Silk and Leather Love

Hi! So I was playing around with some left over beads and...

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:14:00 -0400

Hi!

So I was playing around with some left over beads and ended making these wire wrap rings. If you’re stuck for a mothers day present this would be a great little gift. Plus if your mum’s like mine homemade gifts always mean so much more.

What you’ll need: Wire - 20 gauge, pliers, large flat bead, cilinder a little bigger than your ring size (I used a texta)

What you’ll need to do:

Cut 50cm piece of wire and thread the bead to the middle. Bend back wire against the ends of the bead, so the bead will stay in place.
Pace bead against cilinder and wrap wire ends around cilinder twice. Try not to overlap the wire and keep the wire taut. Bend the wire across the bead and bend down, preparing to wrap the ends around the ring band. Repeat for both sides.
Wrap the ends around the ring band, pull tight and trim. Tahh dahh.

Hope you like it!! XX

Hi! I have been wanting to do this DIY idea for quite...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:26:39 -0400

Hi!

I have been wanting to do this DIY idea for quite sometime now. The other day I found this men’s shirt at an op shop (thrift shop) and I knew it was time to get crafty. This is a really cheap DIY, literally only cost me $7 for the shirt.

What you’ll need: Large mens shirt, dress or tank top, sewing machine, scissors, tailors chalk, iron, elastic & pins.

What you’ll need to do:

Lay your dress over the shirt. You could also use a tank top because its the arms holes you need. Using the tailors chalk trace the arm holes. Then draw a straight line directly from the bottom of the arm whole to the bottom corner of the shirt. Repeat on the other side.
With both sides together cut out the dress. Turn the dress inside out. Stitch right sides together and neaten. Overcast or overlock arm wholes. Iron arm whole seam inward and stitch.
To make the dress more fitted you can add a piece of elastic to the back. Try the dress on to determine how much you need to take it in. I used a piece of elastic 12cm long and stretched it over 22cm of the back. Pin the elastic to the inside of the back of the dress. Stitch elastic to dress, pull elastic taut while sewing. Tahh dahh!!

Hope you like it. XX

Hi!! Long time no post. So todays DIY in inspired by Anna...

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:08:56 -0500

Hi!! Long time no post.

So todays DIY in inspired by Anna Davern’s Pear Diamond Earrings. I saw a picture of these amazing earrings on Pinterest awhile ago and went about making them. It didn’t occur to me until yesterday that the earrings aren’t actual crystals beads, however I had already made my Swarovski crystal bead version. Plus the Swarovski crystals look amazing when the light hits them.

What you’ll need: Wire, pliers, strong glue, 2 blank stud posts, 2 large Swarovski crystal faceted drop beads and 2 small Swarovski crystal faceted drop beads.

What you’ll need to do:

Cut a small piece of wire.
Shape wire into a U. Thread on beads, one size on each side of the U. Trim excess wire and butt ends.
Glue stud posts to the top end of the small bead.

Tahh dahh!!! Easy as that! Hope you like them. XX

Hi again,So I love this Melbourne artist Kat Macleod. I loved...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:34:00 -0500

Hi again,
So I love this Melbourne artist Kat Macleod. I loved her work so much when I was young that I would cut out all of the illustrations she did for a newspaper and pay homage to them by sticking her work on my bedroom wall. This DIY is in dedication to her work. Check out Kat Macleod’s work at The Jacky Winter Group or any book written by Michi Girl. Enough words for now, let’s get creative.

What you’ll need: Paper (or watercolour water), tape, pencil, watercolour paints, magazine, glue, bits and bobs.

What you’ll need to do:

Find an image of a model in a magazine and rip it out. Tape it to the back of your paper then attach to the outside of a window or a light-box if you own one. Trace the image.
Now it is time for the watercolour paints. Start with the skin and try to accent the body using as little paint as possible. For example lightly shade in the cheeks, neckline, bust, inner arm and knees. Continue painting the image until the face, shoes and other are completed.
Using your bits and bobs collage onto image as clothing. I used sticky notes for the top, a fabric scrap for the skirt and shoelace for the belt.
For the finishing touch add a few droplets of watercolours or flicks. Tahh dahh!

Hope you like it!! XX

Hi again!! This is a quick easy bracelet to make. It litteral...

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:52:00 -0500

Hi again!! This is a quick easy bracelet to make. It litteral took me 5 minutes to make one bracelet and it looks fantastic. So I hope you like it as much as me.

What you’ll need: Wire, beads, cross charm and pliers (rounded and cutters)

What you’ll need to do:

Cut the wire long enough to fit over your hand including a little extra.
Using the round tipped pliers secure the end of your wire and than wrap it around creating a loop. Thread the cross in the loop and tighten.
Thread on the beads. Before making the next loop for the cross measure the bracelet to fit. As before making a loop for the cross. Try to make it tight and close to the last bead threaded.
Attach the other end of the cross, tighten and tahh dahh!!!

