Up-Cycling Fun!

Up-cycling might be one of my absolute favorite projects. There is a lot of satisfaction taking something you don't want or use or even finding a great bargain on a shirt and making it into something beautiful and functional.

One of my favorite places to find these bargains is Goodwill or some other type of 2nd hand store or even yard sales. Goodwill has shirts that still have tags from the store so they are truly brand new! 

Lets look at some of these projects I've done and how I did them. 

Here is an Xxx Large Old Navy shirt from Goodwill. I paid $3.50 and it looks brand new. I look specifically for extra large shirts because it has so much fabric. I like to use all edges and the placket in the front, keeping the buttons. The hem is also so nice to use since it's already done.
 

So I started with this and decided I wanted to make Raeden a shirt, shorts to match and an outfit for her bear that she is never without. 

Although her little shorts turned out a bit too small for her, the shirt and bear outfit were perfect!

After I made this for her, it really inspired me to start doing much more of this! So I starting taking all of her jeans that were destroyed at the knees. I started with this..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then cut these off at the crotch area, making them into this, keeping the pockets in the back whole with enough space to add a seam.

 

 

 

 I then started to add my skirt pieces. I like the different little layers, lace and all kinds of fun additions.

Her little western skirt.

This might be my favorite as it turned out to be her little girly punk skirt. It had netting tucked in there as well which added a really fun look. 

This really inspired me to start looking through all my own work shirts that I never wore. I pulled out 2 white ugly work shirts that looked like this...

 

 

I kept the collar and the top buttons, making the shoulders much smaller, using the sleeves and hem to make the little cap sleeves. I used the rest of the fabric to make the lower part of the shirt. Turned out so cute and her kindergarten pix has her wearing this.

I used another work shirt and made this little summer top. I simply used elastic thread and made many rows of the shirring to pucker it. I added the top part of the bodice and strips for the shoulders. I cut out some flowers and ironed them on, and then machine appliqued them on. Turned out so sweet!

 

One other idea was to use a large sweatshirt that no one was using, cutting it up the back and through the hood, leaving the ribbing on the bottom untouched. I also made cuts in the sleeves. I made pink fleece triangles, sewing them and turning them right side out. I then placed the spikes in those places, and re-stitched it all. She loved it and wore it everywhere! Super simple.

Not every pair of her pants could be cut into a skirt. These pants had just small holes, so I put some enforced fabric behind the pants and stitched little stars around it. That held for quite awhile longer and was so, so cute!

All of this up-cycling I started doing came in so handy as my oldest daughter found out she was having twin boys so that brought new projects to conquer! She had 2 old knit dresses from Old Navy that she no longer wanted or used. So I took those and started these projects..

Seriously, being able to just make something out of what others might consider un-reusable is pretty satisfying! 

I also found these shirts at Old Navy on clearance for less than a dollar. Crazy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then made these little pants for my guys that were on the way.

Seriously, the ideas for up-cycling are endless. I used an old shirt from the boys daddy and made them matching caps and bibs.

I used old jeans and made them some western style bibs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old wine bottles I saved, painted them with chalk paint, made some little hearts out of craft paper, glued to long sticks and used this fun idea for my daughters wedding table. 

 

 

The ideas are endless. Have fun and use up your things guys!