Double Denim DIY: Metallic Tuxedo Stripe

One of my last DIY tutorials for the Style Section was actually the brainchild of my assistant editor, who was unimpressed by the outcome of Refinery29's Denim Cutoff Cheap Challenge. The contributors must have been running low on their creative juices, because they all seemed to settle for the most basic edits, like cutting and cuffing. Jenn insisted we could do better, so you be the judge. Check out our Double Denim DIY Challenge over at The Triangle.

P.S. I was left to my own devices when it came to taking these photos, and lucky for me, my remote battery was dead! What you see above were some of the most awkward and difficult selfies I've ever had to take. There was a lot of twisting, craning and couch climbing. 

DIY: Madewell Paris Tee

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a self-proclaimed Madewell fangirl. I spotted this tee in the brand's fall lookbook and for some reason, I just had to have it. If you know me at all, I'm not one to often don a tee and pair of jeans. Sadly, not only is this tee $45, it's also back-ordered until January of next year! Yeah right! Within a day I was off to the store to gather everything I needed to make this incredibly simple piece for myself.

What you'll need:

• a grey heather tee (mine was $6 from Target)
• cardstock
• an Exacto knife and blades
• black fabric paint
• a paint brush or sponge
• tape
• a piece of cardboard and newspaper

First, print out your text on a piece of cardstock. I recognized this font immediately as Impact, a standard font in Microsoft Office, which was what initially inspired me to make this tee on my own. I made the text as large as I could without it overflowing onto a second line in the word document.

Next, cut out your letters carefully using your Exacto knife. Save the inside pieces of the "P" and "R", you'll be using them later.

Next, insert a piece of cardboard or newspaper inside your tee. This will keep the fabric paint from seeping through to the back of the shirt.

Tape your stencil down across the chest of your tee, including the inside pieces of some of the letter "P", "A" and "R".

Then apply your paint. I used a drybrush technique to create a distressed look. I knew I wouldn't be able to create clean and exact lines that would look as good as a professionally screen printed shirt, so I just decided to work with it.

I let the first coat dry for about twenty minutes and then refined and darkened certain areas. Following the directions on the fabric paint bottle, I let the tee dry for 36 hours and then washed it inside out.

That's it! My text ended up being a little off center, so I regret no taking the time the align it more accurately. So far I've worn this to class several times and no one has been able to tell the difference. Good luck!

DIY Terrariums

Does the internet need another DIY tutorial on how to make terrariums? No. Will I make one anyway? Of course. I'm still overcoming a serious case of jet lag that knocks me out at 9 every night and wakes me up at the crack of 6 AM. In a desperate attempt to make use of the early hours I would have rather spent asleep, I've embarked on a terrarium-making spree.

You'll need:

• glass containers
• small stones
• cactus soil or potting soil
• a spoon
• newspaper to cover your work area
• succulents or cacti

I found two of my glass containers at the craft store and two at the thrift store, and none of them cost more than a couple of dollars.

Start with a layer of small rocks on the bottom - this will provide proper drainage for your plants. Fill the next layer with just enough soil to cover the roots of your plants. Once they're in place, fill the area around them with some more soil and pack it down.

If your terrariums have lids, you should also sprinkle a handful of activated charcoal between the stones and soil to absorb extra moisture.

That's it! It's certainly not rocket science, and I've heard that succulents are pretty resilient plants. Hopefully these will survive once they're moved into my new apartment at the end of week.

Friday DIY: Handmade Cards

For the past couple of years I've been handing out handmade, personalized Christmas cards along with each gift I've given. Most of all it's fun, but making cards can also be more cost-efficient (and they look better than those template cards you can print out from Publisher!)

I can never formulate a clever enough phrase or witty saying like the cards you find in Hallmark. Instead I like to use one of my favorite elements, typography, and spell out the recipient's name on the front of the card. I also prefer writing my own messages rather than just tagging a "Best wishes!" onto some filler copy.

 This card is my favorite so far! Bonus points to anyone who gets my "CARDIS" joke. 

Most of the letter I used are based off of fonts I found on DaFont, the most useful website ever. Once in a while I'll drip some paint or smudge something by accident, being my clumsy self, in which case I'll try to cleverly incorporate it into the card's design.

What I used:

- colored cardstock

- pencil and ruler (always sketch first!)

- acrylic paint

- metallic paint pens

- Elmer's glue

- glitter

- ribbons, twine, and bows

DIY Inspiration

A fringe necklace seems like a perfectly simple DIY. This tutorial demonstrates exactly how I would have done it!

(via The Sartorialist)

I've been busy with midterm projects, but as soon as I get the chance next week I'll be sure to pick up some suede (or faux suede) to get my elbow pad projects started.

This beaded collar from Free People is stunning, isn't it? Absolutely out of my price range, yes, but I'm confident I could find some way to recreate it.

Urban Outfitters

A brightly colored thrift store skirt would be the perfect candidate for an asymmetrical hem DIY. What I like most about these skirts is that you can wear them any which way, with the shorter hem in the front or off to the side.

I've never been more excited for Thanksgiving break. Some time off from school and a couple creative projects is just what I need. I know for a fact I'll be working on Black Friday (eep!), so at least I know it will be a productive break. I hope everyone else's holiday goes just as well!

