Bottle Cap Necklace and Headband

The fashions that I am remaking today are the Bib-Necklace and Fashion Headbands

 I remade both of these items with some scrap fabric, extra fake pearls, and bottlecaps that I had around my house.  It cost me nothing except the hot glue and some time watching some of my favourite tv shows while I made them.

The items you will need for the necklace are scrap fabric, glue, ribbon, fake pearls, and bottlecaps.  I picked some bottle caps that had sayings and pictures inside of them to add an extra neat effect.

 I cut out the shape that I wanted my necklace to be and I laid out the bottle caps in the design that I wanted before I started gluing them down so I didn’t make any mistakes there.  I then filled all of the space between the bottle caps with hot glue and sprinkled some fake pearls in. 

The headband was a lot of fun to make as well and it was extremely simple.  I filled the inside of the bottle caps with hot glue and then filled them with the pearls.  When I had a good number of these, I attatched them along a pretty white ribbon I found lying around in my studio and I had a cool fashion headband that matched my necklace.

Purse out of a Rice Bag

I had seen some of these purses, wallets, and backpacks made out of recycled rice bags in local stores and online, so I decided that I would make my own.  The rice bag that we had at my home when I decided to do this project was relatively small, but it already had handles on it.  It was also already quite beautiful on it’s own.    I decided my version of this bag was going to be attatching buttons, beads, and charms I had no other use for.

 After adding the charms, I decided that the size of the bag was perfect to be my new make-up case.

Re-Design an Old T-Shirt

First, pick the t-shirt that you are going to re-work. Any designs or writing on the shirt will just add an extra touch when you’re done.

My cat likes recycling, too.

Then, mark where you want the fringes to start and cut all the way around the shirt with strips about a half an inch wide and up to the point you picked.

When you have a strip cut, tug on it a bit and the t-shirt will curl, giving it the desired look.

When you are finished with the strips, make sure that they are cut evenly all the way around and that they are curled

After this, tie a knot in the top of all of the strips

When you have tied these knots, we move on to the next kind on knot tying

And for the finished product, I give you a redesigned shirt.  The example I was going off of had a tighter pattern and cut off what was left.  I used a loose pattern and the fringes on the end due to personal preference.  As you can see, there are many versions of this shirt that you can do.

Recycled Fashion Homecoming Dresses

For all of the girls out there in high school and college, homecoming is coming up quite quickly.  Most schools are already back in session and the dance committees are already working on preparing for the upcoming dances.  Most teenage and twenty-something girls buy their dresses at a big box store, but then they face the chance that another girl will be at the dance with her same dress.  This year I will not have that problem and neither should you.  I personally will not be buying my dress, but remaking it out of an existing vintage dress.  It’s a dress from the 80’s and has big puffy sleeves and all (ew!).  So I’m taking the sleeves off, shortening the dress (it’s floor length too!) and I will have a beautifully coloured dress to work with and to add anything to that I like.  My first addition will be some beautiful vintage lace.  My dress will be original and unique.  Nobody will have the same dress.  Here are some ideas on how to make your own unique homecoming dress.  If you’re not interested in making your own, I have included some links to websites where you can purchase a fair trade, organic cotton, or previously worn dress.  All of these are just as good of ideas if you’re looking to be an original and help the environment at the same time.

Here are a few images of a cute dress made entirely from newspapers.  To see the making of this dress, go to: http://www.instructables.com/id/Sew-a-Newspaper-Dress/

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Yes, I know this is not a dress, but who really wants to take their huge purse into a dance?  Here’s a cute little clutch to make that will truly stand out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Since homecoming isn’t nearly as formal as prom, here are a few cute and short dresses from Free People that have the loved ‘vintage’ feel to them that could easily be worn as a homecoming dress.  Shoes, jewelry, and other accessories could dress any of them up quite nicely.

 

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-dresses/sweetheart-with-lace-slip/

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-dresses/colorblock-and-crosses-dress/

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-dresses/short-sleeve-low-back-fit-and-flare-dress/

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-dresses/glam-life-dress/

All four dresses are currently for sale in all sizes under $200.  A couple of them come in other colours than the ones pictured here.  So check out the site, get a cute homecoming dress, and help to ‘free people’ all over the world by supporting them in this fair trade clothing site.

Just Keep Recycling

Here are a few simple ideas that I’ve just found online that would be a great way to recycle and make a statement.

Zippers are a very large statement in the fashion industry today.  This would be a very simple make and would work as a gift, as pictured here.  If you had an old sweatshirt that ripped or the zippers broke, take the zippers off and use them as jewelry and the fabric can be used for any number of things. 

Here is an image of fabric rings.  Take your leftover fabric (thick ribbon would work too if you are a crafter and not a seamstress)  from any of your previous projects.  Add your own style and create!

Cut strips out of your favourite soda can when you are done drinking (and have rinsed it out, of course!), coil them, wrap them in wire, and turn them into beads for a funky necklace.

Men’s old neckties can easily be turned into a number of things from belts, handles for your purse, or, as pictured here, a funky neck wrap.  This would make a statement anywhere you go.

This would not be an entire piece of clothing or jewelry project.  Just a simple fabric flower made from an old necktie, sweater, shirt, purse, or scrap fabric on a broach would dress up any outfit.

Recycled Vintage Jewelry

Here are some ideas of what to do wtih those thrift store jewels or your vintage jewelry that fell apart.  You can still put it back together with a more modern touch.

Crafts and Clothing from Scrap-Fabric