Martha Stewart Living, The September Issue

September has arrived, goodness me, the year is flying by so quickly!

One of the things I like about September are the magazines. You can guarantee that Vogue and InStyle have September as their thickest issue of the year. They're brimming with autumn's latest looks as the fall/winter seasons are finding their way to our doorstep, plus lots of product and lifestyle advertisements. 

Here's one that isn't as thick, but I'm loving the features in every page. Because sometimes, when you pick up a magazine, not all the articles are meant for you, don't you agree?

It's the Martha Stewart Living, September 2012 issue. 

"The Home Issue" and "Bold Color" are what sealed the deal for me. Likewise, the cover is very vibrant and engaging. Martha looks so laid back as she fulfills her grandmotherly duties to Jude, the daughter of her only daughter, Alexis.  

The crafting/DIY section always gets my top priority. The editors always come up with brilliant ideas that aren't all that difficult to do.  

This month, they take inspiration from luxury bags and make their version using the tromp l'oeil technique. Clip art is printed on fabric transfers, ironed on blah canvas bags, and TADA!, attractive satchels!

The same technique is used to dress up a plain t-shirt by adding sunglasses, a charm necklace, and a faux collar. 

And it works on bangles, too! The rope, chain, and cord designs are applied using decoupage. 

If you visit the Martha Stewart website to get the instructions and clip-art for these projects, here are some bonus ideas:

via Martha Stewart

Shoe clips

via Martha Stewart

Earrings with matching gift box

Another reason I bought a copy is because there's a house tour of Alexis' apartment:

It's minimalist and sleek, but still warm and inviting.

 Her mid-century furniture were purchased from 

vintage shops and on-line sources like 1stdibs.

Even if she comes across as strong and feisty, she is

a domestic queen like her mother. Here is her

modern kitchen where she bakes indulgent 

treats and cooks healthy meals. 

She has two children, Jude {17 months} and 

Truman {5 months}, but she'll never show

their faces to the camera!

Oh, and did you know that she has a blog?

More Martha tomorrow!

Looks Like Candy

Hooray, we made it to Friday!

 Yesterday, I made this pastel-hued necklace from a

blah necklace of wooden beads. All I did was paint

the beads, and added a few plastic ones to 

create something TADA!

I had a few extra beads left, so here's what I did:

I strung them on a piece of wire, looping the

wire at the ends to prevent the beads from

slipping off and...

 ...to accommodate strips of ribbon that 

will act as the strap.

 TADA! Another necklace!

 They remind me of candy on a string.

The bow at the back adds an 

ultra-feminine touch.

May you have a colorful Labor Day weekend!

Color Infusion

I hope you're having a stress-free day.

Today, we're giving a new look to this blah necklace. 

All we need is paint and a few brushes. 

To make painting easy, I use these bamboo skewers.

I paint several coats, letting them dry in between. 

Empty egg cartons are TADA! -- they make sorting colors easy.

Here's my color palette so far.

Maybe I'll add a few plastic beads from my collection. 

Gather the beads on invisible string. 

Alternate colors for contrast. 

Make a closure clasp...I've used beads and a button.

TADA! A brand new necklace!

Red Dots

Recycling old things into jewelry is one of 

my favorite hobbies.

Today, I'll use this:

An old t-shirt

And these:

A bunch of bottle caps

...To create a fun necklace.

Here's what we need to do:

Cut out some circles from the t-shirt {I made 16}. The circles should be twice the size of the bottle caps' circumference. 

We'll wrap the bottle cap inside the cloth circle, a technique we've used here and here. Make a running stitch on the edge of the circle, pull the thread lightly so the edges gather up. Put in the bottle cap inside the "pouch" and pull the thread tightly. Finish with a knot. Repeat to cover all 16 circles.

Play around with how you want to configure the circles.

 Once you've decided, sew the back side of the 

covered caps together.

Here's what they look like sewn together. 

Sew on a chain with clasp and TADA!,

a handmade necklace!  

Keep it plain...

Or add some buttons, pins or brooches

to dress it up. 

It's an inexpensive way to add a pop of color to a plain look.

Have a nice day!

A Bit of Blue & Gold

If you're a frequent visitor to my blog {thanks, by the way!}, you know that I like necklaces. Wearing necklaces can give some TADA! to an otherwise blah outfit.

Here's a necklace that I never wore.  

It's made of wooden beads.

I think it was too short and the shade of orange didn't complement the clothes in my closet. And you know what that means -- make-over time!

I'm adding a few more beads, also from another old necklace.

I've chosen to paint the beads in a royal blue, inspired by this, this and this. For easier handling, I used skewers to aid me in painting and drying the beads.

 I put several coats on all sides of the beads and let them dry.

Then, I strung them on invisible string and added 

gold beads as accents. 

 It's a little longer now because of the additional beads.

A whole new necklace, and all I paid for was paint!

TADA!

Summer Souvenir

Hello Monday & hello everyone! This week is all about necklaces -- how to make new ones and how to give old ones a make-over.

 Today, I'm carrying over last Friday's blah: an empty nail polish bottle.

You can fill it with anything you want like beads or confetti. Use a paper funnel to make a neat pour.

I'm putting in some sand -- I gathered a small amount from a recent beach trip.

Close the top with a small craft cork {seal with glue to avoid accidents} and add a chain {attach to the bottle with a piece of wire}. Now, it's a necklace...TADA!

 I bumped up the "pretty factor" with a locket {fastened to the bottle with a ribbon}.

 The locket gives this necklace a touch of nostalgia, and is brimming with possibilities:

• For a married couple, put in sand from a beach where you honeymooned, and add your photos in the locket. It works for wedding anniversaries, too.
• For a single gal, sand and photos from your most recent adventure {by yourself or with the besties}.
• For a parent, you can give this to your daughter who's moving away for college or a job abroad. The sand can be from your hometown or from a beach where your family frequented as she was growing up. Mom and Dad's photos make it to the locket, of course. Okay, family pets can be in the running as well. 

 How can you not love this handmade present?

It's filled with meaning, and is as precious as the

most expensive diamond necklace, without

the hefty price tag.