The Wardrobe Shake-Up #5

 

I don’t really know how to do casual clothes

                                                          - Oscar de la Renta

Oh I hear you, Oscar. I'm not really a jeans girl but when I do venture out in public wearing them, they’re always paired with heels and a bold lip colour, and in this case, a killer cut-out shirt and a novelty bag! The three year old oversized shirt was a victim of my spending ban. Instead of tossing it aside, I gleefully took the scissors to it and created a brand new top in mere seconds. This super easy DIY doesn’t involve sewing and won’t cost you a cent. Simply cut out the fabric following the seams of the shoulders, button strip and neckline. Denim doesn’t have to be boring, eh?! The peach bag was a birthday present from my lovely friend Fiona last month. I was also lucky enough to receive H&M and Penneys vouchers. Yes, I have new clothes. New! They’ll be featuring in future outfit posts so make sure you stay tuned.

Shirt – DIY

Jeans – ONLY

Bag – Asos (sold out)

Boots – H&M

Thrifty Treat Of The Week: Tiger Stores Ireland

This week’s Thrifty Treat Of The Week is not a beauty product or a sales tip-off. No, it’s an entire shop! Tiger is a Danish chain of variety stores; it first landed on Irish shores in 2011 and there’s currently nine stores here. Tiger offers a wide range of products from household items to office supplies, toiletries to toys and everything in between. Do not liken Tiger to EuroGiant, Dealz or any other discount store; it’s so much more than that. Yes, the prices are low but there’s also a huge emphasis on quality. Stylish with a distinctive Scandinavian design, these products stand out from the "pound shop" crowd.

 

When I moved into the bare and bleak apartment I mentioned in this post, Tiger was my go-to shop for kitchen utensils. Not only did I stock up on wooden spoons and spatulas but I also bought wine glasses, a cupcake shaped cookie jar and a gorgeous tea caddy that attracted oohs and aahs from everyone who saw it, i.e., anyone who was lucky enough to get a cup of tea made for them!

During my most recent visit to Tiger I stood in awe before the arts and crafts section. Beads, wire, pliers, glitter glue, wool, invisible tape, felt and the most affordable canvases I’ve ever come across for you painter types – it’s DIY heaven! I picked up decorative flowers, cards and fabric tape (see photo below). I don’t have any definite plans for the flowers yet, they have an adhesive back so I’m thinking of creating a pretty headpiece by sticking them to a base comb or putting them on a plain handbag. The fabric tape was a brilliant find, it totally eliminates the need for glue in my Retro Ribbon Tealight Tutorial.
 

Fabric tape €3, Decorative flowers €3, Cards (pictured above) 50c each

 

Other delightful items I spotted included a diamante encrusted calculator, a notebook that looks like a slab of chocolate, jewelled mirrors, a selection of herbal teas, animal iPhone covers and a party section complete with wigs and fake moustaches. Tiger state on their website that nothing costs more than €30 but I found most things are well under a tenner. Practical items, quirky gifts, lovely crafty bits to spark your imagination - Tiger has it all.  

 

I was swooning over my friend’s new purse while we were out having lunch. Yes, it’s a panties purse! Currently in Tiger for €2

http://www.tiger-stores.ie/ 

 

Store Locations

Kildare:

·         Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge

·         Manor Mills Shopping Centre, Maynooth

Dublin:

·         GPO Arcade, Dublin 1

·         Nassau Street, Dublin 2

·         Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Dún Laoghaire

·         Pavillions Shopping Centre, Swords

·         Omni Park Shopping Centre, Santry

·         Donaghmede Shopping Centre, Donaghmede

Cork:

·         St Patrick's Street, Cork City

 

 

Spring Cleaning: How To Create Candle Holders Out Of Glass Bottles & Jars

Spring is my favourite season for many reasons; snowdrops and daffodils blooming, longer days, warmer weather, lambs leaping in the fields. Spring is also the season of new beginnings - out with the old, in with the new. You can embrace this concept literally by spring cleaning your home. It may seem daunting to tackle your entire house in a day or even a weekend; so instead, break it up by room or even by wardrobe/cupboard and finish one each day. I recently finished spring cleaning my wardrobe and I discovered some long-forgotten pieces that I can’t wait to restyle. My friends inherited my preloved shoes and bags, and whatever they cast off was dropped into the charity shop. So less clutter and smiles all round!

