tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149416672024-03-05T18:49:22.654-07:00The Crafty CatterySewing, knitting, crafting and cooking ideas and instructions.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-41514455624158593642015-09-27T07:12:00.000-07:002015-09-27T07:12:12.339-07:00Altered T-shirt: Sherlock Holmes with Banded Bottom and Sleeves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIlddcfhS_n81wo8DDwv_nybFgzI00dASEEMfvJFI4fthhtvYBzUIlxlNvxPTxyy87rYZziQYO2FiKSOppEbU1MgkiBbOcblLVCxdyo9R6cXcV1Ihxkwgt3QkgkNSncYDjPHQlQ/s1600/SavedImage_20150529_183955_04%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIlddcfhS_n81wo8DDwv_nybFgzI00dASEEMfvJFI4fthhtvYBzUIlxlNvxPTxyy87rYZziQYO2FiKSOppEbU1MgkiBbOcblLVCxdyo9R6cXcV1Ihxkwgt3QkgkNSncYDjPHQlQ/s320/SavedImage_20150529_183955_04%257E2.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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Project: Altered Sherlock Holmes T-shirt<br />
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Supplies: T-shirt (The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Out of Print Clothing: http://www.outofprintclothing.com/products/the-great-adventures-of-sherlock-holmes-mens-tee), matching thread</div>
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Equipment used: sewing machine and serger</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sSlD_TkAr8SC8IiAKIAhtUikyEo7OKgTs_wPdpC7MFRUmQOhOdUMCYlb1Yb04AjzMfR0Ov-sIv8Er7iBraDIR3rUKilh0oRMNVTc9x0j_gtiOxvPbrc3LpiPqKeFCFBUNRpbtA/s1600/20150510_142255%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sSlD_TkAr8SC8IiAKIAhtUikyEo7OKgTs_wPdpC7MFRUmQOhOdUMCYlb1Yb04AjzMfR0Ov-sIv8Er7iBraDIR3rUKilh0oRMNVTc9x0j_gtiOxvPbrc3LpiPqKeFCFBUNRpbtA/s320/20150510_142255%257E2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Summary: Starting with a standard T-shirt two sizes larger than my normal size, I cut ~6 inches off the bottom and fashioned it into a band which I serged to the gathered bottom, after taking in the sides of the shirt to make it fitted. I removed the sleeves at the seams then reattached the edge of the resized arm band to the sleeve hole, which was gathered at the top. I removed the neck band, serged the raw edges, ironed them under and then did a top stitch with my sewing machine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Yebmxp2n3Z54QkhO8dERXFvp8ptdz_I9sxFlUq-4ctJ6EGV5DUVeckvwoqTubTreoz656hwUY_q6so7MUeFIej2TOYpVmDb63H0cdYCFKF8mGy6-ssvpGENdO4k-MQBXf4fA2Q/s1600/20150529_080926%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Yebmxp2n3Z54QkhO8dERXFvp8ptdz_I9sxFlUq-4ctJ6EGV5DUVeckvwoqTubTreoz656hwUY_q6so7MUeFIej2TOYpVmDb63H0cdYCFKF8mGy6-ssvpGENdO4k-MQBXf4fA2Q/s320/20150529_080926%257E2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-22033513913262993032014-01-02T09:53:00.000-07:002015-09-27T07:11:53.404-07:00Wreck-It Ralph Sugar Rush Candy Decorations<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbFdo_pbFWxI6-5suq83B0J0hVHC6XOLMmbfCrVF890trqSqCZOwZhvCXxPVwVBcyDLo390dWwdIA6qvmDaLWIGZNIsCblmabjbV3vRNrXLg5CWhWn4cgWQ0lXJgkZA-eRwcR_Q/s1600/cc_vanellope-046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbFdo_pbFWxI6-5suq83B0J0hVHC6XOLMmbfCrVF890trqSqCZOwZhvCXxPVwVBcyDLo390dWwdIA6qvmDaLWIGZNIsCblmabjbV3vRNrXLg5CWhWn4cgWQ0lXJgkZA-eRwcR_Q/s1600/cc_vanellope-046.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Rush decorations from <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i></td></tr>
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For Halloween I participated in a Truck or Treat event with some friends. The theme we chose was the Sugar Rush game world from the movie <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i> (I've already done write-ups on my Vanellope <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2013/11/vanellope-von-schweetz-costume.html" target="_blank">costume</a> and <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2014/01/vanellope-von-schweetz-wig.html" target="_blank">wig</a>).<br />
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Here's a list of all the decorations we made:<br />
<ul>
<li>Peppermint trees</li>
<li>Giant cotton candy</li>
<li>Giant lollipops</li>
<li>Giant jawbreaker</li>
<li>Gumdrop lights</li>
<li>Rainbow bridge/finish line</li>
<li>Hero and cookie medals</li>
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And here's how we made them:<br />
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<b>Peppermint Trees:</b> These were made out of scrap wood and painted with pink and white latex paint. There's a hinge on the back of the trunk of each tree that is connected to another piece of wood that helps the trees stand. We were inspired by the trees seen in the <a href="http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2013/09/sugar-rush-candy-party.html/sugar" target="_blank">Sugar Rush decorations</a> at Kara's Party Ideas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6UCFmVKxjmygTzHcGn-d01lpD-zE43y9nCgzpqLMUoM3RT1700Kh-QXLoooDS-UUJf8amPYIrtd3ksQjpI35NYz89i-1k1SNxlJf-0fNw1_hUXD2fNfA8fp_iTW7KQAR4TGeaQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6UCFmVKxjmygTzHcGn-d01lpD-zE43y9nCgzpqLMUoM3RT1700Kh-QXLoooDS-UUJf8amPYIrtd3ksQjpI35NYz89i-1k1SNxlJf-0fNw1_hUXD2fNfA8fp_iTW7KQAR4TGeaQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-035.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant cotton candy</td></tr>
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<b>Giant Cotton Candy:</b> We used <a href="http://ivivified.deviantart.com/art/Tutorial-Fake-Faux-Cotton-Candy-349821274" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> for fake cotton candy by iViViFiED on deviantart. I started with a small, upside-down trash can. I made a cone out of poster board and taped it to the bottom. I then wrapped packing paper around the trash can to fill it out and taped the paper in place. The "candy" is made of a queen-sized sheet of polyester quilt batting - the cheapest one I could find.<br />
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To color the batting, I deviated from the tutorial after the watered-down paint recommended did not work for me. The paint wouldn't dry and it gummed up the spray bottle to the point where it wouldn't work. Instead, I used watered-down red food coloring. I hung the batting outside on a line (very important to do it outside to avoid staining stuff indoors) and filled up a spray bottle with water and red food coloring (I experimented to find the right ratio of water to food color). I sprayed the colored water on both sides of the batting and let it dry. I had to go back over several times to fill in places that got missed. I think I ended up using about a bottle and a half of food coloring.<br />
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After the batting dried completely, I tore it into strips and wrapped them around the trash cans, tucking the ends of the strips under each other. The tutorial recommends cutting the batting into strips with scissors but I found it looked more realistic when it was torn. Be aware that the food coloring is not waterproof and it can rub off on your clothes or anything else it touches. I wrapped them in trash bags before putting them in my car to keep the color from rubbing off on the interior.<br />
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<b>Giant Lollipops:</b> We used <a href="http://www.trendytree.com/blog/make-lollipops-from-balloons/" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>. Instead of wrapping paper tubes we used PVC pipe. To keep them standing up on the asphalt, we cut holes in some planks of wood and stuck the PVC pipe in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJEyQKDIZDAqqikFGxo0Ija_LksaVtziRhK6QRNgR6vBk3posdl2ri3K8t2vF0vk0G3HV1ngMmwdw4GXmScIAE_p6hEhoeEHK7dxtzuW__9cEvgV-ZA3yXGQK_E5Kcl92C9ybDg/s1600/cc_vanellope-044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJEyQKDIZDAqqikFGxo0Ija_LksaVtziRhK6QRNgR6vBk3posdl2ri3K8t2vF0vk0G3HV1ngMmwdw4GXmScIAE_p6hEhoeEHK7dxtzuW__9cEvgV-ZA3yXGQK_E5Kcl92C9ybDg/s1600/cc_vanellope-044.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant jawbreaker</td></tr>
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<b>Giant Jawbreaker:</b> This was a $3 plastic ball from Walmart. I painted it with brush-on white latex paint then dabbed on acrylic paint in blue, red and yellow. I made the mistake of trying to use fancy spray paint meant for plastic first - it never dried and ended up gross and sticky. I went over it with the latex paint afterward and it worked beautifully - not sticky at all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVshSXV33PklZhWYa4xMwvPkSYJ3NCWd11mhBsjcT1apS3Ky2atY-v3NIvD7gQtbX0RRersXCgZcFAjvYK83GQWs-8NjVRWb1Im64WGz6t1tXY00Obs18n4iPAlxSoI_67733MXg/s1600/cc_vanellope-043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVshSXV33PklZhWYa4xMwvPkSYJ3NCWd11mhBsjcT1apS3Ky2atY-v3NIvD7gQtbX0RRersXCgZcFAjvYK83GQWs-8NjVRWb1Im64WGz6t1tXY00Obs18n4iPAlxSoI_67733MXg/s1600/cc_vanellope-043.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illuminated gumdrop lights</td></tr>
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<b>Gumdrop Lights</b><br />
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I got the idea for the gumdrop lights from <a href="http://www.thefeltedchicken.com/2012/10/15/diy-tips-tricks-giant-candyland-props/" target="_blank">The Felted Chicken</a>. Those gumdrops didn't light up, though, so here's how I made ones that did:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29DcVoS2XPUpT-D8TyoG4uRkPYHR0nb200VDsKES8-HJ4H9SjpGbOrypTSmWZbdK2gOdHyMctwSM7kcyVW-B8ybjFeoSClldcem9xWCtienoOmbJKJtpFut-1olMW8QOnBbB1FQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29DcVoS2XPUpT-D8TyoG4uRkPYHR0nb200VDsKES8-HJ4H9SjpGbOrypTSmWZbdK2gOdHyMctwSM7kcyVW-B8ybjFeoSClldcem9xWCtienoOmbJKJtpFut-1olMW8QOnBbB1FQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-036.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IKEA cup</td></tr>
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1. I got twelve multicolored children's cups. These were <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10192956/" target="_blank">Kalas tumblers</a> from IKEA.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnbMvxW1HLStdEJ1Y6Hn_2XvgYqixy0PHb_VAuYxtBKhCiCy83UlgxlpKXLRtEqTj86ocV1MU7doAdESqtrtTcrQg_AEw-lyc0FuriB4p4oDHCmBjVwuHwuYkUqSOq9GHZdz99Q/s1600/cc_vanellope-037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnbMvxW1HLStdEJ1Y6Hn_2XvgYqixy0PHb_VAuYxtBKhCiCy83UlgxlpKXLRtEqTj86ocV1MU7doAdESqtrtTcrQg_AEw-lyc0FuriB4p4oDHCmBjVwuHwuYkUqSOq9GHZdz99Q/s1600/cc_vanellope-037.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut out cirle from craft foam</td></tr>
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2. I cut out a circle slightly larger than the mouth of the cup from craft foam in the same color as the cup.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_-dLwDYib9fNl00vbSiYi6VWl7uYKySulQbgJ0vwtq4HZLIgnX8O8qkU8oz9Z1VCrDTNCzZezEIbPzoIcMJGoV5gRLVbTMxB_e5ASpGC4w32pKdFtNXHvYSImE29n3FhlpcFZg/s1600/cc_vanellope-038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_-dLwDYib9fNl00vbSiYi6VWl7uYKySulQbgJ0vwtq4HZLIgnX8O8qkU8oz9Z1VCrDTNCzZezEIbPzoIcMJGoV5gRLVbTMxB_e5ASpGC4w32pKdFtNXHvYSImE29n3FhlpcFZg/s1600/cc_vanellope-038.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clip edges of craft foam circle</td></tr>
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3. I clipped the edges of the craft foam circle so it would easily fold over the mouth of the cup. I also cut a small "X" in the center of the circle for the light to go through (not shown in the above photo, unfortunately).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_35KP7epJRWImlTR-bWh4IB2B-W14WbYRWWRMckQhphyL20pLKJXr3RP4GOt6AszampewrjasGHfNnoxsZYRW6a5jn5QxB32WfmSYPvr4rbfgurkzUFxyRteY7lipiZthXtWw/s1600/cc_vanellope-039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA_35KP7epJRWImlTR-bWh4IB2B-W14WbYRWWRMckQhphyL20pLKJXr3RP4GOt6AszampewrjasGHfNnoxsZYRW6a5jn5QxB32WfmSYPvr4rbfgurkzUFxyRteY7lipiZthXtWw/s1600/cc_vanellope-039.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tape circle to cup</td></tr>
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4. I taped the circle to the top of the cup.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFsAYeXX3xt_KTw_QU5xBImyVMu-UMhPzGcg5dQSHlPiw_yCOczH9b1ohsdpGnI8yS5GfgI8Px9nASiDededxsWUubit-efen8n6rSctzqdxvex66ALMhEeWTQqhqXIS_BDyFnQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFsAYeXX3xt_KTw_QU5xBImyVMu-UMhPzGcg5dQSHlPiw_yCOczH9b1ohsdpGnI8yS5GfgI8Px9nASiDededxsWUubit-efen8n6rSctzqdxvex66ALMhEeWTQqhqXIS_BDyFnQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-040.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover with plastic wrap</td></tr>
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5. I covered the whole thing with plastic wrap, taping at the top. Usually this required covering the "X" in the craft foam, so I had to go back with some scissors and slice through the plastic wrap and tape to make a hole for the light. I did this step because I didn't want to glue the Epsom salts directly to the cup - I wanted the option of reusing the cups afterward. If you don't care about reusing the cups, it would probably work better to glue the salt directly to the cup.<br />
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6. I spread Elmer's white glue over the whole thing (except for the hole for the light) then rolled it in Epsom salts. I added more glue and sprinkled on salt in any place that didn't get enough during the rolling stage then let it dry completely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpNFsTxO_0EUugp6ElJWqB_WZiFc6EZktA70Kj_GboAOsSEXOlYPmPzHW0w-qC09ZdKAvqqWBV1pJcYX0AnIKngCS5cUPrfxuA8CCFR14lpNz-Q916H_wBOoJomQHWqUMgZhFtA/s1600/cc_vanellope-041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpNFsTxO_0EUugp6ElJWqB_WZiFc6EZktA70Kj_GboAOsSEXOlYPmPzHW0w-qC09ZdKAvqqWBV1pJcYX0AnIKngCS5cUPrfxuA8CCFR14lpNz-Q916H_wBOoJomQHWqUMgZhFtA/s1600/cc_vanellope-041.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Salted" gumdrop</td></tr>
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7. I took my gumdrops outside and gave them a thorough spraying with a clear coat spray paint. This helps the Epsom salts stick to the cup a little better, but even with that the salt was constantly falling off. I definitely wouldn't recommend using the lights inside because of the mess the salt makes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2FlIWxBKscM-tEPdHyzS7pzoDaEqyRpS9rapDUhllBDQ3O7FCX-tIy2SIsHqphsaRuaEF6vGI0bo4r_LWBqBeXmz-TwyfaC93iARQaVLk9w4SXQvtbNZqxwmfgIFLPTFBEXGCg/s1600/cc_vanellope-042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2FlIWxBKscM-tEPdHyzS7pzoDaEqyRpS9rapDUhllBDQ3O7FCX-tIy2SIsHqphsaRuaEF6vGI0bo4r_LWBqBeXmz-TwyfaC93iARQaVLk9w4SXQvtbNZqxwmfgIFLPTFBEXGCg/s1600/cc_vanellope-042.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illuminated gumdrop light</td></tr>
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8. I got a short string of holiday lights and stuck one into each hole in the top of the gumdrop then hung up the string and lit them up.<br />
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<b>Rainbow Bridge/Finish Line: </b>The rainbow was made from taped-together strips of colored construction paper (the kind that comes on a roll). The finish line was white paper with a grid drawn onto it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81pb3v3YSopIcseTF3dJC0U5AF3TOD5NLx4Dt215s3ACvAJWZLub_F7SL7c1CBfEgaLo8wh25pxWNhu_JKAhL8voJZWyR-dGkzyOdwOUe48RSGm_xww4tCUP0iau1HwScV4FNvg/s1600/cc_vanellope-047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81pb3v3YSopIcseTF3dJC0U5AF3TOD5NLx4Dt215s3ACvAJWZLub_F7SL7c1CBfEgaLo8wh25pxWNhu_JKAhL8voJZWyR-dGkzyOdwOUe48RSGm_xww4tCUP0iau1HwScV4FNvg/s1600/cc_vanellope-047.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hero and cookie medals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Hero and Cookie Medals:</b> These were made from craft foam and ribbon. For the hero medal, I used a wood burner (and the proper safety equipment - burning craft foam makes fumes) to burn the star and marks into the craft foam. I used sticky foam letters to write "HERO" and then painted the whole thing gold. The cookie medal is a layer of brown foam and a layer of white foam glued together, with sharpie and paint used to make the icing and sprinkles.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-51205004937961771482014-01-02T08:21:00.001-07:002015-09-27T07:12:49.993-07:00Vanellope von Schweetz WigThe most time-consuming aspect of making a costume for <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i>'s Vanellope von Schweetz was the wig. Just cutting and styling the wig took a week by itself, and making the candy pieces took another! I wish my hair had been long enough to put in a ponytail - pinning the candy into my own hair would've saved so much time. A write-up of how I made the wig is below. <b>Pictures and info on the rest of the costume can be found <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2013/11/vanellope-von-schweetz-costume.html" target="_blank">here</a>; my post on the Sugar Rush decorations is <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2014/01/wreck-it-ralph-sugar-rush-decorations.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc6p07-zl4M4UX4OMuWCeoLDLIvh6qqyUF0LarNhCHR6ITJxZw70y-pnRuVUwxq74WzWYOH1p2VILIAMyi01DenXPaT-PJCdfII9eUCaR1jwbTz8SmJpTclQt4YCBzGiOUPCtwg/s1600/cc_vanellope-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc6p07-zl4M4UX4OMuWCeoLDLIvh6qqyUF0LarNhCHR6ITJxZw70y-pnRuVUwxq74WzWYOH1p2VILIAMyi01DenXPaT-PJCdfII9eUCaR1jwbTz8SmJpTclQt4YCBzGiOUPCtwg/s1600/cc_vanellope-010.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope Wig - Front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JMC106AQ25phAGEteIH8_4bALCdbfU87bpZsh5G4FpuzknYPwgTC6K4sz3Y3Nqp4p6g8yDvpTVf8LbceTgKYstSaL2X9EJ4y2uUifiPGjCLj7CHSyAdGqCAPkWpiwT3IGpdmcA/s1600/cc_vanellope-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JMC106AQ25phAGEteIH8_4bALCdbfU87bpZsh5G4FpuzknYPwgTC6K4sz3Y3Nqp4p6g8yDvpTVf8LbceTgKYstSaL2X9EJ4y2uUifiPGjCLj7CHSyAdGqCAPkWpiwT3IGpdmcA/s1600/cc_vanellope-011.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope Wig - Left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz5zdw0bUGwyaVC0cCg-3WuuheSzj0ngagCWYD29tKNsve71tUjk8ga60EcLWNIem3D3rT9MKSEJsJYOzLkoQOUpy32WFmbi0GnOsvV3S3vcEskimCY4so2D3kl111fSoiy2Q_w/s1600/cc_vanellope-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz5zdw0bUGwyaVC0cCg-3WuuheSzj0ngagCWYD29tKNsve71tUjk8ga60EcLWNIem3D3rT9MKSEJsJYOzLkoQOUpy32WFmbi0GnOsvV3S3vcEskimCY4so2D3kl111fSoiy2Q_w/s1600/cc_vanellope-012.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope Wig - Right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsv6FAO8YgvokK4bQjcFzwLxj5pJbPKNpDaMRXOONTqhexPN78DeznSAOW0nIQ_KrEkxCfs42Z0PtlsEX39YsHjFJFR8yCXSKtkOf3zzigHTuPI53hYOZnhJtMW4xXSd6MP8M8A/s1600/cc_vanellope-013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsv6FAO8YgvokK4bQjcFzwLxj5pJbPKNpDaMRXOONTqhexPN78DeznSAOW0nIQ_KrEkxCfs42Z0PtlsEX39YsHjFJFR8yCXSKtkOf3zzigHTuPI53hYOZnhJtMW4xXSd6MP8M8A/s1600/cc_vanellope-013.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope Wig - Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinks5f1nRScr4wFSEUXTfM7Yvwsj7y-hl0PwQ4HLzqwCiInbUYCS5vZNDD7hhThvb5H1F8T5Q8cjv6mfQJB3-0LVRm_e-i0autWWec3wpMFk8tVXkjNmdDoE5NiCV_upEbC6AC8w/s1600/cc_vanellope-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinks5f1nRScr4wFSEUXTfM7Yvwsj7y-hl0PwQ4HLzqwCiInbUYCS5vZNDD7hhThvb5H1F8T5Q8cjv6mfQJB3-0LVRm_e-i0autWWec3wpMFk8tVXkjNmdDoE5NiCV_upEbC6AC8w/s1600/cc_vanellope-014.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope Wig - Top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Wig</b><br />
