DIY Miss Minutes Loki Costume

Hi there!

Since Halloween will be here before you know it, I wanted to hop on to share a Halloween costume I made a couple of years ago for when we went to Oogie Boogie Bash, which is Disney California Adventure's (aka "DCA") yearly Halloween party!

I'm not the biggest Marvel fan, but I do enjoy some of the movies and Disney+ series.  With Avengers Campus being a new addition to DCA that year, I decided to dress as Miss Minutes - a character from the Loki series on Disney+. I had a feeling that many people would dress up as the different Loki variants (and they did!), so I thought Miss Minutes was a great choice for a more unique character.

Disney Princesses Zippered Pillow

So, I was originally supposed to share this post several months ago, but kind of forgot.  Oopsie.  I have been trying to learn more sewing techniques and this one might be a game changer - sewing with zippers!  I made this Disney Princesses pillow for my niece for her birthday and she LOVED it!

DIY Peter Pan Group Costumes: All of the Costumes!

I've been sharing our DIY costumes for the Disneyland Halloween Party that we went to a couple of weeks ago and here's a round-up of all of them.

Top picture via of Davelandweb

DIY Peter Pan Group Costumes: Tiger Lily (Part 2)

Ok, kids.  Here's the last of my Halloween costume DIYs for this year (but I'll do another post with a round up of these plus the other 2 we put together).

DIY Peter Pan Group Costumes: Tiger Lily (Part 1)

Are you ready for Tiger Lily?  This was the costume I was most anxious about since I've never actually sewn clothing from scratch.  I had originally wanted for my niece to be a Lost Boy since I could easily make a costume from a hoodie with matching sweatpants, but I couldn't find any!  I mean, I know it was early August when I started gathering supplies, but I figured I would be able to find some, but no-can-do.  So, Tiger Lily it is!

DIY Peter Pan Group Costumes - Peter Pan

Alright!  Continuing on with our group Peter Pan group costumes...we have Peter Pan!

DIY T-shirt Re-fashion

I actually completed this a few months ago and never shared it.  Oopsie.  I've gotten a bit more into sewing and finally experimented with clothing!  I had signed up to do a charity walk for work.  For the team t-shirts, they only had men's sizes, so I decided to jazz mine up a bit and make it cute.  Spoiler:  I wasn't able to do the walk after all, so I gave the shirt to my boss to wear.  She was super excited and bragged to everyone that I made it.  Embarrassing. lol

Speaking of embarrassing, here's me modeling my newly re-fashioned shirt!

 

DIY "Monsters Inc" Mike Wazowski Costume

Hello!  How is everyone's Fall shaping up?  Here in Southern California, we're still pretty hot, but this week the weather will be cooling down to the mid 80s/high 70s!  Woo hoo!  Seriously, I'm O-V-E-R this heat!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, then you know I love Halloween.  I've been super busy lately, so haven't had time to put up any Fall/Halloween decorations yet, but I was able to get my Halloween costume done (even before October 1st!!!).  I've had the idea to be Mike Wazowski from "Monsters Inc" for a few years now, but decided that this was the year of Mike!

Fabric Bunting

Hello - long time, no blog!  It's been a busy, busy summer and I also have a deadline to meet, so I've been slaving away to make sure I don't fall too behind.  So, things may be continue to be slow on the blog-front in the next few months, but I'll be sure to pop in from time to time.

Today, I'm sharing fabric bunting that I made.  I've always loved the look of these, but there's really no place for one in my home, so when the opportunity to make a few of them came up, I jumped on it.

DIY Dropcloth Dog Bed

Since Sally has become more of a fixture around here, I've been trying to incorporate her things with the decor of my house.  Although she sleeps with me on my bed, I decided to make her her own bed for when she wants a place to lounge throughout the day.

In the past, I got Sally a store-bought bed, but she didn't like it.  Since she's been staying here, I noticed that she always tries to lay on my pillow.  This a no-dog-butts-allowed zone!  So, I decided to make her own dog bed out of an old king-size pillow I wasn't using anymore.

