Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts

4.01.2011

(re)freshing: Flower Belt Tutorial


Here's a quick, adorable belt that probably cost us a whopping 50 cents altogether.
Wanna make one? Here's how....

Supplies
  • Wide satin ribbon, enough to go around your waist and hit wherever you should choose
  • Synthetic organza or chiffon
  • Small "seed" beads
  • Needle 
  • Thread

Step 1. Cut out three circles from your chiffon/organza of similar size. It doesn't really matter if it's perfect
.

Step 2. Stack them and pull and knotted thread through them so that they hang together.


Step 3. Turn your stove on a lower heat and sortof twirl the petals around until they warp into a pleasing, flower-like shape. We won't lie, it's a bit hard at first. You might have to try several times. Don't get it too close, just be patient.

4. It should look something like this now. Attach it at the end of a piece of ribbon long enough to fit around your waist at whatever part you want it to. I(Jonie) wanted mine to hit my natural waist(ish). You can skip a step and attach it while sewing on seeds beads, like so.




Step 5. Bust out your mom's sketchy snap buttons and attach one half to the back of the flower area and another to the other end of the ribbon.



Step 6. Trim your ribbon on both end in a triangular way (to prevent fraying) and apply clear nail polish to the ends to help stop fraying.



Step 7. Wait for that to dry. Contrary to what you might convince yourself, this step is important. 

You've got yourself a snazzy new belt that will class up pretty much anything! 




3.26.2011

(re)freshing: A Silk Flower Rubberband/Clip Tutorial



"Wait a second...silk flowers are TACKY."
Yes. Yes they are.
But not all of them,per sey.
Plus,nothing says spring like flower in your hair!
Plus plus! The cost is minimal and the project is quick and simple.
PLUS PLUS PLUS,it's a pin-up girl throw back,only,ya know, classier.
Win-win-win!

Here's how...

Step 1. Gather your supplies. You will need...
  • Rubberbands(the coated kind, not the ghetto rubber kind) or hair clips or bobby pins or headbands or whatever,really. You could even use a pin backing fro a broach if you're wild and crazy.
  • Felt. Yes,it can be the cheap kind, it's just for gluing to the bottom of your flower. We used "eco-felt"(Ooooooooh,snobby!) 'cause we had it on hand.
  • The best crafting item EVER Hot glue gun and work surface sufficient for it's use.
  • Scissors
  • Silk flowers! Choose pretty 'uns. Micheals and Hobby Lobby pretty much always have them on sale, and the dollar store carries them,too.
    Behold,supplies.
    Step 2: Get your glue gun heating now and start deconstructing your flower. What this entails is pulling it off the stem. From there it's pretty simple. Just pulling apart layer. We recommend only going a layer at a time,however.

    Yaaaaaay,destroying flowers!

    Step 3: On your work surface, start gluing the petals of the flower together,one layer at a time,working from the bottom up. You're going to be doing this for a while. Once you get to the LAST petal or CENTER,depending on the flower type you're using,consult the instructions again.

    Just a dot in the center!
    Layers! Good thing hot glue dries fast,eh?
    Step 4: You at your center now? Congrats! From here you have a two options. You could (a.) continue in the traditional manner and finish the flower off with the remaining part,or (b.) glue a rhinestone or something in the center. Your choice. Should you go traditional, we have a few tips left for you...

    If you have a layer center flower(no fake pollen-y looking center),like a carnation, take the remaining layer and hold it in your hand. Moving fast,glue a droplet of glue in the center and pinch close,the giving it dimension. Glue it to the center,fluff, and you're done until the next step! 

    Pinching!
    Nice'n'fluffy? Good! You may move onto the next step now.
     If you have a "center" center flower, you will have been peeling layer off the bottom of your center. Now you probably have what resembles a yellow thing on a tiny stick. You're going to want to cut that apart as close to the base of the center as is possible,then proceed to glue that smack dab in the middle of your flower. You're done with the flower assembly!

    Oh no's!
    Glue and press!
    Step 5: Cut out a square of felt. If you are gluing to a rubber-band or headband, you're done cutting felt. If you are gluing to a clip or bobby pin, you have to do the slit-y thing seen in the bottom right hand corner of the picture below. You could always glue directly to the clip, but our experience is that it will fall of fast if it has nothing to grip to. You have been warned.
    Examples of how one might use their felt square differently depending o what they end up gluing their flower to.
    Step 6: Glue your flower and felt together,sandwiching your hair thing in between!
      Sorry for the truly awful photos of this process.
      Voila! Super cute,cheap, and springy!
      A new daisy clip in action!
      Awwwwww,the flower ponytail holder and clip together! Sooooo cute.
      Did this all make sense? Let us know if it didn't! Betsy has been making them for years,so hopefully the idea got across well enough,as well,it's pretty simple.
      This is such a fun,fast project. You can easily have friends over and whip out a bunch of these in 10 minutes flat!(Tea party with flower clip making? We vote yes.)
      It would also be great for a little girls birthday party! Our church actually something kind of like this for our Christmas craft night last year and it was a huge hit!
      Sorry for the crappy photos! We're still getting used to tutorial photography,hehe..


          (re)freshing: Hair Pretties Tutorial Roundup

          Who doesn't love them some hair flair? Make your own with these neato tutorials...
          Sequined Bobby Pins? Yes please! Head over to this post at Because she started Knitting to find out how.
          Find the tutorial for this sweet anthro inspired hair piece at Redpunzel!
          Check out these gorgeous faux-leather hair accessories! Wouldn't this be great to do with an old purse?
          How dreamy is this lace flower tutorial at Aly&Ash?
          Use up some of the fabric you've been hoarding to make this pretty headband!  

          3.24.2011

          (re)freshing:T-shirt Tutorial Roundup


          Let's be honest: there are WAY to many sweet t-shirt revamp tutorials for this not to have its own category! Who doesn't love them a good tee,anyways? We have a few that are kind of similar,but we figure that's okay, at least you'll have lots of options!

          I am Momma has a great stamped t-shirt tutorial. This is a great, quick one!

          Can you cut out a heart? Can you sew in a straight line? If you said yes. why then,you can make this gorgeous t!
          BOWS. 'nuff said.
          This fast looking project also looks fab!

          J.Crew? Nope. Handmade!
          We're kind of mad at ourselves for not figuring out this anthro-hack first...
          This book page t-shirt is lovely!
          How-to make sweet lace appliques!
          Ruffles are so very chic right now,why not make your own?
          Check out this gorgeous tutorial by Momma go round!
          A pretty anthro-inspired tutorial
          Rufflesrelalyareadorableokay?