Coin Cufflinks

When i was last in Washington, DC I explored a local craft fair, and came across a man selling coin cufflinks. He used coins of all sizes from all over the world, carefully fused to create one-of-a-kind pieces. I took the inspiration and decided to make a couple pairs for a friend's birthday - with some really neat Singapore coins he had given me. These are extremely easy to make and are great custom gifts for any gent in your life!

What you'll need:

2 coins - whatever size and style you choose

Cufflink backs - I got these 12mm posts from Etsy

E600 adhesive (found at any craft store)

Clear nail polish or clear spray paint - optional as a sealant

Clean off your coins, removing any dirt so the adhesive will have a stronger hold (I used toothpaste). Next, apply a generous drop of adhesive to the base plate of the cufflink back. Carefully place the base onto the back side of the coin you do not want exposed. Make sure to line up the coin design with the horizontal piece of the base so it will be straight when in the shirt.

Hold the base firmly onto the coin, wiping away excess adhesive with a q-tip if needed. Let dry (I waited overnight just to be safe) and apply a light coat of clear nail polish or spray paint to both sides.

Find a nice box, and you have the perfect customized gift!

Pin It Now!

Studded Bra

I love the stud trend - jackets, denim, shoes, anything really.  So I decided to do a little studded DIY.  The studs add a little edge to your outfit, and I love that you can play with this look however you want.

What you'll need:

Simple bra (strapless if you prefer; whatever color you like)

Pyramid studs (size and quantity of your choosing)

Pliers

Exacto-knife

Step 1:  Make small slits in the bra for the stud tines using your exacto-knife.  Add the stud and bend the tines down with your pliers.

Step 2:  Add more studs - poke the two tines through the same holes on the adjacent sides of the studs so that there is little to no space between them (it also saves on how many holes you have to make).

 

Step 3:  Stud some more, as far across as you like.

Step 4:  Start the next row, slightly windowing the studs so that they are not straight below each other (unless that is what you want).

Continue to stud until you have your desired design.  Now throw it together with a blazer or let it peep out from under a blouse, and go have some fun!

Pin It Now!

Update + New Projects

It's been awhile since I've last posted, it's been a busy couple of weeks. I have been slack on my DIY projects, however I am working to change that and I do have a couple of fun things I'll be adding shortly.  My focus at the moment is not as much DIY but more along the lines of jewelry - particularly wire.  I will have those pictures up soon which is exciting!

For now, a look at creating washer necklaces:

Using washers is a cheap and easy way to have fun with your jewelry.  The hardware adds an edgy feel to the pieces, yet they are still feminine and unique to your own tastes.

Ribbon Necklace

What you'll need:

Double sided ribbon

Seventeen 7/16" diam. washers

Two 3/8" diam. washers

Two 1/4" diam. washers

Depending on how long you want your necklace, start with three or four feet of double sided ribbon, the color of your choice.  I chose a beige satin ribbon.  You will need two 1/4" and 3/8" washers, and seventeen 7/16" washers.  I found them for $1.66 a pack at Lowes and they're available individually as well.

Step 1:  Thread the smallest (1/4") washer onto your ribbon, about 9" from the end.  Then thread the 3/8" washer onto the ribbon beside it.  NOTE:  washers are one sided; when threading the washers, make sure you keep the matte sides and shiny sides in the same direction.

Step 2:  Thread the ribbon back through the first washer and pull tight.  Lay the washers flat against each other.

Step 3:  Thread the ribbon back up through the second washer.

Step 4:  Adding a third washer:  thread the ribbon through a third washer, and back down through the second washer.  When you pull it tight they should lie flat.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have the desired necklace length.  Thread the second 3/8" and 1/4" washers at the end.

Tie the ends of the ribbon and voilá!

Chandelier Necklace

What you'll need:

Ten 3/8" diam. washers

Fingernail polish or paint

0.39" jump rings

14" chain

Necklace clasp

Pliers

You're going to need ten 3/8" diam. washers (you can use bigger or smaller if you'd like), and twelve 0.39" jump rings--either silver or gold depending on your preference.  I used red fingernail polish because I had it at home, but craft paint will work just as well.

Start by painting both sides and edges of the washers your desired color.  Make sure to wait until each side is completely dry so that it doesn't get messed up when you flip over your washers.

Next, use jump rings to join your chain to the washers.  NOTE:  if your chain is in one piece, use pliers to open the middle chain link and split the chain in two.  Add the necklace clasps to each end of the chain.

Now you have a cool piece of custom jewelry!

Pin It Now!

The start of my wire jewelry

I've been working long and hard these last couple months on jewelry, and I'm really excited about it all!  I've been slowly posting pictures up, and every piece is for sale on my Etsy site.

I am also taking metal-working classes, learning the beautiful art behind metal jewelry.  I am hoping to have some metal pieces in the near future as well.  Enjoy!

Pin It Now!

Paint Sample Calendar

I am a big organization freak, and calendars are one way for me to keep up with important events, appointments and birthdays (cause come on, we can't remember everything no matter how hard we try).  Using paint samples, I have an easy and colorful way to make a custom calendar.  Not to mention this project is CHEAP!