DIY Little Red Riding Hood Costume

Hi all!  It's finally feeling like Fall around here in Southern California and I'm loving it!

This year, I  decided to be Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween.  After last year's party, I started making a list of costume ideas for this year so I wouldn't have to scramble at the last minute.  Little Red Riding Hood was at the top of my list from the get-go.  There's just something about capes (cloaks?) that I love.

Studio Project: Work Station Ruler

Earlier this year, I had received a free yard stick and thought I could use it for a project at some point.  While working on my new studio redo, I finally figured out how I could use it!   All I needed was a couple of Command Strips (I used what I had in my stash) and the ruler.

I haven't shared my new studio yet because it's not quite ready, but I bought 2 of these Linnmon tables (the table tops come in different sizes and you can choose whatever legs you want).  These tables have a nice, flat edge that was perfect for adhering the yardstick to!  I figured that it would be good for measuring out fabric, ribbon, etc.

Ikea Dishtowels Turned Pillows

After seeing some wonderful front porch makeovers, I was super motivated to spruce up mine.  It wasn't really on my list of things to do (all of the exterior & landscaping projects are lower on the list), so I didn't want to spend a ton of money.

Cleopatra Halloween Costume

Hello, there!  Did anyone go to any Halloween parties this past weekend?  One of my friends has a party every year, so I had been brainstorming for the last few months on what I should be.  I didn't have any good ideas, however when I got back from my trip to Italy, I got inspired.  I tried to think of characters having to do with Italy and Cleopatra popped in my brain.  Although, she was Egyptian, she was associated with the famous Italians, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.  Further inspiration:  I was scheduled to have an appointment for a hair cut right before the party - I had been thinking to cut my hair shorter for awhile and thought it would be perfect for a Cleopatra costume.  Costumes for an "Egyptian queen" at retail stores were running about $40 and I definitely was not going to pay that since I thought I could come up with something myself.  So, with the decision made and only a week to pull it together, this is what I came up with. 

Materials:
* White material (I originally planned on buying a white twin flat sheet from Walmart for cheap, but they were out of stock, of course) - I bought 2 yards of muslin, but should have gotten at least 3.  Cost: $3.94, but it was free since I noticed later that they forgot to charge me!
* Gold material - 1 yard. Cost: $2.07
* Sewing machine - it's much easier to use the machine, than hand-sew it
* Thread (already had - I happened to have gold thread and decided to use that)
* Elastic (already had from last years's Miss Potato Head costume)

1)  After I bought the white muslin, I noticed it was a bit see-through (you can see my hand through the fabric in the picture below).  I had to double-up on it so it wouldn't be, which was the reason that the 2 yards I bought wasn't enough.  I just folded what I had in half and pinned along the sides to keep it together. 

2)  After folding it half, I didn't have enough fabric to do much with.  It wouldn't even wrap completely around me.  I had planned to use the gold fabric as some sort of sash, but used it as part of the dress instead.  I didn't even measure it - I had eyeballed about how much of the gold fabric I would and just cut a straight piece.

3)  I pinned both sides of the white muslin to the gold fabric.  (The piece is a straight rectangle - the picture below makes it look smaller at the top, but the pinned piece at the top is just sticking up more than the bottom).  Once I pinned it, I just sewed them together.  I then sewed a hem at the bottom of the dress.

4)  Next, I needed to install the elastic to help keep the dress up (I originally planned for it to be strapless).  I folded the top of the costume down onto the wrong side.  Once again, I just eyeballed it, but put the elastic on top to make sure I was allowing enough room to thread the elastic through.  I pinned all the way around the entire piece and then sewed it.

5)  I left an opening in the back so I could thread the elastic through.

Using a safety pin at the end of the elastic, I just pushed it through the opening and threaded it through.

