DIY Freshwater Pearl Earrings

As you may or may not know (or care), I am getting married next year!  So a lot of my DIY projects coming up will be wedding related, but you don't have to be getting married to find them useful.  For example, today's DIY project is how to make freshwater pearl earrings.  I'm going to be making these for my bridesmaids, but they'd be cute on a date, or out with friends, as well.  If pearls aren't your thing, sub in any kind of fun bead on the end to make it work with  your style.

The Project

So, I like these earrings for a few different reasons.  The first is, it's a simple style.  Because this is the first DIY jewelry post I'm throwing at you all, I figured that an easier project would be good to start you out with.  Simple also is good for me, because I'm going to be making three pairs, and six earrings can be tedious if you choose something intricate.  

The Materials

Unlike my last post, this project does require an investment, but the great thing about it is that you will have supplies left over for future projects.  

I spent about $34 total on supplies, but I'll be able to make more than just these earrings, plus I chose higher end materials like freshwater pearls and sterling silver wire.  For a more budget friendly approach, try it with a metal alloy and glass pearls. I'm providing links to the products I bought for your reference (no, they are not affiliated with me). 

• 22 gauge full hard sterling silver wire that cost about $12 for 5 feet on etsy
• A 7" strand of freshwater pearls from Joann that I bought on sale for $2.50 
• An 8 pack of sterling silver earring hooks from Joann on sale for $5.50
• A set of 5 jewelry pliers from amazon for $14 (you really only need two pairs, if you can get them cheaper)

So, as you see, it's a steep investment, but I'll have leftover pearls, one extra pair of earring hooks, and leftover wire for future projects.  The most expensive part of the project were the pliers which I already owned, but included so you could estimate how much it would cost for a beginner. 

Step One

If you're feeling brave and ready to try, here's how to begin:

Take your wire cutter from the package of pliers, and snip off about 0.5" of your wire.  

Step Two

You want to use your needle nose pliers to grip one end of your wire, and the roll the nose until you have a loop touching the center of the wire.  Do the same thing to the other end, but leave a small gap between the edge of the loop, and the wire, so that it looks like an open 8.

Step Three

Link the open part of your wire loop with the earring hook, then use your pliers to press the loop together.  Add another 8 to the first one, and repeat until you have six linked onto one other in a chain.

Step Four

Once you have all six links done, cut a longer piece of wire; this is going to hold your pearl.  Twist the bottom into a smaller loop than usual - you won't need to fit a piece of wire through it, it's just to keep the bead in place.  Once your pearl is on the wire, twist the top into a loop just like you did for the links of your chain,  Connect it to the bottom link, and close with your pliers.

Step Five

Now you have the back part of your earring complete, and it's time for the front - you're over halfway there!
Add three links to your earring hook, and make sure that you add the top link so that it will be in front of the first chain, when you are wearing the earring.  Add the final pearl to the bottom of the three links like you did.  Congratulations, you did your first earring!  Now just do it all over again, and you've got a fab and classy pair of pearl dangles that would go great with a LBD...or a bridesmaid dress, as it happens :)

Happy crafting, fashionistas :)

DIY Crochet and Ribbon Hat

DIY Crochet and Ribbon Hat

Hello fashionistas, it's been a long time.  Well I'm back, and I'm doing a blog on one of the most frugal and fashion forward things that broke girls can do - an awesome DIY project that looks cute and costs less than $4.00 - a crochet and ribbon hat. 

Supplies

You don't need a lot of supplies to make this hat: just yarn, scissors, a crochet hook - I used size 8 - and a spool of ribbon you'll see later (I may have forgotten to include it in this photo).   The yarn was $3.00 at Joann Fabric's on a sale, and the ribbon was $0.88 at Wal Mart, so if you already have a crochet hook and scissors, you'll be able to do this project for $3.88.

Step One

The first thing you want to do is chain 6 stitches.  If you are a crochet newbie, I found a video on YouTube called Crochet Guru that will take you through the steps http://www.youtube.com/watchv=GjoVWbYhWuc 

Step Two

Once you have the chain of 6, you're going stick your crochet hook through the first stitch, cross your yarn over, and chain one more, so that you have a circle. 

