CasaSugar

Wrap Star! Letterpress Buckle With Ribbon

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:30:39 -0800

When you're no longer stuck on stick-on bows and curling ribbon doesn't make the cut, spend a few bucks on the DSharp Letterpress Buckle With Ribbon ($7.50). This large oval belt, comprised of letterpress red striped printed paper, will replace your fussy bows in a cinch. The buckle arrives with ribbon, and that's all you'll need to dress your gifts: Just slide through and pull. No tape required! We all know a belt can easily transform a basic outfit, so why not use one to dress up your solid gift wrap or some brown packaging? Instant style.

Etsy Find: Belt Buckle Frame

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Since I recently suggested you repurpose your belt buckles as frames, when I came across a belt buckle for sale used in the same way, I couldn't help but share! The Domestikate Custom Belt Buckle ($26) was originally used to hold polished rock and gemstone pieces, and it has a D-ring on its back side, so it can actually be used as a buckle or just as a decorative frame. I love its 1970s Western theme, and think it just begs for a black-and-white cowboy image inside. The seller will print your photo to size and set it in the frame with a plastic protection sheet in front. Pretty neat, huh?

Casa Quickie: One, Two, Buckle My . . . .

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:45:50 -0700

I love this idea for repurposing old belt buckles that I found over at Martha Stewart. Take thrifted belt buckles and use them as miniature photo frames, or even better, stick a magnet on the back and display them on a refrigerator or other magnetic surface. Antique stores, flea markets, or thrifting adventures should yield plenty of great possibilities for frames. Try to stick to similar shapes and color palettes to really make the collection gel. Need step-by-step directions? You can learn how to make this craft yourself here.

Source

Weird Furniture: Louis Vuitton Electric Chair

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:00:08 -0700

Artist Peter Gronquist opened a solo show,"The Revolution Will Be Fabulous," at LA's Gallery 1988 this weekend featuring his designer knock-off weaponry. NotCot was there and got a peek of his Louis Vuitton electric chair ($4,500), a "traditional" wooden electric chair printed with company's monogram and made with LV buckles used for wrist and ankle straps. The general consensus seemed to be that the quality of the chair, as well as other pieces like PacMan hand grenades and a peacock-feathered Gucci gun, didn't meet the standards of the brands they tried to emulate. To hear what I think of this artwork, read more.

While I will admit that building an LV electric chair certainly qualifies as thinking out of the box, I don't think knocking off big-name designers (who tend to prostitute their own logos to begin with) is much of a "revolutionary" statement. One of NotCot's commenters wrote, "To think that mass consumer culture can co-opt revolutionary ideals as some sort of a buzzword or the latest fad, is insulting and vulgar. If this is what the revolution looks like, then it is a sad day for the youth of today." Do you agree? Or do you think Gronquist is challenging the consumer-obsessed mentality in a valuable way?

Fab Fall Photos: AimeeB's Apple Picking

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:00:46 -0700

These great photos from AimeeB are making me homesick! I used to go apple picking every autumn with my family, too, and it's such a fun fall tradition. AimeeB reports that she now has four bags of apples in her kitchen, and is ready to start making some crisps or tarts. Maybe this YumSugar apple buckle recipe will tempt her.

Any other Casa readers have some fab fall photographs to share?

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DIY: Jewel Case Photo Displays

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:30:51 -0700

I love how the glossy clear frames on these photos make the images pop off the wall. Who would guess that the frames are made of old CD jewel cases? This cool project was brought to my attention by Grumpalita, who found it on the awesome site Photojojo.

What You'll Need

Photographs
CD Jewel Cases
Cardboard (optional)
Scissors
A ruler
Tape (Double-sided works better, Archival if you're picky)
Velcro tape

For step-by-step instructions, read more

How to Make It

Remove the plastic insides of your jewel case. Take out the paper insert and remove the perforated edges. Use this as a template from which to cut your cardboard.
Cut out cardboard pieces. (To use as backing for your photographs to prevent them from buckling.)
Trim your photographs to size. Your images should be exactly 5 3/8×4 5/8 to fit snugly in the back of the jewel cases. We cropped our images down from 5 x 7 prints.
Attach cardboard pieces to your cropped photographs using double-sided tape.
Plop your photo into the back of your jewel case, facing out. Close the jewelcase.
Affix a piece of one side of the Velcro tape to the backs of your finished case, and the other side of the tape to the spots on the wall where you'll hang your frames.
Put on some music and have fun hanging your awesome new frames!

Need a little more visual aid? Then check out the great video tutorial over at Photojojo.