swellmayde

DIY | Scarf Denim Shirt

2012-06-02T23:46:00.004-07:00

Being a DIY blogger, I too am a fan of really great DIY ideas. I stumbled upon this awesome tutorial by Gypsie Sister on Pinterest, and had to give it a go. This Free People top was her inspiration. Check out her blog for the steps.

Outfit: Lanvin Sunnies, Topshop Jeans, Forever 21 Necklace (similar), Coach Bag, Theyskens Theory Heels

Materials:

Denim Shirt (here and here)

Scarf (here and here)

On a whole other note... I'm trying something new with my hair. I have naturally wavy hair and have been constantly disappointed with products that cannot manage my birdsnest. Today, I tried Bumble & Bumble Texture... and I'm loving it. It's definitely giving me that beachy undone look.

DIY | Geode Ring

2012-05-30T22:42:00.001-07:00

I stumbled upon this lovely inspiration photo of geode rings on Pinterest. You can make you very own with a few simple steps. Make one... or ten!! :) Have fun!!

Materials:

- Geode (here or here) or Pyrite (here) *Make sure they have a flat bottom.

- Ring Blank (here)

- e6000 Glue

Steps:

1. Add a small amount of e6000 glue to the flat area of the ring blank.

2. Place the geode or pyrite onto the glue. Press in place, and let fully dry.

My Style | San Francisco Bound...

2012-05-25T21:37:00.003-07:00

Hi friends!! I'm off to San Francisco for the lovely three day weekend. As I started packing yesterday, I realized all the items I picked were full of color. Looks like I'm going to have a lot of fun putting outfits together for the next couple of days!! Here's a little sneak peek...

1. Steve Madden Wedge Sneakers

2. Coach Willis Bag

3. Madewell Cardigan

4. Madewell Button-Up

5. Madewell Eyelet Shorts

6. H&M Button-Up

7. Zara Skinnies

8. Forever 21 Stripe Shorts

9. LXF Skinnies

Also, I have been on the look out for a pair of wedge sneakers that didn't break the bank. So glad I found these amazing Steve Maddens (here).

DIY | Wrapped Pom Pom Bracelet

2012-05-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

I am a really simple girl when it comes to my style. My classic "Aimee" uniform consists of a white t-shirt or button-up and cut-offs. I can basically wear that combination everyday, but what makes it feel different from day to day are the accessories. My goal is to DIY more of them myself... so when I'm looking down at my arm party, it feels a little more personal. Here's a fun wrapped pom pom bracelet I recently made. Full tutorial after the break...

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DIY Style | Olivia Palermo (Floral Jumpsuit)

2012-05-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ever since I saw this photo of Olivia Palermo, I could not get it out of my head. A jumpsuit can be so difficult to wear, but she looks absolutely effortless. The whole ensemble really is street-style at its best.

You can DIY this look here:

- Military Jacket (Anthropologie)

- Jumpsuit (Hilfiger or ASOS)

- Pump (JustFab)

- Belt (Madewell or Threadsence)

DIY | Studded Ballet Flats

2012-05-18T20:59:00.002-07:00

I remember seeing this adorable photo quite a while ago... but recently it began floating around Pinterest again and I was inspired to create a little DIY tutorial for it. I have never worn actual ballet shoes for everyday use, but several articles online say that it should be fine. Has anyone ever tried? At under $20... I may just try it out.

Materials:

- 12 Pyramid Studs (here)

- Ballet Shoes (here or here)

- Felt (here)

- E6000 Glue

Steps:

1) Take your pyramid stud and pierce through the shoe. Continue to create a triangle design on each shoe.

2) Because the stud backings may scratch your skin, cut 2 pieces of felt the same size as our triangle design.

3) Using E6000, glue the cut felt triangles to the inside of the shoes to cover the stud backings.

Note: Trueblueyouandme, who features awesome DIY's on her tumblr, sent me a link to another DIY'er (Orange Juice Etc) who did a similar project... she has great tips as well (here).

My Style | Unique LA

2012-05-16T23:54:00.004-07:00

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DIY | Tie Dye Galaxy Shoe

2012-05-14T09:19:00.001-07:00

When Tulip approached me about creating a tie dye tutorial, I wanted to challenge myself and use items other than clothing. I thought maybe something for the home, like a curtain or tablecloth, but when I saw a photos of galaxy print shoes online, I couldn't get them out of my head. There's something so beautiful about how all the colors blend into each other, almost like a watercolor painting. I checked out all of the tie dye techniques that Tulip provided and felt that "sponging" would work best. See the full tutorial after the jump...

