Sunday, December 30, 2012

[Closed] Give Away: Simply Handmade 2ndhand magazine

Sunday, December 30, 2012

I am giving away my one and only Simply Handmade magazine.

Specs:
Secondhand
Outdated
But filled with assorted scrapbooking, paper craft and more tutorials.

Defect:
Slight scratches
A small tear (but hey! it is for free at least.)

Status:
Available

Want this? 
First come first serve basis!

Bye 2012, Hello 2013 and Happy Birthday!



I told myself that in the midst of this blog’s revamp, I would hold back from posting up new posts; but what the heck! How can I resist NOT blogging? Haha!

It’s been a great year blogging on The Artsy Craftsy, especially in making things come true on the blog’s to-do list. I enjoyed finding a voice for the blog the most and repositioning it into a Blog for Creative Inspirations.

I would like to thank my readers the most for contributing to the pageviews. And I am very happy that my readers often return to find inspiration in this little humble blog.

Ever since The Artsy Craftsy domain went official, some of my blog posts went “most reads”; to commemorate the moment (as we say BYE to 2012 and HELLO to 2013); I would like to recap The Artsy Craftsy’s POPULAR 2012 posts to share it with you. To view, click on the titles


Pop Article Titles:

Pop Featured Titles:


Pop Review Titles:

Pop Contributors:
Aiko Chan
Handmade Jewelry Club
Connie Steinberg
Marina Khramkova
Sonia Subash
Playful & Snazzy
Paper Bags Galore
A Girl for All Time

That's it for 2012. Seeing you soon again in 2013 to celebrate the blog's birthday with me!
A Happy New Year Creatives!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How to create your own color swatches with fabric paint

Tuesday, December 18, 2012



Colours play an important role in our daily lives, especially in our attire. Almost every day, we plan our outfit of the day based on colour and how it makes us feel.

I reconnected back with my love for colours not long ago. In my previous experience in learning about colours, I had two amazing teachers who taught me how to appreciate colours in depth. When I was training to be a certified fabric painting teacher & artist, teacher no.1 made me realized that I had poor colour combination skills, nonetheless, she patiently helped me to unlearn and learn colours from scratch. My appreciation for colours was more of knowledge-based. Although I finally learned how to match colours well, I still lack the connection for it.

Finally, a couple of years later, when I was training to be a certified creative life coach, I met teacher no. 2 whom taught me what I needed to know about connecting with colours spiritually. This profound experience taught me that by connecting with colours, I was also connecting with my inner self.

If I were to combine my lessons learned from teacher no.1 and 2, I would say that both experiences helped me discover my own way of appreciating colours spiritually and skillfully. I began to understand why teacher no. 1 used to encourage me to practice colour combination by creating my own colour swatches and mood boards.

Moodboards and swatches can come in handy for almost everything you need. This unique post is specifically about making Colour Swatches using Fabric paint as it will be useful for you in future fabric painting projects or fabric crafts related.
I personally think that it would help textile artists and fabric painting artists much more because unlike painting on wooden/paper surfaces where you can paint white to cover your mistakes, painting on textile/fabric requires precision. Once you’ve painted on the fabric, you can’t go back on it anymore. But if you really made a mistake already, then the only way is to waste the fabric and start painting on a new one.

What you need to Get Started
To make your own colour swatches, there are few things you need to gather first to get started. First and foremost, basic stationary items like:

Scissors, PVA glue, marker pens and sketch book / drawing block: These are basic necessities (like your toothbrush) when you explore art.

A Ring-Folder: Any size would do, it is up to you. For me, I like cute and small so I used an A5 size ring-folder Optional: You can also opt for sketchbook instead, but I reckon ring folder for convenience.

An Off-white / plain white fabric remnants and fabric paints.  Not to forget, brushes too! Tip: Go to Fabric stores or Ikea and look for their discount-bin. There will be a lot of CHEAP remnants for sale!

Unwanted fashion magazines or any other type. Among all, this is the most important item to start with.

What sort of Fabric Paints to use
There are various types in the market; but I strongly recommend Pebeo SETACOLOR fabric paints. It comes in various collections ranging from their basic fabric paints- Opaque and Transparent, Seta Soleil for Tie & Dye, and Fabric markers too, including other special range such as Seta Silk for Silk Painting.

