DIY a new fresh look for an old LBD

 

As usual, my DIY hero, Erica Domesek from PS I Made This, has come up with a VERY cute way to reuse and refresh an old dress.

Always a bridesmaid doesn’t mean your stuck with a acre of bridesmaid dresses. Erica Domesek comes through with a cute idea to repurpose any dress for a new flirty look.

To create, chop your maxi to the desired length.  If fabric frays- add a hem, ours was polyester so no hem needed.  Grab a lace tee or tank and secure with pins along the neckline of the dress.  Double your thread and stitch the lace shirt to the dress, removing pins as you go.

See this diy magic and more at PS I Made This.

DIY some kick arse earth friendly earrings

 

Erica Domesek, owner of P.S. I Made This, is my DIY hero. I follow her blog religiously and about DIED when I saw her latest creation.

Translucent statement earrings.

To create, take a plastic water bottle and cut out 2 circles, approx 2-3” inches in diameter. Heat up the edges with a lighter, and watch how they instantly curl and ripple. Pierce two holes with a needle. You may need to heat the tip of the needle before you pierce the plastic. Thread jewelry wire through a pearl and twist both sides together. PS I Made This wrapped wire around the toothpick of their Swiss Army Knife to make a tiny loop for the earring wire to slip through the top.

 

*photos and instructions courtesy of PS I Made This

Come DIY with Erica Domesek from PS I Made This

I love Erica Domesek and her blog PS I Made This. Here is her newest project that is not only tres chic but super easy to make. I’ve bought enough supplies to make at least 10 for me and the kid in all different colors.

Spring fever is in full effect.  Follow your heart with a headband as you step into the season with some extra sparkle and shine.  Mix luminous and rich materials with earthy textures for a match made in heaven.  Get inspired by crazy cool crystals from  SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and springtime hues for a haute headband that’s to DIY for!

To create: Measure and cut SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS CUPCHAIN TRIM to fit the top of the headband.  Chain should cover all but the bottom inch of the headband. Cut 4 feet of colored raffia and  fold in half.  Secure chain to the headband by knotting raffia onto the end of the cup chain trim.  Begin wrapping from the bottom and continue all the way around securing chain. Use the cross-over method going over and under each crystal you wrap.  Knot off once you reach the end and snip off any remaining raffia.

All items can be purchased from the dollar store and/or a craft store.

(source)

Saturday Stimulation-diy this fab plaid cape

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Erica Domesek’s DIY blog- PS I Made This. She has so many fabuloso ideas on how to achieve a luxe look at a bargain price.

 

As a plaid aficionado, I saw this cape and thought…MUST.HAVE. NOW. Erica shows us how in this simple how to guide.

To create reach for your favorite cotton flannel or wool material.  You will need approx. 2 yards, depending on the size you desire.  Fold material in half, horizontally.  Place a hat at the top of the fold (half way down).  This will serve as a neck-hole guide. Continue to cut out a 4" inch panel.  Don't throw away the scraps!  Use the fabric scraps to create a strip which you can use as your belt.  

P.S.- add fun brooches and group in a cluster for finishing touch.  

Love is DIY

I’m a huge fan of Erica Domesek and her PS. I Made This Blog. I am DYING to make this belt. Lavin. Belt. SQUEEE!!!

I will show my results next week.

Want to make one too? Go whowhatwear.com for instructions.

Tempting Tuesday-DIY your way to Prada

I absolutely adore Erica Domesek and her awesome website-psimadethis.com. Here she collabs with whowhatwear.com to DIY one of Prada’s 2011 runway trends-checks!

INGREDIENTS
-American Apparel Fine Jersey Short Sleeve T ($18)
-Fabric scissors
-1 yard Camel Acrylic Felt ($27) -Paper and pen (to make neck pattern)
-5-7 yards 3/8" Navy Grosgrain Ribbon ($.59/yard)
-1 ft. 3/8" Raspberry Grosgrain Ribbon ($.59/yard)
-Ruler
-Dritz Unique Stitch Fabric Glue ($13)
-6 Buttons ($3.98 each)
-Needle & thread
DIRECTIONS
GRID:
1. If you are not starting with a tank top, cut off the sleeves of your shirt at the seams.
2. Before starting your grid, position a piece of paper directly on top of your shirt's neckline to determine the width and shape needed for the felt collar. Depending on the size of your shirt, it should be about two inches wide.
3. Measure and cut four strips of navy ribbon that are all slightly longer that the shirt. (Note: we like to make sure we have an inch of extra ribbon at both the top and the bottom. It's better to have strips that are a bit on the long side, as you can always trim the excess later.)
4. Place the ribbon strips on the shirt, making vertical columns. Use a ruler to make sure that each strip of ribbon is placed at an equal distance from the next. This distance will vary depending on what you like and the size of your shirt.
5. Apply a small amount of fabric glue to the back of the ribbon and place vertically, dabbing with your fingers to set. Wait approximately five minutes for glue to dry.
6. Measure and cut eight strips of navy ribbon across the shirt, making sure that each strip is slightly wider than the shirt. (Again, it's a good idea to cut your ribbon strips so that they are approximately one inch wider on both sides of the shirt.)
7. Create your grid pattern by placing the eight ribbon strips horizontally on the shirt, on top of the vertical columns.
8. Apply a small amount of fabric glue to the back of the ribbon and place horizontally, dabbing your fingers to set. Wait approximately five minutes for glue to dry.
9. Once your grid is completely dry, cut the raspberry ribbon into small squares. They should be approximately 3/8 inches by 3/8 inches. (PS- DIY Tip: Use clear nail polish to keep the ends from fraying!)
10. Glue each square on the intersections of the blue ribbon grid.
COLLAR/BUTTONS:
1. Using the paper pattern you created earlier as your guide, cut out the felt collar.
2. Using the same felt, cut a straight strip that is two inches wide and the length of your shirt to create the side panel.
3. Glue both collar and strip of felt onto your shirt, using a moderate amount of glue, and then let it dry for approximately 10-15 minutes. 4. Sew one button on the left side of the collar and five buttons equal distance along the side of the felt strip.
5. Lastly, trim any long pieces of ribbon and/or felt that are hanging off the edges.

