{DIY} Five Minute Pom Pom Clutch

Remember how I said last week's DIY was the easiest thing ever? Well I think a pattern may be developing here. I don't know if it's the summer heat or the fact that I've been pressed for time lately, but I'm all about any project that can be whipped up in five minutes flat. The best. So if you have an old clutch lying around that could benefit from a little pom pom-based upgrade, this DIY is for you!

SUPPLIES: CLUTCH | POM POMS (VIA MICHAELS) | E-6000 GLUE

TIME: 5 MINUTES (1 HOUR DRY TIME) | DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY 

I thought it would be fun to alternate black pom poms with slightly larger (and incredibly sparkly) gold ones, but pick whatever colors accentuate your clutch best. You could even play around with the spacing or color placements, so get creative! Add a generous amount of glue to the back of each pom pom and press firmly for several seconds to adhere.

Let the glue dry for about an hour, and you should be good to go! Depending on the material of your clutch, you may want to sew the back end of each pom pom to make sure they stay in place, but since I glued my pom poms to my clutch's plastic clasp, this step wasn't necessary for me... just do what works for you, and remember: If a pom pom falls off, you could always glue it back on! #lowmaintenance

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Fruit-Embellished Sunnies

Sunnies and fruit go together like nobody's business during the summer, so I figured I may as well marry the two and call it a day. This project is beyond easy, and it's a great way to add some new life to your old sunglasses (I was just about to get rid of these ones!). And can we just talk about the snazzy Bel-Air I was lucky enough to snap a photo of these bad boys in last week? Amaze balls. This beauty of a car belongs to none other than The Pretty Secrets, and I somehow managed to get this shot while she was driving me home... magic.
But enough about that, on to the project!

SUPPLIES: SUNGLASSES | GLASS FRUIT BEADS | E-6000 GLUE

TIME: 5 MINUTES (+ 1 HOUR DRY TIME) | DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY 

This one is pretty much as easy as it gets — just glue your fruit beads onto your sunnies and give them some time to dry... After that, you're in business! Chiquita Banana's got nothing on you.

Sidenote: You might have to turn to Etsy to track down some interesting fruit beads, but I was lucky enough to source mine from a local bead store... You might get lucky and find something similar at a place like Michaels, but either way, it'll likely take some hunting! 

A vintage straw clutch on a '57 Chevy Bel-Air trunk, topped with these larger-than-life sunnies? Mmmm hmmmm.

Photos by Adventures in Fashion + Sandy Joe Karpetz

{DIY} Golden Wire Bracelet

Bracelets are one of those things that I can't seem to get enough of, and when it comes to stacking them, well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that more is more. So short of stalking the jewelry aisles of Forever 21 on the regular, DIY is always a good option. With only a handful of materials and enough time to rewatch two episodes of The Mindy Project on Netflix, you can whip up this golden wire bracelet too — here's how!

SUPPLIES: GOLDEN WIRE | PLIERS | E-600 GLUE | FIMO CLAY | GOLD LEAF PEN

TIME: 1 HOUR | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE 

Start by molding two dime-sized balls from the FIMO clay. Once you've evened out the surface, press the wire gently into the clay, inserting it halfway through the ball. Using the package instructions, bake the clay balls in the oven for about half an hour until hardened.

While the clay balls cool fully, measure a piece of wire around your wrist and cut off the excess using a pair of pliers. Work out any kinks in the wire until your bangle looks good... it doesn't have to be perfect though, so don't stress (like I used to!). When that's done, glue the clay balls onto both ends of the wire bracelet and allow them to dry fully.

Now comes the fun part — gold leaf that sucker! I mentioned my new-found love for gold leaf pens in this post, but man are they incredible. If you haven't used one before, you gotta try one... The finish is unlike any other.

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Neon Bead Tassel Necklace

I'm really feeling tassels these days, so I figured I may as well translate that into a fun necklace for summer... Mission accomplished. This beaded beauty reminds me of the World Cup for some reason (just me?), so I'm really feeling it right now, despite the fact that my team lost... Sorry Greece, but if it's any consolation, you still have a super hot goalie... But enough about that (seriously, is it hot in here?), back to business. I had bought these beads from a local bead store last year,  and finally putting them to work sure felt good — even if it took forever. So if you feel like whipping up a tassel necklace (or a tassel anything, for that matter), here's how!

