I won't lie. I did NOT enjoy shopping for shoes for my wedding. Like, at ALL. I knew exactly what I wanted and I couldn't find them anywhere. Not even online. All I wanted was a simple open-toed strappy nude or ivory wedge heel with just the tiniest touch of something special. Is that asking too much??
No bling, no glitter, no lace, no stiletto heel, no patent leather or cheap looking satin...just something comfortable, something simple, and hopefully even something so simple I could maybe wear them again (what a novel idea!!)
Oh, and I didn't want to pay $400 either, soooo....there's that.
After spending way too many hours scouring the internet and an entire day and a half running all over town trying on shoes until my little piggies hurt, I gave up and went to Target to see if they had any leather sandals to replace my favorite pair that broke....and to give my feet something comfortable for the drive home.
Well lo and behold...guess what? I saw the perfect wedding shoe just sitting there on the shelf, coyly waiting for me as I turned down the aisle. Pale faux suede with a lovely curved wedge and ankle strap, just asking for a little DIY embellishment.
Shock and awe! My size? What an amazing turn of events! And comfortable too? And under $30?? SERIOUSLY? Score. Happy dance. Smiley face. And I can guaran-dam-tee ya I'll be wearing these babies again too. I love them!
If you're on mobile device and can't see the embedded video, you can watch my Easy DIY Bridal Shoe Hack video on YouTube.
HOW TO:
So, as you can see, this was ridiculously simple. I just grabbed a yard of 6" wide tulle ribbon (available in tons of fun colors besides white and ivory) and doubled it over, lengthwise. Then I used it to tie around the shoe or around my ankle. Of course, repeat for the other side. Trim ends as necessary, and that's it. Under 2 minutes. Done!
The most difficult part is deciding which way I want to wear them! My dress is a tea-length gown, so it ends about 6" above my ankle. What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinion!
And, bonus!! I found myself a pair of cute sandals (on sale) to change into as the night winds down. All in? About $50 for two pairs of shoes for my wedding that I will definitely wear again (though, probably without the tulle). I'm a happy girl.
Stay tuned for more DIY wedding stuff - I've got tons more planned. Coming soon: my bridal necklace tutorial, pretty bridal hair comb tutorial, and some DIY crepe paper rose pomanders. And if you missed it, check out my Mason Jar Hanging Lanterns Tutorial.
I know I'm not the only one who has a crush on mason jars. Mason jars are huge in arts and crafts and in DIY weddings, especially right now...in case you have been living under a rock.
Ever since I saw these cute customizable mason jar save-the-dates I knew I wanted to incorporate mason jars into my someday wedding, even though that was a couple of years ago and I wasn't actually even engaged yet... So yeah, I totally had a crush on them first ;)
I thought it might be easier to make a video showing the step-by-step process than just take a zillion boring photos of me looping wire that may or may not really make sense. Plus, I like making videos.
For my hangers in this video, I used some electrical wire (Romex) reclaimed from the trash pile after we installed a new ceiling fan. It's perfect for all kinds of crafts, and it's solid copper! But if you don't happen to have any of this stuff lying around, you can find 12 gauge (or 14 gauge would work too) wire in your choice of metals at the craft store or at the hardware store.
I believe the mouths of mason jars are a standard size, but just for reference I am using the quart sized jars.
There's a complete list of tools and supplies after the video. (If you're on a mobile device and can't see the embedded video, you can watch this Mason Jar Lantern How To on YouTube.) Enjoy!
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I have to admit this wasn't a planned post. I just woke up this morning and thought, darn it! I wanna do something FUN today. So I decided to do a little patriotic nail art with what I had available...which turned out to be some aluminum foil, some glitter glue, and a little bit of nail polish. Hmmm, well, you know what? It turned out pretty great if I do say so myself, and I didn't have to make a run to the store, so in my book, that makes it 10x more awesome :)
I also made it into my very first video for my new YouTube channel, which is something I have been wanting to do for a while. (I keep my other channel specifically for jewelry making tutorials, so random fun things like funky nail art designs and other such distractions don't exactly fit in, I think?) So yeah. 15 hours later, here is the finished post and edited video. And there goes my 4th of July, LOL!
