Jul 25, 2011 | DIY
So it’s been two weeks since my last roundup, and it’s that time again! I’ve been busy wrapping up my last week in Japan, packing, and then arriving back in the States and wrangling with jetlag for the last 5 days or so. There’s nothing like getting up at 2 AM every day, primed and ready to go as if it’s morning (well, I guess it technically is), puttering about on HIGH for a few hours, and then falling back into bed around 10 AM, and sleeping until 4 in the afternoon. And then the day’s over. Well, that’s been my week so far – let’s see what loveliness other, more productive people have been up to lately:
Susie from StyleBubble created the most professional-looking DIY painted skirt, inspired by Balenciaga’s S/S ’11 Collection. I never thought orange and blue when paired together could be so attractive!!
Honestly, WTF posted their take on the popular Chan Luu wrap bracelet – and I have to admit, using ball-chain for this normally time-consuming DIY sounds like a lifesaver!
From The Illustrated Nail, Maison Martin Margiela-Inspired Nail Art takes those anonymous numbers to a whole new level. I love witty things like this that are akin to an “in-joke” that only the people INto fashion will really get! (source: StyleList)
Maya from Soccer Mom Style made the most beautiful feather-trimmed metal cuff, inspired by Givenchy. Total saved doing it herself? Oh, only about $731.50!!
Hate creating yards and yards of ruffles? Ruffle Fabric is a wonderful site that provides already-ruffled fabric by the yard – perfect for so many projects – and Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking has created an easy-to-follow tutorial for sweet little flower girl dresses using this fabric. (Easily adaptable for larger sizes!)
The Style Projects posted a great and simple tute for an OBEY inspired DIY necklace. If you use a chunky nail necklace as the base, no jewelry-making ability is required for this rocker-style dupe!
I’m loving the chic DIY cut-out blouse featured on Freshly Given. All you need is a structured blouse with a collar since you’ll be cutting off the sleeves: a brilliant solution for those hot summer days when you still want to look chic and put-together.
Have a boring, kind of creepy mannequin lying around your house? Decoupage it with vintage sewing patterns like Stacie from Stars for Streetlights did! (Hint: you can do this with any piece of hard furniture or any object around your house…maybe some customized sewing room decor?)
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 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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Jul 11, 2011 | DIY
Another week, another round of inspiring DIY’s, projects, and food for thought. Even though we draw inspiration from so many source, make, re-make, and re-appropriate, we all put a little bit of a different spin on it each time. I love it!
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Now onto the links!
Cheap Chic Obsession made a pair of DIY NastyGal-Inspired Cut-Off Shorts. Her rips look so “professional” and the finished product is so excellent could be sold on the NastyGal website!
Inspiration & Realisation created some lovely DIY Alexander McQueen-inspired shoes with some old sandals and some rosary necklaces.
Will the secondhand and thrift store clothing business go OUT of business within our lifetimes? Outsapop re-blogs about its demise due to our current mass-made clothing and its inherent cheapness. (photo source)
I love this! How to Make the Historic Pillowcase Dress at XO Jane – reminds me so much of my DIY Skirt from a Pillowcase…except better!
Inspired by Prada’s S/S 2011 collection, Atlantis Home created a beautiful faux fur DIY stole. What I would recommend, though – is when cutting faux fur do it not with scissors but with a box cutter or X-acto knife from the wrong side of the fur. Otherwise you’ll be chopping the fur “hairs” too short (especially with the longer-haired furs!!).
Simple Leather Earrings DIY by freshlygiven makes me want to whip out all my scraps from all my past leather projects. I think this would also look great with any stiff (or stiffened) fabric!
Speaking of leather projects, Squiggles & Scribbles made a DIY Tribal Print Clutch using some masking tape and acrylic paint. It looks so lovely – and the perfect accessory for summer music festivals!
Bleach Black DIY’d that scarf-print pajama-like Celine Blouse seen on Kanye West at Coachella. Honestly, I can’t tell the difference between the original and the DIY!!
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 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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Jul 5, 2011 | DIY
While I’ve been getting used to the mugginess and heat (and time-change) here in Tokyo, the internet has offered up a ton of great DIY and projects over the last 2 weeks.
BurdaStyle goes behind the scenes into the making of a couture jacket and I am riveted!! Though this project is probably beyond my abilities, it’s still amazing to see the process explained in such detail. I’d love to locate a copy of that Threads Magazine where this article first appeared!
Another DIY pair of galaxy-painted shoes! This time, canvas slip-ons for a more casual look. Is this a mini-trend in the making?? (source: Goth Reform School)
First Craft Magazine, now ReadyMade Magazine folds. Are DIY’ers not a market that spends money on books, magazines, and resources? Are advertisers finding their products aren’t being purchased by readers and there’s not enough ROI to keep buying advertising space? Who’s at fault here? Discussion is needed!!
Learn how to tie your tee into a skirt courtesy of this video from Love Aesthetics. Simple, modern, and chic.
Wholeport is running a Creativity Expo – a crafting contest where you receive your materials free of charge and create a craft, upload a photo of it to Wholeport’s Facebook page, where you are entered to win a $50 gift certificate to their online shop! Hurry to get your request for supplies in before July 9th!
