Friday Faves Vol. 22

This new line of Soft Matte Metallic Lip Creams from NYX!

These glitter cactus earrings!

These anxiety and depression t-shirts from Neon Witch!

DIY Halloween Costume Idea: Tomato Pin Cushion

Somewhere in the rear crevices of my brain I store my "one day" Halloween costume ideas. Those are the concepts I love, but for one reason or another have never gotten the chance to make and wear. For years, I've been amped to be a tomato pin cushion for Halloween, both because I think it's a cute costume, but also because sewing is one of my main hobbies. It's a match made in crafting heaven!

Sadly, I've yet to wear this costume so I'm sharing my tips here in case anyone out there would like to do so!

So, my general concept is a red dress enhanced with green accents, several larger than life sewing pins and a thimble hat (every costume needs a tiny hat!), plus an optional measuring tape to be used where you see fit. Here's how I recommend putting this costume together:

The Dress

Red Skater Dress: Amazon  •  Green Ribbon: Michaels  •  Green Felt: Michaels  •  Flexible Fabric Glue: Joann Fabrics

Find a red dress. Cut tomato leaf shapes from dark green felt and glue or stitch them along the neckline of the dress, front and back. Cut lengths of a matching green ribbon to attach in intervals along the skirt of the dress. If you want to wear the dress again, you could safety pin the green bits instead.

The Sewing Pins

Styrofoam Balls: Walmart  •  Metallic Paint: Amazon  •  Acrylic Paint: Michaels  •  Hot Glue Gun: Amazon  •  Wood Dowels: Joann Fabrics

To make the sewing pins, start with a wooden dowel - these ones are great because they're not too thick and are cut to a good length. Paint them silver or wrap them in aluminum foil. Paint the styrofoam balls in a variety of colors. Add a dollop of hot glue to the end of a dowel and push it into a styrofoam ball. Repeat until you have enough pins. Finally, poke the pins through holes in your dress in whatever locations you desire. You might need a bit of glue to keep them secured. If you don't want to cut the dress, you can instead just hold a few pins.

The Thimble Hat

Silver Paint: Amazon  •  Elastic String: Michaels

To make the thimble hat, paint a plastic cup metallic silver. Use a black marker to draw the dots and lines to mimic a real thimble. Attach elastic cord with a dot of hot glue (don't melt the cup!) to keep it attached to your head.

If you'd like to incorporate a measuring tape (and why not at this point? Go crafty or go home!), you could use it as the headband tie for your thimble hat, a strap to a custom purse, a belt or even a choker.

One day I hope to make this costume for myself, but until then I'll have to put a pin in it. Sorry, I just had to put a pun in it. Yikes, wow, sorry, someone please stop me!

Friday Faves Vol. 3

Here's what's been catching my eye lately:

This super fun collection of novelty purses

This amazing pastel rainbow hair

This interesting and atmospheric moon light

These adorable little snail and caterpillar snacks!

This insanely cute "newborn" photo shoot of this kitten!

This slideshow of the ideal lips throughout history from the Ming Dynasty to Kim Kardashian is a great reminder that beauty standards are just as subjective as they are ever-changing, so do whatever you want literally all the time.☺

This sleek midcentury modern coffee table would be a great pop of color!

These kitschy vintage sewing patterns for junk food pillows

This retro Orla Kiely floral canister needs to be in my kitchen ASAP, plz

These custom pet photo pillows would make an amazing gift!

What fun stuff have you seen lately?

How to Resize Your Jeans So They'll Actually Fit You Correctly For Once

Ugh. Buying jeans is the worst. Show me someone who says they enjoy it, and I'll show you someone from whom you need to back away slowly. It's difficult to find jeans that fit your budget, fit your style and fit your bod, but that last one is especially rough. We've all tried on jeans that were laughable on us - a foot too long, baggy in the hips, not enough tush room - but how many pairs have come close to being perfect, but aren't quite right?

Those are the jeans I want to talk about. The almost-there jeans - they can be saved!

Since we're all shaped differently than the one fit model a particular brand chooses for their jeans, almost no pair will be a perfect fit on us. What are our options? Settle for close enough or take them to a tailor and have them adjusted for a fee. 

…But there's another option! (this is my version of the classic infomercial line "There has to be a better way!" preceded by footage of you struggling to understand how pants go on your body)

I mean, who HASN'T been there?!

You (yes, YOU) can custom fit your own jeans, and it's way easier than you probably think. This tutorial will show you how to custom size your jeans to your hip and/or leg measurements so you never experience the issues that come with so many ill-fitting pants.

Let's do this!  

