DIY BLEACHED AMERICAN FLAG DENIM

Denim like this has been popping up all over lately and stores are charging outrageous prices for something that all of you at home could DIY very quickly and easily with supplies that you probably already have lying around! Read on for the how-to!

American Flag Jeans - $68.00

Supplies:

- pair of jeans

- bleach

- water to dilute the bleach

- sponge brush

- bowl to put diluted bleach in

- a ventilated place to work

- tape (painters tape or masking tape works best)

- iron

- cardboard (cereal boxes are easy to work with)

- some way to make a star (sponge stamp or stencil) 

- gloves while handling bleach

Directions:

1. first you need to set up your work area. lay out your jeans on a nice flat surface. place the cardboard in between the 2 layers of denim inside the jeans so the bleach doesn't bleed through to the other side randomly. dilute your bleach with water in a bowl. don't dilute it too much. check bottle for diluting instructions.

2. tape away stripes down 1 half of the jeans. to make sure it's a very crisp line, iron over the tape with an iron (no steam). this just melts the sticky stuff on the tape a little more so it makes the seal better)

3. use your sponge brush to fill in the stripes between the tape.

4. figure out how you will do the stars. i would say a sticky stencil of some sort so you can get crisp edges. if it is a sticky stencil that you use, remember to also iron it down so you can get the same crisp edges as the tape! :) fill in with the bleach. 

5. i would let this sit over night. if it's not working as well as you'd hoped. add more bleach with less dilution. let sit again over night. 

6. carefully remove the stencils/tape that you used and hand rinse the bleach off. wash by itself in a washer (or wait to do a whole load of hand bleached things so you don't accidentally bleach things you wouldn't otherwise want bleached).

BOOM! you have a custom pair of flag jeans! :)

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DIY Distressed & Paint Splattered Denim Shorts

I also just found these here over at topshop.com for a ridiculous $68.00.

I know we can make these for way less. Shall we? :)



Supplies:
- denim shorts or pants that you are willing to cut into shorts
- scissors
- sand paper
- exacto knife
- acrylic pant or fabric paint in w/e color you wish
- bleach (optional)
- tarp or outside place that you don't care to get paint on
- paint brush or something to splatter with

Directions:
1. cut your shorts to the length you want
2. distress with a knife or sand paper
3. lay your tarp down or go outside to where you don't have to worry about dripping paint
4. there are a couple different ways to splatter paint. you can just do it with a paint brush or you can mix it with water and it'll be a little more fluid but it won't be as thick or as opaque on the denim depending on how watery you make it.
5. let one side dry completely then do the other side.
6. (optional) add some bleach effects in some way to give it a better surface quality. either splatter it or dip it. have fun with it and make it yours! :)

rock your new one of a kind fancy new paint splatter shorts!

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DIY Neon Bias Tape Hem Denim Shorts

I found these here at topshop.com for a ridiculous $64.00

I think I can do a lot better than that! :)



Supplies:
- denim shorts or pants that you'd be willing to cut into shorts
- scissors
- sewing machine
- thread (contrasting or matching)
- bias tape in the color you want on the bottom. neon looks sweet!
- measuring tape
- pins

Directions:
1. cut your denim to your desired length (shorts or pants). try not to fray it.
2. measure out the length you'll need around each leg hole with your measuring tape.
3. cut the bias tape for each leg.
4. pin your bias tape to the bottom of each leg hole.
5. sew it with a sewing machine carefully.

say hello to some brand new one of a kind shorts!

a pair of these in black with neon accents would look sweet for even a spring/summer casual going out look!

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DIY Printed Denim

There are a couple of ways to go about this.


- You can paint on a design using fabric paint/pigment. The best bet would be to buy commercial quality pigment (aka something you have to order).



Or...


- You can sew on a full pattern over top of your denim. For jeans this would take a decent amount of fabric, time, and perfectionism, but would totally be worth it in the end.



1. find some fabric
2. lay a piece of paper over the denim where you want your fabric and trace a pattern.
3. tape/pin it to top of fabric and cut out your pattern. leave extra if your fabric frays so you can hem it or use no-fray.
4. pin the fabric on and sew your printed fabric on your denim.

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DIY Pocket Appeal

Rather than dying or bleaching your denim, sometimes you just want something subtle.
Changing up the pockets is the way to go.



