FABRIC NECKLACE TUTORIAL

  I spied this beyond cute necklace and just so happened to have a scarf in the same color that did not get much wear. So with a few cuts and folds, a new neck piece was born!

Supplies: Scarf, scissors, iron and a needle.

Step 1: Cut the scarf into 5 strips, each 2 inches wide.

Step 2: Start folding the material back and forth like an accordion, ironing each fold so the material is pleated. Repeat on 4 of the strips.

Step 3: Cut tops to even off.

Step 4: Using the last strip and a large needle, thread each pleated strip.

Step 5: Trim bottom to create your desired shape.

Tie around your neck over a little white dress to create the perfect summer look!

xoxo by jenni (i spy Diy)

HOW TO MAKE HAIR BOWS: DIY (JR.)

Hello! I'm excited to introduce you to a cute new weekly feature DIY jr. It's a quickie DIY that you can do in an hour or less! Hair bows are one of my favorite accessories and this tutorial has been requested a lot over the past year. I hope you enjoy...

1. Supplies needed: fabric you adore, scissors, a needle and thread. You can experiment with different sizes of fabric, but use the above photo as a guide for proportions as you get started! 2. fold two outer edges of your fabric down. 3-4. fold the outer edges in and hold in place with one finger 5. scrunch the center in to create a bow shape. 6. stitch the center of your bow with embroidery thread. make several stitches so that all the layers are secure. 7. tri-fold a small strip of fabric. 8. stitch the fabric so that it creates a loop that is small enough to fit tightly over the center of the bow, but still large enough to squeeze on. 9. trim excess. 10. slip the small loop over the bow and into the center. Hooray! You just made something adorable. 

Here's another fun idea. I made this bow with candy cane striped ribbon last year. This one is even quicker to create. It's the same process, with no folding. :) 

xoxo 

a beutiful mess

TRICKS + TREATS: SLASHER SCARF BY JILL OF LUNE

. I'm here to share a simple 1970s inspired scarf with you today!

  

Materials & Tools
Length of Jersey Material (with a bit of stretch). A recycled t-shirt will work well if the content is 5% to 10% lycra or spandex.
Sharp Fabric Scissors

Step 1: Cut your jersey into a long rectangular strip. This will be the basic width and length of your finished scarf.

Step 2: Fold your fabric accordion style, beginning at one end, zig zagging back and forth until you can align the edge of the other end with the stack.

Step 3: Firmly hold the folds in place so they don't slip, and cut even slits along one on the long sides of the stack with nice sharp fabric scissors (paper ones won't be sharp enough for this clean cut). Turn stack and cut slits down the opposite side, trying to aim between the cuts you made on the opposite side.

Step 4: Here's the fun and important finishing move! Unfold your scarf and start stretching the holes one by one using your fingers. You'll see the rough edges curl under and give extra texture to the 'slash' pattern. Once all holes have been stretched, take the scarf by either end and stretch the entire garment.

Enjoy your Slasher scarf! This technique can be easily used on entire garments like tunics and t-shirts, or up sized to create a hood or shawl. Slash away baby!

a beutiful mess

SCOUT INSPIRED BOW TIE: CRAFT PROJECT

Today our contributor, Amanda, is sharing the most incredible scout inspired bow tie! You can make one too and it's so cute worn with your favorite vintage brooch! 

Supplies Needed: Black velvet fabric, tie pattern, measuring tape, scissors, pins, sewing machine and thread. (Wouldn't be difficult to hand stitch if you don't have a machine.) You'll also need a pretty brooch!( Download Pattern-scout-tie )

1. Begin by measuring how long you want your tie to be. Add one inch to the length to allot for a seam.

2. Fold the fabric in half and pin the pattern along the folded edge. The pattern should print out to ten inches on basic 8.5x11 paper, so add on however many inches you need (on the smaller end) to equal half the length you measured for your tie. (Ex. I measured 24 inches, so I cut this piece at 12 inches.) Repeat for the second piece. You should have two "Y" shaped pieces now.

3. Fold the pieces back in half (velvet side in), pin, and stitch along all edges except the smallest end piece. After you've stitched each piece, flip them right side out. Stitch the two end pieces together. 

4. Use your favorite vintage brooch to pin together your new scout tie!

Absolutely adorable! I love this project!

a beutiful mess

BLOOM FLOWER CROWN D.I.Y.

Hi friends! Today I want to share this quick and easy method for creating a handmade floral crown. Kinseywhipped this crown up in about 10 minutes. They're super cute and perfect for Spring, which can't come soon enough! Enjoy...

Step 1: Supplies Needed- plastic faux floral branch bunch with blooms, wire cutters, brown wire.  2. Use wire cutters to clip some pieces of a faux floral "branch". 3. Use small pieces of wire to attach branch pieces together. 4. Use your own head as a size guide to know when to stop adding branches and complete the circle. Super easy! 