What you'll need:

Paint samples

Poster board

Picture frame

Scissors

Ruler

Start by going to Lowes or Home Depot and picking out some paint sample colors of your choosing (they're free!).  I decided to go with three colors but you can use however many you want.  You will need enough for six rows of seven sample colors.

First, I cut the poster board to the size of the picture frame (I used a 16x20" frame). Then I cut the paint samples to the size I wanted my boxes; I chose to make them 2.5" squares.  I arranged them on the poster board and pasted them down, leaving a 1/4" space between each square.

Put the poster board inside the picture frame and you're finished.  Just jot down your dates, and when the month is over, you simply erase and you have a brand new calendar for next month!

Pin It Now!

Tangle Free Headphones

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I'm done using my headphones, I simply throw them into my bag.  I don't take the time to carefully wrap them up and sure enough, they always manage to tangle themselves.  I spend a good number of minutes trying to untangle them before I give up and use them half-coiled.  Keeping cords thicker is a simple way to make sure they do not become tangled in your pocket or bag.  With this in mind, I've found a solution:  using thread to make a "friendship bracelet" around the headphone cord.  It makes them fun and colorful and cuts down on tangles.

What you'll need:

Headphones

Embroidery thread, colors of your choosing

Scissors

Clear nail polish (optional)

I chose three strands of embroidery thread, using my favorite colors.  I wanted multiple colors, but the more you have the more difficult they are to deal with.  When wrapping the thread, is recommended to use three times the length you're wrapping.  I started out using part of each skein (thread bundle), but ended up using the whole skein.

Starting with the main headphone cord, do a half-knot of thread around the headphones, keeping equal strand length on either side of the half-knot.  It might help to tape the end of the cord to the edge of a counter, table, chair, etc. to give it some tension.

You will then begin the "basic knot."  Grouping the threads by color, separate your first color on the left and group the other colors and the cord together.  Cross the left thread over the others, making a "4" shape; then wrap the thread under the rest and back up through the hole, pulling it tight.

I did about 10-12 loops of each color before switching, but you can choose how long you want each color to be.  When you've finished with your first color, simply pull the strands of your next color and do the same basic knot steps.

This next step is the reason I folded my string at the beginning and used two strands of each color thread.  When you reach the cord split, spit your strands so that you have two groups, with one of each color in a group.  Continue as you were before with the basic knot step on each earbud cord.

When you get to the end of your cords, tie a knot and cut the excess thread.  You can coat the ends of the thread with clear nail polish to keep them from fraying.

Now you have a colorful new pair of headphones that are fun and tangle free!

Pin It Now!

DIY Jewelry Organizer

I, like many of you, have tons of jewelry.  I have pieces I wear all the time, while others are saved for special occasions.  I’ve tried all kinds of organizers—bead boxes with different compartments, jewelry boxes, ring bowls, hanging everything up on hooks that I have to take down and put back up every time I move, etc.  Then I found an organizer that used drawer pulls, and thought it looked like a great idea.  With options for bracelets, rings and necklaces, I can have everything in one place.

Here is my version of the drawer-pull jewelry organizer.

What you’ll need:

A piece of plywood or wood/board of your choosing

Power drill and bits

Screwdriver

Various drawer knobs and pulls

Scissors

Material

Adhesive

Thumbtacks

Pencil

I chose to use wood because that is what I had at hand and drawer pulls are relatively heavy so I wanted something that would hold them up.  I used a 16”x18” piece of plywood as my base.  If you don’t have any wood, Lowe’s is a good place to go and they will cut the board for you.

I originally planned to use mix-and-match antique drawer pulls, but couldn’t find any at nearby thrift stores.  However, I like the uniformed look of these silver knobs, and since I wanted to use a printed fabric background, I didn’t want it to be too busy with the mix-and-match pulls.  I found the knobs and cups at Target; the knobs were $16.99 for a pack of 10, the cups were $8.00 for a pack of two, and the long pull was $8.00 at Lowe’s. You can find them cheaper at thrift stores if you want to mix and match.

I played around with the arrangement on my board, using some of my jewelry to measure the length between knobs.  For my board, I put the long pull across the top for bracelets, and the ring holders right underneath.  That way, I still have most of my board for necklaces since they take up the most space.  I took into account how many long, short, and bulky pieces I have when deciding the space between knobs. 

After marking where I wanted the pulls with a pencil, I used a power drill to drill holes into the wood.  I chose wood because I knew I had access to a power drill; if you don’t, try using a thick foam board or something that doesn’t need a drill to get through.

I decided to use spray adhesive ($6 at Michaels) because it dries relatively quickly and is easy to use.  You could also use hot glue or a staple gun.  I added some thumbtacks ($2 at Wal-Mart) as a second measure to make sure the material does not slip or come loose.

Cutting the fabric a couple inches longer than the plywood, I laid them both flat and glued each side of the fabric to the wood one at a time, folding the corners similar to how you fold wrapping paper around box corners to make sure it didn’t bunch.

I then hammered the thumbtacks onto the edges of the fabric, leaving a couple inches in between each thumbtack.

After securing the material to the board, I used scissor points to make small holes in the material over the holes in the wood.  Then I screwed in the drawer pulls.

Here’s the finished project!  I’ve already hung some of my jewelry on my new organizer, and will be adding more to it soon.  Pin It Now!