Hope you like it!! XX

Hi! Here is a last minute post with a super last minute...

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 03:50:00 -0500

How To

Hi! Here is a last minute post with a super last minute Christmas gift idea. Hopefully you’re all organised and don’t have to make any last minute gifts.

What you’ll need: Key pendant, chain, toggle clasp, 4 jump-rings, drop bead and pliers.

What you’ll need to do:

Using your pliers trim your chain to the desired length.
Attack the key pendant to the chain with a jump-ring.
Attach the toggle clasp to the chain, leaving left over chain at one end.
Using a jump-ring attack the drop bead to the left over end of the chain.

Tahh Dahh!! Your done! To add the finishing touches wrap using this cute box template and print matching card and envelope. Hope you like it! XX

P.S. I’m trying a new format. Let me know what you think.

DIY Mini Terrarium

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:38:19 -0500

Hi!

So it is nearly Christmas. A time of a mixture of stress and joy. Here is a DIY gift that will hopefully reduce your Christmas stress!! This DIY is easy and quick to do to make… and would make a great gift!

What you’ll need:

Brandy glass
Stones
Soil
Succulents (I used sprouts off a plant I already own or you can purchase the plants)
Fine stones
Christmas ornament

What you’ll need to do:

Place stones in bottom of brandy glass.
Layer soil on the top of the stones.
Make a little hole in the soil and plant succulents. I used 2 sprouts per glass. Pack soil around the plants. Water succulents.
Sprinkle the fine stones over the top, covering all the soil.
Place Christmas ornament. Give to a friend!

Tahh Dahh!!

Hope you like it!

Christmas Gift Box

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 04:58:33 -0500

Hi!!

I have official caught Christmas fever! I was wrapping presents a few nights ago and needed something the wrap little presents in. I searched throw the messy wrapping paper draw and decided it would be easier to make my own gift box. Here’s how it went.

Christmas Gift Box Template Download

What you’ll need:

Christmas Gift Box Template, scissors, textas, tissue paper and ribbon (optional).

What you’ll need to do:

Download free Christmas Gift Box Template and print. Cut out and decorate. Get creative!
Flod along lines and press with fingernails. Fold sides with hook first then loop over one side.
Place tissue paper and gift inside, then loop over the final side. Tie bow through hook.

Tah Dahh!!

Hope you like it!

DIY Christmas Cards with matching Envelopes and Gift Tags (Free Printable's)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:20:28 -0500

Hi everyone,

It is that time of the year again. It has gone so quickly!! Today’s DIY is on making your own Christmas cards with matching envelopes and gift tags. This DIY involves free printable’s I designed. I have given created the design with 3 different colour schemes you can choose from. So here we go!

Here are the different colour scheme options:

Printable downloads:

Pretty pastel: PP card, PP envelope and PP gift tag.

Starry night: SN card, SN envelope and SN gift tag.

Cherry on top: CT card, CT envelope and CT gift tag.

(to download simply click on the shaded names above. Form goggle docs click on file at the top left corner and then download).

What you’ll need:

Printable of card, envelope and gift tag.

Scissors

Scarps of paper (for card)

Needle and thread (for card)

Glue stick (for envelope)

Sticky tape (for gift tag)Ribbon (for gift tag)

What you’ll need to do:

Card - Download and print card template in the colour scheme you want. Cut it out. Cut out matching coloured paper the same size and small white rectangle for the text inside the card. Glue white paper to coloured paper insert. Stich card and coloured insert together, sewing down fold line and tie to secure (I love the cute crafty look stitching a card together brings).
Envelope - Download and print envelope template in the colour scheme you want. Cut out template. Fold envelope in half and flaps inward. Glue down side flaps and press.
Gift tag - Download and print gift tag template in the colour scheme you want. Cut it out. Cut a small piece of ribbon and sticky tape this to the back of the gift tag.

Tah dah!!!

Hope you like it and have a Merry Christmas!!

Suitcase Table

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 09:23:09 -0500

Hi!!

I have been wanting to do this DIY for ages but I had trouble finding table legs. I ended up finding a cheap side table from Ikea and used the Ikea table legs and bolts.

What you’ll need:

Suitcase (I used a decorative one made of wood)
Table legs (I used legs from a cheap Ikea side table)
Bolts
Washers
Nuts
Ruler
Tape
Spanner
Drill
Pencil

What you’ll need to do:

Use the ruler to find the middle of the length of the bottom of the suitcase. Mark the center with tape.
Repeat the above process but find and mark the width of the suitcase. Place table legs butting along the drawn centre lines and mark. Make sure the legs are pointing to the corner of the suitcase.
Place table leg along marks. Drill a hole in the suitcase using the table leg as a guide. Screw bolts in place with appropriate tool. I used the Ikea tool, you may need to use a screwdriver depending on the type of bolts used. Open the suitcase up and secure with washer and nut.
Tighten nut with spanner. Repeat the previous process for each table leg.

