Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category
Intern Diaries: DIY: Recycled Fabric Pencils
Looking for a way to spruce up your desk, grab those scraps of fabric or paper and some pencils and try this DIY.
A great way to customize your everyday pencil and recycle that fun paper or fabric.
Images via: Pinterest, DesignSponge
-Ash
Intern Diaries: Eden DIY Braided Bracelets
Being trendy and eco-friendly is a necessity of being a woman of Eden, one of my favorite ways to make it happen is these amazing Element Eden wrap bracelets! We are working to bring these rad wrap bracelets to stores, but until then I thought I would show you how to make your own!
Supplies:
- An old t-shirt, or two if you want more patterns, preferably colorful ones
- A charm, we love our Eden “Live, Learn, Grow” pieces
- Basic knowledge on how to braid!
Steps
- Rip or cut strips of the t-shirt into 1/4 inch width and about 2ft long (you can change the length for longer or shorter bracelets)
- Take three of the pieces and tie one end together about 1.5inches down
- Secure the knot around something and begin to braid,
- Once you get about halfway down, add a charm (if you chose one) onto one of the strings and continue braiding
- When you have about 1.5 inches left tie another knot at the end of your braid.
- Now wrap it as a necklace, bracelet, or however you dare to rock it!
DIY: Grow an avocado tree!
Save the seed next time you finish off an avocado and plant yourself an avocado tree!
Not only are you one step further towards sustainable living… but it looks quite lovely in your kitchen window as well!
Artful Sardine Cans DIY
I am loving what my grandparents decided to do with old rusted sardine cans!
They turned them into picture frames with photos of our ancestors and past relatives and hung them on the wall in their fishing cabin… next to vintage fishing rods, fishing lures and lights that are made from old bottles! Way to go Grandma and Gramps! Goes to show you can get crafty at any age!
PS: This photo is of my great grandmother (with a very stylish hat on I may add).
Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes by Guest Blogger Erica of City Meets the Shore
If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I loved baked goods and I love anything pumpkin flavored. The other night I came across this recipe for pumpkin ale cupcakes and I just had to make them. In honor of the holiday and of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share this recipe with you guys! It’s a twist on a normal chocolate cupcake and even the buttercream is infused with pumpkin. They were absolutely d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. Enjoy!
What You’ll Need: (Makes about 24 Cupcakes)
For the Cupcakes
1 (12-ounce) bottle Pumpkin Ale
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Buttercream
4 sticks unsalted butter; room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar
6 tablespoons pumpkin ale
For the Cupcakes
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer combine the pumpkin ale, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add in sour cream, mix until fully incorporated.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, pumpkin pie spice and baking soda.
4. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined (batter will be thin).
5. Evenly divide batter amongst the prepared muffin wells.
6. Bake 25 minutes, until risen and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Remove pan to wire rack. Cool completely before turning out of the tins.
For the Buttercream
1. Cream the butter in the bowl of an electric or stand mixer. Add the vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
2. Slowly begin adding the confectioners’ sugar, mixing well after each addition. After all of the sugar has been added and mixed thoroughly, add in the pumpkin ale and mix until light and fluffy. Beat on high speed for about two minutes. If frosting is too thick, gradually add in a little more pumpkin ale (1 teaspoon at a time) until you reach the desired consistency. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. If desired, garnish with festive sprinkles.
Recipe via My Baking Addiction
Inspiration: Sharks Teeth/DIY Shark Tooth Necklace by Guest Blogger Erica of City Meets the Shore
Coming from a long line of fisherman in my family, I had grown up collecting sharks teeth and making all kinds of jewelry out of them. Ever since the launch of Givenchy’s S/S 2012 collection fit for a mermaid, shark’s teeth have become a huge trend again, adorning bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anything else. I’ve wanted to try this DIY for a while, inspired by Givenchy’s collection and also to give a more mature spin on the jewelry I used to make as a kid.
What You’ll Need:
Sharks tooth
Chain (About 32 inches or longer depending on how long you want your necklace to be )
Pliers
Fishing Wire (Not Shown)
Ruler (Not Shown)
Ring Connector
I wanted to use the biggest sharks tooth I could find possible, but it’s almost impossible to come across real ones at that size in my price range. As an alternative, I ordered a replica of one off of eBay for 10 bucks. I chose one that was about 3’ 3/4” but you could even go bigger or smaller if you’d like.
