Vegan (faux) Leather Purses and Totes

As you can see, I've gotten addicted to vegan leather. I work with all colors and all texture. I've broken so many needles that I've lost count, but I enjoy how clean my works are. 

This was a yellow and black trim and strap purse. 

This was a pale pink and brown tote. I used magnetic snaps for the closure and rivets on the straps.

This silhouette was cut from a black faux leather and then sewn to the cream faux leather. The traps were once skinny belts that were cut to length and padded by some of the cream faux leather. 

This technique was a first for me. I did cartes brodee in an Eiffel Tower pattern. I made this into a bucket tote shape and used draw string for closure thru the grommets I installed. 

This slouch style faux leather and ankara purse was one of the first faux leather pieces I did. I also used a recessed zipper for the closure. 

This was another bucket tote that I did with a textured faux leather. The texture was a wood grain pattern. Four grommets and cord allowed me to make the strap. This bucket tote has an oval bottom.

I don't know what you'd call this shape. But it was not the easiest thing to sew along the seams. 

Duct Tape Crown and Tiara DIY

This wasn't completely a step by step tutorial. I was invited to a murder mystery party and my husband and I were assigned the roles or Mallory and Mike Majesty. I wanted a nice statement piece but I didn't want to pay much. So I went online and printed a crown template and did a simple crown for my husband. Using the same method and a self drafted template, I made one for myself.

Items needed:

• Poster board
• Regular duct tape
• Glittery/Iridescent duct tape
• Pattern
• Scissors
• Xacto knife

There isn't a picture for the first step, but I cut the poster board into the length and height of the crown I wanted to make. Then I covered the front (you can do both sides for a clean look) with black duct tape. Then I covered the duct tape with the iridescent duct tape.

This was the second step. I made two copies of the pattern, trimmed it down and taped it to the to the board. Then I used the scissors to cut around the pattern and used to xacto knife where needed for detailed rounds and corners. 

This was the final look of his crown. Once the details were cut, I taped the ends together for the final look. 

For my piece, I made the pattern in to a lattice shape. I was channeling the Toddlers and Tiara show crowns. For this one, I cut the cardboard down to the rough shape of the crown before putting the duct tape. I didn't want to waste a lot of my tape and reduce the trouble with cutting.  

 Using the Xacto knife, I cut out each diamond cutout and also cut around the outer curve of the crown.

This was the final look of my crown. 

Here are both pieces together along with the banners. 

Pants Upcycled to Pencil Skirt and Slouch Purse

A few months ago, I went shopping and found a pair of Capri pants that were gorgeous (see below). I loved the brocade fabric in silver and black. Unfortunately the tag was 18 and would be much larger than I wore. I bought them anyway because they were on clearance for less than $5 and I figured I could try my hand at alterations and take them in. I brought them home and set them aside for a couple of months without touching them. Then a couple of weeks ago, I pull it out to get to work and noticed that my size 18 were actually size 8.

Thanks to this wonderful tutorial by La Vie DIY, I was able to quickly turn my fail purchase into something gorgeous that I can wear. The following are pictures showing my steps. 

Flipped the pants inside out and ripped out the seams along the inseam of the pants. 

Once the seams were ripped, I fold the pants with the sides together making a front and back seat curve easy to cut. 

Here is the cut.

I used a pencil skirt I already owned to determine my length. 

I was surprise to pull the skirt all the way up once I sewed up the sides. But the bottom was too tight to walk. 

I used pieces of a stretch leather fabric to add side panels to make it a bit easier to walk. 

Instead rectangular side panels, I cut a triangle out of the sides of the skirt. Sorry I forgot to take a picture. 

This is after I sewed in the panels.

Here's me trying it on. 

Another view. 

Here's the skirt hung up.  

With the left over fabric from the bottom of the pants, I made a slouch purse with magnetic snaps. 

Final view. 

My first Vendor Fair

Queen flat sheet and Standard Pillow Case into Fitted 6-ft Table Cloth Cover Upcycle

Oops, it's been a while since I did a blog. But on the positive note, I'm set to do my first craft show. I'm excited and scared at the same time. Since I signed up, I've been working on all the advice I got from various forums on what you need for a successful show. I designed new business cards, got a poster for display and then searched to find a fitted tablecloth. I saw this tablecloth on Amazon. It was $20, but I'd seen a neat trick for an art show covering and wanted something similar. But I didn't want to use the nice fabric I have in stash, nor did I want to spend $20 and then some more for the pockets.