Storing empty glass bottles and jars for the bottle bank can also take up much needed space. I came up with the idea of making candle holders out of bottles and jars while I was living in a bare and bleak apartment. I had a small budget for decorating and wanted something a little different to adorn my mantelpiece and dressing table. Below are two candle holder tutorials; one for a long candle and the other for a tealight.

Bohemian Style Gold & Jewelled Candle Holder

You will need: a glass bottle, gold spray paint, stick-on gems (these are available in Penneys/Primark for €1.50), latex/rubber gloves, newspaper

1.  Remove the labels from the bottle. Wash with hot soapy water and dry.

2.  Cover your work surface with newspaper. Take one sheet of paper and scrunch into a ball – put aside.

3.  Put on your gloves (this is going to be messy!) and spray the bottle, turning it slowly as you spray.

4.  While the paint is still wet, take the scrunched up ball of newspaper and start to dab lightly. This will give the paint an old/distressed appearance.

5.  Leave to dry. You can repeat steps 3 and 4 a number of times until you reach your desired mottled effect.

6.  Once the paint is dry, apply the stick-on gems. If you can’t find these in Penneys/Primark use standard gems and secure to the bottle with a glue gun.

7.  Insert your candle and voilà – a striking and unique candle holder!

 

Retro Ribbon Tealight Holder

You will need: a glass jar, ribbon, scissors, glue gun

1.  Choose where you’re going to place the ribbon on the jar. Measure and cut, leaving 1cm extra.

 

2.  Apply the glue to the jar. You must place the ribbon on straight away as glue dries almost instantly when applied to glass.

 

3.  Take the extra piece of ribbon and glue down.

 

4.  Now you’re ready to pop in your tealight. Simple!  I think these would also look exceptionally pretty as table décor at a wedding.

 

How To Create: Cuticle Tattoos With Eyeliner

                                  Left to right: Rad Nails Cuticle Tattoos, Ciaté Cuticle Tattoos

              The word on the street is that cuticle tattoos are going to be a big nail trend this spring/summer. However, they’re not a new trend by any means.  Last summer, American brand Rad Nails launched their cuticle tattoos to huge acclaim. Beauty blogs and websites went bananas for these quirky little transfers but for some reason they didn't really take off. Now the trend is catching on again with the launch of Ciaté’s cuticle tattoos. The British nail polish brand’s designs, diamonds, bows and stars, are much sweeter than Rad Nails’ and are exclusive to Asos. They’re currently sold out at the moment (trend alert, trend alert!) but I’ve heard they’ll be back in stock in March.

 

The cuticle tattoo trend is a bit like black pudding, you either love it or hate it. I love it; it reminds me of traditional henna tattoos but I just can’t justify the price of the transfers or the hassle of ordering online. Ciaté’s retail for €14.05 and Rad Nails’ are $6 apiece plus $5 for international shipping. You can save your money and recreate the same pretty designs (or come up with your own) with waterproof eyeliner pens and a steady hand. Let’s face it, the tattoos aren’t going to last very long unless you avoid hand washing (not recommended!) so you may as well use eyeliner for the few occasions you’ll be wearing them – nights out, festivals et cetera.

 

 

If you’re curious about my rather messy nail art, I was trying to emulate the 60s-esque nails created by Deborah Lippmann for Kate Spade’s gorgeous SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week. I adore these silver-tipped beauties!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Create: An Easy Detachable Collar

One of the biggest accessory trends of 2012 has been the detachable collar. They have taken over every high street fashion store, mainly in the form of the Peter Pan collar. A detachable collar is an easy and quick way to update an outfit. It can be worn over a plain top or jumper or as an alternative to a necklace. As the androgynous trend gets into full swing this Autumn/Winter, Peter Pan collars have taken somewhat of a back seat and the simple shirt collar is now centre stage.  These collars, whether adorned with studs, beads or jewels; will add a masculine edge to your outfit.

 

                                                                        Asos, €16.67

       

                                 

 

                                                          River Island, approx. €24

 

While these collars are lovely, they are overpriced. You can easily make your own unique collar without spending a cent!  If you do have to buy some of the materials it will only cost you a few euros.
 

 

You will need – an old or second-hand shirt, scissors, a needle, thread the same colour as the shirt, a selection of stud earrings and backs. If you don't have odd earrings in your jewellery box you can buy packs of earrings in Penneys/Primark for €3 or less.

 

 

Carefully cut the collar off by cutting below the band of the shirt. The band is where the top button is situated.

