Eleventh Hour Spring Top Week Entry!

Here's my entry for Spring Top Week at Made by Rae. Yes, the deadline is one hour away! Yes, I only started it this morning! And YES, the only way it ended up getting done was because Susan sat next to me and practically forced me at gunpoint! (ha ha! Really though, Susan, THANKS for your help -- it is the only way it was ever going to happen!)

Let me just say, sewing apparel is not my strong point. In fact, it scares the living daylights out of me! But I SURVIVED! And I think my top is wearable!


Then, of course, being loopy and crazed after surviving the creation of this top whilst juggling, wrestling and wrangling five children (who may or may not have watched two movies during the process), we had a very goofy "photo shoot" outside in the wind. Hey, you've gotta take ADVANTAGE of wind in a photo shoot, right??

...somewhat embarassing...

...even more embarassing!

But it was really funny at the time!
Oh dear.
I am sure I will regret posting these photos!

Rhinestone Bracelets -- from Shoelaces!

My son's pirate-themed birthday party was this weekend, and I had so much fun thinking about and coming up with party favors. I've been watching the "fashion shoelaces" at the dollar store for a while now, wondering what I could make with them. Finally the occasion came, and I came up with these rhinestone-studded skull-and-crossbone bracelets for the girls at the party -- myself included!

What you need:

fashion shoelaces
My dollar store carries polka dot, leopard print, flowery print, and skull shoelaces

rhinestone applique
also at the dollar store! It doesn't matter what the applique is, because you will be taking it apart; I picked the skull because it had the most rhinestones!

1/4" elastic
tweezers
iron

STEP ONE: Using your tweezers, gently scrape some rhinestones away from the plastic-y sticker covering on your rhinestone applique. Carefully place the rhinestones where you want them.

STEP TWO: Cut some of that plastic-y sticker stuff and use it to hold your rhinestones in place. Follow the instructions on your applique and press them in place with your hot iron. (Mine had me place a thin fabric over the top before pressing, then press again from the wrong side.)

I loved the rhinestone eyes, but the design needed something more...

...so I added a few rhinestones between each skull.

STEP THREE: Cut your shoelace. I cut mine approximately 6 1/2" for an adult size. Then tuck the raw edges of one side of the shoelace piece inside.

STEP FOUR: Cut a small piece of your elastic. (I cut mine about 2".) Stuff one end of the elastic into your shoelace.

STEP FIVE: Carefully sew over the folded edge, catching the elastic inside. You may need to use a stiletto to push the bracelet through your machine -- I used my seam ripper. I sewed back and forth three or four times to secure it. You will then repeat Steps Three through Five to finish the other side of your bracelet.

Ta-Da! Fabulous and sparkly!!
I would LOVE to see a headband version of this!!

**Note: I don't know how secure the rhinestones will be -- therefore I would not give one of these bracelets to a child who might put it in her mouth.**

Green Army Men Freezer Paper Template

When I made my green army men freezer paper templates to go along with my Army Bunker Tent last week, I also made the boys some T-shirts. Classic! I love how they turned out!

(Oh yeah -- I found my T-shirts -- where else? -- the dollar store, of course! SCORE!)

If you'd like a copy of my templates, find them here.

Fall Swap Stuff

A couple weeks ago I participated in a Fall Favorites Swap. I haven't heard from Melonie, but I must assume she's received her package by now. Here is what I sent:

Yep! That's the fleece throw from my tutorial a couple weeks ago!

I made this little fleece "Candy Corn Guy" for her 18-month-old son. His arms and legs are made from a dollar store shoelace. (Don't worry, I stitched them a zillion times to make sure they wouldn't fall out!)


I made this little "Candy Corn Skirt" for her four-year-old daughter. I thought it turned out pretty cute! I hope it fits her.....

And this is what I received from Meka, who swapped to me! The little hat is just ADORABLE on JellyBean, and my boys are loving the candy corn pencil case. And the bows! The CUTEST!!