6)  Once I threaded it all the way through, I pulled on the elastic until I got it as tight as I needed.  I cut the elastic where I wanted it to end and stuffed the ends into the opening and pinned the ends to the dress.  Then, I sewed over the elastic to keep it permanently in place and sewed the opening closed.

7)  While working on the dress, I was watching TV and one of the characters on the show had a dress on with one strap that started in the front, went across one shoulder to the back.  I thought that was a nice look and since the dress needed a bit of jazzing up, I decided to try that (plus, it would help keep the dress up in place - even with elastic, things tend to creep down especially when you are sitting position).  So, I cut a strip of the gold fabric, folded it in half length-wise and sewed up two sides.  Leaving one side open, I turned it right-side out.  I then pinned one end to the middle of the front side and pinned the other end to the middle of the back side and sewed them to the dress.

8)  Now that the dress was finished,  I tried on the dress again.  It kind of poofed out just under the elastic, making it look a bit frumpy and baggy.  Since I have never sewn clothes before, I didn't know how to make it more fitted.  So, while I had it on, I just pulled and cinched up in the middle of the back side and used a safety pin.

9)  I then made another gold strip in the same exact way as I did for the strap.   I cut a tiny slit in the material on both sides where the safety pin goes into the material and comes out.  I threaded my new gold strip through one side and brought it out of the other side and tied a knot.   This helped to keep the dress a bit more fitted and not so baggy.  (Although, the first time I did it, I didn't cut the slits far enough apart and the dress was still a bit baggy when I wore it to the party.  I fixed it afterwards, so it's fine now).

Unfortunately, I don't have any good pictures of just myself in full costume.  When I dress up for trick-or-treating with my niece and nephew, I'll try to have my sister take some and I'll post an update. :)  Here's a few cropped pictures from the party the other night (the innocent have been cropped out for their protection. ha ha).

At the last minute, the girl who does my hair had to postpone my appointment, so I was bummed because the shorter cut and bang trim was one of my inspirations for the costume in the first place.  I am waaaaay overdue for a cut and my bangs were way too long to keep them going straight across like the Liz Taylor version of Cleopatra.

Via IMDB

To complete my costume, I tried to make a neck piece (in place of big jewelry), but it didn't work out.  I ended up remembering at the last minute that my mom's friend had made a big beaded necklace for me.  I wasn't sure if I still had it, but I found it!  And I originally thought it was black, but it was gold!  Score!  My friend also had a gold headband which I threw on at the last minute and  I wore a big black ring that I often wear on regular days.  (I really wanted a gold cuff to wear on my arm, but didn't have one).  I also extended my eyeliner to give that Cleopatra look and wore really dark eyeshadow.  I'm not good with putting on makeup, so it was minimal, but I think the eyeliner was the most important part of the Cleopatra makeup.

I can always wear this again in a couple of years and improve it since I didn't have much time to work on it.   (I have an idea for a really chunky, big necklace, but didn't think of it until the day of the party so no time to get it done).  And check out this head piece!

Via IMDB

It would be really sweet if I could make some kind of neat piece like that too!  Adding these cool accessories to it would make it seem like a whole new costume!
Happy Halloween everyone!

Fancy Camera Purse

Hello there!  I had taken a short little break from the home DIY & craft projects since I got busy with my Italy vacation & preparing for it.  But, I wanted to share my latest project with you.  Over a year ago, I saw that a blogger shared her recent purchase as seen below.

Source for both pictures above

Seriously, how cute is that bag?!  I love that it has a cross-body strap.  My shoulders and back tend to hurt after carrying even a non-heavy bag after awhile and the cross-body strap will help to alleviate that.  If I remember correctly, the bag was going for at least $100 and I couldn't justify the purchase since I didn't really "need" it at the time.  Fast forward to last month...I decided that it would be a good time to attempt to make this bag on my own so I could use it on my trip.   (I was going to share this post before my trip, but I was way too busy trying to get things done before I left)  So, I gathered up some supplies and the great experiment was set to begin (this is the most intricate sewing project I've attempted and without a pattern).

