MOTHER'S DAY DIY ROUNDUP

Want to give your mom something handmade for Mother’s Day? I’ve put together this Mother’s Day DIY roundup, which features projects by many amazingly creative people. I’ve included projects for making jewelry, bags, stationery, spa goodies, as well as plant and gift wrap ideas. Hope you find some inspiration here. Have a happy weekend filled with crafts! Nicole.

JEWELRY

1) Wrapped hoops – Flax and Twine

2) Beaded tassel necklace – Chic Steals

3) Ring dish – Doe A Deery

4) Polymer clay necklace – Design Sponge

5) Wrapped tassel necklace – Tuts+

6) Scalloped necklace – Minted Strawberry

BAGS

1) Crochet leather flap clutch – Delia Creates

2) Laptop sleeves – The Felted Fox

3) Fold over clutch – Say Yes

4) Leather clutch – Design Love Fest

5) Scallop purse – Monster Circus

6) Triangle clutch – Desmitten

7) Lunch Bag – Syl And Sam  

CANDLEHOLDERS

1) Copper and wood candleholder – Mormors Glamour

2) Faceted clay votive – Gathering Beauty

3) Multiple taper candleholder – Inspired By Charm

4) Handpainted votives – Funnel Cloud

5) Marble and copper candleholder – The Felted Fox

STATIONERY

1) Free printable card – Studio DIY

2) Ombre journals – Damask Love

3) Dip-dyed stationery – The Merry Thought

4) Metallic feather pens – Monster Circus

5) Envelopes – A Fabulous Fete

SPA

1) All natural foundation – Free People

2) Dry skin scrub – Fuss Free Cooking

3) Cranberry lip gloss – Organic Authority

4) Foaming cleanser – Blah Blah Magazine

5) Clay mask – Soap Deli News

6) Chamomile body cream – Fresh Picked Beauty

PLANT IDEAS

1) Airplant hanger – I Don’t Know How She Does It

2) Bud vase – The Merry Thought

3) Terrarium – Wit and Whistle

4) Seed packets – Satori for living

5) Succulent kissing ball – Joy Us Garden

6) Rose bowl – Mormors Glamour

7) Herb labels – Chris loves Julia

WRAP IT UP!

1) Pie chart gift tags – Eat Drink Chic

2) Gift wrap ideas – The House that Lars Built

3) Wood veneer gift tags – Sugar and Cloth

4) Chalk board boxes – Heather Bullard

5) Paper anemones – Lia Griffith 

CAGE DRESS DIY

Spring has reached Switzerland.  The trees are bearing leaves once again, the birds are nesting and there are tulips everywhere.  It really is a beautiful time to be in Basel and I’m savoring every moment.  It’s finally time to unpack my summer clothes.

I brought along a little black dress that had been hanging in my closet for many years.  It’s one of those handy dresses that you can cram into the smallest corner of your suitcase and doesn’t require ironing (I love those!).  After unpacking the dress, I decided that it could use some spicing up.  A little DIY was in order.  With just a bit of ribbon and thread I converted it to a “cage dress”.  Now it’s ready for a night out.

Clockwise from top left: Boutique Seven, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Rebecca Taylor, Nasty Gal.

Supplies

Little black dress

Black ribbon (width matching the straps of dress)

Scissors

Safety pins

Needle

Black thread

Matches

Dress form (optional)

Method

1) The first step in converting your little black dress into a cage dress is to cut a piece of ribbon large enough to wrap around your head.

2) Burn the ends of the ribbon (to prevent it from fraying) and sew together.

3) Pin the neckpiece in place.  Here it would help to have a dress form.  Unfortunately, I had to try the dress on and pin the ribbon in place.

4) Add a few cross pieces of ribbon, pinning and burning the ends as you go along.

5) Try the dress on to make sure the ribbons are correctly positioned.

6) Once you are happy, sew ribbons in place and remove safety pins.

Voila! Your cage dress is done.

Well the back of the dress could use some tweaking, but it will do for now.

Do you have a little black dress in your closet that you’re bored of?  Why not try and convert it into a cage dress?  If you do, send me some photos of your finished work.  I’d love to see the result.  Till next time… Nicole.

FAUX LEATHER SWEATER DIY

Grüetzi!  I’m excited to be blogging from Switzerland.  The husband and I will be based here for the next three months while he is a visiting fellow at the University of Basel.  I finally have a chance to practice my non-existent German on the unsuspecting masses.

Before I left home I reinvented a few items of clothing and some decorative pieces, which I’ll share in the coming months. I’ll also post a few travel photos and tips, so check back often for some European inspiration.

First up, I converted my husband’s old sweater into a fitted faux leather top.  I loved wearing his oversized sweater on wintery days at home.  But it turns out that the moths in my closet loved it too.  When the sweater became too embarrassing to wear, I decided to reinvent it by keeping the wool sleeves and adding a faux leather body.  Now I have a new piece to wear around Europe, which, judging by all the faux leather jackets in Switzerland, is bang on trend.

Supplies:

Old wool sweater

1 yard of costume pleather (should have some stretch if you want a more fitted top)

Black thread

Scissors

Chalk

Method:

1) Carefully remove sleeves from body.

2) Use the old sweater bodice as a template to cut a faux leather back and front.  If you prefer a more fitted top, cut faux leather to preferred size, using the armholes of the original sweater as a template.  Just remember to add a ½ inch seam allowance.

3) With right sides facing, sew front and back of bodice together.

4) Insert the sleeves and attach to bodice.

Why not reimagine an old piece of clothing from your closet? If you’re stuck, send me a photo and I’ll try my best to help. Nicole