Wednesday 17 August 2016

DIY-scapades - Dyeing by degrees

Florals are something that never go out of fashion, or rather a staple statement that grows back continually after it fades. They're also eclectic in the different forms they take, from dotted 'ditsy' prints to oversized motifs to 3D appliqué that jumps off the material. It was Vivetta's take on the latter that has whetted my aesthetic appetite of late.
Vivetta Navy Cotton Embroidered Tea Dress


The graduation from flat to 3D was something I wanted to try but I decided to shake things up a bit, medium-wise. It was one thing sewing flowers on but what about adding in a little colour contrast?



The next step was to dye the dress using Dylon fabric dye. It's intended for natural fabrics; synthetic fabrics don't soak up the colour as well. And so, when I dyed my dress, with its mix of natural, synthetic and synthetic blend fabrics, that was the whole point.



The result






Wednesday 20 July 2016

Critter creative - How to DIY a Fendi monster keyring

Who could miss the huge trend for little monsters, courtesy of Fendi? Here at Chic Cheat, I, too, had to get in on the action.

You will need...



Difficulty



Easy


If you can cut shapes out of faux fur, you can do this project; that part is about as hard as it gets.

Time


One hour, maximum.

Create a monster


Fur is a very difficult texture to mark,especially, if you're working with a dark colour. I used a gold paint pen.




N.B. Don't forget to trim back the fur on the base where you want your monster's eyes to go.

DIY Fendi monster pompom keyring replica





Tuesday 12 July 2016

DIY-scapades, inspired by Saint Laurent Palm Print Canvas Skate Sneakers

 You will need...


White canvas trainers

Pencil or pen

Black 3D/opaque fabric paint

Fabric paint or silk paint in various shades of orange and yellow

Makeup sponges

A fine-tipped paintbrush and a wide-tipped paintbrush

Water

Difficulty



Quite easy


A straightforward project but drawing and painting skills are definitely recommended.


Time


About two hours.




Thursday 9 June 2016

Master strokes - DIY brush stroke effects with fabric paint

You will need...


A pale coloured garment
Pebeo Setasilk silk fabric paint (for drizzling)
Dylon fabric paint
A thick brush (I used an old blusher brush)

Difficulty


difficulty01

Very easy


In principle, it couldn't be simpler, however there are two caveats: results may vary depending on your technique; and, the not-so-easy challenge here is to keep your work surfaces clean. Prepare to get messy!

Time


Mine took about 10 minutes.

Throw it on...








Monday 16 May 2016

How to make a marbled clutch - a DIY video tutorial

You will need...



Difficulty



Easy


Easy when you know how, but it does take a degree of care and patience to pull off.


Time


About five minutes (half an hour you include drying time).


Video tutorial













Tuesday 3 May 2016

Ballsy earrings - how to DIY a pair of Prada sequin ball earrings

Inspiration




Guide to statement earrings: the wish list – in pictures | Fashion |...





You will need




N.B. You will need 8 large sequins (4 of each colour) if you want to make yours exactly like the original but I decided to do mine differently.


Difficulty



Quite easy


Straightforward and easy when you know how but certain parts of the process are quite fiddly, especially making the ball shapes.


Time


One-and-a-half hours.


Get the ball (earrings) rolling




N.B. Cut each slit on the opposite side of the sequin to the hole.



As stated previously, if you want to make yours like the original, you will need to cut four sequins in each colour and glue them together in pairs, with one of each colour.



With the slits facing each other, slide two disc sequins together at right angles to each other to form a ball shape. Put gemstone glue inside the slits beforehand so that the ball shape can be sealed together easily.






...And there you have it; it's that simple!














Monday 25 April 2016

DIY Digest - Choker in the pack

The choker's back, big this season and brilliant for adding a touch of instant hippie chic if you use ribbon or crocheted trims (think festival glamour). And the best bit? It's easy to put together in ten minutes with the right trim and a little bit of creative know-how.

You will need...







Time


About ten minutes - tops!


Difficulty



Very easy


Not much else to say - this is about as straightforward as it gets.


Make it in minutes


*Leave a few centimetres of excess ribbon on either side for knotting.






Monday 18 April 2016

Choose your marbles - how to make a DIY marbled clutch

From Acne to Edie Parker and everything in between (including the Urania Gazelli Pac Man clutch that inspired this project) the perspex box clutch never fails to make a statement and add a touch of class with a shimmer of sumptuous marble texture. The great news is that it's still on trend and super-easy to make with a touch of creativity and an eye for re-purposing. Allow me to demonstrate...

You will need...




Difficulty



Quite easy


A straightforward, super-short (by my standards) project but a touch of skill and patience is definitely required.

Time


Mine took two hours but it depends on the design you use; a simpler one would be much quicker to do.