Maybe you caught my Target place-mat clutch DIY last year? I had so much fun with it that I wanted to try out another handbag made from budget-friendly things I found at Tarjaay. 
what you will need: straw handbag // I found mine in the $3 bins at Target! craft spray paint // small bottles found at Hobby Lobby clear acrylic spray // Hobby Lobby painter's tape
the how-to: 1. tape off all of the areas you do not want to spray paint up 2. paint that thaaang + allow it to try 3. now spray it with the clear acrylic + let it dry again (for a good while) 4. love it, tote it around, show it off...yada yada. :)
I'll be toting one of these babes to Easter mass...Moo has a straw hat. Yeh. We're so ready for this resurrection. 

...............

   FYI:  I shortened the handles for the white one.  I love the look of a short tote...and this was a very easy way to make it happen. 
* additional steps for shortening the handles:

1) un-stitch one side of each handle- you'll be left w/ a hole where the handle was 2) slide the handle back into the hole + push it in further than it was originally- until the handle is as small as you like 3) glue it in place + let it dry 
Done! ..............
ps. I am in the running to become the 1st US blogger ambassador for Wallis!!...so. very. cool.  Vote for me if you have a moment? Right here. Means the world.

Bag Me / DIY: Sparkle Heart Canvas Bag (by accident)

Sooo let me tell you the funny story behind this DIY. It became something I hadn't initially envisioned. It evoooolved into something cooler. HA. I was simply going to make a canvas bag with an old men's belt as the handles. That was cool enough for moi.

Well...I started ironing the crease out, but then left the iron on the bag while I ran to rescue a Moo that was about to topple head-first off of the couch.  Bad choice...leaving the iron lying there. Not the rescuing the child part. When I came back there was a brown iron mark smack dab in the middle of the bag.  Awesome. No one likes an iron-burnt bag, so I broke out some extra supplies. Modpodge + glitter fix everything.  Well, most things. 

I realized it was now perfect for Valentine's Day! Yeh, I totally planned that.
the supplies: canvas bag / found mine @ Hobby Lobby for $2.99 old men's belt / Goodwill or your husband's closet  E6000 glue / stuff of the gods found at Hobby Lobby too + glitter & modgpodge 
the how-to:  1. cut the belt in half 2. cut the original handles off 3. (I originally started sewing it, but realized It would take me a bajillion years...GLUE) so...glue those babies to the bag, hold in place with clothes pins + let dry for a good while 4. trace a heart onto the bag w/ a pencil 5. brush the modge podge + glitter mix onto the bag, covering the entire heart - let dry
There. It's so easy to make an accidental heart bag. If you're feeling less adventurous, you can skip the whole iron burn part.

Bag me / DIY: hardware bag tassels

Whyyyyy is she doing a bag tassel? Doesn't she know they are ev-er-y-where? We don't need another tassel DIY.  gosh. You guys, wait!...I put a little spin into this one. I used hardware. ...b/c I'm so hardware like that. Yeh. 

what you will need: suede chord / Hobby Lobby (I found 3 trendy Spring colors!) 3 large hex nuts / Lowes Hardware (.20 a piece!) 3 lanyard hooks Tacky glue / Hobby Lobby
how-to DIY it:  1. cut 7 pieces of chord- all the same length, aside from one (a bit longer) 2. tie the longer chord around the middle of the other 6 pieces 3. fold it over (I am awful at giving directions. lo siento.) 4. clip the lanyard hook onto the tied loop 5. slip the lanyard attached to the tassel through the hex nut 6. glue underneath the hex nut & let dry (don't worry, it dries clear!)
Ta-da!  You've made one of those popular bag tassels, but one with a unique spin to it ;).

ps. the contest ends @ 4pm today. I would love your last min. votes!

holiday DIY: glitter jeweled envelope clutch

During one of my recent wanderings of Anthropologie without ever buying anything (ever), I came across this little lovely...

