Art Project

Whenever my nieces are in town, they want to do some kind of crafty art project.  After spending more time than I should have on Pinterest, I decided to try the tape art that I did last summer.  This was a great project for the girls, because it required very minimal adult supervision, and it pretty much looks cool no matter how you place the tape.  The full instructions are on my previous post, but here's a quick run through.  

Step 1 - Put tape on the canvas in whatever formation you want.  

Step 2 - Paint in each of the openings, whatever color you want.

Step 3 - Once the paint dries, remove the tape and admire your fancy new artwork.

Matching outfits are optional, but look nice in photos.  I'd definitely recommend this as a fun and easy project for kids!

How to Save a Favorite Dress

I bought this dress at H&M a couple months before I got married (way back in 2007).  I didn't have very many dresses at that point in my life, and I really loved this one.  I think it cost about $15.  I've worn it way more than 15 times.  If I'm honest with myself, the top has never been ideal for my body type.  I always had to wear a camisole underneath to keep it decent.  In the last 6 years, I may have gained a few inches around my whole self, so the fitted top didn't really fit at all anymore.  The last time I wore it, I did the "dress as a skirt" trick.  At that point, I thought I should really chop it into a skirt.  Almost a year later, I finally got around to it!

This was really easy, and didn't take much time!  I could see myself doing this again with other dresses - maybe even searching the thrift store with skirt-ifying in mind.  Here's what I did: 

Step 1 was dealing with the zipper in the back.  I just did a little seam ripping, and then sewed a new seam where the zipper had been.  This was pretty easy, because I could just follow the thread lines that were already there!

Step 2 is where I had to commit!  I'm not a precision person AT ALL, so I just used the current waist as a guide and chopped the skirt part off!  

Step 3 was pinning around the elastic, so I would know where to sew my new band.  I left the elastic in, so I could be sure it would fit in the tube I sewed.

I left about 2 inches open, so I could play around with how much elastic to use.  I threaded the elastic through the tube with a bodkin (which is super useful) and then put the skirt on and safety pinned the elastic together where it was comfortable for me.  I wanted the skirt to still be flowy/drapey, so I arranged the fabric somewhat evenly around the new waistband, and sewed up the rest of the waistband part.

This last part is optional, but I wanted to keep the elastic from twisting, and I wanted to keep the gathers somewhat even, so I tacked the waistband in at the back and on the sides.

Here's the final product!  I'm pretty excited for my new skirt.  

 

Do you ever refashion your clothes?  Any clever ideas that I should try?

Anchor Sweater DIY

At some point in the last year or so, I decided that I really wanted a navy sweater with a giant anchor on the front of it (like this or this).  Then about 6 months ago, I realized my current navy sweater (worn here, here, and here) wasn't great for layering in the winter, because it is so thin.  Then, I found this one at Gap for about $6, and it's perfect for winter time.  At that point, I began scheming about how I could turn my thinner one into an anchor sweater.  I did some research on the best way to paint clothes, and found this great tutorial from one of my favorite bloggers.  Winning!  I won't rehash her instructions, but here are some pictures of my project.

Things I learned: 

1. Wax Paper is not the same as Freezer Paper.  When you try to iron wax paper onto a sweater, nothing happens.  
2. Freezer paper is surprisingly difficult to find.  I actually had to go to Wal-mart!  
3. Self-healing mats and rotary cutters are magic.  I re-remember this every time I use it.  I'm not sure I would have been able to cut out the stencil shape properly on my own.    
4. The paint I bought took 4 hours to dry.  Kayla's tutorial said the paint would dry pretty fast, so my patience was being tested!  I wanted to finish the project on Saturday, but the first coat wasn't dry, so I had to apply the second coat on Sunday evening.  I wanted to wear this sweater RIGHT NOW, so the slower than slow drying paint was annoying. 

Overall, this was a pretty simple project (once I had the appropriate supplies).  I would be interested in finding a paint that dries faster, if such a thing exists.  Don't be surprised if I do more freezer paper stencil projects! 

Sweater: Gap (DIYed)
Shirt and Skirt: Gap
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Wreath Party

Stripes over plaid was completely inspired by this pin.  I wish my plaid shirt was peeking out more, but otherwise, I love this layering!  I had a date with my friend Brooke to make some wreaths for Christmas, so I had to pose by her gorgeous Christmas tree!

Wreath-making was a blast. We were missing Anne, so we set up the iPad and Skyped her in for the evening.  It was awesome.

I was hoping to make something similar to this, but I had to make a few adjustments.  I had a bunch of leftover twine from when I made this, so decided to use that instead of yarn.  Then I couldn't find any fake holly berry at the store, so I grabbed this giant poinsettia, and abandoned the felt flowers, too.  When I got started, about 1/4 of the way around my wreath, I realized I would not have enough twine.  Brooke offered to loan me some sparkly red yarn, and I decided to do approximate quarters.  She also loaned me some holly berry sprigs, which I think helped pull it all together.  While I was in process, I was pretty worried, but I think it turned out well.   

