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Posts Tagged ‘handmade’
Recently, I threw a farewell party for a friend who was leaving to pursue a career in Singapore. She wanted something to remind everyone of her, and because we had very little time to make something from scratch, we came up with simple customizable gifts to give out at her party: forget-me-knot journals.
    
We found these great faux leather journals in Daiso which came with long cloth closures to bound together. We drew hearts on each cover, and cut them out. Then we painted the first page of the journal with pink acrylic, and just glued the cover to the first page once the acrylic dried. She wrote a simple message onto each heart for every friend, and that’s it! Super fast to make, super sweet to receive, this forget-me-knot journal is sure to remind that loved one of your love!
Happy DIY Wednesday, guys!
Tags: diy, diy wednesday, gift ideas, handmade, kids, mommy stuff, party ideas
Posted in handbags & gladrags, little loves, you say i say / No Comments »
In case you haven’t realized from our Instagram stream, we’re super loving our new Reversible Rebecca! Versatile, stylish, and surprisingly easy to match outfits with, this handy dandy clutch says it all. This limited edition reversible clutch gives you two looks within seconds, between day to night, or business to fun. Roomy and soft, and comes with a reversible zipper with dual lock function, this clutch easily fits and iPad or an e-book reader.
We’ve been using our Reversible Rebecca’s for most of our daily outings and meetings, but we’ve yet to try a dressier style to match its vibrant print and muted twin. Here’s how we’d attempt the look:
1. Whitesoot dandelion laser cut flare dress 2. Nanano chiffon shrug 3. The Jewel Bar bangles 4. Sidewalk pink ballerina flats 5. Reversible Rebecca in Aztec pink
How would you style your Reversible Rebecca?
Tags: fashion, gift ideas, gin & jacqie, handmade, local loves, prints, recommended links, tuesday trend talk
Posted in he says she says / No Comments »
Our latest Mother’s Day giveaway is from the lovely Shelby of Bisou Bon Bon. Bisou started out as a pre-loved blogspot, but has since transformed into a popular brand amongst the homemakers of the local scene. Unlike a lot of mainstream beauty names out there, Shelby promises that Bisou keeps away from artificial fragrance, preservatives, or colorings. And the result of her promise created wonderfully natural, handmade products that soothe the body and treat the skin.
We asked Shelby to give our readers a few of her favorite Bisou picks:
The ARGAN OIL, nicknamed “liquid gold” and is packed with natural nutrients such as vitamin E compounds, polyphenols, phenolic compounds, carotenes (antioxidants) and essential fats, this luxurious hair and skin conditioner absorbs quite, leaving minimal oily residue. It also soothes irritated and sensitive baby skin, not to mention helps prevents stretch marks because of its ability to prevent the breakdown of essential structural proteins like collagen and elastin, therefore helping rejuvenate the skin with additional nutrients. You only need 1-2 drops on your palm to use daily onto skin for that light and all-effective rejuvenation!
The Hiver soap bar is concocted by using a formula that incorporates every element of being calm. Think chamomile essential oil (a herb that is used medicinally for over 2000 years and is known to be the premier treatment for soothing skin irritation and boost regeneration), lavender essential oil (a powerful healing and anti-inflammatory agent), honey (for that extra sweetness to your skin!), rolled oats, and fresh goat’s milk (fantastic for eczema-prone skin). With all that said, we really wanted you to have the best of it all in just one bar!
Our solid perfumes are basically ready-to-use, easy to carry perfumes that come in lightweight cases fit for your purses! We currently stock three scents: Paris (rose with a hint of Ylang Ylang), Provence (lavender with a pinch of geranium), and Lorraine (bergamot with a hint of Patchouli). They’re fun, and make such great gifts for those who love a little pick-me-up!
So how do you get your hands on some wonderfully handmade Bisou Bon Bon products? All you’ll have to do is upload a picture of your mom looking stylish and fab when she was younger onto our Facebook page. Alternatively, you could Instagram that same picture to us by tagging us as well as hash tagging #ginjacqie #flashback. Each participant is only allowed one submission, so pick the most awesome pic! Contest ends on May 31st, and winners will be announced on our Facebook page.
Good luck!!!
Tags: contest, gift ideas, gin & jacqie, handmade, kids, local loves, mommy stuff, recommended links
Posted in he says she says / No Comments »
Black and white is fast becoming the most romantic coupling since, well, the last time they were. For the past few days, I’ve been noticing a cat shoe DIY floating around Pinterest, but now that I’m finally ready to embrace the cat-lovin’, it’s gone. Just like all sordid love affairs that were meant to be just never being, I was torn and shattered. Okay fine, it barely affected me. However, I really did want to make myself my very own Tom-like cat flats to skulk around in and loiter within the dim of everyone else’s shadows.
So I did it anyway, despite being a dog lover.
I started by digging out an old pair of black slip-ons I had lying around. I remember purchasing them on impulse, mainly due to the fact that they were only RM20 (think school shoes, but with a filtered edge). But I never got around to wearing them because it always came down to a fight between them, and a pair of black Comme des Garcons sneakers I’ve loved since I first laid eyes on them. The latter always won, if not out of loyalty, then out of fame.
Ignore the layer of dust on them… Will get them cleaned by rolling some cello tape around them after I turn them into shoes I’d love to prance around town in!
I started by taping a line of cello tape across each shoe. These would keep me from jumping over the line and making wrongs from rights. Yes, I’m feeling rather melancholic today as I write this simple post.
Once I was done painting white acrylic to the bottom part of the taped section, I pulled the tapes away and touched up any sections that may have seeped through the tapes with a thin brush.
 
