Ugly 80s Prom Style Bow Refashioned into a Cute Chainlink Purse!
Bows are usually some of my best friends, but there was something about having one pretty much smack dab on the front of this already very frou frou red mini dress that was rubbing me the wrong way. So I decided to remove it and make it into a cute bow-shaped purse. Click on the steps to see how you can refashion your own ugly bow!
-
- Step 1
-
- Step 2
-
- Step 3
-
- Step 4
-
- Step 5
-
- Et Voila!
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Mini Project: Refashioned Floral Retro A Line Dress
I fell in love with this delicate blue and green floral print, but unfortunately it was on a size 12 mumu when I found it. It was only $10 at Goodwill, though so I thought I’d give refashioning it a whirl. Here’s the (rather shoddy) finished product. I might wear it to NY Fashion Week if it doesn’t fall apart on me before then!
Let me know what you think!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Make Your Own Shoe Jewelry for Free
Before:
After:
With the economy in shambles, accessories that allow us to add some flava to our existing wardrobe pieces and avoid having to buy brand new ones seem to be all the rage. My absolute favorite example of this trend? SHOE JEWELRY! Especially these fab pieces by Litter SF. While Litter’s glamorous baubles will cost you upwards of $70, there’s no need to feel left out if you don’t have a pile of dough to spare. I made my own shoe sparkle by taking an old dangly earring I had in my jewelry box and hooking it over the back of my heels. Just secure with a piece of duct tape, and voila - instant FREE shoe bling!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
recycle your paper into cute little hermes birkin valentines!
another cool way to recycle your paper. visit the hermes website to download templates to make your very own kelly bag. just pick your location, click on “travel the world of hermes,” and select the paper bag pic (”i want it, i’ll have it!”).
what a cute craft to give your valentine, especially filled with some organic chocolate goodies.
thanks for the pics tatertotsandjello and prettyinthecity!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
recycle your credit cards into free name rings - courtesy of amex
if you’ve decided to take american express up on their offer to buy you out for $300, recycle your old credit card by turning it into a priceless piece of name jewelry.
here’s how.
this is a card i received in the mail from macy’s after i specifically told them never to send me one again. ahhh, macy’s. my first instinct was to cut it into a million pieces and tell it to begone. but when i thought about all the design work, glittery gold and red pigments (actually quite pretty), energy and plastic it took to make this card, i couldn’t bear to just throw it in the trash.
 |
so here’s what i did:
1. first, cut the part of the card with your name on it off in a long strip.
2. then, cut it to a size that will fit your finger.
3. next, bend the strip around a marker or something that has a similar circumference to your finger to form a loop.
3. last, poke a hole into each side of the strip, and use strong thread to link them.
voila!
 |
 |
you can also use the part of the card that has your account number (after you’ve canceled your account, please) to make a bracelet symbolizing man’s plight (addiction to shopping).
 |
i added an extra lil suttin’ suttin’ to mine with a dior ribbon that i found in a garbage pile right outside of the flagship store on 57th street. all it needed was a good wash.
other ways to deal with unwanted credit cards: when a paper shredder just won’t do
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CORPORATIONS WILL DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY: carrot mob makes it rain
Carrotmob Makes It Rain from carrotmob on Vimeo.
i throw up more cash, and change the forecast. this is how it should work and what swyyne in ALL about. plus that asian dude is funny.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Make a Broken Barrette into a Three Finger Ring
Turn this:
Into this:
I’ve been lusting after a three or four finger ring a la Radio Raheem’s LOVE and HATE jewelry in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing for some time now, but they are super hard to come by and when I do see them, they’re quite pricey. Well, when my favorite bow barrette broke the other day, I wondered if I could make it into a DIY version of the classic three finger ring. The existing hardware on the clip fits my fingers just perfectly so I didn’t even have to make any modifications! I’ll be rocking my sweet new ring around town. I think I’ll name it “Serendipity.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why That Triangle Arrow Recycling Symbol is a Piece of Garbage
The Society of the Plastics Industry developed a resin identification code (that triangle shape with the arrows chasing each other) in 1988 as a way to get us to recycle, but most people do not know that the mark itself is pretty much meaningless. If you’re washing and recycling takeout containers or other plastics that have the “recycler’s bermuda triangle” on them, you might just be acting a fool.
