Sunday, September 27, 2009

Tacky Friendship Bracelets



Strangely enough, tacky can sometimes be chic. I'm in an a capella group at UVa, and last year one of the girls in the group made us all fun friendship bracelets out of craft beads. Unfortunately, I lost mine in the ocean at Beach Week this past summer, and I was devastated. So when I was at the craft store the other day, I saw some beads, and decided to continue the tradition of these fun little bracelets for the mew girls in the singing group. Paired with cool bangles, these tacky friendship bracelets look hippie-chic. I like.

Difficulty Level: Easy


Materials


- Beads
- "Stretch Magic" bead & jewelry cord.
- Scissors

= about five bucks. Plus, with the supplies you can probably make about twenty bracelets or so, plus add to your craft supplies!

Directions


1. Cut cord to desired length - leave about two or three inches extra to knot.

2. Tie a double knot about two inches in from the end of the cord so the beads won't slide when you string them.

3. String Beads

4. Keep measuring the beads when you're threading them so you have the desired length for your wrist.

5. Tie double knot at the end of the beading.

6. Tie ends together. The elastic cord is slippery so you might have to play with it to get it to stay together - triple/quadruple knont it!

7. Give to all your friends and be hippie-tacky-chic.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Quirky Hair Pins



Ok, last of the button crafts for awhile, I swear. However, this could be a good way to utilize the buttons purchased for the Antique Button Frame. Super easy and chic. I actually got this idea from an accessorized hair pin in an In Style spread. The hair clip was going for about $140.

Ha! That's enough money to get groceries for a week and a half. Instead, try this perhaps 20 cent version:

Difficulty Level: Easy

Materials


- Buttons
- Plyers
- Hot Glue Gun
- Bobby Pins

Directions

1. Pick a cool looking Button

2. Use plyers to rid the button of the hook on the back - in order to make the back of the button a flat surface.

3. Hot Glue button on end of bobby pin.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Antique Button Frame




This is one of my absolutely favorite crafts - and super easy to do! Since I'm slightly obsessed with frames and pictures, and therefore obsessed with making frames this is one of my many, and arguably, the best. The button frame is super chic with the mix-and-match type of antique buttons. It's a perfect frame to set on a bedside table or give as a gift.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Materials:
- 1 Wooden Frame
- Buttons - Glue Gun
- Acrylic Paint/Paintbrushes

- Plyers
(Thanks for the typo correction, Malinda!)






The wooden frame can be found at your local craft store (Michael's, etc). for $1! Buttons are in the sewing aisle - they have tons of different packets. Choose whatever suits your taste and style (though the antique packets are chic in my opinion.) These packets consist of all the buttons you'll need for the project (about 100 per packet, you'll only need 60ish) and are approximately $5.

Directions
1. Paint the frame a fun chic color. My choices include purple or cream!

2. Pick out the buttons you want to use. Vary them in color, size, shape,texture for
extra chic-ness.

3. Take plyers and use your strength to rip the holey part off the back of the buttons. You can do it! You want the backside of the button to be flat so that you can glue it on to the frame later.

4. After the paint on the frame is dry, heat up your glue gun (I have a cute mini-sized one) and artistically pile and glue the buttons on the wooden frame in layers.


Beautiful!



Cozy Saturday

Yes, it's Saturday.... I have an excuse for not going out, though! I'm getting over a cold - so I'm trying to be productive and get a bit of school work done. So I snuggled up in my shabby chic pj's. I haven't crafted for awhile, since I've been so busy lately. So I'll start by posting some of my fav oldies but goodies. Get excited....