*courtesy of whowhatwear.com & psimadethis.com

Saturday Stimulation-The Dip Dye Effect

 

A popular look is the dip dye effect that Dries Van Noten walked down his runway in his S/S 2011 show.

 
 

Erica Domesek from P.S. I Made This shows whowhatwear how to achieve this look with minimal cost and fuss.

Here’s what you’ll need to be sporting this years most unusual look.

INGREDIENTS:
-Item of your choice
-A Bucket
-Bleach
-12” wooden ruler
-Disposable rubber gloves-
-Distilled White Vinegar

DIRECTIONS:
Before you begin: make sure to wear plastic gloves before you begin working to protect your hands.
1. To create bleach solution, mix two parts water and one part bleach in a plastic bucket.
2. Prepare your item by threading a ruler though all of the belt loops. The ruler will serve as a weight to balance the item while they are soaking in the bleach solution.
3. Dip the item into the liquid to the desired depth. Rest the ruler on the top of the bucket to allow the items to hang in the bleach solution without being completely covered. Leave the item soaking for approx 30 minutes. (Note: the bleach will run slightly, so we recommend leaving an additional inch out of the solution.)
4. After the bleach has turned the item the desired white shade (may take a few dips), remove item from bleach solution and soak in a sink or bathtub with two parts water and one part vinegar for approximately five to ten minutes to stop the bleaching process.
5. Let the item dry out completely, and then cut them to your desired length. Gently pull along the edges to create a more distressed and ragged look.

Please note: Wash and dry the item alone for the first time. After that, you will be able to put into regular loads for future washes.—Jessica Baker for whowhatwear.com

Tempting Thursday-DIY Your very own Burberry trench

When I saw this I SQUEEEEd myself hoarse. This year’s Burberry trench has been on my wish list ever since Christopher Bailey first walked his design down the runway. The trench has always been a classic must have but Bailey’s biker chic embellishments elevates the piece to almost iconic standards.
The Bonded Nappa Biker Studded Trench ($7995) is my personal fav but at 8 grand…I don’t see it gracing my closet anytime soon. This year proves to be no difference. Thank goodness for Erica Domesek from P.S. I Made This. She along with WHOWHATWEAR shows how to make our very own Burberry Prorsum's studded trench at quite a discount.

INGREDIENTS:

-HM Trench Coat ($60)
-Approximately 400 chopsticks or candy apple sticks
-Handsaw
-Gold spray paint
-Chalk
-Glue Gun

DIRECTIONS

Before you begin: if you're particularly good with a handsaw or know someone with a power table saw, proceed with Step 1. For those of you who don't have those tools handy, you can make an alternative version of this trench by purchasing and using gold studs instead. If you choose to do the latter, please refer to the second set of instructions

1. Cut down chopsticks or candy apple sticks to about an inch with a handsaw or ask someone with a power table saw to cut down for you. You should end up with 164 pointy ends for each sleeve.

2. Once you finished cutting the sticks, it's time to paint them! Make sure you're in a well-ventilated area and are working on a flat surface. We suggest protecting your workspace with old magazines or newspaper.

3. Apply a layer of gold spray paint to the pointy tips. Leave them on your workspace for approximately 15 minutes or until dry. Flip them over and spray the other side.

4. Before you apply the spikes to the jacket, use white chalk to outline a rectangle on each arm, starting at the shoulder and ending at the elbow. You want it to be large enough to fit approximately 24 rows and five columns, but this will vary depending on the size of your jacket and how many spikes you want on it.