First: wash & dry those jeans! You don't want to fit them and then have them shrink. 

You can do this two different ways, so I'll quickly show you both. Jeans usually have a thicker, more pronounced seam on either the inner or outer edge of the pants. It'll be easier and less noticeable if you resize from the edge with the less pronounced seam, so that you don't have to remove or hide the more pronounced seam. 

In the first method, we trim excess fabric from the outside seam. This can also be helpful if you want to remove excess fabric from the waistband because you can continue your new seam right up through the top of the jeans (though there are more professional methods to do that if you want to invest the time). 

To start, lay your inside-out jeans flat and place a well-fitting pair on top of them. Align the jeans at the crotch and pin them together along the inside seam of one leg (seen above).

With chalk, trace around the leg of the well-fitting jeans onto the jeans you're resizing. In my case, I needed to shorten the new jeans so I traced the bottom edge as well. Repeat on the other leg.

The second method is basically the same, except we'll be removing fabric from the inside seam. This is the method I used on my jeans because it's a little easier and there are less things, like waistbands and pockets, in the way.

Again, lay the inside-out jeans flat with a well-fitting pair on top of them. You still want to align them at the crotch, but in this method you'll line up the outside seams and pin along them.

Use the chalk to trace along the well-fitted pair of jeans onto the jeans you're resizing. It's easier to have both pairs inside out so you don't need to worry so much about chalk marks on the top pair.

Next, you'll just need to pick out some thread. You can go with one that matches your denim or one that matches the existing stitching on your jeans. It won't show on the outside/right side of your jeans, but will show if you choose to also hem the jeans. I chose a dark thread for the side seam and a matching gold thread for the bottom hem.

Now we'll simply show along the chalkline we drew before. You could sew slightly outside of the chalk line to give a little extra room just in case, but I sewed right on the line since my jeans were very stretchy.

We want to sew first with a basting stitch, which is a loose temporary stitch. This way you can try on the jeans to check the fit and if you need to remove any portion of the stitch it'll be much easier.

When you've completed the basting stitch on both legs, try on the inside-out jeans. I found my fit to be satisfactory except around my ankles, so I drew new chalk lines where I wanted the jeans to fit while still wearing them.

Make any sewing adjustments and try the jeans on again to give final fit approval.

When you're good with the fit, sew the permanent stitches. I use a zig zag stitch because it provides more stretch. I then sew a slightly tighter basting stitch right over the zig zag stitch for a little more security. I also add a tight, straight stitch on the outside of the zig zag stitch (dramatic reenactment above) as a last line of defense if the seam ever opens up. I'm kinda paranoid about my pants just bursting off my body suddenly, but you only need to add the seams you want here.

You can see above that there is plenty of extra fabric outside (in this case, to the left) of the stitches. If you don't need to adjust the length of the jeans, just trim that part off and you're done!

I recommend using pinking shears because it prevents the fabric from fraying, plus it gives you a reason to own pinking shears, which are one of the cutest parts of the crafting world.

If you do need to adjust the length of the jeans, you can follow this tutorial I made. Alternately, you can simply fold your jeans up to the right length while still inside out, run a straight stitch around the perimeter of the ankle, and trim the excess with pinking shears if you don't mind a more unfinished look inside. I won't tell ;)

And that's how (relatively) easy it is to custom fit your own jeans! Honestly, once you try this you'll get the hang of it, and custom tailoring will just be another tool in your DIY arsenal. Warning: you may get addicted to custom fitting all of your clothes. At least you'll look great, though! 

Have you ever made DIY skinny jeans? Got any hot tips on clothes-fitting? Can you tell me why jeans are so mean to us?

DIY: Pillow Covers from Fabric Napkins

I feel like there are a lot of jokes about ladies loving throw pillows, which, aside from being vaguely sexist and dismissive, is also kind of true. But, like, what's not to love? First you have the "throw," and - hello? - who ISN'T interested in throwing things? Then you have the "pillow," and if I have to explain the myriad virtues of the pillow to you, then something tells me you're not yet ready for a basic sewing tutorial.

I'd been keeping an eye out for a cute set of throw pillows for my couch, and after months of being underwhelmed by prints and overwhelmed by prices, I set my peepers on this cute set of fabric napkins at Target in the Easter display. Hey - inspiration can strike anywhere!

This is the joyful print that I saw in that rabbit and egg-themed pile.

I loved the vintage-inspired floral print and the kaleidoscope of colors, and I knew the napkins would be coming home with me, despite the fact that I've never used a fabric napkin outside of a restaurant in my life. The napkins were 18" squares, so I was sure they'd make perfect throw pillows.