<br />
As this was a low-budget costume, I did not let myself spend $50+ on a nice wig from one of the many online wig stores that cater to costumers. I've done that before (with my <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/08/anime-cosplay-canal-from-lost-universe.html" target="_blank">Canal Vorfeed costume</a>) and, while it probably would've been worth the money, I just couldn't justify it this time. Instead, I hit every Halloween store in my area until I found a black ponytail wig for $12 at Target:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0yp_VANJCsdNAQ00renReDHIsEjLmNkws79RAcsl_AHF-jXw_cCqm9ytmBeij8gAm0nUH7RZ7Izl8rlp4TJCaDCanHjRZJAoWn3N5w1BX_2BjuAEG2FfLfO0TQpTrVNZj6Qkwg/s1600/cc_vanellope-000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0yp_VANJCsdNAQ00renReDHIsEjLmNkws79RAcsl_AHF-jXw_cCqm9ytmBeij8gAm0nUH7RZ7Izl8rlp4TJCaDCanHjRZJAoWn3N5w1BX_2BjuAEG2FfLfO0TQpTrVNZj6Qkwg/s400/cc_vanellope-000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gladiator Ponytail" wig - $12 at Target</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have no idea what makes this a "gladiator" ponytail. All I know is that, in the five stores I visited, this was the only black ponytail wig I saw.<br />
<br />
If you're going to make a Vanellope wig (or a wig of any other character whose hair is in a ponytail), you need to be sure to use a wig that is intended to be pulled up into a ponytail. Most costume wigs are only made to be worn with the hair down, so if you try to pull the hair up into a ponytail you'll find that all the seams, netting, etc. will show.<br />
<br />
Here's what the ponytail wig looked like after I took it out of the bag:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5LcYqNKEc5xKQUaQKgJBeWsWaWslZIEejwFv7kjuuGHr-XLK4h8vqcy-vqfnnFVN_oekryITXN65BzAAE6MuiOqmgSblcOf0k5unGjWBg7HR0Cl4De6JwJ6q-rhY_EQgt7qNJQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5LcYqNKEc5xKQUaQKgJBeWsWaWslZIEejwFv7kjuuGHr-XLK4h8vqcy-vqfnnFVN_oekryITXN65BzAAE6MuiOqmgSblcOf0k5unGjWBg7HR0Cl4De6JwJ6q-rhY_EQgt7qNJQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ponytail Wig, just out of the bag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was horribly tangled and creased, just like any wig will be after being stuffed into the tiny bags they use for Halloween wigs. I carefully brushed it out and straightened the creases with a flat iron on the lowest heat setting. I've used an iron before on <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/11/wicked-costume-glindas-yellow-emerald.html" target="_blank">cheap costume wigs</a> before and haven't had a problem with melted hair, but I probably wouldn't use heat like that on an expensive wig. Most experienced wigmakers frown on the use of hot irons and there are other, <a href="http://www.katiebair.com/wigtutorial_straightening.html" target="_blank">safer methods for straightening wigs</a>, so use irons at your own risk. If it all goes wrong, you could end up with a melted wig and a ruined iron.<br />
<br />
After straightening and detangling the wig, the next step was to get it back into a ponytail. I wanted the ponytail to stand up away from the top of the head so it would look poofier. I found <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/Vanellope-Von-Schweetz-Wig-Commission-351283787" target="_blank">pictures</a> of a few other Vanellope cosplayers who somehow used a styrofoam ball to make their ponytails poofy but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how they did it (that is to say, I spent way too much time trying to figure it out so I gave up and improvised!).<br />
<br />
Here's how I made the ponytail stand up:<br />
<br />
I used part of a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-2-5-8-in-Satin-Nickel-Hole-Cover-Plate-U-10446/202258423" target="_blank">hole cover plate</a> (what you'd use if you removed a door knob and didn't want an empty hole in the door) we had sitting around, an empty plastic thread spool, and a washer to create a base to build my ponytail around.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUlUAV23G3SIHTKKi9RjoqGQkP1QCVpXqn7k5YC5kgSrZZgvtuZ3M6Vdw5UYR3xhQv_Hw3mM4iaeCHdCc1NFhgj6-tEnwti2Aafw8q9dp5-O72APxlv62IqF9vIN-pLPxAaxBCg/s1600/cc_vanellope-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUlUAV23G3SIHTKKi9RjoqGQkP1QCVpXqn7k5YC5kgSrZZgvtuZ3M6Vdw5UYR3xhQv_Hw3mM4iaeCHdCc1NFhgj6-tEnwti2Aafw8q9dp5-O72APxlv62IqF9vIN-pLPxAaxBCg/s1600/cc_vanellope-002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a hole cover plate, empty thread spool, and a washer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I decided where I wanted the ponytail on my wig, and put the hole cover plate there. The plate was on the inside of the wig with the tube sticking out. I had to cut the mesh a tiny bit to get the tube to fit. To keep it from unraveling, I used some Fray Check on the cut parts. You can really see how cheap this wig is in these pictures - only the hair on the edges of the wig is full length. The hair on the rest of the head is only a few inches long.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVT3OMVxhY2JtQv-lA-rYusVVn5zQefqEOQtJ0AVSFrPZxKHiQGUMS1IYrvVUUuqi-aRR6x3191ypNJnshceJpZJ3jROe5z2UYmA927i_RO-BI_gRA6BslHFJ5eoKP88jtkAxw/s1600/cc_vanellope-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVT3OMVxhY2JtQv-lA-rYusVVn5zQefqEOQtJ0AVSFrPZxKHiQGUMS1IYrvVUUuqi-aRR6x3191ypNJnshceJpZJ3jROe5z2UYmA927i_RO-BI_gRA6BslHFJ5eoKP88jtkAxw/s1600/cc_vanellope-003.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate hole cover in wig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
I used some black string to hold the plate in place:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpLALkN8wb7ToFbX2Pd8Iafh6fQCeCY69z3IGKxTXSf3QZKO5mL0s3uMUy4hEPYbeX1aw2EPrCTv_3Ifk9x2XzgKJEEwmE213CkjBHEvupZgoGL0UTwN-QuKzYeNeVxGowUnpPA/s1600/cc_vanellope-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpLALkN8wb7ToFbX2Pd8Iafh6fQCeCY69z3IGKxTXSf3QZKO5mL0s3uMUy4hEPYbeX1aw2EPrCTv_3Ifk9x2XzgKJEEwmE213CkjBHEvupZgoGL0UTwN-QuKzYeNeVxGowUnpPA/s1600/cc_vanellope-004.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate hole cover held in place with string</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I placed the empty thread spool over the tube on the plate hole cover, put a washer on top and then screwed the screw that came with the plate hole cover into the tube to attach it all together.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl0J5nlKQe7dS_bFbaEgONGx2MXwVvJ59MaXT7WTsY2e2Q-RZa-lwoEKX-1KcCJTd5aTUqJ_8xlDbQsFSQWR5nufsEdv38_4Ii4C1X9thhJ0QM1FTjuay8uaI5xrhYBNeGKvzMg/s1600/cc_vanellope-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl0J5nlKQe7dS_bFbaEgONGx2MXwVvJ59MaXT7WTsY2e2Q-RZa-lwoEKX-1KcCJTd5aTUqJ_8xlDbQsFSQWR5nufsEdv38_4Ii4C1X9thhJ0QM1FTjuay8uaI5xrhYBNeGKvzMg/s1600/cc_vanellope-005.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thread spool and washer attached to plate hole cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I used a sharpie to color the spool and washer black so they wouldn't stand out from the hair. I then used a comb and a lot of hair spray to brush the short "under hairs" into position around the ponytail base.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8mYI69SwmsOcdDCaCX3Wc7T9YGkfUf1FVP8FcVhXya_ULKFqeUKfa7JTimw5aOoFLQZ88GNqcxIM7jxnd1yQgl8arPcx-PQXonPUXYGPOZ26QWZI5hNH2IQ14_T09azeDok60g/s1600/cc_vanellope-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8mYI69SwmsOcdDCaCX3Wc7T9YGkfUf1FVP8FcVhXya_ULKFqeUKfa7JTimw5aOoFLQZ88GNqcxIM7jxnd1yQgl8arPcx-PQXonPUXYGPOZ26QWZI5hNH2IQ14_T09azeDok60g/s1600/cc_vanellope-006.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wig with ponytail base.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately at this point I got so busy and frustrated with the wig and my horrible camera (see blurry photo above) that I forgot to take pictures of the next steps. Briefly, here's what I did:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Added Wefts</b>: Because there was so little hair on the wig that was full length, there was not enough extra hair for me to leave down for the chunks of hair the hang in front of Vanellope's ears. I went to a beauty supply store and bought a $3 package of black plastic (Kanekalon) hair. I used a <a href="http://www.katiebair.com/wigtutorial_makingwefts.html" target="_blank">tutorial from Katie Bair</a> to turn the hair into wefts that I then sewed in place on the inside of the wig, just over the ears.</li>
<li><b>Portioned out Bangs</b>: I used clips to separate the bangs and the "ear chunks" from the rest of the hair so they would not get caught up in the ponytail.</li>
<li><b>Formed the Ponytail Around the Spool</b>: This was a pain to do - I probably did it half a dozen times and using several different methods before I was happy with it. The method that ended up working best was the one featured in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX19eVm73GY" target="_blank">this Youtube video</a> from Elizabeth Schram. So the spool wouldn't show, I used black string to wrap the ponytail around the spool (see photo below) and used some caulk on the top of the spool to glue some of the hair to it.</li>
<li><b>Cut the Bangs</b>: Using a picture of Vanellope as reference, I trimmed the bangs and "ear chunks."</li>
<li><b>Styled the Wig</b>: I used a hair dryer on low and cheap hair spray to style the bangs and curl the ponytail.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6pet0DA2LK6mJLTryKT5nE9H02yRucyr55gYikokJ1Ksb51DD2fIvHZObfOJSxUh4NwvGrFmWg21rF6B7NkC9s5XXfkC7vNegcCFlX7Ljk6Fi1Gq2PYQ3ZOQrBTXDHm7AdpDXg/s1600/cc_vanellope-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6pet0DA2LK6mJLTryKT5nE9H02yRucyr55gYikokJ1Ksb51DD2fIvHZObfOJSxUh4NwvGrFmWg21rF6B7NkC9s5XXfkC7vNegcCFlX7Ljk6Fi1Gq2PYQ3ZOQrBTXDHm7AdpDXg/s1600/cc_vanellope-017.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">String wrapped around ponytail, over the spool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> ***</b></div>
<br />
<b>The Candy</b><br />
<br />
Here are some close-ups of the candy after I attached it to the wig.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN2Tx5ZE061vsB6lS5Dvbo9GGV0_FXaogDWdL-jQt9kR9ANkWsFrqifs5AqIFLZtPKMmM_BIFXg3BMwh2Y_BxltMz-BrdvMHM9JXaMmpiPaXHSpvbLXJtdcjRkq94jp6pg95f8g/s1600/cc_vanellope-016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN2Tx5ZE061vsB6lS5Dvbo9GGV0_FXaogDWdL-jQt9kR9ANkWsFrqifs5AqIFLZtPKMmM_BIFXg3BMwh2Y_BxltMz-BrdvMHM9JXaMmpiPaXHSpvbLXJtdcjRkq94jp6pg95f8g/s1600/cc_vanellope-016.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's hair candy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPTFyUgHa2feNrAYseu0ldTqmAU6f4H688RmdsaNXPo6EDIHXS5ZTpTj8xs1C6faN86o4XKB9GncG3lT9frYNBQMR-yUO4nOf93gfHKqsGe0eyApWsWF7r08F8qzss9kHjpzL5Q/s1600/cc_vanellope-018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's hair candy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfczOIkn1DEW6oUmzNa4iklmgKfqZXwpS0ifkbIHN-KKs6onglZ0eYOapMY9SMp696xwbe88g-WH-Rqvkl8sqDgM1yGQXFG2zknzjLfPaGKUiMI0vUXsbjXv1nlIq2td_jkAf-7w/s1600/cc_vanellope-019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfczOIkn1DEW6oUmzNa4iklmgKfqZXwpS0ifkbIHN-KKs6onglZ0eYOapMY9SMp696xwbe88g-WH-Rqvkl8sqDgM1yGQXFG2zknzjLfPaGKUiMI0vUXsbjXv1nlIq2td_jkAf-7w/s1600/cc_vanellope-019.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's hair candy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I made the candy pieces slightly larger than life-size because I wanted them to show up better on the wig. Here's a list of all the candy pieces, the number of them I ended up using and their colors:</div>
<ul>
<li>Twizzler hair tie (1): red</li>
<li>gummy bears (2): green, purple</li>
<li>chocolate peppermints (2): green and brown swirled</li>
<li>hearts (2): orange, pink</li>
<li>stars (3): yellow</li>
<li>thin sprinkles (26): red, light blue, dark blue, pink, purple, green, orange</li>
<li>round confetti sprinkles (20): green, orange, yellow, pink, light blue, dark blue </li>
</ul>
The peppermints, stars, sprinkles and confetti were all made of Sculpey baking clay that I painted with acrylic paint and covered with a clear gloss coat. The Twizzler, hearts and gummy bears were made differently so I'll go over them below. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfBmly24NiJgho7qIxNHEFYp5qEu-GkcsYEDtnBnni1w2-kvP7aZbhPrmj1TIV3RyAw0NKtuGo8WJhWauOg_WtDO3F6LUEgPB5i8zX_cWVeCjvIo_c8lsnNZ_YeuCue-_4Tu0ZQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfBmly24NiJgho7qIxNHEFYp5qEu-GkcsYEDtnBnni1w2-kvP7aZbhPrmj1TIV3RyAw0NKtuGo8WJhWauOg_WtDO3F6LUEgPB5i8zX_cWVeCjvIo_c8lsnNZ_YeuCue-_4Tu0ZQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-015.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twizzler hair tie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I made the Twizzler hair tie by rolling out a thick rope of Sculpey and twisting it into shape before cooking it. I placed a wire inside but it didn't end up being necessary and was really more of a hassle than a help. I based my construction on a <a href="http://uberbellz.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-making-of-vanellope-wig.html" target="_blank">Vanellope Twizzler hair tie</a> created by uberBellz on Blogger.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImxYoONyllR0fgR_JbhDXQW7ZWKLC0_5mgc-QD7ekFPEr1w6WhVm70PYmQ9WCmixMN7LazhSCLiCJglkqkJrOFE5cQrFPnLZejcLnsdHEtKGCStMGXUBOqywyBUvZz4sBUIaXqQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImxYoONyllR0fgR_JbhDXQW7ZWKLC0_5mgc-QD7ekFPEr1w6WhVm70PYmQ9WCmixMN7LazhSCLiCJglkqkJrOFE5cQrFPnLZejcLnsdHEtKGCStMGXUBOqywyBUvZz4sBUIaXqQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-020.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy heart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I wanted the candy hearts to have the flat, chalky look of those Necco Valentine's Sweetheart candies, so after making them out of Sculpey I painted them with "chalk paint," which is just acrylic paint mixed with plaster and water. Here's a <a href="http://whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-chalk-paint.html" target="_blank">blog post from While They Snooze with a recipe</a> - I used the same ratios but only made a tiny bit of paint in each color. Since Vanellope's hearts don't have messages, it didn't occur to me to put a message on them like on the real Sweetheart candies. I think it would've made them look more realistic so if I was doing this again, I would use some stamp letters to imprint a message in the hearts before I baked them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRoNiMrAGYL-lnDfZ3pUPaKQmQARrIZ4y2ikD3WFsqnTya0h81_pqDs2p1DbSFQxeEaaZiefHr3RM-qKkq4rPetlTDu93Uyoa5ssF0u9TLysW8QF7N0vD8iswJTFDSWIjh5lbPw/s1600/cc_vanellope-022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRoNiMrAGYL-lnDfZ3pUPaKQmQARrIZ4y2ikD3WFsqnTya0h81_pqDs2p1DbSFQxeEaaZiefHr3RM-qKkq4rPetlTDu93Uyoa5ssF0u9TLysW8QF7N0vD8iswJTFDSWIjh5lbPw/s1600/cc_vanellope-022.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gummy bear made from hot glue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1zeEr7NTB6S-g-VxY0EotxhpVsQIQfSMpx0zQYsxZjwoybE91PYJlR-8DbGSZRyDzLRJ8Mq4q3xA36vecCEvYfM7jod9TIDeFklLnupPmrLiW3OHC1iYXBRhPeWhu-ZqpfUiVg/s1600/cc_vanellope-023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1zeEr7NTB6S-g-VxY0EotxhpVsQIQfSMpx0zQYsxZjwoybE91PYJlR-8DbGSZRyDzLRJ8Mq4q3xA36vecCEvYfM7jod9TIDeFklLnupPmrLiW3OHC1iYXBRhPeWhu-ZqpfUiVg/s1600/cc_vanellope-023.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gummy bear made from hot glue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I wanted my gummy bears to look translucent like the real thing so I decided to use hot glue (aka hot melt adhesive/thermoplastic) instead of Sculpey to make them. Here's how I did it:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjUV9kLc1rSP4WEgk2E-NABaa5jHRmek1DDaO7IaycMjx_k9nabtWHPaXFwUVtvZSkAawwJvnp9nw0qRZjohrlysvOZe3hyphenhyphenSNyZYQAbtujMWQ4ppk6J79g2bU4H3ag8Lslkwgzg/s1600/cc_vanellope-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjUV9kLc1rSP4WEgk2E-NABaa5jHRmek1DDaO7IaycMjx_k9nabtWHPaXFwUVtvZSkAawwJvnp9nw0qRZjohrlysvOZe3hyphenhyphenSNyZYQAbtujMWQ4ppk6J79g2bU4H3ag8Lslkwgzg/s1600/cc_vanellope-007.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real gummiy bear soaking in water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First, I needed a real gummy bear to make a mold. I bought a package of gummy bears and soaked one in water for about eight hours. Why? Because, as the bear soaked, it absorbed water and became several times larger than it was originally. I wanted all my candy to be larger than life-sized so this was an easy way to get a big gummy bear.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWY178deXkPCtlOn77VfX-ynrpnipeS8bR6sE_W68gfBav2O0-63aWKZOix5mVruxqVxtDqrMhORXokRscPMueEgrcpo__-Khoj5az9blSXHNduWWZKQOdFjoJKFMH94whfYpmw/s1600/cc_vanellope-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWY178deXkPCtlOn77VfX-ynrpnipeS8bR6sE_W68gfBav2O0-63aWKZOix5mVruxqVxtDqrMhORXokRscPMueEgrcpo__-Khoj5az9blSXHNduWWZKQOdFjoJKFMH94whfYpmw/s1600/cc_vanellope-008.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enlarged gummy bear in plaster mold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the gummy bear soaked for eight hours, I mixed some plaster in the bottom of a plastic cup and gently pressed the bear into the plaster, face down. Be aware that soaking the bear makes it very soft, only slightly firmer than jelly/jam. Care must be taken to avoid breaking it when moving it from the water to the plaster.<br />
