DIY

In my household, saving soda-can tabs is an easy feat. I drink an embarrassing amount of soda, and there’s no one else to take responsibility for it — the cats and the boyfriend drink mostly water. Of course, I faithfully recycle all of the cans, but the tabs are a little harder to part with. These thickened pieces feature a nice design that could look quite flashy when joined with fabric. Pair the finished product with some boots and head to Punk Rock Night at the Melody Inn. This is just
basic embellishment on a fairly plain black thrift-store skirt. To make it, I stitched pop tabs along the hem. If you’re a better stitcher than I — or a more creative thinker — you can stitch on can tab flowers, stripes or polka dots.

For those pop tabs that don’t make it into a DIY project, donate them to Riley Hospital, which collects them to help fund the Ronald McDonald House for sick children and their families. Details: http://www.rmh-indiana.org/popta...

What are you wearing?

Danica Cornelius cuts a striking figure. I met her in my crafting group, but it wasn’t until her Indy.com photo shoot that I saw the tattoo of scissors on her upper arm. Cornelius, 27, is an assistant project manager for a local tech company, but in her off-time she makes stuff.

“(Crafting) is a chance for me to feel like I’m doing something creative,” she says. Cornelius is also a regular attendee of Trivia Night at Mass Ave. Pub every Wednesday, and a fan of “Big Love.” She’s also an intriguing dresser, and she knows what flatters her tall figure.

“I just like to wear things that I feel comfortable in and that express a little bit of my personality,” she says. “I really like simple, easy-to-take-care-of styles.”

Here’s what she’s wearing:

Glasses: LensCrafters.

No jewelry: “If I’m going to buy jewelry, I buy big, chunky pieces that make a statement.”

Purse: Hayden Harnett Paul Marrott purse from Von Maur. “I got it at 85 percent off.”

Jacket: Vintage. “My roommate in college was giving it away. It’s become my favorite jacket.”

Shirt: Pitaya. “It was A-shaped. I was trying to find something to wear with leggings.”

Leggings: Anne Taylor Loft.

Boots: $12, Value World. “I am obsessed with boots right now.”

Magic 3

Stacey Schwarz of Fishers stays at home with her four kids, but in what must be very rare off-time, she creates designs for her T-shirt line, Noktup. She’s done well in local boutiques, and you can also pick her up online at Noktup.com. The line, designed for moms and babies, features funny logos and cute line drawings. Regular prices start at $6 for bibs.

If you own a new Blackberry Storm, you’d better protect it. Visit Verizon for their super cute, colorful silicon covers. If you spent all but $14 of your cash on the Storm itself, you’re in luck: Retail price on the covers is $12.99. The covers are available at retail stores or at www.verizonwireless.com

These days, the market has a great number of serums that boost your moisturizers. You smear them on before moisturizing, and the serum does its job. My favorite of the week is the Body Shop’s Vitamin E Serum ($20 for 1 fluid ounce). With vitamin E, tara bush extract and fair-trade honey, this pre-moisturizer refines pores and protects your skin from environmental hazards. You can find it at Body Shop stores in and around Indy.