DIY Express Mixed Chain Necklace

Inspiration for this necklace came from Express.  As I was browsing through their website the other day I came across this necklace and though it was SUPER cute.  It looks really simple to make, so I decided to take it on and make my own instead of paying $26.90 for this one.  Mine is a little different - I only used two kinds of chain to make it - black and silver.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

60" of Black Chain

46" of Silver Chain

Bead Pliers

Silver or Black Jump Rings

Lobster Claw Closure

Step 1:  Measure out the lengths of the two chains.  Since I used what I had, that is why my measurements for both chains are different.  I had 60" of the black chain and 46" of the silver chain. 

Step 2:  Divide the chains into equal parts:

The black chain:  8 pieces of chain 7.5" long

The silver chain: 6 pieces of chain 7.5" long

**Use your bead pliers to break up the chain.  This is the most tedious part of the whole project.**

Step 3:  Once all the pieces of chain have been established, it is time to start clasping them together.  Open a jump ring using your bead pliers.

Step 4:  Starting with a black chain hook one end onto the jump ring.  Then fold the chain so it displays three equal pieces and put the middle of the fold onto the jump ring.  You should have two small links on the jump ring and the chain should dangle in three equal pieces.

Step 5:  Take another jump ring and secure the bottom pieces of the black dangling chains.  Once again, there should be two links on the jump ring letting the chain lay in three equal length pieces.

Step 6:  One the same jump ring, hook a silver piece of chain onto it.  This will hang on the bottom while the black will serve as the top. 

Step 7:  Repeat steps 4-6 for all the black and silver chains.  I had one piece of 7.5" long chain left over - if you want your necklace to be longer, add it to the back to add extra length.  You should have 7 black chains and 6 silver chains linked together.

Step 8:  On the last black chain, hook a lobster claw closer on the jump ring.  This will serve as your closing device.  

**Another option if you do not have a lobster claw: Hook the last black chain onto the jump ring of the 1st black chain making a complete circle.  Then you can slip the necklace over your head to put on and take off.**

Now you have an Express mixed chain look-alike necklace.  I love it!  I am wearing it as we speak!!

yes these pictures are at work...shh

This cost me a total of $6.00.  I save $20.00 making my own...LOVE IT!

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!  I had a GREAT one!  I spent two days hanging out with a couple of my best friends from college...it was wonderful!  We had a great time catching up, going out, and having girl time. 

 On Friday night, I made some appetizers for us before we went out.  One of them was Corn and Bean Salsa - this recipe came from my mom and is delicious!  

INGREDIENTS:

1 can black beans

1 can Mexi Corn (has red peppers in it)

1 small can green chilies

2 small tomatoes

1 avocado

green onion

1/4 tablespoon Olive Oil

1/4 Tablespoon Vinegar

Crushed Rep Pepper

Hot Sauce (optional for added spice)

Step 1:  Drain the black beans and make sure to rinse VERY WELL. Add to medium sized bowl.

Step 2:  Drain the corn and add to the bowl.

Step 3:  Add the small can of green chilies to the bowl.

Step 4:  Cut up the green onion and add to bowl.  Toss the ingredients.

Step 5:  Cut avocado and tomatoes into small bite size pieces - set aside for later.

Step 6:  In a small separate bowl, mix together the oil, vinegar, crushed rep pepper and hot sauce.  Blend together...if you want it spicier, add in more hot sauce and cumin powder. 

Step 7:  Once the sauce is mixed, pour over the bowl of corn, beans, chilies and onion while continually tossing and blending. 

Step 8:  Add in the tomatoes and avocado.  You save these for last so they don't get "mushy" with the sauce. Toss the whole bowl and server.

It is DELICIOUS!  Eat with tortilla chips and you have yourself a wonderful appetizer.

Fabulous Friday Finds At TJMaxx

I went to TJMaxx yesterday on my lunch break and they have a lot of CUTE stuff!  A lot of times it is hit or miss with that place, but this time was a definite HIT!  I could have bought 10 more items than what I walked out with...I couldn't believe it!  I will be going back SOON to get more...when I have more money to spend that is.

