Oct 1, 2010 | DIY
This week flew by in a flash!
I’m sure you all were feeling the same, as this week’s DIY Roundup only received 5 entries!:-(
There’s something about the beginning of Fall that just gets everyone their busiest…
Nonetheless, I had a great time visiting all your blogs and checking out your pieces. You’re all so creative! Here are the top 3 projects:
Shy Shirley has linked her version of a BCBG Max Azria leather tassel necklace – and the results are just FAB! I love her addition of beads to the final piece – stroke of genius.
From our friend from last week SewPetiteGal, we have a beautiful embellished-shoulder tanktop. Again, it’s so well-done I can’t tell it’s not RTW – and it’s so elegant! Just beautiful!
This scarf is a wonderful alternative to the usual knit or crocheted scarf, and it’s so feminine and looks beautiful for Fall! Great job!
Thank you so much for sharing, and please enter any other projects you have in my next DIY roundup!
If your project has been featured above, feel free to grab the button below.
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 30, 2010 | DIY
Inspired by Candace Ang‘s ruffle necklaces, I created a super-simple, super-affordable version for one of my submissions for Style Sample Magazine and New York Design Shop’s Create Couture Challenge back in early August.
You Need:
*Cream Sweater Style Stretch Trim
*Large Silver Pyramid Studs
Additional Tools/Materials:
*silver necklace or chain
*sewing machine
*hand-sewing needle
*matching thread
*pliers
*chain-cutting pliers
How to:
1. Cut the Stretch Trim in half.
2. Zigzag stitch the two halves together along the long sides on the sewing machine. (Slightly overlapping them is best.)
3. Securely knot a long piece of thread on your needle, and make long, basting stitches along the long side of the trim piece you just made.
4. Pull thread tight to gather the trim – and knot securely on the other side.
5. Sew back through the top gathers to secure.
6. Stud the trim and fold the stud prongs down on the underside.
7. Cut chain necklace in half, and stitch both ends of it to the top ends of your ruffle piece.
Fuzzy and fun – this was sooooo quick to do.
Totally tactile, this fuzzy trim makes an edgy statement with all that metal peeking out!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 27, 2010 | DIY
So sorry no post yesterday…I actually took Saturday off! Like, completely off from the blogosphere. I haven’t done that in a long time. (Felt a little guilty, though!;-)
But I let it go and had a great day, taking Lil Tot to a birthday party at a really cool community center I’ve never been to before (with a swirly 2-story water slide and multiple fun-showers in the toddler pool!! And free fitness classes!) and then the Oregon Fiber Arts festival, where I bought a huge skein of mohair since I think I’m going to attempt knitting this sweater…and maybe one of these sweaters or dresses too…someday…and Lil Tot petted the many goats, bunnies, and alpacas there.
Now that he knows alpacas are neither caramels nor tax forms nor fish but are indeed animals…they are his favorite animal recently!
They are so adorable, and make this tiny hiiiiiin, hiiiiiiin sound. I’ve never heard an alpaca cry before. Lil Tot has even renamed his fave game “Duck, duck, goose!” to “Alpaca, alpaca, capybara!” (and the inclusion of the capybara is an even longer story;-)
But I digress. Even though I didn’t post on my blog yesterday, I still DIY’ed!
Following up on my $4 Easter Wreath that I made for…um, Easter…earlier this year, I decided to hit up my local Dollar Tree once again in order to create a beautiful leafy Fall wreath bursting with color. It’s soooo cheap, and it will take you 30 minutes, tops!!
Dollar Store $4 Fall Wreath
Project Difficulty:
(easy/beginner)
You Need:
*medium-sized wreath base ($1)
*3 leafy garlands ($1 apiece – I chose a variety that had tiny pumpkins, acorns, berries, and wheat sheaves attached)
*floral wire (I had on hand, but I saw it at the dollar store as well)
*wire-cutting pliers
*hot glue gun + gluesticks
How To: (the photos are not of the step-by-step since it’s pretty self-explanatory)
1. Cut a small piece of wire and thread it through the end of one of the leafy garlands. Twist it around the wreath base and twist the ends together, hiding the sharp ends inside the wreath.
2. Cut more pieces of wire and tie around the leafy garland in various places as you place it in a circle on top of your wreath base.
3. Continue in the same manner until you’ve layered all 3 leaf garlands atop one another, going round and round the wreath circle.
