Fiber One Snackcessory Challenge

A few weeks ago Fiber One contacted me asking if I would like to DIY a Snackcessory to share with all you. Of course I said yes because I can't resist a good DIY challenge and creating a cute bag to protect my snacks from getting smashed sounds like a win win situation to me. Riffing off my pearl encrusted DIY Minauderie and the bold blues and floral I've been noticing during fashion week I decided to decoupage a sunglasses case with a beautiful floral paper and then spice it up a bit with some hardware. Not only will this little bag protect your snacks it will fit your night out essentials so you can ditch your purse and rock the minauderie.

*Make sure to check out the contest at FiberOne.com!

Wouldn't Mandy look great with this?

                                                                                   Source: refinery29.com via Jacqueline on Pinterest

Supplies:

-hard sunglasses case (the larger the better)

-Mod Podge and spray adhesive if you want a quicker dry when laying your paper

-Paint brush

-1 piece pretty paper (mine is scrapbooking paper)

-E6000 glue (a DIYer must have)

-A flat-back piece of hardware (I used a jewelry finding I had in my collection, originally its from Michaels)

-Approx. 6" Chain (if you don't have large link chain you can link smaller strands together for greater visual impact)

-Toothpicks and pen/pencil

Steps:

1. Mod Podge paper to case. I cut my paper in half and then lined up one edge to the hinged edge of the case. Lay case flat. You will work on one side at a time. Spray the glue or paint the MP onto the hinged edge and top of case. Lay paper down flat on theses areas. Wait to dry. 

2. Spray or MP one corner of case and carefully work paper onto surface. You will have to fold or crumple paper to shape it. Let dry. Repeat on other corner. 

3. Trim off excess paper.

4. Mod Podge papered area. Be sure to get under the edges so they don't flip up. Let dry.

5. Flip case over and repeat steps 1-4.

Mod Podge a DIYer's good friend

6. After case is dry you can add the hardware. To create a fake clasp like mine center your hardware at the case opening so that if will fit across both sides. Mark the spot on one side. Open the case up. Using a toothpick spread some glue onto the marked area, going to the lip of the case. Quickly, place your hardware (just half of it) on the glued area and hold till dry.

7. With pen/pencil lightly mark the spots where your chain will attach the the case. Using a toothpick dab glue on one of the markings then press chain into glue. While holding the chain in place put more glue on the toothpick and spread it around the edges of the chain to create a nice seal. When that end is attached repeat at the other end. 

Let dry and Viola! You have a chic new Snackcessory.
Enjoy!

All you need for a night out

Now I want to see yours. Leave me a link in the comments and don't forget to go to FiberOne.com to enter your own Snackcessory for the chance to win a trip to Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week Feb. '13 for you and a guest! 

DIY Minauderie

A few months ago I came across a blog post (before I used pinterest so I can't recall the name) about turning a discarded sunglasses case into a clutch. I thought this was a clever idea and knowing I was going to be in two weddings over the summer I thought it would be a great inexpensive way to add some sparkle to my look. I received lots of compliments and everyone was surprised to learn the bag had been a sunglasses case. This is a great DIY because it doesn't take much skill or money, just a little creativity.  Now go rummage through your junk draws to find a case and try this yourself.

Supplies needed:

- 1 hard sunglasses case (make sure it's large enough to hold a night out's necessary items.
-spray paint
-decorative findings
-strong glue

1. Spray paint the case to help camouflage it
2. After paint has dried. Glue on fake closure if you want. I painted a large green plastic pyramid bead to look like a purse snap.

3.Working in small areas, spread glue and place findings.
4. Repeat step 3 until the case is covered. Make sure that you leave space around the edges so case can close.

This does take a little bit of time if you are working with small findings, and I'm not going to lie that I definitely lost a few brain cells from sniffing so much glue, but it was still fun.

Enjoy!

Claire Vivier Inspired DIY Envelope Clutch

Mine

Claire Vivier's la pochette

After spotting this Claire Vivier la pochette I was inspired to make this extremely simple envelope clutch for my sister for her birthday. It took only an afternoon to complete and I'm happy with the results, and I think she will be too.

Supplies
-Pleather, or real leather. I scored my pleather for $3. It was a yard remnant at a local upholstery fabric store.
-Strong thread in matching, or contrasting color
-Exacto knife
-paper envelope (I used a legal sized one since it was closer to the size of my clutch)
-ruler
-fabric marker
-button, or other closure

1. Measure and mark out a rectangle, size is up to you. Remember you will basically be creating a tri-fold so make sure your rectangle is long enough. Cut out the rectangle.
-What makes upholstery pleather easy to work with is that it is sturdy an already lined meaning you don't have to worry about measuring, cutting, and sewing another piece of fabric.

2. Keeping about 3/8" from all 3 edges sew a straight line widthwise across one end of your fabric. This will be the top of the front panel of you clutch.

2. Take the sewn edge and so that it is inside out fold it up about a 1/3 of the way lengthwise to create the clutch pouch. Make sure it's deep enough to hold items you will be carrying in it. Pin in place. If you are using real leather you can sew on the topside of the leather so the seam will show like Claire's bag and you won't have any hang over on the flap.

