We’ve been following Evelinas Fashion Cafe for quite some time and can’t get enough of her fashion forward and not to mention easy to follow projects. We adore her Emilio Pucci Clutch Tutorial along with her Stella McCartney bag DIY. Since Fashion Week is rapidly approaching, we felt it was the perfect time to whip up these amazing designer inspired DIY projects. 
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0DQOoHSI9BU]
Erin Pruckno lives in Washington, DC, where she teaches by day and crafts by night. Her site, Thanks, I Made It, is a DIY style blog for encouraging creativity, sharing inspiration, and enjoying being able to say, “Thanks, I made it!” There you’ll find do-it-yourself projects that range from the super simple to more complex, while learning crafty skills and how to get designer looks with less money and more personality.
PROJECT ONE:
Materials
10 inches acrylic chain
22 inches of 12 mm gold chain
Clip
2 large jump rings and pliers (not pictured)
Steps
PROJECT TWO:
Materials:
Gold bolo cord
2 barrel cord ends
Jump rings and clasp
Super glue
Scissors
Steps
PROJECT THREE:
Materials:
18 inches braided trim
6 inches pink ribbon
5 inches elastic
Needle and thread
Scissors
Steps
After graduating from fashion school, and honing her skills through internships at Rodarte and Nike, Aimee landed her dream job and is now a working designer in Los Angeles. Constantly DIY’ing in her spare time, she created SwellMayde as a home for her readers to embrace their creativity. It is all about finding inspiration and teaching others how to bring it to reality with easy to follow steps.
DIY | STATEMENT BIB NECKLACE
I loved the concept of M&J Trimming’s Blogger Challenge, and was absolutely on board when they approached me to participate. They sent me a mystery box of supplies to utilize in a DIY. The day the box came to my door, I quickly opened it and so many ideas came rushing into my head. I couldn’t wait to get creative with this challenge. The one idea that stuck out the most was to make a statement bib necklace, inspired by the amazing tutorial Drew of Dylanex created with Geneva of A Pair and Spare. I just couldn’t get over how utterly beautiful all of Drew’s handmade pieces are!! Check out my version, using her tutorial below.
Materials:
Steps:
1. Find the steps to the Drew’s DIY Necklace Tutorial (here). I followed her steps to create my own.
2.Then, to incorporate a feminine and colorful touch, I used ribbon from the mystery box to use as the closure of the necklace. You can simply cut 2 pieces of ribbon, about 8 to 10 inches long.
3. Tie one end of the ribbon to one end of the necklace. Repeat for the 2nd piece of ribbon. Then, tie onto your neck.
Studs and Pearls is a DIY fashion blog owned by Kirsten Nunez. As a New Yorker and longtime lover of crafting, she’s inspired by everything from music to food to nature. She is currently working on publishing her first DIY fashion book.
Chunky Chain Necklace and Rhinestone Hair Tie
Contrary to what most people may think, elastic can be used for more than holding up your bottoms. This underrated craft material can be incorporated into accessories in just a few steps. My favorite uses for elastic include quick and easy necklaces, and snap free hair ties. Check out how I made both projects, below!
Supplies:
***chunky lucite chain, measurement provided in box***
***gray elastic, measurement provided in box***
– Flat backed rhinestones
– Scissors
– E6000 
1) Cut the elastic so that you have two strands, with one strand measuring about 11 inches.
2) Take the longer strand and tie the ends of the elastic to the ends of the chain.
3) Glue rhinestones to the elastic. Let dry completely.
4) For the hair tie, fold the 11 inch strand of elastic in half. Tie and glue the rhinestone embellishments. Let dry.
Layered Gold Necklace (and bracelets!)
I’ve always had a soft spot for anything gold and minimal. This necklace features a tier of bright gold cord, creating an eye catching yet simplistic look. The natural curve of the cord is ideal for a neck piece, making this project so much easier than it actually seems.
***gold cord, measurement of material that was provided in the box***
– Brass chain
– 6 head pins
– 6 bead caps
– 8+ 6mm jump rings
– 3-in-1 jewelry pliers
– Optional: ***gold thread*** and ***multi-faceted flat backed rhinestones***
1) Cut a strand of gold cord measuring 9.5 inches. Cut a second strand, measuring slightly longer. Cut a third strand, measuring slightly longer than the second.
2) Insert a head pin through the bead cap. Trim down and create a loop. Glue the bead cap onto the cord’s end.
3) Repeat on all the ends of the cord.
4) Join all three ends with a jump ring. Repeat on the other side.
5) If desired, glue rhinestones to the bead caps, or wrap the ends with gold metallic thread.
