Upcycle Projects

Upcycle Project #1

This old shirt of mine was in the “give away pile”. After close inspection and some inspiration from Gina, I figured out a fun way to change it into a jumper for Avery. First, I cut off the ¾ length sleeves and the collar.

Then I sewed the sleeves together, using the cuff detail for the top of the jumper. The pointed collar adds a little detail to the straps.







Upcycle Project #2
It was so easy to make this peasant dress out of the body of the shirt. Using bias tape I made a casing in the neck for the elastic. Then put elastic in the hem of the sleeves. The original hem of the shirt becomes the hem of the dress.


http://theemptynestlife.blogspot.com/ April 3, 2009

2 min of prep=2 hrs of FUN

My neighbor showed me this cute idea that she saw online.
All you have to do it cut off the bottom of any pop or water bottle.
Cover with an old rag, or I used old kid socks...


Fill a bowl with bubbles, or dish soap that is watered down a little...


And the kids can blow bubbles to their little hearts content.

They don't pop easily, so they are fun to play with.



The tighter the sock/rag is, the longer the bubble worms you can make.








2 min of prep=2 hrs of FUN

My neighbor showed me this cute idea that she saw online.
All you have to do it cut off the bottom of any pop or water bottle.
Cover with an old rag, or I used old kid socks...


Fill a bowl with bubbles, or dish soap that is watered down a little...


And the kids can blow bubbles to their little hearts content.

They don't pop easily, so they are fun to play with.


Parker made a bubble dome.


The tighter the sock/rag is, the longer the bubble worms you can make.
http://shedreamsinyellow.blogspot.com/ June 13, 2010

Halloween

http://www.cameronandbrookkelly.blogspot.com/ November 3, 2009


http://ewfphotos.blogspot.com/ November 3, 2009

One Skirt = Three Little Dresses

Now that I am an upcycler/recycler extraordinare, I don't see ready-made clothing as something to buy and wear. Oh no, they are just pieces of fabric. Designer fabrics that can't be purchased at my local fabric store. Fabrics just waiting to be fashioned into something smashingly cute.
Take a look at this skirt. When I saw it at my favorite store, my brain was telling me, "This is not just a BIG skirt - It is a skirt with a LOT of fabric for only $8.00."

Maybe with some clever folding, cutting and sewing, I could make a few of these little dresses:

You can do it too!!
From the waistband to hem, fold the skirt into thirds.

Then, from the waistband to hem, fold all the layers of the skirt in half.

Cut out a size 12-18 month 'swing' dress pattern.

It makes three of these:








http://theemptynestlife.blogspot.com/ April 30,2009