Art From Everyday Objects: Paperclips + String | So today I thought it would be a fun challenge to work with paperclips. You can’t get much more mundane than a paperclip! After much thought, I came up with paperclip earrings. Here is a diagram to show you where to open the paperclip to create this triangular shape. You are basically unbending the clip at all three of the curves. Once you’ve got the triangular shape, you need to glue the ends together. Fig 1: Winding the string around // Fig 2: Starting to wrap the string around the earring, secured with Liquid Stitch Once you’ve wound all the way round and secured with glue, you can then take another length of string and wind around the width of the “earring” creating horizontal stripes or you can create a more messy look by creating a “net” design (see below). Then just clamp on a pair of earring hooks. Let me know if you have any questions or I didn’t explain something well enough. Categories: Art, DIY, Fashion
DIY rope bracelet from a J.Crew shopping bag! « sideoats + scribbles I must confess, I love jcrew so much. I even love the bags! (Hate to throw them away.) Then it hit me: why not make a rope bracelet from the handles? Here’s how I did it in just a few steps. First, remove the handles from the bag. Braid your bracelet, then use another clothespin to hold it in place. Now for the only tricky bit. Here are some closeups of the knots so that you can see them better. Now to finish it up, take the piece of the handle that you trimmed and knot it around the other end, then remove the clothespin. Then you can tidy up and trim off to even things up. To wear, just slip the big knot into the back. That’s it! I think it’ll go great with all my striped shirts this summer — I have a major stripe obsession going on right now! xo,
DIY Woven Chain Bracelet This super easy DIY updates any old chain bracelet you have lying around. Try with cords, yarn, or string to personalize your own woven chain bracelet. Like this: Like Loading... A bit of green :: Crafts :: Plastic Cup Lamp Now that my university is closed for winter holidays, I finally have more free time to do all the crafty things I’ve been wanting to. One of these is a lamp made from plastic cups I’ve seen at taf, the art foundation, in the Monastiraki region in the center of Athens. When I first saw it at taf, I was amazed; I looked closely and I couldn’t believe my eyes! The object itself is so peculiar, modern and alien-like it could be in any design exhibition. With my best friend’s birthday coming up, I decided to make it myself and give it to her as a gift. Disclaimer: There have been some concerns about the safety of this construction (see the comment of user “when” below for example). I only needed a couple of things: 200-250 large plastic cups (recyclable, at least )600-700 staplesa staplera lamp socket, lamp cord and plug – mine came from a broken IKEA lamp! That’s all you will need. Start stapling the cups together as shown. Staple again and again and again… Until your lamp goes from this…
Make a Hammered Pendant from Washers We made this simple, elegant pendant with only copper washers and scrap sterling silver wire. I really like the way it looks... and I especially like the fact that few would guess that this pendant was made only from found materials.Materials 2 copper washers 18-gauge sterling silver wire Tools Bordering or goldsmith hammer Steel bench block Soldering torch & equipment (optional) Step 1 Select two different sized copper washers. Step 2 Add texture to the washers by placing the copper washers on a steel bench block and then hammering the washers with a bordering hammer. Step 3 Select or create a bail. we made our bail from 18-gauge sterling silver wire that we collected from our scrap bin. Step 4 Put the textured washers on the bail. Related TutorialsMake a Pendant BailMake a Heart Pendant from a Copper Washer Cold Enamel a Washer to Make a Pendant Make a Stamped Pendant from a Washer Make a Three Strand Bracelet from Copper Washers Make a Bib Necklace from Washers "; Tim McCreight; 2004.
