DIY: Upcycled Watermark T-Shirt

U Create's blog has a great DIY that we honestly never would have thought of - who knew that just using some glue could make a t-shirt look so much more fun!

Check out their blog for more DIY!!

What I love about this project is that it's completely customizable. I used favorite quotes to decorate my shirt but you could also use song lyrics, bible verses, favorite book excerpts, etc. You can also choose whatever color you like. I think it would be a very kid-friendly project as well. There are so many possibilities!

 Materials:

Elmer's Blue Gel Glue (it must be the blue gel, white won't work)

Fabric Dye (RIT is my tried and true brand)

A white cotton Tee, Tank, Dress etc.

 Tutorial:

If you're unfamiliar with Batiking, it's a method of dyeing fabric in which you create a design with a dye- resist. When you dye your garment in cold water, all will be colored except where you've placed your dye resist. In traditional batiking, you would use wax as a resist. I tried this out and found it to be messy and difficult to control. Using store bought glue is much more convenient and very easy to control.

Step 1: Prepare

Wet your tee with cool water and place a water resistant board between the layers of fabric. I used the lid of a bin.

Step 2: Design

I'm not much of an artist, so what worked best for me was writing favorite quotes right across the front of the shirt.

This quote was found via Pinterest

Source

You could also try drawing a simple design like my very amateur sailboat:

Let dry completely. This will take several hours.

Step 3: Dye 

Your dye bath should be prepared using cool water. Experiment with different amounts of dye until you find the right concentration. Keep in mind that the color that comes out of the dye bath will be a couple of shades darker than the dry, finished garment.

When you get the color you want, lay your tee flat to dry.

Step 4: Wash

When your tee is dry (to let the dye set) soak it in cool, soapy water for about 15 minutes. This soak washes the extra glue out. Throw it in the washer and dry as you would normally.

Step 5: Wear and Enjoy!

DIY: Dollar Store Party Favor Makeover

So, sometimes we see things at the Dollar Tree that we love but can't figure out what to do with other than the way that it comes.  This is what Crafting Rebellion has helped us see past with their great blog on making over party favors from the dollar store.

When I was at the dollar store I noticed a package of wedding dress party favor boxes. 10 for a dollar, what a deal!  All you need is scrapbook paper, some embellishments, and a spool of inexpensive pliable wire to make the mini hangers. This project is very similar to paper dolls, you get to "dress up" your boxes. Once made they could hold chocolates, almonds, mints, M&M's, little nail polish or a small gift.  Add tulle to the front of the dress and it could be a little girls princess dress. Use leopard print and hot pink for a bachelorette party, or shower.

You will need:

Wedding dress Favor Boxes (I found mine at the Dollar Tree store. They come 10 boxes for $1). I have the link to Dollar Tree at the bottom of the page but they also include the groom boxes online. 

Scrapbook Paper

Spool of pliable inexpensive wire (I used what I had on hand so I am not sure of guage. Just look at the inexpensive wire in the jewelry section at the craft stores and find one that is thick enough to make a small hanger)

Embellishments of Your Choice (I used bling on a roll for the gem sashes, and ribbon flowers).

Taper Runner and Glue Dots

Thin ribbon to tie the box together (optional) you can use the sheer white ribbon that comes with the boxes. 

Scissors 

Wire Snip (optional, you can use scissors)

ColorBox Chalk Inkpad (optional) if you want to distress your box edges.

The "before" box...cute design but pale printing.

Start by opening your package of dress boxes. Take one out and cut off one of the dress sides. 

This is now your "template" to cut the scrapbook paper dresses. (Remember you will need to use just one of the boxes to cut apart for the template when you figure your total favor boxes to buy). 

Use the dress template and cut two pieces of scrapbook paper. I held my template and trimmed around it. You can be more precise and also trace the template onto the back of the paper.

Attach the scrapbook dress pieces with tape runner by matching them up to the dress on the box.

Distress your edges if you prefer. If you aren't totally exact, trim your excess edges.

If you want to get fancy you can also cut a top in a different paper, and attach. (I chose to keep it simple using a full dress).

Now create your wire hanger.

Cut a piece of pliable wire approximately 9" long.

Centering the wire bend the sides into a triangle at 2 1/2" wide.

Wrap the wire around at the top of the triangle. The wire is very soft so you do not need to use pliers.

Snip the extra from the wrapped end off with wire snips or scissors.

