Upcycle T Shirt into Peasant Dress

Easy peasy tutorial!!  Upcycle a favorite t-shirt into a peasant dress for your daughter.

Materials:
1 Tshirt
1/4 to 3/8 inch width elastic

Step 1:  Cut off the top of the tshirt.  Make sure to do a slight upward curve at the sleeves so you don't end up with a V as you hem the sleeves. (I will take a picture of this close up in the next few days and post.)

Step 2: Fold over the neck and sew a casing.  Leave a small opening to insert the elastic.

Step 3:  Insert elastic using a safety pin.  Try on and wiggle around elastic to make sure you have enough, cut and pin. (I use about 18-20 inches for a 3-4T)

Step 4:  Sew elastic ends together.  Insert into the casing, and sew up the casing opening. 

Step 5: Voila! You're done!

Outdoor Halloween Decorating

Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday.  I drag my husband outside every year, and we decorate the yard.  So, here are a few of my decorations.  Some of them I got from Pinterest, others were our own thrift store creations, and others my own ideas.

This idea came from a great picture I found on Pinterest of a ghost circle.  I had one last year with wooden dowels, but the rain bent them.  This time I used 2 foot rebar and it's so much better.  I used lunch sack's stuffed with the sheets from last year's ghost circle. Then I used clear duct tape and cut plastic drop cloths.  Next, I used two sets of our old orange Halloween lights as the fire.  I love how it looks like glowing embers at night, and it's a great way to creep my neighbors out.  My husband put one of our broken skeleton's head as the centerpiece.

I spent about $12.50 for the rebar and a 3 pack of plastic drop cloths.  Everything else I had at home. 

This is our thrift store find.  We found a brand new spider web, spider, and a two pack of barbie dolls (though this one is technically Midge).  I wrapped her like a mummy in yarn, and we made the sign.  This one is over one set of windows.  We live on a corner lot, so I have a second one up now on another part of the house with another barbie who is completely wrapped up, even her head with another spider, but it wasn't up yet while I was taking pictures. 

 

Next is our tree ghosts.  This is a composite of several ideas I've seen on Pinterest and other blogs.  These are cheesecloth and paper lantern ghosts.  I bought two packages of the rolls of cheesecloth in the Halloween section at Walmart.  I think they were less than $3-4/ea.  It was 6 yds x 36 inches wide.  I purchased a 3 pack of white paper lanterns from Hobby Lobby for $4.99.  They are in the party decoration area.  Then, I used our battery operated flickering tea lights (the ones for your jack o'lanterns).  You can get a 2 pack of those with extra batteries for about $2.99. 

First, I cut out ghost eyes and mouths from duct tape and stuck them on each lantern.  I used purple because my children's rainbow of duct tape colors was conveniently missing the black.  Then, I cut varying lengths of the cheesecloth (around 2 yds each) and threaded it over the hook on the top of the paper lanterns.  I had enough to do 2 layers on each ghost, to give it a ripped up look.  Then I taped up the bottom of each lantern so the tea light would not fall out.



I love the way they blow with the wind and flicker at night.  They came out better than I expected.  And, even in a torrential rainstorm, they came out perfectly fine.





These are some of our decorations.  I have other regular ol' decorations like lights around trees, light up bats, the messy spider webs with giant spiders coming off our garage lights, etc.  You can find some great cheap stuff at thrift stores in Aug/Sept before Halloween.  I get practically new decorations for cheap, like my latest zombie bride door hanging that was probably $10 or more in a store, I paid 1.99.

We also have various small 3-ft skeletons climbing our house.  Those we put up with clear duct tape.  If you open the daylight paper lantern ghosts picture, you'll see on our skeletons climbing up the house. These were purchased at Target for $9.99/ea I think? I can't remember the price.

Oh! I found a picture of the one climbing the street lamp  in our yard.



I do have some special decorations that are "one night only" that will go up on Halloween.  I'll take pictures of those and share next week.

Part 3 - DARTH VADER of the Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture Tutorial

 

This is Part 3 of my Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture tutorial. This tutorial will show you how to make a Darth Vader ribbon sculpture hair decoration. I have it pictured both on a hair clip and on a headband, so you can see which you like better.

As in my previous posts, I've seen tutorials that tell you to use that fray spray, but I don't like it. I prefer to seal my ribbon edges with FIRE!  Since I've started this tutorial, I purchased a woodburning tool (with my 50% off coupon!!) from one of the craft stores, and it works great.  You just barely run the edge of the tool along the raw edge and it seals easily and quickly.

Darth Vader Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip / Headband Tutorial

Materials: 
Hot glue gun or fillet tape
Scissors
Lighter or wood burning tool to seal edges
Ribbons: 

•    Black 3/8 inch:  1 piece of 3.5 in, 2 pieces 5/8 in./ea, 4 pieces of 1.25 in, 1 piece 5.5 in
•    Black 5/8 inch:2 pieces 2 in, 4 pieces 2.5 in
•    Gray 3/8 inch:1 piece 1 in, 1 piece .75 in, 1 piece 1.5 in
•    Red 3/8 inch: 2.25 inch

 Step 1 - Take the 3.5 inch black 3/8 inch ribbon and roll the top into the head and glue.

