DIY Gold Leaf Faux Jewelry Inspired by a shoot styled by Mandy of Oracle Fox where gold leaf was applied in the form of makeup and jewelry, I immediately had to try it myself. It’s an instantaneous and temporary solution for a lack of bling. Plus, it looks super fly! This technique may even come in handy this Halloween season when you decide you’ll want to dress up as a Fendi-bot . . . or C-3P0. You’ll need: Start by cutting the sheet of gold leaf into half inch strips. The gold leaf will not adhere to anything without an adhesive agent so an application of spirit gum is necessary. Pick up a strip of gold leaf and press the gold side onto the tacky area with pressure. Remove the tape and use your fingers to smooth out any loose flakes. Voila! (top image via Vogue.com, rest of images by HonestlyWTF; bottom image Jennifer Fisher Spike Ring & Zoya Edyta polish)
button bobby pins Inspired by the fellow farmer's market vendor who made these flower hairpins (she also made some with antique button on them), I embarked on a simple and fun project last week. I looked through my collection of antique and vintage buttons and picked out some of the prettiest. Then I gave them a good bath in warm water and mild soap. For some reason my great-grandma stored a tiny sample tin of moisturizing (greasy) hand salve with her buttons. It was in a cute little tin , but over time some of the contents leaked out and combined with dust to make an icky coating on the buttons. Then I attached the buttons to bobby pins with a few stitches and secured them with super glue. Update: Please note that using the dab of super glue that I recommend will make your button and bobby pin inseparable friends for life.
Simple Shell Stitch Infinity Scarf *free pattern* This pattern is easily adjustable, you can either make it a cowl or an infinity scarf or you can make it into a regular scarf. The shell pattern in simple, and gives the project a nice textured look. You can also experiment by using different yarn types and hook sizes. Skill level: Beginners Materials needed: Crochet hook size 5.00/US H8 4 oz. worsted weight yarn Yarn needle for sewing final piece into an infinity loop. Gauge: 1 Shell= 1” 2 Rows= 1 ½” Finished Size: Scarf is about 5” across and about 45” long (before joining to form the infinity loop) Special stitches used: Shell Stitch = 5dc in st indicated Instructions: Row 1: ch 15, 4dc in 3rd ch frm hook (first shell made) *sk 3 sts, shell stitch in next st* across (4 shells complete) ch 3 turn Row 2: *work shell stitch in the 3rd dc of each shell from the previous row* across (4 shells complete) ch 3 turn Rows 3-? Once your scarf is about 45” long, FINISH OFF here and weave in ends if you want a regular scarf.
Better than Tiffanys Have some spare time? Feeling crafty? Check out this old school way to make ring I just HAD to try! Here is a simple ring that is MADE from money. So how bout changing this: Yep, I did it! I saw rings like this on etsy, and thought “how did they do that!” Ready? Find a quarter, or similar looking foreign coin (I used a 10 pence because I couldnt find a good quarter). Got your quarter? Grab a hammer. Back in the day, I’ve heard they used to use spoons for this part, and tapped instead of hammered…but I cannot even IMAGINE how long that would take. Anyway, you want to hammer the edges. Just keep hammering, and spinning it in a circle. Yes your hands will get black. Next, you will want a drill. Anyway, keep moving up sizes of drill bits until you get too close to the edge. If you have a dremel, or a sander type bit for your drill…USE IT. Now file it down until you’ve got the ring size you are looking for! How much fun right?!
{macramé: square knot} string & hexnut bracelet By Kate on September 13, 2011 This bracelet has been inspired by this really wonderful “Braided Hex-nut Bracelet” tutorial which I pinned on Pinterest a while back. Two things I absolutely love about this project are: 1) It’s cheap as chips: I already had string in the cupboard and the brass hexnuts were 3p each from the hardware shop. 2) It’s my kind of jewellery: I’m not really a girly girl IYKWIM! The bracelet I made is a bit different to the ‘braided hex-nut bracelet’ and uses macrame instead, which is great, because I promised some tutorials a while back and felt a bit bad that I hadn’t written any yet! Full instructions after the jump! Square Knot 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. 4. This might seem a little tricky a first but I promise once you have done it a dozen times you’ll be sorted….! If you need a hand then leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.
Crafts: Ginger Honey Sugar Scrub Sugar scrubs are so easy to make and customize to your tastes. This is one of my own recipes and a personal favorite. Ingredients 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar 2 tbsp ginger 1/2 cup Macadamia Nut Oil 2 tbsp honey Thoroughly mix the brown and white sugars, the white sugar will keep the brown from clumping too much so there will be an even consistency. Sugar is a humectant, and will help retain moisture. Then add the ginger, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. Then add the oil and honey mixing very thoroughly. There are many other oils that can be substituted or mixed if you prefer, vitamin E, sesame, grapeseed, olive, jojoba, almond, apricot and sunflower, to name a few. Now you'll want to pour/spoon the scrub into a container, mason jars do nicely, and add a ribbon if it's a gift or if you just like pretty things.
Magic Braided Leather Tutorial Seriously this tutorial is magic. I’ve been wanting to share it with you for about a year now, but it’s taken me so long to sit down & figure out the best way to explain myself. See, I discovered how to do this while mindlessly watching an episode of House. My mother-in-law has a rad purse from the ’70s or so; it’s leather with a very cool handle. I’ll be sharing this today on KSL’s Studio 5! (of course the pattern pieces above aren’t the same, I was just too lazy to take a supplies pic that was practically the same as this one. hope you’ll forgive me.) hammerscissorshole punchtapebutton-stud/snap & setter1-2 oz leather/felt Print and cut out pattern pieces. Tape your leather to a sturdy surface, like a desk or slab of wood. Ignoring the bottom part as you go, count up to 6. Look at the bottom part, the strand that’s on top should go through the hole. Once you’ve followed through that end, your ends should look like this. Once you’re done braiding, your bracelet will look a little lumpy.
Batty!!! Could you use one of these on Halloween night? This would also make a great magnet or make the design smaller for a pair of earrings, but this is simple and fun and can be done in a ½ hour. I have the chains available through the 2.00 each, 1.00 each (sold in packages of 5, one color), it has everything you need; silver or gold plated, the jump rings, and the clasp. They are about 15 1/2" long from jump ring to jump ring and they have an extra 1 7/8" adjustment chain too! If they are not up there when I get these posted, just ask Howard. The eye hooks are placed in to the bat where I want them and they have a shart leg with a hook that sticks in to the clay. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. This will also help attach the ears to the head. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 26. 27. 28. Add chain and dangles
Inspiration Anthro : Catch and Release Scarf So here is my tutorial for the Catch and Release Scarf from Anthro. Better late than never right? Materials: - 1 piece of fabric about 90 inches long- elastic thread- matching thread (all purpose)- rit dye (optional)- tailors chalk- sewing needle * Your fabric needs to be light weight, breezy, and somewhat see thru. 1 - Cut your fabric so that you have one long piece that is about 90" x 17" 2 - To finish the two long edges fold in 1/4", press, fold another 1/4", and press again. 3 - Leave the top thread of your machine with your normal all purpose thread. 4 - Using your tailors chalk, mark 3 vertical lines down the middle of your fabric - each 4 inches apart. 5 - With all purpose thread as your top thread, and elastic thread as your bottom thread, stitch all three vertical lines from top to bottom allowing it to gather as it goes. 6 - Using a sewing needle, pull the regular thread to the back and tie a knot with the elastic thread to secure ends. Finished scarf: