Say Hello to Average Pony DIY!

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

Hello lovelies! Today I want to introduce my awesome new sponsor: Maren from Average Pony DIY!

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony

Maren and I actually met at university a few years ago. Back then she used to sell very cute jewellery and accessories on Dawanda (which is basically the German answer to Etsy). In April this year she expanded her business and created “Average Pony DIY”, now selling materials for making your own jewellery and accessories. The shop is still growing and at the moment also includes the cutest washi tape I’ve ever seen, covered buttons and hand-stamped labels for your handmade makes. All products are absolutely swoon-worthy and come at very affordable prices. You can make your own personalised (and very professional looking) jewellery for no more than 1-2€.

I was super happy when Maren sent me a parcel with different materials to try some of her products. I loved how much care she puts into wrapping everything and decorating it with washi tape!

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comMaren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

I got to test different necklace, earring and hairslide jewellery-settings as well as glass cabochons in different colours.Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

There were also some clear cabochons included and I took a few pics while making my own pair of studs:Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comMaren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

You basically glue the glass cabochon onto paper (if you want to print out your own image I found that photo paper works best), wait for the glue to dry and then cut it out and glue it into the setting. Pretty straight-forward, isn’t it?Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comMaren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comMaren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

Here are some of first attempts:Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

Of course I tried to make some sewing-related studs, after which I noticed that it’s much much better to use photopaper, because normal paper soaks up some of the glue which can leave stains on the image.Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comMaren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

I also tried book paper studs (“heart” & “love” in German).

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

Aaaand, of course, sewing machines I drafted in Illustrator and my favourtie colour, navy blue!

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.com

I really enjoyed making my own jewellery with Average Pony’s products, as it is very simply and quick, yet very effective. It’s perfect if you need a last-minute handmade gift.

I also ordered a few more settings and cabochons. My absolute favourite ones are the hipster animal necklace charms:

Maren Wilcyk Average Pony on Thisblogisnotforyou.comBHL Polly Top by thisblogisnotforyou.com

The two top ones (on light blue background) I printed off the interwebs, the other four I ordered on Average Pony DIY:The clear ones are the best, because you have endless possibilities! You can get them in different sizes from 8mm to 20mm.

If you find something on Dawanda which you’d like to order, I basically works the same way as Etsy. On the bottom of the page you can choose your language and currency:

dawanda

Average Pony DIY ships internationally and if you have any questions about ordering, you can simply pop them a message.


Happy jewellery making!

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Make Your Own Soap!

Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comAhhh, our flat smells heavenly! One of the many benefits of making your own soap. I love making soap because you can create the perfect soap bar with your favourite fragrances and ingredients. And, believe me, picking up the finished soap bar for the first time and smelling it is such a bliss!

You can make soap-making as easy or hard as you want. I decided to go the easy way, inspired by the ladies over at A Beautiful Mess and bought a goat’s milk soap base. If you want to make soap the hardcore way you can create your own base; there are some fab recipes out there. But it’s much more complicated and you will need a lot more ingredients. If you are trying to make soap for the first time, I would recommend starting with a melt-and-pour soap base. Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comMake your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comMake your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com

How To Make Your Own Soap

First of all, some basic supplies and ingrediences you will need for making your own soap:

– bowl for melting the soap base (microwave/double boiling)
– grater (for orange/grapefruit zest)
silicone mould (brownie/cupcake molds are often cheaper than soap molds, but are the same thing)
– wooden spoon/cocktail stick for stirring
melt-and-pour soap base (You can buy containers in different sizes. I bought 1kg and used about 500g so far from which I got about 12 bars) I bought goat’s milk soap base and really loved it. I’m sure there are also some vegan alternatives out there.

Ingredients you can use:

– orange/grapefruit zest
– various essential oils (lavender, orange, grapefruit, mint, rosemary etc.)
– poppy seeds
– coffee powder or beans
dried lavender (also great for keeping your closet moth-free)/rosemary

You can basically use whatever fragrances you like. Using essential oils works best, as you only need a few drops to get a long-lasting scent. Dried herbs or blossoms are also nice. Using zest is fine, as the soap base preserves and keeps it from going moldy, but don’t go to crazy with adding fresh ingredients and don’t use more than a couple of teaspoons.

Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com1. Make sure your silicone mould is clean and dry. I placed it on a wooden board, so I could move it while the soap wasn’t completely hardened yet.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com2. Cut your soap base into smaller cubes with a knife and place them in a clean bowl.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com3. Before you melt the soap base, make sure you have all ingredients handy. The soap hardens quite quickly, so it’s better to zest the orange/grapefruit and open any plastic bags before you start melting the base.

If you want to make different soaps, prepare a few clean bowls you can use for the different soap mixes. I did not melt the whole amount of soap base at once but only melted enough to make 3-4 bars at a time, so I could try different recipes without having to hurry too much.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com

4. Melt the soap base by double boiling or in the microwave. For some reason double boiling did not work with my soap base, so I heated it in the microwave. It melts pretty quickly, so be careful. Mircowave for no longer than 30 seconds at a time. With either method, make sure you don’t burn the soap (or have it explode in the microwave – ask me how I know this!).

5. Once the soap base is melted completely, add your ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon before pouring it into your silicone mould. Stir the soap slowly, otherwise it might form bubbles.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com6. Let the soap harden. It only takes a couple of hours, but if you want to be on the safe side you can leave it in there over night. I put a piece of paper over the silicone mold to keep the soap dust-free.

7. Once the soap was hardened I put it in the fridge for a couple of minutes before popping the bars out of the mold.

Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comGrapefruit / mint / poppy seed: zest of half a grapefruit, 10 drops of grapefruit oil, 3 drops of mint oil, 1tbsp poppy seeds.
Orange / mintzest of half an orange, 10 drops of orange oil, 4 drops of mint oil.
Lavender / orange: 1 tbsp dried lavender buds, 10 drops of lavender oil, 5 drops of orange oil.
Rosemary / olive oil: 1 tbsp dried rosemary, 1tsp olive oil, 5 drops of rosemary oil.
Coffee: 1 tbsp of coffee powder.

Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comMake your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Grapefruit/Poppyseed/Mint (above) and Orange/Mint (below) are my favourites! I created the narrow white layer on the orange/mint bars below by pouring some clear melted soap base on top of the first layer after it was hardened.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comI wrapped the soap bars in recycled paper (I cut strips out of a shopping bag), which I taped together on the bottom.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comBefore I gave some of the soap bars away to friends and family, I wrapped them in music paper (which I had printed out) and attached small labels with twine.Make your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.comMake your own soap by thisblogisnotforyou.com


Happy soap making!

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There’s a tree branch in our living room. Let’s hang it on the wall.

tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comThere’s a tree branch hanging on our wall. At first I was afraid this thing could attack me by falling down, but I didn’t (so far) and I love it. Here’s a selfie of our shabby couch with our new (not so new anymore) roommate.tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comI found this nice little guy when I went running after a day of stormy weather. Out of pity I picked it up and carried it home. I thought Londoners would be used to so much weird stuff that they’d ignore this, but they stared anyway.  (The branch is about 1.5m long, our couch is just so big, that it makes it look tinier than it is)
tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comMr Thisblogisnotforyou was a bit surprised but was willing to help me find a place for it. We hung it on the wall with two small nails and a few bits of string. tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comI was planning on decorating it with white mini origami cranes and just hung this necklace there for the time being. But we liked this so much, we kept it like that. tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comIt has a great effect and it’s such an easy and really simple DIY decor project. I love tree branches because I love wood. That’s probably why I chose to live in a place with this:tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comAnd…this:tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.comThis hole in the floor has eaten so many pins that I stopped counting. And a battery. But it hasn’t stolen any of my chocolates yet, so I can live with it.tree branch wall decor by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Hope you all had a great weekend and lovely mother’s day. I sent my mum a pair of leather feather earrings and she loved it. She even sent me a pic with both her and my sis wearing the earrings on the same day. Aww! 🙂

There will be more sewing-related posts later this week (including the start of the cape sewalong!), but the weather has been so horrible that I couldn’t take any pictures for the blog.

