I hope all of you had a lovely holiday! Mine was great, and could only have been improved by me not being sick. I came down with a horrible cold on Christmas Day (probably staying up too late wrapping all those presents??!). Anyway, I’m going to make an early night of it tonight, and hope that tomorrow will bring some improvement in my sore throat and aching joints. Ugh.
In any case, there’s been some great DIY’s floating around the Internet, so if any of you are feeling more chipper (and healthier) than me, have at!
Wax-coated jeans (for that leather-like look without the leather) are all the rage lately, and Taylor & Demolish did her own DIY pair of wax-coated jeans using paint and gel gloss. You could also conceivably use real wax (Otter wax, made in Portland, OR!!) like Jennine from The Coveted did in this video. I love this on-trend look without the high pricetag!
Remember those gorgeous folded over cowboy boots from Free People? Jen Ell from Jen Ell’s Revenge made her own, and shared the how-to here. Her version is super-cool; love the chains!
Removable collars have been trending lately as a way to dress up any outfit…how about trying some removable cuffs instead? SewPetiteGal has a great tutorial for some DIY studded cuffs that will dress up any shirt, jacket, or dress.
If you can knit and like bows, try out Craft Magazine‘s Knitted Bow Headband (pattern included). Sooooo cute!
Smart n Snazzy has been super-busy with her DIY’s (just scroll through her archive for all the creativity!). Check out her Kate Spade-inspired City Lights Bracelet, that uses a pretty photo Mod Podged onto a ribbon spool. And you could use any photo you want – as long as the backing is strong enough! (Try affixing one to a simple gold cuff for a metallic version!)
Christmas lights broke? Don’t throw them away…recycle them into quirky-fabulous jewelry! Ecouterre has the how-to.
Swellmayde has a quick’n'easy tutorial on a DIY Honorine Jewels Braided Bracelet; a new take on the friendship bracelet that’s been going around awhile. Just lovely!
Though I normally stick to clothing/accessory projects in my LOTW, I couldn’t resist including this fabulous video from LOTA Design on Youtube. 8 Design Projects done in Less Than a Minute Each are all quick, simple, and uber-minimalist decor accents for your home, and I can’t wait to try some of them! Found via Craft Magazine.
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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A week that had me scrambling with a bunch of projects due at once and my in-laws visiting. So they never noticed that I neglected to vacuum the house before they came…I met most of my deadlines! But I have a HUGE one coming up on Friday involving…SOCK PUPPETS…a $6 million budget…and somebody from a Robert Zemeckis movie!! (I know, I know…it’s a looong story. Don’t ask.;-)
I'm a notorious cheapskate who wants to look fashionable and on-trend, but doesn't want to pay high-end prices for things I crave. You too? Learn how to shop cheap, shop smart, and make all the things you covet right here! Steal the look and be chic - with Chic Steals.
