Monday, July 29, 2013

Crafting With Vinyl: The Best in Record Crafts


One collection you may not have spotted at your local Goodwill is the over abundance of amazing vinyl records that they carry at their store. The best part isn't just how much fun it is to flip through them, but the easy-on-the-wallet price of a mere $.25 per record price tag! Have you caught on to the reemerging vinyl fad yet?




This winter to celebrate my birthday and the launch of my book, my amazing friends all pitched in for a record player and my first stack of vinyl for my birthday. Since then, it has been my little weekly hobby while the kids are in school to head to the stacks of records at my store and spend an hour flipping through records to bring home to listen to over our evening meal. At a mere quarter, it is easy to get a little carried away with my record collecting, but it has proven to be the perfect thrifty hobby for me. There is nothing more fun than settling in with some of my favorite albums from my youth and hearing them on record, just like when I was a kid. 

Records that are scratched can still get a great deal of love in your home and today I wanted to showcase some fun record craft ideas you could create for your home with these budget-friendly wonders! 



Make a Wall Decal

Did you know that you can create, cut, and mold shapes with records to make a wall decal? Me either, but I am so excited to try this amazing idea for decorating a wall as demonstrated in this easy DIY butterfly craft from Threadsence. I am already imagining all the possibilities with this craft and think it would be a fun way to dress up a craft room wall or a fun addition to a teen/tween bedroom. 


Decorate a Corner With Records

Records come in different sizes and I often see the smaller 7" records available for purchase at our store. Don't overlook the overabundance of these tiny little powerhouses of music because they make the perfect size for tackling smaller crafts.  These tiny records are the perfect size for creating a cute hanging fixture to decorate a room.  I can picture this as a fun mobile in a trendy nursery or as a fun addition to a family game room. (Source Unknown)


Create a Side Table

If there is one thing I love, it is easy crafts and you can't get any easier than grabbing your hot glue gun and attaching a record to a plant stand for a side table. This little table would be adorable in any room or the perfect gift for the music lover in your life. Scratched records make the perfect little resting place for your morning coffee and breathe new life into a tired piece of vinyl. Check out The Flourishing Abode to create your own record side table


Craft a Cake Stand

I am all about turning anything that I can find from Goodwill into a cake stand. Remember these adorable board game cake stands I created for a party? You can attach an inverted candlestick holder or martini glass for an easy stand for these. These would be adorable at themed parties you are hosting or just a fun way to serve up retro food for an evening with friends. Check out cake for the full scoop on this fun addition to a party. 


Make a Clock


Wall clocks can be expensive, but a necessary addition to many rooms in your home. That is why I love this easy DIY Vinyl Record Clock idea featured on Apartment Therapy. Simply choose a record with a label that compliments the color of the room and use a few clock hardware pieces to create your own version for your wall. Can't you picture one of these adorable clocks in a dorm or teen/tween bedroom too? I love it!  


Make a Record Bowl

Looking to add a fun fluted bowl to your party table? Just as was showcased in the wall decal craft that I talked about here, you can also shape and mold records into bowls to adorn your tables at parties. This easy DIY requires no cutting of records, but simply a heating and shaping of them to create these adorable bowls. I can picture popcorn, candy, or nuts as fun appetizers for a party. Check out Prudent Baby for this easy record bowl tutorial


Don't forget that you will need a spot to store your new-to-you record collection! I have fallen in love with this DIY Industrial Storage Cabinet on A Beautiful Mess for an adorable stand and place to display your favorite records. It looks like the cabinets I have been eyeing online, but is made at a fraction of the price. 

Of course, if you are heading to Goodwill every week like me, you might need storage that offers a little more room. I found this storage ottoman at our local Target for $80 and it created the perfect little spot for our collection. All of the records are flipped on the edges so we can see the titles and grab what we need easily. It also is a fun way to reveal your collection to your friends and enjoy an evening together around the ol' record player! 

Happy record crafting & hunting, friends! 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Summer Fashion Trends for Less!



What better way to celebrate a hot summer day than to talk trends...for less!

First, let’s get some of the seasons hot color into your wardrobe - EMERALD! Seek out that THING at Goodwill in the IT color. Be it seafoam or turquoise, green is the IT color this season, and your wardrobe needs more color! 
 
SHOES
Let's say you find a really cool pair of green shoes at Goodwill, how many different ways could you wear them?  

Consider these ideas:


Try with your favorite summer dress. Even if the summer dress doesn't have any green in it, the added touch of an unexpected color says instant style!

We all have those favorite lounge shorts that we try to dress up from time to time. Break out the green shoes! Keep everything on top neutral, and let the shoes speak for themselves!
And what about all that black and white in your closet?  One way to add some sass into those monochromatic looks is a splash of color in your shoes.
 

JACKET
One thing I always seem to find when I am Goodwilling are cute jackets. I am not a big jacket person, so I came up with these fun ways to bring a seemingly tailored jacket into my wardrobe.

Rompers are a big trend this season, why not dress up the uber casual look with a pop of color!

I love my colored skinny jeans, especially the pair I got for a few dollars at Goodwill!  I like to wear a trendy stripe tee with them...here I added the green jacket to one of my favorite outfits to make it luncheon-worthy, or cocktail-worthy, or grocery shopping-worthy...well, you get the idea!

Summer dresses, LOVE THEM!  But I don't like to wear them to dinner because they are sleeveless, and restaurants are freezing!  Throwing on this green jacket against the white/red sundress is a fun color combination that screams high fashion.  Then, I found a whimsical straw watermelon clutch that really brings the whole look together. FUN!

Well, good luck seeking out that one thing in this season's HOT color!  I can't wait to hear about (and see!) what you find at your local Goodwill store!  Oh, and by the way - check the sales calendar to be sure you get ever more for your money at Goodwill!







Goodwill of Michiana's Fashion Guru

Friday, July 19, 2013

Summer Trends - hi/low dresses DIY

I am sure you've noticed the hi-low dress and skirt trend.  These are the cute little summer frocks that are notably shorter in the front than they are in the back.


AFTER
BEFORE














WHY IS THIS STYLE WEARABLE
For those that love the idea of a maxi dress, but aren't tall enough to pull off that look, the hi-low is a great compromise

GET THE STYLE FOR LESS
First, head to Goodwill and find a long skirt. To keep things easy, be sure the skirt fits you. Look for something in a fabric you love: a trendy floral, or maybe chevron.


I started playing around with the idea of a DIY hi-low skirt, and quickly became aware of my limited sewing and crafting abilities.  So I did what any fashion savvy woman would do...I turned to You Tube and Pinterest.

Here is a great pattern to follow when you start your hi-low project. Really, it is very simple! The great thing about this idea is when the trend is 'so yesterday', you can continue to alter the item to become a short skirt/dress.





IMAGES:
found on Pinterest
hi-low skirt tutorial found at: http://blog.freepeople.com/2011/10/guest-post-diy-fishtail-maxi/

Monday, July 15, 2013

Model Call - July 21 in Valpo

We are looking for models!

The Little Black Dress fashion show will take place in Valparaiso in September...and we need you to model!

If you are:
  • Over 18 years of age
  • Between the sizes of 0-24
  • Love Goodwill
  • Love fashion
 ...then we need you!


The first casting call for interested models will be held on July 21 at the Goodwill store in Valpo.  Come anytime between noon and 2pm.  If you have questions (or want to know what you might be getting into!), please contact Goodwill@KathyFriend.com.