<br />
As the plaster dries it sucks the extra water out of the gummy bear, causing it to shrink. That's not a problem though, as the mold retains the original shape of the larger bear. Once the plaster hardened, I removed the real gummy bear.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeX0UyUeMiVW_EBwwVnMKBiGwdomyDc4SQA40OGsvAzG9oflZz-1RXRzW9SVKKWAQJcdyyCsWADzQTaRoX_vfnx7FKpAmpB4w304XChYaEf3JujRjjK0rgFeAXbOctcCNtiELJg/s1600/cc_vanellope-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeX0UyUeMiVW_EBwwVnMKBiGwdomyDc4SQA40OGsvAzG9oflZz-1RXRzW9SVKKWAQJcdyyCsWADzQTaRoX_vfnx7FKpAmpB4w304XChYaEf3JujRjjK0rgFeAXbOctcCNtiELJg/s1600/cc_vanellope-009.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot glue in gummy bear mold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next I soaked the hardened plaster mold in water for ten minutes or so (this makes the hot glue cast easier to remove). After removing the mold from the water, I patted it dry and then immediately squeezed hot glue into it. I experimented using high temp and low temp glue to see which worked best. I believe I ended up going with low temp glue because it cooled with less bubbles on the surface than the high temp glue (it's been a while though, so I could be remembering incorrectly).<br />
<br />
Before the glue cooled completely, I pulled the gummy bear cast out of the mold (if you leave it until it completely cools, it can be difficult to remove). I let the glue cool the rest of the way and then colored it with a Sharpie marker. After the Sharpie dried, I painted over the fake gummy bear with a clear gloss coat.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Attaching the Candy Pieces</b><br />
<br />
While making my wig, I watched the movie and made a diagram of the kinds of candies and their position on Vanellope's hair. I tried to follow this when attaching them to the wig, but by the time I got to that point I was in a pretty big hurry to finish the dang thing and didn't do a fantastic job. I used hot glue and just glued them on. As you can see from a number of the photos above, I probably rushed too much so it ended up looking a bit messy. Unfortunately with hot glue once it's on the wig hair, it's not coming off so when I mispositioned a piece, it was stuck there. Only after I finished did I realized I put too much candy on the top of the head since Vanellope has most of her candy on the sides, not the top. Oh well! I'm still pretty happy with it. :)Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-37378125622762603562013-11-06T16:05:00.001-07:002015-09-27T07:13:14.341-07:00Vanellope von Schweetz Costume<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVTiR-Orgtk5Fjk3rfvzocVJjjT_tqBkH9dhj7QnaBtI8qs1857v9IZbY0gpCP4msoyp4EK_vqMxlBoNfXTnCt9R00GIMAhAVK4RFdFebToBinEefn6MgQAfbXwaZo9qC-GCjuw/s1600/cc_vanellope-045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope von Schweetz costume and Sugar Rush decorations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For Halloween this year my friends and I participated in a Trunk-or-Treat event (like the one I dressed up as <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/11/shrek-puss-in-boots-costume.html" target="_blank">Puss-In-Boots</a> for a few years ago) and we decided to do a <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i> theme. We decorated the trunk with giant candy from the Sugar Rush world and I made a Vanellope von Schweetz costume. In this post I'll be discussing how I created the costume; I've done separate posts on the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2014/01/vanellope-von-schweetz-wig.html" target="_blank">Vanellope wig</a> and the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2014/01/wreck-it-ralph-sugar-rush-decorations.html" target="_blank">Sugar Rush decorations</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwXnrDJsiOZA_Pzf-XcKSI6F1A1uRNuvJOizRffgN9i_7d4pTi40XW2Rgq8GeiYLkeiLd3XaBL7XgXHHvrWVNM1SDIEfliWxEDVHJFIOUNwdU-jFPgTUKb6VUNV5Y2wlfYO1Hwg/s1600/cc_vanellope-052.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwXnrDJsiOZA_Pzf-XcKSI6F1A1uRNuvJOizRffgN9i_7d4pTi40XW2Rgq8GeiYLkeiLd3XaBL7XgXHHvrWVNM1SDIEfliWxEDVHJFIOUNwdU-jFPgTUKb6VUNV5Y2wlfYO1Hwg/s1600/cc_vanellope-052.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope von Schweetz from <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGW_E95IEIb4N13cnL9wpJaL9UYVtEQHf8VsP88zxx3QcQrABTyr6cPaL1827ncXMgYC70NJ0bM3VG13i0AGHeLPRJz04pN1b78ARtLMDpe-GhNPr6cUyetuNWPVopYWfusEt-A/s1600/cc_vanellope-025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGW_E95IEIb4N13cnL9wpJaL9UYVtEQHf8VsP88zxx3QcQrABTyr6cPaL1827ncXMgYC70NJ0bM3VG13i0AGHeLPRJz04pN1b78ARtLMDpe-GhNPr6cUyetuNWPVopYWfusEt-A/s1600/cc_vanellope-025.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope costume</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did my best to make this a "budget" costume but it still came out at nearly $100. Below is a breakdown - as you can see, even though I used the cheapest options you're likely to find, it still adds up!<br />
<br />
White Pullover Hoodie = $13<br />
Rit Dye (Aquamarine and Kelly Green) $3 ea. x 2 = $6<br />
Tulip Soft Matte Fabric Paint (Turquoise, Neon Green and Grape) $2 ea. x 3 = $6<br />
Opaque White Tights = $8<br />
Ponytail Wig = $12<br />
1 lb. Sculpey Clay = $8<br />
Hideous Pink Boots = $15<br />
Brown Broadcloth Fabric 45 in. wide by 3 yd. x $2/yd (on sale) = $6<br />
Lightweight Fusible Interfacing 20 in. wide by 6 yd. x $2.5/yd = $15<br />
<br />
That totals out to $89, but once I add in all the little incidentals (thread, gummi bears, elastic, Sharpies, paint-on gloss coat, glue sticks), it was pretty much $100. And I'm not even figuring in all the money I wasted "experimenting," like when I tried to dye the tights instead of painting them or using RIT color remover to take out the first bad dye job I did on the hoodie (it didn't remove squat!). Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and save yourself a little money.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwsd1dPpUAPQv0RsBfRoO6pMA1nA3jkh-n4a8v4d_ADSr5O7doc-DubVqE9eaI72Ha0ufDtr77kaPp2BXoNs8L4Hl_pvPa3c1l8h5puznAGq14gubw3oQ-INbGFoEi9kMydcJTw/s1600/cc_vanellope-027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwsd1dPpUAPQv0RsBfRoO6pMA1nA3jkh-n4a8v4d_ADSr5O7doc-DubVqE9eaI72Ha0ufDtr77kaPp2BXoNs8L4Hl_pvPa3c1l8h5puznAGq14gubw3oQ-INbGFoEi9kMydcJTw/s1600/cc_vanellope-027.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's hoodie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Hoodie</b><br />
<br />
<b>Supplies:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Fruit of the Loom White Pullover Hoodie (found in Walmart men's department)</li>
<li>Rit Dye in Aquamarine and Kelly Green (I used the liquid dye)</li>
<li>Mini glue sticks</li>
<li>Pink Sharpie</li>
<li>craft sticks (aka popsicle sticks)</li>
<li>Gloss coat</li>
<li>Fray Check </li>
</ul>
<b>Equipment:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Washing Machine (mine is a standard)</li>
<li>Hot glue gun</li>
<li>Scissors/exacto knife</li>
</ul>
<b>How I dyed the hoodie:</b><br />
<br />
Originally I tried to dye the hoodie in a bucket and it was a disaster. Even though I followed <a href="http://www.ritdye.com/dyeing-techniques/sink-or-bucket" target="_blank">the instructions on RIT's website</a>, the hoodie ended up splotchy and horrible-looking. There was not enough room in the bucket for the hoodie to get adequately dyed. I tried to remove the color so I could start over by using RIT color remover but it did nothing. I finally had to use bleach and that got most of the color out, though it was still a little yellow.<br />
<br />
After that disaster, I decided to use the washing machine (mine is a standard top-loader). I was scared that I would end up coloring a subsequent load of clothes but I just ran a large load with bleach through after dying and I had no problems. Following the <a href="http://www.ritdye.com/dyeing-techniques/washing-machine" target="_blank">instructions from RIT's site</a>, I ran a medium load with hot water on the longest agitate cycle I had (I think I had to turn the dial back a few times so it would agitate for at least 30 minutes as directed). After the hoodie went through the whole wash cycle, it came out looking great and exactly the color I was trying to get.<br />
<br />
That leads me to to the big question you probably have: how much of each dye did I use? I'll tell you what I did but please understand that your situation may be different and you may get different results. I urge you to dye some test swatches of your fabric first - that's what I did and I discovered that the color mixture from RIT's site that I thought would be perfect was nowhere near the color I wanted.<br />
<br />
I used the liquid dyes, one part RIT Aquamarine to one part RIT Kelly Green (so fifty-fifty, aka half and half). In my medium load in the washing machine, I believe (though I forgot to write it down, so I'm not 100% positive) that I used 4 ounces of each color (1/2 a cup of each) for a total of 8 ounces of dye. However, even if you do everything exactly the same as I did, there are several variables that could cause you to get a different color than the one I got with that mixture:<br />
<ol>
<li>My hoodie was 60% cotton, 40% polyester. RIT sticks to cotton better than polyester, so because my hoodie was only 60% cotton, that means I probably got a lighter color than I would've gotten had the hoodie been 100% cotton. Different cotton/polyester mixes would also give different results.</li>
<li>How much water is in the "medium" load in your washer. I have no idea how much is in mine; if you have more or less water, your dye would be less diluted/more diluted and you could end up with a different color.</li>
<li>If you use the powdered dye instead of the liquid your results could be different (I don't know what the powdered equivalent of the amount I used is).</li>
</ol>
So to sum it up, this is what I did to dye my hoodie but your results may vary. Test your dye first if you don't want any surprises. <br />
<br />
<b>How I made the drawstrings and stitches:</b><br />
<br />
I struggled until pretty much the last minute trying to figure out how I wanted to make the drawstrings and stitches. When I was in the planning stages of the costume I watched <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i> several times and took screen captures of Vanellope's outfit and it looked to me like her hoodie's drawstrings and stitches were made of a translucent, pink, plastic-like candy. I have no idea what real-world candy would actually look like that - Twizzlers (like in her hair) aren't really that translucent. Anyway, I didn't want to use yarn or cording but I couldn't find ANYTHING clear, flexible, the right size and pink (or capable of being colored pink). I tried making silicone caulk strings, covering pink cord with hot glue, and using a straw as a mold for a string of hot glue (it just glued the straw together). Nothing looked right.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkh90qCWbLJ7GTvrrdclLLHZRxep978qzmodsedyjTL3SYFgQawmGFE2PZwtnlayXSwKp2ykfhFtkEeLPA93amNAYJiv4t-GpRozQYZD2GkR-9kDxVLdKx_2GxvFpLS2clSII2g/s1600/cc_vanellope-029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkh90qCWbLJ7GTvrrdclLLHZRxep978qzmodsedyjTL3SYFgQawmGFE2PZwtnlayXSwKp2ykfhFtkEeLPA93amNAYJiv4t-GpRozQYZD2GkR-9kDxVLdKx_2GxvFpLS2clSII2g/s1600/cc_vanellope-029.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawstrings on the hoodie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally it occurred to me that the mini sticks of hot glue I had sitting around were nearly the right size, if only they could be stretched a little bit longer and a little bit thinner. I tried various ways of heating them up and finally settled on dunking them in hot water (if you do this, be very careful not to burn yourself!), taking them out and gently stretching them and then dunking them in cold water for a few moments (while still stretching them) until.they held their shape. I repeated the process until I got the length and thickness I wanted, being careful to avoid over-stretching which results in uneven thickness.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUEzncrxlNGmCzzZ-v2bCloomt1F-7y_E92odzTQGoWBxUNYSMR6PQX-vifubu-4XIpImdAgEjxCnA1JdMAjMiZtPxFDRmt0PEPQkPkoODt2yFDSjL5tJF00aSv8ggq1c5acjRA/s1600/cc_vanellope-031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUEzncrxlNGmCzzZ-v2bCloomt1F-7y_E92odzTQGoWBxUNYSMR6PQX-vifubu-4XIpImdAgEjxCnA1JdMAjMiZtPxFDRmt0PEPQkPkoODt2yFDSjL5tJF00aSv8ggq1c5acjRA/s1600/cc_vanellope-031.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitches on the hoodie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the gluesticks that were to become the two ends of the drawstring, I tied a knot in one end of each before they completely cooled. Once they cooled, I untied the knots to make coloring easier. For the gluesticks that were to be the stitches, after cooling I cut them to size. I then colored them all with a pink Sharpie. After letting that dry, I retied the knots in the drawstrings and then painted a gloss coat over them all. I recommend a waterproof/water resistant gloss coat - the gloss I used wasn't, and I had some issues with the pink from the stitches rubbing off on my hoodie. I'm not sure if a paint-on waterproof gloss coat exists - you may have to use a spray-on one.<br />
<br />
<b>Attaching the drawstrings and stitches:</b><br />
<br />
The drawstrings don't actually go all the way through the hoodie, they just stick out at ends. I hot glued them into the holes meant for the drawstring (I removed the drawstring that came with the hoodie before dying it). For the stitches, I cut holes in the hoodie where they belonged, touch up the holes with Fray check, let it dry (I didn't on the first hole and that's why some pink rubbed off on the hoodie) and ran the ends of the stitches through the holes. I hot glued each stitch to opposite ends of a popsicle stick (cut to about 2 inches long) on the inside of the hoodie. I did this so the stitches would appear curved on the outside of the hoodie.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlIrxNKuUeYSxaG78lEzMp7SOLLwgvQb1jvumgs3AMBRHny6y-Szbb5pu1cb0uN7rJj3rxwPa1gLxoxjVj8gHsJbylDdz2U1Ku-9WqgJU49EYywPbQtx2Hs8-1SXgRTTkGrIezQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlIrxNKuUeYSxaG78lEzMp7SOLLwgvQb1jvumgs3AMBRHny6y-Szbb5pu1cb0uN7rJj3rxwPa1gLxoxjVj8gHsJbylDdz2U1Ku-9WqgJU49EYywPbQtx2Hs8-1SXgRTTkGrIezQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-050.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the stitches are attached on the inside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If I had thought about it, I would've made the drawstrings and stitches removable so I could wash the hoodie. Since I didn't use waterproof gloss coat and since they're not removable, I'm pretty sure the pink would run if I got it wet and it would be ruined. Not smart!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPOpfWzPIsHdIptCDfpnrajKTDx5Zy9kum7ZUkxxFv6lrkTtH9ggSYkFSzDAbPhk5w4C-PYU4m_5N1FYbX0EYgVL5lCNFBxU5w4lfsOQuwrh3r_IPQ0BRct-AOZi1lDPwNlRgjg/s1600/cc_vanellope-048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPOpfWzPIsHdIptCDfpnrajKTDx5Zy9kum7ZUkxxFv6lrkTtH9ggSYkFSzDAbPhk5w4C-PYU4m_5N1FYbX0EYgVL5lCNFBxU5w4lfsOQuwrh3r_IPQ0BRct-AOZi1lDPwNlRgjg/s1600/cc_vanellope-048.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's skirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Skirt</b><br />
<br />
<b>Supplies:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>~3 yd. Symphony Broadcloth in Dark Chocolate (35 in. wide, <a href="http://www.joann.com/symphony-broadcloth-solid-quilt-fabric/prd10006.html" target="_blank">from Joann's</a>)</li>
<li>~6 yd. Pellon lightweight fusible interfacing (probably didn't use this much but I can't remember)</li>
<li>Brown thread</li>
<li>Elastic, ribbon or cord for waistband</li>
</ul>
<b>Equipment:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Sewing machine</li>
<li>Iron</li>
<li>Ironing board</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Starch (optional, helps make pleats stiffer) </li>
</ul>
<b>How I made the skirt:</b><br />
<br />