6) Attach chain to both sides.
7) Attach a jump ring and a clasp to the ends of the chain.
8) For the bracelets, take any leftover gold cord and add bead caps to the ends, as you did in Steps 4 and 5. Connect with jump rings and jewelry claps.
Rhinestone Tassel Pendant
I’ve always found multi-faceted rhinestones to be absolutely gorgeous. Depending on the angle of the light, various colors will shine through. With this project, you can wear a rainbow colors.
Supplies:
– ***gold metallic thread***
– ***multi-faceted rhinestones***
– Clear nail polish
– Scalloped 25x18mm cameo setting
– Scissors
Tip: Plastic jewelry tweezers may make it easier to handle the rhinestones.
1) Apply a small amount of clear nail polish to the setting. Add rhinestones, one by one, starting along the outer edge.
2) Continue until the setting is filled with rhinestones. Add another layer of clear nail polish on top to secure.
3) Let dry completely. I love how the colors in the multi-faceted rhinestones show at different angles!
4) For the tassel, wrap thread around your fingers as shown above. Tie the top end with a
strand of thread, and cut the bottom to create an instant tassel.
5) Attach to the bottom of the setting.
Textured Coin Purse
I adore this project because it uses trim and ribbon in an unconventional way. I’m constantly working with different types of fabrics, so I thought – why not use the trimmings as fabric? By sewing the ribbon and trim together, you can create a custom made “panel” of material to work with. All you need is a chic gold carabiner to top it off.
– ***pink satin ribbon, measurement of material provided in box***
– ***weaved trim,
– ***gold carabiner***
– ***metallic pink ribbon***
– 7 inch zipper
– Fabric scissors
– Straight pins
– Sewing machine (not shown)
1) Cut two lengths of trim of about 15 inches (when folded, a bit longer than 7 inches) and a length of pink satin ribbon (same measurement) The 7 inch zipper can be used as a guide, but the finished coin purse will be smaller than this.
2) Unfold the trim and ribbon. Pin the trim and ribbon, “right” sides facing each other. Look closely to see the pins in the above photo.
3) Sew along the edge. I’d recommend using a zig zag stitch, as a straight stitch may not hold the weaved trim in place.
4) When sewn, the trim and ribbon will look a little like this on the “front” side.
5) Pin the trim to the other edge of the ribbon, right sides facing each other.
6) Sew.
7) The back side, when sewn.
8) Fold in half, and trim down the sides. Trim the zipper, if needed.
9) Pin one half of the zipper to one side of the coin purse (or what will be the coin purse!)
10) Sew.
11) Sew the other half of the zipper to the other end of the coin purse. This may be a bit awkward, so take your time while maneuvering the material.
11) If you cut your zipper, sew a few hand stitches at the end to serve as a stopper. Machine sew down the end and bottom to close up the coin purse.
12) Insert the carabiner right through the trim.
Your coin purse is good to go! You can also use it to store jewelry while traveling.
Challenge materials:
Other materials:
Hot glue the ribbon over the cord, and then remove the shanks from the backs of the buttons so their backs are flat. Hot glue those on the ribbon.
I wanted to plant succulents in my glam cans, but you could also use them for pencils, craft supplies, or whatever you desire!
Challenge materials:
Wrap a piece of washi tape around the trim, centering it at about 20.5″. Cut down the middle of the tape (this prevents the ribbon from unraveling.) Fold the trim over one side of the elastic, and sew the trim back on itself – make sure you don’t sew through the elastic! I sewed up and down three times to ensure the stitches were tight. Then trim the ends and fuse with the lighter.
Repeat with the other side, making sure that the ribbon is not twisted. When done sewing, trim the excess and fuse the ends with the lighter.
All done! So pretty, and I love the colors for fall. It looks chic for the gym, or with any hairstyle!
Once I saw this lovely carabiner clip, I immediately wanted to make a chic keychain clip of it.
Challenge materials:
Start by making the tassel. Use your fingers and wrap the fuchsia thread around them as shown, interspersing with a few wraps of gold thread here and there. Once you have a good amount for a tassel, slip it off and tie it in the center, snip the ends, and slide your bead on from the tied top. Slide the bead down a little so you can slip the tassel on the carabiner clip. Apply a dollop of glue to the inside of the bead (or just on the threads where the bead will ultimately sit) and push the bead into its final resting place. Add your key ring and you’re done!
I love how chic yet practical this is. I can never find my keys in my purse, and now it’s so much easier to find them!
As soon as I saw this gorgeous milky acrylic link chain, I wanted to weave metal chain through it. It was so easy and makes such a unique statement piece.