Step Three

Double crochet eight stitches inside the loop.  Again, for all you newbies at crochet, watch this video to learn how to double crochet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKssKskNzo .  

Then you're going to keep crocheting outward in a circle - crochet two stitches into every hole going outward until your circle looks like the above photo - then crochet two stitches into one hole, and one stitch into the next.   Gradually add more and more single stitches in each hole between the double stitches.  You want your spiral to gently curve up at the ends. 

Step 4

When you put your spiral on your head and one edges touches the front and one edge touches the back, you should start turning the sides of your hat upward.  Double crochet one stitch in each hole, and your hat will start resembling a shallow bowl.  Your hat should fit a bit loosely on your head - the ribbons will tighten it a bit later.  

Step 5

Once your hat is your desired length, do two single crochet stitches and then tie off, and tuck the excess yarn into the stitches.  Congratulations you have made the hat, part!  If you're sick of this project and hating life, you can just wear it as is, and be proud of your beautiful hat :).  If you want to embellish with a bit of ribbon, then read on.

Step 6

Thread your ribbon onto a yarn needle or, if you're an extra frugal fashionista like myself and won't buy a yarn needle, then tie it to a bobby pin.  Thread your ribbon through the hat at the point where you tied your yarn off, then basket weave through each hole. 

Step 7

One you've done an entire row, make sure you skip a row going up, and basket-weave another row.  Keep going on like this, skipping a row in between each one you put a ribbon through, until you reach the top of the hat, where you started out. 

Step 8

Enjoy your fabulous hat!  And if you make one, let know how it turned out in the comments.

Happy Crocheting, fashionistas :)

Fabulously Frugal Feet

Well fashionistas, it is finally spring time, and that means a whole lot of proms, sorority formals, weddings, and parties to celebrate the warm weather.  If you want your feet to look fabulous without breaking budget, check out some of these adorable footie finds.

Casual

 

Warm weather means a lot of walking - to the beach, to the mall, to class - in dresses and skirts.  A cute pair of flats is the perfect way to complement a sundress, or to dress up a pair of jeans.  I love these grommet suede flats by See by Chloe because they are absurdly adorable without being absurdly preppy.  They're 60% off at the Outnet, so grab them while they are still on sale :)

Formal

 

If you are planning a wedding in the near future, or if you just really want to go all out for prom, then these are the heels for you.  These Allure bridal heels cannot be called subtle, but they will also prevent you from being a wallflower for the evening.  In short, they are fancy and fabulous, and 64% off at Shoes.com

Wild

  As the weather gets warmer, girls can go to the club without paying a fortune for coat check (frugal fashionista win) and the skirts get shorter.  If you are planning a fun girls night or bachelorette party, then these Lulu Townsend Veronica sandals are for you.  They are sexy, sparkly, and strappy, and they are sure to make you look fabulous out on the town.  Get them today without breaking the bank at DSW, where they are 50% off!

Happy Shopping :)

Save Your Money for Clothing!

I have given several posts on where to find affordable, fashionable clothing, but sometimes that isn't enough.  As a (very) broke college student, I have had to find a few different ways to cut costs.  One of the most pointless expenses for me was laundry costs.  You live 18 years of your life with a washing machine and dryer in your house for free, and then all of a sudden, you have to pay $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry - wtf?

Solution: Get a drying rack.

I would do two loads of laundry per week, so by buying a cheap drying rack from Target, I saved $3.00 per week in laundry costs.  This might sound small, but it adds up,  and it helps the environment because drying racks use no electricity (like the ancients used to do_.  Added bonus: you avoid the risk of a horrible apartment/dorm coin run dryer shrinking your sweaters down to doll size.  Still at home? Get one anyway, and discuss with your parents whether you can pocket part of the monthly savings from switching from a dryer to a drying rack.

After a year of using a drying rack, you'll save about $150, which is like getting this awesome ABS dress ($146 at bluefly)  for free: 

Here is how not to spend your money. 

Everyone knows that I love Marc by Marc Jacobs, but this $137 puffer lime green tote looks like something a  grandmother in Sarasota would pull out of a bargain bin. You've hung laundry on a line for a year! Have standards with how you spend that money!

Happy Saving, and Happy Shopping, Fashionistas :)