You might ask:
Why must it be fabric paints? Why can’t I use acrylic paints on fabric/paper instead to make swatches?
My answer:
There’s a big difference in the result of fabric paints on fabric compared to acrylic on fabric/paper. The colour result of fabric paints is vivid, not paste-like like acrylic. When you paint on fabric using fabric paints, the colours blends in with the fabric material. It has an almost silk-screen print-like result. And if your fabric paints comes in opaque or transparent base, there would definitely be a much more obvious outcome when painted on the fabric.Almost similar to watercolour or postercolours, where both have different result on paper. So, when you create swatches with fabric paints on fabric, you will be able to see how the colours blend together on a piece of fabric.

Creating Your Own Set of Colour Swatches
There are many ways to do this; but as for me, I always like to make use of things that I already have lying around. Perhaps there might be a need to spend a little bit of money such as paints, etc. but if possible, try to save by upcycling unwanted stationaries.


For starters:
  1. Based on the size of your ring folder, prepare the base paper using your sketchbook or drawing block.
  2. To prepare a base-paper, cut the drawing paper according to the size, but if you are using a sketchbook, just find one according to your size.
  3. Punch holes on the base-paper so that you can file it up in the ring-folder
Making swatches:
  1. Cut your fabric pieces in small-medium or smaller square pieces.
  2. Then, cut out pictures based on your choice of colour combinations or colour themes.
  3. Spot the colours, and then start painting the colour combinations on your square pieces.
  4. Arrange your painted swatches on the base-paper and glue it. Then, glue your cut out magazine reference at the side of your swatch to support your research. You can even write notes at the side.
  5. Put it in the ring-folder
So, the next time you come up with another inspiring colour or spot one in the magazine, you can create another one and file it up.


Ideas! Ideas!
It is very easy to create a collection for your reference. But before you start, here’s a BIG TIP!In my opinion, Colour combinations usually comes in 3, 4 or maximum 5 hues at the most. And they usually complement one another. 

Here’s what you can do with Colour Swatches:

Colour combinations
Cut out pictures from magazines based on the colours and combine them together.

Theme-Collections
Autumn Colours, Grunge Colours, Gothic Colours, Vampire Colours, Asian Colours, Party Theme and more

If you are a textile artist or a decorative artist with a client base, you can bring it along with you to propose colour combinations to your customers.


Make a Christmas card with buttons

By Artsy Ocean




Artsy Ocean 
About Crafter: Jackie of Artsy Ocean was The Artsy Craftsy's previous contest winner. I was very grateful for her entry, and appreciate her creative effort. She got around to share her recent tutorial with me and I am happy to be able to post it up for her here. View her tutorial here

Sunday, December 16, 2012

From Picasa to Pinterest and Instagram

Sunday, December 16, 2012
My dear readers, this year has been a great year for The Artsy Craftsy. As a blogger here, i've never felt so alive blogging and sharing so many inspiring things. And it is always good to know that I have inspired many people who are regular readers of my blog.

Some of you might know that I have an Online Gallery linked under my menu bar. Just a quick recap; my current online gallery is hosted on Picasa. It has been fun for me sharing pictures with my readers, but as I am moving on to a new year (and also January- The Artsy Craftsy birthday month) I would like to announce that I will be actively uploading creative finds everywhere on Pinterest rather than on Picasa. pinning lots more creative inspirations on Pinterest.

I find so much fun when i can share my random snapshots with the world, and also pin up viral pictures for inspirations too.  I will be sharing my random snapshots with the world through Instagram.

On the other hand, here's a quick update on what is available on my Pinterest board:






Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Style with ZALORA: Khoon Hooi Fashion Au Naturel Grecian

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

credits Zalora Malaysia
The name Khoon Hooi reminded me of my little girl days when I discovered that fashion designing was one of my passion. My first fashion illustration was the “Little Black Dress”. As a child, I learned about international fashion designers; by the time I was a teen exploring my future career path, I discovered about our homegrown fashion designers. I admired our local designers’ and the name they have attained in the growing fashion design industry in Malaysia- Khoon Hooi was one of them.

