Fortune Cookies

05.28.13

Fortune Cookie

Last week I made Chicken Lo Mein for dinner one night. I wanted something sweet to accompany it and decided fortune cookies would be the perfect way to complete the meal. I then realized I had no idea how they are made. After reading through a few recipes, (and one batch of trial-and-error) I decided on using this recipe. I ground the sugar in a food processor to create a smoother batter. I began by only baking two at a time, but moved my way up to three. After some practice, making fortune cookies was fun and simple!

Fortune Cookie*Writing fortunes was the best part! Personalize them for friends and family!*

Fortune-Cookie Fortune-Cookie Fortune-CookieFortune Cookies

 

DIY Jewelry Holder

05.23.13

DIY-Jewelry-Holder-10-23-07-16

I saw this jewelry holder one day at The Paper Source and knew it could easily be recreated. I had leftover plastic animals from this DIY tutorial, so it was the perfect opportunity to use the rest! You can also see another one of my jewelry organizer tutorials here.

DIY-Jewelry-Holder

Materials:

– Plastic Animals (I bought these at Michaels)
– Piece of wood (Mine was 12″ x 3.5″)
– Mini Saw
– Super Glue
– Drill
– Wood Stain (Optional)

DIY-Jewelry-Holder-21. This first step is optional, but I chose to stain the piece of wood in a dark Espresso color.

DIY Jewelry Holder 2. Let the stain dry thoroughly! I waited a whole day.

DIY-Jewelry-Holder-43. Using a straight edge, make two marks on either end of the wood. Drill a small hole over each of the marks. Be careful not to drill through your wood.

DIY-Jewelry-Holder-54. Using a miniature saw, carefully cut your animals in half. This was the most tedious step of this project. The elephant took forever!! Make sure your blade is sharp and take extra care when sawing.

DIY-Jewelry-Holder-65. Arrange the animals on your piece of wood. Use super glue, or other strong glue to attach the animals to the wood. (So far the animals have held up. For extra strength, you could screw in your animals from behind.)

DIY Jewelry Holder DIY Jewelry Holder 8 And you’re done! Just let the glue dry before hanging any jewelry.*The Hippo is my favorite!!*

Safety Pins

05.22.13

Safety Pin Collar

Safety Pins in fashion are both stylish and functional. Once used to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions, safety pins have become a new statement piece and a bolder form of emroidery. For a DIYer, safety pins are easy to use and make quick updates to your clothing. They are also very versatile. Safety pins can be used in jewelry as seen by Marc Jacbos and Tom Binns. Or, you can embroider a jacket collar or shoulder pad. The possibilities are limitless!

Safety Pins Safety Pin Jacket Safety Pins  images: {1, 2, 3, 4}

DIY Wire Name Bracelet

05.16.13

Wire Name Bracelet

I have a bit of an obsession with making wire jewelry. It’s low-cost, easy, and the end results are amazing. Today, I decided on a name bracelet featuring yours truly. It was similar to the Wire Love Ring I made a few weeks back but with a few tweaks.

Wire Name Bracelet

You’ll need:

– Wire (I used 20 Guage)
– Pen and paper
– Pliers
– Wire Cutter
– Something round (I used a small spray paint can)

Wire Name Bracelet  1. Start by drawing out the pattern to follow for your bracelet. One end of the bracelet will be a loop that serves as a fastener. Write out your name in cursive.

Wire Name Bracelet  2. Diagram the direction the wire will travel using arrows. This will make forming the name a lot easier. Some letters will require “back-tracking” aka two layers of wire.

Wire Name Bracelet  3. Form the loop in your wire. It should only be about a 1/4″ in diameter. Curve the wire to begin to form the bracelet.

Wire Name Bracelet  4. Bend the wire upwards. Shape your first letter. The ‘L’ was tricky. The top loop went in the opposite direction of how I would normally write it, which is why it helps to draw and diagram the name first.

Wire Name Bracelet  5. For an ‘i’, create a straight line, then bend the wire to create as small a loop as you can. Then go straight back down. Finish the rest of the name or word.

Wire Name Bracelet  6. After you have finished writing the name, bend the wire over your round object. Loop the unfinished end through the loop you created earlier.

Wire Name Bracelet  7. Place the bracelet around your wrist. When you get it the correct size, bend the unfinished end of the wire. Unhook the bracelet and take it off.

IMG_02388. Cut off excess wire to create a hook at the second end of the bracelet.

Wire Name Bracelet 9And you’re done!

Metal Belts

05.15.13

Metal Belt

Metal belts remind me of something from a science-fiction novel. They are contemporary and chic, and a major statement piece. I love the way they work with many different looks. Wide versions of the look pair well with thick materials, like wool. Perfect for belting a coat (see LeeLee Sobieski below) or for wearing over sweaters to accentuate the waist. A skinny belt works great with a form-fitting dress or a flowy skirt. However you wear them, metal belts are the perfect accessory for Spring!

Metal Belt Metal Belt Metal Belt Metal Belt images {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}