I wanted to share with you some of the items that I got and others that I want from the store.  Their prices are unbeatable and while it might not be the "name brand" it is close enough for me.

Fabulous Find #1:  

Black Ankle Booties

I have tall flat black boots, tall heeled back boots, and a short pair of black ankle books with an open toe.  However, I have no short black ankle boots with a closed toe...that is until yesterday  :)  I LOVE my shoes and this is just one pair I couldn't pass up.  I was a little worried about the heel because it is a narrow stem, but they didn't seem all too bad when I tried them on.  And for the price - $19.99 - I just HAD to get them!

@ Charlotte Russe for $28.50

They are very similar to these without the stud detail along the bottom and a zipper on the other side (non scrunched side).  I will be wearing them out tonight to test them out...wish me good luck!

Fabulous Find #2:

Cropped Lace Shirt with open back detail 

I saw this shirt and I just HAD to try it on.  I went to the store with intentions to look for 1 item only...and I walked out with quite a few more, this shirt being one of them.  It is a short sleeve cropped lace shirt with a fly-away open back. It is SUPER cute!  They have them in Black, Blue and Tan.  I opted for the tan color.  This shirt was $14.99...a STEAL!

the only picture I could find of a shirt with a similar back

This would run you anywhere from $25 up to $50 at other stores where I have seen similar shirts.

Fabulous Find #3:

Colored Skinny Jeans

This was my main mission at TJMaxx - find a good pair of colored skinny jeans!  I have been looking for awhile, trying different pairs on here and there, and haven't quite found the right pair that looks good on me.  I found a FABULOUS maroon pair yesterday and I love them.  They are stretchy jean material, very comfy, and fit great!  They were on sale so I got them for $12!  CRAZY!

Colored jeans run $79.99 at Express, about $29.99 at Charlotte Russe, and $24.95 at H&M.  

Fabulous Find #4:

Neon Dolman Tops

This is one that I did not purchase but would love to go back and get sometime.  They are fun, BRIGHT, and BOLD neon dolman shirts.  These shirts came in ALL colors - Orange, Yellow, Pink, Purple, Blue...you name it they had it!  The shirts were $14.99 a piece.

$830 Micheal Kors shirt...crazy

There were many more great items at the Max.  I bought Casey a couple button down shirts - one for $10.99 and the other for $14.99.  I think I could have gotten very comparable shirts from Express from 3 times as much.  If you have a TJMaxx close to you, now is the time to check it out.  They are stocked on all their new items, but they will go fast.  Go get your shopping on!

Have a great weekend!

Free Feather Earrings

In honor of Valentine's Day, I will be giving away a free pair of Feather Earrings with any purchase from evannesimplyfab Etsy Shop!  When you purchase an item, please indicate what feather earrings you would like!  

Happy Shopping!

Valentine's Table Runner

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!  It is time to spruce up your house with red, pink, and lots of love.  My Valentine's decoration supply is a little lacking, so I decided to make a simple table runner.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Canvas Fabric

Felt

Ribbon (1 yd)

Lace

Liquid Stitch

Step 1:  Measure the length of your table and cut the main piece of canvas fabric accordingly.  I had some left over fabric from a previous project that happened to be plenty wide but not long enough so...I cut it down the middle and sewed the two pieces into 1 long one.  Works just as well as 1 long piece!

 

Step 2:  Take your ribbon and lay out the length of both sides of the table runner.  This is my "cheat" for hemming the sides...put a ribbon over it to hid the ugly lines :)  

 

Step 3:  Once both sides have been measured, get out your handy liquid stitch and start gluing the ribbon to the edge.  Glue in sections (I did about 5" at a time).  Put a small amount of glue on the fabric down the side and smooth out with your finger.  This will prevent it from clumping in one spot under the ribbon.  If it appears white under the ribbon don't worry - it dries CLEAR!

apply a small amount like this then smooth out with finger

lay ribbon on top and smooth from left to right

Step 4:  Apply the liquid stitch to both sides until all the ribbon is in place.  Let it set for about 10 minutes.  It won't be completely dry so you will still see some glue marks through it, but it will be in place enough to move on with your project.