My good friend Kat (of Kat Spencer Photography) mentioned that she was going to be setting up a photobooth at the Special Arts Festival in Garland this month. She told me about the awesome kissing booth that she was building, and said she was making mustaches and other fun props for the kids to enjoy. "Would you want to help?" she says. "Are you kidding?? You had me at 'mustaches'!" I said.
Well, actually, she had me at 'photobooth'. I won't deny that I am obsessed lately.
Anyway, I thought it would be cute to make some heart-shaped frames as props, and I wanted to practice my crepe paper flower rolling technique...hence this project was born!
I realized suddenly at the beginning of a project how spoiled I have been by the ease of finding templates online for any shape I could ever need to make. Just print and trace or cut out...without ever giving it a second thought. Hearts are particularly easy - I can just use the heart shape tool in Photoshop and stretch or squash the heart to the right dimension and enlarge or reduce the size until it's just what I need, and print it out.
However, what happens when I need a HUGE shape - too big to print out? Hmmm, do I trust myself to be able to draw a perfectly symmetrical heart on a piece of posterboard? Uh...no. So I came up with a plan.
Here's how to draw a symmetrical heart without a heart-shaped template to trace!
This rich Lemon Butter Balm is amazing and extremely versatile. You can use it as a lip balm, cuticle cream, moisturizer for hands, feet, elbows, knees, body, etc. It is deeply moisturizing and will do wonders for your winter dry skin, and it has a lovely subtle scent, which reminds me of honey lemon tea.
Of course you can play around with the 'flavors' by adding essential oils to the mix. I really only used the lemon extract because I had it on hand and didn't have any lemon essential oil around, which would have made for a stronger scent (you would probably only need several drops instead of 2 tsp of extract).
I poured mine into Altoids tins because I happened to have a giant stash saved up (I used to keep them for jewelry making supplies...back when my stock was small enough to fit in these tiny containers :). Plus I thought they'd be kinda cool and they're the perfect size to stash in your purse!
Thankfully, I am unable to grow a mustache of my own. But I can support Movember in other ways... I just made a donation and now I'm spreading the word! I hope you'll consider making a donation as well. Here's a peek at what Movember is all about:
During Movember, men (called "Mo Bros") grow mustaches for the month of November to raise money and awareness for men's health - very serious but generally un-talked-about issues such as prostate and testicular cancer. Read more about Movember here. You can sponsor a particular Mo Bro and his 'stache, or you can make a general donation to the cause.
I've been collecting these glass jars for a while now. I love them! We use them as mugs for everything at our house: water, tea, beer, wine, and even my famous homemade Sangria (that's the beautiful berry-hued beverage in the photo).
I always thought, they're jelly jars but they have handles on them. Surely I'm supposed to save these and reuse them, right? In fact, I think the only reason I tried the jelly in the first place is because I wanted the jars...but it turns out the jelly was pretty good, so now I have a full set of 12...at least. (BTW, if you can't find these jars of jelly in the store, you can buy the empty jars online here, at Amazon of course.)
And I've always wanted to try etching glass, but I was always a little scared by the warnings on the bottle of etching cream. Seriously...the whole side of the bottle is dedicated to hinting that terrible things can happen if you don't follow the warnings. "Call poison control immediately if"...and "seek medical attention immediately when"...and "wear gloves" and "wear goggles" and "use in a well-ventilated area". That's enough to scare off a clumsy dummy like me...at least for a bit.
I finally got brave and bought a bottle of Armour Etch and tried it, and I'm happy to report that there were no injuries. Now, if you're going to try this at home boys and girls, PLEASE read all the info on the container before using this extremely harsh chemical. And be aware that the chemicals can also etch aluminum sinks and metal faucets, so have a plastic bucket of water ready for clean-up and be careful what you touch with your messy gloves.
NOTE: this is my experience with Armour Etch, and instructions may be different for other brands or products so do your research before you get started! In fact, I'll share my original failed attempt at this project using a different (horrible, awful) product that I urge you to stay away from...at the bottom of the page.
Now that I have those disclaimers out of the way...here's how I etched the glass mugs!
I am so very excited to share this tutorial with you for several reasons...
✧ This is my very first YouTube video EVER! (Mini backstory: I graduated with a filmmaking degree 12 years ago and this is the first time I have made a video since then...and it feels great!)
