For the Makers DIY Bracelet & Phone Pouchette + Giveaway!

The weekend has arrived! I'm still dreaming of Bali...

...so I figured I'd head back a few weeks for another Bali post showing some fun projects that I made with For the Makers. Not sure if you guys are familiar with them or not, but they're this amazingly crafty, well-curated subscription service for DIY projects. (PS, there's a rad giveaway on this post too - keep reading for details!) A girlfriend of mine had been a fan for a while, so when I checked them out I fell in love. Everything feels like it should be in Anthropologie. (One of my favorite spots to do project research!)

They were lovely to send me a few things to play with, first being their La Pouchette project. A little leather pouch for my cell phone? In.

All the materials come with each project, so all you have to do is follow the tutorial steps online. I placed and traced my leather...

...and trimmed carefully on the lines.

I added the button stud...

...and had my pouch ready to use! It was the perfect travel case to take out with me when I was going to the beach and didn't want to carry a huge bag.

Plus, it was way easier (and smaller) to fit this beneath the seat of my moto!

I love this emerald color too!

My second batch of projects came from their March, Hello Trouble kit...

Lots of color, which made me a happy camper!

I loved the "Local's Only" bracelet that came with a bangle, silk trim, glue, and rhinestones.

The actual bracelet is supposed to look like this...

...so I pulled up the tutorial on my phone to get started. It was the perfect outdoor activity to work on while I took pool breaks!

I added my stones after the trim was wound...

...and then let it dry!

The kit was awesome for a bit of travel craftiness - I just tossed the box in my suitcase and all the supplies were in one place. And sidenote, I've been getting the most compliments on the bangle. I layer it with other bracelets and it just pops.

Since I loved the kit so much, the fab team at For the Makers are giving away a three-month subscription to a lucky reader! Weeeeeeeee! I smell some summer DIYs on the horizon...

To enter, leave a comment below of one of the For the Makers projects that you'd love to work on! There are so many gorgeous things to DIY, that it might be hard to choose just one. A lucky winner will be announced after Memorial Day and their subscription will begin soon after! (This giveaway is open to US readers only. To my readers abroad we've got something fun coming next week that you can enter!) Good luck!

Copycat: Kate Spade Studded Harper Skirt

As soon as I saw this fabulous Kate Spade Harper skirt with studs...

...I knew it was something that I needed to DIY! It's the perfect bit of rocker edge to add to my wardrobe and I had thrifted just the right skirt to use for it.

Here’s a rundown of the supplies you’ll need for the skirt

1. Black Skirt – (I thrifted/shortened mine, but Kohl’s and Target have some fab options.) 2. Gold Metal Studs (These are sew on by Darice and can be scored at Joann's or Michaels.) 3. Black Thread & Needle

To match the length of the Kate Spade skirt, I cut my piece short...

...and pinned the bottom of it to prep for a new hem.

Because the skirt is a stretchy cotton, I stitched a hem using a zig zag stitch to allow for movement.

With the skirt short, I placed down the pyramid studs in a similar pattern to the original piece and pinned them down to the skirt so they wouldn't move. The studs were in a staggered position, so it was super easy to match. 

I stitched the studs to the skirt with my needle and thread...

...and had a rocking studded skirt ready to wear!

Pretty close, eh?

I'm in love with this piece and while I paired it with a vintage blouse this go...

...I think I'm going to pair it with a t-shirt for the next wear.

And the best part?? It's beyond comfortable. That makes me the happiest!

Remake: Vintage White Nightgown

I felt a bit ambitious when I was away and thought that I could get away with making something fun with this top sans a sewing machine. It was a Goodwill find and the lightest, gauze-iest, cotton I've ever felt - super perfect to wear in a hot climate. I planned out my DIYs in advance and brought some tools along with me that's going to make this piece fah-bulous!!

Any thoughts on where I took this??

I met up with my concrete pal over by the outdoor shower and gave this top a bath.

Then came the rubber banding :) See where this is going??

I brought along some of ILovetoCreate's dye (they're awesome powder dyes that come in plastic bottles) and then filled them up with water before I got to playing. I didn't have to worry about any dye leaking in my suitcase using these guys, which make them perfect for on-the-go crafting. Blue, orchid, and green shades made the cut!

With my dyes set and my top rubber banded...

...I started adding color!! I added five rubber bands to the piece and matched the color from the outside going in, making a green/orchid/blue/orchid/green color combination.

Ready to add the blue!!

When I finished adding all of the color, I tossed the piece into a freezer Ziploc (smart move Maris, using that Ziploc bag that brought over your carry-on toiletries in.) and let it marinate.

I got some work done and consumed some Indonesian beer while the dye soaked.

I got a little pool time in while I waited...

And, I even hit the local flea market for some textile browsing while my piece was chillin'.

I ended up letting it veg overnight just to make the color super rich. When it was ready to exit the Ziploc, I thoroughly washed it in warm water until all the excess dye had come out and the water was running clear.

I let the piece dry in the sun (it was literally hanging over the balcony ledge...when in Bali...) before making some final tweaks!

There was a flower on the front of it that just screamed nightgown, so I removed it.

With the flower gone...

...I created a little pinch and cinch in the center of the lace portion...

...and had my new piece ready to go.

Unfortunately I shot my after pics at home because I wore this as a bikini cover-up and was in/near the water the whole time (blerg on leaving my phone at the room while on the beach) but, the pics are just as fun.

This totally works as a top with a dark cami or bra underneath! You can't even see how sheer it is anymore!

Didn't the colors turn out awesome? I love this combo - I want to use this as my bedroom decorating inspiration!!

I found some flowers that I matched...

...as well as someone's vehicle.

Not my car, but when it's parked on the street it's just fair game for me and my photos.

I think the owner of that teal car needs my shirt! Teal car owner in the mid-city area of Los Angeles - if you see this and recognize your lovely car as the backdrop of my photo, hit me up and I'll get you some tie dyed gloriousness to match yo ride!