DIY: Nautical Rope & Chain Knot Necklace

With summer around the corner, I thought a nautical-inspired accessory would make the perfect addition to my wardrobe. I've seen a ton of great DIY nautical necklaces and there are many different ways you can make one, but I found this technique to be the simplest. I also added my own twist by incorporating some gold chain. I thought this helped transform it into a nice statement piece I could wear  with dressy outfits too. I bought the rope from Home Depot for $2 and had the rest of the supplies at home. Not too shabby for my new favorite necklace! Follow the tutorial below to make your own.

 
P.S. Check out more of my favorite DIY jewelry projects here: neon straw necklace, gold rock ring, pistachio shell necklace, bobby pin earrings.

 

Materials:

• 1 yard of rope (found at hardware stores)
• 1 yard of thin chain (check the jewelry section at your local craft store)
• Embroidery floss
• Threading needle
• Piece of ribbon
• Scissors 

DIY: iPad Case From Cork + T-Shirt

Dress up your tablet with a custom handmade sleeve! I love the natural look of cork and I've been seeing more and more fashion accessories (including my new flats) made from it too. And thanks to self-adhesive cork sheets, it was really easy to line my iPad case with a patterned fabric (which used to be an old t-shirt), creating my new favorite techcessory for only $10! You can also use this technique to create a iPhone sleeve or even a stylish clutch. Follow the tutorial below to craft up your own.

P.S. Check out my bubble mailer case for another iPad DIY.

Materials:

• Self-adhesive cork roll (regular cork roll will also work if you do not wish to line it with fabric)
• Recycled t-shirt or fabric (I recommend using cotton or jersey material so the edges won't fray when cutting)
• Ruler
• Pen
• Scissors
• Threading needle
• Embroidery floss
• 2 Buttons
• Yarn (for the closure) 

5 Minute DIY | Convertible Necklace Headband

If you've got a few minutes and three simple materials, then you're all set for today's fashion 5 Minute DIY! With the help of a stretchy elastic hair tie, your favorite necklace can easily transform into a new hair accessory. Plus, the best part is that you can still wear it as a necklace too. I tried this trick on a handful of old necklaces and even a few pieces of gold chain and love the way they turned out. Follow the easy steps below to make your own!

Materials:

• Necklace or chain (about 18 inches long)
• Elastic hair tie
• Needle nose pliers

 

Steps:

• Using needle nose pliers, bend open one of the the jump rings/links at the end of your necklace or chain. (Tip: If your necklace does not have links that can easily open, add your own jump ring at the end)
• Insert the elastic hair tie into the ring and close it back with pliers. If the ring does not close tightly, try overlapping the edges so that the elastic tie does not slide out.
• On the other end of the necklace, open the lobster clasp and insert the elastic tie inside.
• If it fits snugly on your head, then you're all set. If not, try using a different size elastic tie to adjust.

 

Happy crafting! Follow along on Facebook and Twitter to see all my new DIY projects.

DIY: Personalized Key Covers from Scrapbook Paper

Got some colorful paper? Dress up your keys in just a few minutes! I recently color coded my keys and am excited to share this easy tutorial with you all today. I love this DIY project, because not only is it a practical way to help identify your keys, but it's also a great way to add some color and handmade flair to your key chain. Just pair up any of your keys with your favorite scrapbook paper and you've got a personalized little accessory of your own. I think this technique would also be nice to try on vintage keys and string them on a chain to wear as a necklace. I might have to try that soon!

Follow the steps below to create your very own.

Materials: 

• Key
• Pen or pencil
• Scissors
• Small X-acto knife
• Small piece of scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge or any other decoupage medium
• Brush