 

 

Fold down the band and with a needle and thread tack it to the base of the collar. This isn’t a necessary step as the band is usually stiff enough to stay in place, good news if you can’t sew! However, if you can’t sew but you do want your collar to be extra sturdy you could glue the band down.

 

Select the earrings you want to use and put them through the collar in your desired pattern. Secure the earrings with earring backs.

I opted for a simple design using studs, pearls and diamante earrings but you could go for something a bit more elaborate and pile on the jewels! You could also sew on a prettier button or replace it with a brooch. Not only is this collar your own creation but you can reinvent it over and over again by changing the earrings (see below).

 

How To Create: Earrings Good Enough to Eat!

You know the deal - it's Christmas time, you’re lying on the couch watching bad TV surrounded by half empty tins of Roses, Quality Street and the inevitable box of USA Assorted Biscuits. You wipe your chocolate covered gob with the back of your hand and stare miserably at the carnage. Despite the countless sweet wrappers scattered at your feet, the shortbread crumbs down your best woolly geansaí and the groans from your bloated body you can’t help but yearn for some...Celebrations. Oh yes, to nibble on a sweet velvety Galaxy Truffle. Why is this chocolate so rare or so rare in my house?!

I’m getting distracted...returning to my tale of Christmas indulgence - I vowed to take a stand, a gym membership was too extreme (and possibly life-threatening) so I decided to delve deep into my artistic side and create jewellery out of the vibrant sweet wrappers. Sounds a bit crazy I know but this jewellery is really quirky and unique to you; you can choose your own colours, shape and size. You’re also doing your bit for the environment by recycling.

 You will need- sweet wrappers, a glue gun or superglue, cardboard (a cereal box will do), scissors, earring posts, a pencil/pen.

Earring posts are basically stud earrings with a flat base. You can glue anything onto these babies, they're cheap and easily found in jewellery making supply stores. I bought mine in Beads & Bling on Wellington Quay in Dublin.

Decide what shape and colour (and chocolate brand!) you want. Draw the shapes on the cardboard, you may need a ruler.

Cut out your shapes and place on your chosen sweet wrapper. Trace the shapes with a pen and cut out.

Apply a dot of glue on the card and place the sweet wrapper shape on top, pressing down firmly. Be careful if you're using hot glue, I used the edge of a towel to press down and avoid burnt fingers. When dry, flip your shape over and repeat.

Now your shapes are ready for the earring posts. Check out these hearts I cut out from gold Quality Street foil, be imaginative with your design or alternatively use two different sweet wrappers to create a collage effect. If you want your earrings to be a little more hard-wearing I'd suggest covering in contact book covering before applying the earring posts.

Apply a dot of glue to one side of your shape and place the earring post on top. Hold down for a few seconds and leave to dry.

Ta-da! And here’s some I made earlier - Quality Street green triangles, my favourite (literally!). I feel these earrings have a real 80s vibe as they’re so bold and flashy; I can see them complimenting washed-out denim or a jumpsuit perfectly. They could also add a different dimension to your festival outfit this summer.

How To Create: A Floral Headpiece

With spring coming to a close the daffodils, tulips and bluebells that once filled every park and garden are slowly receding. This and the fact that girl of the moment Lana del Rey has made floral headpieces her signature look inspired me to make my own. There are some lovely headpieces already stocked in the shops for festival season, New Look has a very pretty range, but I decided to make mine with fresh flowers.  It may only last one day but it’s authentic and purse friendly. Just don't rob your neighbour's prize blooms! If you find using fresh flowers too tricky try glueing artificial flowers to a plain plastic hair band.

You will need - a selection of flowers, wire that bends easily, rose wire, measuring tape, floristry stem tape or ribbon, sellotape, scissors, pliers (not pictured).

Measure and cut the bendy wire, approximately 65 cm should be enough. Place around your head, it's better to be slightly too big than too small. Twist the ends together to form a circle.

Take the floristry stem tape or ribbon and twist it around the wire until it's covered. Secure at intervals with sellotape.

    Cut the flowers leaving at least half an inch of stem.

Using pliers cut the rose wire into 1 inch pieces. Pierce the stems with the wire and then bend the ends creating a U shape.

Arrange the flowers on the headband. Secure in place by twisting the wire around the headband. Make sure you use the pliers to cut off any excess wire or you could end up with quite a sore head!

Voilà! A beautiful and original fresh floral headpiece.