Vanellope's skirt looks like two Reece's Peanut Butter Cup wrappers, layered on top of one another. I thought about using a shiny fabric to make the skirt look glossy like in the film, but I was concerned that the fabric would be damaged by the iron when I went to make the accordion pleats. Instead I used the cheapest fabric I could find - it was a 65% polyester, 35% cotton mix that I found in the quilting section.<br />
<br />
I used the <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-the-circle-skirt.html" target="_blank">Circle Skirt Tutorial</a> from danamadeit.com to find the right size for the skirt, to make a pattern for a 1/4 of the skirt and to cut out the skirt (I did not make the same kind of waistband as in the tutorial). I made the skirt short enough that I could cut the longer layer out from one piece of 45 inch fabric, instead of having to piece it together. The shorter layer was also cut from one piece of fabric, I just made it 4 inches shorter than the longer layer.<br />
<br />
After cutting out my two giant circles, I followed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRzeDM7vFtI" target="_blank">AntiAiChan's tutorial on Youtube</a> for making accordion pleats for a Vanellope skirt. I made my pleats wider than the ones in the video (I counted how many Vanellope's skirt had and aimed for a similar number). Bonus: larger pleats means less ironing!<br />
<br />
I drew my pleats on the 1/4 skirt pattern which I then used to cut out pieces of interfacing (4 for each layer of skirt). The biggest time-saving tip I can tell you is to get a pencil or Sharpie and transfer the marking for your pleats from the pattern onto the non-sticky side of each piece of interfacing. This way you don't have to go back and do it after you iron it to the brown fabric.<br />
<br />
I ironed the interfacing on to the inside of each layer of the skirt. The pieces didn't match up 100%, but it was close enough. I hemmed the lower edge of both layers and ran an overlock stitch over the top edge of them as well (but did not hem them). Still follower AntiAiChan's instructions, I ironed in all the pleats. I used spray starch while I was ironing but I'm not sure it made much of a difference. The weight of the interfacing is really what keeps the pleats sharp - don't use the featherweight stuff (I did for part of it and it did not hold the pleats as well). AntiAiChan used Pellon's Decor-Bond fusible interfacing so that may be the best way to go.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN0S2oGyjhyphenhyphenLoF5lb_9ffwkfm9c16nZ1ZcPGnADZCDmqpFIqx3rZGYIe_wSlGUHj_d7_8WNByLU8f7RVUFA_drHgd-gaxHC9Qif4gYBXSNyjzY3eYcIkbowDQ6udRXOD9Wg53Gg/s1600/cc_vanellope-051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN0S2oGyjhyphenhyphenLoF5lb_9ffwkfm9c16nZ1ZcPGnADZCDmqpFIqx3rZGYIe_wSlGUHj_d7_8WNByLU8f7RVUFA_drHgd-gaxHC9Qif4gYBXSNyjzY3eYcIkbowDQ6udRXOD9Wg53Gg/s1600/cc_vanellope-051.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawstring waistband on skirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So at this point I had two layers of accordion-pleated skirt and nothing to keep it up around my waist. I didn't want to use the wide band of elastic as recommended in the circle skirt tutorial because it involves trying to stretch the elastic with the fabric as you sew and that sounded like something I would probably mess up (I don't like sewing elastic!). I decided that making a cinch/drawstring waistband would be better. First, I basted together the two layers of the skirt. I then cut out a long piece of fabric that was wide enough to enclose my elastic cord with a 1/4 inch seam. I folded the fabric over to make a tube and pinned it to the basted skirt, with both short ends of the tube open and meeting at the front of the skirt. I sewed the waistband to the skirt and then ran my elastic through the tube, tying the loose ends together.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3if9nzO1l_twedqrybJ3eJNcyKxgZa7ig-kTneB5JBz3PqL_4o-Sly65FQbtGRtS16yWZf7rvFhiL0f3UVMxkg3VblXgsHXbtVQcbMdKCrwNWIVtZbJxUPgvMqX388LdOKBP-Pw/s1600/cc_vanellope-032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3if9nzO1l_twedqrybJ3eJNcyKxgZa7ig-kTneB5JBz3PqL_4o-Sly65FQbtGRtS16yWZf7rvFhiL0f3UVMxkg3VblXgsHXbtVQcbMdKCrwNWIVtZbJxUPgvMqX388LdOKBP-Pw/s1600/cc_vanellope-032.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's tights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Candy-Striped Tights</b><br />
<br />
<b>Supplies:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>White opaque tights</li>
<li>Tulip Soft Matte Fabric Paint in Turquoise, Neon Green and Grape</li>
<li>Painter's tape</li>
<li>Cardboard mailing tube or duct tape leg</li>
<li>Paintbrushes</li>
<li>Dressmaker's chalk </li>
<li>Ruler </li>
</ul>
<b>How I made the tights:</b><br />
<br />
The tights were the very last thing I made and they were nearly a disaster. When I dyed the hoodie, I experimented with using RIT dye on tights and I got a result that, though a bit light-colored, was okay. Unfortunately in the month that passed between when I did the test and when I sat down to do the tights (the day before the event), I completely forgot how I had applied the dye, how long I left it, how much I had diluted it...pretty much everything. But I thought I could figure out what I did and wasted most of the day experimenting. Everything I tried was a failure - the dye ran under the painters tape and most of it washed out afterward.<br />
<br />
So lesson learned, RIT dye is not the best method for making striped tights. The next best thing I could come up with at the last minute was fabric paint. I had dismissed fabric paint earlier because I thought it might end up looking "crusty" or splotchy, but since I was running out of time I didn't have much choice. Luckily it turned out better that I thought. Though the paint was a little splotchy, it wasn't really noticeable once the tights were on.<br />
<br />
I used <a href="http://pixiesizedprincess.tumblr.com/post/39723307134/making-a-leg-double-for-painting-tights-painting" target="_blank">this "Vanellope's tights" tutorial</a> from pixiesizedprincess.tumblr.com as a starting point. The first thing I did was use a Sharpie to right "R" and "L" at the waistband of the tights so I wouldn't get them mixed up when I made my chalk markings while looking in the mirror. Vanellope's right leg has angled green and white stripes while her left leg has horizontal green, white and purple bands. I put on the tights, my skirt and boots and lightly marked where I thought the stripes should go with blue dressmaker's chalk. I took off the tights, stretched each leg over a cardboard mailing tube (one at a time) and used a ruler to redraw my marking so they were evenly spaced.<br />
<br />
When I was ready to paint, I used painter's tape to mask off the parts I wanted to stay white. I used the Grape paint as-is and mixed together the Turquoise and Neon Green fabric paint to get the green color I wanted (no clue about the exact proportions - all I can say is that I used most of the bottle of Neon Green and not as much of the Turquoise). Contrary to what the tutorial said, I watered the paint down a little because it wasn't spreading like I wanted. That did result in a little bit of running, though, so it might not have been a good idea. After letting the first leg dry completely, I repeated everything on the other leg.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXXdjzED-Bwih3pyD9ildIPVCF0bZA27Nyu9QJZbmF-ClLZc9BbSZgOS-hWNNGcdfUDFzvIpVw44qrvl5mIVU5a3lOr5dLnXcJbiNT_kAQjf6EWix07EKR4sBByp3Z4UWK9WrZw/s1600/cc_vanellope-033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXXdjzED-Bwih3pyD9ildIPVCF0bZA27Nyu9QJZbmF-ClLZc9BbSZgOS-hWNNGcdfUDFzvIpVw44qrvl5mIVU5a3lOr5dLnXcJbiNT_kAQjf6EWix07EKR4sBByp3Z4UWK9WrZw/s1600/cc_vanellope-033.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanellope's tights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even though the tights turned out alright in the end, there are a few things I'd have done differently if I could: <br />
<ul>
<li>Obviously I wish I hadn't wasted a day trying to make the RIT dye work! </li>
<li>I wish I had had time to make a duct tape model of my leg like in the tutorial and had to use a cardboard mailing tube. The fabric paint dries very stiff and the tights end up stretched to the width of whatever you had them on when you painted them. Since I used the mailing tube, this meant that my tights were baggy in the ankle and so-tight-I-could-barely-get-them-up around the thigh. In the end they still worked, but a duct tape leg would've solved those problems.</li>
<li>The paint stuck to the cardboard when it dried, so when I tried to peel it off the mailing tube I ended up with little pieces of paper stuck to the inside of my tights! It was a giant pain to clean up. Possibly something slick underneath liked waxed paper (or duct tape) might've stopped
that, but I didn't have time to experiment and was worried that a slick surface
under the tights might make the paint bleeding worse.</li>
<li>The Neon Green Tulip Soft Matte Fabric Paint had glitter in it. It was the only shade of green at the store that was anywhere near what I needed so I used it anyway, but the glitter rubbed off on everything and made a mess. A non-glitter paint would've been better.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_RbZkSDNt7aeVJZavdxCUegx1_-US_4WEiPA_hdUmCCG5L8RH_1_2Nftj7CzBRI1guTDhAugmNIMlJJ1D78wFIaHdTKErg8ul0MwJwsIHApJlXvIe8_H1l28V6W7vggX25y_TQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_RbZkSDNt7aeVJZavdxCUegx1_-US_4WEiPA_hdUmCCG5L8RH_1_2Nftj7CzBRI1guTDhAugmNIMlJJ1D78wFIaHdTKErg8ul0MwJwsIHApJlXvIe8_H1l28V6W7vggX25y_TQ/s1600/cc_vanellope-034.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boot altered to look like Vanellope's (original boot in the background)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Boots</b><br />
<br />
Vanellope's boots are shiny, black, laceless boots with red licorice stuck to the soles. I had a hard time finding something that looked anything like that for under $20. Eventually I got lucky and found a hideous pair of black slippers with pink bows, pink faux-fur lining and pink soles at Walmart for $15. I removed the bows and I carefully detached the fur lining from the top of the boot so it could be tucked inside. I didn't remove it completely because it was attached to the rest of the interior lining and without it the boots would've been uncomfortable to wear. I used a black Sharpie to draw over the pink stitching on the boots and a red Sharpie to color in the edges of the pink soles so they would look like the red licorice. I wish yet again that I had thought to use a waterproof gloss coat over the red Sharpie because I discovered afterward that some of it had rubbed off on my tights (I guess when I accidentally touched them with the edge of the boot).Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-32660940120859615102013-05-16T15:44:00.001-07:002015-09-27T07:13:36.747-07:00DunderMifflinInfinity.com: How a Fake Paper Company Changed My Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ayWo9ZouLM491qQPQdXc4eKCSglGzDwVllmH9zm91JqMP5FVJuc_udND4dgCk66MoFEMh_OlAmr_Bb5v3RGElKZ1WtrQ7Ygj_DiHPsF8J29YniB0-4oLOk_is6ge7zoDHPeRSw/s1600/Office-Cast-2009-the-office-4837130-1600-1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ayWo9ZouLM491qQPQdXc4eKCSglGzDwVllmH9zm91JqMP5FVJuc_udND4dgCk66MoFEMh_OlAmr_Bb5v3RGElKZ1WtrQ7Ygj_DiHPsF8J29YniB0-4oLOk_is6ge7zoDHPeRSw/s640/Office-Cast-2009-the-office-4837130-1600-1200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast of <i>The Office</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>My History with <i>The Office</i></b><br />
<br />
When the US version of <i>The Office</i> premiered in the spring of 2005, I wasn't sure that I would like it. I was a fan of the UK version and so I gave the US version a chance but I was worried that remaking the show would ruin it. The first season was only six episodes and, though for the most part they were good, I wasn't sure that the show would make it through another season.<br />
<br />
That summer Steve Carrell starred in <i>The 40 Year Old Virgin</i> and suddenly everyone knew who he was. I think that really helped <i>The Office</i> gain an audience. The second season was a vast improvement on the first as they stopped trying to copy the UK version and let the US <i>Office</i> become its own show.<br />
<br />
For the first few seasons, I was only a casual fan of the show. I'd watch it (though usually not live) and I bought the DVDs but that was about it. Then near the beginning of season 4 (2007-2008), NBC launched the online game/social networking site DunderMifflinInfinity.com to coincide with the second episode of that season, titled "Dunder Mifflin Infinity." NBC aired ads for DunderMifflinInfinity.com (I'll call it DMI for short) during several episodes. I saw one of the ads, thought it sounded fun and went online to join.<br />
<br />
<b>The Start of DMI</b><br />
<br />
The way DMI worked was that you signed up, created a username, then applied to join one of around 200 (later downsized to 100) virtual branches set up in locations all over the world. Each branch was run by a Regional Manager (RM), a volunteer nominated for the position. Originally I applied to the Flagstaff, AZ branch because that what the closest branch to me in real life. That didn't work out, however, because the RM had to approve your application before you could join. After a day or two of waiting without being let in, I started searching the NBC forums for more information. I came across a post from the RM for the Ypsilanti, MI branch promising to approve any and all applications so I applied there and got in.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIZbTjovgWbsTdRnHlzuDxFPteny375iFjj45GPrGoPEHBfOsRE8w4hSP7hFKeL3GBrZHY_sX7XuWusfmuhnGJKzTnt_CksgTkMQJbcXfHVFmaEKBn5HxHgP26nsfBxviKLUniA/s1600/ypsi_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIZbTjovgWbsTdRnHlzuDxFPteny375iFjj45GPrGoPEHBfOsRE8w4hSP7hFKeL3GBrZHY_sX7XuWusfmuhnGJKzTnt_CksgTkMQJbcXfHVFmaEKBn5HxHgP26nsfBxviKLUniA/s1600/ypsi_logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DMI Ypsilanti's colorful logo, designed by employee michigankathleen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once in the Ypsilanti branch, we got to know our fellow branch members via online forums and competed with other branches on tasks given to us by NBC, which usually revolved around that week's episode. We would earn fake money called Schrutebucks for completing tasks and winning competitions. The goal was to earn the most Schrutebucks, both individually and as a branch.<br />
<br />
It was fun for a very short while and then in November of 2007, the Writer's Guild Strike happened. There were no new episodes from November 15, 2007 to April 10, 2008 and many people lost interest and drifted away from DMI, including Ypsilanti's RM.<br />
<br />
When the show finally came back in spring 2008, there were still a few people in our branch but we had no active RM. That issue came to a head with the April Fool's Day task, which was to create a fake version of NBC's Office website to replace the real one on April 1st. The task required the branch to work together as a group to make the fake site and our non-existent RM was the only one who could submit our work to NBC. Luckily we weren't the only branch with a missing RM so together we were able to ask the higher-ups to let the branches with inactive RMs choose new ones. I don't really remember exactly how it went down, but I think I got the job because I was already organizing the April Fool's Day task and was the only one willing to volunteer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvswoX9lqSV6-gBV9hJd5J9chgqyK4K10RPrGyj7Vy5Je-BZxXNt1qIXi0godmEhxv33-zfJ8q9VPjZ9zkaDZNd-lbJBbEw3QTRAdPbqXReQmd_PIOQvsfiPg7gFFzI3SDbcHxQ/s1600/office_shrine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvswoX9lqSV6-gBV9hJd5J9chgqyK4K10RPrGyj7Vy5Je-BZxXNt1qIXi0godmEhxv33-zfJ8q9VPjZ9zkaDZNd-lbJBbEw3QTRAdPbqXReQmd_PIOQvsfiPg7gFFzI3SDbcHxQ/s400/office_shrine.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My <i>Office</i> shrine, circa season 6<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Being Regional Manager of DMI Ypsilanti</b><br />
<br />
This may sound crazy to most people, but I took my fake job very seriously. I spent the next four years with the equivalent of a part time job. If only I had gotten paid!<br />
<br />
What did I do? I moderated the forum. I organized our own in-branch competition that ran alongside the main one. I created games, challenges, puzzles and trivia contests for my "employees." I learned how to Photoshop stuff and how to make animated gifs for profile photos and forum signatures.<br />
<br />
At the end of every Office season, I held a video awards ceremony for my branch. I organized summer games to keep everyone interested during the months with no new episodes. I used my own money to buy prizes for my employees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMNta1WixNL83bnpQCjuVjMNGaBDXE2kFbHvh7tel3m3SN4yJqlbhwB_9VZV5n2qY-xLHo0Ansf3LdM_t9DDj29IPzw66XVAL1z5Nk4r8ObpzW89UzT8tipyjoUy1n7BkainoPw/s1600/blank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMNta1WixNL83bnpQCjuVjMNGaBDXE2kFbHvh7tel3m3SN4yJqlbhwB_9VZV5n2qY-xLHo0Ansf3LdM_t9DDj29IPzw66XVAL1z5Nk4r8ObpzW89UzT8tipyjoUy1n7BkainoPw/s400/blank.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ypsi, DMI Ypsilanti's version of the Dundie. Based on Ypsilanti's famously phallic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypsilanti_Water_Tower" target="_blank">water tower</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't know how many times I turned down going out on a Thursday night
so I could stay in and chat with my DMI friends before a new episode.
