Mermaid Skirt

I had another commission! My good friend Taylor wanted to do an Ariel cosplay and asked if I could make her a mermaid skirt like one she had seen in a few pictures. I, of course, took the challenge because I had never made my own pattern for an outfit, just little things like pin cushions or the cut outs for the R2-D2 trashcan. It actually wasn't that hard. I googled how to make a pattern and even looked on pinterest and found a few good sites.

I used butcher paper (it was free from my mom's work) and the paper was so thick I couldn't put pins through it (also the fabric decided to not want to be pinned also which proved problematic throughout the process) so I had to devise my own pattern weights (coasters haha). I took my friend's measurements and did a few doodles and viola! a pattern emerged!

It came to 4 pieces; the front and back of the skirt, the fin (a circle skirt), and the top fin. We found really awesome fish scale fabric at Jo-Ann's and used that for the skirt (it didn't like being pinned) and a pretty stretchy lime sparkly fabric for the fin.

I had to do some minor adjustments after a fitting but nothing too big. I think the final product turned out great. Now I have a pattern for an awesome mermaid skirt for the future!

Until next time, happy crafting!


**UPDATE**

Here is a picture of my friend in her costume at the convention! She was a total hit, everyone wanted her picture. Even Felicia Day was impressed. I feel special!

My First Commission!

So recently I was commissioned to make a "House Divided" wreath for my old boss back in Iowa. She wanted a Denver Broncos/Chicago Bears wreath. Luckily they have the same colors so I didn't have to figure out how to mix the sides (Although it would've been really cool to switch the colors on each side. I need to remember that for the future!). Every Hobby Lobby and Michaels was sold out of orange deco mesh so I had to switch my colors and use a different kind of accent ribbon. I am actually really proud of how it turned out, the different textures really gives it an awesome look!

In the works I have an Ariel tail and a Daphne dress. I'm thinking I'm going to save the money I make on these commission works and buy myself a serger! I could really use one of those. Any and all help is appreciated, I offer good prices and I can pretty much make anything!

Until next time, happy crafting!

R2D2 Trashcan!

Dave and I were browsing Pinterest the other day and we came across an ETSY listing for a R2D2 trashcan. It looked simple enough so we decided to try and make our own. At first we thought about painting on the designs but then there was the mess of sealing the paint so it didn't chip, and that the original can looked like the shapes were stickers or something. We finally decided on self adhesive vinyl, just seemed easier! We found the trashcan at the Container Store for $5 and the vinyl was at Hobby Lobby (10 feet for $7.99 but it was half off when I went!)

Here is what it looked like after the first night...

The final product!

I have a crap ton of vinyl left over so if any one wants one then let me know!

Also this weekend a friend confessed that they are a fan of my blog and it really really made my day! I felt so good about stuff haha. I really created this blog just for myself but it was really cool to hear someone else reads my blog besides myself and Dave.

Are You Ready For Some Football???

My sister loves the Cowboys and the front door of her apartment is lacking in decoration, so since I have been inspired to make 50 million wreaths lately I made her a Cowboys one! She hasn't seen it yet but I think she'll like it!

I used a combinations of this tutorial and this one! I added my own embellishments and of course it had to be blue and silver! I'd love to see pictures of how yours turns out if you make one!!! Until next time, happy crafting!

Here Comes Autumn!!

So Saturday was the first day of fall and I felt our house needed a new wreath! As you may recall I made a felt flag one for the 4th of July, well it has been on our front door since then. It was coupon commotion at Jo-Ann's so I might've gone a little crazy haha. Now we have a new wreath on our door and it fits with the season!

I used:

- 24" Grapevine wreath
- 2 fall leaf garlands
- 1 bag of styrofoam pumpkins/gourds
- 1 bag of acorns/pinecones
- 1 spray of mini pumpkins
- 2 fall seed pod sprays
- 1 gourd spray

If you are making one for yourself, I would suggest using floral wire to tie the leaf garlands and sprays down and then hot glue the others onto the wreath and leaves. If you have any questions feel free to ask! Until next time, happy crafting!!

Mason Jar Bank

So I was cleaning out the area where my new sewing space/office will go and I found a whole bunch of change. I kept thinking to myself where am I going to put all this change???? Well I had a few mason jars just laying around so I figured I'd make one out of those. This is also a super cheap craft, mason jars are only about $2.00 at Hobby Lobby!

For this project you will need:

-Mason jar with lid
-Cutting tool that can cut through metal
-Marker (not pictured)
-Sand paper (not pictured)

So first you take the insert of the lid and measure the largest coin you will be placing in the bank (I used a dollar coin) and measure an opening on the lid so that the coin would fit if there was a hole there.

Next use the cutting tool (I used a box cutter/razor blade, and it took quite a while to cut through the lid and left it not so pretty looking) to cut out the outline of the opening. Once the hole is cut take sand paper and sand down the rough edges.

Next replace the lid and add your coins! Congratulations, you have just made an easy mason jar bank! Keep it by the washing machine to catch all that loose change or by the door for end of the day filling! I know this tutorial sounds silly but hey maybe someone will get some use out of it, and I had fun making it!

Until next time, happy crafting!

ABC party!

So first off happy Labor Day!! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, mine didn't have enough crafting hahaha. It did have a lot of organizing. I started to move into my new crafting space/office. It's very exciting!

I did have the pleasure of making Anything-But-Clothes costumes for Dave and me for a party on Saturday! Dave had the most awesome idea to make our costumes out of play money (I was thinking of making them out of different color trash bags, his idea proved to be much better).

I made the clothes out of a black garbage bag first and then we taped fake money from Dollar Tree. Over all they cost us a total of like $4.00! The hard part was the crotch in the shorts. It took a lot of tape and garbage bag haha. We taped the dollars like roof tiles right on to the bag!

Other people at the party had duct tape outfits and another couple had costumes made out of paper bags.

Until next time, happy crafting!