Category Archives: DIY

DIY Projects

J.Crew Style Belt DIY.

Posted on February 15, 2012

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Last week, I saw a belt in the J.Crew store and loved everything but the price tag. So instead of spending
the $52, I made myself one instead. This project can be done for little to no money, depending on what
materials you already have. I spent $20 on the belt and embroidery thread.

Here’s the J.Crew version vs. the SWR version.

I kept the color scheme similar, but mixed it up just a little. Online, they have a blue version if you would
like some more color inspiration!

Now for the how to:

What you need.

Begin by gluing the first color vertically on the back of the belt.

Next, wrap the thread around the belt over the part that you just glued down. When the band of color is
as long as you would like it, glue the end down and cut off the excess. Do the same with the next color.

Continue down the length of the belt. I ordered the colors, and the length of the bands randomly.

Continue down the belt until you reach the stopping point you would like, glue it off, and you’re finished!

Happy Crafting!
-Kayls.
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Updating a Chandelier.

Posted on September 4, 2011

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Kai and I aren’t really in the position to replace our dining room chandelier right now … but that doesn’t
mean that I can’t make the best of the old one! Here is what it looked like when we moved in (all furniture
shown belongs to the previous owner):

The black shades were probably my least favorite part. They were dark and drew a lot of attention
to the white candlesticks. Because of this, the first change that I made was to switch out those lampshades!
Fortunately, my mom had a set of off white ones that she wasn’t using so I took advantage of that and
upgraded to this:

This was definitely an improvement, but it still felt too traditional for me. I was hoping I would just be able
to live with it until we could replace it, but a couple of days ago I decided to do a little, inexpensive DIY fix on
this chandelier until we can get a new one.

Aaaand here’s the finished project:

 

Alright, so here’s what I did. Things you’ll need:

A glue gun, twine, and the candlestick covers. My covers were what seemed like a painted heavy cardboard.

Basically all you are going to do is wrap the twine around the candlestick cover and glue as you go!

And then put them on the chandelier without the shades and voila! You have yourself a rustic, shabby chic chandelier.

Even though I am liking this way better than the shades, I may still have another trick up my sleeve for this
chandelier. I’ll keep ya posted.

I call this an “update” but in some ways it might be a “downdate” since I think it really shows off the age of the
chandelier. Yeah, I just invented the word “downdate” … don’t worry. It’ll be in Webster’s soon.

- Kayls.
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An Outfit and a Home Project.

Posted on July 23, 2011

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I meant to do this blog post yesterday but then I got busy working on this novel of a post on our photography
blog instead! No, really, check it out. This wedding is amazing. Click here.

I told Kai right before he started taking these pictures that I don’t like it when he photographs me on a downward
angle because then my legs look really short but he didn’t listen and look what happened – mini calves! See,
Kai, told you. I look silly.

 

 

 

Outfit Breakdown:
Top: J.Crew Factory Store / Skirt: Ruche / Earrings: Gift / Bracelet: Gap / Shoes: c/o Wanted

Hair:
Tutorial Here

Mom came over last night … I don’t remember why any more … because let’s face it, our house is like a
black hole. People intend to stop in for a second but end up staying and helping us put our lives back together.
We are that pathetic.

So these are a couple of the things we did:

Once a milk can:

Now a table (wellll … now a milk can with a stone on top):

And look at this fanciness. I didn’t have a place for my scarves and belts so we rigged up a little somethin’
somethin’. All you need is two towel bar holders + a towel bar – and you have a cheap way to hang accessories.
I find that this works much better than hooks because it holds more and I can still see most everything.
Originally I was planning on just buying pre-made towel bars until I saw how expensive they were! To build
your own was muct more cost effective. $3.50 for a pair of towel bar holders and another $3.50 for a 24′ towel
bar (which we sawed in half) … so that makes about $5.25 per towel bar. Win!

After!

 

And Kai’s side … not quite as full. He has more clothes than this, they’re just in the ironing basket. I’m a bad
wife, okay? But in my defense, he does have another whole closet full of things that don’t need to be ironed.

 

Alright, that’s all I got for today. I’ll be in my scrubby painting clothes all day tomorrow so no post – so
sorry. Catch ya next week!

- Kayls.
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All Images and Content Copyright Kayley Heeringa