DIY Braided Bead Bracelet It’s been awhile since our last bracelet DIY. I don’t know about you, but our wrists have been begging for another colorful addition for months now. So after playing with some materials that were already on hand, we’ve created a tutorial for a braided bead bracelet, which is a not so distant cousin of the hex nut and wrap bracelet. Because honestly, you can never have too many . . . You’ll need: Cut the waxed linen cord into a 26″ and 19″ piece. Tie a knot about half an inch down from the loops. Start braiding the strands. Push the bead against the base of the braid, and cross the left strand over the middle. Keep a finger at the base of the braid, holding the beads in their place and keeping the braid tight. Finish the bracelet with another inch of braided cord, measuring it against the wrist. Thread on a two hole button – two strands through one hole and one strand through another. Trim the end. Your bracelet is finished! (all images by HonestlyWTF)
DIY Crystal Pendant Necklace There’s nothing quite as marvelous and essential as costume jewelry – especially when it borders on ‘over the top’ with exorbitant amounts of sparkle and shine. As I always like to say: more is more is more. So how can one possibly turn down the opportunity to customize their very own show-stopping, Verdura-inspired crystal pendant necklace!? You’ll need:22″ – 28″ of thick gold chain (also available here)assorted sew on rhinestones in settings (also available here and here)1 rhinestone or crystal brooch (with backs clipped off)stiff felt sheet2 jump ringsE6000pliersscissorshole punch or rotary punchwooden spoon & toothpickwire clippers (optional)tweezer (optional) Start by squeezing a dollop of glue onto a wooden spoon. Glue the larger rhinestones onto the felt, working from the center out. Continue adding smaller crystals and rhinestones to the pattern. Once the shape is complete, add the brooch or button to the center with more glue. Allow to dry for a couple of hours. Bling bling!
DIY Elbow Patch While perusing Pinterest one evening, I came across an intriguing tutorial on the wonderful art of needle felting. I had to learn more – especially after realizing it entailed repeatedly stabbing a needle up and down into a piece of fabric or sweater. A satisfying stress reliever that results in something wearable? Sign me up. And now that I can officially call myself a needle felting maven (and nerd), trust me when I say that you’re going to have a blast with this technique. You’ll need: With the sweater on, place a piece of tape about half an inch below the elbow. Align and center the bottom of the cookie cutter along the top of the tape. Fill the cutter, spreading out the wool fibers evenly. At the base of all felting needles are tiny, sharp burrs, which grab and interlock the wool fibers. Continue stabbing away until the surface is flat and even. Remove the cutter and use the tip of the needle to reign in any stray fibers, if necessary. Carefully peel the sweater away from the foam.
how to add elbow patches to a sweater! Elbow patches are one of my favorite trends this season! Last month, I shared how to hand print hearts on your jeans and we recieved many requests for a patch tutorial! I asked Amanda to show you how she would do it in this next feature.... Supplies needed: cardigan, fabric (this is a great way to use scraps!) 1. 3. 6. Thanks so much, Amanda! Happy Monday, everyone.... xo. DIY Pom Pom Beanie Brrrrrr, it’s chilly outside. It’s time to sort through your collection of winter hats, ear muffs, and knit headbands for some necessary protection for that noggin! But before you toss out your favorite slouchy beanie from seasons past, why not revamp it by stitching on a large, furry* pom pom? * I appreciate the very valid concern about animal cruelty and I hope we all share the same compassion for animals. I would never knowingly point readers to fur that was produced under the conditions mentioned by a couple of commenters. You’ll need:a beaniea faux fur or handmade yarn pom pomembroidery threadembroidery needlescissors Thread the needle with about 25 inches of embroidery thread. Find the center of the pom pom and pierce the needle through it. Pull the needle back through the top of the beanie and thread the needle through the pom pom in the same spot. Push the needle back through the beanie. Tie a double or triple knot to secure the thread. And voila! (all images by HonestlyWTF)
DIY Woven Chain Collar Necklace Earlier this month Lauren and I escaped city life with our dear friend Grace, of Stripes & Sequins, for a weekend chock-full of sun and DIY. With an abundant supply of rhinestone and brass curb chain, we decided to try weaving the components together to make our own collar necklaces. It was fun to see how wonderfully different the pieces turned out - each so fabulous in their own unique way! Honestly, isn’t that the best part about DIYing with friends? You’ll need: Start by laying two pieces of curb chain side by side. Thread the floss under the first link on the left side and through the top of the 2nd link on the right side. Continue this weaving pattern. Tie a knot at the end. Using a different color flow, weave the floss around the first few links – again leaving about a foot of extra slack. Continue weaving and tie a knot at the end. Tie a knot onto the chain. Keep the necklace curved while attaching the rhinestone chain. Your necklace is now adjustable and finished!!
