DIY INSPIRATION - FEATHERS & FRINGING

I've been hunting for DIY inspiration recently for the next few month's projects - and stumbled upon this amazing editorial that's simply brimming with ideas. I'm pretty sure I can't count on both hands and feet the projects that are doable in these pics. Fringing? Feathers? Dip dyed hair? Body jewelry? I'll have it all! Or perhaps make it all...

Images: Song of style

READER DIYS - THE NEON NECKLACE

I can't explain how happy I am to have seen so many of your amazing DIYs recently. I've posted a few of them over at my Facebook page so you should definitely pop over and have a look. Couldn't help but post a few of  the super cool DIY neon necklaces you've done. I have to say I love all these different versions, you guys have inspired me to make some more! Feel free to check out the original projects if you're forgotten what they look like (here and here).

Some of these projects were sent to me via instagram by linking @apairandaspare on image posts - so if you do your own DIYs I'd love you to let me know about it. Happy DIYing!

Big big thanks to (top to bottom left to right): Hayley via instagam, Shades of Aquarius , my bloggable day, Lily Pad, Vintage Jumble Affair, The Albrecht , Style Alter, Hannah from The Daily Muse, Monica Rose, Lily Pad.

DIY INSPIRATION - RHINESTONE ROPE NECKLACES

Gorgeous inspiration. Who doesn't love a little rope and rhinestone?

Images from Boticca

DIY CHAIN COLLAR NECKLACE

This week over at Harper's BAZAAR I show you how to make a delicate chain collar necklace. I would love to hear if you have any projects planned for this weekend!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TUTORIAL OVER AT HARPER'S BAZAAR

DIY RAFFIA COLLAR NECKLACE

Who doesn't love a little bit of tribal inspired neckwear? I recently made this extremely simple raffia collar necklace for Harper's BAZAAR to go with all the other tribal bits and pieces that seem to be accumulating in my wardrobe by the tonne.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE TUTORIAL OVER AT HARPER'S BAZAAR

CLICK HERE TO READ THE TUTORIAL OVER AT HARPER'S BAZAAR

A very big thanks to everyone who's been following my posts over at HB. I'm told the Style Network has been doing really well and the traffic even managed to crash the website on the day it launched. Crazy huh?

DIY NEON NECKLACE

One thing I love about DIY projects is that they can be a continual work in progress. For me this is a (somewhat) sustainable answer to fast fashion - you can makeover an item a million times and get the satisfaction of having lots of different items, without the wastage. Two birds one stone as they say. This DIY necklace is an update to the white necklace project (seen here). A re-spray with neon spraypaint was all I needed to transform it into something entirely different. Hip hip horay for DIY!

You need:

Rhinestone necklace

Neon and white spray paint (non-toxic ofcourse)

How to:

1. Lay the necklace on some newspaper/magazine in a well ventilated area.

2. My necklace was obviously white from the previous project  so I just re-sprayed with neon. Do yours white and then neon for the neon to pop. Do a number of light coats, letting it dry for a few minutes in between so that the spray doesn't pool on the surface.

3. Leave to dry overnight.

All done! I can see this necklace going though a number of other tranformations in the next couple of months.

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DIY INSPIRATION - SEASHELL NECKLACE

Could this get any better? Perfect wish-it-was-still-summer inspiration. Stay tuned for my version of this mindblowing necklace (to be worn over a cosy knitted grey marl jumper in memory of warmer days).

Luckily I'll be having two weeks in the sun just north of Byron Bay in Australia for christmas this year, and this little DIY inspiration couldn't come at a better time. 

Image: Little Plastic Horses

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SPOT THE DIY

 

I rarely post event photos (far too busy at home with glitter and glue to go to many!), but here are some from a Lane Crawford Warehouse party taken by the talented Carmen Chan. For those of you who aren't familiar, Lane Crawford is an amazing Chinese department store that stocks all the 'it' labels. I was wearing my DIY fluro necklace, DIY pink skirt and some hardware store rings... who says that DIY doesn't fit in amongst an abundance of Celine, Philip Lim, Theyskens' Theory and Chloe?

BUY IT OR MAKE IT

You could buy it. Or you could make it. The choice is yours.

1| Bell Embellished Shoulder Bag.  Buy it or Make it - Take a small black shoulder bag with a thick strap (or add a wide rectangle of leather over the shoulder section of the strap if you need more width) and embellish with gold bells.

2| Chain Necklace. Buy It or Make it -Take two lengths of chain. Drape them around your neck and connect at the front at bust height using ribbon or thread.

3| Gold Metallic Dress. Buy It or Make it - Spray paint a mini dress with gold spray paint. Look for a brand of paint that is non toxic when dry like Krylon.

4| Feather Embellished Heels. Buy it or Make it - embellish a pair of strappy heels with colored straight feathers.

5| Fringed Platform Pumps. Buy It or Make it - Add some suede fringing to the back of some suede pumps.