 

Step 2 - Create the feet and legs.  First, round the edges and seal the two 3/8 inch ribbons that are 5/8 inch in length.  Then glue them onto the end of two pieces of the 1.25 in pieces of 3/8 inch ribbon to form legs as shown. 

  

Step 3 - Glue the legs onto the body as shown. 

  

Step 4 - Take the other two pieces of 1.25 in back ribbons and round the edges of the arms and seal, then glue them to the body as shown.

  

Step 5 - Take one of the 2 inch pieces of 5/8 in black ribbon, round the lower part of the body, then seal the edge. 

 

Step 6 - Glue the body onto the top of the body as shown.  I glue this up clear up to the head.

 

Step 7 -  Take the 1 inch piece of gray ribbon, fold it over and glue it into a square.  Glue it to the upper body of Darth Vader.

 

Step 8 - Take the 1.5 inch gray ribbon and glue it around Darth's waist for his belt.

Step 9 - Take the four 5/8 inch width ribbons that are 2.5 inches long and glue together as shown to create the cape.  Measure it to the back of Darth Vader so that it will be short enough to glue at his neck, but also show his feet.  Then, round the edges and seal at the bottom as shown. 

  

Step 10 - Round and seal the top of the cape as shown.

Step 11 - Attach the cape at the center of Darth's neck.

Step 12 - Create the front of Darth Vader's cape with the 5.5 inch piece of 3/8 inch black ribbon.  Fold over the middle on both sides and glue as shown in the picture, so that it will fit behind his head and be at the top of the cape.

Step 13 - Glue the top middle of the ribbon to the back of Darth's head and bring the long pieces down in front.  Glue them at various points along the arms and legs to keep in place.  Cut the ribbons to the length of the back cape and seal the edges.

Step 14 - The tricky part.  Take the second 2 inch piece of 5/8 inch ribbon and measure the helmet ribbon around his head and make sure it will be just long enough to right past his head before you cut it and seal it.  Fold in half to mark the middle, then glue the middle to the top of his head (just slightly forward).  Apply glue to the edge of the rounded part of the cape at the neck on one side, just the forward facing edge.  Then, glue the side of the back of the helmet ribbon to that part.  Do this for both sides.  Leave the front of the ribbon unglued.  It gives him a "king tut" look, but it also gives it that look of the Darth Vader helmet.

Step 15 - Make the light saber.  Cut the edge off along the length of the .75 inch gray ribbon.  Seal this edge.  Cut the red ribbon along it's length into the shape of a light saber. I  start out the width of the gray part and cut it down to a rounded point.  Seal all the edges.  Glue the red ribbon behind the gray. 

Step 16 -- Glue the light saber to the hand and along the body.  And you're finished!

Attach to a clip or headband. 

And this completes the Star Wars Trilogy ribbon sculpture.  I will have a new one for another popular trilogy coming soon.  Thanks!

The critics didn't like it

My son, a self proclaimed Star Wars buff, and my "darling" husband did not like my ribbon sculpture for the last character for part 3.  It wasn't good enough for them, blah, blah, blah.  So, to appease the critics, I remade it.  And...success!  They like it and now say it looks awesome.  My sweet little boy was gazing at it adoringly and said it was very cool. Yay!  It was a bit hard to design.  Of course, those two had lots of tips for me to make it better. 

So, FINALLY, after swim team practice tonight, I will post Part 3. 

Then, as soon as my new ribbons arrive, I'll be designing another book/movie trilogy ribbon sculpture. 

Coming Soon part 3

I had planned to complete the Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture Trilogy by last night. But, that was before I had both a sick husband and toddler. So, it will probably by either tonight or tomorrow night before it is up.

On a completely different note, I just finished the first book in a YA adult trilogy called Wake by Lisa McCann. It's about a teenaged girl who gets sucked into other people's dreams when they fall asleep, even if she's wide awake. It was a really easy read, but it was very entertaining. I read it in a day and couldn't stop. I'm anxiously awaiting the second book from my request hold at the library. If you like YA, you might enjoy it too.

Princess Leia Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip Headband - PART 2

This is Part 2 of my Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture tutorial. This tutorial will show you how to make a Princess Leia ribbon sculpture hair decoration. I have it pictured both on a hair clip and on a headband, so you can see which you like better.

As in my Yoda post, I've seen tutorials that tell you to use that fray spray, but I don't like it. I prefer to seal my ribbon edges with FIRE! I usually just light a candle and run my edges close to it to seal them. I'm not good with holding a lighter. I plan to get a wood burning tool very soon to try that method.

Princess Leia Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip / Headband Tutorial

Materials: 
Hot glue gun or fillet tape
Scissors
Lighter or wood burning tool to seal edges
Ribbons: 

•    Peach:  1 piece of 3 in, 2 pieces of 1.25 in
•    White:  1 piece of 1.5 in, 2 pieces of 1.1 in, 3 pieces of 2.5 in

•    Brown - 1/4 inch - 2 pieces of 4 in, 2 pieces of 2.25 in
•    Brown - 3/8 inch - 1 piece of 1.1 in

Step 1 - Take the 3 inch peach ribbon and roll the top into the head and gluing.
Step 2 - Take the 1.5 inch white piece and looping it around the body as shown for the bodice.  Glue it down in the back, but leave it an open loop in the front.

