DIY Wrap Bracelet

Don't you just love it when you decide to make a pin off of Pinterest, and it ACTUALLY turns out? I don't know bout you all, but it seriously makes me feel like I have my life together.

I ran across THIS PIN some time ago, and decided to give it a go. Only, I was too lazy to go to the craft store to buy the required materials, thus mine turned out a little different:

I pretty much followed the directions, only I substituted brown thread and hemp for the leather and fishing line.

I also just used bugle beads instead of the big fancy beads because... again... I'm lazy. And I already had all these things, so that counts for something, right? Using up materials? So they don't go to waste? Yeah, that's it....

I thought about making an actual pattern with the colors of the beads, but I kind of like how the random colors worked out. My whole policy with making this was "whatever color I pick up, I put on," which actually made life a little easier. Heeeeh.

Overall, this was a really easy project! I haven't made any beaded things like this in a while, so it was quite fun to get back into it, even if it was just for one project. When I was a kid I was ALL about making beaded things. I mean, ALL. So I def recommend checking out the directions if you would like to make your own!!


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Upcycled Dog Tag Jewelry

Oftentimes when I come home, I end up being confronted by my mother as such:

Mom: Becca. Look. I got these things.

Me: Yo. What. Oh. Okay.

Mom: Make something.

Me: Word.

*Direct quotes.

And it usually ends up with me creating something weird, but that's really no different than any other day of my life.

So last time I came home [... or some time... I don't remember... it was a little while ago], my mother showed me that she bought an entire jar of old dog tags. Why? Because of reasons I guess.

Therefore, I decided to upcycle them into some fun jewelry:

I have never seen dog tag like these ones before, but she got them from an antique store in the next town over [shout out to the tag that says Lucifer on it].

Once she gave me the tags though, I really just sat down and played around with some materials that I found in my basement: hemp, alligator clips, beads, glue, other items, and what not.

I did three main strings on both the necklace and bracelet-- one to contain the tag, a braided hemp strand, and a last string with knots and beads.

Then at the end, I just used some copper wire to attach all the strings together, then glued them with E6000 so that they stayed super-attached to the alligator clips. And just like that-- new life to old dog tags!

Side note: take note of the hella-dope para-cord bracelet that my oldest brother made me. I like to tell people that he enjoys man crafts. Because it's true.

But yeaaaah. These were pretty fun to make, and it was fun to give new life to another old material! Now I'm tempted to make something out of Gypsy's old rabies tags just because... hmmmm....

Linkin' up:

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March/April Sketchbook

Heeeey friends :]

I thought I would share a peek at my sketchbook from the last two months. There isn't anything too special going on, but I'm going to try and sketch more over summer to keep myself fresh. So here we are!

Here we have some pencil sketches of one of my OC's [with one of my fave quotes from Christopher Palu. I love that man so much. Y'all don't even KNOW.]

And cats because yeah.

At one point I took my students on a field trip to the Art Institute and ended up doing some studies of the Greek sculptures they have there.

Because come on-- marble sculpted fabric? Art-gasmic. I have mad respect for anyone who can carve marble.

I also recently got into the show Attack on Titan, which is pretty cool. Armin is def my fave character because I have a weak spot for my fellow nerds.

And Eren of course because why not.

I haven't been doing a lot of full-color drawings lately, but I did manage to finish one of my OC Esther.

And last, but hella not least, I think it's pretty well established how much I love Party King Thrandy. Ugh. I can't.


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DIY Ribbon Belt

Oh hey there, chaps.
How is life out there?

Unfortunately I haven't had much time for things and such lately, but I do have a few future things in the works. I actually have something to share today that I finished some time ago, but didn't get around to posting because I'm lazy. 

So here's a little thing that I made to go with the New Look Dress!

Oooh, fancy. But not really. But kinda.
I found this scrap of ribbon in my mom's collection of notions and decided that it wanted to be a belt. Because who doesn't aspire to be a belt, amiright? Care to make one yourself? Here's how I did it!

First I gathered my materials, including the ribbon, some long scraps of black fabric, scissors, pins, a ruler, sewing machine, accompanying thread, and a laptop loaded with Season Three of Sherlock because this last season was PURE GOLD.

Oh yeah, and don't forget your very large, very helpful assistant.

Then I made some measurements. My ribbon scrap was about 18 inches long by 1.5 inches wide. Because of this, I cut two scraps of black fabric that I had leftover from my last project into rectangles that were 3 inches wide by aaabbbbouuuuttt... Idk, maybe 40 inches-ish? This was definitely an inexact science, and you could really make your belt as long and as wide as you want. That's just how big my scraps were haha. So I cut the scraps to size (keeping them pinned together) and prepared to sew them together.

Then I sewed a 3/8 inch seam along three sides of the fabric (the two long sides and one short one).
[Can you tell that Kitty was being generous and sharing his fur with this project?]

Then I turned the fabric right-side-out and finished off the last side. After giving it a good press with the iron, I was ready for the next step!

So since my ribbon was fraying a little, I decided to fold over the edges and sew them down, just to give the whole thing a little more polish.