With his latest creative fashion collection, Malaysia’s very own famous fashion designer, Khoon Hooi is known for his delicate designs of incorporating ‘feminine Grecian romance’ which brings out a woman’s inner-power and au naturel creativity rather than being ethereally angelic. This proves that an outfit is able to enhance a woman’s personality and appearance, and here’s why:

Story of an Outfit
credits Zalora Malaysia
A piece of garment is able to describe a person’s character; it tells a lot about one’s identity. Pairing with colours, it affects your feelings and how you feel about yourself.

Take for instance; when you’re picking out your outfit, you select your attire for the day based on the occasion, the comfort of the fabric against your skin, and how the colour makes you feel. Then you complement it with make-up, using matching colours that would suit your features; and lastly, you pair the rest of your outfit with matching shoes and other accessories.

You know, I always felt that there is a fine line between looking good and feeling good; and I strongly support the idea of an outfit that is able to make you feel good wherever you are.

But with Khoon Hooi’s, the fabric selection and resilient designs would be able to make a woman feel comfortable, yet sophisticated with a little girly playfulness. The design of the dress is structured to fit a woman comfortably, while she moves & grooves along with the dress and feeling sensual with the soft fabric against her skin.

Style is the Game
credits Zalora Malaysia
Most women choose their outfit based on their own preferred style. I have to say so myself too that I would never wear a RED POLKA DRESS no matter how cute it is, because it simply just isn’t my style. A style depends on your personality and interest; what sort of colours you like, favourite patterns, type of music, books, etc. It tells a lot about you. It is important to know what sort of clothing matches your style because in a big picture, it affects your day and how you present yourself.

But with Khoon Hooi’s, your style is prioritized; especially one that brings out the woman in you. Khoon Hooi’s feminine Grecian designs are meant to assert independence through the attire, and the vivid colours meant to illuminate a woman’s features and figure. Look alive from a lady full of grace to a simple lighthearted girl and a magnetically enchanting woman in Khoon Hooi’s lightly cascading and regal draping design collection.

credits Zalora Malaysia
Magic of Colours
As a little girl, I always watched my mother get ready for a special date and observed how she picks out her outfit based on its colour to fit the occasion. My mother always tell me, she loves to pick the colour Red, because it makes her feel womanly, independent and grounded. Recently, when I reconnected back with colours, I discovered how much colours can affect my emotions too especially in my clothes.

Each colour has its own magic powers, and every woman carries a little magical powers with her too. When a woman puts on her favourite outfit, she makes sure she chooses a colour that makes her outstanding and energized.

With Khoon Hooi’s, the collection comes in various vibrant colours ranging from luminously bright to warm and spirited colours to enhance each and every one of your style and characteristics. Whether you are out for a romantic evening, or under the sun, Khoon Hooi’s unique collection makes you feel alive and comfortable with excitement.

Now that it is time to bring out the woman in you, you can own Khoon Hooi’s regal piece with 10% discount offered only on Khoon Hooi’s collections at ZALORA.

See below on how you can get 10% discount on Khoon Hooi’s collections at ZALORA.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Valid only at www.zalora.com.my
2. Please key in voucher code upon payment check-out.
3. Not valid with any other promotion, discount unless specified.
4. Not exchangeable for cash.
5. For one time-use only.
6. Valid until 15 Jan
7. Logged in prior to purchase

10% for only on Khoon Hooi’s Collections
Voucher Code: ZSHIALYNN
Valid Date: 13 Dec 2012 till 15 Jan 2013



*Information to support post release courtesy of Zalora Malaysia
*Images courtesy of Zalora Malaysia

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

ZALORA: NO.1 in ONLINE FASHION

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Make 12/12/12: Awesome Deals Day! A Must to Shop Online with ZALORA Malaysia, LAZADA and foodpanda 

TWELVE (12) is a unique number of universal importance, which is reflected in our culture; there’s 12 hours in a day, 12 months in a year, 12 in a dozen, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, and 12 days of Christmas.

Within the 12, we also find the number 3, and inspired by that, sister e-commerce ventures ZALORA Malaysia, LAZADA and foodpanda.my has launched the 12/12/12 Awesome Deals Day! Campaign on December 12, 2012. 
The three companies will be offering exhilarating deals on the day itself, starting from midnight to 23:59.

During the campaign, ZALORA customers who purchase 4 items and above will get an additional 12% discount from the total price. In addition to its unparalleled value-added services, the 12 top spenders for the day will stand a chance to win a RM120 cash voucher.

