And silver. And bronze. And purple. And pink. And girly. And simply wonderful.

The gals at Handbag Heaven just can’t get enough of the glitter explosion we’ve seen around the web lately! From cutie patootie DIY projects and party spreads, to gorgeous nail polishes and day dresses, sparkles charm us in a way that nothing else can. Glitter is the definition of sugar, spice, and everything nice. And even just a sprinkle makes us feel oh-so-lovely.

Feast your eyes on this special weekly roundup of eye-catching images and indulge in a diva-liciuos dose of glittery goodness.

Our motto:

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Yeah, we’re drooling, too:

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We adore these fab DIY glitter clothespin magnets!

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Glitter photography at its finest. ♥

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Need a GNO staple? You might remember our *DIY glitter handbag* tutorial:

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How gorgeous are these sparkly branches?

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Just a little collage of loveliness…

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Love these DIY scarf flats? The gals at Scarves.net tell you how to make your own!

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 Gal pal party perfection.

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Every coffee table should have this.

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Holy homemade sparkle shirt!

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We’re diggin’ Rachel Gilbert’s super-sparkle  dress sophistication:

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 Just about the greatest glitter wall we’ve ever seen.

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 Spruce up those nails with a pinch of sparkle polish:

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*Neck candy *

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Just a touch of sass and metallic sparkle makes this handbag swoon-worthy:

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Can you spot the hint of glitter in our Valentine’s Day Guide?

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The more sparkle, the better! Because the way we see it, you can never overdo such fabulousness.

Happy Friday loves! ♥

The HH gals

Pastels are all the rage this spring, and we’re pretty fond of these light colors. Soft pink and minty green are getting a lot of attention, so we’ve chosen some spring essentials in these hues. Psst…recognize the Melodie shoulder bag and Sarah clutch? They’re ours, and they’re right on trend!

{1-blouse} {2 -dress} {3-belt} {4-sunglasses}

{5-shoulder bag} {6-flats} {7-envelope clutch} {8-earrings} {9-jeans}

Have any favorites? I love them all, but those flats are on my must-have list! And the minty jeans are everywhere, so they’re on my radar. If you’re eyeing the Melodie or Sarah bag, remember you can win a $65 gift card by entering our contest! Just four days left to enter and win!

Whether you love to wear pearls and heels to the supermarket, or sail around the harbor in your boat shoes and polo shirt, style doesn’t matter when it comes to wardrobe staples. Forget about your favorite pink sneakers or your favorite studded jacket — there are some wardrobe essentials that belong in every gal’s closet.

♥1. A classic over-the-shoulder messenger bag. When it comes to toting life’s necessities around, sometimes you need a bag that will carry, well, everything from your favorite afternoon snack to your daughter’s stuffed elephant… in style.

♥2. A striped scarf with a pop of color. Nothing pulls together a look better than a scarf. Seriously.

♥3. A classic animal print scarf. Because you can never have too many scarves.

♥4. The essential French striped shirt. Patterns, prints, solids — you can mix a striped shirt with whatever your fashionable heart desires.

♥5. A classic and timeless LBD. A bit cliche? Maybe. It’s cliché for a reason — it rocks.

♥6. Red high heels. Every wardrobe needs a bit of sass mixed with sophistication.

♥7. Fabulous evening clutch. For all of those hot dates and weekend soirees.

♥8. Classic pencil skirt. The pencil skirt is not only for the office — dress it down with a slouchy sweater or wear it under a tunic.

♥9. Classic riding boots. They go with everything. I mean everything.

♥10. A statement necklace. When you need that pop of color for your ensemble, add a bit of glamour to your look.

It’s couture fashion week in Paris! That means fabulous and fanciful gowns by fashion’s most elite designers. Here are my personal favorites from some shows so far…

Christian Dior {STUNNING red!}

Christian Dior {so Betty Draper of Mad Men!}

Versace  {tangerine is this year’s “it” color}

Versace {taking bets — who will wear this on the red carpet?}

Chanel {so 1930s!}

Chanel {Lagerfeld knows classic/modern}

Which are your favorites? I’m ogling the Dior red gown! I can see it now — me in that red dress, gliding down the staircase of some glamorous event, clutching this little evening bag, and being so fabulous. Ahhh…

Photo Creds: Style.com

Feeling “blah” this Wednesday? Erase it with some beauty of the past…

Vintage photo by Nina Leen

Harper’s Bazaar Cover, 1950

Swimwear ad for Joset Walker, 1952

There, isn’t the “blah” removed?

We love a handbag that’s versatile enough to be styled multiple ways.  A bag that can go from casual to formal — and even be worn during different seasons — means more bang for your buck! The Broad Ripple Satchel, a Handbag Heaven best seller, is one of those handbags that can be styled in a number of ways. This bag was featured in the May 2011 edition of Rachel Ray’s magazine and comes in five different colors: bronze, pewter, dark brown, white, and red. I’ve chosen the bronze version to showcase three different ways you can style this particular bag.

Look One: This first look is perfect for a date night — or even an afternoon of lunch and shopping with gal pals. The satchel pairs nicely with black leggings, a pair of riding boots, and a sweater dress for a look that feels comfy but looks amazing! I think gold jewelry really complements the Broad Ripple Satchel’s gold hardware.

Look Two: The second look is a little dressier, perfect for a holiday soiree or a New Year’s Eve bash. The bronze color of the bag goes perfectly with the jade shade of the dress. Pair them with some glitter pumps, a bauble necklace, and a turban headband to be one glamorous gal.

