DIY Anthropologie Tribal Necklace

Hey friends.

I have a fun little summer project for us all.

I don't know about you, but I love a big statement necklace. They're a fun way to jazz up an outfit. Lately, I've been inspired by large, over-the-top, funky, tribal necklaces. Ones that are bright and colorful that I can just throw on, and go. Check out the necklaces of the men and women of the Massai tribes.

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See what I mean? Simply beautiful.

So imagine my delight when I found the Navala Necklace the other night at Anthropologie.

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Studying the necklace really got my gears turning. I rushed home and whipped up my own, using a lot of the things I had at home. For $15. Booyah.

 The goods:

*Friendship bracelet string (floss, I think its called?).

* Cording or rope of some kind. I used cording from Jo-Ann's. Mine is about around the same thickness of my pinkie. For three necklaces I got a little over 2 yards.

* Small amount of chain

*Lobster clasps

*Jump rings (they're a plain, metal ring in the jewelry section at the crafts store)

* Nuts and washers the same thickness as my cording. You will need 1 washer and one nut for EACH end of each necklace. 2 ends x 3 necklaces: 6 washers and 6 nuts. Grab a few extras if you want some extra embellishments.

Optional: beads or any extra bling.

Step 1:

Loop the cording around your neck at your desired length and cut. My strips are 22, 24, and 29 inches. Take an awkward picture if you need to get the position right.

Step 2:

Lay your strips out and tightly tape your ends, ensuring they won't unravel.

Step 3:

 Leaving an inch or two out, start wrapping your cording with your first floss color. You want to wrap evenly, but not too tightly. Every few inches scrunch down the wrappings- you don't want any gaps!

Want to change colors?

  Cut your first color and tie the end to your next color, hiding the tail as you wrap.

Step 4: Optional

I added a few extra bells and whistles to mine, but you don't have to. As you wrap, thread a bead, extra nut, or washer and continue to wrap.

Step 5:

Keep wrapping and changing colors, until you reach the end. Have fun with it! Remember to leave a few inches at the end.  Repeat for the other two pieces of cording.

Step 6:

Grab a nut and a washer, and carefully thread them on the ends of your necklaces.

Step 7:

Lay your chain out and decide how long you want it to be. You will be attaching some chain to each end. I cut my chain at 2 inches long. Repeat for all.

Step 8:

With the end pieces of floss, carefully tie it to one end of the chain. Also, trim down the leftover end of the cording,  Repeat for all.

Step 9:

(sorry no pic)

Here you have two options. You can either:

- make 3 separate necklaces

OR

- have 3 necklaces, strung together as one BIG necklace.

I chose the 2nd option, but both are easy. Grab and open 1 jump ring and one of the lobster clasps. The jump ring links the clasp and the chains of the actual necklace. Carefully open the jump ring and thread the ends of the chains. Now add in the little hoop of the clasp, and close the jump ring. Repeat on the other side. If you wanted to make separate necklaces, you will need a jump ring and 2 lobster clasps.

Step 10: Optional

I added a bit of super glue to each of the end nuts/washers and to the string on the chain. You know, just for durability. Let everything dry and trim up any loose ends.

Ta-da!

 You're done!

Ikat Get Enough Fall

Hey, fall friends!

So glad the weather is starting to dip in temperatures. Yesterday, I left work kinda late and it was so nice out. My mind started to zone out into leaves, and cooler weather, possible boots I am looking at, and textured tights and fall skirts.

Fall skirts?

Hmm...

Somehow on my way home, my car steered itself over to the fabric store. While there, I picked up a fall-ish ikat print and some good 'ole elastic.

(I promise its not this "rasta-farian" in person).

And after a short bit and some Jay Leno, there's nothing like a little Friday Nite Fall Skirt makin'.

Easy peasy!

Wanna make one?

Here's how:

YOU'LL NEED

* 1- 1 1/2 yards of some type of stretch fabric. Mine is polyester/rayon blend with a bit of stretch.

* Elastic for waist. I have a 2 in. elastic band, but a 1 1/2 would work, too. I got a yard of this just to be safe.

* Sewing machine, pins, scissors, thread, etc.

A BIT OF HELP: I tried to follow this tutorial but realized Sharroll at Jo Ann's fabric cut my fabric wrong. (Duh, Sharroll I knew what I was talking about in the first place) So I tweaked it.

STEPS

Go ahead and open your fabric, print side down. Lay your elastic at the top, on the long side. You are going to start to make a case for your elastic to slide thru. Starting at one side, using your elastic as a pattern, fold the fabric over and pin.

Keep pinning and sliding the elastic down, until the top is pinned.

Next, go sew a straight line where you just pinned. You might also have to re-watch the Instructional Video that came with your new sewing machine, since this is your 2nd time sewing just to make sure.

Next, lay fabric out again, and measure your desired length for you. I chose knee length, but a longer skirt would be cute, too. Cut and go back and hem it.

Now, you have a little case at the top and your skirt hemmed. Take your elastic, measure it to your waist, and cut appropriately.

Now, the boring part. Turn on some tube. Grab your elastic, and slide, squench, and bunch it into the case at the top. This will give it some soft pleating.