Bend the hook at the top and snip to the desired length. I smooth out the hanger to shape it with my fingers.

Put your dress box together and tie it shut with a ribbon of your choice. You can use the ribbon they provide, but I liked a longer piece of ribbon.

Now attach the wire hanger to the "inside" of the front of the dress box by putting some tape runner in the middle and bottom part of the hanger wire. Press onto the inside of the dress. 

Have fun embellishing your dress to match your party theme. I cut little pieces of "Bling on a Roll" and stuck them to the front of the waist ribbon. I also added fabric flowers to some of the dresses using glue dots.

Make a batch of dresses in the same style and fill with candy, jordan almonds, mints, or other little treats.

DIY: Paper Blossoms Hydrangea Pomander

Fancy Pants Wedding's blog has an unbelievably fantastic tutorial that could not be easier - we don't think that this is just for weddings either!  This could be great for home decor, gifts for friends, a house warming gift, holiday decor....you name it!

This cute little pomander is a super easy, super fun DIY wedding project brought to us by the fabulous Stephanie with Paper Garden.  Paper Garden is my favorite rubber stamp, paper and gift store in Sacramento.
These hydrangea balls could be used at a bridal shower or maybe a casual backyard wedding.  For the wedding they could decorate the aisle ends, be carried by your flower girl or stack a few in a cute basket or tin and use as a centerpiece.

Supplies:

• Yellow Marvy flower paper punch
• Blue Marvy flower paper punch
• pearl headed straight pins
• styrofoam ball (size depends on how big you want your finished pomander)
• card stock in desired color
• Multi-setting glue gun
• Glue sticks

Optional:

• green florist tape
• wooden dowel
• 3 yards of ribbon

Punch a variety of large and small flowers from your chosen card stock.  You can also use more than one color.
Place the pearl headed pin through the paper flower and push into the styrofoam ball.
Continue adding flowers to the ball, varying the sizes of the flowers and  overlapping the blossoms so you are covering all of the styrofoam.
If added security is desired, add a small dab of hot glue, set your glue gun for stun, I mean low heat, under the flower. If you are using the hydrangea ball as a flower girl pomander I highly suggest the extra strength of gluing the flowers into place.

To make hydrangea ball into a hanging pomander:
Take 1.5 feet of ribbon and make one large loop, knotting the ends.  Pin the loop into the pomander and using your glue gun on low heat setting, throughly glue the ribbon loop into place.  Allow the glue to dry before moving your pomander.
Make a multi looped bow and glue it over where your ribbon handle meets the pomander.

How to make hydrangea ball into a flower:
Wrap the wooden dowel in green florist tape

Insert wooden dowel into the styrofoam ball and glue into place.

DIY: Acorn Ring

Hello Hydrangea has a wonderful tutorial we have been looking for since we saw this stunning piece of jewelry.  Not only are you taking nature and incorporating it into your wardrobe, but you are also giving yourself a gift that will last a lifetime!  

To start I cut 6 pieces of wire approximately 10 inches long and braided them together.

Then I cut 3 more pieces of wire and threaded them through a pearl before poking them through my previously drilled holes in the bottom of the acorn.

Attaching the two groups of wire is easy because I simply stuck them through the holes in the braid. Then I wrapped the braid around a chapstick tube to estimate the size for the finger and attached it on the other side of the acorn.

When both sides are attached I simply coiled the remaining wire around and around while weaving it in and out of eachother to create more of an organic shape. All the while I tucked the pokey wire ends into the coil so that they wouldn't poke the finger that is wearing the ring!

I have so many acorns left! One reader mentioned making a windchime and I really like that idea! I also think more jewelry options are in their future. For now, you can help me relieve some of these little guys by getting your own ring in my shop. I can honestly make any color or size you want! Just say the word.

DIY: Hanging String Balls

Who knew that with a balloon, glue, and some string you could make such a fancy home decoration?? Honest to Nod gives a step by step tutorial on how to bring this wondrous project to life - so be sure to check out her page for other fun crafts!

Whattya need?

• Balloon
• String
• Scissors
• Glue
• Jar

How do I make glue string balls?

Step 1: Hang inflated balloon from ceiling.

Step 2: Put string and glue in the jar with a hole in the lid. Next, pull string from hole while wrapping around the balloon.

 

Step 3: Wait until dry (try to contain yourself). Pop and remove balloon.