Craft a Rebellion

Starfish Clutch Bag

2011-10-30T09:33:00.002-04:00

When planning a costume or outfit one should be aware of the the details and the needs they may have while wearing the outfit or costume. This, of course, means that you need to take into account more than just hair things and gloves - this means a handbag or purse. This also, of course, means I came up with something fun from scraps of my costume that would match perfectly. (Happy Halloween! And enjoy!)

I decided I needed a starfish hand bag with a wrist strap that would be big enough to hold my cell phone, ID, and a little cash. (Plus, it needed to be fun.)

It's a lined, quilted little starfish clutch made from green fabric, black lace, with an elastic wrist strap, and a button/elastic closure. To make it pliable, yet keep it's shape I using felt in between the exterior and lining. (Yes, I needed another handbag. Don't judge me.)

Using a paper starfish template, I cut all my fabric (all eight layers), paying attention to the direction they would be in the end result.

I made a couple stitches on the corners to keep things in place before securing with a few stitched lined on the one side to "quilt" the pieces together securely.

On the other side I cut a slit through all four layers as an opening that would be big enough for my hand and my cell phone. I used a simple blanket stitch to finish the edge of the opening and to secure the four layers together. I added a short piece of elastic and a silver button as a closure. Then I added a few "quilted" lines to that side as well.

Using my wrist as a guide I secured the elastic strap to the top inside of one of the starfish with a needle and thread. I pinned the two side together, with the outside facing out, pinning the tassels as I went to be caught in the machine when I sewed it shut. I then sewed the outside edges of the entire starfish with a zigzag stitch to secure the entire thing as a finishing stitch.

It really didn;t take that long to make and it is just the right size to hang off my wrist.

Bobby Pin Pom Poms

2011-10-29T10:18:00.003-04:00

It is all about accessories sometimes especially when it comes to an outfit I am putting together and a costume is no exception. (Is there ever really an exception?!)

Using to large bobby pins and a some lace scraps leftover from the lace leggings I made two little pom poms for my hair to add to the green veils I made.

I cut the piece of lace into little strips and put them in a bundle that I tied together at the center then attached to the bobby pin ends, securing with a few dabs with the hot glue gun.

More accessories at a nothing cost and I can use for this project and other outfits to come.

Total supplies used: two bobby pins, lace fabric scraps, hot glue gun.

Green Veil Combs

2011-10-28T06:31:00.001-04:00

As I continue to to work on this year's Halloween costume I needed something fun for my hair and came up with this idea using a couple plastic hair combs, some green tulle I had laying around, a few seashells, and some glitter.

The whole project was super easy and went together in no time. They look perfect with the costume! (And don't we just love accessories like that?)

Supplies:
Two plastic hair combs
Tulle (I used green) - to desired length
Small Seashells
Black spray paint
(Opt.) Needle/Thread
Craft Glue (that will dry clear)
Green and silver glitter

Using my handy dandy hot glue gun (my dear friend) I placed a strip of hot glue across the top of the plastic hair comb then gently placed the crumpled green tulle and secured. It only took a bit to set the glue. Just to make sure everything was secured, I also to a needle and thread to lightly stitch around the top edge of the tulle to the plastic comb.

I then took a selections of small seashells I had in my craft stuff and painted them with black spray paint and let them dry. (I prefer to put things I am spraying with spray paint inside a box or other container to keep the overflow contained.)

I secured the black painted seashells to the tulle covered plastic comb with more hot glue. Be careful not to burn your fingers when doing this.

Once the the shells were secured to the plastic combs, I dabbed bits of craft glue on them then sprinkled with green glitter. Then dabbed a few more bits of craft glue and repeated with silver glitter. (Make sure after glittering to shake the excess off.)

Then I let everything dry before wearing.

Black Lace Leggings

2011-10-27T08:14:00.000-04:00

While working on piecing together a costume without a pattern, I realized that I needed a little extra flush underneath, but did not want to add a lining or under traditional under skirt. They say necessity is the mother of all invention - this was true as I came up with an idea for something a little different - I took a different twist on leggings with some black lace I happened to have on hand. I am sure to find other uses for these unique leggings.

