DIY Thursday – Bag Lady

I admit this week’s DIY is not of my own inspiration.  It’s from the Upstyle store on Etsy, as seen on the Martha Stewart show.  If you’ve been following my blog for the past couple years, you know how much I adore Martha’s unique DIYs (like these lovely bauble rings!).  For the gal on a budget (like me, London is calling…) this is the perfect craft project that not only allows you to tap into your creative side, but you can make the perfect bag for any outfit.  And, if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can make a few for your friends.

Tools and Materials

Decorative fabric for outside of clutch

Fabric for lining

Heavyweight fusible stabilizer

Fusible fleece

Rotary cutter

Grid ruler

Iron

Sewing machine

Coordinating machine-sewing thread

Transparent tape

Bond 527 Multi-Purpose Cement

Metal clutch frame hardware

Clutch How-To

1. Cut 13-by-13 1/2-inch pieces from outer fabric, lining fabric, and heavyweight fusible stabilizer. Cut a 10 1/2-by-13-inch piece of fusible fleece. With an iron, fuse heavyweight stabilizer to wrong side of outer fabric, then fuse fleece to center of stabilized side of fabric.

2. With right sides of outer and lining fabrics together, sew 1/2-inch seams along both longer 13 1/2-inch edges.

3. Turn sewn pieces so right sides are facing out, and press seams flat.

4. Fold in half, matching seams at top, with lining on inside. Sew a 1/4-inch seam on outside raw edges, then trim seam allowances to 1/8 inch and snip in at the corners. Turn again, so outside fabric is on the inside. Sew 1/4-inch seam along edges, creating a finished French seam, then turn right side out.

5. Fold corners down; mark and sew a 2-inch gusset on each. Trim corner to 1/8 inch. Turn again so lining faces out; sew a 1/4-inch seam along gussets to finish seams. Turn right side out one last time.

6. Apply a bead of fabric glue to metal frame. Center over top seam, carefully insert fabric in metal frame, and secure in place with tape. Allow glue to set for several hours.

7. Remove tape, tuck outside corners behind frame, and snap closed.

Complete recipe, including how to make a custom lapel, can be found here.

Feeling lazy?  You can skip a few skips by buying the clutch with fabric of your choice here.

Feeling crafty? See my other DIYs here.

{DIY} Fancy Headband

You will need:
Scissors
Fabric glue
Scrap of ribbon
Needle and thread
Button
Plain headband
Clothespin
Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
Feather pad (hackle) or selection of feathers to create one

Nonstick surface, such as a hot-glue mat or leftover label-backing paper

Fashion Headband How-To
PART 1: Feather pad

1. Choose attractive feathers you think with lay nice on the headband.

2. Place a small dab of fabric glue onto a nonstick surface. Arrange feathers with quills meeting in the dab of glue. Let dry for one hour.

PART 2: To create a ribbon flower

1. Sew one side of ribbon with a needle and thread.

2. Pull thread while sliding ribbon down to create flower.

3. Hot glue button to center of ribbon flower.

PART 3: Assemble Headband
1. The best way to decide where to glue the feather pad and flower, wear the headband in front of the mirror and then determine the placement of feathers.  Use a clothespin to secure in place.  Remove the headband and hot glue the feathers into position.

2. Add ribbon flower at base of feather pad with hot glue and secure with a clothespin until dry.

Now you have a fabulous accessory for your ladies night out tonight!

 

DIY {Pretty Little Rings}

This week’s DIY is super easy to make, but it does involve a quick trip to Michael’s (or your local craft store).  I am absolutely in love with these make-it-yourself sequin bauble rings from Martha Stewart:

What you’ll need:

Wooden beads or foam balls, Strung sequins, Tacky white glue, and craft jewelry rings (or a plain band, if you have one).

3 easy steps:

1. Pull 1 or 2 sequins off the thread to create a lead end. Starting at the top of bead (or foam ball), secure lead end with a dab of glue.

2. Apply glue one section at a time, and adhere sequin strand, spiraling it tightly and applying pressure as you work. Cover the entire ball with sequins.

3. Apply glue to ring, secure sequin bauble, and let sit until completely dry.

photo credit

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DIY {Lost Glove}

With winter quickly approaching, most of us are taking stock of our supplies.  I’m guessing you may have a lonely glove or two lying around.  If you do, I have the cutest little do-it-yourself for you!  This easy DIY is from Esty’s “How-to” section and it shows us how to easily make a cute softie out of a single glove.  Happy crafting!

For the instructions in more detail, visited the original post here.

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DIY: Flower Hair Comb

Having worked in the wedding industry for the past 6 years, I’m always finding myself looking for inspiration in the most beautiful of blogs, those by wedding vendors, especially those featured by Wedding Chicks.  One of my favorite wedding photographers is Hilton Pittman Photography, not only because of their breathless images, but also their unique Do It Yourself tutorials!  Last week, they showed how to make a Fleurette Hair Topper.

Of course, when I tried to do it myself, it did not come out nearly as cute as theirs did, but hey, at least I tried.  Here’s how to make one yourself (maybe you’re better at amateur sewing than me):

You'll need: Fabric scraps, double-sided ribbon, a hair comb, a needle, thread, & scissors

Cut 5 strips of fabric (1″ wide, graduating lengths); Thread needle & tie a double knot in loose end of thread; Hand-stitch fabric strip lengthwise (at 1/2 inch intervals)

Hold fabric at one end and cinch, turning it into a circle; Stitch opposite ends together & tie a double knot to keep circle in tact; Repeat these steps with 3 more strips of fabric; Stack the 4 fabric circles (biggest circle on bottom to smallest circle on top).

51 Take the last remaining strip & tie it into a knot; Feed knot into fabric circles, so only the top of the knot shows when looking at the fleurette; Stitch (or hot glue) fleurette onto double sided ribbon; Attach double sided ribbon onto the comb (stitch or hot glue)

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