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Mother's Day Love

2012-05-12T22:02:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mommy! Thank you for all the love and support! I also wanted to share a little peep at what I'll be wearing. I tried my best to bring out the girlie side of me and luckily found this Target dress, just in the nick of time... it's part of their The Shops Concept Collection by The Webster. It has the most adorable crossover back detail and lace pattern.

Outfit:

1. Madewell Cardigan

2. The Webster for Target Dress

3. Bauble Bar Necklace

4. TopShop Metal Tip Flats

5. Madewell Mini Mailbag

DIY | Bow Sandal

2012-05-09T22:40:00.003-07:00

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Materials:

Grosgrain Ribbon (here)... Try white or oyster.

Old Navy Sandal (here) or Mia Sandal (here)

Steps:

1. Tie a bow with the grosgrain ribbon. I stumbled upon this great tutorial on how to tie a variety of bows (here). So many adorable styles to choose from!

2. In order to keep the cut edge from fraying, you can add fray check (here) along the edge, or simply roll the edges two times and sew with a straight stitch.

3. Then, add a little dab of glue, either e-6000 or a hot glue gun, and glue onto the sandal. Have fun!!

(photo via pinterest)

DIY Event | SwellMayde x Unique LA

2012-05-06T14:59:00.002-07:00

I was beyond ecstatic when the lovely peeps over at Unique LA asked if I wanted to host a DIY table at their Spring Show. A couple times a year, Unique LA puts together an amazing design show featuring over 300 hand-selected designers and artists, making it easier to buy local and support LA's economy. I will be there this Saturday, May 12 from 11 - 6 pm to show you how to make fun rope bracelets to add to your arm party! Please come by and say hello! See flyer for more info.

My Style | Insta-Florals

2012-05-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Outfit 1 / H&M Top / Insight Shorts / Zara Belt / A.Wang Emile Tote / F21 Necklace / ThreadAffair and Madewell Bracelets

Outfit 2 / Aqua Blazer & Shorts / Free People Bandeau / F21 Necklace

I have been having so much fun with Instagram lately. Sometimes I forget my SLR at home, and it allows me to still capture my daily outfits and fashion obsessions. Here are two looks from the past week, solidifying my love for all things floral... Oh and I recently bought a new pair of eyeglasses! After trying on what felt like a million pairs, I discovered Garrett Leight on Abbot Kinney. Love them!

Follow my daily DIY and outfit adventures : @swellmayde.

My Style | Lusting for Summer

2012-05-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to get enough color lately. Here's a peek into my summer wishlist... and as side note, can you believe that the clutch is from Target?!?

1. Navala Necklace

2. Mara Hoffman Bikini

3. ASOS Eclectic Bracelet Mix

4. NARS Nail Polish in Kutki

5. Rebecca Minkoff Baha Sandal

6. Target Embroidered Clutch but I also love these (here and here).

Find the rest of my wishlist on Pinterest (here).

DIY | Floral Print Denim Short

2012-04-29T14:13:00.001-07:00

I'm really loving what is happening in fashion these days. Prints, florals and color are popping up in every direction. I never saw myself as a print girl in the past, but I have been taking more fashion risks lately in an attempt to find new outfit combinations that work for me. This DIY was inspired by my new found obsession with wearing mixed florals and have found that wearing color and unexpected prints really brightens up my mood! How can I have a bad day when there is party going on in my wardrobe!? In this post, I will show you how you can update a pair of shorts with a stamped floral print so you can chime in on this trend. Full tutorial after the jump...

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Coachella Instagram'ed

2012-04-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm absolutely understanding the obsession with Instagram. What an amazing way to instantly capture special moments of your life and share it with all your friends!! Above is a snippet of my adventures with Kristine (Sunny Side of Gray) on our awesome Coahcella weekend. And I've been asking everyone... who are your favorite instagram'ers?

Please follow me @swellmayde.

Coachella Bound... Follow My Adventures on Instagram!

2012-04-20T00:04:00.002-07:00

Off to Coachella for work with Kristine (Sunny Side of Gray). Find photos of my all adventures on Instagram (@SwellMayde).

Just joined recently... I'd love to see your pics. What's your Instagram name?

GIVEAWAY | JewelMint x SwellMayde DIY Necklace

2012-04-15T09:55:00.002-07:00

As a thank you to our readers, we wanted to host another giveaway. You can win this SwellMayde X JewelMint braided pearl necklace! I've tried it on with many outfits in my wardrobe and instantly updates any look, from a plain t-shirt to a high neckline dress (like above). Such a fun piece!

To Enter:

(3 Ways to Win)

1. Create a JewelMint account (here). Leave a comment with your email address.

... and you're done!