From Stockings to Gloves

2011-10-26T09:43:00.000-04:00

For the perfect Halloween costume a girl needs just the right accessories and the one accessory that makes any a girl happy is a pair of gloves (well, at least they make this girl happy). As a great lover of accessories and gloves I made a super easy pair out of an old pair of a fine mesh fish net to go with the new Halloween costume I am working on. (Recycling with having fun with fashion - what could be better?)

The whole project took about 5 minutes to make with just a few snips and no sewing.

I started with one old pair of stockings I had on hand (black fish net in this case). I just cannot throw something like this out because I know there will be some project they can/will be used for.

Taking a pair of scissors, I snipped off the end of the stockings to the desire length. I wanted short gloves, so kept them shorter.

Laying one on top of the other, I made sure they were the same length (trim off the excess as needed).

I then snipped off the toe end of the pieces - I laid them on top of each other to keep them the same length. This opening will be where the four fingers go (but not the thumb as that comes next).

Carefully I snipped a bit on the side of each glove where the thumb would go. Unstretched the snip was about half (1/2) inch, but plenty of room for my thumb. And with that - I have a new pair of gloves.

Black and Green Mermaid Necklace

2011-10-25T21:38:00.003-04:00

It's a special time of year - a time of year were it is not only acceptable to play dress up in public, it is rather expected and celebrated. For me - I love playing dress up and embrace pretty much any reason to do so. It also means this girl needs a new costume and all the trimmings (yes, any reason for a new outfit is a good one) and I have been working on the pieces that will make my whole costume complete and will be sharing the process.

I needed a new necklace for to go with my new outfit and decided to use a mermaid charm that I had gotten a few years ago at the Renaissance Faire a few years ago, some green seed beads (yes, the beads from that package I picked up at the dollar store just keep showing up), and black wire and jewelery making bits.

Oz-Inspired Birthday - Putting It All Together

2011-10-09T06:00:00.003-04:00

"Follow the yellow brick road..." to a birthday surprise to even the big girls.

Gathering the Goodies:
* The Yellow Brick Road cake box.
* Yellow tissue paper (I cut in triangles to better fit in my box).
* Ruby Slipper Earrings.
* Oz Bottle Necklace - full of bits of the Emerald City's magic.
* A triangle that fits into the top of the cake box from the card stock (where I wrote my birthday message).
* The Lolly Pop Guild Cake Pop.

Together at Last:
I wrapped the bits of treasures in pieces of yellow tissue paper and placed them carefully inside the tissue paper lined yellow brick road box. Then placed the card on the top then topped it off with the lid.

I left the box with it's goodies at my friend's house before she was out of bed (I was on my way to work). It wasn't too long before I got a text to what she had woken up to.

It doesn't take much to make a person feel special once in awhile - too often we forget that. Do something special for someone - you'll be glad you took the time.

Oz-Inspired Birthday - Yellow Brick Road Cake

2011-10-08T07:51:00.002-04:00

What better way to present a birthday surprise or two than in the form of a cake AND what better way to present a Oz themed birthday present than in the form of the yellow brick road? "Follow the yellow brick road..." - you never know where it might lead. Plus, I like to make a statement (sometimes with glitter, glitter, and more glitter). (Yes, if you have noticed a glittery theme - you're right. I pretty much glittered everything within inches of being nothing but glitter for this collection.)

Supplies Used:
* Yellow/Gold card stock. (Two sheets - one for the base and one for the lid.)
* Craft glue
* Loose glitter - I used green.
* Spray glitter - I used gold.
* Tissue paper (red). (Just enough to make a small carnation flower.)
* Twisty Tie.
* Wide ribbon.
* Scissors.
* Printer. (Optional)

Putting It Together:
I printed a brick pattern on one side of my yellow gold card stock. I did an internet search looking for brick patterns until I found the one I liked (took a bit, but I found it). Here is the link to the one I liked and used: Click here. (You can find pretty much anything on the internet if you look hard enough and long enough.)

On the backside of each piece of card stock - I printed a template for a cake shaped box I found on Martha Stewart's website. (Found here.) I printed one slightly smaller than the other so they would fit together top and bottom. (100% and 95% to be more precise.)

I cut out the two side, folding and assembling the top and bottom with the brick side facing out. Then I secured the ends with thin layer of craft glue and trimming lid down as preferred. I glued a medium thickness of decorated red ribbon around the bottom edge of the lid. (I didn't want it to look like a hunk of cheese - a careful task.)

