Saturday, June 28, 2014

Mermaid Cuffs DIY

I grew up in Colorado with a bathroom that was decorated in seashells.  My mom was obsessed with them.  It wasn't until I was 19 years old that I actually saw an ocean, but even before then I loved anything and everything about living on the coast. Even if you live miles away from the ocean, these cuffs are perfect accessory to wear with your favorite summer outfit.  Dressed up with a fancy dress or down with a t-shirt, you'll feel like the beach is just down the street.
Danielle with her new Mermaid Cuffs


Watch the video tutorial here! 
YOU'LL NEED
Pearls and pearl cabochons
Paintbrushes
Minwax Polycrylic
Transparent tape
 Mix 2 teaspoons each of the two parts of your Smooth On #325
Pour it in your molds and let set for about 15 minutes
Remove from the molds while the pieces are flexible and tape them to the wood bangle
Let them harden for another hour
*They will harden to the shape of the bangle making your piece look polished
 Remove the hardened pieces
Paint them with DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in gold
Paint your wood bangles with Americana Acrylics in a color of your choice
Coat the bangle with Minwax Polycrylic
Glue your dry pieces to the bangle with E-6000
Tape them in place while the E-6000 dries
Add pearls and cabochons with more E-6000
You're done!






Thursday, June 26, 2014

ThursDIY! My favorite day of the week

ThursDIY is my favorite day of the week!  Everyone I know got busy and made an awesome project to share with you.  Margot Potter shares a terrific summer drink, Cathy Attix makes a beautiful macrame necklace and Debi Beard makes some very sweet shoes!  Hop around, say hello, get inspired and then fire up that glue gun, OK!  Happy ThursDIY!

The gorgeous Margot Potter makes a yummy Orange-arita on diydoyenne........I'll have another! Here's how:  http://diydoyenne.com/diy-orange-margaritas-orange-aritas/
See how to make big button stepping stones for your garden!  Add a little bit of whimsey to your yard.  Here's how:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWGx9wlHGA&list=UUt4zycubX8BJZ8pZhZ4w8ow
Need a comfy beach cover up?  I made this one with 4 old t-shirts and some RIT Liquid Dye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2QXbjceMqw
Cathie Filian decks out her picnic table for the 4th of July here:  http://handmadehappyhour.com/2012/06/24/dollar-store-makeover-chip-bowl-for-the-4th-of-july/
Jader Bomb rocks a knot and tie galaxy shirt that's out of this world!  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/knot-and-tie-galaxy-shirt-tutorial.html
Cathy Attix, the classiest girl in town makes a stunning dyed macrame necklace that could grace any runway!  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/diy-dip-dye-macrame-necklace.html
Kathy Cano-Murillo makes a patriotic Styrofoam Pool Floatie that's just brilliant!  http://www.craftychica.com/site/2009/06/star-spangled-pool-floatie/
Heather Mann makes patriotic jewelry with pieces from the hardware store!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/06/make-jewelry-from-hardware-part-2/
Debi Beard makes the cutest birthday shoes with faux frosting and sprinkles.  Good enough to eat!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea9zGN01uZI&list=PLVwr-Pr6V4ivgiYRUXA-t4Y-83sYy_K2I




Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Full Length Dress/Beach Cover Up DIY

Summer is finally here and so are long days at the beach.  If you're needing a comfortable beach cover up OR something that you can toss on over your bathing suit and head to dinner in, well then look no more!  This full length dress/beach cover up is just what you need.  I took 4 dingy t-shirts and sewed them together for this dress and the Rit Liquid Dye was perfect for giving the fabric a new life.  Think twice before you toss out those old t-shirts, because it's RIT TO THE RESCUE!  
Danielle in her new summer dress
Directions for her necklace are in The Big Ass Book of Bling 
               

See the video tutorial
You'll need
Sewing machine
4 t-shirts
Rubber bands
Scissors
 Cut off the bottom hem and sleeve hems of shirt 1.
Fold shirt 2 in half down the center and place the sleeve of shirt on the fold just below the neckline
Trace a sleeve extension from the cut sleeve down to the hem of shirt 2  as shown
Cut along your lines
Cut across the chest of shirt 3 right under the sleeves
Also cut off the hem of shirt 3
This will be the mid-section of the dress
 Cut across the chest of shirt 4, right under the arms.  Do not cut off the hem.  The hem of this shirt will be the hem of the dress
Time to stitch the sleeves together
 Fold your sleeves right sides together and stitch the edges together using 1/2" seam allowance
Putting right sides together, match the seams and the raw edges and stitch them together. 
 Stitch shirt 3 to the bottom of shirt 1
Stitch the raw edge of shirt for to the bottom of shirt 3
Pick your dye color
Tie rubber bands around the dress
Dye and rinse until the water runs clear
Wash and dry your new dress