In addition, B Card members who shop with ZALORA Malaysia will get 12x points for any purchases made on that day. Moreover, on the hours 12:12, 120 exclusive and new arrival products will be discounted at 12%, which is only valid till end of the day via ZALORA Malaysia.

Meanwhile, food delivery website foodpanda.my will be offering free food delivery for the whole day. Food delivery charges range between RM0 to RM12, depending on location and restaurants. But to celebrate foodpanda.my’s 10 months of operation, lucky Food Panda customers who order during the day will win free delivery for an entire week.

Apart from free food deliveries, foodpanda.my is also offering 3x points for all purchases made on that day. There will also be surprise giveaways announced on their Facebook page throughout the day.


LAZADA, as the largest online mall in Malaysia, will also offer exclusive discounts on a large selection of products, varying from electronics, books, kitchen appliances, beauty products, toys and more. Berjaya B Card Loyalty members will additionally enjoy three times worth of extra points per purchase online.

Apart from the super deals;
12 lucky customers who purchase on 12 December will automatically stand a chance to win a free Apple iPod Shuffle. 

The randomly selected lucky winners will be announced on LAZADA’s website and Facebook page on an hourly basis.


“ZALORA Malaysia, LAZADA and foodpanda.my are proud to put these initiatives together in our mission to provide the best services to our customers. We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for our customers to see what we can offer them. Customers can try virtually anything on our site—and expect FREE delivery. We always strive to bring the best brands, variety and services online, and fulfill our customer’s needs at affordable prices, while also providing a convenient and stress-free environment for them to shop and dine in comfort, away from the shopping frenzy that usually ensues when the festive season approaches,” said Wee Jonn, Managing Director of ZALORA Malaysia, together with Sidney Ng, Marketing Director of foodpanda Malaysia and Mahmoud Fouz, Managing Director of LAZADA Malaysia.
Don’t miss all the great deals and start to shop online now!

ABOUT ZALORA
ZALORA Malaysia (http://www.zalora.com.my) is the fastest growing online fashion shopping mall in Malaysia. ZALORA Malaysia is part of ZALORA Asia group with Southeast Asia regional presence in Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It is rapidly becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia through its great services and extensive product catalogue.

ZALORA Asia’s founders include local and European investors with highly successful online e-commerce sites around the world, such as Zalando (Europe), The Iconic (Australia), Dafiti (Brazil), Groupon.com, Lamoda (Russia), Locondo (Japan), Jabong (India) and many more.

WHAT MAKES ZALORA MALAYSIA UNIQUE?

~ 600+ local and international brands, 30,000+ products across various categories such as womenswear, menswear, sportswear, kidswear, traditional wear, beauty products, and lifestyle products.
~ FREE DELIVERY NATIONWIDE in Malaysia.
~ FREE 30 Days Return Policy.
~ Phone Order hotline at +60(3) 2382 2208.
~ Secured payment methods such as Credit Cards (Visa / Mastercard), Paypal, Online Bank Transfer (via iPay88 for Maybank2U, CIMB Clicks, MEPS, etc) and Physical Bank Transfer (bank deposit).
~ Cash on Delivery (COD) option on selected brands for Klang Valley only.

    Look us up at
    Website: www.zalora.com.my
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaloraMalaysia
    Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ZaloraMalaysia
    Blog: http://blog.zalora.com.my/
    Instagram: Zaloramy

    Media Contact
    Ooi See Bee
    Tel: +6012 389 2686
    Email: see.bee@zalora.com.my

    Stacy Hui Lee Wei
    Tel: +6017 623 5280
    Email: stacy.hui@zalora.com.my


    About foodpanda.my:
    foodpanda.my is an online food delivery portal bringing conveneince of ordering great meals from the best restaurants in Malaysia. As a leader in online food delivery, foodpanda.my has more than 150 restaurants including international chains like Sarpino’s Pizza and local favorites like Chicken Rice Shop. Besides food delivery, foodpanda.my also offers food pickup and advanced pre-ordering services on their website.

