In case you weren’t able to join us last week at Madewell‘s anniversary event, we’re giving you the breakdown on just one of the many ways we embellished our favorite chambray shirts that evening. So grab a handful of sparkle and let’s get gilding!
You’ll need:
- chambray or denim shirt
- assorted buttons
- flat back pearls
- assorted rhinestones
- Jewel-It washable glue
- a pair of flush wire cutters
- a toothpick
- a disposable wooden spoon or plastic container
For shank style buttons, start by cutting off the backs with a pair of flush cutters. Vintage buttons are most commonly made of lightweight metal and plastic so cutting off the shanks is very easy. For embellished collars, make sure there are two sets of embellishments so that the design is symmetrical.
Squeeze a dollop of Jewel-It washable glue onto a wooden spoon or small plastic container. Jewel-It is the best bonding agent when it comes to glueing hard-to-hold jewels and embellishments onto fabrics. Use a toothpick to dab glue onto the back of a button, rhinestone, or pearl.
Position the embellishment on the tip of the collar and work outwards.
Note that the glue does not set right away and takes quite a while to dry so be careful not to nudge the pieces around too much.
Repeat the same design on the other collar tip and that’s it, you’re done! Allow to dry at least 24 hours before handling or wearing and even though clothing can be washed after using Jewel-It, I would recommend dry cleaning the shirt only.
Another option is to embellish the pocket of a denim shirt using the same technique. Check out an example here. Happy embellishing!
(Madewell Chambray Shirt, Bauble Bar Mini Nameplate Necklace, JCrew Crystal Necklace, Bauble Bar Monogram Necklace; all images by HonestlyWTF)
I love this! The buttons + stones you used are fantastic. And Jewel-It is my favorite glue of all time. Ha.
I love this diy!! it’s very original!!!
http://thestelstyle.com/
The result is amazing, you rock!
xoxo
Fashion Agony blog
Beautiful! This jean shirt is now so elegant! I love all your DIY projects and your photos are lovely. I decided to nominate you to the “One lovely blog award”. I think that you have been nominated many time anyway, it is a please to do it! http://theyellowbalconey.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/one-lovely-blog-award/
Amazing! It looks very cute
New post on SEARCH IN FASHION – DIY: Pastel statement necklace
Amazing DIY! I will definitely try this out!
love it!!!
I’ll try it because the reuslt is amazing!
I’m preparing new diy for my blog too:) Stay tuned!
http://www.emerjadesign.com
Oh, what a lovely idea! I absolutely have to try that.
http://rockingzebra.blogspot.com
OMG, This is so awesome!! Love it!! Definitely gonna try it!!
Also I love the necklaces!! Where are they from?
A very cool DIY! Well done girls!
LOOKS LOVELY I AM PLANNING ON DOING ONE TOO SINCE I HAVE SO MUCH JEWELRY I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE APART:)
http://diamondsandspikes.com/
http://www.facebook.com/diamondsandspikes
brilliant!
Bises,
monkeyshines
http://monkeyshines-monkeyshines.blogspot.com/
I love what you did here- it is not the usual (and slightly tacky) collar embellishment you see in blogs. It has an edge to it.
Paola
http://www.ThePvdHJournal.com
Fabulous!!!! Can’t wait to do this project!
It’s so beautiful! I loved it !
I’m posting looks from Los Angeles and summer accessories:
http://www.thegavlaks.com
<3
Beautifully done!!
~Natasha Fatah~
~Natasha Fatah~
I love the embellished collar! I have the perfect top to try this out on as well. I just need to make a stop at Michael’s for some sparkles
xoxo Alison
http://www.stylingmylife.com
Love this! So much more creative than the regular studs on jean shirts (which I also love).
Love, love, love this look. I really like how it looks in the last photo with the layered necklaces – soooo fabu. You have the best DIY projects. =)
Satisfy Your Cravings For Celebrity Style and All Things Stylish and Sweet
Thank you for all these DIY posts. Because of them I started to do my multi bracelet hand.
I will come back to show it to you and maybe you will be proud with me.
http://www.zadinblog.com
I need to make this today! Thanks for sharing!
Love this! thanks for sharing!!
http://www.thegirlon23rd.blogspot.com
When I go to the UK my friend and I were going to have craft day with denim with our thrift finds. So doing this! reblogged
great job!! love it!
xx,
Meelena
Love this! you have an amazing blog, congratulation!
Las gangas de Caroline
I love my chambray shirt too much to bedazzle it. but i might pair it with it that awesome rhinestone necklace.
http://www.prettydinos.com
I love everything about this DIY! Definitely need to try this out!
http://lilylovelock.blogspot.co.uk/
x
It’s all so cute! Love this idea.
-Carmen
http://wearmint.blogspot.com/
Love it. And I love the way it’s styled with all that bling on her neck too. Excellent as usual guys!
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
Just found your Blog through Tumblr and I am Hooked! Love it.. Can’t wait to follow along some more.