Look Three: I don’t know about anyone else, but I saw the first snow of the season last week and now I can’t get the cold out of my mind. For this look, I paired the handbag with a scarf, boots, and a sweater. Pile the layers on and add a coat and some warm socks to fight off winter’s chill.

Now I know I’m not speaking only for myself when I say a handbag becomes one’s best friend and it’s easy to become attached. That’s why it’s great to find the perfect satchel bag or hobo handbag that allows you to wear it with multiple looks! Once you find the right handbag and learn how to style it for different occasions, you’ll be able to take that baby with you where ever you go!

Last week we shared What’s in My Handbag Pt 1 featuring the fabulous odds and ends found in Sarah’s handbag. This week, it’s Beth’s turn to share what she totes around in her favorite bag!

Click here to view the embedded video.

What’s in Beth’s satchel bag:

• Gloves (moose pattern, to be exact!)
• Clutch
• Sunglasses
• Laptop charger
• Keys
• Envelope from a Christmas card
• Pack of tissues
• Vitamins
• Two pairs of headphones…? I’m either overly prepared or overly nerdy. I’ll let you decide.
• Butler basketball game ticket stub – Go Dawgs!
• Eye drops

What do you keep in your handbag? Let us know in the comments below!

Get the gorgeous Broad Ripple Satchel from Handbag Heaven!

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We’re huge fans of watching “What’s in My Handbag” videos and reading posts on what other gals tote around in their bag and decided it’s about time we share ours with you!

Click here to view the embedded video.

*Psst: Don’t judge on the freeze frame – ha ha

Here’s what’s in Sarah’s Sami Quilted Handbag:

• Moleskin Calendar/Planner (one for 2011 AND 2012)
• Wallet (full of junk and receipts)
• Checkbook
• Hand lotion (Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar)
• Post-It notes
• iPhone
• List of addresses for random errand
• Orbit gum
• Business cards
• Flash drive
• Pens
• Sunglasses (this pair from Sunglass Warehouse)
• Keys
• Nail file
• Sheer Cover lip gloss palette
• Wristlet pouch full of lip gloss (here’s the one I wear every day)
• More lip gloss
• More chapstick
• Perfume sample (Versace Bright Crystal)
• Sharpie

What’s in YOUR handbag? Tell us in the comments below!

Hello! I am Stacie and I am so excited to be writing for the stylish ladies (and gent ) at Handbag Heaven today! I am a writer over at Handbag Heaven’s sister site, Scarves.net, and while I am totally in love with my job researching new scarf ideas, crafty scarf projects, and new ways to wear scarves, sometimes it’s nice to switch gears and work on a different type of project.

As a recent college graduate, I’ve got to make a pretty strict budget. I’ve never been able to afford some of the drool-worthy designer pieces that prickle your skin and get your heart racing so I always try and figure out how to make DIY versions. The Kate Spade Owl Purse is a bag I’ve been looking at for a long time. Not only is it way out of my price range, it is also unavailable! So a DIY was unavoidable.

How to make the Kate Spade Owl Purse:

For this DIY you need:

• Paper towels to make templates of wings
• Purse (I used the Ashton mini satchel.)
• Superglue
• Leather
• Beads or buttons for eyes
• Spray Paint
• Grommets
• Grommet puncher
• Patience

Step # 1: Cut out all the patches of leather that you need for the wings. I layered paper towels on top of the purse and cut templates to put on the leather. If you don’t want to use lots of leather, you can just cut one piece for the wing, but I like the layered effect that the real purse has.

Step #2: Glue the wings on. I used the E-6000 superglue. This stuff is so great because it is flexible.

For the middle section, leave a bit of the wing unglued so that you can glue the little feathers underneath. To clamp down the superglue on the purse, I used an assortment of claw clips and bobby pins. They work really well even though it doesn’t really look too pretty. Let this dry, preferably overnight.

Step #3: Cut the feathers out of your leather scraps.

I cut little sections like that because I had these little leather remnants to use up, but I recommend cutting them in one strip. It makes it easier. After you have them cut out, punch the grommets into the feathers.

Step #4: After you have the grommets in the feathers, glue the feathers together so that they are one section. Don’t glue the bottoms of the feathers down to the purse. You want them to flap a bit. Don’t get your superglue on the suede, either.

Step #5: Cut out the eyes from the yellow leather

I notched little pieces out of the circles I cut for the eyes. Then I stitched the little yellow heart beads to one layer of the leather and then glued them all together.

Step #6: Cut out the triangular piece of leather that goes above the eyes of the owl. Glue this into place, leaving a little open on the bottom so you can slip the eyes in underneath to create the angry look that owls usually have. Put a bit of glue on the back of the eyes and then slip them under to make the cute angry owl face. Make sure everything is in its place. You can let these stages dry and then go back and touch parts up with a dab of glue. This is where patience comes in. Don’t hurry and mess it up. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way many times.

Step #7: Cut out the beak.

I didn’t have gold leather so I just took some gold spray paint and painted the suede side of a little snippet of leather. It worked really well, I am always surprised by how awesome spray paint is. Then you just need to cut out the diamond shape and glue it in place between the eyes.

Step #8: Glue everything down and make sure everything is going to stay. The thing about the E-6000 glue is that if there is enough glue there, it is not going anywhere. You just have to make sure it does not show.

Make sure the edges are down. This is where the claw clips come in handy. Thank you 1999 hairstyles.

And voila! Thanks again to Beth, Sarah, and Nate for letting me post today! You can pop over to my blog to see more DIY projects and crafts.