SUPPLIES: NEON BEADS | THREAD | CARDBOARD OR PRICE TAG | SCISSORS | JUMP RINGS | CRIMP BEADS | CLASP | PLIERS

TIME: 20 MINUTES | DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY

Using a piece of cardboard or a price tag, start by wrapping embroidery thread around the length of the tag, about 25 times over. Snip the end off, then cut another piece of thread to wrap under the top section of your tassel-to-be. Add a jump ring then tie the thread several times, making sure it's secure.

Once that's done, closely snip the ends off the top, then cut the bottom section in half to liberate your tassel (so dramatic).

Cut off another piece of thread and wrap it around the top-end of your tassel, knotting it several times to keep it secure. Trim off any excess, then even up the ends... Ta da! Tassel time. Repeat this process at least three times, setting the finished tassels aside.

Use crimp beads to keep your string of beads in place, then add your final jump rings and clasp to finish things off. Then simply attach your tassels and you're done! That is, unless you have a change of heart midway through the project (ahem) and decide you want to add a few more tassels in a contrasting colour... Who does that?

Ok now, for reals this time, add all your tassels to the necklace using those handy jump rings of yours and call it a day... done and done.

Thanks for reading friends, and I hope you liked this super easy DIY!

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Birthday Headbands

What do you do when your birthday falls on DIY Tuesday? You guessed it friends, make celebratory headbands, of course! So grab your glue and plastic letters (everyone has those, right?), because it's cake time!


SUPPLIES: PLASTIC LETTERS (AVAILABLE AT MICHAEL'S) | PLAIN HEADBANDS | E-6000 OR GLUE GUN

TIME: 1 HOUR | DIFFICULTY: EASY

Start by mapping out where your letters will go on the headband so that everything is nice and evenly spaced out. Using a generous amount of glue, press each letter down one-by-one until they set in place. The hardest part of this project is waiting for the letters to dry, especially the lightweight ones without bases (I'm talking about you, I's and T's), so be patient... It's worth it!

 

After about an hour of gluing and drying, you're done! I would advise letting your headbands set overnight for best results, propping them up on something to keep them upright as they dry. My advise would be to check on the letters periodically during this time to correct any tipping letters (case in point: that pesky 'I' in 'Birthday Girl').

I'm not entirely sure what today has in store for me, but I'll be working a half-day in the morning before playing hooky with Mr. AiF for the rest of the day. All I know is there better be cake! And you can bet I'll be wearing this headband as I devour every last bite... xx

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Faux Crystal Pendant With Gold Leaf Detail

My baking clay obsession is alive and well, and has manifested itself as a faux crystal pendant this time around... #cantstopwontstop. I'm so in love with how this project turned out and just can't get over the transformative power of gold leaf — not to mention the fact that the way it catches the light is totally mesmerizing. Sound like something you might like to make/wear/stare at? Read on for full instructions!


SUPPLIES: FIMO CLAY | GLASS GLITTER | GOLD LEAF PEN | SCULPTING TOOL | PLIERS | EYE PIN | 
JUMP RINGS | CHAIN | CLASP

TIME: 1 HOUR | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

Start by rolling the clay between the palms of your hands to loosen up the material. Slowly mold it into your desired shape, and once you're happy with the look and size of the pendant, chisel little pieces out of the clay to resemble crystal formation.

When you're happy with the overall look of the pendant, carefully cover the clay with clear glass glitter. You're going to want to cover it completely, so take your time and slightly push the glass into the clay to help it stay in place. Once evenly coated, insert an eye pin into the top of the pendant and press down until only the loop is visible.

Bake the pendant in the oven according to package instructions for about 30 minutes, then allow it to cool fully. I love this part because the clay takes on a darker hue, especially around the edges, and the glass really shines through. To keep all those little shards of glass in place — and to add a little extra shine — apply a generous coat of clear nail polish over the entire surface.

When the varnish dries completely, it's time for the fun part — gold leafing! I'm seriously obsessed with my gold leaf pen and have no idea how I've made it this far in life without one before. Simply apply a thin, even layer of the stuff onto the top of the pendant and watch it transform from blah to bananas in no time... magnifique!