Luckily, design professor KT Meaney and her students have come up with some way better, less retarded graphic solutions to show people whether or not what they are buying can be recycled. Remember, we vote with our cash money so boycotting manufacturers and food distributors who use styrofoam and non-recyclable plastics is the best way to tell them that they need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
Meat section postcard (Design: David Mitchell)
Smart meat-section trompe l’oeil postcard alerts consumers that styrofoam packaging sucks, without discrediting the delicious product inside of it.
Coupon broadsheet (Design: Britt Cobb)
This supersmart flyer organizes weekly specials into those which have recyclable containers and those that don’t.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
awesome star trek DIY projects!
via threadbanger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 last minute mother’s day green gift ideas
if you’re reading this, you’re probably a horrible son/daughter - too wrapped up in your own life tasks (tweeting and FBing updates about the swyyne flu and kfc) to have properly prepped a gift for the most important lady in your life!
fear not! your inexcusable procrastination might actually be a good thing. for one, you didn’t get lassoed into purchasing something that your mom doesn’t want/need, and therefore have not contributed to the waste stream. here are some easy, eco-friendly ways that you can make it seem like you knew exactly what you were doing this whole time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my sentiments exactly
pic courtesy of oldster’s view
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the kyoto box: a microwave made out of two cardboard boxes - hot!
a microwave made out of cheap cardboard boxes?
kyoto energy, a kenya-based inventor, proved that eco-friendly innovation does not necessarily have to be high-tech to be revolutionary or effective. the company won forum for the future’s ft climate change challenge with their simple solar cooker, made out of two cardboard boxes with reflective foil and black paint to maximize absorption of the sun’s rays. when covered with a transparent film, the temperature inside the box ca reach up to at least 80C, allowing people to boil water, bake things and sanitize objects. think of how meaningful that could be for people in countries where just finding water clean enough to drink is a full-time job.
kyoto energy originally set out to find a solution for deforestation when it began the project (the kyoto box can cook without burning lumber), but found many other positive “side-effects” along the way.
for instance, the coolest part about this hot cooker is the ease with which it can be mass-produced and could be sold for as little as $10 a box.
HOT!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
parisians love sharing bikes with the velib bike system: would this work in new york?
parisians are known for their ability to make anything look fashionable, so when i saw several chic locals riding around on identical retro-lookin’ bicycles, i figured it was the newest trend.
but, as usual, i was only partially correct. the pearly tan bikes are part of paris’s velib bike sharing system which was debuted back in 2007 as part of the mayor’s plan to reduce car traffic by 40% by 2020.
so how does it work?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
seven rivers: why didn’t anyone think of this before?
people are annoyed with me - often.
no, it’s not my nasally voice, my toetapping or even my shoulder cracking that’s to blame. of all things, it’s MY REFUSAL TO ACCEPT BAGS AT STORES. really, people? really?
first it’s denial - she didn’t say she doesn’t want a bag, she’s just mumbling.
then anger - why??? why would you not want a bag? how can you carry things without a bag?
finally, acceptance - okay, fine. suit yourself. dumbass.
you know what, this is ridiculous! if i want to carry home my kalbi in a freakin’ piece of lettuce instead of getting a huge styrofoam box and paper bag with another plastic bag to hold it all, that’s my business. CAN I LIVE???
 |
| when i made it home, there wasn’t even a hair on this thing. |
with all that fuss over not wanting to use wasteful packaging, i DO purchase bottled when i’m on the go. before you judge me, i just want to say that i really have no choice. you see how much water YOU can hold in a piece of lettuce! anyways, i was really impressed when sarah, a reader, tipped me off about seven rivers. they’ve got this great idea to make machines that dispense pure, clean water all around the city, eliminating the need to buy bottled or drink out of other questionable water sources (extra deep puddle on 3rd ave).
seven rivers is competing right now on ideablob to win 10 Gs to develop their idea. show them you like it by voting for them now!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
microsoft sustainability: a glimpse into the future
dope video by microsoft + oh, hello.
i like how the idea of sustainability is not smacking you in the face in every single scene. instead, it’s more of a given that people are collectively working towards making things better, and smart design is allowing them to accomplish their goals.
there are some really slick scenarios like a newspaper that automatically refreshes with the days news and is totally interactive, but still retains it’s papery feel (kindle, are you listening?).
i wish i had screenshots, but for now you’re just going to have to click here to see the whole thing.
danke for the pics fubiz!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
feed yourself