DIY: Turn Shorts into a Skirt!

When I go shopping or thrifting I always make sure to keep an eye out for pieces with "potential." I figured out how to turn a pair of shorts into a skirt after mistaking several vintage rompers for dresses, and I've successfully converted quite a few into totally wearable pieces. Now I know not everyone is super-crafty and you may not have a sewing machine at your disposal, but I promise you this is easy!

You'll need:

- 1 pair of shorts

- scissors or fabric shears

- seam ripper

- sewing machine or needle & thread

- pins

FIRST, turn your shorts inside-out. Then locate the seam that runs across the crotch of your shorts from one pant leg to the other. This is the thread you're going to rip out. This is easiest to accomplish with a seam ripper, but if you don't have one you can use a pair of scissors. Just take your time and be careful not to cut any holes in the fabric.

SECOND, pin together the front two edges and the back edges of your skirt. You are basically extending the seam that runs front-to-back, so use the existing stitches as a guideline. I find it easiest to do so by pulling the new edges taught. Having a bit of extra fabric along the inside of the new seam is normal, you'll just trim it off after you're done sewing.

THIRDLY, sew the two front edges together. Remember that you're extending the existing front-to-back seam, so you should either start or end as closely as possible to that existing seam.

Do the same for the back, following the line of the existing seam to make sure your new stitches blend in. After you've sewn both the back and front edges together, you should see a garment that looks like a skirt! You're almost done!

LASTLY, finish the hem. This is easily accomplished by folding the raw bits of fabric under and aligning their folded edge with the existing hem. Make sure you sew along the thread line of the existing hem so that your new stitches blend in. If you'd like to be especially thorough, you can press these new seams (but they should fall into place after you wash your new garment).

That's it! This project shouldn't take more than half an hour to complete. I didn't think to showcase this DIY until someone asked me about it on tumblr, but it's one that I do rather frequently. Next time I turn a pair of shorts into a skirt I'll be sure to photograph each step. If anyone takes a swing at it post a photo and let me know!

DIY: Floral Pennant Banner

(via)

It's just like me to wait until the absolute last night of summer vacation to squeeze in a project. I was inspired to make my own floral pennant banner after I saw a few for sale on Etsy and though, "it can't be that hard!" It wasn't at all, and since I have some fabric left over I plan on making another one, either for myself or for a gift. So here's how I did it:

The first thing you need to make a pennant banner is fabric. I scoured thrift stores until I came across the perfect floral print in a long vintage Ralph Lauren skirt. It was several sizes too small for me to wear but the print was exactly what I wanted. 

Next, you'll want a template. I cut out a piece of card-stock in the shape of a triangle, but you can use paper, cardboard, or really anything depending on what you want the shape of your pennants to be. 

Trace the outline of your template on the underside of your fabric (just as if you were tracing a pattern to sew a garment). You could use tailor's chalk, but I just used a pencil. 

When you're done tracing one triangle, flip over the template and trace another one adjacent to the edge of the first shape. The result will be a rhombus. I originally intended to make the back side of each pennant in a solid color fabric, in which case I would cut out a single triangle of each fabric.

When the pennants are hung they'll be folded in half, so my banner will be reversible. 

How you string your pennants up is also due to preference. I cut three lengths of thing ribbon in colors that matched the pattern of my fabric and knotted them together at each end. I folded the lengths of ribbon in half, to make it easiest to place the pennants evenly, and distributed three pennants on each half (I just eyeballed the distances).

 I folded the pennants in half, which happened to be marked by the pencil lines I had drawn previously, and creased it slightly with an iron. Using a hot glue gun, I placed three dots of hot glue along the crease, set the ribbon on top of the same crease, folded over the fabric and pressed the ribbon gently into the dots of glue. Then I went back along the edges of the pennants and drew a line of hot glue to hold both halves together.

I let the glue cool, and that's it! I have more fabric left over, and I plan on sewing another banner rather than gluing it. Altogether it took about 30 minutes and I can't wait to hang it up in my dorm room tomorrow.

DIY: Turquoise Beaded Necklace

I've always had an affinity for turquoise jewelry; my favorite necklace when I was a kid was a strand of turquoise beads from New Mexico, and last summer a ring with a turquoise stone was eternally glued to my finger. What I like most about this color stone is that it compliments a range of different colors, my favorites being black, red, and yellow. Turquoise necklaces have come back in a big way and I've found myself longing for a statement piece. I couldn't find one that was just right, so I made one myself and thought I'd share how I did it! 

What you'll need:

-  2 strands of turquoise beads from the craft store

- clasp, chain, and rings to create the closure

- scissors

-pliers

Optional:

- new chain or string

- needle and thread

First, determine the desired length of your necklace. If you're putting the beads on a new string or chain, measure and cut the string or purchase a chain of your desired length. For the beads I used, I kept them on their original strand. I overlapped the ends of two strands, then used thread to secure to the loose ends to the opposite strand.

Using your pliers and rings, attached the clasp and chain closures to the ends. Make sure you pinch the rings closed tightly so that the strand or thread won't slip through!

And that's it! I wore mine all day today. I picked these beads because their shape reminded me of coral or a coral reef. I think I'd like to make one out of turquoise needles too. 

I put the finished product on my new jewelry stand!