So holiday. So charming. So perfect as a Christmas gift. So expensive for just a tiny 4x7 clutch. *My DIY brain immediately began to churn* I have to make one. I MUST! Where's the closest Hobby Lobby?! That's how a DIYed brain sounds like, fyi.

the supplies:
clutch glitter modge podge clear acrylic coating jewel bead (if you want to add) *blue tape, paint brush, bowl and needle + thread or glue* -all found at Hobby Lobby-
cost: $17 or less (less if you break it down into how much you use for just 1 or if you already have some of the supplies;)
.......
how-to:
1. tape over any area you do not want glitter-fied 2. mix modge podge + glitter in bowl (1/3 modge podge to 2/3 glitter) 3. brush the glitter mix onto the area of your choosing  (I had to apply a couple of coats to get it to where I wanted it-don't worry! It dries clear. ;) 4. after the glitter dries, spray on the clear acrylic coating and let dry for 24 hrs. 5. sew or glue on the jewel bead 

This LiM Holiday DIY version is larger, cheaper and less glittery...which I personally like, because everyone knows the glitter ends up everyyyyyywhere (which it is now all over our house).

>>watch this DIY in action<< ps. like the gift wrap I put the clutch in? My crazy DIY brain conjured that up as well! I will be sharing the how-to tomorrow.
pps. glitter. everywhereeeee.

a Studded Handbag. Burberry style.

Burberry.

 That place in snobville Southpark mall that I feel almost embarrassed about entering.

 The sales associates know that I, in my ae DIY cut-offs + f21 accessories, don't belong there.

They are always polite and nice, but its that...please-don't-touch-anything-because-you-can't-afford-a single-sock-in-here nice. 

I don't blame them really.

Especially when they see my cracker-encrusted tot squealing and touching everything.

Well,  my friend and I have braved it anyways to solely drool over their classic boots and trenches. It is important to drool over good designs, my dears. I very often gather inspiration from upscale shops in order to put together more affordable look-alike outfits elsewhere. 

...& that is why the DIY part of my brain started plotting when I saw Burberry's new line of studded accessories...

the supplies:

old handbag

  (I took off the old straps a long time ago...that's why you don't see them, fyi:)

chain (etsy)

flat-back studs (etsy)

tough glue (any craft store)

the steps: 

1. remove the old straps from the handbag + attach the chain 

(you will need jewelry tools or pliers in order to open and close the links)

2. begin studding! 

There you have it.

It's a Burberry inspired studded handbag.

Simple, clean and chic.

I plan on bringing it with me to the Charlotte International Fashion Week runway show I am attending this Friday night.

This will be the first year (ever) that I am taking part in any Fashion Week event.

Excited is an understatement.

:)

Heck yes I will be sharing the whole experience with you.

Burberry. studs. DIY. j/k.

Well, the supplies I ordered for today's Burberry A/W collection '12

inspired DIY have not arrived yet (noooOoOoo).

I obvi can't share it with you now.

I know, it is upsetting.

You may see it here tmrw though.

If you're lucky.

>>>

Here are some pros that have actual DIYs for you today:

I Spy DIY: safety pin bracelet

P.S.- I made this: lace embellished skirt

IHOD: camera straps (made out of belts!)

<<<

ps. blog worthy of note: Spunkyrella ,by Martie- a lifestyle blog that features neat finds, blogs etc. 

I am thrilled to know this lovely lady!

DIY & Design: Target Placemat Clutch

I have been wanting to make a placemat clutch for awhile now, but I couldn't find a pattern that I liked.

I was in Target last night (buying exciting diapers) when a pretty yellow placemat caught my eye.

Yessssssss. I could finally make it.

So, yeh.

Here it goes!

the supplies:

1 vinyl placemat + 1 patterned cotton placemat (found at Target)

glue gun or tacky craft glue

button or snap

hemp chord

(all can be found at Hobby Lobby)

the steps: 

1. glue the placemats together (leaving some overlapping on one end)

2. sew button on

3. sew hemp chord on in a loop

4. sew sides

5. take pictures with it b/c it's so cool

DONE-zo.

This clutch will carry me over into the Fall too with its mustard-y yellow & brown colors :).

Let me know if you try this one out b/c I'd love to see it in different patterns!