Challenge materials:
Measure and cut 5 pieces of chain 22″ long. Measure your acrylic links and remove any links past 18″. Gather the ends of the chain and attach using a jump ring at either end. Weave through the acrylic links.
When you get to the end, wrap the chain around the last links. Attach the lobster clasp to one jump ring, and the large jump ring to the other.
So pretty and fun! I can’t wait to wear this with a plain shirt. I think it will especially be set off by fall’s rich jewel tones.
Challenge materials:
Measure and cut a piece of muslin fabric about 10.5″ x 12″. Fold it in half, this will be the shape / size of your clutch. Don’t cut the ribbon yet! Use your fabric glue to adhere the ribbon to one side of your pouch, then flip it over.
Fold the ribbon over the edge and glue it down on the other side. Let dry overnight, cut the ribbon where it was folded, and cut the ribbon excess so it’s flush with the fabric. If there’s excess fabric at the top and bottom, fold it so it’s flush with the fabric and use the bottom edge of your scissors to crease the fold.
These might be the easiest project yet. When I saw the foldover elastic, I thought ‘Twistband hair ties’.
Challenge materials:
Cut lengths of elastic about 9.5″ long. Fold in half, tie the loose ends in a knot leaving about a half inch excess. Singe the ends with a lighter, and that’s it!
This style hair tie is so popular right now, and for how easy they are to make (and how inexpensive too!) I will never pay the outrageous prices when I can DIY my own!
Challenge materials:
Tape your template to the plastic and cut out the shapes. Repeat for 2 of each shape. Make sure to punch holes where you’ll want your jump rings to go before you bake the plastic! Bake the shapes according to the directions on the shrinky dink package.
When you are done with your stones, it’s time to attach the pieces. Use jewelry pliers to attach jump rings, adding an earring hook to the top jump ring.
I can’t get over how glam these earrings are and how expensive they look. You’d never guess it’s not lucite!
Kristen Turner: A Southern Belle living the champagne life on a beer budget, Kristen created her blog Glitter ‘N Glue in 2010 to give readers a creative way to craft the looks for less. Glitter ‘N Glue is a collection of weekly fashion and decor do-it-yourself project tutorials and videos.
METALLIC GOLD CORD WRAPPED VASE
Add a little glam to a plain clear vase by dressing it up metallic gold cord.
Materials: Glass Vase, Metallic Gold Cord, Glue
Place a healthy amount of glue at the bottom of your vase. Place the end of your cord in the glue, hold and let set. Then, wrap the cord around the vase.
Wrap the cord around the vase adding glue to the back of the cords as you go.
Allow at least an hour for your glue to dry before use
RHINESTONE ROPE NECKLACE
Versatile statement necklace should always be a staple in any jewelry box. This project mixed two of my fashion favorites… crystals and a pop of color!
Materials: About 2 yards of cupchain and thread also barrel necklace closure, a lobster claw, a jump ring and glue
Start with four pieces of cupchain each about a half a yard in length
Use your thread to tie all four pieces together at one end
Wrap your thread through the spaces of the cupchain leaving the rhinestones exposed
Add a healthy amount of glue to the inside of your barrel closure. Place the closures on the ends of your necklace. Allow it time to dry overnight, then place a jump ring and lobster claw on one of the barrel closures and a jump ring through the hole of the other.
It can be worn as a necklace…
or as a bracelet
CRYSTAL CLUSTER NAIL ART
No outfit is complete without the perfect manicure. While a trip to the nail salon can be fun and relaxing it can also be costly. At home mani’s allow you to personalize your look and save a few bucks!
Materials: Flat back crystals, clear nail polish, your favorite nail color plus other essentials you might need for an at home manicure
First apply your favorite color to your nails. Then, apply a clear top coat. Place your crystals directly to the nail while your top coat is still wet. If needed use a pair of tweezers to help you pick up the crystals.
Your crystal design can be as simple or as creative as you desire. The design is completely up to you. Once the top coat has dried, apply another coat of clear polish over your crystals.
Use finger nail polish to remove.
Carly J. Cais has been a DIY’er from the moment she strung macaroni on yarn to make necklaces at age 3. Completely self-taught, she produced a short-lived clothing and jewelry line, RIVETED, in 2007, and founded her DIY and fashion blog Chic Steals in 2008. She loves sharing ideas and how-to’s for making one’s own clothing, accessories, and jewelry on her blog, along with local fashion lines lookbooks, styling inspiration, and outfit photos.
