Tri-colored Braided T-shirt Bracelet

Another DIY I left until the end of the day, but I'm really happy with the results of this crafty project I threw together.  I made a tri-color braided bracelet.  

I used three different t-shirts in yellow, orange, and blue.  I love these colors together, they complement each other so well, and they're unisex!  I used scissors to cut three strips of each color.  The strips each measured a half inch wide, and eight to ten inches long.  I used the needle and thread to sew the strips together at the beginning and end.  

I also sewed all three colors together, and then I braided them together.  At the end I sewed the two ends together.  I left the different length ends, because they add a fun flare.  Like a mini pom-pom.  When sewing the ends make sure to go through all the strips of fabric, that way it's nice and secure and wont come unraveled.  

A simple craft, with great results.  Anyone could do this with some extra fabric, and twenty minutes to spare.  I'm fairly certain of seen similar bracelets at Forever21 sold for around five bucks.  This only cost me time. 

I'm thinking up an outfit to wear this with, and when I'll have my next chance to show off my latest creation!  I wear my DIYs proudly, and it makes my day when someone complements them.  I work with children, and it's the highest complement when one of them tells me my bracelet is cool.  

What's your latest creation?  Do you love to show it off?  Have a lovely day, and happy DIYing, chris!  

Sail Away With Me

Today I decided to apply my fabric painting talents to a pair of leggings.  I'm not sure why I've only painted on t-shirts before, but I saw Annika painted some hearts onto a pair of tights over on The Pineneedle Collective, so I thought I'd give it a go on some black leggings.  

Here are the leggings I started off with.  They are great leggings, but I own tons of black leggings, so I thought I'd give these a make-over.  

I started off by sticking blue painter's tape all over my legs while I was still wearing the leggings.  That way I could look at myself in the mirror, and make sure I liked the placement of all the spots.  Then I carefully slipped them off, trying not to remove any of the tape.  

Next, I used a sailboat stencil, and traced it onto foam.  I would have preferred to use foam with a sticky back, but this is what I had on hand.  I made a bunch, because after painting five or more sailboats I'd start having major bleed issues.  If I had foam with sticky backing this probably wouldn't have happened.  

These are the tools I used to paint on the sailboats.  I didn't realize until I was nearly done that the sponge applicator was the best tool.  I usually use a paintbrush, and that's what I started off with, but then I realized I had some sponges I bought for this type of project.  So thrilled I bought these, I will definitely only be using these from now on when I paint stencils.  

This is what they look like finished.  I'm pretty happy with them.  Now I wish it was legging weather!  Well, not really, but these will bring a smile on my face when it gets cold out again.  

Here is what they look like in an outfit.  I almost thought I didn't have anything to wear them with!  Then I remembered this skirt, I haven't worn it in ages.  This style skirt was all the rage last spring/summer.  I guess the mini bodycon skirt replaced this look this year.  Still a totally cute look.

Tank Top -- Kohl's

Skirt -- Boscov's

Leggings -- Macy's

Belt -- Target

Shoes -- Target

Hope ya'll enjoyed!  Happy DIYing, chris!

A little green for the holiday ...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I'm not Irish or Catholic, so I don't do much for this holiday, but I do enjoy an excuse to wear bright green!  So I have another outfit post for today.  I know I've been doing a lot of post about myself lately, and not so much on the DIY front.  I guess I've just been inspired by the bloggers I've been following.  

Here are two more blogs I started following this week.  I found Diversions over on Elycia's blog.  I love Stef's style, great combination of colors and patterns!  Plus she always seems to have her nails painted and super cute rings on.  The other blog is Fine & Feathered, and I found Josie on craftgawker with her post about covering your lappy with contact paper.  She executed it perfectly, so I decided to poke around her blog some more, and I really enjoyed her other posts!  She has cute style, more muted colors and patterns than I usually go for, but she's so pretty and her photos are inspiring, and she has fun DIYs!  I'm excited to see what these two ladies put out there in the future.  

My Outfit:

headband -- from Target

sunglasses -- from Urban Outfitters

necklace -- from Urban Outfitters

sweater -- from T.J. Maxx

yellow & grey tank top -- from ModCloth

peach tank top -- H&M

pants -- Delia's

socks -- Target

shoes -- DIYed Dirty Laundry

Most of the photos my husband took, except for the close-ups I took those.  Hope ya'll enjoyed, and are being safe this holiday.  There is no rule that says you have to drink until you're green (or at all for that matter)!  Until tomorrow, happy DIYing, chris.

Happy Spring!

With all these sunny beautiful days I had to try another outfit post.  I also got my Wacom tablet working!  Turns out it was just the pen that wasn't working.  Well I'm still not able to use photoshop, but Gimp isn't so bad.  

I love this dress.  I bought it when I was studying abroad in London back in 2005.  I found it in this amazing vintage shop in Shoreditch.  I'm pretty sure it's handmade.  

The blue jacket is from Heritage 1981, and I love how soft and comfortable it is.  The little red sweater is from H&M.  The yellow bracelet I inherited from my step-grandmother.  

This is definitely my favorite yoga pose, and my outfit looks pretty cute in this shot!  My stockings I got for Christmas, so I'm not positive where they're from.  The shoes are a pair of Dirty Laundry shoes I DIYed.  My hair bow was a free gift (with purchase) from ModCloth, they give the best gifts.  Their lil' presents just encourage me to buy more things, to see what I'll get for free!  

Happy Spring Everyone!!!  Hope ya'll are enjoying some sunny weather too!  Happy DIYing, chris.