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DIY: Bead and Chain Bib Necklace

Over the holidays while browsing the lovely pieces on the Stella & Dot website, I happened to fall in love with one of their absolutely stunning mixed metal bib necklaces, but lost a little steam when I peeped the price tag. Not one to let finances dictate fashion…I took to Mood Fabrics for my jewelry supplies, and let the creativity fly to create my own.

Supplies:
Multi-purpose glue, bib template (download here), satin ribbon, tiny individual glass and plastic beads, straight pins, needle and thread, tweezers, felt, black rhinestone chain, loose leaf chains (purchased from another store), clear rhinestone chain, wire cutters, and scissors (Note: I also at the last minute added a bit of gold chain around the neckline for an extra special touch).

Step-by-Step:

1.Download bib template here.
2. Fold a piece of felt or ultra suede in half, and then pin the template to these two layers.
3. Cut out these two forms, and then remove straight pins.
4. Choose one layer of the cut out felt; set the other layer aside.

 

5. With wire cutters, remove leaves from their chain.
6. Cut rhinestones and beaded chains to desired length (Note: I suggest playing around with beads to get an idea of layout before doing any gluing and sewing).


 

7.Add a tiny bit of glue to back of chain to adhere it to the felt, following up with stitching where necessary for added stability.
8. Glue beaded black rhinestone chain within the body of the necklace; cutting where necessary to wedge into tight spots for a seamless appearance.
9. Apply a tiny amount of glue to fix leaves in place. Let leaves dry for at least 20 minutes before stitching them into place, and then repeat.

 

10. Take a needle and feed a single thread through top necklace layer, knot the back, thread tiny plastic beads onto the string, and then remove needle for ease of applying beads.
11. Once you reach your desired amount of beads, add needle back to thread and use it to drive this string back through this layer, and knot the back (Note: I also added a tiny bit of glue to the under side of the finished row of beads just so they wouldn’t move).

12. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon to your desired length (Note: You can cut one side straight across, and then cut the exposed side at an angle for added effect).
13. Apply glue (or clear nail polish) to ends of ribbon to avoid fraying.
14. Turn top layer of necklace over and glue each ribbon about 1.5 inches from top of each side. (Note: Feel free to also stitch ribbon to necklace).
15. Take 2nd layer of felt that you set aside in Step #4 and glue it to the back of 1st layer.

 

Enjoy!

Tell me below….do you have a favorite Stella & Dot piece you’d like to recreate?
 

THRIFTING

12 Ways to Thrift Shop Like a Pro

Photo: iStockPhoto

You know, for a long time, thrift stores have had this stigma of being these dark and musty places that were merely a graveyard for all the bad polyester and moth-eaten garments of yesteryear. But today, legions of people are seeing them for their true potential and revamping their closets on a budget. Need a little help navigating this world of fashion treasures? Here are 12 thrift store shopping tips from a shopping pro.

1. THINK OF WAYS TO REPURPOSE:  I’d like to think that when you thrift shop, you are able to get some really cool and unique things if you put on your “creative goggles.”  If you have the foresight to envision those printed bell-legged slacks as a tailored pair of matchstick pants, or how that plain jacket would look with a set of military buttons, you’ll surprise yourself with the possibilities out there.

2. KNOW THE TRENDS BEFORE YOU GO: You don’t have to plunk out tons of cash to stay up on the latest trends. To find out what’s current, browse magazines and window shop to see what’s popular before you go. That way, you can see what’s missing from your wardrobe and shop accordingly. Whether it’s an accessory or a color that’s hot, you’re sure to find ways to implement the latest fashion into your closet at a fraction of the cost.

3. ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY SALES OR SPECIALS: In my area, a lot of times the thrift stores have a day designated for certain items to be on sale. So if you’re willing to wait it out for that particular day, you may be able to get an item for an even lower price.

4. BRING CASH: Sometimes you’ll find that thrift stores don’t have credit or debit card machines, so it would be in your best interest to take cash.  Also, with our recovering economy, I’ve found that you may get a better deal if you offer to pay for your purchase in cash, and save the store from incurring that fee for paying with plastic.

5. IF THERE’S NO DRESSING ROOM, IMPROVISE: In some thrift stores, there isn’t the luxury of a dressing room, so you have to get a little inventive with checking the fit. For things like pants and skirts, try the age-old neck-to-waist trick. Fasten the closure and wrap the waist around your neck, if you can just pinch the fabric together at the end with your fingers, then you know it works!
 

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF 12 TIPS, VISIT MANILLA.COM

 
 

BUDGET/SPENDING

Frugal-nomics Good Housekeeping Feature

Happy Friday All!

So, as you all know….I just love sharing ways to save money.  In today’s economy — while it may be slowly getting better — everyone welcomes ways to keep a few extra dollars in their pocket.  You may have also seen that I’m a monthly contributor for the popular site, Manilla.com, where I share advice as a Frugal Living Expert.  So with a penchant for spreading the “savings love,” I was extra excited when Manilla approached me to share a few tips the Friday before Christmas in an article called “How to Move Without Going Bankrupt.”

So, if you’re moving or know someone who is….please feel free to read away and share.

Enjoy your weekend! xoxo, Brandhyze