    About foodpanda:
    Founded in February 2012, foodpanda is a start-up company headquartered in Singapore with operations in the Indonesia, Thailand, Columbia, Pakistan, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

    Look us up at:
    Website: www.foodpanda.my
    Facebook: facebook.com/FoodPanda.my
    Twitter: twitter.com/foodpanda_my (@foodpanda_my)

    Media Contact:
    Sidney Ng
    Marketing Director

    Tel: +6016-3062330
    Email:s.ng@foodpanda.my

    ABOUT LAZADA
    LAZADA Malaysia is a premier virtual shopping mall offering thousands of products, and is rapidly becoming a favourite destination for online shoppers all around the country. LAZADA offers over 16,000 products online, in categories such as consumer electronics, books, home appliances, kid’s toys, video games, health and beauty, sports equipment, and more. All products sold online are 100% authentic with a one year manufacturer warranty. With visits ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 per day, LAZADA offers free nationwide delivery and highlights two main points when it comes to online shopping - convenience and secure online payment.

    Look us up at:
    Website: www.lazada.com.my
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/LazadaMalaysia
    Twitter: twitter.com/LazadaMY

    Media Contact:
    Anna Nishaburi
    Public Relations Manager

    Tel: +6017-309 2521
    Email: anahita.nishaburi@lazada.com.my



    * Images courtesy of Zalora Malaysia
    *This blog post was sponsored by ZALORA Malaysia

    Thursday, December 6, 2012

    Where to find Cheap Magazines

    Thursday, December 6, 2012


    In countries such as the UK, United States of America or Australia. magazines are relatively affordable as compared to the ones in Malaysia. Sometimes you might even come across good magazines with interesting topics and stories. We have imported magazines here in Malaysia as well, unfortunately for us Malaysians, the exchange rates affects the price of the magazine; too expensive for us to enjoy its content.

    Personally, I enjoy rare finds, and sometimes, when I come across unique ones like crafty magazines from the UK priced at RM10 and below. I’m sure that there are some of you who are good in digging up good and cheap finds, but for those who don’t, allow me to guide you.

    Magazine shops 

    It is usually located in shopping malls, i.e Sunway Pyramid next to the post office or First Subang next to Sushi King. Look for their bin filled with dirt cheap mags.

    BookXcess 

    BookXcess is in Amcorp Mall. Located in the highest floor, BookXcess has an undeniable amount of good books at slashed prices. You will be able to find quite a number of magazines at the magazine section on your right at the entrance. I hope you will enjoy some of the rarest magazines and some limited edition ones.

    Pay-Less-Books 

    On-the-go and set up in places like Subang 3K inn, Subang Avenue or in Puchong, etc. You can visit their website and give them your details to get updates on their whereabouts. The next time they are in town near you, you will be informed. And don’t be discouraged by their name; they may focus a lot on books, but they do have quite a unique range of thrifty magazines too.


    Other Secondhand bookshops 

    Honestly, I have yet to discover other thrifty bookstores around Klang Valley; I would definitely want to and would share with you if I do come across one. But as for now, I would suggest Amcorp Mall as it is the best place to look for thrift mags.

    Tip: Ideas for craft projects

    You might wonder, why should you look for cheap magazines when you can purchase new ones at the bookstore? Considering if you are someone who enjoys occasional paper craft projects with kids or perhaps collaging and scrapbooking, try getting some cheap outdated magazines instead. Not only you are saving cost, but you are also kinder to the environment, and putting paper to good use.

    No sew t-shirt recon tutorial

    I have plenty of clothes in my cupboard. And I think for those who know me well, would hear me claim that I have nothing to wear. Always.

    On a recent weekend, I had to attend my love’s brother’s battle of the bands performance.

    I wanted something comfy, and I was (again) getting tired of the usual clothes that I have. I have to admit, I like to have fun dressing up too; the best part, it is such a fun to have a boyfriend that has a good taste in fashion, and with the amount of unwanted tee-shirts he has lying around, I nabbed one of it for a quick fashion surgery fix!

    Finally, something fun to wear.