DIY Embellished Friendship Bracelets The weather is warming up and my wrists are feeling rather lonely and bare after hiding under long sleeves all season long. But after digging up last year’s DIY friendship bracelets, I realized they desperately needed sparkly and shiny upgrades. Today we’re showing you three easy ways to embellish your friendship bracelets, making them all grown up . . . To add rhinestones, you’ll need:a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)5-6” crystal rhinestone chain (last used here)1 yard of embroidery flossan embroidery needlea pair of scissors Thread the needle with embroidery floss and tie the end into a double knot. Stitch the floss between the first two rhinestone links, pushing needle out the middle of the bracelet. Continue stitching between the rhinestone links. Your friendship bracelet is sparkling and finished! To add studs, you’ll need:a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)5 3/8” brass cone studs (last used here)a pair of small, sharp scissorsa screwdriver
DIY Floral Sunglasses We always claim to see the world through rose colored glasses . . . but how about rose trimmed glasses? In honor of the widespread floral trend and our love of Dolce & Gabbana‘s Baroque-inspired fall collection, we’re DIYing a pair of outrageously fabulous sunglasses using the same charming little ceramic roses from a recent tutorial. These will surely be a pair of shades you won’t go unnoticed in this summer! You’ll need:a pair of sunglassesa variety of ceramic roses and flowersdisposable container or popsicle sticka handful of toothpicksE6000 Start by squeezing a small amount of E6000 into a disposable container or onto a wooden popsicle stick. Press the flower firmly onto the outer corner of the sunglasses. Add a few small flowers down the right side of the glasses. Repeat on the other side and allow to dry for a couple of hours. Your floral shades are ready to wear! (top image via Vogue.uk, rest of images by HonestlyWTF)
DIY Chainmail Necklace You’ll need: Start by separating the jump rings into two halves: 175 open and 175 closed. Thread three closed jump rings onto an open jump ring. Keeping the rings in place with your forefinger and thumb, take an open jump ring and hook it through the front side of the two rings. Add 2 closed rings to the open ring and close. Spread the two rings apart in the same way as the first set of rings. Add 2 closed rings and close. To add an optional fourth row, lay the necklace flat and hook an open ring through first and second closed rings on the right side. I stopped at 4 rows but you can continue adding rows for a more bib-like necklace. Connect the two ends with a single jump ring or clasp. Fini! (top image from here, rest of images by HonestlyWTF)
DIY Gold Tube Bracelets I have very vivid memories of walking into a bead store for the first time, almost 15 years ago, and being overwhelmed by the million and ten ideas that filled my mind. I was immediately hooked on the concept of transforming simple and unexpected elements into something beautiful and wearable. That moment was the catalyst for my eventual path into jewelry design and craft – my higher calling, if you will. Today’s tutorial takes me back to my first foray into jewelry making, where I’ll show you how to make two delightful bracelets using the same basic component. Get inspired and have fun! For single, adjustable gold tube bracelets, you’ll need: Start by cutting the knotting cord into 2 12 inch pieces. And now, all that’s left is the sliding closure! . . . and bring the top cord under both the bottom and middle overlapping strands through the loop, into a knot. Repeat the same step on the right side. Continue to make 5-6 more knots. Trim away any excess cord. Layer and enjoy.
DIY Wrap Bracelet You should all know by now that we are all about stacking bracelets on our wrists. The more, the better. In fact . . . the most, the best! With that being said, we’ll show you how to master a version of the ever so popular wrap bracelet. It’s so simple and addicting, you’ll soon be churning out these wristlets with your eyes closed. Clearly this arm party train isn’t stopping and it’s about time you get on board! You’ll need (for a double wrapped bracelet) :* Lengths will vary depending on the size of your wrist (see comments for suggestions). Fold the length of leather cording in half to form a loop. Place the ball chain along the leather cording with the end of the chain meeting the end of the wrap. Continue wrapping while checking it for fit around the wrist. When you have reached the end of the ball chain wrap the linen cording around the leather strands 2-3 more times. Thread the hex nut through the strands and tie a second knot. Trim with scissors and your wrap bracelet is finished!!
How-To: Make (Cute) High-Waisted Shorts from Goodwill High-waisted shorts are everywhere this spring. Save your wallet from despair and make your own! Find a pair of shorts at Goodwill or any thrift store. Don't let the dorkiness fool you, the best ones are super goofy looking on the rack! Make sure you try them on at Goodwill before you buy them. You can fix the length, but you can't fix any poofiness near the hips or belly! Put the shorts on and draw a line with chalk to the length you want. Glide an Exacto knife along where you want your rips. If you're feeling quirky, add some color! Meet Goodwill shopping pros, Kayla Templin and Alyssa Brown. Photo Credit: Becca Courtney
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. 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)