Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Made It for Me: Stephanie of Henry Happened


Stephanie of Henry Happened is that mommy friend we all wish we were: down to earth, fashionable, and seemingly able to do it all. She describes her blog as her "playground for staying curious and always learning," which is something that Shannon and I always encourage others to do. Henry Happened is a definite must-follow blog full of inspiration and great DIY projects that make handmade chic.

I first started following Stephanie in 2011 and since then, I've loved following the evolution of her blog and her fantastic tutorials. At Henry Happened, you'll find projects that are both trendy and fun (her no-sew zipper jeans refashion is one of my favorites!)

We're so excited to have Stephanie here as a guest for the Made It for Me series.
Take it away, Stephanie!
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DIY Brooch Bracelet

Hello Eat.Sleep.Make readers! This is Stephanie from Henry Happened, and I write about DIY and style. Jen and Shannon's Made It for Me series really resonated for me because how often do moms get to make something pretty for ourselves? Or even shop for something new? My new clothes usually come from a 2-minute run through of Target when I'm there to buy diapers.

But today I'm going to show you something that I did make just for me. And love wearing because it has history and meaning, which makes it all the more special to me.

DIY bracelet with brooches

I love brooches - they are big and bold and colorful. Like most of my jewelry, the bigger the better! And I have quite a collection from my mother and grandmother (they liked big jewelry too, wonder where I get it from, huh?). But my antique brooches just sit there, looking pretty, on my dresser. Awhile back I made these brooch bracelets, just for me, so that I could wear my heirlooms more often.

These bracelets are super duper easy to make - probably less time than dashing through the jewelry aisle at Target. Just collect some old brooches - if you don't have a lonely collection already thrift stores often have these for cheap - and a couple of plain bangles. You can use metal or plastic bangles, whatever works for the brooch. Thrift stores are good for these too!

brooch bracelet tutorial

First remove the backing from the brooch. Wire cutters work best because you can get all they way down to to the base of the brooch, leaving a flat base.

Bracelet tutorial with brooches

Then apply hot glue to the back and stick it to the bracelet. E6000 glue would also work but make sure you clamp and let it dry overnight to fully secure.

Brooch Bracelet DIYDIY Brooch Bracelet

That's all there is to it! Do you have brooches that you never wear? What do you love making just for yourself?

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Wow! Such stunning and sentimental pieces (and so easy to make!) If you don't have any brooches on hand, I bet you could find quite a few at your local thrift store or at estate sales. 

Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing such a gorgeous project. Make sure you visit Stephanie at Henry Happened and check out her other amazing projects!


 1. Glitter Striped Breakfast Tray 2. Homemade Cocoa Mint Soap 
3. Jewel Macrame Bracelets 4. No-Sew Zipper Jeans

3 comments:

  1. What a cool idea for a unique and beautiful bracelet. Thank you for sharing!

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  2. Thank you guys so much for having me! It was fun to share something I got to make just for me!

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  3. Such a great idea! I've got a bunch of brooches that I'd love to show off more often. Really sweet that this is a way for you to carry around reminders of your mom and grandmother. Thanks for sharing!

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