 

Step 3 - Take the two 1.25 in peach ribbons and round the edge of each arm and heat seal. 

Step 4 - Take the two 1.1 in white ribbons, cut at diagonal and heat seal.  Then, glue to the arms for sleeves, as shown.

 

Step 5 - Glue the arms to the back of the body as shown.

Step 6 - Take the three 2.5 inch white ribbons and glue them together so that the top is only the width of one ribbon at the very top, as shown, to create the dress.

Step 7 - Insert and glue the dress under the bodice loop, to hide the raw edges. 

Step 8 - Take the 3/8 in brown piece and cut it at the diagonal for bangs.  Heat seal the bangs, and glue it down the head. 

Step 9 -Take the two 2.25 inch (1/4 inch) brown ribbons and glue them as loops -- make one just slightly smaller than the other. 

Step 10 - Take the loops and insert the smaller one just a bit at the back of the larger loops and glue.  It should look like below. This will be the hair.

Step 11 - Take the two 4-inch brown 1/4 inch ribbons and roll each one into a roll for the "buns."  Glue at the beginning and at the end to secure the roll.  

Step 12 - Glue one on each side of the larger loop ribbon

Now you're done! This is how your completed Princess Leia will look. 

For embellishments, you can add a belt of hot fix crystals or a thin silver ribbon. Personally, I like the hot fix crystals.  Here are a couple of close ups of the finished Leia.

Part 2 in the Star Wars Ribbon Hair Clip - TONIGHT!

I guess this should be known as The Empire Strikes Back of my ribbon sculpture tutorial. And at this point, my darling 13 yr old would be rolling her eyes.

Anyway, look for part 2 of my tutorial to be up tonight. See ya then!

Oh and on a completely unrelated note, by this weekend I should be "mostly" finished with my outdoor Halloween decorating and then I will make a blog post to share. I can't wait!!

Yoda Star Wars Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip Headband Tutorial

Well, believe it or not, I did make time for some blogging.  While making some things for my new booth space, I decided to whip up a 3 part tutorial on some of my favorite "nerd girl" ribbon sculptures.  This is part 1.  There are 2 more parts coming this week from the Star Wars theme.  And no, even though my children have begged, one of them is not going to be Jabba the Hut.  

This tutorial is to make a Yoda ribbon sculpture.  I have it pictured both on a hair clip and on a headband, and both look adorable.

I've seen tutorials that tell you to use that fray spray, but I don't like it.  I prefer to seal my ribbon edges with FIRE!  I usually just light a candle and run my edges close to it to seal them.  I'm not good with holding a lighter.  I plan to get a wood burning tool very soon to try that method.

Yoda Ribbon Sculpture Hair Clip / Headband Tutorial

Materials: 
Hot glue gun or fillet tape
Scissors
Lighter or woodburning tool to seal edges
Ribbons:
Light green (almost a pistachio color):
    1 piece 3.5 in, 1 piece 1.25 in, 4 pieces 1.1 in/ea
Dark Brown:
    1 piece 2.25 in, 1 piece 1.5 in
White:
    1 piece 5 in, 2 pieces 1 in/ea

1.  Take 3.5 inch green piece and roll top into head and secure with hot glue. 

2.  Take the 1.5 inch green piece, heat seal the ends, and create the ears.  Glue each end down as shown.

3.  Insert ears into the head loop and glue to the inside back of the head loop.

 

4.  Take all four of the green 1.1 inch pieces and round one edge of each one.  Then heat seal and glue them as the arms and legs.  Keep the legs fairly close together as shown.

5.  Take the two 1 inch white pieces and cut one end at a diagonal.  Heal seal those edges and glue to the arms for sleeves.

 

6.  Take the 2.25 inch brown piece, heat seal the edges, and glue down the length of the body.  I like to roll the head piece up a tiny bit and insert it right under it.  If it's too long at the legs, cut it so the legs will shown, like this example. Take the 1.5 inch brown piece and glue it wrapped around to create a waist.

 

7.  Create the robe.  Take the 5 inch long white ribbon and find the middle of it.  Glue the down the sides as shown in the picture.  Leave an opening to go around the "neck" Yoda that is 3/8 inch wide.  I just eyeball it and try it on Yoda before I glue it down.

 

8.  Heat seal the edges of the robe, then wrap it around Yoda's neck, glue it down at the arms, and at the edges of the legs that are next to the brown ribbon.  Then you are done with Yoda.  

Attach to a ribbon covered alligator clip or a ribbon wrapped headband with fillet tape or hot glue.

**If you want to add a little embellishment, dip a toothpick 1/3rd in black paint and 2/3rd in green paint.  Allow to dry, then hot glue into his hand for a light saber.  When I write up the PDF version of this tutorial, I will include pictures of this embellishment as well.

Enjoy!