Tea Dyed Paper

I researched how to do this for my Sheet Music Christmas Ornament project and I ADORE it. It is such a simple way to make something look aged.

Supplies
- Hot water
- 8-10 tea bags
- paper, sheet music, gift tags; pretty much whatever you want to dye
- a 9 in x 13 in glass pan 
- cookie sheets
- an old bath towel

Optional
- blow dryer

Start off by opening up your tea bags and laying them out.

Lay them in your pan and then fill it about an inch with hot water.

Let your tea bags steep for 5-10 minutes; you want your water to turn really dark. Then pull them out and set them aside.

Place your paper in the dish one sheet at a time, pushing it to the bottom before placing another one in. I wouldn't put more than four sheets in at once. Let them sit for another 5-10 minutes.

As you pull the sheets out, place them on cookie sheets covered in an old towel. Allow them to air dry for at least an hour. If you need them to dry quickly, take a blow-dryer to your paper. Make sure it is set to warm-high.

Now you have paper that looks like it's ancient, but it only took a few minutes!

Sheet Music Christmas Ornament

Hello again! Sorry this post is so delayed, I've been rather busy prepping for Christmas over at my house. In case anyone needs a last-minute gift, here ya go!

Supplies
- an ornament ( it can be a colored one, you will be covering it up anyway)
- modge podge
- sparkly paint
- ribbon 
- two sponges
- a stapler
- one twisty tie
- sheet music (this can be substituted as old book pages)
- scissors

Start off by cutting your sheet music or book pages into 1.5 or 2 inch strips.

Put a big glob of modge podge onto one of your sponges. Then spread it around with your finger so it isn't concentrated in one area.

Spread a line of modge podge onto your ornament, then place your first strip of paper on top of it. Make sure you seal all the edges flat with your finger or the sponge on each strip.

Repeat this process, layering the strips of paper over each other and covering all the glass.

After you have covered the glass, "sand" the edges of the paper down with your sponge. This bonds all the edges together and leaves a flat seal for the glitter.

Let the ornament dry for 10-15 minutes by turning it upside-down and resting the neck of the bulb in your modge podge cap.

Take your second sponge and put a glob of sparkly paint on it, spreading it to cover the sponge just like the modge podge.

Mimic the "sanding" you did with the modge podge to apply the glitter, letting it dry between coats. I would recommend at least two coats of the sparkles. 

Measure out roughly 13 inches of ribbon and fold it into the bow shape above.

Then fold your bow in half around the twisty tie and twist it closed.

Measure our 3 inches of ribbon and fold it over the center of the bow. Staple it closed to hold it in place.

Tie the bow around the neck of the ornament. When you put on the closure of the ornament, make sure to fold up the back three prongs so you can hide the twisty tie underneath. Then fold down like so.

Adjust the bow to straighten it out or however you see fit. Now you're ready to wrap your homemade ornament!

DIY Scarf

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! Its been hectic trying to get back in the swing of things. My inspiration for this came a picture I saw from P.S. I Made This --an amazing DIY site-- for making a t-shirt into a scarf. It seems you can turn a t-shirt into just about anything and that got me thinking. Isn't a skirt the same width as a t-shirt?

Supplies
Skirt- the shorter and lighter the material is, the better!
Ruler
Pencil
Scissor

Start off by cutting the serged edge between the skirt and the waistband off.

 

 

 

 



This will leave you with the patterned layer, the liner, and the waistband.

 

 

Take the patterned layer and fold it in half, then fold it in half again.

 

 

 



Mark every half inch across the bottom of the skirt and then mark two and a half to three inches from the hem.

Following the half inch marks, cut fringe along the bottom of the skirt.

 

Voila! You just made a skirt scarf:)

 



Lacy Shorts

Ever have that favorite pair of jeans that wore through in the knees or the bottom hems are ripping off? I have an old pair of boot cut American Eagle jeans with original distressing that ripped too big. I decided what better to do with them than make some cute summer shorts?

Supplies
Old jeans
A pair of well fitting and flattering shorts
Lace (at least 1 yd.)
Chalk
Scissors
Measuring Tape
Sewing machine




Make sure both the jeans and shorts are zippered and buttoned closed. Then put the shorts over the jeans lining up the waistbands and pining the together.

 

Trace along the bottom of the shorts with the chalk. Then unpin the waistbands and pull the shorts off.

Carefully start cutting the jeans about an inch away from the line, starting at the side seams. Be careful not to cut the pockets of the jeans!

 

Measure the opening of one of the short's legs. Then measure two sections of lace two inches longer, leaving room for side seams.

Pin the lace to the bottom of the shorts, following the original line you drew, leaving one inch at the outer side seam. Don't fold the lace up when sewing; instead, pin it so the lace will be on top of the jeans. Also make sure not to catch the pocket while pinning so it doesn't get sewn shut.

Once you get all the way around, sew the lace together creating a large loop. Pin the seam down and then sew the lace to the shorts.

 

Try the shorts on to make sure the lace lays flat and you're done! A quick and simple way to update a pair of jeans :)