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Button Stepping Stones DIY

It's officially summer and if you're anything like me, you've been working in the yard trying to make it look amazing.  As many of you know, I have a craft house that is about 100 feet from my main house and my grass was getting a little worn from the back and forth.  I finally hauled a bag of rapid set cement to my back yard and made these super cute button stepping stones. This project was really fun, especially the painting part.  Try different sized lids or bowls for different sized buttons.  
Most importantly, have fun!
A little section of my garden path 

See the video tutorial
 You'll need
Americana Decor Ultra Matte Varnish
Rapid Set Cement (Home Depot)
Non-stick cooking spray
Large lids in different sizes (I like plastic)
4 matching small plastic caps
Paintbrush
Craft knife
Pick your lid (or flat bottom bowl) for your button mold
With a craft knife, score the inside of the small lids and the area where they will be glued on the lid
Scoring (scratching) your surface will help the glue stick better
Fill the caps to the rim with hot glue and glue them in place on the lid
After the glue has dried, spray the mold with non-stick cooking spray
Mix enough rapid-set cement to fill your mold.  Follow the instructions on the box
Fill the mold and allow to cure.
Rapid set cement sets in about 20 minutes!
Remove your cement button
Paint with Americana Decor Chalky Finish in a color you like
Add dimension with Crème Wax
Varnish the stone with Americana Decor Ultra Matte Varnish
Create your garden path

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Happy Thurs-DIY!

It's that time of the week when we get to see what my creative friends have been up to!  There are some fantastic projects this week and a chance to win tons of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint! Cathy Attix blew me away with her new sea theme handbag and Debi rocked her Anthropology mirror diy!  Crafty Chica creates a beautiful tea cup garden and Margot Potter is right in the spirit of July 4th!  Hop around the web and say hello to everyone!  
Happy Thurs-DIY
Here we go!
Margot Potter shares her terrific 4th of July freedom tank!  http://diydoyenne.com/diy-patriotic-tank-top-for-silhouette-cameo/
Cathy Attix blew me away with this beautiful sea theme beach tote!   http://www.trinketsinbloom.com/diy-beach-tote/


Need some extra seating this summer? How about a bench to get to that top shelf in the kitchen? Check out this stepping stool tutorial (which can easily become a bench that seats 3) http://youtu.be/i5D3Xu7AaSw


Have a blazer ready to be donated? Why not give it a NO SEW makeover with some gold lace and gems and bring back the 80s for a glamorous night out? http://youtu.be/iCmdSVKqBis
Cathie Filian makes a gorgeous cell phone case with collage clay!  Love the big huge bow.  Wish I could carry this around!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaPouHKUOA8
Heather Mann uses simple hardware to create this unisex bracelet.  I say make two or three and stack them up!  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2014/06/make-jewelry-from-hardware-part-1/
Kathy Cano-Murillo plants a shelf garden in coffee mugs.  A great way to use up those mismatched mugs that take up cabinet space!  http://www.craftychica.com/site/2014/06/coffee-mug-planters/
Debi Beard is going to kill me for using this photo, but I had to!  This gorgeous and talented girl rocks an Anthropology inspired mirror in an extremely clever way.  See how she does it here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CYTmylV6uw&list=PL0518B6B8F234C4D2
Make sure to enter to win a big stash of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint, too!
Subscribe to DecoArt's Youtube Channel here: http://ow.ly/y5XD7 
Leave a comment on this video that says "Chalky Finish Paint" here: http://ow.ly/y5YaO 
Tell me what you'll make with it if you win (on your video comment)
Share this post! 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Thrift Store Blazer Makeover

Thrift Store Blazers are just one of my obsessions.  I love making them over for myself and friends and have been doing it since I learned how to sew.  During my entire career as a fashion designer I have loved the work of Christian Lacroix.  The moment I saw his bubble skirt I was hooked!  For this project I married two of my favorite obsessions, thrift store blazers and Christian Lacroix.  The best thing about this project is that it's NO SEW and can be done without threading a single needle!
Danielle rocking her new 80's Christian Lacroix inspired blazer

Just a dab of his opulent work

See the video tutorial here
You'll Need
Gold lace and trims
Gems
Scissors
*If you don't have gold lace, paint white lace with DecoArt Dazzling Metallics
 Figure out your lace and gem placement
Pin it in place if you have to so that it doesn't move around
*I like to photograph it with my phone while I experiment
Glue it in place with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse
Glue trim around the edges and make sure to add some to the shoulder area
If you don't have gold lace or have a hard time finding it, paint regular white lace with
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in a gold tone 
that you like