Finally, I pinned down the ribbon where I wanted it to go and sewed it down. Simple as that!

Boom. Pow. Yeah. Now I have a super cute belt to go with my new dress! I mean, don't you just love that pattern? So southwest, so geometric-y. Loooooove.

And it seriously only took minimal time and effort. I already had all of the materials, and it was a good way to eat up some scraps rather than throwing them away! Now I feel like making a thousand more belts out of random materials. I already made another one that is just as wacky, but I have to photograph it still. Awww yeah.
Well, good luck on all of your belt-making ventures! I'd love to see if anyone makes one!


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January/February Sketchbook

Remember that one time that I said I was going to do monthly sketchbook updates? Yeah, I forgot last month's haha. But I didn't mean to! Promise! Things and stuff have just been crazy and yeah.

I haven't had the MOST time for art these past two months, but I've been trying to sneak in a sketch here and there. I was able to do a few things at the beginning of January before school started, but ever since then I've been a bit more sporadic.

But I do have a few things to share:

I don't know if y'all know this... But I FREAKING LOVE THRANDUIL. You know-- Party King? Legolas's dad from the Hobbit? No? Just me? Okay, well I love him because he is just so fab. So so fab.

Then just sketching some crystals [and I love how you can see the ghost of King Thrandy in the background haha].

I also drew a picture of my friend's original character for her, Delaney, but I still don't really like how he turned out...

And then Jaqen H'Ghar because yeah.

At the beginning of January I also went on a big blue Sharpie kick. This would be exhibit A.

Aaaaand exhibit B. Have I ever mentioned how much I love drawing hipster hair? Because I def do.

\

Finally, the last one is completely my roommate's fault. She lent me her markers and told me to draw something uncreative. Which then turned into a reference from Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. [If you value your sanity, don't youtube that. Trust me.]

Anyway, I just thought I'd show y'all a little bit of what I have been up to!

Linkin' up:

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The Patriotic Dress

Heh. Hey. Hey guys.

Does anyone remember when I made this dress? (If not, you can read all about the pattern over there!)
Well, I used the same pattern and have created... quite possibly the best thing I have ever sewn:

MERICAAAA. PATRIOTISMMMM.
Seriously guys. I was laughing the whole time while making this because... well... sexy presidents. Who knew? Seriously. Dead.

I found the fabric at Joann's and thought "THIS. I NEED SOMETHING WITH THIS."
And I know that the fabric is a little out there, but I really have no boundaries. So I regret nothing about this purchase haha.

And apparently, the sexy presidents is just one fabric in a line of many. I also found sexy cowboys, Irishmen, and construction workers, to name a few.

I mean come on. Even if you are not American, you have to admit that this fabric is pretty boss. Content aside, the painting and rendering is actually quite gorgeous [art nerd, let me beeee].

And who wouldn't want to celebrate the founding fathers, especially since President's day is right around the corner. You know I'll be kickin' it so hard all day in this tomorrow.

Beyond that, the sewing of this was really quite easy. Like I mentioned in my last post, I really love that New Look pattern I intend on making a thousand more dresses with this pattern, and no one can stop me [a Tardis dress is next on my docket].

So yeah-- Pinnacle of my sewing career.
I would definitely encourage everyone to make at least five of these. Because I can assure you that EVERYONE will be super jealous. I know I would be....


Linkin' up:
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New Look Black Dress

Can you believe that I had gone 21 years without ever learning how to properly read a sewing pattern? I know, I am just as appalled. But it was always my logic of  "ain't nobody got time for that" that kept me from learning...

... until winter break. Guys. Guys hey. Look. I'm a sewing adult now.

[PS-- Hardcore rocking the Jaqen H'ghar hair and I regret nothing]
Awww yeaaah. I finally sat down and, with the help of my mother and some mad texts directed at Carolyn, I manned-up and learned how to actually read a proper pattern.
I mean I freaking love sewing, but I've always just done derpy things that don't require attention, or did refashions that don't run by prescription. But while I was at Joann's over break, I found THE MOST MAJESTIC fabric [which I will share with you soonly!] and knew that I had to learn how to make a dress out of it.

In comes the New Look Dress. I saw this pattern in the wall of patterns that Joann's always has and thought "Oh hey, I could probably hopefully make that," So I decided to give it a go. And I adore the results!

The pattern is Simplicity New Look pattern 6223 [which you can find here], but when I found it, it had 0909 printed on the envelope. I thought that it had a nice vintage-y-ish feel to it [I made option c], and let me tell you-- it was actually pretty easy to make!

For this one, I just used a simple black broadcloth, but I did vary from the pattern in that I lined the skirt and the bodice, rather than just the bodice.

So if you're ever in the neighborhood for a new pattern to check out, I definitely suggest this one! If I can handle it [you know, the kid who doesn't like to conform to directions] then anyone can do it! Now excuse me while I make about 80 more of these [totally not weird, right?]. I mean, I DO think that I saw some nice cat-patterned fabric on sale the other day...


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