3. Place the envelope on the unpinned part of the fabric, this will be the flap. Your clutch might be wider than the envelope, that's ok just line them up in the middle.

4. Trace and cut. My clutch was wider than the envelope so I just used a ruler to continue the lines to the end of my fabric.

5. Sew. Make sure the flap is pleather side up when placed under the sewing machine. Starting at one lower end of the clutch sew up the side, around the edges of the flap and back down the other side.

6. Turn clutch right side out. Fold flap over pouch(sorry for these very technical terms, I couldn't think of any others). Use Exacto-knife to puncture the flap where the button will come through. Then while flap is still in place use marker to dot button placement through the hole you just created.

7. Sew the button on by hand and then use scissors to increase the opening's size to fit the button. I made my opening in a cross shape so the pleather would hug the button.
-I'm thinking I will probably reinforce the opening since pleather stretches easily.

8. Enjoy your new Envelope Clutch.

DIY Envelope Clutch

Inspiration.

My finished bag.

The envelope clutch is all over magazines and street style blogs this season. I first noticed the beautiful blue Celine bag and then began to see the style everywhere. I really loved this leopard print version with it's folded double pouch and black leather accents. I decided to use it as a reference to make my own. The design is straightforward, but making a two pocket version made construction a little more complicated especially since I was figuring it all out as I went along. Stick with the simple single pocket for a quick and easy project or go for the double pocket if you need/want a bigger bag. It's a great grab and go purse and the simple shape makes it the perfect DIY bag. If you can sew this is a great gift to make a fashionable friend or family member.

Supplies for Double pouch envelope clutch:

-2 14" black/brass zippers (I wanted a big bag, choose any size you want)

-sewing machine, quality thread, correct needle for fabric

-magnetic brass button purse snap (keeps two sides together)

-1/2 yd black pleather (stretches while sewing which frustrated and slowed me down a great deal, but much cheaper than leather to experiment with)

-1/2 yd furry leopard print fabric (wanted something like pony hair but settled on this)

-1/2 yd black heavy twill (lined my bag to make it sturdier)

This was a blind trial and error process so my instructions are based what worked best for me. I would suggest looking online for a pattern or professional instructions and suggestions because I have also just started sewing again after several years so my technique and knowledge are rusty. I think having another reference will make it easier to do this project.

1. Create a pattern for the bag. It is just a long rectangle and one short rectangle of the same width for the contrasting strip on the leopard fabric. Make sure to double the length on the pattern as the finished clutch will be folded in half+ seam allowances. Width should be the same length as your zipper nylon + seam allowances.

2. Cut out fabrics.

3. Attach small pleather rectangle to leopard rectangle, folding one long edge of pleather under itself and pin to the print side of leopard fabric. Sew visible seam across top of the overlay area. Line up edges of pleather and leopard topsides facing eachother. Line up a twill rectangle to the backside of the pleather and one to the backside of the leopard. Fold the tops of all 4 fabrics 1/4" down and pin one side of the first zipper between the pleather and liner and the other side between the leopard and liner. Sew zipper in.

4. Make sure all 4 rectangles' 3 open sides are lined up. Pin down the two long sides and sew stopping a 1/4" from ends.

Attached snap closure.

5. Turn bag right side out. Fold bag to look like the final product and attach the purse snaps to the pleather sides about 1" down from zipper. Turn bag inside out again.

6. Attach second zipper the same way as the first. Flip bag right side out and DONE! Your bag is complete.

*You can sew the lining in separately but I didn't know how to give directions for that.

*Add piping for some more detail.

*I actually sewed a dividing line into my lining to create two distinctive pockets but I didn't write down how I did it because I know it wasn't done correctly and it was too confusing to try to explain. I would recommend creating the two pouches so that whatever you put into the purse won't be sliding allover.

Room for all types of items.

Perfect for notebook, files, or an ipad.

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

Awhile ago ...love Maegan did a post about some awesome things she found at the leather store Tandy Leather Factory. Randomly I had spent some time searching, unsuccessfully, for leather at my local fabric and craft stores so I was really excited to learn that there was a Tandy's near me. I went right away and ended up buying some lovely black leather, metal studs, and handle hardware all with the idea of making a purse. Mind you I had never worked with leather before, never made a purse, and really hadn't sewn much in the last several years, but I was optimistic and high on the fumes of animal hides. Did I also mention I'm impatient? So instead of searching out a tutorial online I decided I would teach myself. I thought a bucket bag would be simplest and still stylish so I took a bowl, traced it onto the leather to form the bottom of the bag, and cut. There was no turning back. Several days and sore fingers later this is what I had.

Not too bad. My biggest regret was not having bought a larger piece of leather. Size really does fool you. I thought I bought a piece that would give me a small/medium size bag but this is definitely small, similar to evening bag size. In fact I ended up using it as a night bag when I went to a friend's bachelorette party in Vegas.

Taking my id out of my new bucket bag

all parties shall remain faceless to protect their identities ;)

Do you ever get optimistic and just start creating? If so I want to see! Leave your links in the comments. I check them all.