Stud it Up, Converse Style

Recently while cleaning out the basement (a truly frightening event) I came across an old pair of classic black Converse High-Tops. If I remember correctly, this pair of shoes was acquired at the height of my grunge-rebellious phase of eighth grade- and they were looking a little sad. Half way to the Goodwill bag a thought hit me- 'I wonder if I can turn these sad tennies into hip high tops?' and so, by combining my two favorite craft-cessories- bleach AND metal studs- I gave these babies a new life!

Here are some great studded high tops that have been popping up in stores all over recently:

check these out at freepeople.com .

and these are from Target !

Supplies:
-An old pair of high top sneakers (any color really, but black works best for this style)
-Bleach (and protective gloves for dealing with bleach)
-Optional toothbrush/ paintbrush you don't mind destroying
-Metal studs (try searching etsy for cheap supplies in bulk)

Step One:
Make sure your sneakers are clean. Place them in a bin in a well ventilated area or outside. Pour the bleach into a smaller container (such as the bleach container lid).
Using the bleach, 'splatter paint' your shoes. I poured some bleach over top, used a toothbrush to spray little dots, and used my hands to make abstract lines. Get creative- and think artistically- too much bleach will turn your shoes all one color, and too little will go unnoticed. Channel your inner Jackson Pollock! Warning: the bleach will probably destroy your toothbrush/ paintbrush so don't use one you're particularly attached to.

Step Two:
If you're using black sneakers then right about now they're looking pretty red. Startling, right? No need for more bleach- just let them sit until they've obtained the perfect level of faded wonderfulness. I let mine sit for about 30 minutes and achieved a nice salmon pink. As soon as you're happy with the color- chuck em in the washer with a little bit of detergent and wash them on the gentlest cycle.

Step Three:
Let your shoes dry.. this will probably take overnight unless you want to go at them with a hair dryer. Then add studs! I used brass square studs that have four little prongs each. Once you press the prongs into the fabric you then curl the prongs under on the other side. Take your time lining up and placing your studs. I used pliers to make sure my studs were really secure (I don't want those prongs coming loose and poking my ankles).

And that's it! Go be the grunge princess you've always dreamed of!

Having some fun at the Smithsonian Museum of American History and rockin' my upgraded Sneaks!

The Morning Doodle 3

It's about time for another Morning Doodle, don't you think? 

Today we've got an Instagram shot of Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck it Ralph. She lives in diet coke mountain, wears candy in her hair, and gets to be the princess in the end. I'm kind of her biggest fan.

 Just some casual Direwolves... (Game of Thrones on Sunday eee!)

Some doodles of Mermaids 

Some pretty ruffled dresses

And my entry for Red Bull's Collective Art Project- Hope you enjoyed them! 

The Great Big St. Patty's Day Post

Well, it's March- the month where everyone is Irish. Give me green, glitter, and Shamrock Shakes! Celebrate in hipster style with these adorable mustache straws :)

 Supplies: 
-Sheets of glitter paper (I got one in light green and one in dark green)
-Scissors
-Standard Hole Punch
-Straws that bend
-Pencil/ pen

 Step One: On the back side of the glitter paper draw a mustache. The easiest way to do this is to draw two circles right next to each other. Then draw triangles on either side of the circles and add a curly shape to each end. You can also just print one out from clipart, cut it out and use it as a stencil.

 Step Two: Cut out your mustache and trace it however many times you would like on the back of the glitter paper. Cut out all of your mustaches.

 Step Three: Punch a hole in the center of your mustache. Place each mustache on a straw with the glitter side facing away from the end you drink from. Now you can be a super-hip glittery leprechaun every time you sip your Guinness on St. Patty's Day :D

 I also prepared a few other crafts for the holiday. I made this floral headband using paper flowers I picked up from the scrapbook section at Michael's and soft elastic (left over from making no-crease hair ties). I sewed the flowers in color gradation along the front of the headband. Make sure if you're using paper flowers that you really securely sew them to the headband. The paper rips easily.
 It's comfy, cute, and reminds me of Spring (which I need, since it's snowing in Pittsburgh right now). 

Some Ombre St. Patty's Day nails I did using a make-up sponge & gold glitter!

And of course it wouldn't be a holiday without decorated bowling pins! :)

And here's the sweater I'm wearing (kind of a mixture between my hunger games tee and rib cage sweater) Shamrock elbow patches! :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

DIY Rib Cage Sweater

So incase no one has noticed yet- I've got a thing for skulls & bones... but only the adorable ones. I've been seeing these rib cage cut out tees all over the internet, which I absolutely adore (a great companion tee to the skull back tee).

check out this shirt from Gypsy Warrior. 