    So, don’t be discouraged by oversized tee-shirts lying around; you can always revamp it. With a little embellishment, you might even able to create a decent Christmas or Birthday gift for your friends and family.
    There are many ways to reconstruct a tee; this concept is NO-SEW, which can be done anytime and anywhere. All you need is:

    A Pair of Sharp Scissors (Preferably Fabric Scissors)
    T-Shirt of your choice

    Here’s my take on what I did with the tee:

    Please excuse the photo quality; shot it with my phone.
    First, gauge where you want to snip

    Snip your sleeves; it can be both sides or one side, it is up to you

    My preference; I snipped both sides and turned it into
    a cap-sleeve like shirt

    I snipped the collar too for some room to droop one side

    I snipped off the hem of the shirt, slanted a little to create
    a midriff top that allows me to tie it up too 

    Snip it in the middle for me to tie it up

    Moving on to the back, snip the middle part

    This is how it looks like after being cut

    Gather it until it looks like a ribbon (but not)

    With the extra fabric, cut two long pieces...

    Like this! Just make sure it is not too thin, and not too thick.
    Not too long or short either.

    Fold it in half...

    Tie it up in between the ribbon-like parts

    Now you can pair it up with a dress
    like mine!

    This is how the back looks like.

    And I happily wore it to my love's little brother's drum performance...

    Thursday, November 29, 2012

    The Artsy Craftsy Blog on Social Media Week 2013

    Thursday, November 29, 2012

    image credits to http://www.facebook.com/MalaysiaSocialMediaWeek

    Hello my fellow readers!

    I would like to announce that The Artsy Craftsy Blog has been nominated on the Social Media Week 2013, under the category of Favourite Lifestyle Blog. Online Voting starts in January 2013.Hope to have your support to bring this inspiring blog to the next level. See you there!

    To view my nomination, click here: http://www.socialmediaweek.com.my/2013/awards/category.php?id=17

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012

    How to Make Your Own Doll Clothes

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012
    by A Girl for All Time
    *Award-Winning Dolls, Novels & Keepsake Books*

    If you’re a doll collector, buying many different outfits for your dolls can be a difficult process; sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect clothing for them and even if you do, good quality clothing is usually unreasonably expensive. But, making your own doll clothes can cost practically nothing and even better, you can literally conjure up any outfit you can imagine! This guide will show you how you can make fantastic doll clothes at home on a budget.


    The Design

    Before you actually start cutting and sewing any fabric, you’re going to need to come up with a great design for your new doll clothes. If the doll you’re working on has existing clothing that fits well, then you can always unpick the stitches on these and use them to create a template for your new garments. If not, get some newspaper and cut out the required shapes and alter them until when held together, they fit your doll nicely. Remember to leave some room to seam the pieces together and you’ll have made yourself a brilliant template. The best thing about this method is that once you've made a template for a particular piece of clothing, you can use it again and again with different fabrics to make as many different outfits as you want.




    Cutting your Fabric
    Once you have designed your template pieces, 
    take some small pins and attach the templates to your chosen fabric. Next, take a pair of sharp scissors and cut around the templates, being sure to leave a few millimeters extra around the edge of each piece to make sure that you have enough fabric. Offer the pieces of fabric up to the doll to confirm that you still have all your measurements right before you waste any time sewing/gluing something that isn't going to fit. 

    Also check to see if you haven’t frayed or ripped any of the fabric whilst you were cutting it. If the fabric is unusable for any reason, grab your template again and cut out some more.


    Making the Clothes

    Here comes the hardest part, fastening the fabric together to make your doll’s new clothes. You can do this one of two ways, firstly, you can simply get a needle and thread and sew the clothes together, or alternatively you can use a glue gun to attach the fabric to itself. If you use a glue gun, be careful as they use hot glue and can be dangerous. 

    Making sure that you only sew the back of the fabric, fold over the small allowance you left for a seam and couple it up with the seam on the other half of your fabric. 

    Sew them together slowly, as to minimize mistakes and ensure your doll’s new clothes look as good as they possibly can. Once everything is sewn together, you can use anything like sequins or beads to decorate your new doll clothes to give them the kind of look you would associate with a luxurious designer label.


