DIY Week - Muumuu Makeover

Last August...LAST AUGUST I found this muumuu at the thrift store. I always knew that I wanted to cut it in half and make a smock and a skirt out of it. I just had a hard time cutting into it plus you know The Laziness got to me and well, 11 months later I finally did something about it. I just wished that it hadn't been so long or I would left it alone but it was WAY too long. I lucked out and didn't have to take it in (or out). I'm looking forward to being ecstatic (you know when the working part is over) about the bottom half but that's much more ambitious than what I did hear. The bottom half has most of the lovely embroidery on it. That means using more of my sewing, something about an elastic and other stuff about gathering, almost too hard for me to deal with but I'll do it. My goal is August 2012. 

Before

How-to?

*cut in half * sew a hem * add some decorative trim(or not)* done*

After

Consider this the Junk Hunt portion of the post: I wasn't going to add trim but since I had a utility box full of vintage lace trim that I had scored one day at the thrift store I decided to use it. It turns out I had the perfect color combo to match the embroidery as well. I just didn't like the plain yellow bottom. It looked more homemade (not that there's anything wrong with that) with out it. I have a love/hate relationship with lace. I don't usually love it, I just like it sometimes and I only hate it on tank tops. But I won't get into that again. 

Confession: There's something that some would call a conscious nagging my bumpy brain (what? am I wrong?) I really wanted to make a short dress (which it could be if you're one to let it all hang out) but I cut it too short or I hemmed it too short however you look at it. I still love the way it turned out.

Check out the rest of the week HERE

I want to give a special thanks to an awesome certain woman (she knows who she is) invited me to Google+ now I'm on that too. Go figure. I have no idea how to share my profile yet unless this link works then maybe I do.

I hope you all enjoyed DIY Week. I have something special coming this evening so stay tuned. (but don't hold your breath if nothing happens till Saturday morning)

DIY Week - Manicure

about a week ago I did this

for the gold dots and white scalloped (i use that term loosely since, well, look at it) french tips-ish edges I used acrylic paint and a paint brush but the base is mint sorbet nail polish

also don't ask me what it's suppose to resemble because I'm at a loss myself

 this is the fucking WORST when you dig your freshly painted nails

these are my favorite colors right now

{L to R: mint sorbet, slick slate (I saw this on my SIL and ran out to copy here), mint sprint}

another odd ball Manicure by zen master flash

DIY Week - Make Your Own Band Tee

I've seen some pretty cool Fleetwood Mac tees out there but when the price tag just isn't right it is nice to know I can make my own. I've done this before a handful of times. You can check out the DIY I did by clicking this link. I found the image via a google image search and used the Black Hawk font I downloaded for free from dafont.com. I arranged the text and image in Word, flipped the image horizontally and printed it out on printable iron on paper. After that I cut around the image and ironed it on to this long sleeved tee that I got from Savers. It is crucial to flip the image horizontally (mirror) before you print it out or your image will be backwards. It needs to look backwards on your screen and on the iron on paper after it is printed so that it will come out correctly on your tee shirt. Believe me I've made this mistake before. More than once, sadly.

before

after

 My favorite part of the image I chose is the bottle at the end of her feet

Style it with a messy bun & a vintage handkerchief & a wide belt (I just found mine recently for $2)

Behind the scenes: I was wearing my pajama shorts the entire time and taking these photos under florescent lights (which is why they look horrible) next to my kitchen. Der!

Check out more more DIY here if you missed anything earlier in the week!

DIY Week - Tee Shirt Tote

Turn a tee shirt into a tote that you can carry your magazines, books, yarn, your kid's toys in or even take to the grocery store.

Before

1. cut sleeves off but keep the seam in tact
2. cut out the neck
3. sew the bottom with a rounded edge just under the graphic and leave enough to cut fringe - I sewed a double hem to just be safe and used a contrasting color but you can use one that blends if you don't like this look
4. cut fringe and pull pieces tight to bend edges
5. use some of the extra fabric pieces to tie off the sleeves - it also helps reinforce the sleeves

DIY Week - Dog Toy

You know the as seen on tv dog toys that claim to be indestructible? Well it's great and all but they're pricey and they do sort of work. The only thing it keeps your dog from doing is getting stuffing all over your house. My dog still managed to rip it's eye balls out and find the squeak toy organ and dismember it. We paid about ten or twelve dollars for it too. That's not okay when your dog can do all of this in less than 60 seconds. I decided since the only clever thing they managed to do was leave the stuffing out so ding, ding, ding!! I bought a stuffed animal for $2 at the thrift store and took the stuffing out. EASY and DONE. Bam! The most technical thing that I did was sew the hole back up that I had made to pull the stuffing out of.

He eye-balled this thing the entire time I was working on it. Someone is a bit spoiled when they think that any stuffed animal I bring into the house is for them. How cocky. I mean it eventually was going to go to him but come on man don't be so greedy. This is the before shot.

His fox that has become so smelly that I almost thought he was hiding dead birds inside of it.

Pull stuffing out and turn inside out the make sure you get it all.

Turn back right side out and sew up the hole.

He loves the new one, plus it's much cuter than the other ones I think.

If you want to see more DIY and yesterdays DIY Week post click here

DIY Week - Birthday 'In Your Face' Church Fans

Welcome to DIY Week!

I hope it finds you oozing with utter excitement and pure glittery joy.

I don't know what pure glittery joy is but I'm sure it's nice.

Starting DIY Week off with two simple disposable birthday decor options.

Disposable Cake Banner

You've seen the cutesy cake banners around but this is a disposable option in case you're throwing a party for someone who isn't exactly the keepsake kind. This is the cake banner I made for Tyrone's birthday party we had a few weeks ago. Right before we cut the cake I snapped this picture so I could have some proof of the magic that was created. It was the only picture I took that day.

Materials needed:
colored cardstock paper
scissors
ruler
word processor of your liking
printer
glue
wooden dowels

Directions:
1. create what you want your banner to say in a word processing program, center on the page and print it out on the a color of cardstock of your liking. Cut around the saying with your scissors.
2. Take a different color of cardstock and mark with a ruler a banner or flag-like shape and then cut it out.
3. Take the saying that you first cut out and glue it on top of your banner shape.
4. Glue each end to two wooden dowels.
5. Stick in cake
6. Recycle when finished

'In Your Face' Church Fans

This is my favorite part. I pulled this idea out of my ass one night when I was trying to think of something semi funny to do to Tyrone. I thought it would be fun to print a bunch of his face out and make church fans out of it. I figured it would be hot outside for the party so it was pretty much meant to be. I think the kids enjoyed this the most.

Materials needed:
colored cardstock paper
scissors
glue
wooden tongue depressors (I found mine at the dollar store)

Directions:
1. print out the subject's face as many times as needed
2. cut around the face - you don't have to be careful or neat
3. glue faces on a sheet of colored cardstock and cut around the faces leaving an edge
4. glue to wooden tongue depressors
5. fan your sweaty face with it

This would be pretty suitable for a kids party but since we're an immature bunch it suited us as well. I think it would be fun to do for a pet's birthday party or even for celebrating favorite dictator's birthday.

Stay tuned all week for more DIY shit.

Related posts:

Turn a vintage bundt pan into a planter

Shoot an arrow through my heart necklace

DIY birthday wrapping