6| Gold Branch Necklace. Buy It or Make it - find some soft twigs and glue together to make a collar necklace. Spraypaint with gold. Sort of like the project I did here.

My addiction to Net-a-porter is pretty obvious isn't it?

DIY NEON YELLOW COLLAR NECKLACE

To those of your who've been hanging out for the tutorial for the Sass & Bide inspired neon yellow necklace, I'm so sorry it's taken a long time. Life has been very hectic recently but I hope it's worth the wait. This is another very simple project with an amazing result.

You'll need:
A beaded collar necklace
Neon Spraypaint - look for a brand that is non-toxic when dry like Krylon (you'll also need white if the necklace is a dark colour like mine was)

How to:

1. Lay the necklace out on a piece of plastic or paper in a well ventilated area.

2. The trick with spraypaint is to do multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat as this gives a much more uniform finish. To do this I sprayed one side of the necklace quite a few times over the course of a day, then once it was completely dry I flipped it over and did the other side.

3. Spray the necklace with a base coat of white if the collar necklace is a dark colour, as you want the neon to pop.

4. Finally, spray the necklace with a few coats of the neon. I sprayed a number of coats so it was really thick so that the beads don't wobble around, and flipped over once the final coat was dry to do the other side.

You can also hang it up to do the spraying but because mine was a rounded collar shape it needed to be flat like this to work properly.

And voila! Although it's quite a summery style, I think you can easily integrate it into your winter wardrobe too!

[JUST FINISHED] DIY SASS & BIDE INSPIRED NEON NECKLACE

Put your hand up if you D.I.E.D when you saw this neon yellow necklace on the runway at the Sass & Bide SS12 RTW show? Ummm me me me! Well good news - on the weekend I got crafty and created my own collar version which I'll be posting shortly. If you follow me on instagram (username: apairandaspare) you will've already seen a sneakpeak. Once I get some pics of me wearing it I'll be posting, along with a tutorial!

DIY WHITE COLLAR NECKLACE - THE TUTORIAL

A few days ago I posted a pic of my DIY White statement/collar necklace here, see below for the tutorial. I have to admit that this DIY is just about as simple as they get - a lick of spraypaint on a rhinestone necklace and away you go. I'm sure this comes as good news to those of you who thought it was going to be super complex! I used white because I like the freshness worn on the neck, or over a collared top.

You need:
Rhinestone necklace, spray paint. I paid a bit more for the necklace I used because I was taken by the shape of the design, but I am sure you can get more basic ones from dress up stores and dollar shops.

How to:
1. Either outside or in a well ventilated area, lay the necklace on some newspaper.
2. Spray it lightly. I do mine by doing a number of light coats, letting it dry for a few minutes in between so that the spray doesn't pool on the surface.
3. Leave to dry overnight.

And you're done! I actually did another layer of non-toxic spray varnish on mine, but I don't think that's essential.

I wore this necklace last weekend with denim and pink and it was very very cute. I'm in the process of making a range of other colours which I absolutely cannot wait to show you.

Wearing: A Pair & A Spare Silk trousers, Country Road singlet, New Look shoes, DIY necklace.

DIY ON THE RUNWAY - SASS & BIDE SS12

The Sass & Bide girls have killed it with their SS12 RTW collection shown yesterday at London Fashion Week. Their eye for accessories, flowing fabrics, textures and colours seemed to me to be a perfect sequel to their amazing AW11 collection (blogged about here). I'm so happy to see that pops of colour, bright accessories and hints of tribal aren't going anywhere. And of course my DIY brain was working overtime as I was checking out these images of the show. My DIY inspiration picks? Neon accessories, thigh high split skirts, draped fabrics over dresses and tops, peplums and cage bustiers are on my list for the coming season.

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DIY WHITE COLLAR NECKLACE

A recent DIY. Tutorial to come!

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LOVING - COLLAR NECKLACES

Collars have been having a moment. For a looong while now.  Remember my collar DIYs here and here? Seems like an eternity ago. I absolutely loved this colourful post over at Frockshop's blog, and it's clear that now its all about the statement collar necklace. I recently bought this black beaded one from a local Hong Kong designer - and I've hardly taken it off!

 

Wearing: Beaded collar necklace, A Pair & A Spare silk tank, A Pair & A Spare knitted high-waisted shorts, Anniel ballet flats.

Psst... You might be seeing a little DIY collar necklace here in the coming weeks!

Images: Top collage images sourced from here.

DIY Bronze Bolt Necklace

Very simple bolt necklace using suede and a bronze bolt thingy.

If you love frizzy hair you should definitely move to Hong Kong. I recommend it.

DIY Neon Pink Pom Pom Necklace

My gorgeous friend Natalie of Canned Fashion hinted to me recently that she had done a fabulous DIY - and I stumbled upon its gloriousness on Grazia.it in these amazing pics taken by the ever-talented Vanessa Jackman. How rad is this neon pink pom pom necklace? Hoping to get the 411 on the tutorial from Natalie herself sometime soon.