All that was left to do was add the ears, eyes, and nose of each cat. And there you have it, cat shoes for the obvious dog lover! Why? – Just because sometimes, opposites attract in the most powerful of ways that nobody would, or should, try to comprehend. And though this tainted love affair will undoubtedly falter from the pressure of making sense out of fragmented pieces that don’t belong with one another, it will be a love affair worth wearing out…
Happy DIY Wednesday, peeps! A friendly reminder to stay away from the emo tunes!
Tags: diy, diy wednesday, fashion, handmade, kids, mommy stuff
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Placemats are really handy things to have lying around for DIY and craft projects, but it’s always hard for me to find placemats suitable to my taste: dark and grey. Hence, when I came across this grey placemat that resembled tweed from afar in the pasar malam (night market) for only RM3 per piece, I knew I had to purchase it for a DIY Wednesday post.
All you’ll need is a really cheap placemat, a sewing machine and basic sewing skills, and just whatever sewing materials you have lying around at home. I didn’t really plan this project… I just knew I wanted to make a clutch or envelope of some sort, and the rest just came along the way.
I started off by folding my mat to form my clutch, leaving a third of it for the fold over closure. You don’t really need to measure the fold, just go according to your own preference or judgement. Some of you might opt to do without the fold over flap, especially if you’re intending on using this as a slide-on cover for iPads or notebooks. The closure I’m going to show below works for either.
The next step would be to fold the corners of the clutch in. Again, no measurements are required. Just fold inwards accordingly, and pin in place. Once the first side is done, you can roughly estimate the other side. Do the same for both sides.
If you have any trims lying around, you can sandwich it between what are now your side seams. I opted for this faux zipper trim I purchased in Hong Kong, but you can also use ribbons, lace pieces, or just leave it plain.
Once you’ve trimmed all around your bag, you’re going to have to decide on your opening. The easiest and neatest opening would be a pop button or a basic button, both of which you can get done at your local haberdashery. However, because I wanted a unique closure, and because my clutch looks very clean cut, I decided to use some soft black elastic I had to create a ribbon opening. First, I pinned the bottom bit onto the clutch, and then I marked a slit to pull the ribbon through on the fold over. With a blade, I created a slit. You can do the same with a buttonhole, but due to the width of my elastic, the slit was ideal.
After that, all that’s left is to fill up your clutch with essentials.
 