I was thrilled to be able to take part in M&J Trimming’s latest DIY Challenge, this time using rich Fall purples and shimmery golds from their box overflowing with fun DIY supplies and trims. I had a blast playing with pretty ribbons, delicate thread, and chunky chains! With M&J Trimming’s latest trims and embellishments, it’s easy to add personalization to pieces to take you from late Summer into Fall. Here are the projects I’ve been working on:
DIY Thread-Wrapped Hoops
Add a little texture and color to some plain hoop earrings by wrapping them in thin embroidery thread: an easy project to do while watching TV to keep your hands busy! Colored thread pops against metallic thread and creates a delicate – rather than overbearing – decorative touch.
Materials:
2 or more colors of embroidery thread
Plain hoop earrings
E-6000 glue
Scissors
How To:
1. Dab a small amount of E6000 glue onto the inside of one of your hoops where you want to start wrapping.
2. Place the end of the thread into the glue.
3. Wrap the thread numerous times around the hoop until you’ve built up enough.
4. Cut the end of the thread, dab on some more glue, and press down to finish one color.
5. Wrap the second (and third, if you’re using 3) color of thread in exactly the same way.
6. Allow the glue to dry before handling.
That’s it! This technique can be done on any jewelry as long as there is something to wrap around – and it is also a great way to hide tarnishing or rubs! Plus, if you get tired of the colors – snip, snip! – And you’re back to your original piece!
Enjoy jazzing up some boring jewelry with a bit of color for Fall 🙂
DIY Chunky Chain Ribbon Necklace
Sometimes a chunky chain is just begging for a bit more adornment. Adding a bright pop of color with a soft satin ribbon adds a feminine touch that contrasts with the boldness of the chain.
Materials:
Chunky plastic chain
1″+ – wide satin ribbon
Scissors
E-6000 glue
Lighter
Clothespins
Pliers
How To:
1. Use pliers to separate a chain link so you have a choker-length chain.
2. Heat-seal the end of the ribbon with an open flame.
3. Thread one end of the ribbon into the last link of the chain.
4. Spread a small line of glue onto the end of the ribbon.
5. Fold the ribbon over.
6. Use clothespins to secure the fold until the glue dries.
7. Repeat for the other end of the ribbon.
8. Once the glue is dry, cut the ribbon in half, angling the ends.
9. Heat-seal both ends to finish.
And you’re done! With a statement piece like this, you can wear all on its own, or layer more delicate chains underneath for a truly over-the-top feel.
DIY Ombre Hair Elastics
It seems in every store soft, tied hair elastics are flying off the shelves – and at $16 or more a set, they pose a pretty serious threat to your wallet. Foldover elastic by the foot is much more affordable – and totally customizable – for your own unique take on the trend.
Materials:
Stretchy foldover elastic
Paint in your favorite colors (try to use fabric paint if you have it)
Paint brush
Scissors
Lighter
Something to protect your work surface
How To:
1. Eyeball the size of your elastics by making sure you have enough to go around your wrist + 2″ or so. Fold over.
2. Tie near the end in a tight knot.
3. Cut the ends close to the knot.
4. Use a flame to heat-seal the cut ends.
5. Dab paint on to the folded end, putting less on near the knot to create an ombre effect.
6. Allow to dry.
And that’s all there is to it! You could potentially use the elastics as-is, without color – but I love adding a bit of personalization to everything, so why not? Try different colors of elastic, and contrasting colors of paint, to create a fun rainbow!
DIY Rhinestone Focal Braided Bracelet/Choker
Sparkly jewelry livens up any outfit and brings glamour day or night. Creating your own custom rhinestone-encrusted setting to a focal piece is a challenge, but the results are amazing and truly worth it. Plus, what could be better than a piece you can wear as a bracelet or a choker necklace? Double duty accessories are always a blast!
Materials
braided gold leather trim
rhinestone crystals
focal druzy stone
Apoxie Sculpt epoxy clay in black
necklace end crimps
small round jump rings
2 oval jump rings
clasp & ring
toothpick
scissors
pliers
How To
1. Remove an equal amount of both parts of the Apoxie Sculpt.
2. Knead together for a minute or so until thoroughly mixed.
3. Form into a long snake.
4. Wrap around the edge of your druzy focal.
5. Smooth the Apoxie clay with your finger to fix any cracks or bumps.
6. Press an oval jump ring into either end of the focal, pressing into the clay and smoothing any gaps around the wire. Allow the jump ring to protrude slightly so you can attach jump rings to it later.
7. Use a toothpick to press the rhinestones into the clay around the edge of your focal, making sure to sink them in slightly so the clay “grips” them.
8. Allow to dry 24 hours until the clay is hard. (*hint: For a glossy enamel-like finish to the epoxy clay, once dry you can coat with 1-3 coats of Mod Podge Gloss if you so choose.)
