Admittedly, usually when I show makeover projects, it'll involve paint and a bit of scuffing up. But this is not always the case.A few weeks ago I saw something on the internet and absolutely loved it. An embellished cardi.
At this time of year, when everyone else is relishing sunshine and walking around in summer clothes, I'm plotting buying a few pieces for when the weather cools down. It's how I get through summer. I'm not joking! I love cardis, I feel grown up and very 'Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton' in them. So when I spotted this cardi, I wanted to buy it. But I wasn't keen on the price. Instead I thought 'I can do that'. I searched online to find a plain, pale pink cardi at a decent price, then had a little splurge on ribbon and beads.
Beads and ribbon arrived fairly swiftly, the cardigan took a week and a half. With every passing day my confidence in recreating the cardi crumbled a little. Had everything arrived when it was a fresh idea in my mind, and I was itching to get on with it, I'd have done it without a second thought. With time to mull it over I worried that I'd mess it up. When the cardigan arrived, I really liked it and didn't want to do anything that might spoil it. It was a really nice shape and fit.
But, as I'd bought it with the intention of altering it, I decided I would do something with it. I took two rose hairbands that I've had kicking around for ages (bought from Primark of course, £1.50 or £2.00 each, I forget which. Rubbish as hairbands but too pretty to get rid of), so I cut them to size and stitched around the collar of the cardi. It looks really pretty,and I'm very pleased. 
This was so simple to do, that even if you consider yourself a non sewer, you could do this. No one sees the stitches, and they don't have to be perfectly sewn on. The embellished cardi was still on my mind,and I remembered that I had a spare pink cardi in my wardrobe. I'd bought it a size smaller than I should have done. I bought the correct size the next time I was in town, and kept hold of the smaller sized one too. I'm so glad I did. I removed the lace panels on the front, snipped off the buttons, and added ribbon to the front and around the collar.
(So don't do a sharp intake of breath that I removed the lace panels, I wouldn't have done that if I hadn't got it in the correct size, I like it too much).I'm very pleased that I didn't do this on the new cardigan. It would have been a waste. As it's not meant to be worn done up at the front, having it a little smaller does not matter at all.
Once I was happy with the ribbon, I added beads.
Not as good as the one I saw on the internet, but fine for days when I feel the need for a bit of glamour..
It was a little trickier than I'd anticipated, which is another reason I was glad not to have used the new cardigan.
So, in a way I've managed to get two new cardis. I'm still toying with buying the one that inspired me though, when I can afford it.
I have had my paintbrush out too! I wanted to paint the remaining letters that I bought last month.
I've kept them separate for now. I'd planned on sticking them together in the same way as the 'Noel' sign, but I'm not sure it works so well. 
So for now they can stay as they are, and if I change my mind, it's quick and easy to attach them. And there's no hurry, I won't be using these until next Valentine's Day. 