Tuesday, September 22, 2015

DIY Recycled Jeans Halloween Centerpiece....

I'm so sad! It's the final day of our Chouxchoux Paper Art, Halloween Party.  I've had such a blast crafting alongside all these talented people and visiting you all.  But...there's still more fun to be had. There's plenty of time to enter your current Halloween or Fall projects into the Challenge and there's still prizes to be won!  Okay, on with show...

I'm going to show you how to drop your pants and make a centerpiece!! 
Well, okay, you don't exactly HAVE to use the ones you're wearing, but if you have an old pair saved, I found a fun way to use them!

RECYCLED JEAN WITCH HAT CENTERPIECE
Step 1:  Cut both legs off your jeans.  
Step 2:  Take one leg and cut it the length you would like the top of the hat. Make sure to cut at an angle so you have more of a 'pointy hat tip' when you sew it up.
Step 3:  Turn this piece of jean inside out and sew along the top to create your witches pointed hat.
Then turn it outside in again.
Step 4: Now that you've sewn the top of this leg to create the top of the hat, take your scissors and cut off the hem at the bottom and set that aside. You'll use it later too.  
Step 5:  Now cut 'slits' in the bottom off the jean, like you see below.  Set this aside for now.
Step 6: You'll need a piece of foam board (Walmart and Dollar Tree have them) or a sturdy cardboard will work too.  Trace a circle with a dinner plate and then a smaller circle inside of that to create the base of the witch hat as you see below.
Step 7:  Now it's time to take your jean leg aka top witch hat and insert it into the hole of your base and hot glue the slats in place on the bottom side (as seen below).
Step 8:  Now you get the other leg and this will be what you use to cover the base of the hat.  Be sure to cut off the hem of this one too and set aside for later. 
Step 9:  Now cut this leg right up the seam until it's open completely.
Step 10:  Begin gluing (I used a hot glue gun).  It doesn't need to look pretty or perfect as it will be covered with stuff, plus we're going for a 'well worn' look!
Step 11:  I placed a large plastic cup inside the hat so that I could have some stability while I slathered the hat in Stiffy Stuff (Found at Walmart). 
Once you've applied the fabric stiffener and blown or air dried, you can begin to shape and bend the hat to your desired look.  At some point where you feel the hat is holding its shape well, you can remove the cup inside and replace with Poly-Fil Fiber also.
Step 12:  Now for the REALLY fun part. You get to paint and decorate.
On the left you'll see some of the colors I've added to it to age it, but the choice is completely up to you. I also added some crackle in places where I wanted the hat really worn looking.
 
Step 13:  Grab all that hem that you cut off earlier and while the paint is drying, you can go ahead and glue that hem to the rim of the hat.
Step 14:  Decorate!!!! 
Most of my decorating supplies were purchased at the Dollar Store or handmade at home.  I think I invested a whole $7 dollars to embellish this.  A few other decorations that I used came from my collection I already had from The Funkie Junkie Boutique
I added foil tape to cardstock and then painted the tape to look like rusty metal.
Here I've taken an orange plastic pumpkin and mod podged the Sunday comics over it.
And now it's finished....
So that's hat that!!
I'm so happy you could join me for the final day of the Halloween Party and I hope you've found something inspiring to help you for the holiday.
Big hugs and Happy Recycling to you,
Lisa xx

Here's the fun news:
Our gorgeous hostess, Lori Hairston, from Chouxchoux Paper Art will put names "in the hat" for every comment made.  So if you'd like to be eligible to win a prize or giveaway, leave a comment on each blog each day (individual blogs may have giveaways too, you never know...so don't miss out!) to get the most chances to win!!
                  Winners will be announced on September 27th!S

Also, there's MORE FUN!!
We have an open challenge for ALL to enter.  All you have to do is submit a current Halloween or Fall card or project, post about it, and link it up to Chouxchoux Paper Arts Challenge #1 where you'll find the link button!  All entries must be submitted by October 3rd and the winner will be randomly selected and announced on October 4th at Chouxchoux Paper Arts.
Winner receives a $25.00 Gift Certificate from the very generous Lawn Fawn!

LASTLY, I'll be giving away a surprise here on my blog, so if you like something you see on my posts, please leave me a comment and you're eligible to win. I'll announce the winner on the 27th of September as well, here on my blog!  Best of luck to you!!

 Blog List For today
                      Lisa Minckler (you are here)

and a HUGE thank you to our FABULOUS prize sponsors as well:
   The Funkie Junkie   $25 gift certificate
                The Cutting Café three free files of your choice
                 Lawn Fawn   pillow box and  peek-a-bat dies
Shopping
Thank you so much for stopping in!
Happy Happy Halloween and good luck to you on winning a prize!!



35 comments:

misteejay said...

Wow, this is amazing. What a super creation - it looks fabulous.
Toni xx

Chrissy said...

I love,love,love your Witches hat Lisa..so very creative. It looks brilliant and I need some stiffy stuff..the berries and pumpkins and rusty star...everything is WONderful..

luv CHRISSYxx

McCrafty's Cards said...

Fabulous witches hat Lisa, I love all the detail, mind out that witchy poo doesn't try and get in to steal it
Kevin xx

Fikreta said...

super creation!

Lori said...

Good grief!! A witch's hat from jeans???? And not just any ole witch's hat either. This is Halloween Decoration at its best. You're going to get a lot of oooohs and aaaaawes over this one! Happy Halloween Party Day 3!