New Business Card

I knew I wanted something to cover the entire table and allow me to put stuff away without others coming to the booth seeing it. I drafted up a rough design. I wanted to put in a zipper, but decided to keep this simple. 

 

What you need:

• 1 Queen flat sheets 90" X 102". (I went to Ross and got a queen sheet set for $15.99. I still have the fitted sheet and one pillow case)
• 1 standard pillow case 20" X 30"
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Something to mark with

 Sheet folded in half  along the short side(left) and Pillow case (right)

 First I opened the pillow case. So now it was about 30" X 40" take about an inch since I cut across the side seam and only ripped the short seam.

Fold a triangle out of the rectangle as seen below using the short side to come up at the longer edge.

 Cut the excess fabric below the triangle which will leave you with an almost perfect square that is 30" X 30".

Pin the square (right sides together) on the short end of the fold, making sure to center the two piece.

When you sew the pieces together, you will end up with one end having 30" squares on either sides of the new piece you added.

Fold the sheet the other way with the pillowcase in the middle forming two squares. Cut out the orange lines.

This is the result. You now have your side pieces. You will need to pin the sides of the leg together and sew with the right sides facing each other. I really hope this makes sense. You're sewing this like you would a fabric box as seen in this tutorial,except your box is much bigger.

When you're all done, it should slip on top of the table just like this.

For the pockets, I sewed them right to the tablecloth using the left over panels from the sheet that had been cut out for the sides. It was nice because I could use the finished side as the top of the pockets without having to hem then sew. Using a yard stick, I marked along the back side where I wanted my pockets. I did 3 that were 8 inches wide and 2 that were 10 inches wide.

I cut, prepped and pinned the pockets to the sheet then took it off to sew.

This is my finished look. Cost me less than $15 and I also have pockets and a spare fitted sheet to use on my bed or for another project. Maybe a dress shirt or another cover for my smaller 4-ft table. Since my log is pretty simple, I plan to take just the letters in my log and applique it to the other corner piece that I cut off and that I can hang to the front of my table.

My First Giveaway

ElsieLorpu Facebook fan page finally reached 100 likes and to celebrate I'm giving away a one of a kind Ankara Wrist Wallet. Perfect for runners or if you just want to travel lightly. Multiple ways to win. Contest will run from midnight on 7/20/14 to 8/4/14 @12am. Goodluck and thank you for your continued support.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mumu or coverup upcycled into summer dress.

Sometimes you get something and just can't figure out where to wear it. I really liked the top of this dress and didn't want to turn it into another housecoat so I decided to breath some summer life into it. I received it from my mom, but other than using it for a coverup for my belly dance costumes, I've never worn it. This project took about an hour and half and I am really satisfied with the final look. I chopped off the sleeves and widened the armhole. I didn't want to hem so I just used the serger to get a rolled hem finish on the bottom and sleeves. I also shirred the midsection in the front and back about 4 inches and it really helped with providing some shape to the dress. I'm happy to add another dress to my summer wardrobe.

In the before I'm wearing the dress inside out. 

Placemat Upcycle Purse Tutorial using two placemats and a belt

Needed: 2 lined placemats,

            1 zipper

            Fabric for pockets

            Magnetic snap

This tutorial is going to be pretty much following the pictures. My mother-in-law retired this month and for her retirement party I wanted to give her a personalized tote. Something she could put her books in during her leisure readings while retired.

I bought two placemats that were lined.

I separated the back and front of the placemats.

Here are the two pieces separated.

The wrong side of the front piece to the placemat was stiffened which made it a lot easier  to do the embroidery.

I used my Brother SE400 to embroider her first and last initials onto the right side of the placemat front.

On one of the wrong sides, I put in a side zipper pocket

On the second placemat's wrong side, I put in a side pocket.

This is the zipper side shown with the belt that became the handles for the tote.

Below the zipper pocket, I put in a smaller pocket and 3 pen holders.

I split the pocket to give her extra storage.

Sew the two lining pieces right sides together and square off the bottom. At this point, I also went ahead and installed the magnetic snaps for closing the main bag.

Sew on the handles to the right side of the placemat pieces.

Sew the outer part of the placemat right sides together like the lining and square off the bottom. Cut off the excess fabric.

Flip the outer bag right side out

Place the outer bag into the lining bag which is wrong side out. This way both of the right sides are facing each other.

 

Sew all around the lip of the bags leaving yourself about 4 to 6 inches for turning the tote right side out. Top stitch the bag lip all around closing your turning hole and you're done.

Here is the finished insides.

Here is her completed tote.