Make some bolt rings via A Pair and a Spare – only a trip to the hardware store is needed.
Angela Osborn provides instructions for turning into a long-sleeved blouse into a vintage-inspired frilly top. I love the little bow made of piping at the neck – it’s such a cute addition!
DIY Yarn Bombing hits the streets of NY. What on earth is yarn-bombing?? Find out here! (source: Times Union)
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 project, tutorial, or creation 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!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Jul 4, 2011 | DIY
For the Fourth of July I’m sharing two tutorials over at Cocktails with Mom: one for a Patriotic-themed Double Pinwheel Corsage, and the second for a regular paper pinwheel. Please head on over there and check them out!
Happy Fourth, everyone! Hope it’s a great one!:-D
xoxox
Carly
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Jun 23, 2011 | DIY
Welcome to the first installment of a new series I’m trying out: Steal That Style!, where I feature a celebrity’s recent outfit and break it down into the Steal-able (that is, similar pieces that are affordable) and the DIY-able. Let me know what you guys think – I’d love your feedback!
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Olivia Palermo was spotted recently at a film screening, wearing this bold ensemble. I look the juicy colors, the pop of print – and the gutsiness of this as a party look. Above is how to get the look for less, by shopping cheap…and creatively crafting.
How to Get Her Look
Stylish Steals
Cuff: Metal Braided Cuff, $21, AlltheRageOnline.com.
Dress: Exhibit A Cutout Coral Dress, $59; or Aryn K Sudden Chill Orange Dress, $83; or Cutest Smile Red Dress, $38; all Lulus.com.
Shoes: Liliana Muses 3 Leopard Pump, $23.90, UrbanOg.com.
DIY Deals
Dress: The dress can be made using BurdaStyle Pattern 1/2010 #128. Choose a bright shantung fabric for the same look. Eliminate the belt and cut the sleeves shorter to about a 3/4 length sleeve (don’t forget hem allowance). Also if you like eliminate the center front seam by overlapping the front piece patterns on top of each other (only overlapping the seam allowance), and cut the front as one continuous piece. If you really like that high-waisted seam, you can always add a piece of black cord trim in the midsection of the dress to thoroughly emulate the look.
Clutch: Take a clutch you already have (or something thrifted), and cover with hot pink satin (example from HancockFabrics.com), using Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic Adhesive
to adhere it.
Shoes: If you’re feeling crafty and have a pair of beige pumps on hand (or can find a usable pair at your local thrift store), paint your own DIY leopard print using Angelus Acrylic leather paints (ideal), or acrylic paints, covered in a layer or two of Mod Podge Matte
to make the spots weatherproof.
Proof that you don’t need a celeb’s money to look like a million bucks!
xoxox
Carly
All other photos copyright of their respective authors. Photo array by me.
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Jun 21, 2011 | DIY
I had so much material and great sites bookmarked from last week, last Links of the Week was threatening to become a gigantic 2-chapter installment. So I split it up so I could include many more wonderful DIYs and extraordinary ideas this week!
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Flowers made from tights by K.I.S.S. is a great project if you have pretty tights with runs in them. (Reminds me of my Rolled Tights Rose Tutorial, which I shared last year on Cut Out + Keep.) But hers are much prettier and more whimsical!!
Or how about jewelry made from plants? Living jewelry, that is! Though it’s not a tutorial, I’m feeling inspired by Viola Living Jewels, a line that uses tillandsia (air plants) in pieces.
Thera Joyce shared a video tutorial on how to make a tube top from a T-shirt you already have in your closet. Add this to your summer wardrobe, too! Watch it here.
If you like Glee, you’ll love this Emma Pillsbury T-Shirt Refashion project by iCandy Handmade! A prim and perfect refashion.
Brittany shared with me her new DIY blog: Opposite of War. She’s just starting out in the blogosphere and shared her great idea for a pair of Ballerina-Inspired Flip-Flops. Lovely!
Livlig Online is a new site I’ve discovered, featuring TONS of DIY roundups (like One Pretty Thing, except different) with Home, Jewelry, and Clothing DIYs…it could keep me busy for HOURS!
Nichelle not Michelle posted her tutorial for creating a dress from a shirt and a pair of leggings. What a sexy makeover – Meow!
Featured on Chictopia as a “DIY Bikini,” this 3D-printed nylon piece by Contiuum apparently arrives at your door flat, and you have to snap it together. And when I write “printed” I don’t mean that it has a printed pattern on it…I mean that it’s literally printed with a printer that creates 3D objects from scratch!! However, I’m much more interested in Continuum’s D Dress App, an online application that converts any dress you draw with it into dress pattern made up of tiny triangles, available for you to print on your home printer. I’ll have to try this out and make my own avant-garde wearable piece!
Inspired by a piece by NastyGal, Cheap Chic Obsession created a DIY Fringe T-shirt. Easy and chic and perfect for summer!
I love this idea for reuse and recycling! Rather than dump the 400 yards of non-biodegradable fabric from an old balloon into a landfill, Turk + Taylor designed their Spring Collection of clothing using the ripstop nylon from the balloon. How amazing is that??! (Source)
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 project, tutorial, or creation 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!
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
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