TRANSPARENT CLUTCH TUTORIAL

Summer holidays are a perfect time for creating some easy DIY accessories. The transparent clutch completes an easy summer outfit and is perfect to protect your essentials from splashes & sandy beaches.
In past season designers like Maison Martin Margiela have taken on the minimal cool of bubble wrap to define a futuristic look. To mix things up, you can experiment with various packaging materials or giant bubble wrap!
This simple tutorial only requires a sewing machine or heat sealer as well as:

// one large sheet of bubble wrap
// two press buttons (metal colour of your choice)

I up-cycled a bubble wrap bag from old delivery packaging with the sides already heat-sealed. But you can just fold up a single sheet of bubble wrap and sew up the sides with dtm or contrast cotton (left sides together).
Decide on size and style. My bag is a clean rectangle (40cm x 30cm) double folded (in this case 80cm x 30cm). Sew up sides and apply press buttons according to instructions (please see sketch for positioning). Fold over - close - done!

UPCYCLED | Wallprints

When it gets to the time of the year that I want to hibernate because of chillier and chillier temperatures outside I start wanting to re-decorate our flat. I absolutely love our flat as it is big and very light even in Winter but big walls can look quite bare & dull even on sunny days.  So to cheer up my surroundings I started by browsing through old favourite fashion mags - always a reliable source of inspiration whatever the reason (and season).

Since I'm a huge fan of slogan prints I was very excited when I came across these i-D magazine pages.  Using a scalpel blade I cut them out very neatly and framed them with re-painted second hand frames.  To give the prints another angle and to emphasise their message you can even back them with monochrome patterns from magazines or gift wrap! It's definitely a cheap and cheerful way to re-fresh your walls - and very satisfying knowing you made it yourself.  I feel very pleased with myself now when I walk around the flat ;)

FLOWER. VASE. BOTTLE.

June calls for some decorating. It might be a bit late for a spring rearrangement but since I have been completely tied up with Fashion Revolution Germany I feel now is a good time to share this little idea with you to freshen up your work or living space :)  I wanted to re-use some gorgeous glass bottles I've been collecting by turning them into flower vases for my front room. Since I can't throw anything away without trying to give it a second life I've decided to keep my birthday flowers from last September.  Dried up I've found them even more beautiful glowing in shades of vintage green & coral oranges. Tucked into a simple shaped clear bottle & against a white/ black backdrop they add a cool botanical touch to any table or sideboard plus I like the idea of not having to water them ;)

DIY CHRISTMAS CARDS

 

I love the giving Christmas cards tradition and since it's December 1st today,  I'm in the mood for some 'basteling' (sorry - the German term beats any translation)

If you, like me, have difficulties to throw out nice paper or card board you'll be happy to see it turned into some stunning DIY Christmas cards ❤

SKIM YOUR RECYCLING BIN

I had a few old calendars lying around made from brilliantly smooth card which inspired the snowy backdrop for my bauble motif cards.  Just dig through your cupboards as all fashion catalogs / look books, add pages in glossies or even carton carrier bags make excellent card material.
For the baubles I've upcycled old gift wrap in different colours and textures - it's good to have a mix of plain and patterns if you go for a contrast design . To add a bit of detailing to the patterns I've sprinkled on some sequins from the local craft shop.

STEP BY STEP

I love this spire shaped bauble design as it totally vin-tages me... Dazzling & swinging, try it out.  Happy first advent!

UPCYCLED DENIM NECKLACE

Hey fellow upcyclists - here's a little weekend treat for you. It's predicted to be wet so why not stay in with a hot cuppa & make yourself a new necklace from just a few denim scraps & vintage trims! 

Just follow the steps below.  

You never know, your new creation might shift the cloudy mood plus you'll have something cool to wear out on Saturday night 

❤

SKIM YOUR TEXTILE BIN

Tear a few denim strips of an old pair of jeans / skirt.  I prefer to take material from along the seams because I like the stitching detail. 

STEP BY STEP

You will also need something to decorate your necklace with, I used some vintage earrings which I bought at Das Neue Schwarz a button from my Nan's sewing box & some safety pins which I collect of garment labels.

Check here for the step by step tutorial.

REMIX YOUR HOLIDAY WARDROBE - PART II

My sister gave me this old pair of denims a little while ago - they came in handy when I realised I didn't have enough bottoms to take on hols, especially as I had fancied some denim bermudas for quite some time now. I decided on a good length for me (inside leg: 13cm), cut off the legs and trimmed & hemmed the edges. To finish off I cut away the button guard as I wanted to show off the metal button stand which really boosts that fab high-waisted look especially with a classic oversized shirt tucked into it ❤

SLOGAN TEE TUTORIAL

I ❤ slogan Tees, they sure to make a statement without you having to say a word & are a great way to carry your point of view into the world...They give an edge to any outfit be it glam or denim, I like to wear mine with a perfectly tailored pencil skirt.  Here is how to make your own from a preloved Tshirt or top:

SKIM YOUR TEXTILE BIN

I used a Tshirt I hardly wear.  I don't like the print any more and it has stains on neck and front body but I love the nice thin jersey it's made from.  So I just turned it inside out & removed all labels.  For the letters I used black jersey courtesy of an old boyfriend Tee. You can pick any sort of black fabric, it can be denim, cotton or jersey.  Choose a light coloured piece of fabric for the backing that the letters will be attached to, I chose a left-over piece of cream crepe de chine on my slogan Tshirt.

STEP BY STEP

Check here for step by step tutorial. The font I used for my letters is varsity regular.

DENIM RING TUTORIAL

This little fine piece of jewellery was a quick trick I pulled out of my sleeve for a last minute workshop at the very inspiring Changing Course Berlin event

SKIM YOUR TEXTILE BIN

You don't need much, a small piece of denim, either tin or a very solid piece of card board, called carton board for the base which you may find in the bottom of an old shopping bag.

STEP BY STEP

Check here for pattern & step by step tutorial

ALLIGATOR-MONSTER NOSE TUTORIAL

BOO!

Here comes a splash of colour & fun on a long cold Winter's day inspired by the amazing COVERkids magazine Make some little fantasy animal noses for and with your little monsters. This is also a fab way of keeping them busy during school holidays or at a fancy dress birthday party!!

SKIM YOUR RECYCLING BIN

>>you need an old egg carton, coloured straws (mine were used and cleaned), black foam or card board (old catalogues are good too!) & pom poms, little beads or old buttons

For utensils you will need scissors, some glue and a stapler

STEP BY STEP

Check here for step by step tutorial