Let dry.

Using the craft glue and the thin end of a a paint brush I painted the words "Follow the Yellow Brick Road..." along the top of the box, then liberally covered with green glitter, shaking off the excess. I let dry.

I took small squares of red tissue paper (of course something I already had on hand in my supply) and a twisty tie to create a little tissue paper flower, trimming off the extra bit off twisty tie wire and curling it up along the bottom to attach easier. (I wanted a flat bottom to the flower.)

I sprayed it with a touch of gold glitter to give it a mystical poppy appearance. I glued it securely to the top of the yellow brick box by the green glittered lettering. Then I let it dry. I let everything dry.

As everything is secured and let dry - it's ready to start putting everything together. Stand back and be careful - no houses are falling on this birthday creation or the birthday girl it was intended.

Oz-Inspired Birthday - Lollypop Guild Cake Pop

2011-10-07T04:36:00.001-04:00

"We represent the lolly pop guild---" What's a birthday without a bit of birthday cake?

Using one of the Cake Pops I had made I secured it in plastic wrap then colorful tissue paper to give a festive appearance.

Oz-Inspired Birthday --- Bottle Of Oz

2011-10-06T09:58:00.000-04:00

As I continued through my path to bringing a special friend a special bit of "The Wizard of Oz" for her very special birthday - I wanted to give her a piece of the Emerald City to carry with her (and not just as earrings). (And glitter is the way to a girl's heart - at least some of them. It makes the day better. It puts a smile on a girl's face. It sparkles and it shines and lets it be okay.)

I made her a bottle necklace full of bits of Oz. (Magic pieces of sparkling green bits.)

Supplies:
* Small glass bottle (from my stash of little glass bottles).
* Chord
* Craft glue
* Loose glitter - I used a fine silver glitter for the lettering and larger flakes of green glitter for inside the bottle.
*Paper or whatever to protect the work area.

I attached the chord to the bottle with a secure knot. Then using the end of a paint brush, I carefully painted the letters "O" and "Z" down the front to spell "OZ," then sprinkled liberally with the loose fine silver glitter. Then let dry. (Completely!)

I made a thick layer of glue to the top of the lid then covered the glue with a thick layer of the silver glitter to match the letters. Then I let dry. Shake off the excess glitter.

After the glue on the glittered letters and top dries - I filled with the inside with loose green glitter.

Celebrate the little bit of Oz and the Emerald City in all of us!

A Friend's Oz-Inspired Birthday --- Dorothy's Slippers

2011-10-05T07:20:00.000-04:00

I have a long time friend who LOVES the movie "The Wizard of Oz" and so as she turns a fairly important number this year I wanted to do something special for her. It started with a pair of ruby slipper earrings.

There are few things that can make a girl smile faster than glitter or a a favorite childhood memory - so the best birthday is something that combines the two. (Glitter is the theme with pretty much every aspect of this "Wizard of Oz" themed present.)

Part I: The Ruby Slipper Earrings

I gathered my supplies:
* A pair of plastic Barbie doll size shoes (the color didn't matter because I knew they would be covered - if you can't tell in the picture, mine where pink). (I had a heck of a time finding an inexpensive pair and ended up buying a plastic fashion doll [off brand Barbie] at a dollar store that had a dress and shoes with her. I set the doll aside for a project to be determined later.)
* A set of silver earring hooks.(Or whatever color you prefer - gold, silver, black...)
* Two silver eye pins.
* Silver open jump rings.
* Red seed beads. (Exactly the ones used in many projects before.)
* Red Glitter - loose fine glitter (I bought mine in a package of assorted colors.)
* Spray Adhesive (I used Elmer's spray adhesive - Craft Bond - and I got carded for buying it.)
* A sharp needle - thick enough to create a hole to put the jump rings through.
* Jewelry making pliers. (Mine has wire cutters as a part of them.) (And any other jewelry making supplies that you might need or have on hand.)
* (Optional) straight pins with a round head
* (Optional) Craft glue - the use as touch ups for glitter as needed.
* Paper or anything else needed to protect work area and catch glitter when shaking.

Now to start:

Pierce a hole in the top back of each show with the needle. Make sure the hole is big enough for the jump ring to go through. (Better to find this out BEFORE you have it covered with glue and glitter.)