1. Find some cute fabric that you want for your pockets. The remnant pile at hobs lobs or jo-anne's is usually a good place to find some for cheap and you don't need like a whole yard or anything like that.
2. check your pocket's shape on the inside of your shorts.
3. free-hand a shape that's slightly bigger than your pocket and cut it out.
4. if the edges of the type of fabric you are using fray, cut enough off so you can hem it so there are no frayed edges, or put some of that no-fray stuff on it (available at hobs lobs, jo-annes, wal-mart, etc)
5. if you want your pocket to seem larger and stick out the bottom, cut the bottom of the pocket a little longer/bigger than your original pocket.
6. pin the pocket over the old one and sew it!
*you don't need to sew a whole new pocket since you are only trying to achieve the look of a printed pocket*
7. distress the jeans where the pockets are so the pattern can show through.
8. add studs if you desire.

enjoy :)

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DIY Dip Dyed/Bleached High Waisted Denim Shorts

Do you have so many pairs of plain denim shorts laying around and you want to spice a pair up in a head turning way?

Mix some bleach with water. Like 1 part to 1 part. In a container that you can somehow pin or place your shorts in the same place for a while to "dip" them in the bleach so you get the desired effect below. leave them in until you get the white you wish. careful not to leave them in too long because the bleach can eat away at your denim.
to stop the bleach, wash it in some vinegar.
boom, done!
distress at your will <3

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DIY Bleached Skeleton Pelvis Black Denim Shorts

I saw these and I literally died!!!

if you are skilled with a paint brush, knowledge of the human pelvis, and bleach. then you got yourself a kick ass pair of completely unique shorts.

TOTALLY MAKING THESE ASAP!!! probs over winter break in 2 weeks. :D

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Halloween Costumes 2011

I didn't buy a costume this year :) I made them all myself! I have a whole slew of options but for sure I will be going as
"The Princess" - from the breakfast club && A Sexy High School Wrestling Official.


"The Princess" - The Breakfast Club
1. Brown Skirt
2. Brown Belt
3. Brown Riding Boots
4. Silk Blush Pink Blouse
5. Red Lipstick ;)
6. Princess Prep Attitude



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Sexy High School Wrestling Official
I'm obsessed with HS Wrestling & Wrestlers [bodies hehe] jk no really. I cheered for 5 years and I miss it so much. It was seriously my favorite part of high school. So for people to specifically recognize me as a "wrestling" referee or official, I will be sporting a few key elements :) along with my knowledge of stating and I learned some new referee arm moves in case anyone decides to be a drunken idiot and quiz me that night haha.
BTW I sewed my own top. First patterned top of my life. I patterned it off a few shirts from express that I love. :)

1. Black booty shorts
2. DIY Referee top
3. Red & Green arm bands
4. Thigh High leather boots/heels. & because I know my feet will get sore, I'm borrowing my friends...
5. Wrestling shoes
6. Fishnet tights (again not regulation referee but who cares, it's sexy)
7. Whistle (boy this will be a dangerous thing for me to have all night)

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I HOPE TO ADD PICTURES SOON!

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DIY Leopard Print Shorts

The gorgeous Ann from Intangibleee recently DIYed herself some leopard print shorts and they are, simply put, pure perfection. I would pay some serious money for how awesome they are. They're not too tight, not too loose, just sit perfectly on the body.

I seriously want these!!!



She sewed them herself for only 3$ worth of leopard print fabric. As soon as I saw these I begged for a quick tutorial on them! I know they're prolly super simple but dayum they're cute and I want them to look just like that!

Courtesy of intangibleee

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Outfit Inspiration // Sweater, Shorts & Tights

I'm so inspired by this. It's a great way to dress in the winter if you want to wear shorts! love it!



Courtesy of altamiranyc

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DIY Studded Denim Shorts

The possibilities are endless when it comes to studding shorts. Why pay for a design you "kinda like" when you can get a plain pair of shorts right now on clearance, buy some studs, and do it yourself?!

Here are 2 cute designs I just found that I thought I'd share with you lovely people.



Courtesy of: edgeofurge



Courtesy of: edgeofurge

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DIY Sequin Jean Pockets

So I freaking L O V E this!!!
I've always loved the longer than shorts pocket look but now that i've found this, I think I might have to DIY this asap!
Take some ribbon sequins (it's on a roll like regular ribbon. WAY cheaper and easier to work with than loose sequins) and fabric glue, sew, or industrial glue (i don't think this is washable?) and cover your pocket! If you want something simpler just do the bottom of the pocket :) or outline the bottom and sides. If you wanna get really creative, do a design!



Courtesy of: christeric

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