For Additional Entries:

2. Follow @SwellMayde on Instagram. Let me know in a comment below.

3. Follow SwellMayde on Pinterest (here). Let me know in a comment below.

Good luck to everyone!! Giveaway ends April 25th at midnight.

DIY | JewelMint x SwellMayde Braided Pearl Necklace

2012-04-11T00:05:00.001-07:00

I’m so excited to share this JewelMint X SwellMayde DIY collaboration. I remember the first time I heard about their company and instantly knew it would be my go to for jewelry after discovering that Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter were the designers. Every piece that I have ordered has been so beautiful and have been amazed at their attention to detail, down to their gorgeous packaging. Once I saw the Renegade necklace, I was inspired to give it a SwellMayde touch with braided yarn and pearls. I kept in a black and white tone as a nod to Audrey Hepburn with a modern twist, but if you try this at home, you can use pop colored yarn with spikes or beads to give it your own personal touch. Full tutorial after the jump...

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DIY Style | Heels with Ankle Cuffs

2012-04-08T22:32:00.004-07:00

I absolutely love this look. I found this image on Pinterest and wanted to re-create it and show you how to style it yourself without breaking the bank on a pair of Prada platforms. I will definitely be rocking this combination really soon...

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ASOS Cuffs or similar (here)

Platforms (Left to Right) or

1. Steve Madden

2. Forever 21

3. Jeffrey Campbell

DIY | Silk Tie Easter Eggs

2012-04-07T00:44:00.003-07:00

It's almost Easter and I wanted to share a DIY I stumbled upon on Pinterest that is quite perfect for the holiday. The results looked so beautiful in the photo that I had to try it out for myself. I was able to find a couple silk ties on sale at Ross, but next time I may rummage through my local thrift store and gather my little cousins to join in on the fun! The full tutorial can be found (here).

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My Style | Easter Outfit

2012-04-04T23:21:00.005-07:00

Floral with Pops of Color...

1. Forever 21 Necklace

2. Topshop Dress

3. Pop Nail Polish

4. Zara Heels

5. ASOS Clutch

Stay tuned for my Easter DIY...

DIY Events Recap

2012-04-01T22:39:00.002-07:00

Hi all!! I wanted to take a moment to share some photos from the DIY workshop with The Thread Affair. It was a pleasure working these girls!! Such a blast!! Thank you to everyone who stopped by!! It was really nice to finally to meet a few readers!! I am forever grateful for each and every one of you who take the time to read my blog. Can't wait to have another event in the future!! Also, I added a few photos from the amazing DIY event hosted by Honestly WTF and Luv AJ. I met Lauren last fall at the London Show Rooms, and was able to meet Erica this time around. They both are so sweet and have great positive energy. And I walked away with a cool DIY market bag made from a vintage t-shirt. I arrived a little late, so once I finally made it to the LUV AJ table, there were only a few kits left. I was fortunate to make one handpiece. Check out the rest of the photos after the jump....

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Meet the Newest Contributor to Unique LA

2012-03-28T23:18:00.004-07:00

I met Sonja, the inspiring founder and creative director of Unique LA, at their last event in downtown. We got to talking DIY and I was completely speechless and honored when she asked me to be a contributor to their blog. I love what they're all about!! They support local independent designers and give them a space to showcase their talents. Pretty amazing!! I'm so excited to be part of the team!! Woohoo!! Check out the rest of the awesome contributors: here.

Reader's Appreciation | DIY's by You

2012-03-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

I truly am thankful for each and everyone of you who visit my blog. It always puts a smile on my face when I read all the comments and supportive emails. I wanted to show my appreciation and take a moment to highlight some beautiful DIY's made by readers, that were inspired by SwellMayde tutorials.

1. I was able to meet Amanda, of Feast Fashion Faves, at my last DIY event at the Palihouse, where she made this beauty. Great job and amazing color choices!!

2. I stumbled upon this a little while ago and loved how Meg, of Small Friendly, put a fun spin on the envelope clutch. Adorable!

3. Earlier today, I received a tweet from Toronto Shopaholic, showing me her take on the painted rhinestone DIY! I loved the necklace choice and bright color mix!! Wonderful job!

Check out the full tutorials in our gallery: HERE.

I'd love to see your SwellMayde creations and post them in a future reader's appreciation post.

Email me at aimee@swellmayde.com.

DIY | Dip Dye Ombre Denim

2012-03-24T10:28:00.003-07:00

I can't get enough of color pop on denim these days and to continue tie dye week here on SwellMayde, I did another version. Zara has been pretty on point with their designs and lookbooks lately and I was inspired by one of their dip dye pants (here). It's a great way to update a white pair of jeans for Spring... in a subtle, cool way. Plus, it's so easy. Full tutorial after the break...

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