Samra said...

Pure ART!!! That's what this is!!! Love it and so shall try to make one!!!
Thank you for the inspiration :)
Samra

Lisa said...

I really didn't think you could impress me more... but ..just... WOW! (And thank you for your nice words too!)

Maria said...

Oh, my!!! Fabulous witch hat, which is so very creative! I can hardly believe it was made with jeans...how awesome! Love all the detail...amazing!!!

2amscrapper said...

Another seriously creative project from you! The hat is a fabulous make!

Sandy said...

Oh m,y word -- you are so creative Lisa.. Of course I have never doubted that for one minute. I have encouraged you for years to make a how to book -- "MINCKLER'S MAKES - YOU CAN DO IT TOO"!!
Absolutely adore your hat!
Sandy xx

Karon said...

Oh my goodness - blows me away with your creativity!!! I love this and what a fabulous idea and tutorial! TFS

Anonymous said...

OMGosh Lisa, love this witchy hat, have loved visiting you these last few days. Thank you for a great hop :)

Hugs Abbs xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is AWESOME! Your projects for this hop are fantastic! So glad I'm following you - I have a lot to learn. I only make cards but would love to try something like this. Fabulous Halloween decor! Thank you for the inspiration!

Karenladd said...

I'm so glad that I found your amazing blog and have enjoyed your Halloween projects so much! Love how you altered that plastic pumpkin and made it fabulous. I am also a fan of upcycling and recycling, and this project did it all!

cm said...

Well, you've done it...officially rendered me speechless in awe at your stellar project shared today! Talk about ingenuity! Your center piece is truly a work of art; a fabulous way to upcycle old jeans, and the addition of the other elements, especially the pumpkin, adds such impact. Yep...this is AH-MAZING!
~carol

Debbie Fisher (debbiedee) said...

WOW again! What a great way to recycle even clothes! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Tammy said...

That's it, you just need to come to my house and show me! Incredible creation and such fun, your creativity is just always amazing and such a treat to see!

Suzanne Reynolds said...

Wow, what an amazing Halloween decoration...directions are very thorough. I'm putting on as a bookmark or Pinterest just in case I feel I could tackle this...would be a beautiful gift for someone and I know a couple people that love the fall colors and Halloween. Gorgeous.

Jennifer Scull said...

wow wow wow! this is my most fave project of all the ones you have shared on the hop! I LOVE this!!!! you are just so very clever! :)

Mitralee said...

goodness gracious this is amazing! Love the pants off it...oh wait, it's pants already! I think this is sheer genus! And I love the star painted to look rusty! SUPER COOL! Isn't that metal tape the best thing since cinnamon raisin toast?

SHartl said...

You are such an amazing crafter! I love making party decorations and home dec projects but nothing as awesome as this. What a fun way to recycle a jeans leg, and a really clever way to decorate. Just wow!

Pia S said...

Oh, I want one of these! It's so decorative! Lots of detailing, it really stands out...

Patricia St Martin said...

Thanks for the tutorial on how to make this wonderful hat... Where do you find all that stuff? I seen pictures of your craft room so where do you store this stuff because it not in your beautiful craft room? I'm going to save your tutorial and try this.
Hugs, Pat♥

Anonymous said...

Mouth dropping open!! WOW, this is so awesome and perfect for Halloween, I LOVE, LOVE it!!!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

DITTO my last comment but on steroids now! WOW!!! PINNED! I would buy this!

Rosemary said...

WOW!! that centerpiece is beyond cool... almost makes me wish I sewed, lol!!

Tracey said...

Wow Lisa.....this is AMAZING! The coolest idea ever, what an awesome Hat. Thank you so much for sharing the instructions. I live in jeans....I'm sure I have a spare pair around to give this a go!

Greta said...

I'm totally in awe of your incredible project!

Brenda in IN said...

Your talent is wonderful! This is so cute and makes a wonderful addition to Halloween. Thanks for sharing this. I love that pumpkin too, with the Sunday funnies. How inventive that is.

Jeanne J. said...

Another amazing creation. I really loved seeing the step by step. Sorry to interrupt your creative process taking the pic but it is appreciated! Maybe while you dust off your fingertips - worried for your camera LOL! Amazing as always - how you think of these things is beyond me. I think I'm finally seeing the light.. guess what I bought yesterday? Reindeer Moss!!

Words and Pictures said...

OMG or, as my lovely friend Andrea would say, OMAG (oh my actual god!)... what a genius creation. From the slumped creases of the hat, all musty and dusty with paint and crackle, to the magnificent embellishing - moss and comic pumpkin, and gingham strap and buckle and berries... I'm love with every single bit of this. That's what happens if I go off to France for three days I suppose - I almost miss the best Halloween make of the year so far!!
Alison xx

Adventures in Paperland said...

How smart is that!!! Honestly you never cease to amaze me L2. So freaking clever! xx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oh my, Lisa, this is such a fantastic piece. LOVE what you have done with the worn out jeans. You are so incredibly creative. Don't no how you can possibly find the time to create all that you do. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

Hugs,
Linda

Tracy said...

Only you can get away with starting a post with drop your pants. LOL. this is a fantastic project Twang. I always appreciate your sense of thriftiness. :-) By the way the new banner pic is great. Who's that beautiful lady? It can't be you cause she's not covered in paint and mod podged bits. LOL