But it's cold season here in Pittsburgh, so I wanted to mimic the design but make it winter-friendly.
The result? A neat-o sweatshirt with a ghoulish design that I want to wear every day!

Supplies:
-1 Plain, cotton blend sweatshirt. I picked up a Hanes boatneck sweatshirt for $7 at Target (bonus: Target carries men's & women's so you can get a thinner, more shapely one if you want it to be a bit more flattering)
-Fabric with an awesome pattern that will span the back of whichever sweatshirt you get.
-Sewing Thread - choose the same color as your sweatshirt or a bright color for a pop.
-Sewing Needle
-Fabric Scissors
-A Sharpie

Step One:
Turn the sweatshirt inside out. With the back-side facing up, draw a simplified ribcage using your Sharpie. I just drew nine circle-ish shapes to represent the spine (try to make them organic looking- perfect circles will look odd) and then curved rectangular shapes on either side of the circles (7 on each side- 14 total). The bottom ribs are longer and more curved and end in two little triangular shapes for the tail bone.

Step Two:
Cut out the design. Be carful and take your time!

Step Three: 
Turn the sweater right-side-out. Pick out a fabric and place the whole sheet behind the cut out design. It's important to use the whole piece of fabric and not random scraps if you're using any sort of pattern. You want it to flow consistently from cut out to cut out.

I had problems deciding on fabric and used my fellow instagramers for help. 

Tie-Dye won the popular vote!

Step Four: 

Pin the whole sheet of fabric to the sweatshirt- smooth it and pin each corner to the outside of the sweatshirt to keep it laying flat. 

Pin one cut-out at a time to the fabric behind it & then sew it! Only pinning & sewing one shape at a time helps to keep the fabric from puckering. 

I didn't use a precise hand-sewing technique.. I wanted a rough, uneven look.. like so:

Step Five:

Finish sewing all the shapes... I know it takes a while so it's a good time to start a new series on Netflix. If you're a perfectionist go for machine sewing, it's a lot faster too. 

Now turn the sweatshirt inside out again so that the sheet of sewn fabric is facing you. 

Cut around the outside of the sewn shapes. Be really careful not to cut what you've sewn! Cutting off the excess fabric will make the sweatshirt lights and less bulky. 

That's it!!

Turn your sweatshirt right-side out again and enjoy your masterpiece! 

Christmas Peppermint Tie Dye Cupcakes

Your favorite Tie Dye Cupcake with a holiday twist!

Ingredients:

-Your favorite vanilla cake mix (white cake works too.. but it's a little to light & airy of a cake to handle the dye well... the texture came out a little off where there was no difference when using vanilla cake mix)

-Whatever other ingredients your cake mix calls for.. in my case eggs, water, and vegetable oil 

-Red & Green Food Coloring (I prefer Wilton's brand)
-Optional Red and Green sprinkles or edible flakes
-Candy Canes
-Pillsbury Vanilla Mint frosting

Step One: 

-Make the cake batter according the the directions on the box. 

-When the batter is completely blended and smooth, separate into two bowls o

-Slowly add dye to bowls. Remember, a little bit usually goes a long way so blend completely before deciding if more dye is needed. Also keep in mind that no one wants to bite into a bubble of dye so blend completely... and then blend even more.

Step Two:

-Line your tin with cupcake liners. 

-Layer spoonfuls of the red and green batter in each liner. The smaller the spoonfuls (and the more layers) -the more of a tie dye effect you'll get. 

-Fill liners 3/4 of the way (or whatever the recipe calls for)

-DO NOT try to swirl or mix the different colored batter! This will only make it turn a muddy greyish/ brown. LAYERING ONLY!!

Here you can see the layering progression: the bottom liner only has one layer with the top having four.

All Done!

-Step Three:

-Bake for as long as the recipe on the box calls for!

-Remember you added an ingredient (the dye) so a little extra baking time may be needed! Just be careful and keep an eye on your cupcakes!


Step Four:

-Decorate!

-After your cupcakes have cooled, ice them! I dirty- iced these cupcakes with a knife and canned vanilla mint frosting (beware: it is very minty). To top off the cupcakes I used edible red and green sparkle-flakes and crushed candy canes. I found the gingerbread man cupcake wrappers at Joann Fabrics.

Aren't they the sweetest?