Monday, December 19, 2011

How to re-make old shoes into glitter-tastic new ones

Shoes are most definitely my latest favorite thing to customize, alter and otherwise remake. I took my inspiration for this redo from the fabulous new book Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe.
This is what the shoes looked like before their transformation, plain dark brown but the folds offered a great way to divide up the space and use different colors.

How I altered the shoes:
I painted several coats of Plaid's Extreme Glitter paint onto the different sections of the shoes. I used red and black.
Then I die cut 4 pairs of scissors out of some silver Mylar making sure I did them in mirror images for the right and left shoes using the Cuttlebug scissor die. One set went on the toes and the other on the outside ankle area.
To glue the scissor on I used Tacky Glue and a toothpick.
Then all that was left to do was add a few coats of Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish to give them that glitter patten leather look and protect the scissors.

If you are a fan of the "redo" I bet you will live this beautiful and inspiring book!
More about the book from the publisher Andrews McMeel Universal:
Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe
by
Martena Dusss and Sissi Holleis

Sweat Shop Paris: Lessons from a Sewing Cafe brings the namesake Paris Sweat Shop founded by Martena Duss and Sissi Holleis to North America with more than 50 DIY fashion and home projects, including instructions and more than 200 helpful, inspiring full-color photographs. The first "cafe couture" sewing shop in Paris, the Sweat Shop was named to highlight the questionable nature in which store-bought clothing is sometimes made. Instead of rewarding dubious labor practices, the Sweat Shop and The Sweat Shop Book inspire crafters to make something unique with their own sweat equity and creativity.

Crafters meet at the cafe and share ideas while renting equipment by the hour. In addition, classes teach novices how to sew, knit, crochet, and much more.

In March 2010, Martena Duss and Sissi Holleis opened the Sweat Shop, the first sewing cafe in Paris, near the trendy boutiques of Canal St. Martin. Duss is a Swiss makeup artist. Holleis is from Austria, where she had her own fashion store and label. In addition to carving a niche in Parisian society, the Sweat Shop has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Elle, the New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian, and Marie Claire.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas tree ornament chain link fence decoration

Back at 4th July time I made an American flag with Christmas ornaments on my chain link gate well did you think I would let my gate go unadorned at Christmas? No sir-e!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a double giveaway featuring books and Styrofoam shapes along with tutorials and patterns for Christmas painting and knitting along with a recipe for vegan nut butter dip and some adorable photos of our newest Amineko.

Rock Paper Ink

Until Covered in Ink Do Us Part

Lindsay Sews
With the holiday ornament swap complete, you can check out photos of the lovely handmade ornaments--including bacon!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge turns some styrofoam and sparkly things into a Retrofabulous Suzy Snowflake Snowlady!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge turns some styrofoam and sparkly things into a Retrofabulous Suzy Snowflake Snowlady!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a yarn ball and dpn Christmas tree.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she took pre made cards and embellished them to make her own Christmas cards she mailed out this year..

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi enters the Friendship Bracelet world and learns a thing or two.

Craft Buds
Turn that old wool sweater into a personalized keepsake. Learn how to make a monogram sweater ornament, embellished with jingle bells.

Craft. You.
Meet Jenny Barnett-Rohrs of Craft Test Dummies this week on Craft. You.!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is able to spill the beans about a new jewelry business adventure she is exploring.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
"Santa Claus is coming to town." Are you ready for The Artful Crafter's annual Christmas Parade of Crafts?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Rorschach's new Christmas sweater and his yarn ball Christmas tree

Rorschach Amineko got a wonderful Christmas sweater from one of our best friends. I think he looks positively adorable in it. I mean really don't all cats look cute in sweaters, especially crazy Christmas ones! Here he is posing in front of his favorite Christmas tree in the house.

It's made from his mom's stash of green balls of yarn and dpns (double pointed needles). All I did was make a base of yarn and then stack each layer on top of the first securing the balls with the dpns.

And it seemed appropriate to top off this yarn ball tree with a tiny knit sweater.