✧ This marks the first time I've told anyone about a very super duper secret project I've been working on for several months now...a brand new website dedicated to jewelry making tutorials! (still very much a work in progress, but this is a huuuuuge step!)
I actually carved my pumpkin several days ago, but I'm only just finally getting around to posting a photo. I figured this might be my last chance, since it's almost Halloween!
For September, the secret "Iron Craft" ingredient was plastic bottles, and I just happen to keep and reuse a lot of water bottles already. (Oh, what's that you're surprised?!? Surely not :)
My favorites to use are Vitamin Water bottles, because I like the way they add their flavor to the water when you fill them up! I also happened to notice that they have a pretty cool embossed pattern on them, under the label. Have you ever noticed? Take a look ⤵
Pretty neat, huh? And the larger bottles have a slightly different pattern, which is also kinda cool. I have my eye on those for my next planter pots.
This is a simple sewing project and not only is it a wonderful way to use up some of your scrap fabric stash, but you get to 'spice' up your decor with warm fall colors while making your home smell like Autumn! These lovely little handmade pumpkins make great Halloween decorations or Thanksgiving centerpieces, and would be perfect as a hostess gift if you're enjoying your Thanksgiving feast as a guest.
Learn how to make these fun wire wrapped hoop earrings with my best-selling jewelry tutorial! Large high quality photos and step-by-step instructions will show you how to make a pair of 1.5" diameter hoops just like these (plus instructions for how to make other sizes) from scratch, including the hoops themselves. Tutorial is 8 pages including front and back cover pages and includes 19 detailed images along with written explanations. File size is 3.6MB. A link to the downloadable pdf file tutorial will be emailed to you automatically upon purchase. $7.99 USD
• jewelry hammer (optional*) • anvil or bench block (optional*)
* Optional items would be required if your preference is to hammer the hoops flat as shown in photos; it's not necessary but a matter of taste. Earrings made without this step are very similar, the wire will just be round and not flattened.
COPYRIGHT:
All images, text, and graphics within the tutorial are the intellectual property of the author and are therefore subject to international copyright laws. This tutorial is not to be shared or reproduced, in whole or in part, by any means without express written consent of the author.
Purchasing this tutorial grants you permission to sell earrings made as a product of following these instructions.
Are you ready for another fun tutorial? Let me show you how I made these cute "Honeydew List" or grocery list holder fridge magnets from popsicle sticks and baby clothespins!
This month's Etsy Fort Worth Upcycle THIS! Craft Challenge 'secret ingredient' is popsicle sticks. I have been making popsicles like crazy (and eating them like crazy) so I could use the sticks for this project...you know, so they would be officially 'upcycled'.
I'm really excited about the way these cute little bracelets turned out, and I can't wait to show you how I made them!
TOOLS & SUPPLIES:
• popsicle sticks (1 stick will make 2 bracelets)
• craft knife
• ruler
• power drill with 1/32" drill bit
• fine sandpaper (120-240 grit)
• round needle file (optional)
• container with water
• wide rubber bands
• cylindrical drinking glass (around 3" in diameter)
• paintbrush
• toothpick
•Krylon Crystal Clear gloss finish spray (optional)
• 32" 1mm leather or cord (cut into 2 16 inch pieces)
• acrylic paints
• *scrapbook paper (small scraps, at least 3/4" x 2 3/4")
• *Mod Podge
* You can either paint the wood with your own special design, or decoupage using the scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. If you choose the second option, we will still be using the acrylic paint to finish the back of the wooden pieces.
INSTRUCTIONS:
First, if you are using used popsicle sticks, wash them well and make sure they are completely dry.
Use the ruler to find the center of the stick. Mine was at 2.25". Use the craft knife to cut the wood in half. You will have to go over your cut several times. Do yourself a favor and make sure your blade is new and it will be a lot easier :) When you're about halfway through, you can flip it over and continue cutting from the other side, but whatever you do, don't be tempted to snap it when it's almost done, or it will splinter and you'll swear and throw things across the room.
I'm not saying I did that or anything... but I could imagine that somebody might..
Next, use the drill to make holes in the middle of each end, about 1/8 of an inch in. Run the drill as slowly as possible to avoid splitting the wood, which may or may not have happened to me. Twice. Again, a less ladylike and well composed woman than myself might be tempted to shout profanities and begin tossing things about, but I can assure you that I held my composure...especially since there are no living witnesses to tell you otherwise.