    About Contributor: A Girl For All Time provide award-winning dolls, novels and keepsake books that bring the past to life with cool fashions, exciting stories and original activities to share with friends and family. Author: Frances Caine

    *Images and article provided by A Girl for All time
    Copyright 2012. A Girl for All Time. All Rights Reserved

    Monday, November 26, 2012

    Announcement: Sewing Class with Sew Sweet Designs

    Monday, November 26, 2012
    Image credits to Sew Sweet Designs. Copyright 2012. Nadhrah Maidin. All Rights Reserved

    Whether it is adding on to your wardrobe or pick up a new hobby, sign up with Sew Sweet Designs' chic sewing class and learn how to create amazing crafty fashionable items!
    To enquire about their classes, log on to:

    Blog: http://sew-sweet-designs.blogspot.com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sSweetDesigns
    Email: nadhrahmaidin@gmail.com
    Contact: +6012 608 1898

    Friday, November 23, 2012

    Fine Artist: Sarah Blake

    Friday, November 23, 2012
    sarah_blake_fine_arts
    Artwork by Fine Artist, Sarah Blake
    Image credits to Sarah Blake
    To visit her work, click here: http://hellozso.com/


    Thursday, November 22, 2012

    DIY Rocker faux leather bracelet

    Thursday, November 22, 2012
    November is a FUN Month for me, and I often dread spring cleaning during this time of the year. Not until recently. When I was clearing off some of the unwanted items in my craft trolley, I came across an old bag strap from one of my favourite bags, which I’ve turned it into a large clutch purse. I kept it aside at first hoping to make something good out of it, and was also tempted to throw it away because the end of the strap was already worn out.

    Even though I hardly buy them, but I can’t resist some of the leather bracelets I’ve seen in malls. I have always fancied the ones that are plain black or with studs, rather than the ones with exaggerated designs. Already I am quite particular with choosing the right accessory to suit my personality, DIY is the surest way to go when you can just personalize it to however you want it to be.

    Go SAVE with UPCYCLE! 

    And thanks to my back-to-back craze phase for Rock music and style (and also because I just painted my nails black for Halloween) I thought, Hey! This would be great for a leather band! Perfect pair for a black t-shirt, jeans and sneakers!

    What you’ll need:

    1. Bag Strap
    I think this part is pretty easy; you just need to find the right unwanted bag strap that you can imagine it upcycled into a leather wrist band.

    2. Tools
    All-Purpose Scissors (optional)
    It would be useful if you have additional tools such as an All-Purpose Scissors- which I think you can purchase it from the Hardware store in the mall. I got mine from Daiso, the RM5 for all shop in Sunway Pyramid. (OR just opt for a Regular Scissors)

    3. Glue
    You will need hardcore glue with stronger adhesive compared to the ones we have used. I recommend brands like ‘Super Glue’ or Elephant Glue’

    4. Buttons
    Snap buttons definitely! Not the normal ones for sleeve shirts

    5. Clothes Peg
    Whether it is wooden or plastic, it doesn't matter. You can even use a large paper clip; it just for holding the glue together later on in the process


    6. Lighter
    For burning the strap edges so that you wont have strands sticking out

    If you want to add additional embellishments, that is up to you. Just add in to your list of materials. What I’m about to teach you is just the basic to get you going; then the rest is up to you to explore. As you can see from the photos I've taken, the steps are pretty simple. Just follow it step by step and adapt your own style along the way:

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Here is the strap that has been ripped off from the bag!

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Some of the tools that I often use. You don't have to use the same,
    but most important tool is the scissors (see next pic)

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    All-Purpose scissors- you can purchase one too.
    Great for cutting almost anything.

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    After measuring it around your wrist and how long you want it to be,
    cut it with a scissors. Make sure it's the right length for you.

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Test test! Put it around your wrist and gauge where the buttons
    would go. (Pardon me, I am a solo camera man)
    Important!!: After you've cut the strap,
    use a Lighter to lightly burn the edge of the strap
    so that no threads will stick out

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Prepare the heavy duty glue and buttons.
    Separate the buttons so that you know where the glue would go*

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    *This is my own method, but you can adapt your own too.
    In my case, it was easier for me to immediately put two buttons
    together. Find which way is easiest for you

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Once you have glued them, use a peg (or anything similar)
    to hold them together

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    While waiting for it to dry, you can still make more if you want.

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    More for me!!!
    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-bracelet
    Once done, you're ready to rock on!

    how-to-make-a-fashionable-faux-rock-leather-braceletTIP: Try to let it dry up overnight; few hours wouldn't do justice because the glue hasn't really dry up yet. Same goes for the rest. If you are in quick need for an accessory, use it first. If it comes off, fix it up after your event/function. It won't do much damage.

    More ideas for you; even old belts can be upcycled into a bracelet too! You can even personalize one for a friend or family. You can girl it up, or even make one for a guy too! Have fun!