Supplies:
* 1 1/2 yards of liner fabric ($5.61 - on sale)
* 1 1/2 yards of main outer fabric ($5.40 - with 60% off coupon)
* Magnetic snap closure ($3.22 for 2 snaps, so cost for the 1 I used $1.61 -  with 40% off coupon)
* Thread (already had on hand)
* Batting (already had on hand - was leftover that was given to me)
* Pieces of cardboard

1)  I drew out the design and figured out the dimensions I wanted it to be.

It was just a rough sketch, but it helped to get all my thoughts out so I wouldn't have to waste time re-doing parts of it.

2)  I then cut out the pieces according to the dimensions I wanted and just added an inch to all of them:   liner fabric, outer fabric, and batting.

Since I was making a liner inside the bag, I had to make sure to cut the liner pieces.  I also decided to use batting to help cushion the bag.

3)  I started with the strap - sew the outer and liner fabrics, right sides facing together.  Leave an opening so you can turn it inside out and then hand sew the opening closed.

4)  Next, I sewed pockets onto the "back" piece of the liner fabric.   You have to do this before attaching it to the outer fabric.

I basically just cut a piece that was the same length as the liner.  I then folded it in half so it would be a little bit thicker.  I set my iPod and iPhone in the piece so I could see how large to make the pockets. I then pinned it and sewed down the middle to make the divisions of the pockets.  I then sealed it up by sewing on the sides and bottom - leave the top open so you can slide your items in the pockets.  I made 3 pockets total - for my iPod, iPhone, and extra items like my keys and chapstick.

5)  I then installed the "female" part of magnetic snap closure onto "front" piece of the main outer fabric & batting.

I just kind of eyeballed where the middle of the fabric is.  I pushed the prongs onto the fabric so it would make a bit of a mark and then cut a slit with scissors in the fabric so I could slide the prongs through.  I then also included a thin piece of cardboard underneath it for a bit of extra support.  You then use needle-nose pliers to bend the prongs down so it will stay secure onto the fabric.

(I added batting later, but ended up re-doing the snap afterwards so that's why you see the pictures of one with batting and one without).

6)  Sew the liner pieces right sides facing together - just sew them in the shape of the bag.  If you have specific pieces that have to go on a particular side (ex. front or back), make sure you sew the pieces so they end up in the right spot.

7)  Sew all the outer fabric pieces wrong sides facing together (same as Step #6 except you'll do the wrong sides together instead of the right sides together).

8)  Sew the batting onto the outer pieces.  I just took each piece (one for the bottom of the bag, two for the sides, and two more for the front & back) and sewed it right onto the each part.

9)  Now make the flap for the bag.
a)  For the ruffle: Cut a strip of the outer fabric (whatever width you'd like and then double it) and then fold it in half length-wise, so it gives a nice "hemmed" edge on the ruffle.  Then, fold it in a sort of accordian-style to make the ruffle and lay it on top of the outer fabric on the edge. 

b)  Important!  Make sure the edge of the ruffle piece lines up with the edges of the bigger outer & line fabric (the ruffle will not "hang" off the edge of the flap after you flip it inside out if you don't do it this way).  Put right sides together of the liner fabric & outer fabric.

c)  Sew all three pieces together on both sides and the bottom.  Leave the top side open and flip it right sides out.

d)  Eyeball where the "male" part of the magnetic snap will need to go so it meets the "female" part in the right spot and then you'll do the same as in Step #5 to attach it.

10)  Turn the outer fabric (which now also has the batting sewn onto it) right side out so that it looks like this.

11)  Attach the strap to the sides of the outer fabric, right sides facing each other. 

Wrap the strap to go underneath the bottom of the bag and attach to the other side, right sides of strap and other fabric again.  Set aside...

12)  Turn the liner fabric wrong side out.