And just like that, you’ve got your own unique and stylish clutch made out of a RM3 placemat! Seriously, this is such a quick and affordable project that you’ll find yourself obsessively making tons as gifts to friends, or even one for each day of the week! Let us know if you try this project out with your own placemat. Until then, happy DIY Wednesday!
Tags: diy, diy wednesday, fashion, gift ideas, handmade, mommy stuff
Posted in he says she says / No Comments »
 
Here’s a little DIY project you can do to spruce up those names cards you have clouding up your office desk. First, arm yourself with some clothes pegs, a few pieces of Jenga blocks (we used the leftovers of the Tesco set from our Ikea lamp hack), spray paint, and superglue. Next, spray paint your blocks and clothes pegs. Once dry, stick the clothes pegs on the blocks one by one. This part requires three must-follow rules: a) DO NOT stick the clothes pegs together before sticking them onto the blocks, b) leave a sliver of a gap between each clothes peg, and c) only superglue one leg of each clothes peg onto the blocks. All the above mentioned will ensure that your clothes pegs can still be pinched open for easy insertion of name cards. When the glue dries, glue another block on the other side of the holder to sandwich the clothes pegs between both blocks.
And you’re done!!! This is a great way to display your name cards, as well as use as a reminder to call suppliers or customers on particularly busy days. For travelers who are always looking for a better way to store their name cards, you should check out our Alex Passport Holder for convenient organization.
Unicorn rides, however, are available for purchase over at Groupon Malaysia. Have a great DIY Wednesday!
Tags: diy, diy wednesday, gin & jacqie, handmade, local loves
Posted in handbags & gladrags, local loves / No Comments »
  
Looking to make a statement during those ang pao giving sessions? Well, we’ve come up with an adorable solution to modernizing a tradition! Meet our new fortune cookie purse, a little coin purse made to resemble a Chinese fortune cookie. While it may not be edible, this little charmer is made of faux gold leather and includes a red lining, cultivating the colors of prosperity within its versatility!
This fortune cookie purse is limited in stocks, and just to ring in the celebrations, we’re giving away one free with every purchase of RM180 and above in a single receipt! Otherwise, you can purchase it separately *here*.
Tags: gift ideas, gin & jacqie, handmade, kids, local loves, mommy stuff, recommended links
Posted in handbags & gladrags, local loves, you say i say / No Comments »
Bored of your mundane pen holders? Need to add some colors and new life to your old bottles? Here’s a way so easy you won’t be able to say you’re too busy to try. Seriously. All you’ll need are some bottles, and some circled stickers made for office labeling. You can get the stickers at any stationery store in a variety of colors.
    
Just pull the labels off your bottles, place the stickers onto them in any pattern you’d like, and there you have it: dotted bottles to brighten your desk! This is also a great project to entertain your crafty kids with. Just make sure you give them plastic bottles to prevent from any potential breakage!
Happy DIY Wednesday!
Tags: diy, diy wednesday, handmade, kids
Posted in handbags & gladrags, you say i say / No Comments »
Friendship bracelets have come a long way, from being a token of friendship made by the younger generation of girly girls, to the must-have accessory of this season. The mix and matches of woven materials colliding and intertwining into gorgeous arm swags made of chains and threads bring a fanciful whimsy to any outfit, and we’ve found some for the online buying! Our first pick comes from Uncovet, and these bracelets are adorned with rhinestones, and if you haven’t gotten over the harmony of reds and the blues from the last Olympics, there’s the London Olympic link friendship bracelet from Macaroon Notebook. Our third pick is a simple and understated cobalt chain by Baublebar, and would look amazing with all the color options combined for that added effect. The fourth, a green bracelet by LVW, is also another great choice for those of you looking for something a little toned down. The fifth are colorful arm candy from one of our current favorite stores to shop: Eight in Publika. Bright, cheerful, and filled with colors of the rainbow, and all at affordable prices! Our last pick for this Tuesday Trend Talk is a new local find called Cadenas & Corde, and they create beautiful interlinks of yarns, spikes, and chains.
So if you’re wondering what to surprise that bff of yours, why not pick up a friendship bracelet? And if that bff of yours is a lover of candy colored awesomeness, then you should also know that these friendship bracelets go really well with our Organize Jacq, now in freshly made colors!
Tags: fashion, gift ideas, gin & jacqie, handmade, local loves, recommended links, tuesday trend talk
Posted in local loves, you say i say / No Comments »
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