Smooth out your pleats, nice and even. Turn your fabric print side in, and pin the edges together. Sew up your elastic and where you just pinned- AND you are done!

Do a little fist pump and victory dance that you didn't cry or say ugly words at your machine at your completed project!

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Button Bib Necklace

Need a little "something-something" to jazz up your outfits?

Are you searching for an "everyday" necklace, but don't want to spend BIG bucks (or little bucks for that matter)?

Make this!

I've been swooning over big necklaces for awhile now. Anthropologie and LOFT carry them, but I just didn't want to spend alot.

So with a bit of help from a friend, I made my own.

Here's what you'll need:

* 2 Squares of felt of your choosing (I chose black)

*Old buttons  (this would be a good time to raid mom's, aunt's, or g-ma's button collection- BUT craft stores also have them)

(Here's a close up of my buttons):

*At least a 20 in. chain (also at craft stores)

*Little beads or pearls (I have  taupey-looking pearls)

*Hot Glue Gun

*Scissors

optional: Michael Jackson music while you work

Step 1: Shape it, Baby!

Lay your felt out, and play around with buttons until you reach a desired shape or pattern. Mine is clearly uneven, but that's the look I was going for. Find something YOU like and go with it!

Step 2: GLUE away!

Try to add a bit more glue on the buttons with the loops on the back. Make sure all your buttons are straight and "standing up". Feel free to hum along to "Billie Jean" or "Beat It" as you work.

Step 3: Fill in the holes

Once all your main buttons are glued down securely, go back and fill in any gaps with your pearls or beads. Throw a few on top of the buttons you just glued, if you like. Let everything dry.

Step 4: Cut 'er out

Carefully, cut around the edges with a smooth, even cut.

Step 5: Attach your chain

Cut your chain to ~20 in. (or desired length), keeping in mind you will hot glue ~1 in. on each side.

 Flip your necklace over (button side down) and hot glue chain to each side of your bib.

Step 6: Glue your Backing

In order to finish your necklace, let's add a backing. It will seal off your chain, and give your necklace some stability. Add LOTS of hot glue to the back of your necklace (the side where you just glued your chain) Grab your second piece of felt and smush down on your necklace. Let dry. Use the edge of your bib to trace and re-cut out the 2nd piece of felt. Sorry, no pic for this one!

Step 7:

Ta-da! All done!

If there are any little fuzzies left from your hot glue, go ahead and clean those up.

Now, proudly do the moon-walk with your necklace on and brag about how fine and foxy you are!

New Wreaf--Updated

Remember this post? I've been on the hunt for a new front door wreath for awhile, but I finally just broken down and made one, until I find what I am looking for.

I saw a couple of variations in magazines and online, but wanted something a little plainer. This is a versatile project on the cheap. Use any kinda fabric you might have. I had some leftover burlap so I went to work.

Gather up your supplies- you'll need 1-1 1/2 of fabric, and a wire coat hanger. Maybe extra fabric for a bow??

 Go ahead and un-twist your coat hanger and bend into a circle like shape.

Next, lay your fabric out flat and cut long strips. Your strips should be 3-4in wide. Don't worry about measuring- just eyeball it.

Take a strip and thread on your coat hanger. Twist and turn it, creating those big loops. Keep on threading until you run out- and then just repeat with another strip.

When you are finished, kinda wrap the ends of the coat hanger to form a loop.

Ta-Da!

I have found you might want to add a little hot glue to stabilize your fabric in between your loops as they have a tendency to slide down.

I was going to put a bow- but I like the simplicity and texture of the burlap.

A Boquet for You....

  A few weeks ago, on a Nashville trip, some friends and I popped into the Fossil store. After perusing around a bit, I stumbled across these "oh-so-cute"  flower pins.

So cute, right?? They were about 5" in diameter, and sold for $15. I was tempted to snag one, until my cheap gears started turning. "How easy would it be to make this?"  I knew I had some left-over felt at home, soooooo, this is what I came up with:

First, I cut out a couple of circles, in graduated sizes.

Next, grab some scissors and fray the edges with little snips. My snips are about 1/2 in long. It's fine if your snips are not even.

      Next, thread yo' self a needle and grab the two smallest circles. Stack them, with the smallest on top. Now, kinda  fold/scrunch/bunch them up. Sew a couple of stitches towards the bottom- you are trying to make those little snips stand up.

  Ok, now stack your just- sewed circles on top of your other snipped circles (Make sure they are all in order). Stitch a few loops to hold it all together. Last step-  hot glue/ super glue a pin on the back. Make sure you glue the pin close to the top, or it might hang or flop forward.

                                  
 Where to find these pins?? Try a crafts store (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joann's) or maybe even good ole' Wal-mart.

   Ta- da!! Piece of cake! Just the right "foof" to jazz up your coat, or a plain cardigan! And how stinking cute would it be on a kiddo?? Love it!

   Yeah, I know, I got a bit carried away. I was supposed to be watching the football game with Brenon. How did I do the other, smaller flowers? I found them on another cute blog, awhile back. Find her----->HERE