9. Attach an end crimp to one end of the leather braid.
10. Use a jump ring to attach to the loop at one end of the focal.
11. Wrap the braid around your wrist several times, until it is the length you want.
12. Cut.
13. Attach a crimp end and jump ring to the cut end of the braid, and attach to the other side of the focal.
14. Cut the braid in half, and finish each end with a crimp end, jump ring, and the clasp pieces.
You’re done! Wear wrapped around your wrist several times (as a single piece arm party!), or even as a necklace if the mood strikes.
We are very glad to announce our Third Annual M&J Blogger Challenge! We will be posting each blogger’s DIY posts throughout the week…Stay tuned and enjoy!
Carly J. Cais has been a DIY’er from the moment she strung macaroni on yarn to make necklaces at age 3. Completely self-taught, she produced a short-lived clothing and jewelry line, RIVETED, in 2007, and founded her DIY and fashion blog Chic Steals in 2008. She loves sharing ideas and how-to’s for making one’s own clothing, accessories, and jewelry on her blog, along with local fashion lines lookbooks, styling inspiration, and outfit photos.
Kristen Turner: A Southern Belle living the champagne life on a beer budget, Kristen created her blog Glitter ‘N Glue in 2010 to give readers a creative way to craft the looks for less. Glitter ‘N Glue is a collection of weekly fashion and decor do-it-yourself project tutorials and videos.
Hi! I’m Lia. My real name is Amalia which rhymes with Mama Mia and not Somalia. This is why I go by Lia. I’m a single mom of 2 amazing kids who are 8 and 11. I recently lost my job and am trying to blog full time now while looking for my next endeavor. You know how you hear some kind of adage that goes something like ‘what you do when you’re procrastinating is what you should be doing with your life’? Well for me it was blogging. And here I am! A former data analyst, now loving life at home with the kiddos! I started Smart n Snazzy to share my love of fashion, DIY projects, beauty, and decor. I have expensive taste but a limited budget, so I wanted to hopefully inspire others! I also started it to have a creative outlet. I’ve always been making things since I was a kid; it’s helped with my anxiety and focus issues. I graduated from University of Colorado Boulder with my degree in Mathematics after also studying a lot of physics and astronomy. I am obsessed with 90s punk music, the beach, Mediterranean food, sports, and a good drink. I snowboard, surf (well I did when I lived in FL), and work on DIY projects in my free time, what little of it I have that is.
Studs and Pearls is a DIY fashion blog owned by Kirsten Nunez. As a New Yorker and longtime lover of crafting, she’s inspired by everything from music to food to nature. She is currently working on publishing her first DIY fashion book.
After graduating from fashion school, and honing her skills through internships at Rodarte and Nike, Aimee landed her dream job and is now a working designer in Los Angeles. Constantly DIY’ing in her spare time, she created SwellMayde as a home for her readers to embrace their creativity. It is all about finding inspiration and teaching others how to bring it to reality with easy to follow steps.
Erin Pruckno lives in Washington, DC, where she teaches by day and crafts by night. Her site, Thanks, I Made It, is a DIY style blog for encouraging creativity, sharing inspiration, and enjoying being able to say, “Thanks, I made it!” There you’ll find do-it-yourself projects that range from the super simple to more complex, while learning crafty skills and how to get designer looks with less money and more personality.
Cathy Attix is the creator of Trinkets in Bloom, a fashion DIY blog with an eye for design and creative expression. Her DIY’s are inspired by runway fashion, street style and vintage finds. She brings more than fifteen years of fashion industry experience to her creations and a lifetime of creativity and experience to her tutorials.
Want to do your own Blogger Challenge?
These are the supplies we gave each of the bloggers that participated.
8MM Foldover Elastic in Grey-Style No. 25068
Metal Clip in Matte Gold- Style No. 30438
1.5″ Double Face Satin Ribbon in Wild Berry- Style No. 44334
Rayon Weave Ribbon in Fuchsia/Multi-Style No. 58325
4MM Metallic Vinyl Braided Bolo in Gold- Style No. 48588
Send us pictures of your own creations! #MJTRIMMING
Jazzi McGilbert of Jazzimcg has been on our radar for some time now. We’re loving everything from her fashion forward DIYs to her amazing style and somewhat addicting posts. Her honesty and straight forward antics are something we look forward to each day. Who else would notify bloggers they’ve been busy with a selfie from the doctors office? Her fun loving LA/NY vibe is something we truly love not to mention her killer DIYs. Click on each of the images for the full tutorials.
DIY: Richard Nicoll Inspired Ribbon Cuff
