Apr 5, 2012 | DIY
No, it’s not April Fools’…this skirt is really made from a lace curtain!!
I’m sure you’ve seen these curtains hanging in people’s houses…maybe you have them hanging in your own house. (I know I did while living in Japan as it’s standard there to have lace curtains on the outside, and patterned curtains on the inside, of the curtain rails there.)
And if you check out your local Goodwill, you can find the most lovely lace curtain panels for a steal.
I found one huge panel for a mere $5.99. That much beautiful fabric for that price is a bargain!!
So I set about using that lace fabric…and I found a ton of uses for it. But FIRST…the DIY Lace Maxi-Skirt, a Spring 2012 staple. And it’s sooooo easy! Here’s how to make it: (more…)
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Mar 27, 2012 | DIY
So how fantastic was Honestly, WTF‘s reinvention of the sunglasses case into a DIY Alexander McQueen-inspired box clutch last year? I think it’s safe to say that we all loved it – and all went out to the nearest store in search of a hard-sided sunglasses case forthwith.
However, I got to thinking: why not use something that may already be in your closet to make this?
Enter the velveteen jewelry box: often when we ladies receive or buy a piece of beautiful jewelry, it’s housed in its own velour-lined box. And those boxes are so pretty! Why not reinvent them?
I’ve held on to most of my velour jewelry boxes, not because I use them to store jewelry in still (I use flocked jewelry trays that stores use in their display cases), but because I thought to use them again somehow. And some of them were sentimental to me.
Take this shell-shaped velour box – it used to hold a string of my grandmother’s pearls that I received when she passed away. The insides of the box had gotten old, deformed, stained, and crumbly over time…but the outside was still quite pretty. I thought it very Art Deco. And so decided to give it a second life, as a pretty box clutch. Here’s how I did it: (more…)
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Mar 18, 2012 | DIY
As all of you have probably noticed, this year the newest trend for nails has been the magnetic manicure. Polishes with embedded iron filings in them respond to the pull of a magnet while wet…resulting in beautiful undulating patterns and subtle gradients across the nail.
Airbrush-style nail art made easy! Done in 5 seconds! And now popping up in stores everywhere.
I bought Nails inc. Magnetic Polish Trafalgar Square
in order to try out.
The color, once applied, reminds me of dark grey iron filings, with bands of light silver waving through. And the polish was surprisingly easy and fun to apply. Here’s how:
1. Start with clean, dry nails. The instructions on the bottle do not say to use a base coat, so I also left it out.
2. Remove the magnetic cap from the bottle. This particular one creates wavy patterns.
3. Apply a generous amount onto your nail – really glop it on there!
4. Quickly, while the polish is still wet, apply the magnet. You press the rounded ridge just below the cuticle and the magnet will sit about 1/8″ above your nail.
Hold that magnet there for about 5 seconds, but don’t let it touch your nail! (You may also see some polish lifting up and securing itself to the magnet…if so, just separate the magnet a little more from your nail.
Pretty easy, right? Repeat for the rest of your nails. Once dry, add a clear topcoat to extend the life of the manicure.
I did find that one coat, even when glopped on thickly, tended to be a little too translucent for my taste. So to deal with this after putting one coat on and applying the magnet…
I spread another thick coat on (not even waiting for the first to dry!)…
And then reapplied the magnet. As you can see, the dark areas are a lot darker, and a lot less translucent. I think this is something you’d have to play with depending on the color of your polish and how opaque you want it.
Now I’ve also recently spotted $10 magnetic polishes available at Ulta (Magnetix Nail Lacquer from China Glaze), so having this lower-cost option is great. China Glaze also sells a separate magnet
that has 3 different designs on it which looks really fun to play with. Or I might steal something off my refrigerator to see what happens!!;-)
How about you guys? Have you tried out these magnetic polishes – or are you thinking of giving them a whirl?
xoxox
Carly
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Mar 4, 2012 | DIY
Removable collars have been the must-have-it accessory for the past year now, and I honestly didn’t think there were any more varieties I hadn’t seen. Bejeweled! Neon! Flowered! Pearl-encrusted! Leather!
But this metal collar necklace from a Romwe.com newsletter (above) caught my eye – and I was heartbroken to find it was sold out. (Here’s a similar one if you’re interested.) “I can make that,” I reasoned, and set about doing it. (No soldering involved!!) With just some foam, embossing metal, and jewelry supplies, you too can make your very own chic metallic accessory! Here’s how:
You Need: (more…)
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Feb 20, 2012 | DIY
Bib-style and collar-style, multi-tiered, embellished, spiky, organic, tribal necklaces have been all over the runways for a couple seasons, and it’s high time to add one into regular rotation in one’s wardrobe. But it’s so easy to make one out of bits and pieces floating around in your craft drawer!! This particular project utilizes craft foam that, once covered in paint, studs, buttons, and beads – looks high-fashion and “artsy” without the high price tag.
You Need: (more…)
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