DIY: Biker Chic Accessories

Keila Fong — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:44:01 +0000

As the weather gets colder, it’s time to toughen up. Make these bad girl accessories yourself to add some kick to your winter wardrobe.

Studded tote

You’ll need:

Canvas tote bag

Nailhead studs (find them at a craft or fabric store)

Pliers

Exacto knife

Lay out your tote. Sketch a design onto one side, marking a dot wherever you want a stud. Remember, the simpler the design and fewer studs you use, the easier it’ll be on your hands! In this example, we’ll use a simple sunburst design.

At every dot you mark, take a stud and poke it through the canvas of the tote. Make sure the stud is facing outward and the pointy prongs go through to the inside of the bag. If you’re having trouble getting the prongs through the fabric, take the Exacto knife and make small slits instead.

Using the pliers, carefully bend the prongs down at a 90 degree angle. They should lie flat against the fabric.

Take it further: You can use this technique to apply studs to almost anything. Try it on a pair of shoes, shirt, or jacket!
Chain necklace

You’ll need:

Old chain necklaces

Large jump rings (find them at any craft store)

Pliers

Optional: charms, pendants, etc.

Find some old chain necklaces, preferably of varying lengths, weights, and designs. Check out thrift/secondhand/consignment stores for a great selection of costume jewelry. If you’re feeling especially daring, check out your local hardware store. You can get various styles of lightweight chains – just ask them to cut you the length you want.

Connect your necklaces. Connect the clasps to one another or links of the other chains. Arrange them however you like!

Take your lengths of hardware store chain and connect them using the jump rings. To open a jump ring, grasp it with your pliers in one hand and hold the other side of the ring with your fingers or another pair of pliers. Pull your hands in opposite directions—the ring should open as shown. Connect the ends of each length or connect the ends to the links of other chains.

If you’re adding pendants or charms, you can string them onto the pre-made chains. Or, you can attach them to the larger chains using jump rings.

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Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gifts

Eunice Roh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:11:08 +0000

There is a sort of chaos that one goes through before the joyous break from school and work: shopping for gifts. With this terrible economy and the bland type of products stores offer, it’s hard to pick out reasonably priced gifts that are perfect for your family and friends. But one way to get personalized and meaningful gifts for your loved ones is to make them yourself! Although there is a vast variety of projects you could make, here are some simple ideas to get you started.

NOTEBOOKS/SCRAPBOOKS

Write about all the fun times you had with them, draw inane pictures that only they would understand, list inside jokes, write down playlists of music they should listen to – show what makes your relationship with that person special. This is a time-consuming project, so be willing to invest a few hours to make the best notebook possible.

MIXED CD

Create unique playlists that fit their personality as well as your relationship with them. Personalize it further by decorating the CD and making an album cover. Create a funny or meaningful title to give it some extra flair.

CELL PHONE/KEYCHAIN CHARM

It may be a simple idea, but it’s cute and very practical. Materials needed: cell phone charms’ string or keychain. Place to purchase: craft stores. Decorate with: beads, clay figurines, glitter, cardboard, and bits of everything else in between.

BAKED GOODS/FOODS

There is nothing like a homemade meal made from scratch. And who doesn’t love food? If you are in school, baked goods such as cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and seven-layer bars can all be great ideas for love-filled munchies. If you are too busy to cook, prepare a care package filled with their favorite store bought snacks such as candy, chips, and drinks.

NECKLACES/BRACELETS

Make a friendship bracelet or necklace from embroidery thread. This thread can be found at most craft stores and comes in a wide variety of colors for you to pick the perfect shade for anyone. If you don’t know how to make them, simple directions can be found online. So, rev up that search engine!

KNITTING

Keep them warm with mittens, scarves, or hats that you make with them in mind. If you’re not a knitting pro, try asking your mom or grandma. If you have no one to ask, don’t be afraid to explore the internet again! Go easy on yourself and try to stick with simple patterns. Also, you can knit during your downtime while waiting for the subway, reading your book at night, or listening to music.

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Mochi Magazine » do it yourself

DIY: Biker Chic Accessories

Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gifts