Guest Post for the Ivy Cottage Blog: Pressed Flower Coasters

So remember when I told you I was a guest blogger the other day?
And then I promised you I would post the tutorial here on Monday?
Well I forgot. So I am posting it now. I have left the majority of the text as it was on the guest post. I did some introducing of le moi, and, if I'm totally honest, I had the best time ever writing about myself. If you read my 'about' page, this might all be super redundant, but I think it's good for everyone to know exactly who their crafting guru, goddess, champion, genius, expert, crush, and savior is. (My best quality is my modesty.)

Enjoy the post, and visit the Ivy Cottage blog because they have some great tutorials!
They are also going to repost my guest post tomorrow, so you can get a double dose of this goodness.
You're welcome. 

The guest post begins... NOW:
Hi, Guys!
I am so excited to see you here on the Ivy Cottage Blog! I have been looking forward to occupying your computer screen for quite some time. 

Now that I have your attention, I would like to formally introduce myself. I'm Melissa from LookWhatMelissaMade.com. And for like next 3 minutes, I will be your crafting guide.

Here is what you need to know about me: I'm crafty. I like glitter. I love Martha Stewart (OK, I have an unhealthy obsession with her. It's no big deal.) I like lace, studs, bows and most things neon. OH! I have a tendency to get crafty with electronic accessories. It's just a pattern I'm noticing. 

Here is some extra stuff in case you are still curious: I'm a 20 something lady living in the great borough known as Brooklyn with my ADORABLE catten (not a kitten, not quite a cat) Lola. For bills and stuff I work at an Ad Agency in Soho.  It's a cool place and my co-people think my blogging is rad, therefore I love them. I end up giving 80% of my crafty items to my sister because she loves (most of) what I produce. Also, she's so pretty and I can't deny her anything.

Ready to craft? Perfect timing. Look at what I made:

Flower Coasters!

Topshop Inspired Glitter Booties

I have to say something and some people might not like it. Brace yourself. 

I am no longer a fan of Jeffery Campbell shoes. The quality is bad. I have been in denial of this for a while because the design is oh so good. No other shoe brand uses so much glitter, it makes my heart sing. But it's time for me to face the music. In my humble opinion, the price tag is just too high for cheap quality. I'm quitting Jeffery Campbell. And I'm looking for a support group. Any takers?

This revelation is excellent news for you. Why? 

1. One less Jeffery Campbell customer means I am no longer your consumer competition. There will be one more pair available for the purchasing! Go you! 

2. Jeffery Campbell shoe DIY tutorials. Just because their quality blows doesn't mean I'm gonna stop lusting after their designs. At some point I'm just gonna have to make my own. And I vow to show you how. (Teehee, rhyming.)

3. Jeffery Campbell shoe up-cycles. As my JC shoes deteriorate, I plan to remake them to the best of my ability. 

Starting with today. 

Which brings use to Part 2 of my story. 

A few months back Topshop carried these bad-ass booties and I wanted them hard. But I'm a twenty something living in NYC, so I don't get what I want. (Except that one time when I spontaneously bought Frye boots.)

These are them. Lust worthy, right?! 

Luckily/Unluckily my JC booties of a similar style sans glitter have been officially declared dead. 

So I decided to make my own Topshop glitter booties. 

Bow chica wowow.

At first I was all like, WHOA, that is one seriously silver shoe. But when I put them on, I felt like rock and roll. 

They look real good. See: 

Also, I later found out that Topshop was imitating Giuseppe Zanotti booties:

Therefore, I have actually made a DIY Giuseppe Zanotti shoe. I have to say. I think I hit the mark with this one. I just gave myself a pat on the back. I do shit like that.

(It is also important to note that this version originally cost $895.00. Just sayin'.) 

Up-Cycled Bracelet: From boring to... less boring.

Happy Monday Kids! I hope everyone's weekend was straight up cray. Mine was not, but I plan to make up for this this weekend. You just wait. 

Despite my lack of cray this weekend, I was not particularly productive in the crafty department. (Don't freak out, I have some real good shit planned.) Productivity in the cleaning department was a different story altogether. You could lick my floors they are so clean. I wouldn't recommended it because I have a cat, but I would allow it.  

