CUFFLINKS IN A BLINK.

Whether you are in need of an inexpensive cufflinks, broke a pair or plainly broke and doesn’t know what to get your father for a special occasion, here’s a simple and express DIY for you! Keep your eyes open, this one is going to be quick! Let’s get started!

You’ll need:

1. Styled shank buttons (4 pieces for a pair)

2. Slim elastic hair ties

3. Scissors

Procedure: 

Step 1: Select 4 shank buttons that you’ll use to make your cufflinks. Make sure that your elastic band is slim enough to fit through the holes of the buttons. Cut the elastic band so you’ll have both ends and insert it through the two holes of the buttons.

Step 2: Tie a knot so the elastic band will keep the buttons closely. It depends on your taste if you want the top and the bottom buttons to have decorations but I chose to keep only one of them decorated and the other one plainly colored. 

Step 3: You’re almost finished! Make sure you’ve tied the elastic band properly so your cufflinks won’t fall apart. Cut the excess elastic band so it won’t be hanging around between the cufflinks and you’re done!

An original couple of cufflinks in less than 5 minutes and under a hundred pesos! In case you’re hesitant, shank buttons are the ones with holes at the back, they’re different from the ones you see with holes in the middle. You can get them in your local fabric stores or lace stores. Boys and girls, I hope this DIY be of assistance to you for your own use, your boyfriends’ or your fathers’. Good luck and learn by heart, “Why buy when you can DIY?”

Newspaper layout. Look this up on Inquirer.net here.

DYE Hard: Bow tie with a Vengeance!

Bow ties is used to hold the openings of a man's shirt. These days, it is mostly used as a tool of function and fashion by guys and fashion forward girls. This article will teach you how to make your own bow tie without shredding too much cash on your wallet. Let’s begin!

You’ll need:

10” x 6” piece of fabric

 4” x 2” piece of fabric

1” safety pin

Fabric glue or glue gun 

*Blue highlights show where glues are supposed to be placed.

1.  These 10” x 6” and  4” x 2” fabrics are from my old white shorts, no need to buy new fabrics. Be resourceful.

2.   Lay the fabric and flip it halfway. Put glue horizontally on both tops. *Since the fabric glue that I used is white which is Sew No More (you can find it in Hardware shops), I used a blue highlighter so you can see clearly where glues are supposed to be placed.

3.  Press both tips together until bonded. *Don’t worry too much about the fabric runs, you can use the glue to stop it.

4.  Horizontally fold the fabric halfway and put glue on both sides.

5.  Press both tips together until bonded. *Number 5 photo shows how the back looks like.

6.  On the front, put glue on the center and press it until closed.

*Blue highlights show where glues are supposed to be placed.

7.  Turn it on the back again and drop glue on top and bottom on the pinched section.

8.   Photo #8 shows where the glue were place and pinched closed.

9.  Place the smaller piece of fabric at the center and put glue. *Do step #2 on the smaller fabric too.

10. Wrap the entire strip on the center of the tie and glue it closed. Since we’re going for the very basic, insert the safety pin and your bow tie is ready!

You can totally stop at step 10 if you may, but since my bow tie is pure white, I felt the need play it up a bit more and let dye get in the way. Let’s proceed to step 11 if you want to dye your bow ties too!

You’ll need:

1.)    Dye    2.) Container    3.) Warm water    4.)  Rubber bands

Put warm water of a container and dissolve the dye in it. *If you’re not familiar with dyeing, instructions can be found in the dye sachet, the internet or last resort, your mom. 

11. Make sure the rubber bands are hugging the fabric as tight as possible. Dip the fabric in the dye for 10 seconds. Immediately release the fabric from the rubber bands and rinse with water until the water is almost colorless. Hang to dry and your tie-dyed bow tie is ready!

12. Dip the bow tie half way for 60 seconds. Rinse with water until the water is almost colorless. Hang to dry and your Ombre bow tie is ready! 

Tie-dyed bow tie                            Ombre bow tie                                  Dyed bow tie

You can just pin the bow tie right above the button hole of your polo and you’re good to go. Now you can 

save up or buy your bow tie-money with something else for you’ve learned to make your own today! I hope you enjoyed making your personalized and original bow ties as much as I did. Always be imaginative and resourceful. Remember, why buy when you can DIY?  

See full article here.

DENIM RESCUE.

I had to jump up and down just to realize I wasn't still sleeping and not dreaming. Nothing feels better than waking up seeing your work published. I had to sip coffee while I read it just to feel it's realness, and to make the idea sink in. This is my article, published on Philippine Daily Inquirer's Lifestyle 2BU section today, July 13, 2012. I know, I feel like I'm bragging again but,you know, I'm just happy and really thankful. 

Denim Rescue: Revive your old, boring, outdated jeans. 

Frayed shorts are cool, but instead of buying a pair, why not turn your old jeans into perfect form-fitting shorts?
All you have to do is rummage through your closet—or even that of your parents—and look for pairs of outdated jeans.

• Things you’ll need:

1. Scissors
2. Pair of old jeans

• Important note: Think first about how you want your new but free über-trendy trashed denims to look like.
• One of the easiest ways to overhaul a pair of jeans is to cut them up. To get the look you want, using scissors, cut the jeans right where you are comfortable in terms of length. For girls, it can be two inches right below the booty level, so they’re short but not “Playboy playmate”-sexy. Boys can try an inch or two above the knee. You can also (carefully) pull using your scissors on some of the frayed edges to achieve your desired look. Toss your jeans in the washing machine with a bit of bleach for a more aged feel and frayed edges.

• If you want a more rugged look, you should shred it like you mean it! Grab your scissors and decide where you want some tatters to hang. Estimate how long you want the strings of fabric to be seen, then start shredding. Scrape the fabric horizontally with your scissors until you see the white strings. It would look more natural if you place the tattered spots below the pockets and the pocket opening itself.

• Folding is another option. If frayed edges are too tense for your taste, you can just cut off your jeans right below the kneecap and fold to your preferred length.

• Remember, tossing your jeans in the washing machine will enhance the frays and tatters of your jeans.

• Bear in mind that you don’t always need to splurge on clothing to have a good sense of style. It’s also hip to mix and match pieces that are vintage, used, new, customized, etc. Ask your parents or even your grandparents if you can raid their closet; who knows what interesting pieces you may find. Be practical, creative and resourceful.

See the full article here.

   How to fray the denim.                                                       Old denim pants.

Your new but free über-trendy trashed denim.

DIY Nut Bracelets (Published)

2bU | Inquirer Lifestyle

Open the image on another window for bigger view. 

It was late night when I heard the news from my friend who is a writer that my work would be published today (June 1, 2012) for The Philippine Daily Inquirer's 2bU section under Lifestyle. I had doubts that this article would be printed so, I'm just really happy and thankful about how things turned out with my story about this little bracelet. Truly good things happen when you least expect it.

See the article from Inquirer.net here.