4. Use hot glue to glue down the leaves to hide any of the wire or stems that may show.
Hang up on your front door and enjoy! The wonderful thing about this wreath is that the color is so vibrant…and it will last FOREVER. (And that it’s about $15 less than similar decorations you might find at Target…or $30 less than those you might find at Pottery Barn…;-)
Happy DIY’ing and Happy Fall!
xoxox
Carly
P.S. I’m not doing a Style it Chic! post today since I’ve got a huge post with ONE WEEK of styling options coming up…hopefully will post tomorrow…
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Sep 24, 2010 | DIY
Whew! What a crazy week. I haven’t had much time to DIY anything, since Monday I was getting packed to go to the airport, Tuesday I was in Burbank, CA, Wednesday I had my third interview with a company I’ve been applying to for a job, and Thursday…oh wait, Thursday’s TODAY!
Well, that means another DIY Roundup (5)! Here are 2 pieces that I managed to make this week. From the September 2010 issue of Lucky Magazine [I know – you’re like “Lucky AGAIN??!” sorry, I just can’t help myself;-)], I spotted these A.V. Max feather bracelets on the model in a photo (circled below), and was promptly in love. “Well, I don’t have any feather bracelets!” I said, and then promptly sat down to make some.
For my version I used a pack of multi-colored quill feathers (not the shorter pheasant feathers like the above photo) from Michael’s and two oxidized bangles from their semi-new “Industrial Chic” line (just removing the decorative jumprings on them first). Some Loctite Vinyl, Fabric and Plastic glue
and a couple clothespins later (and about 20 minutes’ drying time per glue application) I had two pretty, feathered bangles – one in black, and one in white – perfect to match with any outfit!
So now you get to share your own DIY’s! If you have a DIY project or tutorial, please feel free to link below! (However you can only link YOUR OWN PROJECT. Please do not link others’ projects!)
If you’ve linked up your project to the Roundup, feel free to grab the button below.
Can’t wait to see everyone’s projects!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 23, 2010 | DIY, Life
So my last DIY Roundup has now officially closed, and without further ado I’d like to share with you the projects that got the most clicks.
I had a great time visiting all your blogs and checking out your pieces. You’re all so creative! Here are the top 3 projects:
From She sells sea shells, this tutorial uses FIMO clay and powder pigment to simulate the look of the House of Harlow enamel necklace that’s been such a covetable piece for a couple seasons now. I’m amazed at how incredibly similar her results look and her creative her problem-solving was! Fantastic Job!
(actually a DIY Ann Taylor LOFT Ruffle Cardigan)
SewPetiteGal updated a cardigan by sewing rows of ruffles down the front, just like a piece she spied from Ann Taylor LOFT. Her finished piece is so well-done and such a match for the original it’s uncanny! Elegant and chic.
(actually a Sweater to Sequined Sweater Upcycle)
Angela from Unique Meets Chic took a piece of sequined fabric and sewed it under the front of a see-through sweater, creating a layered Balmain-style piece in the process. I love how it just shows a hint of beautiful sequins showing through! And this is a great way to turn a boring old sweater into a more glamorous piece for evening.
Thank you so much for sharing, and please enter any other projects you have in my next DIY roundup!
If your project has been featured above, feel free to grab the button below.
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 21, 2010 | DIY
Another one of my submissions for Style Sample Magazine and New York Design Shop’s Create Couture Challenge back in early August – this time, a bag makeover!
Materials:
*Pink Ethnic Stripe Sash
*Brown Ethnic Stripe Sash
*pin back
*Cream Gardenia
Additional Tools/Materials:
*ugly old clutch handbag
*scissors
*fabric glue
*hot-glue gun
*small piece of scrap fabric
How-to:
1. Squeeze out a generous amount of glue onto the flap of the clutch, and press the Pink Stripe Sash onto it. Allow about a 1/2″ overhang on each side, and cut.
2. Add more pieces of stripe sash, overlapping the edges slightly as you go all around the clutch.
3. For the back add the contrasting color stripe for interest.
4. Fold under the overhang of the Sash, securing with the glue gun.
5. Hot-glue the pin onto the back of the Cream Gardenia, and glue a small piece of fabric over the pin back to secure it.
6. Cut two ribbons (like prize ribbons) from the leftover Sash.
Glue together with fabric glue.
7. Pin Cream Gardenia over prize ribbons, and pin to front of clutch.
What do you think? Does it look better now?
Everyone deserves a makeover!
xoxox
Carly
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