DIY Flower Pom Pins

2.19.13

You wanted it, you got it! Here’s the lowdown on the project that I hosted at our recent Craft With The Bloggers event. I have been wearing these crazy little poms all over town — in my hair, on my jacket, pinned to a handbag, you name it. If you’d like to make your own, gather your materials:

a strip of organza fabric (For a large pom: 6″ x 2 yards. For a smaller pom: 3″ x 4 yards.)
matching thread
needle
scissors
pin back

Note: all photos are of a larger pom. For a smaller pom, follow the same directions but be sure to start with the right size fabric. Start by folding the length of your fabric in half four times, so you have an accordion of fabric that’s about 5 inches wide. Pin the fabric together at the bottom. Cut fringe into one open end of the fabric, leaving an inch or two intact at the pinned side. This fringe will become your “petals,” so shape the ends accordingly. I like mine a little uneven and imperfect.

Next, unpin and unfold your fabric. Thread your needle and knot the ends. Begin sewing a loose running stitch on the unfringed edge of your fabric. Sew a few stitches, then gather the fabric onto the thread. Continue for the full length of the fabric.

Once your fabric is all gathered tightly, decide which will be the front and which will be the back of your flower. On the backside, sew a few anchoring stitches through multiple layers of the gathered fabric. You probably don’t need to go through every layer; this just serves to keep the fabric in place.

With your gathered fabric anchored to itself, place an open pin back down on the back of the flower and sew in the pin. Secure with a knot and snip the thread.

Bam! You’ve been flower pommed. I love these things, and the people who stopped by to make them with us seemed to love them too. Happy making! xoxo

Make and Give // DIY Gilded Heart Ring Dish

2.12.13

I love projects that look fancy but are secretly super easy, and this is one of those projects. If you’ve got a girlfriend (or a mom, sister, grandmother, aunt) who needs a sweet little something for Valentine’s Day, whip her up this little gilded ring dish! It’s sweet and simple, with a little touch of gold (and you guys know I can never say no to gold). If you’d like to make one, gather your materials:

white modeling clay
baking sheet
Martha Stewart Liquid Gilding
paintbrush
you’ll need your oven, too!

Start by warming the modeling clay in your hands and forming it into the shape of a heart. Mold the edges of the heart upward slightly so that it creates a lip all around the edge. Set aside a small piece of clay and form it into a thin roll. Gently press the roll onto the center of the heart to act as a peg. Smooth any rough spots, and bake according to the directions on the package.

Once the dish is cool, load your paintbrush heavily with the liquid gilding and begin to trace the edges of the heart. If you like the dripped effect, allow some gilding to pool and drip down. I liked mine a little drippy!

Be sure to let the gilding dry thoroughly, and send this little beaut on its merry way to brighten someone’s Valentine’s Day. Make it and give it! xoxo

Make and Give // DIY Sunglasses Pouch

2.11.13

Okay, don’t freak out. Yes, this is a sewing project. But seriously, if you can sew in a straight line you can do this! I know sometimes I see a project that involves a sewing machine and immediately tune it out, but give this little guy a chance. It’s super fast, super easy, and it’s a perfect gift for a pal on Valentine’s Day! Give ‘em a little pouch to keep their sunnies in. Gather your materials:

an 8″ x 10″ piece of fabric
two 15″ pieces of cord
sewing machine and thread
scissors

Begin by sewing a 3/4″ hem toward the wrong side of the fabric, on one of the 10″ edges.

Fold the fabric wrong side out and sew a straight stitch around the open edges, about 3/4″ from the edge of the fabric. Trim extra fabric around the stitching.

Flip the pouch right side out and trim all threads. Carefully cut four small slits on the upper hem of the pouch — one on each outer edge, both front side and back side.

Thread one cord through the top hem by inserting it into one of the slits and working it all the way around the pouch. It should emerge from the slit directly behind it. Knot the cord to itself.

Insert the second cord into a slit on the opposite end of the hem. Again, work the cord all the way around (in the opposite direction) until it comes through the slit behind the one it entered. Knot the cord around itself and be sure that the cords produce a drawstring effect in the pouch.

Fill the pouch with some sweet sunnies and give it on Valentine’s Day (or keep it for yourself!). A little pouch like this one would also be perfect for holding goodies in a purse, or organizing jewelry. Make it and give it! xoxo

Make and Give // DIY Dino Valentine

2.7.13

You may or may not remember that Mr. Lovely and I like to give DIY gifts for Valentine’s Day. Nothing fancy, but the point is that we make things for each other, usually out of stuff that we have around the house. You also may or may not remember that he has smashed me to a pulp for the last two years (see evidence here and here). Well, this year I’m tired of getting out-Valentined, so I’m bringing the big guns: humor and irony. Friends, I give you the Dino Valentine.

It might not be the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen, but it’s almost guaranteed to make your Valentine laugh, and that’s what I’m all about. So if you want to make one, let’s do it! You’ll need:

plastic dinosaur, preferably with hands (check the dollar aisle at Target)
tiny hearts (craft store)
craft paint
paint brush
gold spray paint
glue gun

Start by spray painting your dinosaur gold, and your hearts a Valentine-y color of your choice (using the craft paint).

Let all pieces dry thoroughly, and heat up your glue gun. Starting with one heart, hot glue it to one of your dinosaur’s hands.

Continue gluing hearts, forming a small pile, until you’re satisfied.

The crowning glory is the heart that the dinosaur just couldn’t resist eating. Hot glue one right into his mouth.

That’s it! Seriously guys, this is jurassic-style love. Now we just have to see if I can distract Mr. Lovely so much today that he forgets to read the blog. So keep it a secret! Happy making! xoxo

Come Hang Out!

2.6.13

You guys! Don’t forget about Craft With The Bloggers this weekend! Come hang out with me, Kelly, Lauren, and Sharon at Crafted at the Port of L.A. and get your hands on some Valentine DIYs. There are four projects you can make, and it’s all free! Not to mention lots of photos, love tattoos from Tattly, and a couple of surprises. I’ll be making these fabric flower poms that you can wear all over town, so get over there on Saturday and make some with me! xoxo

A Little Valentine Video For You

2.5.13

So mostly this post is just for fun. It’s not so much a DIY post (although I did make those little pink and red glitter clips for my niece, and the heart garland — tutorial to come). It’s more like a “spread the love” post. I was in the Target dollar aisle recently and I saw those little mailboxes and I just couldn’t resist! I got a bunch of them — who knows what I’ll do with them, but doesn’t everyone need a supply of mini mailboxes? This first one is going to my sister and niece, for a little Valentine surprise.

So whaddaya think? Is there anyone you know who deserves a mini mailbox full of love? xoxo

ValentinesDay from Chelsea Costa on Vimeo.

Music by ProleteR.

The Awesometown Fiesta for MSN

1.31.13

I was so, so stoked when MSN asked me to style their dinner party at Alt! The new MSN for Windows 8 is fast, smart, and beautiful, so we wanted to be sure to make the party that way, too. Beyond all that, the brand has a really fun side, so I wanted the dinner to reflect that as well. And that’s how Awesometown was born.

I knew I wanted a big typographical installation to tie it all together, and I couldn’t get pinatas out of my head, so we went with it! The Awesometown pinatas hung overhead all night, and we let the fringe take over on the chairs and on the gold photo backdrop we made. I stuffed little canvas bags with all the necessities for a party — paper straws, swizzle sticks, flags that read “Awesome,” and photobooth props (obviously).

It was so fun to see people enjoying the fiesta, and I loved how colorful and over-the-top it was! I mean, if you’re in Awesometown, you’ve gotta go big or go home. Thanks MSN! xox