Using the straight pins - I held the shoes up and sprayed them well with the the adhesive then covered them liberally with red glitter, shaking off the excess glitter as I went. Let dry completely (the spray adhesive I used was really tacky as it started to dry and I had glitter attached to my finger nails for a few days after no matter how I washed my hands - good thing the red glitter went with my black nail polish). After they dry you might want to touch up a few spots with the craft glue and more red glue.

Using the eye pins and the red seed beads, I created the dangles that would will attach the the earring hooks to the shoes. (I could have used another color for the beads, but I liked the red with the red.) I made the dangles the same length.

Once the shoes were dry, I attached the jump rings through the holes made before they were glittered and then carefully attached the shoes to the red beaded dangles. I hung them up to make sure everything was set before packing them.

Sometimes there really is no place like home.

Cake Pops! First Try

2011-10-04T23:57:00.000-04:00

My sister is getting married (and ignoring the fact that she is being a bridezilla) she decided she wanted cake pops for her wedding favors. After a discussion with my Mom, I decided to to try to make some myself. And using a pineapple cake - I did.

Crumbled pineapple cake

With cream cheese icing added - rolled into balls

Sticks added - dipped in colored white chocolate - some with sprinkles.

Some dipped in colored white chocolate and some with milk chocolate.

And they are yum!

One View on Creatvity

2011-09-04T18:00:00.000-04:00

Creatvity is a gift - I truly believe that but sadly it is not always well received. Check out this link "Creativity Not as Well Recieved as We Think".

A Little Drawing

2011-08-21T16:19:00.000-04:00

A little drawing I did ----

Picture Frame Thank You

2011-07-14T05:06:00.000-04:00

Picture frame I made as a thank-you for my aunt. (She helped me every night with my hair for a 60s-70s themed show.)

I started with one cardboard/pressed paper picture frame that I gently took apart.

Then decoupaged with pictures and words cut from the program. (Seal well and let dry.)

Accented with blue glitter paint. (Then let dry.)

Using a hot glue gun, reattach front to back. Make sure to leave opening unglued. (Mark it when you take it apart of needed.)

When everything is dry and put together - add picture. (I added a picture of her and I backstage with me in full costume.)

Flower Pillow for Mom

2011-07-13T04:54:00.002-04:00

I made this pillow awhile ago for my mom and decided to share it.

It's a round pillow embroidered with a flower. Each petal represents one of my mom's kids (five kids = five petals) with miltiple hearts in the center. Around the edge is embroideered the phrase "The Power of a Mother's Love is like an ever-blooming flower."

Knitted "Sage" Scarf

2011-07-12T04:26:00.000-04:00

This was a recent gift from a friend about to move. I love the mostly green olor with other bits of color in it - reminds e of a herb garden, espeially sage.

Really makes me want to pick back up on teaching myself to knit with the scarf I was working on.

T-shirt into Yoga Pants

2011-07-11T04:16:00.000-04:00

I used an old oversized tie dye t-shirt to make into a pair of lightweight yoga pants fro a pattern I found. When I found the pattern I couldn't wait to try it. They have been a huge hit to breath new life into a shirt that I was only using as a sleep shirt mostly. (If you're anything like me you usually have plenty of t-shirts.)

Find the original pattern HERE.

Clowning Around

2011-07-10T04:01:00.005-04:00

Ever thought about clowning around? Laughter is important to life and how we deal with. What better way then to clown around?

Years ago, I attended a weekend workshop on clowning and got hooked. I ended up doing a 4-H project on clowning and the importance of humor, which led to more clowning opportunities at camps, pre-schools, a couple church events, and even at the Ohio State Fair as a 4-H representative. The costume I have used through most of this was one I got to design and build as I continue to get use out of it with volunteering and working with kids of all ages.

The original costume pattern was for a "Hippy" costume that I adapted. I added green triangles to bottom of the pant's original pattern as well patches of green. The pants are purple with flowers with green accented fabric with little bees The vest is made from matching purple flowered fabric. The shirt has a small opening on on the top back made from white fabric with images of smiley faces, word "love," and swirls. The accenting scarf (originally used to cover my hair before I found the right wigs) is from the green with bees.

The hat was a plain black rimmed hat I found and added silk flowers and a bird nest with hot glue. At one time there was a little yellow bird perched on the nest and plain black shoes I added silk flowers to as well. (The shoes and bird have disappeared over the years.)

In later years purple and black stripped tights were added underneath in place of socks (Love post-Halloween sales!) with a bright pink straw bag to hold my toys and twisty balloon supplies and a green and white wig.

Baby Blessing Quilt: Part 8 (Putting It All Together)

2011-07-09T04:26:00.096-04:00

A lot of time and heart has gone into this project, but now that it is finished I am very happy with the end result of this Baby Blessing Quilt. (I hope the new mother agrees.)

To be honest I have never seen or hear of a Baby Blessing blanket before, but it was an idea I came up with a blessing for the new life and the friend who is now a new mother living a few states away. I couldn't be there when her daughter was born, but hopefully this will be something special to her.

Here is an overview of how it all came together.

Embroidery Work of Five Pieces
Piece 1 (with short colorful blessing)
Piece 2 (with baby girl's name and birth date)
Piece 3 (with my own blessing)
Piece 4 (with Irish Baby Blessing)
Piece 5 (with Jewish Blessing)

The pieces were then sewn together using my trusty sewing machine and ironed. (See Step 6.)

I then added more embroidery and more fleece hearts. (See Step 7.)

I sewed the front to the back (wrong sides together) all the way around leaving a seam to be frayed. I chose a pink and white checked flannel for the back side. (Design choice.) Then using my machine I added swirls all the way around randomly to secure the two sides from creating a pouch inside.

It took awhile, but I then frayed the edges all the way around. This takes a lot longer then a more "finished" edge, but it was what I wanted for this project.

Finished and pressed it's ready to be packed and mailed to the mother and child.

Baby Blessing Quilt: Part 7 (More Embellishment)

2011-07-08T04:07:00.001-04:00

After the five pieces were sewn together and ironed, I added more embroidery and fleece hearts. By adding more embellishments AFTER the pieces were sewn securely together allowed me to add images and words spanning more than one piece as well as reinforce the seams where they were sewn together.

I used a flower, more hearts, and a few words ("love," "dream," and "hope").

Baby Blessing Quilt: Part 6 (Piecing it Together)

2011-07-07T03:57:00.002-04:00

I pieced the small blessing quilt together, first laying it out, then sewing the three pieces of the left side and two pieces of the right side before sewing the right and left side together.

It's starting to take shape... literally.

Part 5: Baby Blessing Quilt (5th piece)

2011-07-06T04:58:00.011-04:00

The fifth piece of the Baby Blessing Quilt is much like others in that I embroidered a blessing (a Jewish blessing this time) onto a piece of fabric (white/ivory this time) and appliqued a couple fleece hearts onto it. This is the last of the pieces to make up the front It's not a big finished project but it will be enough to sere it's purpose.

Fifth piece (not squares here).

It reads:
"In every birth, blessed is the wonder.
"In every creation, blessed in the new beginning.
"In every child, blessed is the life.
"In every Hope, blessed is the potential.
"In every transition, blessed is the beginning.
"In every existence blessed are the possibilities.
"In every love, blessed are the tears.
"In every life bless is the love.
"-Jewish Blessing-"

Part 4: Baby Blessing Quilt (4th peice)

2011-07-05T04:43:00.000-04:00

The fourth piece of the Baby Blessing Quilt is larger than the rest with an Irish Baby Blessing embroidered in black on rose fabric with a butterfly and heart added (not obvious to see but the letters show better in person and the other bits are as much for texture as anything else - sometimes subtle additions can be a nice added touch).

Piece Four (still no square).

It reads:
"May all blessings of our Lord touch your life today.
"May He send his little angels to protect you on your way.
"Such a miraulacous gift sent from above.
"Someone so precious to cherish and love.
"ay sunshine and moonbeams dance over your head.
"As you quietly slumber in your bed.
"May good luck be with you wherever you go.
"And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
"-Irish Baby Blessing-"

Part 3: Baby Blessing Quilt (3rd piece)

2011-07-04T04:37:00.000-04:00

For the next piece in the Baby Blessing Quilt I added my own message embroidered on rose fabric with a piece of yellow appliqued on top. I left the edges of the yellow raw after I secured around the edges with embroidery work.

Piece 3 (another clue to the overall look):

(Reading "May the world be full of many more blessings").