I do love using my craft supplies in their natural state to make decorations. It will be super easy to dismantle and store back in the boxes as nothing was damaged. If you need to make yourself an Amineko check out this post that features the book I used to make Roy.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Funny headline and product combo from the grocery store check out line

OK does anyone else think that this drink is the perfect beverage to read this article?

If only what we read was true.

Craft Buds
Create H.O.P.E. Designs is making a world of difference through sewing patterns, and Mary stitches up the A+ Art Portfolio.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a fun new video on how to tint gesso with pastels by Traci Bunkers, tutorials on how to draw Christmas trees and poinsettias, tips on cleaning glassware and a yummy recipe for vegan maple bacon doughnuts.

Craft. You.
This week on Craft. You.: Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Here's a post about remembering the December birthdays!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen not only offers you a fantabulous Glitzy bleached Christmas tree project but also a giveaway on her blog this week!

About Family Crafts
Play along with the current craft challenge and submit an angel craft or two.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy takes a look at a craft book packed full of projects.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you know about yarn bombing? Whimsical hand knit and crocheted art is circling the globe!

Lindsay Sews
He's cute and cuddly, and you can sew him with just one yard of fabric. Take a peek at Hugh Manatee from the new book, Fabric-by-Fabric: One-Yard Wonders.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
It's a video! It's two craft projects with instructions! It's RETROFABULOUS! Yay!

Mixed Media Artist
If you've still got any autumn leaves available, here's a pretty idea for using them up!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to make a recycled sweater wreath with a candy style bow.

Rock Paper Ink
Jay Calderin discusses getting a handle(bar) on trends.

Monday, December 5, 2011

How to make a recycled sweater with a peppermint candy style bow wreath

My first Christmas wreath of the season. If the wind keeps up here and I have to keep picking up tree dabris it might just be the only one! But it sure came out cute.
I was inspired by this post over at Fave Crafts Blog where there was a sock craft roundup. One of the projects was a wreath made of socks that was adorable! Well as the mistress of sweater surgery my go to material is the almighty sweater so off to the sweater stash!
While not a conventional Christmas color combo I thought this striped sweater would look kinda cool.
How I made my recycled wool felted sweater wreath;

I cut the sleeves off the sweater and up the seam.
I simply whip stitched the sweater strips onto a Styrofoam wreath base. The stitches don't show so it doesn't matter what they look like! I wanted it to be a little more scrunchy so I cut another strip of the sweater from the back as well. So in total it was 3 sections.
To make the candy style bow. I cut 2 strips of the stripes. One was 3 wide with the dark color on the outside and one was 3 stripes wide with the dark stripe on the inside with the two light blue on the outside. Then I folded them in half and coiled them up. This made the center candy part.
To make the "wrapper" side pieces I cut the ribbing section from the base of the sweater and did a running (gather) stitch. I bit of hot glue was used to attach them to the sides of the candy and then onto the wreath.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Win a copy of Sweater Surgery and 9 other great books and yarn

Pop on over to This post at Craftside and get yourself in the running 3 ways to have a chance to win a copy of Sweater Surgery and 9 other sewing, felting, knitting and crochet books along with a whole bunch of yarn and supplies!

Also at Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
there is a free knit stocking pattern with monograms, a whole bunch of cool gift topper tutorials, how to embellish antique gift tins and a recipe for Asian turkey and rice soup.

Craft. You.
It's hectic around the holidaze, don't forget to take a moment to enjoy and exhale. Zuzu's Petals.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Displaying an art collection is a craft too!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a blinged out Dollar store ornament transformation!

About Family Crafts
Share your homemade gift stories, whether they are good, bad, or ugly! You can also read other people's stories.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a recycled die cut sweater Christmas tree.

Mixed Media Artist
Handmade decorations and ornaments help to make the season bright!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Need a craftacular gift for the holiday season? Fret not, Madge has got you covered!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Do you craft for profit – or would you like to? Here are some tips for reaching your target market.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy gives you some tips for finding fun and yarn friendly project bags.

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