Thanks, Meka!

Simple Clothing and Toy Tags -- TUTORIAL

Handmade clothing and toys are so popular right now. But how do you inexpensively "advertise" the things you've made? By making your own tags, of course!

SUPPLIES:

~ Stamps
~Fabric Paint
~ Ribbon scraps or twill tape
(I got 72 yards of 5/8" twill tape online for about $8!)

Step One: Choose your stamp. I used a party favor letter stamp kit I found at a dollar store for one version, and a handcarved stamp for another.


Step Two: Spread a thin layer of permanent fabric paint on a stack of paper. (This is so it won't bleed through onto your table.)


Step Three: Ink up your stamp and stamp your ribbon or twill tape! Be sure to let it dry for the amount of time your fabric paint specifies.


Step Four: Stitch it into your creation!

EASY!

More Dollar Store T-Shirts

I've got lots on my list today, so this will be a quick post....

First of all, I wanted to show you just HOW bad these T-shirts look on me.

Here's the before:

And here's another after:

In this photo I am also sporting the "sleep shorts" I made from a size 3X T-shirt. All I did was cut the legs off some old, seriously decrepit pajama pants to the length I wanted, then cut them apart to make a pattern. I cut town the center front, up the center back, and then at the inseam. One pattern piece! I laid it with the bottom of the pattern on the existing hem of the superhuge shirt, cut it out, and whipped it together. Three seams, plus the waistband, and I was DONE! I actually quite like the fit!

Speaking of sleeping:
I also threw together this nightgown, made from two T-shirts. I did the peasant-style top from my tutorial, then took another shirt and cut it across the chest just below the arms. I chopped the hem off the top shirt, then sewed them together. EASY. It's very comfy, and cute to boot!

Dollar Store Shirt to Peasant Top -- TUTORIAL

I think I'm becoming obsessed with Dollar Store "Irregular" T-Shirts. Take a look at my latest project!

I made THIS:
(photo courtesy of Buzz's awesome "4-year-old photographer" skills!)


out of THIS:
This project will take MINUTES. All you need is:

~ a Dollar Store T-Shirt
you want it to fit well in the hip area
(check where the "irregularity" is -- I find it's usually a tiny hole)

~ bobbin loaded with elastic thread
(HAND wind it without stretching!!)

~ regular thread in a color to match your shirt

~ serger


STEP ONE: Cut your shirt as shown in the photo.


STEP TWO: Gently serge around all raw edges using a rolled hem stitch, being careful not to stretch the fabric. (When you get to the part on the neckline where you cut into the sleeve, gently straighten the fabric and continue guiding it into the serger.)


If you are digging the 80's off-the-shoulder look, stop here and throw it on over your leotard!

If not, continue:
STEP THREE: With your regular thread above and the elastic in the bobbin, lengthen your stitch to 3.5 or so. (I did 3.75) Beginning with the neckline, line up the edge of your presser foot with the serged edge. Go backward and forward a few stitches two or three times to ensure the elastic won't pull out. Stitch all the way around the neckline. When you get to where you started, veer off to the left until the right edge of the presser foot is lined up with your first row of stitching. Gently pull the fabric flat as you go, and don't sew over any "tucks." Go around the number of rows you like (I did three rows on this one), and when you get back to where you started, veer back in to your most recent line of stitching, remembering to backstitch again.


If you like the fluttery, sticky-outy (technical term, there!) look in your sleeves, you can stop here!

If not, continue:

STEP FOUR: Stitch around your sleeves, starting at the seam in the underarm, lining up the foot with the edge and backstitching the same way as in step three. I did one row of stitching here, and backstitched when I completed the row.

YOU'RE DONE!!

This would make a super cute maternity top -- all you would have to do is start with a shirt in Size Giganto. (No offense, pregnant ladies!!) Or, if you find a youth size shirt, this could be adorable on a little girl!!

Thrifted Hideosity into Cute Skirt!