Step 5:  Trim off any access fabric that is sticking out past the ribbon on the edges.  Since I didn't "finish" my sides, there was some fraying that I trimmed off.

Step 6:  Time to make LOTS of hearts!  Take your felt, I used white, pink and purple, and fold one piece in half.  Cut half of the heart shape out.  When you open it, you will have a nice even heart.  This is the kindergarten method to making hearts as opposed to using a stencil - much easier and less time!  Make sure to use ALL the felt!  Make little hearts with your scraps.

 

Step 7:  Repeat step 6 with all of your colors of felt.  I cut out 5 different sized hearts in each color.

Step 8:  Cluster the hearts together in groups of 2 or 3 throughout the table runner.  I made each side face towards the middle - the hearts on the left side had the top towards the middle and the hearts on the right side had their top towards the middle - they were not going all 1 direction.

left side from bottom towards the middle

right side from bottom towards the middle

Step 9:  Once you get your design laid out, go through and use your liquid stitch to secure them to the table runner.

Step 10:  Take your lace and cut two pieces for each end of the table runner.  Glue the first piece down on the edge and hold in place for a couple minutes.  Then glue the next one just above the first one so you have a nice layer effect.  Apply to both ends of the runner.

first piece of lace

second piece of lace just above the first

Step 11:  Let the table runner lay flat over night so the glue can completely set and dry.  By this morning, I did not see ANY glue marks through the hearts of ribbon.  Now you have a festive table runner! (please look past the wrinkles ... oops!)

 

DIY Colorblock Shirt

  

I have attempted to make skirts from scratch, vests, and accessories, but never a shirt.  I decided to give it a go last night.  I wanted to make a loose fitting dolman shirt, but I didn't have enough of the fabric I wanted to use.  Instead, I improvised and made the shirt work using two fabrics.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

2 pieces of coordinating fabric - cotton or knit (total 1 yd)

T-shirt you own to get measurements from

Pins

Sewing Machine

Scissors

Step 1:  Find a shirt that you own that is similar to the style of shirt you want to make.  This will be where you pull your measurements from.

Step 2:  Fold the top color of fabric in half and spread out.  Lay the shirt you own over the top of the fabric and cut a silhouette.

Step 3:  Fold the purple piece of fabric in half (hot dog style) to make sure all the lines match up.  Trim off any access fabric.  

before trim

after trim

Step 4:  Round off the shoulders using your other shirt as your guide.

Step 5:  Cut a narrow neck hole at the top using the shirt as a guide.  It doesn't need to be perfect ...you will go back later and round out the neckline.

Step 6:  Cut a 5" long rectangle the width of the shirt in the other color (yellow) to go along the bottom of the shirt.

Step 7:  Pin together the yellow and purple fabric and sew.  Pin wrong sides together - this will prevent the thread from showing when you turn the shirt right side out.

pinned

sewn

Step 8:  Pin the two sides of the shirt together and sew along the sides. 

** Two things to make sure of when sewing the two pieces together: 

1. Make sure that where the two colors meet match up on both the front and back.  You don't want one to appear an 1" lower than the other side.

2.  Make sure to leave open the arm and neck holes.

Step 9:  Once both pieces are sewn together, trim off the extra fabric to clean up the shirt.  

before trim

after trim

Step 10:  Clean up the neckline.  Take the shirt (still inside out) and pinch both shoulders and align them together (folding the shirt in half).  Do the same with your existing shirt.  

Step 11:  Lay your existing shirt on top of the one you are making and cut along the neckline in both front and back.

Step 12:  Last step is to hem up the bottom of the shirt.  Fold under the fabric and sew.

Step 13:  TA-DA! A new shirt!

While this shirt is not as loose and baggy as a dolman sleeve shirt, I was able to work with the fabric on hand and create something wearable!