By Bobbie Thomas

Last week, TODAY.com kicked off its first TODAY DIY Style Week and I’m happy to report that the response was overwhelming. I was able to share one of my favorite “fashion foiling” projects and four of our favorite all-star bloggers, including Erica Domesk of PS I Made This; Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue; Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY; and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare, shared their easy and inexpensive ideas as well.

In addition, we challenged you, the viewers, to submit your clever, crafty ideas and we received over 500 responses. I was given the difficult task of choosing a winner, but first I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite runner-ups:

UpCycling
Aside from being good for your wallet, DIY can also be great for the environment and there are countless ways to rethink, reuse, and reinvent items you already own. I was particularly impressed with what Anna Brones was able to create out of an old bike tube. Using a clean tube, a scissors, an X-acto knife, jewelry pliers and earring wires, she created a one-of-a kind pair of chic  “bike tube” earrings.

Anna Brones

Honorable mention also goes to Rio Lopez’s Stone Polished Ring, Yuka Yoneda’s Credit Card Nameplate Necklace and Elyse Hutchinson’s Gift Card Necklace

Forward-thinking fashion
Everyone has a hand-me-down skirt laying around or an old pair of shoes that they no longer wear but can’t bear to part with. These items may seem ready for the trash, but with a little ingenuity, you can give your old favorites a facelift. Veronika Placek turned an old suede skirt into an on-trend envelope bag using a gold chain from the hardware store, high strength glue, a plastic place mat, some lining fabric and a few stitches.

Veronika Placek

Honorable mention also goes to Yuka Yoneda’s  Glow in the Dark Shoes, and Hrisoula Gatzogiannis' Bejeweled Shoes.

Home decor
Some of the most inventive ideas submitted were for the home. A smart and easy way to spruce up your wine glasses, Cara Mundy suggested applying chalkboard paint to the bases, adding another element to otherwise clear, boring flutes. The final result will also give your guests a way to identify which drink belongs to them. 

Cara Mundy

Honorable mention also goes to Alexcia Patterson's FireFly Pouch and Jessica Hill's Thumback Nightstand.

And the winner is... Christina Child and her clay fringe necklace! Congrats to Christina and check out the step-by-step instructions on how to make your own version of her unique design.

Winner: Colorblock fringe bib necklace, by Christina Child of Make It Make It

Materials:

makeitmakeit.blogspot.com

• Polymer clay
• Jump rings
• Clasp and chain
• Pliers
• Dremel tool or needle
• Clay cutter blade
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheet
• Wood block

1. Use pasta roller or rolling pin to roll out a length of clay – not too thin, several millimeters is best. (Ultimately you'll want this piece to be as long as you want the bib to be.)

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2. Using a clay blade, trim clay into a large rectangle, then smaller rectangles. I find it best to do this step on the sheet you'll be baking on to prevent the clay from becoming misshapen. If you don't own a dremel, now is the time to pierce holes in the clay which will be used to secure the fringes to the chain.

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3. Bake. (Note: often, clay color will change a bit after baking so be prepared for that. And mine tends to bubble a tiny bit sometimes.)

4. After cooling, use a dremel tool to drill holes in each piece of baked clay. Make sure you drill on a piece of wood or scrap piece of something (I use the back of a wooden cutting board). Also, you may want to wear glasses and a mask as this step creates a fair amount of dust.

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5. Lay out your design and figure out your spacing. Begin attaching pieces of clay to the length of chain, making sure to keep the chain from twisting as you go.

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6. Attach clasp and finish! The possibilities are endless!

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Love this necklace but too lazy to DIY? You can also order it at Etsy.

More: See more from TODAY DIY Style Week
Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion

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Rihanna outside of Wembley Studios after performing on "The X Factor".

Kristen Turner of Glitter 'N Glue is a big believer in looking chic without breaking the bank. "I think the growth of the DIY movement can be contributed to two things: hard economic times and expanding creative social networks," she told TODAY.com. "We want to buy the latest and greatest in designer fashions, but we might not be able to afford them."

For TODAY DIY Style Week, Kristen was inspired by the effortlessly cool Rihanna, who stepped out in a fur and leather Balmain jacket. Find out how you can rock the furry trend this fall:

DIY directions:
Materials:

• Faux leather fabric
• Faux fur fabric
• Glue
• Scissors
• Tape measure

Kristen Turner

1. Measure the width of your back from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.

Kristen Turner

2. Cut the leather fabric to a width of half a yard and about 1-yard in length.

Kristen Turner

3. Glue a 3-inch strip of the faux fur to the top of your fabric and using your scissors, cut two arm slits into the leather. The distance of the slits should be the same as your back measurement.

Kristen Turner

4. Voila!

Kristen Turner

5. A complete fur leather vest.

Kristen Turner

6. It's the perfect layering piece for a crisp fall day.

Kristen Turner

TODAY DIY Style Week
From Oct. 24-28, we'll highlight DIY stars who will demonstrate a creative style project. Participants include Erica Domesk of PS I Made This, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas, Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare.

Join the conversation! Use Twitter hashtag #DIYWeekTODAY to let us know what you think!

More: See more from TODAY DIY Style Week
Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion
Enter the TODAY DIY Style Week Challenge!

Splash News / Splash News

Kim Kardashian at the "bebe" Jewelry launch at Bebe Soho in New York City.

Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY works in fashion, so it's no surprise she spends her time recreating trends. "The feeling you get when you tell admirers you did it yourself is beyond gratifying," she said of her stylish projects, which range from Kanye-inspired denim shirts to sparkly cat eye sunglasses (as spotted on J.Lo).

For TODAY DIY Style Week, Jenni created rhinestone-embellished hoops like Kim Kardashian (crazy eyelashes not included). Find out how to make your bling:

Materials:

• Hoop earring
• String of clear (or color) small rhinestones
• Embroidery floss or experiment with different types/colors of string

Jenni Radosevich

1. Tie you a knot around your earring and start of rhinestone, close to the closure. Double knot to secure.

Jenni Radosevich

2. Continue wrapping the string around the earring, between each link of the rhinestone.

Jenni Radosevich

3. When you reach the each tie another double knot, and cut of excess rhinestones and string

Jenni Radosevich

4. Add a pop of color with red, or get a sleek look with black string.

Jenni Radosevich

Jenni Radosevich

TODAY DIY Style Week
From Oct. 24-28, we'll highlight DIY stars who will demonstrate a creative style project. Participants include Erica Domesk of PS I Made This, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas, Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare.

Join the conversation! Use Twitter hashtag #DIYWeekTODAY to let us know what you think!

More: See more from TODAY DIY Style Week
Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion

Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare recreates the most coveted trends off the runway by doing professional-looking projects that you can easily integrate into your wardrobe. For TODAY.com, she re-imagined the leopard print scarf watch – a take on the 'stacked wrists' trend that's very popular with celebrities at the moment.

You may also have noticed that recently more is very much more when it comes to wrists. In the way of jewelery, the focus has shifted from the neck to the arms, and finally wrists are getting the attention they deserve! "It" girls Olivia Palermo and Nicole Richie have been spotted sporting this trend – with stacked watches, bracelets and chains weighing down their wrists. Never one to shy away from recreating a trend, I recently made a very simple scarf watch, perfect for layering with all the other wrist bling you're sure to be wearing this winter.

TODAY DIY Style Week
From Oct. 24-28, we'll highlight DIY stars who will demonstrate a creative style project. Participants include Erica Domesk of PS I Made This, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas, Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare.

More: See more from TODAY DIY Style Week
Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion
Enter the TODAY DIY Style Week Challenge!

It's impossible to discuss DIY fashion without mentioning Erica Domesek of PS I Made This. The energetic and constantly innovative DIY designer somehow manages to transform everyday items with extremely accessible tutorials. (It's amazing what she can do with a Sharpie marker.) With her infectious enthusiasm, you'll have no choice but to give in to her genius.

Not a huge fan of the glue gun or a thread and needle? No worries! For TODAY DIY Style Week, Erica crafted a bright, chic and useful tablet clutch with just a sheet of drawer liner, duct tape, scissors and self-adhesive Velcro. (Your iPad will thank you.) Watch:

Erica Domesek

Erica Domesek

TODAY DIY Style Week
From Oct. 24-28, we'll highlight DIY stars who will demonstrate a creative style project. Participants include Erica Domesk of PS I Made This, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas, Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare.

More: See more from TODAY DIY Style Week
Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion
Enter the TODAY DIY Style Week Challenge!

WireImage

Actress Camilla Belle

While TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas believes that "style is the way you speak to the world without words,” it doesn't have to be store-bought. "You don't necessarily have to sift flour or break out a sewing machine," Bobbie said. "You could also consider a creative, semi-handmade alternative." From opting to wear a dress backwards or using a safety pin to alter its shape, Bobbie's unique philosophy centers around the idea that you don't have to do it (all) yourself, but you can do it your way. For TODAY DIY Style Week, Bobbie updates the LBD (little black dress):

Press-on metallic sheets are an easy, inexpensive way to update almost anything. Transform timeless pieces like a white button-down or little black dress, give denim a little sheen, or save an old favorite that may have faded by adding a bit of shimmer. And anyone can learn this simple two-step process — just apply glue, let it dry tacky to the touch, then press and peel to reveal! Here are my insider tips on how to glam it up:

DIY directions:
1. Begin with almost any knit or woven garment (but steer clear of anything too fuzzy or with a very loose  weave).

Bobbie Thomas

2. You can purchase “foil glue” at your local craft store or online at jonestones.com. Use a paintbrush, sponge, or your fingers to spread the glue over a large area (above left), or you can create detailed patterns (above right) using a bottle with a nozzle.

Bobbie Thomas

3. Let the glue dry until it's tacky; thinner layers will require as little as one hour while thicker layers can take up to eight. Once the glue is almost dry and tacky to the touch (very important), press foil firmly over glue (shiny side up).

Bobbie Thomas

4. Now you're ready to unveil your metallic masterpiece — in one swift motion, rip the foil sheet from the garment.

Bobbie Thomas

5. And voila! Whether you go monochromatic with silver foil on a gray sweater or dress up an LBD with some glitzy gold, there's no wrong way to do it.

TODAY DIY Style Week
From Oct. 24-28, we'll highlight DIY stars who will demonstrate a creative style project. Participants include Erica Domesk of P.S. I Made This, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas, Kristen Turner of Glitter and Glue, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY and Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair & A Spare.

More: Make it, don't buy it: DIY style goes high-fashion
Enter the TODAY DIY Style Week Challenge!
Slideshow: Coveted creations from DIY style bloggers