As part of my moving-to-a-big-girl-apartment process I decided to sort through all of the junk that has followed me through the ten different residences I have occupied over the past five years. You should only know about my mad moving skillz. 

I found this bracelet that I bought on the streets of Soho when I was just a little peanut butter cup in high school. Back then I though it was simply the tits. I was going through a stage where I was into things like peace signs, earth tones, and leaves. I have moved on to better things like neon colors and glitter. (Years later found the exact same bracelet in Urban Outffiters. I'm so ahead of the times.) I never wear the bracelet anymore and it was headed straight for the ask-my-sister-if-she-wants-it-before-I-donate-it pile. But then I was all like, maybe I can make it better. Challenge accepted! (Spoiler alert: I rocked it.)

Check out this two-toned goodness. 

It used to be all gold. I stupidly didn't take a 'before' picture for you. I'm sorry.

Mustache Necklace

I have been lady lusting after mustaches lately. (In the on-a-mug or as-a-finger-tattoo kind of way. Sorry boys, the 70's-porn-star-look aint my thang. But I know lot's a few girls who totally dig that! Viva la mustache!)

I have seen many variations on the mustache necklace theme, and I'm not gonna lie, I have come close to purchasing one on multiple occasions. But I decided the cheapest and most fun way to acquire such a ridiculous necklace is to make it myself! 

Challenge accepted!

 

Not too shabby, eh?! 

(That's me - I just realized I'm not too big on posting photos of myself. I'm camera shy.)

Check it against the Urban Outfitters version:

I love hate to toot my own horn, but I think mine is better. It's all about the placement of the holes. Write that down. 

Amen, Kitty!

Kitty always was my favorite...

J.Crew Inspired Gold Loafers

I am all sorts of excited for my first SHOE DIY! 

I have been collecting DIY ideas for shoes in my thought box (brain), but shoes are kind of  really expensive so I was reluctant to get on the shoe train. Luckily, one of my most favorite online shops Asos.com had a sale and I was able to snag some shoes to craft on! 

(You can look forward to not one, but two more shoe posts in the near-ish future!)

Oh, Hello Gold Loafer.  

What inspired me to make gold loafers? Good question, I'm so glad you asked. 

I have been experiencing some MAJOR LADY LUST after these J.Crew shoes:

I seriously considered trying to fit the 250 big bucks into my budget to buy this gold dream in the form of a shoe. I am such the American consumer. But, hey, at least I'm doing my part to help the economy.

Despite my willingness to starve for shoes and my "helping-the-economy" justification, I soon remembered that I am a poor twenty-something and I do not get to buy 250 dollar shoes whenever my heart desires. Who do I think I am?

So I made them myself! TAKE THAT EXPENSIVE SHOES!

Guest Post on the Ivy Cottage Blog

Cool news! I was a guest blogger for the Ivy Cottage Blog.

I made flower coasters! 

Go here for the full tutorial. 

Or just wait until Monday. I will post the whole shebang then!

In the meantime in between time, LOOK AT MY GIFT-BOW RINGS!! You will love them. 

Bow Crafting Part 3: Gift-Bow Ring

Today marks the third installment of an infinite number of Bow Crafting posts. After today, I will resume regular programming. In the future, Bow Crafting might make spontaneous appearances. I can't help myself. I just love bows so hard. 

Are your ready for the cutest shit you have ever seen in your life? (Except for kittens, duh.)

It's a Gift-Bow Ring! 

I was really excited about sharing this... so I made an animated .gif to mark the awesomeness of the Gift-Bow ring.
Like... I went on the internets, read up on how to make an animated .gif, and then taught myself how. I could have gone upstairs to the creative floor at my agency and asked one of the very many capable designers for a quick tutorial, but I decided not to take the easy route and to figure it out on my own. And you know what, I feel proud. I. Feel. Proud. 

TADA!

I know. Not only am I a crafting goddess, but I am also a digital ninja. This is the full package over here people! Now that I know how to make a simple animation, I might go a little animation happy.
Brace yourself. This is very exciting stuff in Nerdville, population 1.

Bow Crafting Part 2: BOW PILLOW!