Fabric napkins are great for this project because they're hemmed, and usually square and pillow-sized. Easy. Plus, you can find them cheap and in lots of colors and prints. Think of this unexpected shortcut as a private joke you can laugh about to yourself every time you see someone resting their head on an Easter napkin. We all need one of those.

Wanna try this? Come on!

WHAT YOU NEED

+ Fabric Napkins

+ Pillows or Pillow Stuffing

+ Matching Fabric (optional)

+ Needle & Thread or Sewing Machine

HOW TO MAKE IT

First thangs first - iron those napkins! Likely, they've been folded and have defined creases, so iron them unless you want everyone to know your little secret.

You can use a napkin for both the front and the back of the pillow, but I chose to use a soft pink fabric for the backs, both because it's cozier and because I like the pop of color. Let me save myself some typing - I've already written a thorough DIY Envelope Pillow Cover Tutorial (complete with graphics!) so we'll be using those directions for the construction.

Basically, I cut my back pieces (two per pillow) and hem the edge that will show in the final product.

Following that tutorial, I pin all my pieces (in the right order!) and sew around the edges.

Next, flip the pillow cover right-side out. 

Stuff those suckers with pillows and you've got a new set of throws!

The pink fabric is so soft, you guys. Only downside is that I now have pink fuzz from fabric cutting overtaking my life. There are worse things.

Do you fulfill the throw-pillow-loving lady stereotype? Do you think I'm crazy for making pillows out of Easter napkins? Seriously, what I am going to do about all this pink fuzz?

DIY Kimono Tutorial

I love a piece of floaty clothing. Call it a Golden Girls complex, but when I saw a drape-y masterpiece on a store hanger, I instinctively inch toward it. These kimono-style cardigans have been popular in stores for a while now, but I have a hard time spending 30 bucks on what is essentially a piece of fabric with a few stitches in it. The good part about that simplicity is that it makes these kimonos incredibly easy to make yourself. No, I swear! See:

WHAT YOU NEED

1.5 - 2 Yards of Fabric

Measuring Tape

Scissors

Sewing Pins

Sewing Machine or Needle & Thread

HOW TO MAKE IT

First, choose a good fabric. Many kimonos in stores are made from sheer, floaty fabrics because they're light and hang nicely, which is what this look is about. They're often polyester, though, and not very breathable. I wanted something I could wear comfortably in the summer heat so I made this from a lightweight jersey knit. The most important thing is choosing a fabric that drapes well, so see what you like at the fabric store (rayon, jersey and other apparel fabrics are a good place to start).

I got this one at Joann Fabrics.

Next, you need to cut the fabric to size. This will vary depending on how big you want the kimono. I went with a piece measuring 45" wide and 60" long. If you want a longer/shorter kimono, adjust the 60" side; if you want a wider/narrower one, adjust the 45" side.

Decide what size you want and cut away!

Once you're happy with the size, lay down your fabric, right side up, and fold it from top to bottom. In my case, this gives me a piece that is 45" wide and 30" long. Now, fold it in half again from left to right. Mine is now 22.5" wide and 30" long. Put a pin in the fabric at the top left corner.

This is the only corner with no open edge.

Next, we want to cut ONE layer of the fabric. At the bottom left corner (opposite the pin) cut straight along the edge until you reach the pin. You only want to cut the top layer of fabric here. This cut will become the opening to your kimono.

I'm cutting TOWARD the pin we put in.

Did I stress this enough?

Remove the pin and rearrange the fabric so that you have a doubled over rectangle with a slit down the center front, like below (yours should be inside out).

Measure about 10" down the left side of your fabric, starting at the top corner. Place a pin at that point and continue to pin down the side. Repeat on the right side of the fabric. That 10" area will become your arm hole, so try it on while pinned and adjust as needed.

Sew straight down each side of the fabric along where you pinned.

Trim any excess fabric to the side of the stitches. Flip the whole thing right side out.

What an adorable seam!

Now, this is where you'd normally finish the hem of your fabric, but because I used jersey knit, the hems will roll up if you give them a slight tug. Yet another reason I strongly suggest a jersey knit!

Rolled hem = less work and more kimono wearing time!

This is basically a rectangle with some holes on the side. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

This is one of the quickest and easiest sewing projects I've ever taken on. If you feel even kind of comfortable with your sewing skills (or, honestly, even if you don't) you could whip this up in an hour. I plan to make several thousand for the summer. Okay, maybe more like five.

You can belt it too!

Do you like kimonos for summer? What other colors and patterns do you think I should make? Which Golden Girl has the best style?