Sweater and Jeans: Old Navy
Shirt: J.Crew
Boots: Wanted via Piperlime

I'm linking up with Shanna today for Random Wednesday.  You should go check it out!

Nailed It!

Over Thanksgiving break, my sisters wanted to show me this cool nail polish trick that they had tried a few weeks ago.  We gathered supplies and got started.
I think it was supposed to look like this.  It actually looked like this:

I kept trying different colors, to see if the newer or fuller nail polish bottles would work better.  My pinky looks the best, but it was still pretty rough.  I can't really imagine how someone could get it as perfect as the pictures on Pinterest show.   When we started the project, I thought it would be really cool to blog about.  After my total failure, I figured I might as well go ahead and share anyway.  Just keeping it real.

Old Purse? Add Chevron!

As I was organizing photos, I realized that I never posted about this little purse refashion I did a few months ago.  This purse is really old.  I don't remember what year, but my sister and I went to Kansas City for a sister's shopping weekend.  I think I was in middle school at the time.  Anyway, I was a big fan of Steve Madden shoes (as evidenced here) and was not aware that he made anything else.  I think we were at the Halls department store when we found the Steve Madden purse section.  So exciting!  Over the years, I have kept this purse because it is perfect for occasions when I need a few things, but don't want a full purse (like concerts, or zoo trips).  I mean, it's just a tad outdated, but who is going to judge me at the zoo?

 A few months ago, I had some leftover fabric from this project, and decided the old Steve Madden purse could use a face-lift.  With very little plan, I got out my Mod Podge and went to work.  I wish I had thought it through a little more, but I just measured and cut the fabric and started gluing it to the front flap.  

Here's the final result: 

It's not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good.  A nice chevron print can distract me from minor flaws.  In hindsight, I should have seam-ripped the "Steve Madden" patch off before I started gluing!  Anyway, I think it will still be good for concerts and zoo trips!

DIY Purse Refashion

 

I've been wanting a bright yellow purse for a few years.  I just think it's the perfect cheerful bag for summer.  On a recent trip to Goodwill, I saw this Liz Claiborne purse and loved the size, color, style - everything except the gold hardware with the flower/butterfly/LC designs on it. 

close up on the hardware

So, I decided to get the purse and be a little crafty!  I bought some chevron print fabric and mod podge and went to work!  

First I covered the big buckle with the chevron fabric.  Then I covered the little squares with the fabric, and it looked sloppy.  So, I decided to just paint them instead.  I had some gray acrylic paint leftover from this project, so I didn't even have to buy anything extra.

Here's the final result - I really like it! 

Have you ever DIY'ed a purse to make it more your style?  What other ideas do you have?

Fourth of July and a DIY

Happy Fourth of July!  I hope you are all having fun with friends and family!  Don't do anything foolish with fireworks, ok??

So, here's a fun patriotic DIY project, that you could modify for whatever design you wanted on a t-shirt.  I have to give all the credit to Brooke for finding this idea on Pinterest.  We got together on Sunday afternoon to make this happen. 

Supplies:

• t-shirt
• Cardstock - for cutting out the stars
• Painters tape
• spray paint (red and blue for this one)
• scissors
• some kind of straight edge (like a yardstick)

Step 1: 
tape your shirt in whatever pattern you are going for.  We just stuck the stars to the upper right corner and then did the stripes.  Make sure the tape is really sticking well, to avoid messy lines. 

Step 2:  Somehow, you need to protect the sections that are different colors for when you spray paint.  I taped a box over the stars part, and then used notebook paper to protect the stripes part when I sprayed the stars.  

Step 3:  Spray Paint the shirt.

Step 3:  Once the paint has dried, you can either leave your t-shirt as is, or you can turn it into a cute tank top.  We used this tutorial, and I didn't take pictures of every step.  Here's the part where I had just cut off the sleeves and the crew-neck.    

And here's the final result!  

  

I think it's pretty fun and cute!  Perfect for hanging out with friends and shooting off fireworks.  I even made a 4th of July cake for our party!   My artistic skills rival that of any 5 year old!  If you are troubled by the wiggly stripes, just pretend this flag is waving in the wind.  And please don't count the stars or stripes. 

DIY Modern Art

Last week, my friends and I got together to be artsy.  I've had this project on my list  for quite awhile, so I was pretty excited to finally do it.  This was super easy and (I think) looks awesome!

Step 1:  Gather supplies.  You just need a canvas, some painters tape, acrylic paint and paint brushes.  I used 3/4in tape, but you can get it as skinny or as wide as you want it.   

Step 2:  Tape a crazy pattern on your canvas.  Make sure to push out any bubbles if you want to have really clean lines.  I missed a few spots, but I'm just saying it adds character.   If you are really serious about it, you can also draw up a plan on your computer before you tape, to see what the end result will be.  I just kind of randomly put tape on there, and I was happy with the result. 

