wu-inspired lace jeans. Super-easy and chic!
Angela Osborn posted an incredibly inspiring Guide to DIY. Essential advice for any beginner looking to start any DIY’ing of accessories or wearables!
I’m inspired by these Prada-inspired flip-flops from the amazing Bye Bye Soccer Mom, who layered a couple pairs of Old Navy flip-flops for the same effect. So creative! (And you couple also potentially try craft store thick foam for contrasting layers in-between.)
Have you seen …love, Maegan‘s DIY Leather Cut-Out Statement Necklace? So easy to make, and yet so glam. If you have any leather scrap lying around, this is the perfect use for it!
NEW DIY BlOG DISCOVERY! SwellMayde, who’s done a number of on-trend projects and collaborated with Foam Magazine, came up with this Ethnic Blanket Vest earlier this year…which would be perfect now that Fall’s just around the corner. Check out all her other fabulous projects too!
Proof that simply subtracting about 1.5″ from either side of the Center Front of a button-up blouse will produce an attractively-draped V-neck. Patternmaking 101? Naw -it’s a new blouse makeover tutorial from Freshly Given! Amazing results, and just from a little nip/tuck.
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/2011/08/diylotwfeaturedbutton-2.png” /></a>
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-
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
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