Its high time holiday shopping season! Too busy to go and snag some displays? Too cheap to shell out cash for your craft booth? Pressed for time? Check out these easy peasy ways to DIY for your next indie craft bazaar.
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| Necklace Display = Grab a yard sale sign, fold it over & glue in place, paint the other side! |
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| DIY & Customizable Table Banner = Grab some wood and chalkboard paint and you're set! |
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| Ring Display = Grab an old box, glue foam inside & slice it, tuck & cover with fabric! | |
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| Necklace/Bracelet Display = cover paper towel rolls with denim and glue to cardboard! |
I finally decided to cash in some more Pinterest ideas and starting making comic book shoes. If you don't feel like buying them from my shop or other Etsy sellers, you can DIY!! Just cut strips, paint the shoes with modge podge, and gloss over when the whole shoe is covered. FYI my first try took me two hours!
What You Need
- Newspaper to cover your surface
- Brushes
- Modge Podge (there are different types, I used puzzle saver)
- Comic Books
- Scissors
- Shoes of your choice
- Extras - glitter, paint, other embellishments & decor
Some other ideas for revamping old shoes
Magazine Collage Shoes on Stars for Streetlights
Floral Fabric Boots on A Beautiful Mess
DIY Sparkle Glitter Boots on Sprinkles in Springs
Painted Pink Neon Shoes on Angel in the North
I'd like to share this cool DIY idea for nail polish! I got lost in Etsy the other day and discovered the world of Franken Polish!
Pinned from Delightedmomma.com, this simple do it yourself project won't take more than 15 minutes. All you need is clear nail polish and some old eyeshadow!
Want to repin it? Click here
You can also find me on Pinterest, here!
I gave this one a try, but I think I over did it with the eyeshadow. I made a bottle of cheap glittery gold polish into a lively lime colored one, but it doesn't hold well. Chipped within hours. :(
If you want more info about making franken polish or nail polish from scratch check out this informative link from the Crafty Ninja, DIY Franken Polish
SweetSomeday is my favorite shop of the month for August. The shop
features repurposed treasures from scrabble magnets to license plate signs. Fellow upcycler & shop owner Sarah Kristen answered a few questions so that we can learn more about her and the shop!
When did you know you wanted to create and sell handmade items?
I think I've known since I was a young child. When I was about seven, I made friendship bracelets and tried selling them door to door. Later, I got in trouble with my mom for going door to door, but creating/selling was in my blood from a young age!
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am inspired by so many things around me! I love looking at something that would be garbage to others, and finding a way to upcycle it into something new, useful, and beautiful!
What’s the most memorable custom item you’ve created?
I had a custom request for a license plate birdhouse. I cover the sides of the birdhouse with maps from the state and the customer requested to have a specific city featured on the front. It was a wedding gift for an older couple - a widow and widower - who were going to be living in that city. It was such a sweet story and made it even more special to create!
Besides creating things, what do you do?
I have a full-time day job as a mental health professional, which I love! I also love spending time with my friends and family, enjoying the outdoors, and shopping at sales.
What is the most important advice anyone has given you?
I think the most important advice I've received is to do what you love! If you're unhappy, find something new. I'm lucky to have a life filled with things I love to do!
What is the most important advice you'd like to give to other etsy sellers?
I've give the same advice that was given to me - do what you love. Make items that make you smile and that you enjoy making. Create and do business in a way that you are passionate about.
Show Sarah some thanks by checking her links and commenting below!
Etsy Shop Blog Facebook Pinterest Wanelo
I had a lovely (sarcasm) black ill fitting ankle length dress left over from a failed Halloween costume plan, that was waiting to be put to good use! I finally got around to it, and figured out good I could make out of it. I cut it straight down the middle on both sides, then sewed a strip of lace on the back and front. yay!!
Before
After
My only disappointment is the different shades of black. which may or may not be noticeable anyway. Also, if your shirt fits fine, you could always sew the lace trim right on top of the fabric, the cutout is an option.