Using the pliers, I cut off about a six inch portion of the chain. The biggest the links the better, that way you can just connect and disconnect them if you have to use more or take out more. This is also going to vary depending on how large your sharks tooth is.
Connect the chain to make a circle then put it into a sideways 8 shape. Once you do that, you’ll be able to slip the chain over the top of the sharks tooth.
After this is done, you’ll notice the chain isn’t going to stay on by itself. Cut about eight inches of the fishing wire and make a knot through the two sides of the chain on the back of the pendant and cut the extra fishing wire down. This will keep the chain in place when you wear it and the fishing wire will go unnoticed since it’s clear.
Once you’ve completed that step, attach the connector ring to one of the links at the top of the sharks tooth. You can either reconnect the links in the original chain that you used for the hold piece or I just used an even longer chain I found in my jewelry box. and here’s the finished product!
Cut Out by Guest Blogger Erica of City Meets the Shore
Element Victoria woven… Give an old button down or one of your favorite flannels a new twist!
Things you’ll need:
Shirt of your liking.
Scissors
Safety Pins
Marker/Pen (Not Shown)
Ruler (Not Shown)
Piece of paper
Needle & Thread or Sewing Machine
1. Fold the piece of paper in half and cut it to about 6 inches across in an oval shape. Then use the safety pins to mark the points on the shirt where you’re going to start cutting. I left about 3 inches in between the collar and where I put the first safety pin. Put the piece of paper down that you cut out and use it to outline a light thin line on the fabric. This will give you a guide for when you’re cutting.
2. After your finish cutting out the shoulder, fold about half an inch of the fabric over and safety pin it as shown above. I threw mine through a sewing machine for a cleaner line, but if you’ve mastered sewing by hand that works as well!
3. Voila! The final product! This has been one of the easiest and one of my favorite DIY’s to date. It’s a great way to bring a little bit of flair back to old button downs and flannels you may have in the back of your closet. Pair with leggings and some riding boots and you’re good to go!
DIY: Knotted Fringe Tank by Guest Bloggers Calypso Letters
The sun is out and it’s time to change tanks of summers past into something more creative.
What You Need:
1. Tank Top
2. Ruler
3. Scissors
4. Marker
Step 1: First choose a tank. Lay it flat and mark the length you’ll like to trim. Then cut it in a ‘v’ shape.
Step 3: Cut 1/2″ thick strips on the bottom of the tank. Then knot each strip at its top.
Viola! It’s finished.
Wear it with your favorite jeans!
Check out more DIYs at Calypso Letters.
XO- Esther and Johnie
DIY Dog Leash by Guest Bloggers Calypso Letters
A few weeks ago our dog Rowdy ripped up yet another leash. Instead of paying $15 at the pet store for a new one, we decided to make one ourselves! All you need are some fabric scraps and a leash clip, which you can find at any hardware store. Happy DIY-ing!
What You’ll Need:
-Fabric or clothing (we like mixing prints with solids)
- Scissors
- A leash clip
1. Cut your fabric into six strips that are two inches wide and at least three feet long each. Don’t worry about cutting them perfectly.
2. Make a handle by taking three strips of fabric and tying an overhand knot.
3. Braid the first three strips of fabric together, tying tight knots periodically for strength.
4. Incorporate the next set of strips by tying them in with a knot. Braid the fabric all the way to the end, leaving only about two inches of fabric unbraided.
5. Tie the leash clip on with a triple knot.
6. Clip it on to your dog’s collar and you’re good to go!
Or not!
We’ll post another DIY right here this week, so be sure to check back. For more of our DIYs, check out our blog: Calypso Letters.
XO- Esther and Johnie
Let your days be Merry and Bright by Guest Blogger and Element Fashion Designer Wendy!
This is a little DIY project I have been working on over the weekend with my sister. She goes to a mountain once a week and picks fresh mistletoe. Then I add little beads and decoration to create mistletoe bouquets. Its taking something traditional and giving it a little modern twist.
All you need is:
-wire (I use a 24 gauge),
-beads
-pliers
-scissors
-any other decorations (get creative!)
People really like these for holiday parties and they stay fresh for almost a month if you ziploc bag them and put it in the fridge. It’s a fun gift to bring to a party or even as a little romantic gift!