Tahh dahh!!

Hope you like it!!

Cross Bracelet Ring

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:47:41 -0500

Hi everyone!!

So I was bored the other day and quickly whipped this up. This cross bracelet ring is really easy to make and looks dangerously chic.

Inspiration:

Dark sexy costume jewellery.

What you’ll need:

Wire (20 gauge)
Pliers
6 cross beads with hoops at both ends ( the amount of beads may vary depending on the size of the crosses)
7 jumprings
Stone pendant
Scrap of chain
A cylinder your finger size (I used the lid of a perfume bottle)

What you’ll need to do:

Lay out your design.
Connect your design with the jumprings.
Cut some wire. Wrap the wire around the cylinder. Twist to tighten.
Wrapping the wire around the end of your pliers to create a small loop. Trim ends of wire and twist to secure. Connect ring to jumpring.

Tahh Dahh!

Hope you like it!!

DIY Samantha Will's Inspired Bracelet

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:09:13 -0500

Hi!!

I’m loving all Samantha Will’s jewellery at the moment. She is amazingly talented though she has some hefty price tags. So let’s make it instead!!

What you’ll need:

3 different types of beads (I used silver Swarovski, light pink and mint stone beads)
Bead thread
Beading needle or fine needle
Crimps
Clasp (I used a clasp with bead connectors included, you can always use connectors and a toggle clasp instead)
Drop (I used a pink Swarovski tear drop)
3 jumprings
Rhinestone chain
Embroidery thread
Fine chain
2 different coloured leather threads
Pliers
Sticky tape
Glue

What you’ll need to do:

Thread beads on beading thread using needle.
Thread crimp at the end of the strand of beads. Then thread through first hoop of the clasp. Thread back through the crimp. Secure by pressing crimp closed with pilers.
Secure other end of bead strand using the same process. Repeat process for second colour of beads, securing in the middle hoop of the clasp. Repeat for last colour of beads, securing in the last hoop of the clasp.
Attach drop with jumpring.
Cut needed amount of rhinestone chain. Wrap embroidery thread around rhinestone chain. Use crimp technique to scure.
Do not cut thread instead wrap thread back around rhinestone chain in the opposite direction. Crimp to secure and trim.
Braid leather thread and fine chain, secure ends with sticky tape. Wrap chain around the ends and glue.
Trim leather thread. Thread jumpring on the last link in the chian and attach to clasp.

Tahh dahh!

Hope you like it!!

Coming Soon

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 06:27:09 -0400

Hi!!

Here are some preview’s of posts to come. Just editing and finishing the final details of the posts.

Samantha Will’s inspired bracelet:

Christmas printable’s including a gift tag, card and a matching envelope:

Cross bracelet ring:

Pearl Bow Hair Clip

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:45:00 -0400

Hi!!

This cute DIY will add an adorable piece to your hair accessory rotation. It is quick and easy to make. And will make the perfect gift for friends or girls.

Inspiration:

The inspiration for this DIY is vintage style, bows and this Asos hair clip.

What you’ll need:

Pliers
Strong glue (can also use a glue gun)
Pearls (I used 62, random number I know)
Wire (20 gauge)
Hair clip

What you’ll need to do:

Cut wire to approximately 40cm. Using pliers bend the end of the wire over the tip of the pliers to make a little loop.
Thread on beads on the wire, but do not fill the wire. Leave approximately 2cm free on the wire. Secure the other end of the wire using the same method as before.
Bend wire in half. On one half twist a loop of approximately 20 pearls. Repeat the same process with the other side but twist over the previous twist. All that free wire should have been taken up by the twists. If not cut off excess and redo securing the end.
Apply a generous amount of glue onto the hair clip and press the bow down. Hold until glue hardens.

Hope you like it!!

Camel Cape (Coat)

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 04:40:00 -0400

Hi!

So today’s DIY is an Easy Breezy Camel Cape (Coat). It’s easy to make and breezy to style. You can also download printable instructions here.

Inspiration:

The inspiration for this DIY cape is sleek and simplistic camel capes. Such as Ralph Lauren’s, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney and Star Talks camel capes featured below.