Jamie
simplymeart.com
Gosh I need to do this! Thanks for sharing
The Lovelorn
I love this touch on the denim shirt! Thanks for sharing! x
Kate {Modette}
http://modetteblog.com
I looove this. Really want to try it out soon.
http://www.trash-de-luxe.blogspot.com
WTF i want to do this for ages ! It looks very cool <3
Virginie/ Style Reload
http://www.virginiepeny.com
Crazy mad cute!!! Absolutely want to give this a go on one of my old and tired collared shirts!
x
http://www.iloveublank.blogspot.com
I’m so in love with your this idea ! Perfect look ! I really enjoyed reading through your blog, I am a new follower ! Would love for you to stop by my blog and follow back if you like it
Hélène
http://www.thisisln.com
Love the gold on the chambray! Looks amazing
Another incredible DIY!! Love this <3 Bookmarking it!
In love with your last DIY!! You are incredible!!
My last BARGAIN in http://cravingforbarneys.com
I love embellishing shirts’ colars!!!Great DIY!!
http://lovelittlelulu.blogspot.gr/
OMG I love ths DIY! I linked back to this post from my blog
Have a nice day!
http://actofstyle.com/2012/07/31/confession-isabel-marant-etoile/
fantastic!
That looks amazing! Will you able to wash it normally? Will you have to do it by hand?
Thx!
Giorgia
http://www.gvn-styleblog.blogspot.com
Looks like a simple way to drastically improve your denim shirt. Love it
glamDevils
This is so cool! I will do this pretty soon!
Vanessa
http://thepinkmateproject.blogspot.com/
Love those buttons, especially on the collar:)
Think I will try it also! <3
XOXO, K
http://www.fussylife.com
How cool is this DIY!! It definitely shows us that we can do anything we want with our shirts!
Love it…you’re so freakin’ clever with these DIY’s.
Kate
http://www.thrillofthechaise.com
beautiful <3
www.http://mustbebeautiful.blog.com
Thanks for ideas! it is great! I will try with white shirt
This is great! I love how it turned out. I used to be a major do-it-yourselfer and have strayed. Glad I found your blog! Great stuff!
http://beefelle.com
I LOVE IT!!! :-)) THE RESULT IS AMAZING!! I LOVE PRECIOUS COLLARS BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE CUSTOMIZE ITEMS :-))
http://loveisthebestfashionistherest.blogspot.it/
Looks awesome! please check out my blog!
Jewel-It is seriously miracle goo! So many glues claim to be washable, but within a few wears your embellishments start falling off! This stuff seriously works and you can wash to your hearts desire.
I love that this slightly tacky but oh so cute look is becoming trendy. It is like all of the good of 80s fashion without all the horrific. A little bling goes a long way!
wow these look amazing! i think i might try these! :)) xx
—
Jasmine
turquoiseinlove.blogspot.com
such a great diy!
my DIYs —————> http://gkdone.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-favorite-necklace.html
Amazing!!!!!!! I will do this today!!!
http://bonnieclydemarni.blogspot.gr/
So cool !
xo ,
Ana Catalarrana
http://Sinbowtie.blogspot.com
Defintely gonna try am somehow tired of my usual denim shirts (which i have plenty of)
thanks !
my Zara necklace DIY ——> http://gkdone.blogspot.com/2012/08/inspiration-zara-necklace.html
hello – can u tell me where you purchased the personalized name necklace in the first and last pic?
I absolutely love it <3
Thanx for the tuto
WOW!!amazing!
http://tobchic.blogspot.com.es/
http://tobchic.blogspot.com.es/
http://tobchic.blogspot.com.es/
Hi,
Will it work if I use glue gun instead?
Awesome post, I love the necklace!
http://jewelryrage.com
Inspired from this DIY, I tried to do the same using the materials I had at my disposal. Have a look at it on my blog
http://seasoncheck.blogspot.in/2012/08/diy-mondays.html
N
http://seasoncheck.blogspot.in
I looooooovvveeee this DIY. I was trying to think of a way to jazz up my school uniform. I probably can’t get away with too many embellishing but one or two is still a great way to add style. I’m worried that when I wash my shirts, the embellishments might fall off since dry-cleaning would be pricey.
nice!
i’m a crafter and a DIYer too!
Check out my blog (;
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ME encantaaaa!
These DIY projects you have made are out-standing, absolutely love them.
Kaari
The idea is good. Imade it too, its brilliant
This makes me want to go out and buy a denim shirt just so I could embellish it! I will definitely try this look out this season.
OnaRoadtoNeon.blog.com
This is the ugliest piece of crap shirt I have ever seen – seriously people – where are you from? The freaky deep south. Are you such slaves to “trends” that you completely lose all self-respect? Grow a pair….of bloody creative balls of your own.
love your idea!!! <33 amazing!!!
xoxo, nicole
FashionLuv by Nicole
mmmm It is a cool idea. What I don’t understand is that you can sew most of the materials to the shirt instead of gluing them. You cut the back of the buttons to glue them!? What a lazy DIY!! I wonder how long your DIYs last? Wash them two times and they are destroyed! Needle and thread is not too hard.
Olá adorei a ideia eu também sou muito de fazer as minhas coisas adoro DYD,
BEIJINHOS
Alexandra mELO
It’s really awesome:)
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I would like to see more of embellished denim shirts, an on t-shirts from your post. I love it!