5. Space the gold spikes evenly in each row and use dabs of hot glue or super glue to secure each spike onto the jacket.

6. Wait approximately 10 minutes or until the glue is completely dry before wearing the trench.

If you choose to use studs:

INGREDIENTS

- H&M Trench Coat ($60)
- 17 bags of Tree Spikes ($13/bag of 20) in Gold
-Leather hole punch or X-Acto knife
-Chalk

DIRECTIONS

1.Before you apply the studs to the jacket, use white chalk to outline a rectangle on each arm, starting at the shoulder and ending at the elbow. You want it to be large enough to fit approximately 24 rows and five columns, but this will vary depending on the size of your jacket and how many studs you want on it.

2. Create small holes using a leather hole punch or X-Acto knife where you would like each stud to go.

3. Press the post of the stud through the small hole and screw the back onto the post.

DIY instructions courtesy of WHOWHATWEAR & PS I Made This
Runway image courtesy of Burberry

DIY Your Way To The Dance Floor

Brought to you courtesy of WhoWhatWear.com

Since we have more time than money on our hands right now, we wondered if it would be possible to recreate these insanely gorgeous runway earrings ourselves. Not knowing where to start, we rang our Do-It-Yourself guru—the one and only Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This—and asked for a little help. Happily for us all, Domesek explained the project in seconds flat and made our disco dreams come true with her easy-to-follow instructions. You'll find all the necessary details below, so break out the tools, it's time to get crafty!
INGREDIENTS
-28 6-inch chains
-28 small (3mm) jump rings
-4 large (4mm) jump rings
-2 Earrings Posts
-2 Ribbon Clamps
-Fishing Line
-Gorilla Super Glue ($6)
-Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Spray Paint ($5) in Black
-Wire Cutters
-Small Pliers
DIRECTIONS
If you are particularly crafty and want to make your own earrings, please start with Step 1. If you're a little lazy or uninterested in this part of the project, you can simply buy similar earrings—like Gorjana's Vintage Chain Tassel Earrings ($48)—and paint them. If you decide to do the latter, please start with Step 8.
1. Divide chains and jump rings into two separate groups. You will need 14 chains, 14 small jump rings, and 2 large jump rings for each earring.
2. For the first earring, use pliers to attach a small jump ring to the end of one chain. Repeat on the 13 remaining chains, so that each chain has a single jump ring.
3. Separate your chains into 2 equal sets; that's 7 chains per set, if you don't like counting.
4. Attach each set of 7 chains to 1 large jump ring (see images in Step 3).
5. Connect the 2 large jump rings to create your first earring. Again, you should have 14 chains in total per earring (see images in Step 3).
6. Repeat Steps 2-5 for the second earring.
7. Now it's time to mount the earrings to the ribbon clamps. For the first earring, thread a piece of fishing line through the 2 large jump rings, then thread the line through the top of the ribbon clamp. Tie a triple knot to secure the earring to the clamp, and then clip any excess fishing line. Repeat for the second earring.
8. Phew! You're done with construction—now you can spray paint! First, make sure you're in a well-ventilated area. Next, you'll need to prep and protect your workspace; we suggest picking a flat area (duh) and covering it with old magazines or newspapers.
9. Cover the top half of your earrings with a piece of paper, leaving the lower half exposed for paint.
10. Apply a thin layer of black spray paint to bottom half of the earrings. Leave them flat on the workspace for approximately 15 minutes or until dry. Flip the earrings over and lightly spray the other side. (Note: too much paint will make the chains clump and stick together—eek!)
11. Once the earrings are fully dry—at least 15 minutes, but possibly much more—apply a small amount of Gorilla Super Glue to the back of each earring post. Hold the posts against the ribbon clamps for approximately ten seconds until firmly in place. Voila! Disco earrings!—Jessica Baker

Tempting Thursday-DIY Marc Jacobs Backwards Cardi

 

WhoWhatWear and Erica Domesek shows us how to get this seasons HOTTEST trend look for less.

What you need:
-1 crewneck cardigan
-Rhinestone, vintage, or otherwise interesting buttons (the number of buttons needed will be determined by the cardigan you use)
-Needle and thread
-Glue gun and glue (if necessary/wanted for better button support)

How To Do It:
1. Lay cardigan on your workspace and unbutton it.
2. Line up your rhinestone buttons in a vertical pattern next to each buttonhole.
3. Sew the button flush to the seam of the buttonhole corner closest to the inside. (Note that you are not switching out the original buttons, but rather adding larger, more ornate buttons that will sit on top of the pre-existing ones. Your new buttons should be large enough to completely cover up the smaller, original buttons.)
4. After securing the new, bigger, rhinestone buttons, you may need to glue them (using the hot glue gun) to the cardigan so that they lay flat. If so, wait a few minutes for the glue to try before buttoning the sweater.
5. Button up the cardigan. Your new decorative buttons should now fully cover the original small buttons.
6. To style it in a Marc Jacobs fashion, wear the cardigan so that the buttons are facing the back!

Marc Jacobs runway photo, courtesy of Marc Jacobs; Sweater detail photo, courtesy of First View, instructions courtesy of WhoWhatWear Daily