13)  Tuck the outer fabric (with strap and front flap attached) inside the liner (right sides will be facing each other).  Line up all the edges at the top and pin them together.  

14)  Sew around the top circumference and leave an opening in the front at the top edge.

15)  Turn the piece right side out through the opening that was left.  It will take a little bit of time because you will also be pulling out the strap and flap.

 16)  Then push the lining back inside the bag and hand-sew the opening closed.

Here's how it will look inside once it's done.

 **I used this website as a guide on how to sew the liner onto the outside fabric and it was VERY helpful.

17)  Sew reinforcements on the straps near the top, inside edge of the purse like below.

This is how the bag will look at this point.  You're almost done!

18)  Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside bottom of bag.

19)  Sew a case for the cardboard to fit inside and then hand sew opening.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy - just need to cover the cardboard.  Heck!  You could even hot glue the fabric onto the cardboard.

20)  Put the fabric-covered cardboard on bottom inside of bag.  This will help the bag from sagging.

21)  Make cushion liner for camera.  Since it is a camera purse, after-all, I needed something to cushion the camera from all the other stuff I put in the bag.
a)  Cut two pieces of liner fabric for the length you need to wrap around your camera (or if you want to just attach the liner like in a regular camera bag that acts as a "wall", then you'll need to cut it to the length that will fit in the bag).

b)  Sew them right sides together on 3 sides, leaving one of the shorter-width sizes open.

c)  Then, cut batting (I doubled-up on the batting to make it thicker) and trim it so it fits just inside all the stitching you just sewed.  You don't want it to go all the way to the edges of the fabric on the two long sides.

d)  Sew the batting onto to the fabric on the top or bottom edge - do one of these only and not both (you will need an opening to turn it right side out)!  Now, turn it right side out and hand-sew the opening closed.

e)  Sew 3 lines, evenly spaced, throughout the length of those cushion piece.  This is what it will look like.

f)  Sew velcro on cushion.  I bought these little round circle velcro pieces for another project and had some leftover.  I used 2 sets of velcro.   One velcro set, I sewed on the edges. Then I sewed 1/2 of the other set on the other edge (you can see it on the outside edge on the 2nd picture below).  I did this so I could velcro this whole piece to the actual bag.

Make sure you place the one velcro set on the correct edges so that it closes (like in the picture below) to make a "circle".

g)  Sew velcro on inside of bag.  The remaining 1/2 of the velcro set will be sewn onto the liner inside the bag.  Place it wherever you want your cushion to be in your bag.  Since the liner was already sewed to the outer fabric, I hand sewed the velcro to the liner.

This is how it will look once you velcro the cushion to the inside of the bag.  It helps to keep your camera in place inside the bag, but also protects it from the other things you put in it.

I also made a flower using both materials. 

But, I ended up finding another flower at H&M that I like much better.  Here's the final product...

This bag cost me $16.57 total to make, including the flower and I even have some leftover fabric I can use.  Not too shabby!  I was very impressed that it came out so well, considering that I've never made anything so detailed before.  But, I'm not an expert at sewing by any means, so I hope my instructions were clear enough.  If you have any questions, feel free to comment or send me a message!

Linked up to:
The DIY Dreamer's From Dream to Reality linky party#40

Homework's Inspiration Board link party

House on the Way's Twirl & Take a Bow link party

 
The NY Melrose Family & Smart School Houses' Whimsy Wednesdays link party

Live Laugh Rowe's Live Laugh Linky party

House of Hepworths' Hookin Up With HOH link party

Delightful Order's Delightfully Inspiring Thursday link party

The 36th Avenue's Best DIY Projects link party

One Artsy Mama's Shine on Fridays link party

Too Much Time's Get Schooled Saturday link party

Tater Tots & Jello Weekend Wrap Up link party

Thrifty Decor Chick's November Before & After link party

originally posted on & by: http://adventuresindiy1759.blogspot.com/