When my husband scheduled a work dinner during chat time that I was
required to go to, I used my phone to chat under the table and in the
bathroom at the restaurant! <br />
<br />
I traveled to Michigan twice to meet up with members of my branch. I made t-shirts for us. I organized a party for the premiere of season 6, calling every bar and restaurant in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor until I found one that would let us reserve a room with a TV. Then when I called to confirm two days before the premiere, they told me that they couldn't let us watch it because all their TVs had to be tuned to the same channel, which had to be sports (damn you sports!). Thankfully one of our employees came through and let us have the party at her house. Yes, I went to the house of a stranger I met on the internet. I met a lot of internet strangers during my time at DMI, many of whom are still my friends, online and off. <br />
<br />
<b><i>The Office</i> and Crafting</b><br />
<br />
My time at DMI and my love for <i>The Office</i> inspired me creatively. We had to be creative for the tasks and I had to be creative as regional manager. Here are just a few of the crafty things that resulted:<br />
<br />
- Making a stick figure puppet music video for a task:<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ibiKUYWpL0E" width="420"></iframe></center>
<br />
- Cowriting, directing and animating a twelve minute <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/02/how-i-did-it-office-ypsilanti.html" target="_blank"><i>Office</i> fan movie</a> starring myself and my coworkers:<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-RahqTS-0X4" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br />
- Making <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/03/office-paper-dolls.html" target="_blank">paper dolls</a> - and desks! - of several Office characters.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/msp5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/msp5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
- Creating a <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/04/office-peeps-contest.html" target="_blank">Marshmallow Peep diorama</a> of Michael Scott and David Wallace in a hot tub for a contest. I won and even got a compliment from Andy Buckley, the actor who plays David Wallace.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/peep_clockwise_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/peep_clockwise_small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peepified version of the "Hot Tub Wallace" scene from the episode "Sabre"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a2x5ofRgFj2gXDrLG7De4M1dohWZTRdy9cH-WZaLU3EAcdRZK_V5UCNQNOs9SomYHroraVWhLkkNPGpERB2Wz8EmwgtlqQmQpS6tTTxu6z2P99qD1Mbxl-A81_9WtUDT8m269A/s1600/wallace_peep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a2x5ofRgFj2gXDrLG7De4M1dohWZTRdy9cH-WZaLU3EAcdRZK_V5UCNQNOs9SomYHroraVWhLkkNPGpERB2Wz8EmwgtlqQmQpS6tTTxu6z2P99qD1Mbxl-A81_9WtUDT8m269A/s1600/wallace_peep.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
- Creating probably the most disgusting Jello shot ever, the PB&J. Named after The Office's favorite couple, Pam Beesley and Jim, it was a grape jello shot topped with peanut butter-flavored whipped cream.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/pbj_shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/pbj_shot.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PB&J Jello Shots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b></b></div>
<br />
<b>The End of DMI</b><br />
<br />
From the start, DMI was plagued with problems. The site never worked quite right and there were ALWAYS glitches. At times it was frustrating and many people quit because they were unable to participate thanks to the bugs. It didn't help that NBC was always trying to change things up just when we thought we had it all figured out. In the fall of 2010 at the start of season 7, they decided that the old DMI site wasn't doing it for them and moved us all to a new site, <a href="http://dundermifflin.sabre-corp.com/" target="_blank">Dunder Mifflin Sabre</a>. The new site came with all-new glitches. That began the slow steady decline of DMI (now DMS, but I'm going to keep calling it DMI).<br />
<br />
At the end of season 7 participation was down but there was still a good number of active people. We kept ourselves amused over the summer while we waited for our fifth year of DMI to start in the fall. As the beginning of season 8 neared and we heard nothing from NBC, we grew worried. Our worst fears were realized when there was a note from "Corporate" on the home page saying that they were no longer supporting the site and that all branches were being dissolved.<br />
<br />
The forums were left open so we could still talk to one another, but all the tasks and Schrutebucks were gone. NBC tried to get us to switch over to their new game "fanit" (which was for all their shows, not just <i>The Offic</i>e) and was even glitchier than DMI (it's now defunct too).<br />
<br />
The Ypsilanti branch valiantly tried to keep things going by continuing our mini-tasks and forum competition but by January of 2012 only a handful of people from Ypsilanti were still logging on. By the start of the ninth and final season of The Office, there were only three or four people regularly logging into any of the DMI forums. By the end of season 9 NBC has completely shut down the forums.<br />
<br />
<b>The End of <i>The Office</i></b> <br />
<br />
Throughout all of this, a core group of four or five of us continued to chat every Thursday before a new episode. It's all coming to an end tonight, when the last episode of The Office airs. It's sad that it's ending, but I think the time is right for us to move on to other things.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Why did you waste five years of your life on a silly game?" But then I think back to all the things I never would've done if it hadn't been for DMI. I never would've animated a movie. I never would've gotten a compliment from Andy Buckley. I never would've learned about geocaching. I never would've parkoured at an apple orchard or seen the famously phallic Ypsilanti watertower. I never would've made the amazing friends I've made. None of it was a waste.<br />
<br />
I do wish I could somehow turn all those years of "work"
experience into a real job. It's too bad there aren't any real jobs as fun and rewarding as
being the manager of a fake paper company.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-38200314916934121442013-01-17T15:42:00.000-07:002015-09-27T07:11:16.874-07:00Amigurumi Nativity: Crocheted Sheep Pattern<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-ZJlHPJT20lydBY-kURTh1R7tMOfZwNFeQ8Sf5VnBhUUsjTmbf9RpTgtbFb1tkXHgA29UNxOvP0ZVNo31HqeJz3lpkU0y9LHNyvQj99rk59p42zmd09fwjl9Batz0LTxLuBDDQ/s1600/sheep1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-ZJlHPJT20lydBY-kURTh1R7tMOfZwNFeQ8Sf5VnBhUUsjTmbf9RpTgtbFb1tkXHgA29UNxOvP0ZVNo31HqeJz3lpkU0y9LHNyvQj99rk59p42zmd09fwjl9Batz0LTxLuBDDQ/s1600/sheep1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep #1 and Sheep #2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rc7HjqX8WQO1t2yCo346H5yQ1Or6DJOkjfEnL6NbRj02jrZlQzZE_sm93eYs0te47bzhHyaVAFnHBkj734U887lcBP7_PJK4G16hvxXCANqgejwN1y-ou0iiwSYVVk1O7Ycy1g/s1600/sheep2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rc7HjqX8WQO1t2yCo346H5yQ1Or6DJOkjfEnL6NbRj02jrZlQzZE_sm93eYs0te47bzhHyaVAFnHBkj734U887lcBP7_PJK4G16hvxXCANqgejwN1y-ou0iiwSYVVk1O7Ycy1g/s1600/sheep2.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are the previous nativity patterns: <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-mary-and.html" target="_blank">Mary and baby Jesus</a>, <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-joseph.html" target="_blank">Joseph</a>, <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/02/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-angel.html" target="_blank">Angel</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheep Amigurumi Pattern</b><br />
<br />
<b>Notes on this pattern:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>My patterns are free and may
not be sold. Please do not reproduce or repost patterns or instructions from
CraftyCattery.com without my permission. For information on selling items created from my patterns,
please view the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2005/01/contact-me.html">FAQ</a>.</li>
<li>All of the pattern is crocheted in amigurumi-style continuous/spiral crochet.</li>
<li>I like to make all the accessories first so they are ready to be
sewed on when I make the body. That's why they're listed first in the
pattern.</li>
<li>The finished size of both sheep is 3 inches.</li>
<li> I originally designed Sheep #1 using a super bulky yarn. Because it may be difficult for others to find a similar yarn, I designed Sheep #2 to be made with the same yarn I've used for all the other nativity figures.</li>
</ul>
<b>Materials needed:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>For Sheep #1: Size H (5.00 mm) and size I (5.5 mm) crochet hooks, super bulky weight yarn in white for the body (I used <a href="http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=onthefringe" target="_blank">Bernat On the Fringe</a> in "Snow") and bulky weight yarn in tan for the legs and head (I used <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/jiffy.htm" target="_blank">Lion Brand Jiffy</a> in "Camel").</li>
<li>For Sheep #2: Size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook, bulky weight yarn in white for the body and a tan
color for the legs and head. I used <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/jiffy.htm" target="_blank">Lion Brand Jiffy</a> in "White" and "Camel."</li>
<li>Yarn needle</li>
<li>Stuffing</li>
</ul>
<b>Abbreviations used in this pattern: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Rnd = round, when doing continuous crochet</li>
<li>sc = single crochet</li>
<li>st = stitch</li>
<li>sts = stitches</li>
<li>ch = chain</li>
<li>slp st = slip stitch </li>
<li>sc2tog = single crochet two stitches together, aka a decrease. (I recommend using <a href="http://falwyn.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/invdectutorial/">falwyn's invisible decrease</a> when possible.) </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LjHOSQz_cXuk7Stxxlya1niCirwLtNGNjdzxXNxqU-D2RDzrgVBGHQpK31RSZALQawkhdIe-R2LrsGjzJG7WT27qIRtso1fMAG17xpZhkyAh8uZMrAyNvqn_oAzQJssRSBP9lA/s1600/sheep3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LjHOSQz_cXuk7Stxxlya1niCirwLtNGNjdzxXNxqU-D2RDzrgVBGHQpK31RSZALQawkhdIe-R2LrsGjzJG7WT27qIRtso1fMAG17xpZhkyAh8uZMrAyNvqn_oAzQJssRSBP9lA/s1600/sheep3.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Sheep #1 Pattern:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #1 Legs</b><br />
Make four with spiral crochet in tan color with the H crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 4 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: sc around (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] two times (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: sc around (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: sc 5, slp st 1 in last st. <br />
Bind off, leaving tail to use to sew leg to body.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #1 Head</b><br />
Make one with spiral crochet in tan color with the H crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 4 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (8 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] four times (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: sc around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: sc 4. To form first ear: ch 3, turn, sc in second chain from hook, sc in next chain, then sc in foundation stitch (the same stitch from which the chain was formed). sc 3. To form second ear: ch 3, turn, sc in second chain from hook, sc in next chain, then sc in foundation stitch (the same stitch from which the chain was formed). sc 4. slp st 1 in last stitch.<br />
Bind off, leaving long tail to use to sew head to body.<br />
<br />
<b>A Few Notes on Sheep #1 Body:</b> The super bulky yarn may make it difficult to see your
stitches. If you accidentally skip a stitch in a round, you can made it up by increasing at the end of the round. If you do too many
stitches in a round, you can fix it by decreasing at the end of the round.