I'm starting an otherwise dreary week with an awesome post. SUCK IT CLOUDY, DRIPPY DAY. 

Aint no cloud gonna rain on my parade. 

I have been settling into my new diggs (and loving it) but I still lack the essential couch. (And folding chairs are not cutting it.) I almost picked one out. Then my ninja-mom suggested overstock.com. That was a total gamechanger. There are so many options, it is truly amazing. The dilema: How does one buy a couch without sitting on it first?

Despite my lack of couch, I decided to prepare for it's eventual arrival with some homemade pillows.

Here is the first pillow for my pending couch. And it is BOWTASTIC:

It's cute. I'ts comfy. It's... BOWTASTIC. 

I'll stop making up words now. 

...No I won't. I love making up words. I'm so sorry you have to deal with me. 

Bow Crafting Part 1: Fantastic Plastic Bow

That's right you crafty caterpillars! Today begins a new series adventure featuring one of my favorite accessories: BOWS. 

I have THREE projects up my sleeve at this point in time, but I'm not going to define the length of this series. Mostly because I want it to go on forever. But I do promise to kick it off with three bowmazing projects. So the bow adventure might not be in successive installments, but it's only because this journey is ongoing.   I am putting an ellipses at the end of this figurative sentence.

Without further ado, I do, give you...

The Fantastic Plastic Bow! 

I don't know if I made this clear, but I read The Man Repeller regularly. And a few weeks ago Ms. Man Repeller posted about these amaze-balls bows:

The way I saw it, I had two options. 

1. Cough up the 75 dolares for these sexy hair clips.

2. Make my own. 

I'm broke so I went with number 2. Also, since I have made crafting my life and I saw a feasible way to make these myself... well there really never was an option. The first option was mostly to express just how smitten I am with plastic bows. 

Studded Hair Barrette

Today I am offering you a quick little number to jazz up your hair-do. I'm going to be perfectly honest here, I have no idea why it took me until now to make this. It's so wonderfully simple and awesome.

 

What do you think? Saucy, right?

I apologize for my lack of personality today. I have encountered a new germ and have subsequently temporarily lost my personality. I have also lost my ability to swallow. And I'm having hot flashes. Hopefully I will get some drugs (antibiotics) tomorrow and be back to my usual bubbly self in no time. 

Back to craft.

Chain Crafting Part 3: Chain Tassel Earrings

This is the third and final post of the always exciting "Chain Crafting" series. (Until the next time I go chain happy at Toho.) It has been a three day adventure that took your relationship with pliers to new heights. But don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. 

How much do you want to punch me right now? I bet a lot. I kind of want to punch myself. 

I won't, but I definitely thought about it.

For the last chain craft (not ever silly, just for this series) I decided to pretend that a chain and a tassel got married, did the nasty, and reproduced a hybrid offspring. What would that child look like? 

It would be chain tassel, DUH. 

OHHHHH! It's so cute! 

Good marriage. Very good marriage.

Chain Crafting Part 2: Chain Collar!

CHAIN COLLAR! HOLLER! 

Does anyone else watch Tosh.0 and remember when Tosh wore a collared shirt every episode for a season? No? Well I do. And this here necklace was inspired by that. 

No, it wasn't. I was more inspired by Dannijo's awesome Hixon Bib that I very much so want. (I also want everything else they make. Just sayin'. In case you are in the mood to drop a few Benjamin's on moi, my birthday is in September.) 

But, back to Tosh.0 - if you don't watch it, you should. It's flippin' hilarious. 

That's all. 

.

..

...

No, that's not all silly! I still have to show you the craft! 

ANNNDDDD here it is!

Chain collar, people. Chain. Collar. 

Chain Crafting Part 1: Chain Necklace

If you follow me on twitter, then you are awesome and already know that I am currently singlehandedly supporting M&J and Toho Shoji. If you are not following me on twitter, well then, you suck. And to eradicate your obvious sucking you should follow me on twitter. 

SEE. I'm a problem solver, I solve problems. 

(While you're at it, give my facebook page a little love too please. It's feeling lonely.) 

The reason I have made three trips up to Herald Square (which is my very own personal version of hell) in the past 5 days is because I have gone completely and utterly jewelry happy and I keep needing more and more supplies. So you have the fruits of that labor to look forward to this week. 

