P.S.- I made this...

“The greatest love of all is easy to achieve. Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. Whitney said it best… but so did Oscar! Mr. de la Renta’s go-to quotes were etched into resin bangles that boasted his words and beliefs.

This Valentine’s Day, DIY your heart out, literally. It’s time to stop wearing your heart on your sleeve and start sporting it ‘round your wrist… with a touch of repetition. Mark my words, by marking yours with a graffiti style love note accessory. P.S. - Remember more is more, so scribble ‘em, stack ‘em and love ‘em lots!

To create: Apply two smooth coats of spray paint to wooden bangles. Be sure to wait until paint is completely dry before picking up. Use Sharpie Paint pens to scribble your love notes and quotes all around the bracelet. For an extra detail, inscribe the inside as well. Get creative with your color combinations and messages. Create a bevy of bangles for yourself and friends. What better way to say “I will always love you”, than with a wristed development that’s to DIY for!

Stand out as an Icon of Style. Get inspired by the epitome of innovation, sleekness, technology and sportiness. Follow the Mercedes-Benz iconic road map for luxury and celebrate style with this DIY fashion project. Inspired by iconic essentials and unique modern design , we created a j’amazing braided headband using Mercedes-Benz leather and layered in texture, to top it off. After all, it is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and we want to cruise around in style.

To create, cut a piece of leather approximately 1/2” wide and 2.5-3 ft long. Add a bright cord (or ribbon) and ball chain. Knot all three materials together onto a hair elastic and braid. Once you have a braid long enough to wrap around your head, knot off on the other end of the hair elastic. Be sure to pull tight to make sure it’s secure. Snip the ends and you’re ready to brave a bold braided accessory!

Turn evening wear into everyday flair with a tux redux. Reinventions of YSL’s famed Le Smoking jacket and dapper black-tie duds are having a major moment. A classic blazer is forever in style and always evolving. Since we’re all about staying on-trend by creating them, we dipped into our DIY drawers for our favorite fabric, cotton. This soft substance plants itself into the best textile fibers and threads known to man, and breathes new life into our wardrobe. This season, look to deliciously chic cotton to kick it up a notch. P.S. - The Fabric of Our Lives® makes so many DIY’s come to life!

Lay your blazer open on a flat surface. Trace the silhouette of the inside of the collar as well as inside lapel using a piece of tracing or parchment paper. Cut out the collar pattern and lapel. Be sure to factor in an extra 1/4 inch border around each piece for hemming purposes. Pin pattern directly onto a piece of black cotton sateen fabric and cut out two lapels and two collar pieces with fabric scissors. To create a clean and finished look, fold edges over using fabric glue to hem. Use fabric glue to adhere each piece in its appropriate place. Use your hands to smooth down and help set. Cut a piece of fabric that is approximately a 5 inch square. Size will depend on your preference of pocket square and size of area you have to work with. Fold back and glue the outside edge for a clean look. Gather by pinching and folding and stitch directly onto the blazer for a faux handkerchief look. Use corresponding color thread so thread is not noticeable. Lastly, swap original buttons for a metallic gold or your favorite luxe option and stitch on.

Get creative with your cotton color combinations and experiment by mixing patterns. It’s the perfect opportunity to re purpose, re-create and re-invent. P.S. - The Fabric of Our Lives® makes us come alive with DIY.

Lose yourself in layers! My friends at Who What Wear and I did just that when we fell for Charles Anastase’s Fall/Winter 2012 stunners. The melting pot of military hues infused into feminine silhouettes is to DIY for! Get creative with your own color story and start “swatching” skirts, shirts, dresses…anything your heart desires.

To create, find a basic mini skirt to use as a base. Incorporate several complimentary shades of felt material and cut rectangles in an array of different sizes. Get creative and cut shapes with scalloped edges to add dimension and movement. Use a fabric hole punch to add extra detail to the felt pieces. Place swatches in a random pattern, starting with the bottom of the skirt, and overlap as you move towards the top…making sure to completely cover the surface. P.S. — Lay your complete pattern out before you start to glue. Adhere the swatches directly onto the skirt and hold in place for a few seconds to secure. Before you get decked in your DIY, make sure to let the skirt dry completely on a flat surface….and then, swatch out!

Comfort plus cuteness makes for a winning combo, so punch up your look with a poncho! Create a fresh look by reinventing a classic piece and stay cozy with this nouveau hoodie overhaul.

To create, make a cut from the side seam of the sweatshirt body as well as each side of the inner-arm. Open up the neckline with a crew neck cut-out. Be sure to cut ONLY the top layer so you don’t loose the hood. Close up the back by pinning large safety pins (or feel free to sew) across your new open seam. Cut the bottom sides (both front and back) into a curved shape, keeping the back a bit longer than the front. Secure the sleeve to the torso, which creates a poncho silhouette. Use large safety pins and pin approximately halfway down the bodice. For the armhole, attach buttons on the top and bottom front sections. Use any button you like and attach with safety pins or sew. Use the same buttons to add accents to the shoulder seam.

Burgundy, merlot and cabernet wine…their rich and mighty hues add great flavor to design. Lanvin recently created yummy earmuffs in this of-the-moment shade. Get inspired, stay warm, and feel good with a fuzzy fix!

To create your own: fold a piece of felt in half, which will be the base of the earmuff. Trace and cut a circle leaving approximately 3 inches flat on the bottom fold. The size of the circle can vary per person. You will need two of these felt rounds. When open flat, circles should be connected in the middle. Apply small amounts of glue onto the outside of the felt, and begin wrapping around a fur or faux fur strand, gently holding it in place until set. Continue to glue and coil inward until you reach the center. When completely covered, trim excess fur. Attach each muff by sandwiching them outside of a headband, gluing insides of felt together.

P.S. We’re also over-the-moon for these fox fur headphones from Beats by Oscar de la Renta…check them out!

New year = new you! Sparkle and shine for a fete that’s finer then fine this New Year’s Eve. Expect jaws to drop (along with the ball) while you ring in 2012. Get inspired by over-the-top glitz and glam for a decadent DIY stunner. Re-purpose brooches in your jewelry box, or pick up a few at flea markets or on eBay.

To create, pin several brooches, arranged in a bib-like formation onto a piece of felt. Outline the bib shape with chalk and cut out around the brooches. You may need to sew a few stitches on the backside of the felt if brooches are weighing down the fabric, as you want them to lay flat. Flip over necklace base and sew a chain onto the back. Use a new chain or opt for one from an old necklace for an extra special touch.

P.S.- Here’s to a happy, healthy & crafty 2012!