The super bulky yarn should hide mistakes like that, so as long as you end up
with the correct number of stitches at the end of the round, you should
be alright. Also, you may not be able to do <a href="http://falwyn.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/invdectutorial/">falwyn's invisible decrease</a> since you can't see the stitches - regular decreases should work fine instead.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #1 Body</b><br />
Make one with spiral crochet in white color with the I crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 8 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (8 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (16 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] eight times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: sc around (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: sc around (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 6: sc around (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 7: [sc2tog, sc 1] eight times (16 sts).<br />
Stuff the head and legs and sew them to the body. Your body may end up looking different than mine, but I found it worked best for Sheep #1 to have the opening in the body facing up, putting the legs on the bottom and the head on one side. Stuff the body.<br />
Rnd 8: [sc2tog] eight times (8 sts). <br />
Rnd 9: [sc2tog] four times (4 sts).<br />
Bind off, closing hole and weaving in tail. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyYzLsSdfLXnbugbuxgS7ZyaczJy4HP7ZBOzAtB3AUsuvNa9o3ywPaHvRko49AQiHcvVq-7LzuKS9e_hn7rG0X1xA51hERSMvKUpvTU2iGXCQSioL0p0m9c5xliu1ngT7mI66eA/s1600/sheep4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyYzLsSdfLXnbugbuxgS7ZyaczJy4HP7ZBOzAtB3AUsuvNa9o3ywPaHvRko49AQiHcvVq-7LzuKS9e_hn7rG0X1xA51hERSMvKUpvTU2iGXCQSioL0p0m9c5xliu1ngT7mI66eA/s1600/sheep4.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep #2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Sheep #2 Pattern:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #2 Legs</b><br />
Make four with spiral crochet in tan color with the H crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 4 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: sc around (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] two times (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: sc 5, slp st 1 in last st. <br />
Bind off, leaving tail to use to sew leg to body.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #2 Head</b><br />
Make one with spiral crochet in tan color with the H crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 4 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (8 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] four times (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: sc around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd
5: sc 4. To form first ear: ch 3, turn, sc in second chain from hook,
sc in next chain, then sc in foundation stitch (the same stitch from
which the chain was formed). sc 3. To form second ear: ch 3, turn, sc in
second chain from hook, sc in next chain, then sc in foundation stitch
(the same stitch from which the chain was formed). sc 4. slp st 1 in
last stitch.<br />
Bind off, leaving long tail to use to sew head to body.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheep #2 Body</b><br />
Make one with spiral crochet in white color with the H crochet hook.<br />
Rnd 1: 6 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] six times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] six times (30 sts). <br />
Rnd 6: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 7: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 8: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 9: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 10: sc around (30 sts). <br />
Rnd 11: [sc2tog, sc 3] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 12: [sc2tog, sc 2] six times (18 sts). <br />
Stuff
the head and legs and sew them to the body. Your body may end up
looking different than mine, but I found it worked best for Sheep #2 to put the head opposite the opening (so the opening is on the sheep's butt). Once the head is in place, you can position the legs below it.<br />
Rnd 13: [sc2tog, sc 1] six times (12 sts).<br />
Stuff the body. <br />
Rnd 14: [sc2tog] six times (6 sts).<br />
Bind off, closing hole and weaving in tail. Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-41390176026024589292012-09-18T12:31:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:22:29.492-07:00No Sew Master and Commander Jack Aubrey Costume<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASopTEGtP3zmJupFyvy5hAkJLgfZ38n_11oH0M7uF3BlEF_SrHX2bUz5uoj-nMSIdC7YrNzglpX0-fiXpZFiSaSAIZyoUt81gG0qUrz3pTvtUbWwQpkdUhtqLeJ2FxVQgsK0dQg/s1600/capt+jack+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASopTEGtP3zmJupFyvy5hAkJLgfZ38n_11oH0M7uF3BlEF_SrHX2bUz5uoj-nMSIdC7YrNzglpX0-fiXpZFiSaSAIZyoUt81gG0qUrz3pTvtUbWwQpkdUhtqLeJ2FxVQgsK0dQg/s400/capt+jack+10.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoeRanger in his Jack Aubrey costume</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzefOENd2xhJWkseT_Eg5dRJ_e4JCNfbQ9U5x8R57MMZoKiE2w2q6nvoty0OIRj6gFffhxVlR0FS-wD_mntpTOyZNxNqk3rHWlXGosDFcSuaNz798GaNnBusMgC5VMQgtAtTCCmA/s1600/capjack4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzefOENd2xhJWkseT_Eg5dRJ_e4JCNfbQ9U5x8R57MMZoKiE2w2q6nvoty0OIRj6gFffhxVlR0FS-wD_mntpTOyZNxNqk3rHWlXGosDFcSuaNz798GaNnBusMgC5VMQgtAtTCCmA/s400/capjack4.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoeRanger's Jack Aubrey Costume</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
People sometimes tell me that, since they can't sew or don't have a
machine, they can't make a costume. Well, this post proves that you
don't have to sew to make a great costume!<br />
<br />
JoeRanger, the creator of this costume, contacted me a few weeks ago to let me know that he had made a Jack Aubrey costume like <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/11/jack-aubrey-costume.html" target="_blank">mine</a>
for a party, only he did it with no sewing! I was impressed and
asked if I could post about it here to give some ideas to others who
might want to make a costume without having to sew. He said yes and sent
me these photos.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQHskcS00oUHecsF30fU5aresp6t98OZf40FXMGbEDPc9B5DxNBU8hdAi2_2nj8sNyL5W9kpJATX10aWEzxFCDJeqfA7vcD7-oqv8MOM3hpFN3MrU0VZz8Y-9V9-5t6NywWIv-Q/s1600/CJ+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQHskcS00oUHecsF30fU5aresp6t98OZf40FXMGbEDPc9B5DxNBU8hdAi2_2nj8sNyL5W9kpJATX10aWEzxFCDJeqfA7vcD7-oqv8MOM3hpFN3MrU0VZz8Y-9V9-5t6NywWIv-Q/s400/CJ+1.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: A reproduction Royal Navy uniform from <span class="shopname wrap "><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeborahLoughCostumes?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">DeborahLoughCostumes</a> on Etsy. Right: JoeRanger's uniform and accessories.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's not easy to find an inexpensive Royal Navy costume online. Most of them for sale out there are historically accurate reproduction uniforms meant for films or reenactors and cost thousands of dollars. I have a feeling that's way above the budget of most people who find this blog, who are looking for something inexpensive they can wear for a party, Halloween, a convention, etc. Most of the supplies JoeRanger used were scrap, thrifted or purchased on eBay; in total it looks like it cost him around $50.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7B7Brj3E7CxhIJkABkJJthVMad7gDYz76QL8s_fCsVJtfKM7nNmLwHq62YCGmZr4g-Mqs7eodpbb0ze3fkri0OHK1Gauxm_l4b3nFwiOT97XlSLBunmWLeABEN46qboT-7ymPw/s1600/IMG-20120904-01530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7B7Brj3E7CxhIJkABkJJthVMad7gDYz76QL8s_fCsVJtfKM7nNmLwHq62YCGmZr4g-Mqs7eodpbb0ze3fkri0OHK1Gauxm_l4b3nFwiOT97XlSLBunmWLeABEN46qboT-7ymPw/s400/IMG-20120904-01530.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supplies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For Jack's uniform coat, he started with a 60/40 cotton/polyester tan trench coat ($9) and dyed it a dark royal blue with <a href="http://www.ritdye.com/store/liquid-dyes" target="_blank">Rit liquid dye</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnwlLp5LhEfZIPhBgZzlFvFRMHYxw3kkZl322GM_j0CbI0O4uwLVkmfLmDhmVv8vmg24CuGAVsIO2kevEzAjcyvaepqgSwOYTMQsOOG7ryYpkr4u_LYfD_z3KfGh7svWGIkMVmw/s1600/IMG-20120906-01535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnwlLp5LhEfZIPhBgZzlFvFRMHYxw3kkZl322GM_j0CbI0O4uwLVkmfLmDhmVv8vmg24CuGAVsIO2kevEzAjcyvaepqgSwOYTMQsOOG7ryYpkr4u_LYfD_z3KfGh7svWGIkMVmw/s400/IMG-20120906-01535.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume before adding trim and buttons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He cut the trench coat to match the shape of Jack's coat which meant
cutting away the lower front parts of the coat. I believe he folded the
raw edges inside and glued them together with hot glue.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGZ6mvaekhkemVCeerhoulViKCcoIDHL_mR3Kz8FbEW81r0ihCjYvYHtl6WQWyZozm2T-yTwLEBqurZiBVQWMHK2yq8BWbaMbBCrSuASCpsXmqVLi0HlcY_5HNv3hw7DN4SAQvQ/s1600/IMG-20120910-01551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGZ6mvaekhkemVCeerhoulViKCcoIDHL_mR3Kz8FbEW81r0ihCjYvYHtl6WQWyZozm2T-yTwLEBqurZiBVQWMHK2yq8BWbaMbBCrSuASCpsXmqVLi0HlcY_5HNv3hw7DN4SAQvQ/s400/IMG-20120910-01551.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume with trim and buttons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trim and buttons (plastic with anchors; $5 from eBay) were glued on as well. An alternative would be to use iron-on fusible tape to finish the edges, which could also be used to attach the gold ribbon trim.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x9J5rLi8KwPvTx0sGbYesE4KG8ic-tkT4zXof3RCA_mozDOIskvxGMUDu7L12XKsEqoW0ug4fYkIfqlbGz3Knja6S60PYmw-G9lTASXwByc3ol17aUg8NVghxIRG6Sv8RqwtBQ/s1600/IMG-20120906-01534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x9J5rLi8KwPvTx0sGbYesE4KG8ic-tkT4zXof3RCA_mozDOIskvxGMUDu7L12XKsEqoW0ug4fYkIfqlbGz3Knja6S60PYmw-G9lTASXwByc3ol17aUg8NVghxIRG6Sv8RqwtBQ/s400/IMG-20120906-01534.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trench coat lining and excess pant material remade into a vest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the pants, he found a pair of khaki pants for $4. He cut them off at the knee and used the extra to alter the liner that came with the trench coat so it looks like Jack's vest.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE__XKNYyjwlQ-ibTVVPOuXENj5YnvlUDyEgeEN9PN_3htoZfhWSgGHgupn7eeIiYgB1QGn6tB7RVR7p5iSQCwoHDSOCZpoNpNAvI0E0ZToqC4JukRt3UArkEl5FLk4RvfvGt3sg/s1600/CJ+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE__XKNYyjwlQ-ibTVVPOuXENj5YnvlUDyEgeEN9PN_3htoZfhWSgGHgupn7eeIiYgB1QGn6tB7RVR7p5iSQCwoHDSOCZpoNpNAvI0E0ZToqC4JukRt3UArkEl5FLk4RvfvGt3sg/s640/CJ+3.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoeRanger's progress photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The shirt was an old dress shirt with fabric glued on the front, the boots were left over from a Han Solo costume ($30 on eBay) and he constructed the pistol and sword from scrap in his workshop.<br />
<br />
Thanks for sharing, JoeRanger! I hope that these photos are enough to show those of you out there who want a Jack Aubrey costume that, if
you're willing to get creative and put in some effort, you can find a
way to make an inexpensive costume without having to sew.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-2997572796509428702012-09-10T09:11:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:22:37.981-07:00Top Gear, MST3K and Arrested Development Etched Pint GlassesFirst of all, let me say how difficult it is to take photos of etched glasses! I did my best but the photos below aren't great and don't reflect how they look in real life.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO2xzO6S_09Xcjv9ZJANNwJohe_Gio04LXkpMfCVLMi-x79UMBM2l46Z0j3FLANrOwLTP23TJq_bAT8pyqyqygOJdqgJpoBKO606bUA3HokvC_d5ku-3xNth1rY6Ayofxz0_zbQ/s1600/topgearglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO2xzO6S_09Xcjv9ZJANNwJohe_Gio04LXkpMfCVLMi-x79UMBM2l46Z0j3FLANrOwLTP23TJq_bAT8pyqyqygOJdqgJpoBKO606bUA3HokvC_d5ku-3xNth1rY6Ayofxz0_zbQ/s320/topgearglass.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Top Gear</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBOPR2uA11cXLjb333QYMViz9o6i4h1Rac1_YZLEmrxSEBX9e1ccZrovP1gPifDNYJfc1Whj-Z3H2B78Hu5KdvVlex673gUpylJDqvnUqUmISnCMZJjpU23cF0l69R7hwcBphMA/s1600/rawsdowerglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBOPR2uA11cXLjb333QYMViz9o6i4h1Rac1_YZLEmrxSEBX9e1ccZrovP1gPifDNYJfc1Whj-Z3H2B78Hu5KdvVlex673gUpylJDqvnUqUmISnCMZJjpU23cF0l69R7hwcBphMA/s320/rawsdowerglass.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Rawsdower saves us and saves all the world!" from <i>Mystery Science Theater 3000 </i>episode "The Final Sacrifice"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_pLy0yVf_Inc34vYcirmiKoWQHebL01czRV9meVb9P9SLVnvg7SKSB-kLbMKKuwVu820bd2SDGROFsjJ8MGswY7Z0Nme9Uy4xF1DZhgr9B2PE5ovsdmBF1ctYMdDrPgzud1lww/s1600/bigmclargehugeglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_pLy0yVf_Inc34vYcirmiKoWQHebL01czRV9meVb9P9SLVnvg7SKSB-kLbMKKuwVu820bd2SDGROFsjJ8MGswY7Z0Nme9Uy4xF1DZhgr9B2PE5ovsdmBF1ctYMdDrPgzud1lww/s320/bigmclargehugeglass.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Big McLargeHuge," "Punch RockGroin" and "Buff DrinkLots" from <i>Mystery Science Theater 3000</i> episode "Space Mutiny" </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxcPmxSYq2PSJoZNt-rY50d67QABdVpzDwORK-ilqV9T8DJV8A4XlLyB6HSOgF1SCdsrGlHU4D8mFbVEzIS6Nlx31mJ5N-7f9uS2yt7p0uIowCDE3VaXg08UEUY6kMoViLqEXYg/s1600/illusionglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxcPmxSYq2PSJoZNt-rY50d67QABdVpzDwORK-ilqV9T8DJV8A4XlLyB6HSOgF1SCdsrGlHU4D8mFbVEzIS6Nlx31mJ5N-7f9uS2yt7p0uIowCDE3VaXg08UEUY6kMoViLqEXYg/s320/illusionglass.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Illusion, Michael" from <i>Arrested Development</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My brother just finished his master's degree and the <i>Mystery Science Theater 3000</i> glasses were for him. The <i>Top Gear</i> and <i>Arrested Development</i> glasses went to my husband on his birthday.<br />
<br />
I used <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/etched_glass_tutorial" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> from The Yummy Life which explains how to do the lettering and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzSFxpW0ab4" target="_blank">this video</a> from ashram6 on Youtube which shows how to use adhesive contact paper to make images.<br />
<br />
Supplies needed are:<br />
<ul>
<li>etching cream (at any craft store),</li>
<li>pint glasses (I found individual glasses for less than a dollar each at Bed Bath and Beyond)</li>
<li>letter stickers (the smallest ones I could find were in the dollar bin at Target)</li>
<li>adhesive contact paper (usually found with shelf liners in home stores)</li>
<li>painter's tape (I used Frog Tape)</li>
<li>popsicle sticks </li>
<li>safety glasses and gloves </li>
</ul>
I'll explain the process briefly, but see the tutorial and video above for more details.<br />
<br />
How it's done:<br />
<ol>
<li>Clean the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and try not to touch the glass afterward.</li>
<li>Place the letter stickers on the glass to form words. Make boxes around your words with painter's tape.</li>
<li>For images: Draw or print out an image the size needed. Trace the image on to the contact paper, cut out and put on the glass. Use painter's tape to box off any negative space around the image.</li>
<li>Make sure everything is stuck on well so the etching cream won't sneak underneath.</li>
<li>In a well-ventilated area (this stuff stinks!), put on your safety gear and use a popsicle stick to put the etching cream on the glass. Leave it on for about five minutes, using the stick to move the cream around twice during the wait.</li>
<li>In a stainless steel sink (the cream can damage other types of sinks), wash off the etching cream with hot water and remove all the tape and stickers. Wash the glass and you're done!</li>
</ol>
Etching cream isn't perfect and the results won't look store-bought. You can tell from my photos that it doesn't etch evenly. The bigger the area you try to etch, the more evident the unevenness is. The etching cream is caustic and dangerous so it's not a good project for kids, though they could decorate a glass and then an adult could take over when using the cream. Still, with some planning and patience a custom etched pint glass can make for a unique personalized gift.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-66252107812756947852012-09-04T08:00:00.011-07:002014-03-01T08:22:49.116-07:00Craftsman-Style Lamp Makeover<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJzhKeLONXhWVbfEwtPvH8WfQlq8bov65jW_ylX0Skic_m9SPEKKyDbkk8s0QbNXcoQT-xBXXmYFCAoh9ZHeCJC8Y_HVEYxiiaPfYZN1Gphkh07pi6SO5jia9vta17qdpgFG96w/s1600/lamp_makeover_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJzhKeLONXhWVbfEwtPvH8WfQlq8bov65jW_ylX0Skic_m9SPEKKyDbkk8s0QbNXcoQT-xBXXmYFCAoh9ZHeCJC8Y_HVEYxiiaPfYZN1Gphkh07pi6SO5jia9vta17qdpgFG96w/s1600/lamp_makeover_small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After</td></tr>
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Though we've been out of college for years, my husband and I are still using those cheap flexible desk lamps next to our bed. Now that we're only a few months away from moving into a new home, I thought it was time to invest in some actual lamps.</div>
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I saw the below lamp online and fell in love. It's a custom <a href="http://www.williammorrisstudio.com/imagegallery/pottery.html" target="_blank">pottery lamp with a mica shade made by William Morris Studios</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LFmOOZGRME-VfTm1RocnKr04CUpbr_y7TuxAp0-aCDYkpDa1duJJ6lOYgqW3hd-n60tvxLPd9xyJpmclqosPKHUxmsFSCnrg7y0ApOos2hiEH8lKEgMKgyAbMO4AQ-Ptyt-pXw/s1600/Clapton_Pottery_Lamp_Mission_Motif.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LFmOOZGRME-VfTm1RocnKr04CUpbr_y7TuxAp0-aCDYkpDa1duJJ6lOYgqW3hd-n60tvxLPd9xyJpmclqosPKHUxmsFSCnrg7y0ApOos2hiEH8lKEgMKgyAbMO4AQ-Ptyt-pXw/s320/Clapton_Pottery_Lamp_Mission_Motif.jpeg" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
