Tuesday, April 30, 2013

T-Shirt Recon! Two T-shirts to Hoodie DIY!

I'm constantly trying to come up with new ways to use all of the free t-shirts I get at every convention and event.  This stylish hoodie is an easy project to make because it only requires two stitches.  One on the hood and one around the neckline.  Use contrasting t-shirts for a funky look or matching tees for an understated look.  I used the green for the hood so that you could actually see what I'm doing here.  I tried making a video with an all black hoodie and it was a MESS!  Enjoy and have fun!

Here's the DIY video!
The hem of the 2nd t-shirt is our tunnel!
Zoolander!
You'll need:
Sewing machine
2 t-shirts
Measuring tape
Matching thread
Long shoestring
Straight pins
Fabric Chalk
Scissors 
 Lay your t-shirt flat
Draw a v-neck line in the front 
Carefully cut it out.  Don't cut the v in the back! 
Measure around your neckline 
Lay out your 2nd t-shirt.  You'll be working on the hem! 
Add 1" to your neckline measurement on the tape measure 
Fold the tape measure in half 
 Draw a line on the t-shirt as shown that exact folded length
 Draw out your hood like I did here
Cut it out 
Flip it inside out 
Stitch up the back
It's going to look like this.  A monk wearing green! 
 Pin the neckline of the hood to the neckline of the t-shirt starting at the center back and working your way to the front
Overlap the center front parts of the hood 1/2" 
Stitch around the neck 
On the INSIDE of the hem of the hoodie near the center front, draw two small dots.  These are your holes in which you will thread the drawstring (shoestring) 
The hem of the 2nd t-shirt is going to be your tunnel for the drawstring
Cut a very very tiny hole on the inside where you drew the dots.  You'll have to separate the fabrics so that you don't cut through both sides. 
Thread your drawstring and you're done!

Monday, April 29, 2013

MAD FOR PLAID MONDAYS!

MAD FOR PLAID MONDAY! 
Lets get the week going with a new way to win some of my favorite PLAID PRODUCTS
1. LIKE Plaid and give them some love from me!
2. COMMENT on my latest Youtube video with MAD FOR PLAID!
3. SHARE this post!
(Just press SHARE on my original FB post)
YOU'LL WIN: Dimensional Magic in gold, a Mod Podge starter kit (with every kind of Mod Podge) and the MOD PODGE ROCKS book by Amy Anderson!
ARE YOU IN?  I HOPE SO! 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Spring Flower Boutonnière

I wanted something fancy to wear this spring on my cotton blazer (and to give as gifts to my friends) so I started messing around with some fake flowers and jewelry pieces I had hanging around.  I love the way these turned out.  These would be fun for a party, wedding or special occasion and I think they're perfect for everyone.  You probably have everything you need to make these already.  
Happy Spring everyone!
My trio of lapel pins for spring!
I love this with the cameo over the brass stamped butterfly
Here's the how to video!
You'll need
E-6000
Fake flowers
Ribbon
Jewelry pieces
Pin backs
Hot glue gun
Wire cutters
 Trim the flowers 4" below the flower
 Trim off the large leaves
Hot glue the leave to the flower as shown 
Add a dab of glue to the base of the flower 
Add your ribbon with a 4" piece sticking off of one end 
 Wrap the ribbon down to the bottom and then back up to the top
Tie a knot on when you get back to the top 
Create a bow with several loops 
 Glue it to right under the flower
Grab your E-6000!
Glue your jewelry pieces over the bows
Let dry for 1/2 hour 
 Glue the pin back on the back side
You're done!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

I LIKE BIG BUTTONS DIY

When I opened my first store in NYC, way back when, I decorated with huge plywood cutouts of buttons, needles and spools of thread.  With heavy cord, I wrapped the spools, threaded the wooden needles made a criss-cross in each button and then spray painted the entire "wood collage" metallic gold!  It looked amazing.  If I had Krylon's Glitter Blast back then, I would have used that instead.  These huge frisbee buttons would look terrific in any room in your home......Especially if you're creative!  This project brought back tons of terrific memories for me.
Have fun!  xoxo, Mark
Frisbee Button DIY
See how I made them here!
You'll need:
Frisbees
Drill with large drill bit
Krylon Glitter Blast
Krylon Fusion in a color that matches your Glitter Blast
Yarn
Drill four "button holes" in your frisbee 
Make sure to do this on some scrap wood! 

Spray paint your button with the Krylon Fusion and let dry for 15 minutes 

Coat your button with Krylon Glitter Blast and let dry for 15 minutes 
 Make your stitches using yarn in a color you like
Tie a knot in the back to keep the stitching in place 
Decorate your craft space!
Make sure to grab a Big Ass Book for more inspiration!