Once everything is nice and dry, add jump rings and a clasp to your chain, then attach your snazzy new pendant to it using a large jump ring... Done like dinner.

Thanks for reading friends, and if you're looking for more DIY ideas incorporating baking clay (I'm obsessed), click here, here and here! xx

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} 5 Minute Lariat Necklace

These days, it seems as though I'm all about easy DIYs that take no time to whip up... But can you really blame me? We're all busy people here, so the faster a project can get done, the more likely it actually will get done — know what I'm saying? So with that in mind, here's just about the quickest, easiest necklace you could ever hope to make... not to mention stylish, but looks aren't everything (wink wink).

 SUPPLIES: CHAIN | JUMP RING | CLASP | PLIERS

TIME: 5 MINUTES | DIFFICULTY: EASY 

Start by measuring how long you would like your necklace to be, and remove any excess chain. I opted for some vintage chain that I removed from a long, thrifted necklace, but use whatever you prefer or have handy.

Using a jump ring, attach a clasp to one end of the chain, and use that to secure the necklace in place. Depending on your mood, you can switch up where you attach the clasp, allowing for various lengths... How's that for a versatile, no-fuss lariat?

 
Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Givenchy-Inspired Floral Clutch

The minute I saw the Givenchy Antigona Floral clutch, I knew I had to have it... and then I saw the price tag. Ouch. So after a few moments of internal tears, I decided to put my DIY cap on — no, not this one sillies, I'm being metaphorical. The result is nowhere near as heavenly as the original (#sigh), but for the fraction I paid for it, it doesn't have to be! Plus all that money I saved had me laughing all the way to the bank... and by bank, naturally I mean Sephora.

SUPPLIES: CLUTCH (MINE'S FROM FOREVER 21) | ACRYLIC PAINT (RED, PINK, WHITE, GREEN + BLACK) | BRUSHES

TIME: 1 HOUR | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE 
 

This one's a little direction-light, as it really just boils down to painting flowers onto a black clutch. I picked mine up from Forever 21, but thrift stores are always a great place to look (as are the depths of your closet — hey, you never know!). Anyway, back to business. My advice would be to start by painting pink blobs in varying sizes across the clutch, building depth as you go by adding strokes or red, black and white. Much like Ambular's face, this one really is "full of Monet," so don't be intimidated by the way it looks from afar... Just get in there and start having fun!

Same goes when you're building the leaves — use light, circular motions and add dimension with little specks of black and white. I decided to paint little white dots to fill the empty spaces, and dabbed them a bit when they were nearly dry to create a halo effect. Ultimately you need to remember that DIY is meant to be fun, so just go for it and see how it turns out. You might end up with something completely different from what you had first envisioned, but who knows, you might just like it all the more.

{ Optional: When you're done painting, you can add a coat of Mod Podge to help seal and protect the paint. The glue will also help add a nice sheen to your clutch, so that's always a bonus! }

Et voila! Mad savings, plus a chance to relive your high school art glory days... Win win. xx

Photos by Adventures in Fashion

{DIY} Threaded Chain Bracelet

Remember how I said I was making my way through my supply box, trying to use up as many odds and ends as possible? Well, that's how this little chain bracelet came to be. Random scraps of chain? Check! Thick thread that I have no idea what else to do with? Uh huh. Enough jump rings to last a lifetime? You know it! So whether you have miscellaneous bits you want gone, or you just plain like the way this bracelet looks, read on for full instructions!

SUPPLIES: CHAIN | THREAD | JUMP RINGS | CLASP | SCISSORS | LIGHTER | PLIERS

TIME: 10 MINUTES | DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY

Start by measuring the chain so it fits loosely around your wrist, removing any excess. Cut a long strip of thread and tie it to the end of the chain, ensuring that the knot falls in the mid point of the thread's total length. You're going to want the two pieces of thread to be at least twice as long the chain itself.

From there, keep knotting the thread loosely until you have enough to span the length of the chain. When that's done, weave the knotted thread through the chain.

Double knot the end of the thread when you're done, and trim the remaining thread to your desired length. Gently singe the tips of the excess thread with a lighter to seal them together.

Sidenote: You might need to do this again after wearing the bracelet — mine started to fray after the second wear.

Add your jump rings and clasp, and you're ready to rock! How's that for an easy way to use up supplies?

Photos by Adventures in Fashion