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They don't list a price which to me says that it's probably more than I'm willing to pay, so I decided to try to make something similar. I found the brass lamp and paper shade in the top left photo at Target. I thought about buying a lamp with a mica shade there, but the reviews I read online said that the cheaper mica shades sometimes melted or caught fire so I decided against it! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9Qy4ra31D6TWgfLwGMe1W97zkXgAtGZI-whSj1P5ZzwyfAg3EAuiKTynpAxMAhp896gP73tuMnqTbdIiizunjBUG7SnORZjknTWMmje1ZOLyL-Yq4_AqPv6vH8hnV93l9CILOA/s1600/lamp_makeover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9Qy4ra31D6TWgfLwGMe1W97zkXgAtGZI-whSj1P5ZzwyfAg3EAuiKTynpAxMAhp896gP73tuMnqTbdIiizunjBUG7SnORZjknTWMmje1ZOLyL-Yq4_AqPv6vH8hnV93l9CILOA/s1600/lamp_makeover1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1</td></tr>
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Step 1: I taped and covered the parts of the lamp I didn't want painted, then gave it a couple coats of Krylon Primer in white.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T2mbVr0L7vhXll2GJPHadPiFlPDDCGpjCoYcJV-FPhK803IGHdIMu_6lRO-7r6vJNZaFaABjsrlScyelMT0GLL7OluMUa_TjI-2q8DDQsmqgCbel-KgPOueYn5bB-S0rD7JKOg/s1600/lamp_makeover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T2mbVr0L7vhXll2GJPHadPiFlPDDCGpjCoYcJV-FPhK803IGHdIMu_6lRO-7r6vJNZaFaABjsrlScyelMT0GLL7OluMUa_TjI-2q8DDQsmqgCbel-KgPOueYn5bB-S0rD7JKOg/s1600/lamp_makeover2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 2</td></tr>
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Step 2: After letting the primer dry, I gave the lamps several coats of Krylon Satin in Jade. I let them dry overnight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzHhsCTyaMP3gBP004FJpRlhpnD2oA-CsR80w7doKtiB8uOIBcdfyUAQTcKO0G_fS1US9R2QpqhA6j60__Ueb1SMcHEdDb5qIcQ21-cRPUKK9KCHn7UnFxXWtOS50PfK9W4nsKw/s1600/lamp_makeover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzHhsCTyaMP3gBP004FJpRlhpnD2oA-CsR80w7doKtiB8uOIBcdfyUAQTcKO0G_fS1US9R2QpqhA6j60__Ueb1SMcHEdDb5qIcQ21-cRPUKK9KCHn7UnFxXWtOS50PfK9W4nsKw/s1600/lamp_makeover3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 3</td></tr>
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Step 3: The spray painted color was okay, but I wanted it greener and I also wanted to give it some depth and texture. I tested out some mixing glaze on an old cookie tin and didn't like the way it looked. I ended up using watered-down acrylic paints and mixed my own color.<br />
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I dabbed the paint on to the lamp with a sponge then spread it around with a rag while wiping off the extra. It took practice to get an even coat. I screwed up the first time and ended up with an unfixable splotchy mess but I just spray-painted over it and tried again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQmBrh_kxUP2m2xthDveKDR2yfhFvHK7cgxFsc6Aq6lUxw6xlnZL6dkBjTudOkk1shlZpDaR0IX34JgI3PesaGzcyXmo_GYPlUIzMsc0EmjzxNL9FoXRQHhfLG9E7SM9oNQA-aQ/s1600/lamp_makeover4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQmBrh_kxUP2m2xthDveKDR2yfhFvHK7cgxFsc6Aq6lUxw6xlnZL6dkBjTudOkk1shlZpDaR0IX34JgI3PesaGzcyXmo_GYPlUIzMsc0EmjzxNL9FoXRQHhfLG9E7SM9oNQA-aQ/s1600/lamp_makeover4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 4</td></tr>
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Step 4: I added some touches of gold using Liquid Leaf metallic paint in Florentine Gold. Once it dried, I did a top coat of Valspar Perfect Finish clear sealer in Satin. I'm not 100% happy with the sealer as it gave the lamps a bumpy texture, but it's only noticeable to the touch and looks okay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GoH7noP5sgTnsuQ1uRNO8BtHt07hPEjMKnURWBn1P1zaQP2FBb4h7mHcRX_srkvmJMxSr71_CxKEy6FlirIoGFhohRCH5UwL5_xIozKL_Qk-ZGnmYOPDo6HYlvS63W9tSqcuDw/s1600/lamp_makeover5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GoH7noP5sgTnsuQ1uRNO8BtHt07hPEjMKnURWBn1P1zaQP2FBb4h7mHcRX_srkvmJMxSr71_CxKEy6FlirIoGFhohRCH5UwL5_xIozKL_Qk-ZGnmYOPDo6HYlvS63W9tSqcuDw/s1600/lamp_makeover5.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm still debating about the lampshade. It would be great to have a mica shade instead of paper but I doubt I will be able to find one that I can afford and that will fit the lamp. I would like to add ginkgo leaf details like in the Morris lamp, but I can't find a way to do it that looks good and will not be affected by the heat of the bulb. Acrylic paint gets soft with heat so that's out. I've experimented with stencils and ink on paper bags but I didn't like the way it turned out. I think decoupaging real or cut-out leaves on to the shade would look best but I don't know how well that would hold up with the heat from the lamp. I think I'll use the shades as they are for a while and see how I like them.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-35805898704747421222012-08-31T13:10:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:23:06.754-07:00Beary Jackson Amigurumi Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36f5NtRHs-MHy6QPwA-9n0Mj5E-15IxrT0vCxB7o4IMYtwVJwgz5zPIX2uWfvhDola9cAaTvYaBrhTJcIm7-rI9ROwJZM6mkjErBlRuXGvsGog37N0KA0tGY2OGXz1ILTL8lNtg/s1600/natalia_bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36f5NtRHs-MHy6QPwA-9n0Mj5E-15IxrT0vCxB7o4IMYtwVJwgz5zPIX2uWfvhDola9cAaTvYaBrhTJcIm7-rI9ROwJZM6mkjErBlRuXGvsGog37N0KA0tGY2OGXz1ILTL8lNtg/s1600/natalia_bear.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's the sixth bear I've made from the <a href="http://www.rheatheylia.com/index.php?page=patterns&id=12" target="_blank">Beary Jackson pattern</a> at <a href="http://www.rheatheylia.com/">Rheatheylia.com</a>. I don't have the time or the patience to make baby blankets for all the babies in my life, so this is a great alternative that only takes me about a day.<br />
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This time I went with a chunky yarn in an off-white (I threw away the yarn wrapper already so I don't have the name). I guess I forgot since the last time I made Beary that using a heavyweight yarn makes for a very large bear. I had to redo the head to make it smaller so I would have enough yarn to finish! I would recommend using no heavier than worsted weight yarn. My favorite yarn I've used so far was the Red Hearts Baby Teri I used on <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/08/yet-another-amigurumi-bear.html" target="_blank">this bear</a>. Unfortunately it's no longer being made and I haven't found a good replacement.<br />
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I'm torn about how to do the eyes and nose on the bear. On this bear and the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/04/big-blue-amigurumi-bear.html" target="_blank">one</a> before it, I embroidered on a fleece nose and eyes because it seems the less dangerous alternative to buttons or even safety eyes, which can easily be pulled out between loose crochet stitches. On the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2008/07/two-more-amigurumi-bears.html" target="_blank">first</a> <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2008/06/amigurumi-my-first-attempts-at-crochet.html" target="_blank">bears</a> I did the eyes and nose with embroidery only, which seems to work better on smaller bears. I'm not sure which option looks better.<br />
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<br />Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-90181597146798475662012-07-10T15:08:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:23:15.435-07:00Thor Puppy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW3ZlLcQhDuvFpEhKjc9_zWe27fI17AgAPidlDLz4dTmJb3cZUaFJjqSvcmPNxK8ZwR2VgZAA9851iRJGWz1RGAXR74QxcIakQPITcMS_rWOn8J17k2DkXNl7HKIuY9_zWai7Yg/s1600/thorpuppy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW3ZlLcQhDuvFpEhKjc9_zWe27fI17AgAPidlDLz4dTmJb3cZUaFJjqSvcmPNxK8ZwR2VgZAA9851iRJGWz1RGAXR74QxcIakQPITcMS_rWOn8J17k2DkXNl7HKIuY9_zWai7Yg/s320/thorpuppy1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My friend's son turned four today and I was invited to his party. When we asked about gifts, my friend said that he liked puppies and the movie <i>The Avengers</i>. I decided to combine the two and voila, we have Puppy Thor!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRB0uK1JtidmWyqZ51fT3C46iUCBNJM4s0oCSkz0aX1yMQfjnb8r4JT-IPJRfnn5fvlEdR7aoRtcLFUjgPkdQ5liLCQhk2Q9yxOERNd_IwzNx2fpsjxXqKG9mjEabC4Sq7uaKhQ/s1600/thorpuppy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRB0uK1JtidmWyqZ51fT3C46iUCBNJM4s0oCSkz0aX1yMQfjnb8r4JT-IPJRfnn5fvlEdR7aoRtcLFUjgPkdQ5liLCQhk2Q9yxOERNd_IwzNx2fpsjxXqKG9mjEabC4Sq7uaKhQ/s320/thorpuppy2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The stuffed dog is from <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hobbies/Games-Toys/Stuffed-Animals%7C/pc/104799780/c/104726880/sc/104610780/Plush-Labs/1145169.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhobbies-games-toys-stuffed-animals%2F_%2FN-1101391%2FNe-583%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104610780%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104799780%253Bcat104726880%26WTz_srn%3DBy%2BBrand%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104799780%3Bcat104726880%3Bcat104610780" target="_blank">Cabela's</a>. The outfit was made entirely by me. It took about three days of sewing to finish. I really didn't think it would take that long when I started!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zonYvXLaW8XD0ADl7u771U1VZVUleVqmp9IeqampkJlizZZYSWEAPnmVZQKLwuScVWriyAsl8ZU0G3zbpRpFaO7X2FHcdauYP_ONEw8TrBJEodF9k1IVXvF0j4RMCOujUJtqFw/s1600/thorpuppy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zonYvXLaW8XD0ADl7u771U1VZVUleVqmp9IeqampkJlizZZYSWEAPnmVZQKLwuScVWriyAsl8ZU0G3zbpRpFaO7X2FHcdauYP_ONEw8TrBJEodF9k1IVXvF0j4RMCOujUJtqFw/s320/thorpuppy3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I hand-drafted the pattern for the shirt. It's black pleather and, since it doesn't come off, I didn't bother lining it. The cape is satinette, gathered at the shoulders.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9zL-PKHnQMFwYSJUR7J0QglSv1p9Aje7-NT1o1SWXPU1oPpw1RhxBO1LPZxcB4wgdaUWTsLJIUPIOtKWbeazB47XzKLJW1Mgi0bz_QYM3OF7vQK_HiXCLPuk9pS1pCs2utu7Xg/s1600/thorpuppy5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9zL-PKHnQMFwYSJUR7J0QglSv1p9Aje7-NT1o1SWXPU1oPpw1RhxBO1LPZxcB4wgdaUWTsLJIUPIOtKWbeazB47XzKLJW1Mgi0bz_QYM3OF7vQK_HiXCLPuk9pS1pCs2utu7Xg/s320/thorpuppy5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The buttons are "cover buttons" and are covered with two layers of a semi-sheer silver fabric. I attempted to use the same silver fabric as the helmet but it tore when I tried to attach the button backs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisws8AsoRkfp2lRf3F8j7YeEWvviWH7R3zDNzzAFrlyuMi58OFxYuxeDgc_qf-_Ge8hYZDHO-rUuQQ2N7eASTns0yA0452mvqeJUID2-SYSHHE4vQdeusi91vgpXHNlePojmMiuw/s1600/thorpuppy6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisws8AsoRkfp2lRf3F8j7YeEWvviWH7R3zDNzzAFrlyuMi58OFxYuxeDgc_qf-_Ge8hYZDHO-rUuQQ2N7eASTns0yA0452mvqeJUID2-SYSHHE4vQdeusi91vgpXHNlePojmMiuw/s320/thorpuppy6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the back of the shirt, underneath the red cape. You can see the decorative top-stitching well here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O5VQ2Rjq0DS433UAvInaBvz4oxnlCcr2vNcTB57hf43ZiqQbp8zG3L0YMEjlxzetB9iZ3TcZcBKTvq-j6mKXeNCv1GDIxNIxruJ9vBlZ0eSqpt57mCp4maJyQrArQ819mMWk-Q/s1600/thorpuppy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O5VQ2Rjq0DS433UAvInaBvz4oxnlCcr2vNcTB57hf43ZiqQbp8zG3L0YMEjlxzetB9iZ3TcZcBKTvq-j6mKXeNCv1GDIxNIxruJ9vBlZ0eSqpt57mCp4maJyQrArQ819mMWk-Q/s320/thorpuppy4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The helmet is silver foil pleather. It is very fiddly to work with and the silver part tears easily. I started with a child's <a href="http://www.yakityak.com/YakKippahPattern.pdf" target="_blank">yarmulke pattern on Yakityak.com</a> and shrunk it 75%. I added the point at the front, the cone on the top, the wing side-shields and some elastic to keep it on Puppy Thor's head. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIOdLEjEAsvkQ5IsC8v6uBUpu11ZB8hZYh_pnJqIJTIYK5UeQBHl6SDmFvoUC_gGF5W0osJ_A-0hPjHj_MyUp1Zp2dTsIfhMlLbkPEwPDWZhoToTVv8JRxdpa1EGJA0IDlUnqJw/s1600/thorpuppy7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIOdLEjEAsvkQ5IsC8v6uBUpu11ZB8hZYh_pnJqIJTIYK5UeQBHl6SDmFvoUC_gGF5W0osJ_A-0hPjHj_MyUp1Zp2dTsIfhMlLbkPEwPDWZhoToTVv8JRxdpa1EGJA0IDlUnqJw/s320/thorpuppy7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got lucky and found a half-scale <a href="http://tektonten.blogspot.com/2008/11/mjolnir-thors-hammer.html" target="_blank">papercraft version of Thor's hammer</a> on Tektonten Papercraft's blog which I was able to modify as a sewing pattern. I also shortened the handle an inch or two to make it more in scale with the dog.<br />
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I was very sad to have to give Puppy Thor away, but his new owner seemed very happy to have him!Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-51092429728404996092012-06-07T11:30:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:23:23.658-07:00South Park Doll: Kenny and Mysterion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHGbXPSfuQ4fMBpDkDwa7XPLAuWVynxVaRCl2QBQ2T53E093owvTzqLk_RE00K_Fu5nDXGP1Ilgy6KHeSHyvztdVE9l_q4m0VaEmyMF_09XM29mTbx5Nq1Dp9SfrehcOxUhCbWw/s1600/kenny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHGbXPSfuQ4fMBpDkDwa7XPLAuWVynxVaRCl2QBQ2T53E093owvTzqLk_RE00K_Fu5nDXGP1Ilgy6KHeSHyvztdVE9l_q4m0VaEmyMF_09XM29mTbx5Nq1Dp9SfrehcOxUhCbWw/s1600/kenny1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny McCormick from South Park</td></tr>
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Here's the felt doll I made of Kenny McCormick from South Park. I got tired of waiting for the family photography expert to take some photos, so we'll have to make due with ones I took.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz03xtURVsPZx853w7hxFx6J8tLq80nLT4A7FisH2hUzxVgLFQOmZjSALkA5dqFh5HbBOHOr-94BSFoAM5roo6gpEsB_sQ5BuF15Z-NIxTTjByeIZNwambqJ3Mvyr3fi4pOmtnhg/s1600/Mysterion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz03xtURVsPZx853w7hxFx6J8tLq80nLT4A7FisH2hUzxVgLFQOmZjSALkA5dqFh5HbBOHOr-94BSFoAM5roo6gpEsB_sQ5BuF15Z-NIxTTjByeIZNwambqJ3Mvyr3fi4pOmtnhg/s320/Mysterion.png" height="320" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mysterion</td></tr>
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I'm sure most people know Kenny as the guy in the orange parka, but he also has a secret super hero identity - Mysterion. His super power? He can't die.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIThEXqTfJ0IgXz9laG7Pzmg7mWVP5s9EwJGaXfyxFwTpDFnA_wfmR3_ce7sHWSZLYz9tYllVT01eUyI6gXO10NNkvH_-U6VgQlV7XlH_j-tGVdtYiFLrID4qkD1GuM0druGYYiw/s1600/kenny_mysterion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIThEXqTfJ0IgXz9laG7Pzmg7mWVP5s9EwJGaXfyxFwTpDFnA_wfmR3_ce7sHWSZLYz9tYllVT01eUyI6gXO10NNkvH_-U6VgQlV7XlH_j-tGVdtYiFLrID4qkD1GuM0druGYYiw/s1600/kenny_mysterion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny's superhero identity, Mysterion</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Up until a few years ago I would've said Kyle was my favorite kid from South Park, but after the introduction of Mysterion I've switched my favoritism to Kenny. Mysterion is just too awesome!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GU7GnR0TGWJEClePNt3-XGKTkeWStlA7H-OizOueJdc27TxOF3AArMae2qXERPov67teFpKYpq3RVS32f1QZx43DbRyMFFPACyNGjDTepBmkwXX_XTMYywS6dO4awFrVpgY9JA/s1600/kenny3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GU7GnR0TGWJEClePNt3-XGKTkeWStlA7H-OizOueJdc27TxOF3AArMae2qXERPov67teFpKYpq3RVS32f1QZx43DbRyMFFPACyNGjDTepBmkwXX_XTMYywS6dO4awFrVpgY9JA/s1600/kenny3.jpg" /></a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny without his hood</td></tr>
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Since I was making Kenny's outfit changeable, I wanted to show his face too. Because I had to fit his hair in under his hoods, I couldn't give him as much as he has in the show.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IiqnpDChwVtLVtWOECQOwHCdCebyX5HkpjHyUiSeW_4-bvYkP1dNdQsySNYbSH1xsXvQctHXQDTbKJCEFgveEYcaj31-mgJUb3NmVsUSZiHX72eyR5-Wc18qLtRP_DmhEY89Og/s1600/kenny2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IiqnpDChwVtLVtWOECQOwHCdCebyX5HkpjHyUiSeW_4-bvYkP1dNdQsySNYbSH1xsXvQctHXQDTbKJCEFgveEYcaj31-mgJUb3NmVsUSZiHX72eyR5-Wc18qLtRP_DmhEY89Og/s1600/kenny2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny's base body</td></tr>
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This is what the doll looks like without the removable pieces. When his orange parka is on only the orange pants are visible and when he's wearing his Mysterion boots the orange pants are covered up. I'm not super happy with the way his chin puckers, but it was the best I could do.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIlOMJGcoRklZ_Xcnu1bHrtIErZW2SfBdJ6PAWIMRlaulRbtRDlk3iXb-eCPdOACDpwqhUtrydwi-RVQHpQsEk2QYGzin12WO6bnGtEanay_SSZBrFaGC4emX18PrQpX0VoXstQ/s1600/kenny_outfits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIlOMJGcoRklZ_Xcnu1bHrtIErZW2SfBdJ6PAWIMRlaulRbtRDlk3iXb-eCPdOACDpwqhUtrydwi-RVQHpQsEk2QYGzin12WO6bnGtEanay_SSZBrFaGC4emX18PrQpX0VoXstQ/s1600/kenny_outfits.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The removable pieces</td></tr>
