DIY Leather Studded Camera Strap

Time for a new leather project! I decided it was time to upgrade my standard nylon camera strap with some studded leather awesomeness! See below for pics of the process and directions.

Materials and Tools:

1. Make sure to salvage the plastic pieces from your current strap, I could not for the life of me find new ones ANYWHERE.
2. Nylon webbing the same thickness as the current ones so you can use the same hardware
3. Leather cut in two strips to the length and width you desire
4. Gold rivets, mine are 6mm wide
5. Basic rivet tools (you can get them at any craft store)
6. Leather hole punching tool (you can get them at craft stores or online)
7. Hammer
8. Candle 

Process:

1. Mark where you want the studs to go on one strap
2. Punch the holes with your leather punch tool
3. Once you finish the first strap, lay it on top of the second to insure that the rivet holes will line up
4. Punch holes in second strap, line up the straps so the nice side of the leather is on the outside of both.
5. Place rivets together, then hammer them to permanently secure them.
6. Once you have finished all the rivets, punch two holes in the middle of the ends of the straps. 
7. Mark where those holes are on the nylon webbing, cut small holes and then hold webbing over the candle so that the holes won't fray. You should repeat this process with the ends of the webbing as well. 
8. Put the rivets trough the leather, then the webbing, then the other layer of leather. Hammer to secure. 
9. Rethread the new strap through your camera and hardware to secure it.
10. Now you are ready to go take your pictures in style!

Incorporating Prints and Graphics on Your Wedding Day

1. Pattern Backdrop   2. Triangle Cake   3. Striped Wedding Dress   4. Chevron Stationary
5. Patterned Cake   6. Polkadot Bow Cake   7. One Shoulder Patterned Bridesmaid Dresses
8. Patterned Skirts

Adding prints and graphics to your wedding day is something most people are hesitant to do. The color pallet always seems to be the first thing brides hone in on, when in reality, it should be a feeling, and then you can build the color pallet from there, and colors don't have to all match perfectly to create a cohesive look. One great way to add interest and personality to your wedding design is to work in prints and graphics. Some easy places to do this is in your bridesmaid dresses, table linens, cake decoration, invitations and other paper goods. For more impact, bring in a large printed backdrop or even don a lovely printed wedding dress!

HAND LETTERING: Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do

Since I started Wouldn't it be Lovely about two years ago, I've been working my little butt off. I have a full time footwear design job, I work on weddings and other events that come my way, all while blogging daily. Meanwhile, I also take time to live and enjoy my life to the fullest. I've been asked by people where I find the time to do everything and the answer is, I'm working constantly. As a designer, you are always creating, I'm thinking about ideas for blog posts, decor, and wedding invitations when I'm showering, driving my car, or grocery shopping. Basically, inspiration is EVERYWHERE. I don't just sit and relax. When I take time to "relax" and watch some TV, I'm on Pinterest and doing research at the same time or sketching in my notebook. But you know what? I love every single crazy minute. The busier I am, the more creative I become. Once you start creating, its hard to stop, and new ideas grow out of ones you've used up. So, work hard, and maybe your dream will come true!

DIY: Quick Party Photo Display

This past weekend was one of my good friends bachelorette party. We all stayed at a house in New Hampshire and had a weekend full of fun! As we prepared for the party, we knew we had lots of photos we wanted to display and wanted to do it ahead of time so it would be simple to set up. We decide to make a photo curtain that we could make before hand and easily assemble once we got there.

Materials:

1. Ribbon, LOTS of it.
2. Photos, a plethora of them! 
3. Double sided tape
4. Scissors
5. Command Hooks
6. Sewing machine (optional, you can tape or staple the ribbon to make loops as well)

Process:

1. Cut ribbon in 6 ft lenghts, I cut the ends in Vs for a nice extra touch
2. Sew, tape, or staple ends in a loop
3. Attach pictures to the ribbon leaving space in-between and backing each photo with another photo so the ribbons can turn and be appreciated from both sides
4. Once all your photos are attached, adhere the command hooks to two opposing walls (doorways work the best) cut ribbon the length of the doorway and tie loops on the ends.
5. Thread photo ribbons through the other ribbon and hang in the doorway! 
6. You're all set and the photos are ready to be viewed, and times reminisced with all your guests! 

Ordinary Objects as Art

 I haven't done an art post in a while and thought it was about time for another! Today I wanted to focus on ordinary objects that have been transformed into art with just a little but of paint, vision, and creativity!

Painted Oars: These painted oars by Norquay are amazing, they run about $225 a pice but are really amazing and impactful. These could also make an amazing DIY project!
Painted Leaves: This takes pressing flowers or leaves to another level. Putting a couple painted leaves in a nice clean frame makes for some lovely wall art.
Painted Antlers and Ax: I love these painted antlers and painted tools from Cassandra Smith, she has a wonderful eye for adding color to ordinary objects and elevating them to art.
Log Bowl: These log bowls from Loyal Loot are amazing. They're pricy, $75-$335 each, but can you imagine what an impact a cluster of these would make on a wall?
Graphic Saw: Another basic tool made fabulous with a well chosen quote and amazing hand lettering!

Target Table to Upholstered Stool

I saw this cute little table at Target not that long ago, and when I was there the other day, it was in the sale section for only $15! Though it's a nice table in it's own right, it's meant for a dorm, and the inexpensive top material really reinforces that. The metal bottom is amazing and had great potential! I've been looking for a little seat for our guest room and knew instantly that this would be the prefect base for a cute little upholstered stool! 

Materials:

1. Target side table
2. Wood cut into circle the same size as the top of wire table
3. Cotton Batting, some super thin and some 2 in thick
4. Fabric for top
5. Pom Pom trim (optional) 
6. Button for tufting (optional)

1. Tools:
2. Electric screw driver
3. Staple gun and staples
4. Hammer
5. Scissors
6. Glue gun

Process:

1. Unscrew bottom and top of table
2. Screw a hole in the middle of the wood you have already cut to size
3. Layer thin batting, the 2 in batting you have already cut to be the same diameter as the wood, and the wood circle on top
4. Pull thin batting tight and staple to wood top. Work from one side to the opposite side, then across the other direction, pull tight and continue in the same manner so that it is evenly pulled and there are no wrinkles.
5. Repeat process with fabric
6. If you want the bottom to be neat and flat, cut another piece of fabric a little smaller than the diameter of the wood and glue over stapled area
7. Glue trim to bottom (you can glue instead of sewing it in this instance because it's not a high abrasion area so it will not be pulled off or stretched when people sit on it)
8. Feel where for the hole you drilled earlier and push needle and thread through to the other side. 
9. Thread through the button and go back through the hole.
10. Pull both ends through another button, pull tight and knot to create tufting on the top. 
11. Screw the upholstered piece to the metal base the same way the top was attached. 
12. Flip it over and you're all done! Hurray for easy upholstery projects!!

Lavender and Mint Wedding Color Pallet

1. Color Explosion   2. Plaid Tie   3. VW Van   4. Bouquet   5. Lavender Lemonade   6. Aisle Lavender Bouquets   7. Pastel Dresses

I'm loving this top image for color inspiration for a spring or summer wedding! Mixing lavender shades with mints and green tinted blues creates such a lovely mood. Add in hits of yellow and peach, and ground them all with mid tone and dark grays to bring this pallet to life!