DIY: Crepe Paper Flowers

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What you'll need:
-scissors
-fine crepe paper cut into 5"x7" rectangles
-thread/fishing wire

Take five sheets of crepe paper and fold them into accordion folds.
 
Tie the bundle off around the middle. I had fishing line in a drawer so I'm using that--I also think hanging them from a clear thread will add a cool effect, but I think any sort of thread or string will work as long as it is sturdy enough.

Cut each end to make the final product more flower-like--you can do a rounded cut or cut them into points for a different look.
Spread the folds gently with your fingers and carefully pull each sheet forward one at a time. Repeat on the opposite side pulling all the sheets towards one center. You can fluff and play with the folds a bit as it comes together.

Repeat the process until you have all the crepe paper flowers you desire. I'm hoping to make some white and gold ones as well and then string them across my ceiling to replace the snowflakes I had hanging up in the winter.

DIY Eyes In The Back Of My Trench

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I started drawing eyes on the back of my trench coat several years ago. I passed along the first one, let a friend borrow the second a couple of years ago (ahem, you know who you are and it's not too late to return it!), and decided it was high time for a third. I'm really addicted to paint pens and would love to add little doodles to all of my clothes...but one project at a time.
What you'll need:
-trench coat/other coat
-chalk
-all purpose paint pen
-piece of cardboard/paper

Insert the piece of cardboard or paper underneath the fabric section you will be drawing on (paint pens tend to bleed through and this will also give you a flat surface to work on). Sketch out your design in chalk--chalk is very forgiving since you can just wash it off and start fresh if it doesn't work out. I used a pink pen that contrasted from my beige trench coat and I wouldn't confuse the color with my black paint pen. Once you are satisfied with your design, start drawing with your paint pen. Shake your pen and pump the tip every few lines to make certain the tip doesn't get dry. Once you are done drawing you can wash the chalk off and your trench is ready to be worn. It's been to cold to wear this one, but here's a picture of my old one to give you an idea of what it looks like when worn.

DIY Cloud Lanterns

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I'm not much of a home DIYer, but I’ve wanted cloud lanterns for my room since I saw a photographer on Flickr posing with one. I couldn’t find any tutorials on how to make them so I just went about it in the most logical way I could using some of the crafty supplies I already had around the house. There really aren’t too many steps since I started with a ready-made paper lantern and basically just had to add the “cloudy” elements to achieve the effect I wanted.  What you’ll need:
-paper lantern(s)
-craft glue
-cotton batting
-light source: candles, or LED lights
The assemblage is fairly straightforward: apply thin layer of glue all over lantern and then press thin layer of cotton batting all over, hold and let dry. At this stage it looks like a snowball. Once the glue has set (30 minutes to an hour) use dabs of glue to add extra layers and bulky spots to make it look more cloud-like; you can pinch and pull your cotton batting to make it uneven and fluffy. Again, allow it to dry then insert your LED light or candle and you’re done! If I do this project again I might switch the craft glue with hot glue sticks, but I already had the craft glue on hand.

DIY Racing Stripe Jeans

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I spied a pair of Rag & Bone jeans with a coolest black racer-line down the sides and instantly coveted them. Of course since I rarely wear jeans the price for those was unacceptable so I decided to DIY something similar. I bought these red jeans ages ago but never got around to wearing them, so it seemed about time to try that idea out and maybe finally wear those pants!
What you’ll need:
-jeans
-fabric paint
-painter’s tape
-sponge brush
-a narrow piece of cardboard
Start by laying your jeans flat; I inserted a piece of cardboard into the leg I was working on first to make sure my surface would be flat and the paint would apply evenly without bleeding through to the other side. Next tape down the outline you want to paint--after that you’re set and you can begin painting. I applied one coat of paint to one leg then left it to dry for two hours. Repeat on the other leg and you have a snazzy new pair of jeans to wear out.

DIY Sparkly Pipecleaner Crowns

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It was my birthday yesterday and while prior committments kept me from truly celebrating it, I did get in the festive spirit by making some sparkly crowns a few days ago. I was inspired by this editorial for V Magazine and thought those crowns would be much more than traditional party hats. They’re really easy to make and allows for a lot of creativity and personal flair.
What you’ll need:
-pipe cleaners
-poms
-craft glue
Start by making a base for your crown by wrapping two pipe cleaners around your head and twisting their ends together. From here you can let creativity guide you and glue poms on top to make everything more festive! You can twist heart shapes, or basic points, there's really no limit; I used a couple of my extra poms and pipes to make some rings too.

Frolic

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I haven't been very productive with DIYs lately, but from the number of lovely ones I see online and my housemates' creativity when it came to Christmas gifts this year I'm feeling the edge to be more handy. These projects by Frolic, many in conjunction with clothing line Hetterson are so lovely. I really like the simplicity of the miniature wreaths--small statements like that are definitely what I need to focus on to step up my self-made game!