What you’ll need:

Coat fabric 2 meters
Bias tape 5 meters
Leather toggle
Bodice pattern
Chalk
50cm long ruler (or use a strip of paper)
Sewing machine
Scissors
Thread

What you’ll need to do:

Fold fabric in half. Place front bodice on raw and back bodice on fold line. Make sure that the shoulders of front bodice and back bodice touch. From where the shoulders meet measure a straight line down the same length as the centre of the front bodice. Using chalk draw a curved line from front bodice to back bodice. Use a ruler as a guide to lengthen the curved line by 50cm and draw new line with chalk
Cut along the newly curved line. Cut along neckline of bodices, meeting at to shoulder. Cut a 35cm straight line down from low armhole of front bodice
With right sides together stitch shoulders to neck line (blue lines in diagram)
Cover all raw edges with bias tape (green lines in diagram). Stitch on leather toggle, roughly 10cm down from neckline (purple ovals).

Tahh Dahh!

Hope you like it!

Owl Pillow Box Party Favours

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:18:12 -0400

Hi!!

So this is my frist time ever posting up a printable!! So I hope I did it right, fingers crossed. If anyone has any tips for posting printable’s please let me know.

What you’ll need:

Owl pillow box printable (Printable comes in A3 and A4)
Colour printer and paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Lollies

Printable’s:

A3 PDF printable here
A4 PDF red and pink printable here
A4 PDF blue and green printable here
A4 PDF yellow and purple printable here

PLEASE NOTE the printable’s may look a little pixelated however once you have downloaded them they shouldn’t be. I’m always happy to sent printable’s as an email if you would prefer.

What you’ll need to do:

Download printable and print.
Cut out pillow box templates.
Fold and glue flap down.
Fill with lollies.

Tahh dahh!

Hope you like it!!

Update - now on Bloglovin

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:01:37 -0400

Follow on: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4086240/silk-and-leather-love

Update - now on Pinterest

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:00:02 -0400

Follow here: http://pinterest.com/silkleatherlove/

Balsa Wood Bracelet Ring

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:07:01 -0400

Hi! This post is a continuation of balsa wood jewellery creations. I don’t know about you but I’m loving bracelet rings at the moment. So I hope you like it too!!

What you’ll need:

4cm equilateral triangle balsa wood pendant (see details on how to make a balsa wood pendant here)
Large needle
Pilers
Fine chain
Jump hoops X5
clasp

What you’ll need to do:

Poke 3 holes at each point of the balsa wood pendant. See balsa wood diamond pedant instructions here for how to make a balsa pendent, all you need to do instead of cutting a diamond shape is to cut out a 4cm equilateral triangle.
Attach a jump hoop to each hole. On the tip of the triangle pendant attach the chain. Place on hand to decipher amount needed and cut.
Open link in chain and tread open link through chain link at desired length to create a ring. Close link to fasten.
Try on and decipher length of chain needed for the bracelet. Attach chain needed chain. Use jump hoops to attach clasp.

Tahh dahhh!

Balsa Wood Diamond Pendent

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:08:56 -0400

Hi!

This is my first post on balsa wood jewellery. I have been experimenting with balsa wood and glaze paste to create statement jewellery pieces. The bonus about balsa wood is it is really soft, this allows you to easily cut it into any shape you wish, however this means it also snaps easily. To strengthen the balsa wood simply coat it with some glaze paste and the opportunities are endless!!

Balsa wood jewellery and finished product of diamond pendent option 1 and option 2:

What you’ll need:

Balsa wood
Ruler
Scalpel
Glaze paste (décolletage glue)
Paint brush
Sticky tape
Selection of paints
Paper
Large needle

What you’ll need option 1:

Black fine liner
Black cord 80cm

What you’ll need option 2:

Chain
Jump hoops x3
Clasp
Pliers

What you’ll need to do:

Use a ruler and scalpel to mark the outline of the diamond on the balsa wood. I used the dimensions, 3.5cm top, 3.5cm top sides, and 6cm bottom sides. Then cut, use the ruler to keep the lines straight. Coat the diamond with a layer of glaze paste. The glaze paste will strengthen the balsa wood and give it a plastic like feel. Wait till dry.
Mix some glaze paste into the paint this should make the paint glossy. Use sticky tape to section the diamond for painting. Paint section and peel off sticky tape. Repeat the process for each section you wish to paint.
Keep repeating the process.
After the paint is dry start neatening the back. Choose some nice paper to use as a base for your back and glaze glue it to the diamond. Cute paper to fit the diamond shape. Then finish off by applying a topcoat of glaze paste to the paper backing, this will give it a nice gloss effect.
Turn the diamond into a pendant by poking a hole through the balsa wood with a large needle.

What you’ll need to do finishing options:

Option 1:

Outline the different sections of the diamond with a fine liner.
Thread the cord through the hole in the diamond and tie a knot at the top.
Tie two slip knots, to adjustable the length of the necklace.

Option 2:

Thread a jump hoop through the hole in the diamond. Connect the jump hoop to the chain and fasten.
Attach the clasp to the ends of the chain with remaining jump hoops.

And tahh dahh you’re finished!!

Hope you like it!!