I don't know if "hideosity" is an actual word, but it fits the bill in this case!

I found this monstrosity a couple weeks ago at a thrift store 99 cent sale. It's a women's size 18 and looks like it came straight out of the 80's. Luckily for whoever owned it, it also looks like it was never worn.

It was lined, so after removing the pink portion from the denim and cutting it in half I attatched the top of the lower section's lining to the bottom of the upper section's lining. It was a little tricky to deal with the side seam, but it did work. Then I took some cute heart quilting fabric that matched just right and made an elastic waistband casing.

Here it is in its new life as a two-tiered skirt for my 6-year-old niece! Her two requirements for dresses/skirts are: 1) it must be a girl color, and 2) it must be "twirly."

Perfection! And not too shabby for 99 cents!!

Refashions Galore!!

I haven't done this much sewing in one day in AGES! And yet I still haven't had enough!!

First up: Independence Day shirts for the boys.

Two red shirts, two old, VERY DEAD flag shirts, a printout of "USA" in a font I liked, and a disappearing ink marker.

I cut out the centers of the letters, then using the outline of the letters, I traced them onto the flag part of a VERY DEAD shirt. (I used the outline so I could see my placement.)

I straight-stitched around the letters, then cut away the excess.

Ta-Da!! From very boring red shirts and VERY DEAD old shirts, to new Independence Day shirts for the boys!!

Next up: A skirt and onesie for JellyBean.

I was very inspired by Ashley's 4th of July refashion for her daughter over at Lil Blue Boo, and made JellyBean a new outfit using some of the same methods.

First I cut around the rhinestone flag from a years-past shirt of my own and appliqued it onto a onesie.

Then I used only the sleeves of this DOLLAR STORE shirt to make the skirt. (I already had plans for the rest of the shirt!)


As I was looking for my scissors in my sewing drawer I found a little scrap of ribbon perfect for a faux tie on the skirt!


Since the skirt is so short, I couldn't resist using one of the sleeve scraps to put a little message on JellyBean's cute little bum!

Next up: ME, at last!!

I took these thrift store pants with a GIANT hem, and....

...made myself some capris!! Being the lil' shortie that I am, I have a hard time finding capris that don't look like ridiculously short pants on me. I just whacked off the legs, then chopped off the hem and reattached it. I also created little vents on the sides for interest. I've been wearing them all day, hot off the sewing machine!

....I've already got plants for the rest of the legs....

Then, since the onesie-skirt combo wasn't quiiiiiite girly enough for me...

...I made a sundress, too! I added a ruffle this time. It is absolutely ADORABLE on my little JellyBean!!!

Well, I have guests coming in ten minutes. Guess I'd better use those ten minutes to get ready for them!

A Few Things....

I may have mentioned this before, but... A few friends on my street and I get together once a week to do "craft day." (I guess that's what you'd call it!) We rotate houses and teach each other something that we know how to make. We have done bracelets, aprons, etching, and -- this week we made sundresses! This was the one I made. It will soon be shipping out to one of my nieces! I made a headband to match, but don't have a photo. This dress was a stashbuster!!


JellyBean's towel has already started coming apart. My solution? Well, since I am a Quilting Mama, here it is!

I whacked off the two finished ends and slapped on a binding made from some quilting fabric scraps! Ta-da! Usable once more without coming apart or snagging little fingers!

Here's an update on the quilt I started (again) a few days ago. I went ahead and pieced all the squares together, real boring-like and FAST, after I found out one of my good friends from high school is in the hospital again. She has had very poor health since we graduated. I actually have not seen her since graduation, but we've kept in touch through snail-mail over the years. She lives miles and miles away from where I am, but this quilt is destined for her! I quilted it with an all-over stipple. I tell you, my machine was practically smoking by the time I finished quilting it! The binding is attached; I just have to hand finish it tonight while I watch a movie! Then on Monday it will be in the mail, on its way to cheer Jen!