Step 3:  Paint your piece!  I used a pencil to mark which color was going in each spot, to make sure I got the look I was aiming for.   After I was done painting, I was a little nervous. 

Step 4:  When the paint is still a little wet, remove the tape.  If you let the paint dry, it might peel off with the tape.  Since the paint is still a little wet, just be careful as you remove the tape.  

Step 5:  Show off your awesome new artwork!  I am pretty excited about the end result!  

And since I call this a fashion blog, it wouldn't be complete without an outfit picture!  I turned my t-shirt inside out and made a little apron out of a trash bag to protect myself against the paint!  Pretty classy, right?

Bonus picture:  Look how cute my painting looks in the back of Brooke's car!  It was meant to be! 

Now I am excited about trying some other crazy art projects.  Have you done anything artsy recently? 

Lemon Yellow

Do you ever have white shirts that get dingy and unwearable (perhaps even pit-stained)?  I'm not saying I do, just hypothetically... 

Anyway, I wanted to salvage these things, and RIT dye was my best idea.  I've used RIT before in the washing machine, but got kind of uneven results.  I decided to try the kitchen sink this time around.

Step 1:  Gather whatever clothes you want to dye.

Before

Step 2:  Get your supplies ready.  All you need is dye and salt!

Step 3:  Fill the sink with hot water, add salt.

Step 4:  Add the dye to the water, get the clothes wet, and then add the clothes to the water, too.  Stir them around to make sure they are thoroughly saturated.

Step 5:  The directions said to "Stir constantly for 30-60 minutes", but I had better things to do than standing at the sink for an hour, so I just let them soak and stirred every 10-15 minutes.  


Step 6:  When the time is up, rinse the clothes until the water runs clear (or mostly clear if you are impatient!).  Then wash and dry them like normal.

Step 7:  Revel in your awesome new clothing pieces!  I'm especially excited about my new yellow cardigan!  

I call this a pretty successful dye job!  I have another white cardigan that needs some help.  I'm just trying to decide what color to go with.  What do you think I should do?

Have any of you tried dyeing clothes before?  How did it turn out?

PS-I should add, bleach out your sink before your husband gets home and notices you turned it yellow!  

PPS - I already wore my new cardigan - here. 

DIY Pillowcase Dresses

This is my favorite project from when my nieces were visiting, and quite possibly my favorite project ever.  I've had my eye on some pillowcase dress tutorials, but with this project, I was really not that interested in following directions.  Sometimes, I would just rather wing it!

So, we went to Walmart to find some pillowcases and ribbons.  First, we had picked out some really basic gray pillowcases, thinking any ribbon would go well with it.  Then we saw an end-cap display with fun pillowcases, including these polka dotted ones.  SOLD!

Then we went to the ribbon aisle and let the girls pick out whatever ribbon they wanted (within reason).  I think both of their choices were super cute!

So, then we got started!  My sister helped out quite a bit on this project.  We worked after the girls were asleep, and had some pretty awesome sister time while we were working. 

Step 1:  Seam-rip the closed end of the pillow-cases.  NOTE:  depending on the type of fabric you are using, you might need to stitch a little hem after you rip the seam.  This fabric was fraying quite a bit, so I did a quick zigzag stitch to keep it in check.

Step 2:  Cut the armholes.  This is not an exact science.  We used another dress as a guideline.  Then I just made about a 1/4 inch fold and sewed around that, to make a finished edge.  You could also use bias tape.  

Step 3 (optional):  Sew the ribbon around the bottom of the pillowcase.  I just think this adds some extra cuteness and interest to the dress.  In these pictures, we were just making sure the dresses were long enough.  For taller kids, you could probably sew a band of extra fabric around the bottom to get the right length. 

Delia

Matti

Step 4:  Measure how wide your ribbon is, and fold the top section down so the ribbon will fit through without bunching.  Then sew that on both front and back.

Step 5:  This was the one part the girls got to help with!  Sliding the ribbon into the slots on the front and back.  I have a bodkin, which makes this super easy.  They did a great job!

Matti and me, and my mess of supplies

Delia, with iCarly in the background

Step 6:  Once the ribbon was threaded through, we had to check the fit.  We decided to just have a bow on one shoulder, but I've seen them with bows on both side.  I mostly just made sure the straps would fit right, and that the arm holes weren't too big. 

fitting Matti

Then I sewed the ribbons into place, and took in the sides a little bit, to make it more A-line, and we were good to go!

Now I want to try making a dress like this for me.  Obviously, I won't be able to start with a pillowcase, but it wouldn't be too hard to start from scratch, right?  I'm thinking something like this.

What other easy sewing projects should I try out??

I'm linking up with The Pretty Pinhead today.  Go check out the other bloggers!