Old Belt, New Life

I like to bring new life to old objects. I think eveyone, and everything, deserves a second chance.

Today, my willing subject is this belt:

It was an inexpensive find that I used many times as a cute accessory and to hold up troussers that were a little too big for me.

At some point, my default belt hole just got bigger and bigger, and broke beyond repair. Sigh.

Here's how I turned this blah into a TADA!:

I made it into a key chain! 

Let me show you how I did it.

I knotted some embroidery floss in the middle of my metal snap hook.

Then I cut a piece of my broken belt and placed it on the metal snap hook.

I used hot glue to stick both sides together. Notice that I sandwiched the embroidery floss in between the leather.

I used a binder clip to keep the leather in place while the glue dried. Then I strung on some wooden beads (these were rescued from an old necklace) onto the string.

I made a long tassel out of more embroidery floss.

Then added this at the end of the key chain, looping it through the end of the string, taking the end of the string all the way back through the beads, to where the last bead meets the leather. Then I made several tight knots and snipped off the remaining string.

Then take off the binder clip as the final step.

This key chain is also useful as a bag charm or a zipper pull. TADA!

Holiday Pompoms

Hello guys! I'm glad you could stop by today.

Some years ago, I took this photo:

It's from an Anthropologie holiday display. I was attracted to it because of its simplicity -- just lights and handmade pompoms...TADA!

From a distance, the pompoms resemble Christmas balls. Up close, they look like flowers.

They can be made in different sizes and a variety of materials. Experiment with color combinations like red and green or non-traditional black and white.

In this pompom tutorial, it's easy to make pompoms out of yarn. 

It's also no effort to make pompoms out of cupcake liners as I've shown in this paper pompom tutorial.

These pompoms are made from white plastic bags...TADA!

You can also make big pompoms out of small store-bought pompoms like what I did with this bag charm...TADA!

 

Pompoms make cute additions to handmade gift tags like I did with these reindeer noses...TADA!

Then carry over the pompom theme to your gift wrapping:

Forego the gift wrap and use a pompom corsage to accentuate a gift...TADA!

Or embellish a gift bag or reusable bag with a pompom garland...TADA!

Just a few crafty tips if you want to do a little D.I.Y. this season. These pompoms will grace your holidays for years to come, turning your interiors and gifts from blah to TADA!

If you would like new ideas delivered weekly to your inbox, please subscribe here. 

A Beautiful Bag Charm

Hello and thank you for visiting today.

We can find inspiration everywhere! I was leafing through old Anthropologie catalogs and I saw this:

It's a bag charm. Wouldn't it be a fun afternoon project?

I found all the elements in my jewelry-making box: a hook and chain (from an old bag), a plastic round pendant, beads strung together with pin head pins/eye pins with the help of pliers.

I first made the initial on the pendant. This can be done in many different ways like marker calligraphy or a computer print out using a favorite font. I cut out a letter from a magazine and glued it on the pendant. Then I added a layer of this dimensional glue for a glossy, glassy dome finish.

I attached the beads on the chain. It has a good mixture of faux pearls, diamonds, and crystals.

I added some pink beads because I thought it needed more color. 

I added the initial pendant to personalize my bag charm. TADA!

Make one for yourself and another for your best friend.

Gray to YAY!

I'm happy you could stop by today.

 At the start of the week, we turned this paper bag 

from blah to...

TADA! -- the paper bag's handle

transformed into a bag charm. 

 TADA! -- the other handle jazzed up

for its new life as a necklace.

With both handles put to good use, maybe we could do the same for the bag. 

I gave it new handles -- these are wire handles rescued from a Chinese take-away box {TADA!}.

For embellishments, I'm using foam glitter stickers, ribbon and punched-out scrapbook paper {notice the polka-do theme going on?}.

The ribbon disguises any brand name printed on the bag and layering the paper {use mounting tape for a raised effect} makes it more party-ready.

 Here's what the "new" bag looks like.

TADA!

A Bag Charm

Howdy everyone! On Monday, I shared an art installation inspired by knitting. Yesterday, some street graffiti using crochet. I know, there's a lot of yarn action happening here! 

I guess it would be obvious that this week's blog theme is yarn bombing. Don't worry, I'm not taking to the alleys to decorate an innocent bicycle with a rainbow of yarn. 

I'll do it small scale, because I think yarn can turn any blah into TADA! 

Take this mini carabiner for example. It was used to keep a bunch of keys together. Age has made the cobalt blue paint fade. So sad looking.

Let's bring in the girly gang -- odds and ends from my craft stash like yarn, a pompom, a tassel and beads.

Cover the carabiner with yarn and hold the yarn in place with hot glue.

Then string the elements together with needle and thread.

And just like that, we've made a pretty bag charm. TADA!

Hook it onto any pouch or tote, because they deserve some accessorizing, too.

A Summer Necklace

It's very nice to see you today.

My current project: I'm turning paper bags from blah to TADA!

Right now, let's focus on the handles. Yesterday, I made a bag charm out of one and today, what about a necklace?

I'm using a few beads. These ones, however, are looking a little blah.

A few coats of paint was all they needed. I chose the color pool blue...the name itself relaxes me already! 

Let's make a loop at one end of the rope/bag handle. Secure in place with a few stitches. I used embroidery thread in yellow as an accent color.

With a needle and thread, attach the beads to the rope/bag handle in an alternating pattern.

Use as many beads as the rope/bag handle can accommodate. Doesn't this look like peas in a pod? Then finish with a few knots and a second loop on the open end.

Add a simple chain and...

 ...TADA! -- instant summery necklace.

For a little more detail:

 ...add some teardrop beads and tassels.

Sea and sunshine as an accessory...yes, please!