Toho Shoji has one million and one different varieties of chains and that's where I have been focusing my jewelry making energies. This post is the first in a three part installment of crafting with chains. Exciting stuff, right?! Support me, or I will go jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. I got your attention now, don't I. 

(Don't worry. I would never jump off of anything. I was just being dramatic because I'm desperate for your love.) 

...ANYWAYS, the other day I was at work when my leading lady coworker came over to my desk for a quick chitchat/love fest. I cut her off right away because I was so smitten with her necklace. And then I asked permission to be a copycat and, not buy, but DIY her necklace. She graciously agreed. 

Here is my version:

Here is the original:

Not too shabby, eh? Mine is a little bit chunkier but I'm cool with it. I'm a fan of chunky accessories. So it all works out. 

It's Friday!

Go dance. 

See you on Monday! 

Disco Ball Earrings

D-I-S-C-O Don't you want to disco?!

That was a line from one of the less popular color war cheers from summer camp. Good times. 

I don't know if you noticed but I used a super cool disco ball bead in a couple of recent projects, like this necklace and these earrings. I found it at Toho Shoji and kind of fell in love. I just think it is so sweet looking.  

I wanted to make something where the balls were less of a side element and more the main attraction. So I made a party for my ears. It was just the obvious next step.

Hello, Disco Ball Earrings:

Perfect for the Discotech, no? 

Sick Day Crafting Part 3: Sequin Cell Phone Case

 I know I told you that sick-day crafting had officially closed.
I lied. I am so sorry. But there is more!  I do believe this will be the last part of the sick-day crafting extravaganza. (Until I encounter another germ. I'm delicate.)

Just so we are clear, this final item was conceptualized on sick-day. MAYBE I executed it a few days later, BUT it constitutes as sick-day crafting for the the following reasons:

1. Pre-Owned Materials: Not only did I already have the stuff, but the phone case was actually used in a crafting experiment gone wrong. I was trying to add gold flocking to the phone case. It simply didn't work. Flocking needs to be mixed with a medium. I knew that, I went to le art school where they taught me these things. But, you know, I was experimenting. I thought it could lead to something beautiful. It did not.

2. The idea came to me in a fever induced delirium.

3. Mindless crafting: I could pay very little attention while executing this project as it is quite the repetitive activity. This is great for sick-days because it is not demanding of body or mind. It was during this activity that I finished the 3rd season of 'Breaking Bad'. Holy mother of meth, that show is flippin' fantastic. (For those out of the loop, the show is about a dude who cooks meth for moneys.)

4. I was hella hung over when I made it, which probably feels worse than a high fever anyways. So it was a "sick-day" after all. Except for the brief brunch outing where I spent an hour and a half sipping my coffee (bloody mary) and staring at my food that I was incapable of ingesting. Maybe I should change the title of this post to "Hung-Over Crafting: Try to Avoid Vomiting"

So here is my third sick day craft: 

I chose purple for two reasons:

1. I had it. 

2. It's the color of royalty. I learned this once in art history. It's a "rich" color. I'm in the mood to be rich. 

Gold Necklace/Fimo Beads

Today is special. Why? You ask. Because. I am going to show you TWO things. 

1. How to make a three-chained necklace.

2. How to make some pretty nifty fimo beads. 

I spoil you. 

Lookin' good, right!?

I would like to site two sources of inspiration for todays craftiness: 

-This bomb ass pair of earrings  on Etsy by A Merry Mishap.

-The Man Reppeller who so kindly notified me that pastel colors are where it's at. And while, like the Man Repeller herself, I have no intention of saying goodbye to neon, I am kind of excited for this change of color scenery. And by 'kind of' I mean for-cray-cray-excited. 

Yarn Covered Mason Jar

Hellooo my darlings! How was everyone's weekend? Mine was super fun, but less than productive. However, I did manage to make a few small doodads here and there. You come first, my dishes second, and the pile of clothing on my bedroom floor third. 