Anyone attending the London Blogger Meet Up on Saturday? I’ll be there!

Over and out. ♥

Inspiration Wall DIY by thisblogisnotforyou.com
other wall decor projects by me

Happy sewing!

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DIY Leather Feather Earrings

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Hellooo everyone! After some server errors (sorry about that!), I’m back. Upgrading plug-ins can be annoying if they decide to break your website!

Hope you had a great week so far! London couldn’t decide between pouring rain and bright sunlight, so luckily my conscience didn’t make me feel guilty about playing stay-at-home in order to prepare this tutorial and update my FAQ page.

A little while back I recycled two leather coats into a bag for my little sister. From this project I had tons of leather scraps left and made a pair of black and silver feather earrings. I gave them to my sister (who loved them) after which my mum also wanted her own pair.

I made three more pairs and will share a little tutorial for making these DIY cuties. Mother’s Day is this weekend and these adorable earrings make a lovely last-minute handmade gift! DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comDIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

These are the earrings I made for my sister, here modelled by a friend of mine:
DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Ok, let’s get cracking! Here’s how to make your own pair of DIY leather feather earrings:

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

OPTIONAL: Silver jewelry wire, tape, tailor’s chalk.

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

1. Cut out two symmetrical feather shaped pieces from the leather scraps. You can mark the shapes with chalk on the left side of the leather if you you’re not sure about freehand-cutting.

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

2. Stitch down the middle of your leather pieces (about 2/3 down), either with machine or by hand. This will stabilise the shape of the feather and look like the shaft. Alternatively, you can use jewelry wire instead of thread:DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comDIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Puncture the leather with a needle, making it easier to thread the wire through it.
DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com3.  Now it’s time to apply any textil paint. To create chevrons or other shapes with clear lines, you can mask the leather with tape. Wait until the paint is completely dry before you remove the paint.
DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

4. Cut into the leather diagonally. Be careful not to cut into the thread/wire.DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comDIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

This pair I decoreated with dots to look like guinea fowl feathers.
DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

5. In the next and last step you will apply the jump rings and earrings hooks. Having pliers helps, but if you’re very careful, scissors will do the job, too.DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Use a larger needle to punch a little hole into the top of your earring. Bend the jump ring up and push it through. This is a bit fiddly. Holding the ring with a pair of pliers helps!DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Slide on the earring hook and use your pliers or scissors to squeeze the ends of the jump ring together again.DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Make sure you mirror the earring hooks. Using this technique, the earrings will hang sideways (see picture above). If you don’t like that, you can either use two jump rings or omit them altogether.

Well, and that’s it!

It’s a really fun and quick project which also makes a great handmade gift!

DIY leather feather earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

Have fun making your own feather earrings! xx


Happy weekend!

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More Shrink Plastic Fun! Earrings and Pendants

shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comI made these cute little earrings and necklace charms for my friend’s birthday. She loves owls and books, so these were the obvious choice!shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com

The owls and books are about 1inch/2.5cm. I made the holes with a hole punch and used pliers to attach the hooks of the earrings. Earring hooks are quite inexpensive and you can get them in DIY/craft stores or order them online. I always have some at home in case I need small gifts. Using shrink plastic, beads and wire or even fabric, you can make some cute little earrings in no time!shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comThe shrinkage is about 50%, which you have to consider when you choose the size of your image. You can draw directly on the plastic using a permanent marker. If you want to add colour, you can sandpaper the shrink plastic with very fine (!) sandpaper and then simply use crayons, acrylic paint or water colour. I recommend to keep the finished make from getting wet, as non-water-resistant colours might blur (even after baking the plastic).shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comshrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comI made these chevron earrings for myself (I got my friend to wear them for the pic 😉 ).shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.comIf you like my shrink plastic DIYs, you might want to check these out, too!

DIY Lace Collar Necklace by Thisblogisnotforyou.com

shrink plastic earrings by thisblogisnotforyou.com


Happy crafting!

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