DIY Woven Chain Bracelet Chain link bracelets, with colorful threads woven through them, have been popping up here and there. We adore Aurèlie Bidermann‘s Do Brazil bracelets and thought it was about time we graduate to the ultimate “grown-up” friendship bracelet. With a curb chain bracelet and some embroidery thread, we’ll teach you how to make your own woven chain bracelet. And one for your bestie too, of course. You’ll need:a curb link braceletembroidery threadtwo bobby pinsa pair of scissors Cut 2 sets of 15 strands of embroidery thread, with each strand measuring four times the length of the bracelet. Lay the second color (blue) over the first color (coral). Repeat the steps until you reach the end of the bracelet. (top images from here and here, rest of images by Honestly…WTF) Water Balloon Luminary: Clever DIY Candle-Making Crafts Crafting decor objects is a holiday tradition that some might find a bit dull for more adventurous designs lovers … unless (perhaps) it involves hot wax, a water balloon and the slight risk of having it all blow up in your face. The process is remarkably easy, though not without danger – fill a balloon with water, dip it up to the water level in melted wax and repeat. Go above the waterline and it might just pop. After a few times down and back, the exterior surface should be sufficiently waxed to form a rounded solid candle-worthy shape that can hold a small votive or tea light. After a few iterations, the resulting (cooled) candles should be tipped over and drained – and the water balloon remnants discarded.
{macramé: half knot spiral} washer & wingnut bracelet By Kate on October 25, 2011 Hello there! I finally got around to posting after a hectic few weeks. I’ve been working on a big project which is all done and dusted now so I will be making more frequent updates between now and Christmas…phew! I sincerely wish there were more hours in the day! I’m hoping to post another Halloween craft in the next day or so. It’s comprised of a’half knot spiral’ (and is even easier than the square knot bracelet I showed you previously). A few people left comments about the last bracelet saying it looked like it may take too long to make. By the way thanks to all you lovely people who ‘liked’ my facebook page. Full tutorial after the jump! How-to Please note: I have used different colored cord in the tutorial so that it’s easier for you to figure out whats going on! 1. 2. 3. Note: You fasten this bracelet as you would a friendship bracelet.
Beaded Wrap Bracelet // diy I first tackled this DIY over our Easter vacation in South Carolina visiting James’ family. I finally documented it over our summer vacation in Cape Cod visiting my family. And I made it a goal to post it before the official end of summer, i.e. before Labor Day! And yes, we do realize that we are very fortunate to have family that lives in such desirable places. I know I’m late on the Chan Lu Beaded Wrap Bracelet bandwagon. Let’s get started! MATERIALS: Beads (I ultimately found that I preferred smaller beads, with more wraps around the wrist). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. It will take some practice to get an even tension and the hang of the beading. Then lie out and enjoy the sun! Photos and Tutorial: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart
rolled paper flowers {tutorial} | jones design company Welcome to flower week – five days of simple and delightful flower projects. I could probably do three weeks of flowers because there are so many different ways to create them, but I’ve limited it to five of my current favorites. Before we get started, let me make a few disclaimers: 1. 2. 3. Okay, so let’s begin. Here’s what you’ll need: :: paper {either cover or text weight} :: florist wire :: scissors, pencil, glue gun STEP ONE: cut irregular circle This circle is approximately 8 inches, but you can do any size you wish. STEP TWO: cut spiral Start at the outside edge and cut in a spiral fashion to the center. I like a sort of bumpy shape so that the petals end up a bit irregular If you aren’t so sure about your cutting skills, feel free to draw your spiral before cutting. To add a little interest to my bouquet, I used a variety of yellow scrapbook papers {my favorite is that yellow dot} STEP THREE: roll your blossom start at the outside edge and coil tightly STEP FOUR: release coil
Variations. As you can see, using two colours of yarn at ninety degrees gives a helical pattern. Changing the order of the yarns at the beginning will change the pattern you produce, as will using different numbers of colours, or pairing different colours in each arm. You can change the direction of the helix as well, by swapping the side you move - top-right to the bottom, bottom-left to the top. It is possible to change the direction of the helix part-way through the braiding as well. With care, you can weave so many steps one way, then the same number of steps the other way, and produce a zig-zag pattern. Of course, you can also use this loom to weave the seven strand braid, and probably many other combinations as well. Whatever you do, enjoy it, and if you find or create an interesting pattern, or another weave (with different numbers of strands), then why not write up an Instructable of your own?
Rhinestone Bangles I’ve had this project on the back burner for a long time and I’m so happy to have finally finished it to show you all! These bangles make great sparkly accessories for the holiday season or easy DIY presents for your fabulous friends! *NOTES: I bought a stack of 20 simple bangles at Target for less than $5. The rhinestone strands are from Michaels. Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart