DIY: Turn a Hillbilly Prom Dress into a Summer Dress

Holy beau-tee-ful mou mou-ness! I found this long prairie style gown at a local thrift store, and fell in love with the cotton fabric, the little late 70's flower pattern, and the layer of see-through material on top - not to mention the frill on the bodice with pink buttons!

Only thing is, no one really sports big long mou mou's anymore so I thought it would be great to take the focal point of the dress (the frilly chest area) and turn the rest of the gown into a smaller summer dress.

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STEP 1 : I measured the dress for the length I wanted it, more of a mini dress. I measured from the top of my shoulder to where I wanted the dress to hit on my thigh - leaving a small amount of room for the hem line.
STEP 2: I used scissors to cut off the extra material (which is enough to make a whole 'nother skirt or dress!
Step 3 : I then turned the dress inside out so that I could make the other measurements, for my waist, chest, hip - then marked it with straight pins so that a new seam could be sewn.

NOTE: I had originally wanted to keep the sleeves on but because I had to take in many inches of fabric, I ended up removing the awesome see-through sleeves. In the end I liked this better anyway (not to mention i had no idea how to put them back on!)
STEP 4 : Sewing time! This is where I used all my measurements and straight pins to make all the new seams - the new seams will be along the right and left side (where the original seams are), and then to hem the bottom.
The new seams will depend on whether or not the dress fit you to begin with - if it already fits your size, all you'd have to do is hem it into a mini dress for summer fun!
YAY!!! This is the finished upcycled summer dress..... sooooooo not a mou mou no mo' ! In fact, this shit is so cute it's almost punk rock. I left frayed edges where the sleeves used to be for a more punky look.
Check out all the angles... (the frill makes it awesome from the side!)
Time for a party. :)
Xoxoxo

Eco DIY : Turn A Silk Scarf Into A Halter Top

Check out this cute q-bert style 80's scarf! My friend Heather gave this to me as a gift, so that I could make a craft project with it and a simple DIY halter top is what I made...

Here is how I did it (it only takes about 5 -10 minutes to complete!) :::::

Step ONE: Take one of the corners and fold it over slightly, where you get a flat edge a few inches across.
Step TWO: Sew (with a machine or by hand) a line across the folded triangle, leaving a space at the top big enough to run a drawstring, necklace or ribbon through. The space it will create is a drawstring type hole.

Like this picture below... (you can cut off that extra fabric hanging under your stitch.)
Step THREE: Cut a drawstring out of stretchable jersey cotton fabric - or alternately grab a awesome necklace (sparkling bling!), fancy ribbon, braid some fabric, or even a piece of hemp twine will do! Get as creative as you want, as long as it can clasp or tie in the back to hold the halter top up.
Step FOUR: Run the drawstring through the drawstring hole you created when you made the stitch across the triangle. Attaching a safety pin to the end to pull it through always makes it easier...

(((Note: If the scarf is not large enough to tie in the back, add more fabric/drawstring to the pointed corners on the right and left sides for a simple tie.)))
ANDDDDDDDDDD, WA LA! A quickie fancy fun summer shirt you can sport with jeans, a skirt, to a party and to the beach...
The back ties together at the corners (but ties can be added to the corners if the scarf is too short!)
Funky Cold Medina! That sh*t is hawt! ;) Now I just wanna come up with one that is reversible...
Xoxo

Paper Bags: What To Do With Them?

In elementary school paper grocery bags were for one thing only and that was for making protective covers for our school books! This crafty upcycle project always mystified me because in our throw away society it was rare we re-used anything growing up.
Upcycling paper bags for new uses may seem a little on the crunchy side at first but there are a few cool ideas out there and I am looking for ideas from you too!

1. A Cat House - As shown in the picture above almost every cat I have had the pleasure of knowing loves a grocery bag. They will play in it, tear it up, sleep in it, shoot like a cannon into it...the fun only ends when the bag is destroyed and ready for the recycle bin.

2. Holding Recycles - I frequently use paper bags to hold my paper recycle together because the bag can be recycled with it's contents. It keeps things more organized and helps cut down on the funk ass smell of junk magazines.

3. Stationary/Drawing Paper/Diary - Why buy paper to write on when you can cut out cute little squares and press a stamp or sticker on it and write a friend a letter!?!! It's also great for drawing on with charcoal, pencil, & ink, or putting a bunch of pages together to make a diary. Just punch some holes and put scrap fabric or twine through them to hold the pages together. Everyone needs a journal to write privately in!

4. Seed Packet Business Card - Check out Autumn's fantabulous tutorial at Crafting A Green World on how to turn your brown paper grocery bag into business cards that double as seeds packets... all done on your home printer!

5. Puppets - This is either a project to do with your kids, nieces and nephews or for your inner child. Which ever you choose these easy animal puppets from brown paper bags are so super cute (my favorites are the raccoon and frog!), check out how to make them HERE. (The animal eyes, legs and smiles can be made with junk mail or magazine cut outs too!)

6. Recycle (the obvious!) - When the life has gone out of all these ideas, don't forget to recycle the paper and help contribute to saving a few trees.

What do you do with paper bags? Please share all your ideas to reuse paper grocery bags no matter how crunchy, crafty or crazy!

Today's Magic Word: UPCYCLING

The concept of upcycling completely enthralls me, the way I imagine an archaeologist feels when they stumble onto a new site full of bones that they'll have to reassemble. But I am stumbling onto a gravesite of old out of style garments left to collect dust in wayward thrift shops. The fuglier the better when it comes to upcycling because you know that crazy ole' puff sleeve prom dress with the big stain on it will never be used again in it's current condition. For those of you who are new to the word, as I was not too long ago, Wikipedia describes upcycling in plane terms like this : "Upcycling is the use of waste materials to provide useful products. Ideally, it is a reinvestment in the environment and embodiment of the notion that while using resources one is also contributing to them and their value. This is antithesis of the consume and waste concept in society."
So I have this box of super ugly clothes that I am setting out to transform into adorable new creations. To learn more about all you can do to green the craft of upcycling check out this post at Crafting A Green World. To see a great example of upcycling check out Clare Bare @ The Oko Box.

Eco Action Check List

So here's my personal Eco Check List of things I do and things I would like to start doing for the environment. Share your own list in the comments section, so we can see all the little ways we are making a difference!

*I bring reusable hemp shopping bags everywhere I go.

*I recycle all my plastic, cans, glass, paper, etc...

*I eat 100% organic, and also from local farmer's markets.

*I buy sustainable, vintage, organic, fair trade, or natural fiber clothing & accessories when i need something "new".

*I would like to have a full house water filtration system, because for health reasons I still drink bottled water (spring/artisian) and feel the bottles are wasteful and not healthy themselves due to BPA contamination. (But i am highly sensitive to any amount of chlorine).

*I cut down on "extra stuff" and keep only the basic necessities for furniture, cooking, gardening, and general living.

*I walk ALOT. I fill up my truck with gas about once every 4-6 months, and live in town so I can get everything I need without having to drive.

*I would like to own my own house, rather then rent because I feel I could do so much more to be energy efficient if I had full rule over my domain ;)

* I am on a medical diet, I can't buy bulk food which reduces plastic/packaging waste, because of the gluten dust on dried goods... this one REALLLLLLLLY bothers me. I really want the whole dusting food with wheat thing to stop so I can go back to earth friendly bulk buying.

*I cook all my meals, 3 x's a day.

*I donate anything I don't use to local thrift stores.

Now it's you turn!!! :)