I didn't tell you this before because I was distracted, but [one of] my New Years resolutions was to save mason jar-like food containers and use them for crafts. I always intend to do this, and then I get too lazy to wash them out and end up giving up. I know. I have no wherewithal. I'm working on it. My life = work in progress. And you get to witness it! How fun for you.

My first jarring project (get it?! GET IT?!?! I bet you are on the floor laughing. I'm so punny... Zing.)

Yarn Covered Mason Jar-like Container. 

Sick Day Crafting Part 2: Chain Earrings

Just because I'm feeling better doesn't mean the Sick-Day-Crafting stops. (Mostly because I crafted this little ditty in my feverish stupor yesterday, not because I wish to continue on this way.)

Here is another definition of Sick-Day-Crafting thanks to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary:

Using scrap materials to make something new!

Why?

Because you are too sick to get to the stores to buy supplies. Duh.

Reasons using old materials rocks:

1. It's FREE! Well not free, you paid for this at one point. You just don't need to put any more money into it.

2. Junk removal! Every crafter ends up hoarding tons of old materials. It feels real good to purge.

That's all I could think of. If you have more reasons why using scrap material rocks, let me know. 

Back in the day, when this here blog was just starting (lol, that was like 3 weeks ago) I was using a bunch of chain for bracelets, and more bracelets. I have a good deal of scrap chain that has been occupying space in my notion box. 

And that's why I made these:

CHAIN EARRINGS. 

I didn't ask to be a genius. Baby, I was born this way. 

Sick Day Crafting: Stud Studs

So, after a 10 day freebee vacation from work, I developed a fever and had to call out. LAME. 

While I would like to offer you fireworks today, I barely had the wherewithal to get out of bed. Seriously, it took about the same amount of effort to run a marathon as it did to get out of bed.

 SO, the definition of sick day crafting (as defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary) is Simple Crafting. 

Don't be disappointed! Simple crafting is actually a good thing. Here is why it is awesome:

1. There are few steps: Not very time consuming. 

2. There are few materials: Not very expensive.

3. Numbers 1 & 2 combined: Very clean, elegant, classy, and a touch edgy. *

*Number 3 may be circumstantial. I can't promise that simple crafting will always turn out so damn good!

This is my sick day gift to the world.

Stud Studs. (For your ears. Fool.) 

Glitter Box

Here's a first world problem: I have no idea what to do with all of my holiday boxes. 

My ninja-mom went to Sephora and bought me a (really awesome) gift set. And it came in a really nice, sturdy box that I couldn't seem to throw away. I can really use a box right now. I just moved and I have all of these misplaced nick-knacks and what-nots. BUT, having a box with a Sephora product advertised on it, well, that't not gonna fly in my new apartment. 

(Remember? I told you. I said, "I decided that I want my new apartment to be AWESOME. And an awesome apartment is an apartment with awesome stuff inside." That's a direct quote from the TV stand post. Pay attention.)

Another quote from the TV Stand post: "When life gives you lemons, cover them in glitter and glue."

And that is pretty precisely what I did with the gift box. 

KAPOW!

Glitter Box. 

I'm pleased to introduce the latest item to my collection of desk things. Everything in my apartment is slowly turning neon. 

Star Covered TV Stand

Hello Crafters! Welcome to 2012! I hope everyone had a bomb-ass fantastic New Years. I ended up having a really awesome weekend, despite my annual NYE dread.

My New Years resolution: be the bestest craft blogger that I can be. 

OH, and meet Martha Stewart. I have to make that happen. 

ANYWHO, I crafted all over another one of my lame Ikea items last week. 

You know what's a good question: Why on earth do I have so much lame Ikea furniture? 

Answer: I moved into an apartment after college before I had a job so I literally had to buy the CHEAPEST furniture available. (Why I did this is beyond me.) I left the lame-ness alone until now, when I decided that I want my new apartment to be AWESOME. And an awesome apartment is an apartment with awesome stuff inside. 

Are you following my logic? Have a ceased to make sense? Keep reading. It gets better. 

The good news is that the cheaper Ikea stuff is pretty plain, so it's an absolutely wonderful canvas to craft on. 

When life gives you lemons, cover them in glitter and glue. Ya diggg?

Here it is:

 Do you like it?! YES??!?!

Then keep on reading, fool!