(NOTE: this is why I drill the wood before rounding off the end...)
Use the knife to round off the cut end of the popsicle stick. You may want to use another rounded end and trace it with a pencil for guidance. Don't try to take the whole curve in one swoop; shave off small bits at a time and you'll have better control of the curve.
Smooth the freshly shaped end with the sandpaper to take care of any bumps or splinters. I sanded the other end as well, so they both matched as closely as possible. Try to take care of the splinters around the drill hole as much as possible too, and if you happen to have a round needle file, this would be an excellently awesome time to use it!
When you are satisfied with the shape and smoothness of your wooden pieces, it's time to let them soak! I filled a plastic container about an inch high with warm water and let the wood soak overnight. If you are in a hurry, you can toss them in a pan with water and let them boil for 10-15 minutes, then let them soak for another hour or two in the warm water after you turn off the heat.
We are soaking the wood to make the pieces pliable, so we can give them a nice curve to fit on a wrist better. This step is optional, especially if you want to make your wooden centerpiece shorter...or if you want to make earrings or a pendant.
After the wood has soaked enough to make it easy to bend slightly with your fingers, use the widest rubber bands you can find to strap them tightly to a (cylindrical object about 2.75 - 3" in diameter). Use your thumbs to press the ends around the glass and encourage the curve, and leave them to dry for a few hours. Using a hair dryer will speed up this process, but make sure they are completely dry before moving on to the next step.
Now that your popsicle stick pieces are nicely curved and dry, you can either paint them with the acrylic paints, or decoupage them with Mod Podge and scrapbook paper. I'll show you the latter.
First, paint the back of the wooden pieces with the color of your choice and let it dry. You'll notice from the first photo below that I didn't do it in this order the first time, but it's much easier to paint the back and sides before the paper is in place so you don't have to worry about overpainting. Again...just saving you some headaches.
When the paint is dry, paint some Mod Podge on the top of your bracelet piece, then turn it over and lay it on the back of the piece of scrapbook paper you have chosen. Press the paper to fit the curve of the wood and let it dry before cutting the excess off with the craft knife.
Use the toothpick to gently poke through the paper from the back of the centerpiece, just slightly so you can see where the hole is. Then push the toothpick through the hole from the front of the piece, and twist it and push it all the way through the hole so it tucks the edges of the paper inside the hole nicely. Repeat for the other end.
Paint another one to two coats of Mod Podge over the top and sides (make sure you get the edges of the paper where it meets the wood), letting the piece dry between coats.
OPTIONAL: Spray the front of the finished piece with 2 coats of Krylon Crystal Clear gloss coat, allowing to dry between coats and according to the instructions on the can. I always finish my decoupage pieces this way, to give them a nice glossy shine and seal them well. I do the same for the painted pieces.
When everything has dried completely (and I mean completely - don't even think about touching this thing if it ain't dry or you'll ruin it with fingerprints, and don't come crying to me for sympathy), grab a 16" section of cord and thread it through one of the holes. Tie a knot using both strands together and secure it firmly near the edge of the wood. Repeat for the other end with the other piece of cord or leather.
Cross the ends in the middle, then loop one end around the other side of the cord and tie a knot around it. Pull it as tightly as you can to secure it well but so that it will still slide up and down on the other piece of leather for an adjustable closure. Repeat on the other side, knotting the other end of the cord around the opposite side of the cord. Trim the excess cord, leaving about 1/4" of the ends sticking out. You can snip these closer if you want to glue the knots, just be careful to glue only the outside of the knot so it will still slide well enough to work; you don't want to glue it in place. (If you glue, use hypocement or superglue).
That's it! You're all done, wasn't that awesome?? I had so much fun with this project I made three different bracelets, and next I'm going to make a pendant for a necklace.
I'd love to see your projects, please feel free to leave links to your own upcycled popsicle stick creations in the comments below, and of course I wouldbe honored if you'd like to link back to this tutorial on your own blog, especially if it has inspired you to post one of your own! However, if you'd like to include a photo, please only use the photos of the finished bracelets, not any of the step-by-step or in-progress shots without asking first. If you have any questions at all, please ask - I don't bite (too hard) :)
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