Safety Pin Feather Jacket DIY

A few years back I was snooping around at a flea market and someone was selling a 10 lb. bag of safety pins for 5 bucks.  How could I pass it up?  Well, they sat in my work room for quite a while before I decided that I had to use them for something....ANYTHING!  This is what happened.  I love safety pins on clothing but it's really hard to find something truly unique to do with them.  This fit the bill for me and it's one of my favorite projects in THE BIG ASS BOOK OF BLING!  What a terrific way to spruce up a jean jacket, blazer or even a skirt.  Have fun fashionistas and let me know how it goes if you make this project.  I always love hearing from you.

Safety Pin Feather Jacket DIY!

Here's the fun how-to video!

You'll need 

Safety Pins (about 100 per feather)

E-6000 glue

12" of rhinestone chain per feather

Pencil

1.  Position the rhinestone chain on the back of your jacket.  This will be the spine of the feather.

2.  Draw a line where you want it to be.

3.  Add a thin layer of E-6000 glue to the line

4.  Place your chain on the glue and let it dry for about 1/2 hour.

5.  Starting 5" from the bottom of the chain, start adding safety pins  evenly up each side.

 6.  Continue at an angle so that it looks like a feather.

7.  Create a point at the top.

8. Add smaller safety pins at the base to create "fluff".

I added 3 feathers to this jacket

Here you go!  

T-shirt Tank Dress DIY-Chanel Inspired

Coco Chanel is one of my favorite designers, hands down. Sadly, she's gone now, but her label lives on and has continued to be one of the most sought after designer labels of our time.   If she were alive, I would stalk her.  Crazy, but true!  I love that she was the first to use knit fabrics in every day wear and that she weighted her suits with chain inside the hem so that they would always look perfect.  This week I've created a Chanel inspired tank dress with chains and pearls to honor Coco Chanel.  I'm also giving away a Singer ViVO sewing machine if you comment on my video!  Enjoy the project and make sure to leave a comment, OK.

The how-to video 

 Here's what you'll need

Sewing machine

2 tank tops

Scissors

Straight pins

4 pieces of 18" long 3/4" wide ribbon

Matching thread

Chains and pearl trim

Sewing needles

1.  Cut the tank top that you're using for the lower part of your dress in a straight line from underarm to underarm.

2.  Cut the hem off of the tank top that you're using for the upper part of the dress.

3.  Turn the lower half inside out, stuff the upper half inside and match the raw edges together.  Match the side seams if there are side seams.  Many tank tops do not have side seams.

4.  Pin all the way around.

5.  While you stretch the fabric, stitch the two tanks together using 1/2" seam allowance.  Stitch around twice! 

 See how stretchy it is now!? 

 6.  Cut your upper tank across the shoulder seam.

7.  Cut 3" off the front straps of the tank.

8.  Cut 1/2" off of the back straps of the tank.

9.  On the front of the tank, place the ribbon on the cut strap. 

10.  Fold the sides of the strap over the ribbon and pin in place.

11.  Repeat on all 4 straps.

12.  Stitch over the folded strap using 1/2" seam allowance.

13.  Pull the ribbon out of the strap to expose a finished seam. 

 

 Stop here if you want a simple dress with ribbon ties......OR.......

14.  Stitch several rows of chain and pearl trim right under the ribbon strap. 

You're done!

Sexy-Smart!  Great with a blazer, too.

Rockabilly Necktie with Lesley Riley's TAP!

I love a good heat transfer project and this one rocks!  I made it in honor of my dad who had vintage 1950's pin-up calendars in the back of his car shop when I was a kid.  He even had a necktie with a pin-up girl printed on the inside!  For this project I used the BEST product around for home printer heat transfers......It's Lesley Riley's TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) from C&T Publishing, and it's amazing.  You can heat transfer on to anything!  BTW, if you want to win some, just leave a comment on my video in the comment section and you'll be entered, OK!  Good luck!

Here's the how-to video

My dad had these all over his office wall! 

Today's Rockabilly looks inspired by the 1950's

You'll need:

Lesley Riley's TAP (Transfer Artist Paper)

Pin-up images

Light color necktie

Scissors

Iron

Home printer/copy machine 

Load a sheet of TAP in your copier 

 Print out your pin-up

 Place the tie on the image and trace around it

Cut out your tie shape 

 Make sure it fits on the tie.  Cut it a bit smaller than the tie so that none of the edges are hanging over the edge of the tie

 Trim off any excess white and around your image

Position it on the tie 

Press and peel according to the directions on the TAP package

5 Terrific DIY Projects!

It’s Thurs-DIY and time to see what my friends, Margot, Jade, Heather, Cathie and Kathy have been up to! 5 terrific projects this week, so hop around and see what inspires you, OK. Make sure to say hello from me! 

My crafty BFF (CBFF) Margot Potter shows you how to make some fab Vintage Tabletop Décor. This project would work for every holiday!http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/retro-halloween-tabletop-decor.html

Cathie Filian shows you several different ways to jazz up your pumpkins this fall and each one is better than the next!
Cathie Filian. http://youtu.be/9ss3DtJZx8Y

Jader Bomb shows you how to jazz up your sneakers in no time. Now they’re not so sneaky! http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-make-faux-beaded-sneakers.html

Heather Mann gives a mirror some Anthropology magic on her blog Dollar Store Crafts. http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2013/09/tutorial-anthropologie-inspired-mirror/

Just in case you missed it earlier in the week, I’m showing you how to create an iPad Clutch. A snazzy handbag that can be used for either a clutch or an iPad case….It’s up to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9TJhxLHzY

INSTAGRAM CHARM BRACELET DIY!

INSTAGRAM CHARM BRACELET

Instead of just keeping those photo in your phone, why not print them out and create something you can wear?  This Instagram charm bracelet is the perfect way to show of your life and keep your memories with you.  Add rhinestones or a little glitter and you've got something magical.  Make sure to check out the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I have a new DIY video every Saturday morning.  Like cartoons, but better! 

Here's the video if you want to see how it's done

With a few more gems...

YOU'LL NEED

Xyron Creative Station (OR glue or sticker paper)

Print out of Instagram photos on regular paper

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Stick on gems

Hole punch

Chain bracelet 

Jump rings

Wax paper

Cereal box cardboard

Scissors 

Cut out sheets of your photos that are about post card size 

 Run them through a Xyron Creative Station (this machine turns anything into a sticker) or glue them to cardboard OR print them on sticker paper

 Stick them on your cardboard

Cut them out 

 Add holes to each one

Apply your sticky back gems (or glue them on) 

Spread out some wax paper 

 Coat all of your pieces with Dimensional Magic

When the top is dry, flip them over and coat the back 

 Add the charms to a chain bracelet

Keep adding until you're happy with the way it looks 

You're done!

How To Write and Publish a Best Selling Craft Book

Terrific news everyone........My latest book has officially launched!  

HOW TO WRITE AND PUBLISH A BEST SELLING CRAFT BOOK

Advice from the #1 selling craft book author of all time!

I couldn't be more excited about this book because I finally get to share with everyone my secrets for getting published and creating a best selling craft book. This is truly a TELL-ALL book because I take you step by step through my personal creative process from concept to promoting your book when it's published.  A-Z, top to bottom!  I also give guidance on how to get an agent, how to submit to a publisher and how to write a WINNING book proposal.  I'm even sharing two of my personal book proposals which became books and were published by Simon and Schuster.

If you're interested in writing a craft book and getting it published, this book is for you!

For those of you who don't have an e-reader, it can be delivered to your computer here: 

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Here is the link for Amazon Kindle:

BUY IT!