More lovely lace ideas for old clothes
M's Handbags N More is the July shop of the month. The shop features ecofriendly and repurposed purses. Megan, owner & fellow upcycler, took a little time out of her day to answer some questions for my blog. (thanks Megan! :P)
When did you know you wanted to create and sell handmade items?
I have always been interested in crafting. I can remember as a kid always coming up with something to make being beaded jewelry or decorating picture frames. I have always been on the creative side and love to have the chance to show my creations off. After having a rather free summer last year, I got hooked back on crafting and thought that selling some of my products could help with the expenses of college. Since crafting was something I love to do, opening shop to sell my creations was very exciting to me.
Where does your inspiration come from?
It comes in many forms. For example, one of my newer magazine purse designs (decorated with magazine triangles) came from seeing the circle flap purse design that is popular nowadays. The inspiration for my math clutches came from me running across an old math book. A light bulb went off that I could use it for a new upcycled woven clutch design.
What’s the most memorable custom item you’ve created?
All my items are made to order, so customization is always welcome! So I will say the first item I sold would hold a place as the most memorable. It was a woven math page clutch with a custom strap with the number 6 because it was a birthday gift for a niece that who was turning 6. It turned out very well and I was super excited to have my first sale!
Besides creating things, what do you do?
I am a student working on my bachelor's in business.
What is the most important advice anyone has given you?
Always do your best and do what makes YOU happy. I think this is why I work so hard in all that I do to do well and why I am inspired to keep creating new upcycled designs to share because it's what makes me happy and I want to be able to be successful in doing something I enjoy.
What is the most important advice you'd like to give to other etsy sellers?
Always keep your head up. Sales might not come as quickly as you like, but you just got to hang in there and stay positive.
Show Megan some love and check our her links! Hooray for upcycling!
Etsy Shop FB fan page
Twitter Storenvy
Pinterest Wanelo
My newest obsession, turning fuggly old jeans into cute frill summer shorts! It's simple and easy. All you need is a sewing machine, scissors, bleach, fabric pain or markers, and some embellishments (ie sequins or scrap fabric)!
The best part about it, you can make daintiest frilliest cute shorts or the grungiest craziest pair you've ever seen. Depends on the mood. and supplies of course! :P
Made this zipper ring a while back for my friend's birthday! She's so fabulous, so I picked some fabulous colors for her ring. Easy instructions from Dana's Fashion Blog. All you need is a zipper, gem, felt, ring, and glue gun!! I love simple & easy!!
Here are some other ideas for zippy zipper DIY jewelry. Why buy when you can DIY? ;)
Like I said, I'm horrible with patterns. So I took some sturdy placemats and actually made some cute little purses out of them.
DIY
- Find some sturdy (but cute!) placemats, embellishments, snap fasteners, and a necklace chain if you don't want a clutch
- If the placemat has a design on only one side, flip it inside out first. Then fold it in half (whatever size you want), with an extra portion a little longer at the top on one side. This will make the flap later.
- Sew the sides with a sewing machine, but stop before that extra bit at the top.
- Turn the purse inside out, attach the snap fasteners to the flap and then the purse, and decorate with stuff as you see fit
- If you want a purse strap, I just hand sewed the necklace chain into the inside of the purse.
- Promise, next time I'll take pictures as I go along. Tried to explain the best I can, but my best might still be confusing...... sowwwwwys ;)
I’m horribly terrible at following patterns, especially for purses. So instead I bought some sturdy placemats and figured it out the hard way ;)
DIY
- Grab a sturdy placement, find some curtain grommets, scrap fabric to make the strap and of course your trusty sewing machine
- Detailed instructions here, they can explain it better than me
Who doesn't love a flirty and cute headpiece??
DIY
- Grab some fabric scraps and leftover buttons
- Buy or get your used hair barrettes and headbands
- Follow the tutorial to make fabric flowers here
- Have a glue gun handy to piece it all together!
Painted and beaded a custom jewelry box for grams grams. hope she likes it ;)
DIY
Get a plain wooden box from your local craft store
Grab some acrylic paint & brushes
Choose your beads and embelishments
Have a glue gun or adhesive (like e6000) handy!