Here's the finished crown. You can bend it a little bit to fit your head better. I like to weave some pieces of my hair around the crown too! 

Have fun creating your own floral crown! We can't wait to wear them all spring... xo.

a beutiful mess

5 WAYS TO DIY SUMMER SHORTS

 I'm a shorts lover. I made a pair of southwestern style shorts early on this season and then I caught the shorts DIY bug. Here's five super simple ideas for making your own pair of summer shorts!Doily shorts. One part grandma and one part beach babe. Wait, does that even make sense? The idea behind these is simply to find a cute fabric or an applique to sew on to your shorts. All the shorts in this feature were thrifted and washed. Then I roughed up the bottom hem of these using scissors.1. Supplies: doilies, needle & thread. 2. Simply sew doilies all along the hem of the shorts. These southwestern shorts were created using the same technique. I got the southwestern fabric from a child's poncho I thrifted and cut to fit my shorts. I've washed my shorts a couple of times now and the southwestern ones do fray, which I think adds to the look. But keep in mind that un hemmed edges of any fabrics or appliques you use will fray as you wash them.These black and white shorts have a more mod feel, plus I love vertical lines. I like to pretend they make me look taller. :)1. Supplies: contact paper, scissors, paint, paintbrush. 2. Begin by cutting long, thin strips of contact paper and apply them vertically all across the shorts. 3. Then, paint between each piece of contact paper. Let them dry over night and remove the contact paper. This is a fun way to add some texture to your shorts. You could add fabric to look like flowers or polka dots; we added fringe. I wanted the delicate fringe to mimic feathers. I love how these turned out, but I will say that these are hand-wash only since they could easily be damaged in the washing machine.1. Supplies: Sheer fabric, scissors, sewing machine. 2. Begin by cutting out strips of fabric and sewing them in layers onto the shorts. 3. Then, take scissors and fringe each layer, creating a feather like look!I love the look of these ombre bleached shorts. These are inspired from I Spy DIY. 1. Supplies: shorts, bleach, bucket, white vinegar, shorts hanger, and water. 2. Begin by filling a bucket with two parts water one part bleach. Place shorts into the bucket as far down as you would like to begin the bleaching process. Depending on how dramatic you would like the bleaching effect to be, leave them in the bucket for 5-30 minutes. Five being the minimal bleaching and thirty being the longest. Depending in the material, you might have to re-dip them multiple times to get the right effect. 3. Next, to stop the bleaching process dip the shorts into a bucket of two parts water one part white vinegar. Be sure you use white vinegar and not regular vinegar, since regular can create a very harmful chemical when mixed with bleach. Let them dry, and then hand wash them or wash them alone in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer. 

Have fun making your own summer shorts in the comming  season!

MAKE YOUR OWN HEART SWEATER

Hi friends! Today we want to share a super quick and simple method for sewing your very own heart sweater! We've seen this trend all over this year and love the simple statement that a big heart can make! Enjoy...

1. Make a heart pattern with paper and place it on the sweater to make sure you love the size and shape. 2. Once you've created the perfect pattern, use it to cut a heart out of your fabric. We used polyester fabric because it has some stretch and won't fray. 3. Simply pin it in place and sew it on using the zigzag stitch. 4. Wear your new sweater proudly. You did it!! 

Have fun stitching up something cute! XO
 a beutiful mess

SONG LYRIC WALL ART / D.I.Y. PROJECT

A couple weeks ago, I found a paint-by-number at an unbeatable price. I can't pass these things up even though I already owned this particular design. I thought that I could maybe use it to make a fun D.I.Y., but my new rule is that all thrifts that I purchase with the intent of restyling need to get done right away. I have way too many half finished projects in my life. With that little bit of motivation I came up with a fun D.I.Y. to display some of my favorite song lyrcis in our newlywed home. Enjoy....

Here's how I did it... Step 1. Find a paint by number or vintage painting that you like, but not one you adore (since you'll be painting over most of the design). A damaged piece works great, or a print you aren't too crazy about or ever a duplicate piece, like mine. Steps 2-3. Supplies needed: Artwork, Letter stickers (see 3 for the exact stickers I used. I purchased them at the art section of Michaels. You can also get them at hardware stores everywhere) White paint (in hindsight I would use spray paint, just a hint!), a paint brush and scissors. Step 4. Cut out and plot out your design. I know it's an extra step to cut out each letter, but it's much easier to create nice spacing this way! Step 5. Stick stickers. Place them as perfectly or imperfectly as you fancy! Steps 6-8. Cover the entire art piece with a coat (or two) of white paint. I wish I would have used spray paint because my letters bled a tiny bit. Spray paint is preferable. Step 9.Allow your paint to dry. I layed my piece on the front porch for an hour. Next, peel the letters off carefully.Step 10. Yay! You did it. Enjoy your new piece of art! ♥

I displayed our piece in our bedroom, on Jeremy's side of the bed. These song lyrics are by Camera Obscura, one of my favorite bands. 

a beautiful mess