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....

I'm linking this Recycled Jeans Centerpiece to the Chouxchoux Paper Art Challenge.

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)

Mitra Pratt

Tracey Kelly

Maria Patrick

Lori Hairston

Char Cundy

Annie Sharland

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

Thank you so much for stopping in!
Happy Happy Halloween and good luck to you on winning a prize!!