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Below are my drawings that I used as a pattern to make the doll. See my <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/02/it-crowd-dolls-moss-jen-and-roy.html" target="_blank">IT Crowd Dolls</a> for more information on how I make these dolls.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhhhyphenhyphen-Fe2GQfai0rYAv4IUjZGhUKOCKhBEL7nLtnFCotILnsyC4W7P8Lza7WRHRkvRceXPLvgR7lbV3Rh6vKLOEGhbm9_E0JbtUdFomXUdpJpksYeAsAwCEmz5S3UTsE1TUwKCw/s1600/kenny_hood_drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhhhyphenhyphen-Fe2GQfai0rYAv4IUjZGhUKOCKhBEL7nLtnFCotILnsyC4W7P8Lza7WRHRkvRceXPLvgR7lbV3Rh6vKLOEGhbm9_E0JbtUdFomXUdpJpksYeAsAwCEmz5S3UTsE1TUwKCw/s1600/kenny_hood_drawing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Parka</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOeFW2qJdaTkzPLLIZaMTtBv-wcMOdhTn0svhX6NPxbgsd6OkuThdv2aNA2bROlW8OqPLYU7D5UhINcwejcSFsTm0AXZ_0Kl-sMtCLGOIG-8SMmpbgp1KpdzSWqQi4OoC8X85ng/s1600/mysterion_drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOeFW2qJdaTkzPLLIZaMTtBv-wcMOdhTn0svhX6NPxbgsd6OkuThdv2aNA2bROlW8OqPLYU7D5UhINcwejcSFsTm0AXZ_0Kl-sMtCLGOIG-8SMmpbgp1KpdzSWqQi4OoC8X85ng/s1600/mysterion_drawing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mysterion</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5_oQjy6P5L48G4J0KTJYuqqagVrKi9k4iaqsR5-2SnLxXj5D2yA2MK291AXaM_TwMK9d59q1J-pNEX9ux4gaD2gv3n4XOUpcIYB0ujrvGY1x01zQ9evuje5tx9F_RyoKnxZvfQ/s1600/kenny_drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5_oQjy6P5L48G4J0KTJYuqqagVrKi9k4iaqsR5-2SnLxXj5D2yA2MK291AXaM_TwMK9d59q1J-pNEX9ux4gaD2gv3n4XOUpcIYB0ujrvGY1x01zQ9evuje5tx9F_RyoKnxZvfQ/s1600/kenny_drawing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base Body</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-75362475063950551302012-05-10T13:39:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:24:05.986-07:00Updates: House-Buying, Saguaro, Blanket, Doll and More<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=saguaro2012.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/saguaro2012.jpg" /></a></div>
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I don't usually do updates but there are a few little things I feel like I should mention so... I'm going to mention them!<br />
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<b>House-Buying Update:</b> We are still <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/03/on-hiatus-again.html" target="_blank">buying a house</a> but its going to take longer than we thought. Expect not to hear anything from me for a couple months this fall while we move.<br />
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<b>My Texas Saguaro: </b>I visited my parents last month and took another photo of the saguaro cactus in their yard (above). It's still growing like crazy (previous pictures are <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/09/my-texas-saguaro-two-years-later.html" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
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<b>Pixel Art Blanket:</b> I've got two or three more rows finished on the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/02/what-am-i-making.html" target="_blank">Mario blanket,</a> but not enough to bother posting a photo. I have made a video that shows the method I'm using to attach the granny squares to the blanket as they are made (instead of sewing them together afterward) but I don't know if I should post it now or wait until the whole thing is finished.<br />
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<b><i>South Park</i> Felt Doll:</b> I've made a felt doll of Kenny from <i>South Park, </i>like the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/02/it-crowd-dolls-moss-jen-and-roy.html" target="_blank">IT Crowd dolls</a> I made a few months ago. Kenny's hood comes off so his face can be seen and there is an alternate Mysterion costume (Mysterion is Kenny's superhero alter-ego). I need to get my husband to take some good photos of him and then I can do a post.<br />
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<b>Special Project That May or May Not Happen: </b>I've been asked to do a project that has me incredibly excited, but at this moment I'm not sure if it's actually going to happen. I would feel silly if I posted about it and then nothing ever happened, so I'm going to force myself to wait until I know for sure. So if it does happen, you'll hear about it ASAP. But if I never mention it again, you can assume it fell through. Fingers crossed that it doesn't!Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-63715761431157845102012-03-12T17:00:00.002-07:002014-03-01T08:24:18.651-07:00On Hiatus Again<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/fireplace_before.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> <a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=fireplace_after.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/fireplace_after.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Fireplace, before and after</div>
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My fingers are crossed that by the time this posts, our house in Arizona will be one hundred percent no longer ours. It was a nice little house and we were finally getting it the way we liked it (see above) when the move happened. I hope the buyers will enjoy it as much as we did, and that they don't hate my choices in paint colors!<br />
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Now that it has sold, that means it's time for us to find a place to live in Salt Lake City (and get out of this %$#@ apartment!). The amount of options here compared to where we lived in Arizona is frankly overwhelming. There are 15 towns/suburbs that are in a comfortable commuting distance from my husband's office and according to <a href="http://www.zillow.com/" target="_blank">Zillow</a>, there are about 1500 houses in those areas in our price range. It's hard to even know where to start!<br />
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All these big decisions we have to make and another move that has to happen means that over the next few months I will have absolutely no time or brain power left to devote to blogging. Instead of feeling bad about my blogs languishing alone and unloved, I'm going to put them on hiatus for a few months until things get back to somewhat normal. But if you need anything, feel free to leave a comment or contact me - I'll still be around.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-46259896318654961682012-02-25T11:51:00.002-07:002014-03-01T08:24:31.131-07:00What Am I Making?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=what_is_it.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/what_is_it.jpg" /></a></div>
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Let's play a game - it's called, "What in the Heck is Cat Making Now?" Look at the photo above and see if you can figure out what I'm making. Yes, those are granny squares but it's not your typical granny square blanket. So what is it? The only hint I'll give is that I've completed six out of twenty-seven rows, and the bottom row in the picture will be the bottom row in the blanket.</div>
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Leave your guesses in the comments and if I've already told you what it is, please keep it to yourself. If no one gets it, I'll continue to post more photos of my progress until someone figures it out.</div>
Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-47992446948740276292012-02-09T16:50:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:24:59.733-07:00IT Crowd Dolls: Moss, Jen and Roy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=group_doll1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/group_doll1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss, Jen and Roy Dolls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=group1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/group1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss, Jen and Roy from <i>The IT Crowd</i></td></tr>
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Back in January I made a felt <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/01/doll-maurice-moss-from-it-crowd.html" target="_blank">doll</a> of Moss from the British sitcom <i>The IT Crowd</i> and now I've made his office mates Jen and Roy. The dolls are "cute" versions of the characters (the geek part of me wants to use the anime terms "chibi" or "super deformed"). I got my husband to use his fancy camera to take a bunch of glamor shots of them for me. Scroll down past the photos for construction information.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_doll1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_doll1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maurice Moss. It's hard to see, but he even has wrinkly socks made out of panty hose.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_doll2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_doll2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=jen_doll1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/jen_doll1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen Barber, with the too-small red shoes she squeezed her feet in to in "Calamity Jen."</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=jen_doll2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/jen_doll2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=roy_doll3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/roy_doll3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy Trenneman, who always needs a shave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=roy_doll2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/roy_doll2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I used a very simple method to make these dolls.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>How I made the pattern:</b></div>
<ul>
<li>I started with a blank doll body and sketched the clothes, hair and face on to it by hand.</li>
<li>I scanned the drawing in to the computer, cleaned it up and colored it, then used the color drawing as my pattern.</li>
<li>I had to do a little bit of adjusting to make the clothes fit over the stuffed body (usually just scaling them up a few percentage points on the computer) and the shoes required their own patterns, which I have included below.</li>
</ul>
<b>How I sewed the doll: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>I used a whip stitch for all of the stitches.</li>
<li>The fabric was sheets of synthetic felt, available for around thirty cents a sheet from most craft stores.</li>
<li>Roy's stubble and the stripes on Moss' shirt were drawn with colored permanent markers.</li>
<li>Using the blank doll pattern, I cut out the body from two pieces of felt. I embroidered the face on, attached the eyes then sewed the two pieces together around the edges, leaving the top of the head unsewed. I stuffed the body.</li>
<li>I cut out the hair and sewed it to the head, stuffed the head, then sewed everything closed.</li>
<li>I cut out the clothes from felt, added any details and sewed them on over the body. They're not removable.</li>
<li>I made the shoes using the patterns below. Originally I tried to make the shoes flat like the rest of the clothes, but they didn't look right. After a lot of experimenting I came up with the sneakers and high heels patterns below.</li>
</ul>
Here are the drawings I used as patterns, the blank body patterns and the shoe patterns.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_color1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_color1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss drawing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=jen_color.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/jen_color.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen drawing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=roy_color.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/roy_color.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy drawing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=body-tall.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/body-tall.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blank body - male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=female_body_blank.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/female_body_blank.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blank body - female</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=shoe_pattern3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/shoe_pattern3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneaker pattern (sew together the two sides marked "sew" then sew the sole to the shoe)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=jen_shoe_pattern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/jen_shoe_pattern.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High-heeled shoe pattern (sew the toe and the back together, sew the sole to the bottom of the shoe then sew the top of the heel to the bottom of the sole) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
I hope to make dolls of two more characters, Douglas and Richmond, at some point, but it is very likely we'll be moving in the next few months so we'll see how soon I get around to it.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-11189414803212058242012-02-01T16:43:00.001-07:002019-05-29T13:34:35.925-07:00Amigurumi Nativity: Crocheted Angel Pattern<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIJunrV8WpL5HApPJnNiNEgYgiOK6uMTRo6hiwEDcWU7HsyEFDh7ttwrLzvnFTa-YmPPH6ozjchSMBpciAWZ2UBbx7OVbXbP1Rppm3EHYaxAkHzyONry-tszO8wtL1n84l8CRig/s1600/angel2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="640" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIJunrV8WpL5HApPJnNiNEgYgiOK6uMTRo6hiwEDcWU7HsyEFDh7ttwrLzvnFTa-YmPPH6ozjchSMBpciAWZ2UBbx7OVbXbP1Rppm3EHYaxAkHzyONry-tszO8wtL1n84l8CRig/s320/angel2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab0T_IHQgowuy8FolVpC8oNNaGB9GqCtzYtmVEmq7-2lHbCsv_Wj5vn-OxpIuiHv-uncYipT6u65tqd5sp_aihMzF96EgTwgzilkBex8KNeSd4k-ggV39fvf2yKeykfqN2QdXbg/s1600/angel3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab0T_IHQgowuy8FolVpC8oNNaGB9GqCtzYtmVEmq7-2lHbCsv_Wj5vn-OxpIuiHv-uncYipT6u65tqd5sp_aihMzF96EgTwgzilkBex8KNeSd4k-ggV39fvf2yKeykfqN2QdXbg/s320/angel3.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
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<br />
Here are the previous nativity patterns: <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-mary-and.html" target="_blank">Mary and baby Jesus</a>, <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-joseph.html" target="_blank">Joseph</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Angel Amigurumi Pattern</b><br />
<br />
<b>Notes on this pattern:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><strong></strong>My patterns are free and may not be sold. Please
do not reproduce or repost patterns or instructions from
CraftyCattery.com without my permission. For information on selling
items created from my patterns, please view the <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2005/01/contact-me.html">FAQ</a>.</li>
<li>Most of this pattern is continuous crochet and there are a few color changes. The wings are crocheted flat.</li>
<li>I like to make all the accessories first so they are ready to be sewed on when I make the body. That's why they're listed first in the pattern.</li>
<li>The finished size of the figure is 5 inches.</li>
</ul>
<b>Materials needed:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Bulky weight yarn in a flesh color, white (for body and wings) and brown (for hair). I used Lion Brand Jiffy. Optional: you can also a fluffy or feathery white yarn for the wings.</li>
<li>Optional: gold embroidery floss (for decoration on sleeves)</li>
<li>Wired gold cord or floral wire and unwired gold cord (for the halo)</li>
<li>Thread that matches the hair color</li>
<li>Size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook</li>
<li>Yarn needle</li>
<li>Stuffing</li>
<li>Optional: Bean bag plastic pellets. Putting some of these in the bottom of the Joseph figure can help it balance better. Make sure the pellets are large enough that they won't work their way through the crochet stitches. Pellets are not recommended if small children may have access to the figure.</li>
</ul>
<b>Abbreviations used in this pattern: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Rnd = round, when doing continuous crochet</li>
<li>Row = row, when doing flat crochet</li>
<li>sc = single crochet</li>
<li>st = stitch</li>
<li>sts = stitches</li>
<li>ch = chain</li>
<li>slp st = slip stitch </li>
<li>sc2tog = single crochet two stitches together, aka a decrease. (I recommend using <a href="http://falwyn.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/invdectutorial/">falwyn's invisible decrease</a>.) sc3tog = single crochet three stitches together.</li>
</ul>
<b>The pattern:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Angel's Hair</b><br />
Use spiral crochet with the brown (hair color) yarn to make the wig cap:<br />
Rnd 1: 6 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] six times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] six times (30 sts).<br />
Go to my <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/08/how-to-make-amigurumi-hair-wig-method.html" target="_blank">amigurumi wig instruction page</a> and follow Steps 2-5 to add hair to the wig cap.<br />
<br />
<b>Angel's Wings </b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cHVfXtTiBkM" width="560"></iframe></div>
<br />
Make two. Crocheted flat using white yarn (the same yarn as the body or the optional fluffy/feathery yarn). Leave a long tail at the start to use to sew the wing to the body.<br />
Row 1: ch 9. sc in second chain from hook. sc in each chain 7 more times (for a total of 8 sts).<br />
Row 2: ch 2. sc in second chain from hook. sc 7 (for a total of 8 sts). ch 1 and turn.<br />
Row 3: sc 5. slp st 1 and turn.<br />
Row 4: *sc 4. ch 1 and turn.<br />
Row 5: sc 4. slp st 1 in earlier row and turn.<br />
Row 6: *sc 3. ch 1 and turn.<br />
Row 7: sc 3. slp st 1 in earlier row. Bind off, leaving long tail to sew to body.<br />
<br />
* When doing a single crochet after a slip stitch, do not do the single crochet in the slip stitch. Instead, skip over the slip stitch and do it in the next single crochet (see video).<br />
<br />
<b>Angel's Arm</b><br />
Make two using spiral crochet. Begin with flesh color:<br />
Rnd 1: 4 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (4 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] two times (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: sc around (6 sts).<br />
Color change to white:<br />
Rnd 4: sc around (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] three times (9 sts).<br />
Rnd 6: sc around (9 sts).<br />
Rnd 7: sc around (9 sts).<br />
Rnd 8: sc around (9 sts).<br />
Rnd 9: sc around (9 sts).<br />
Rnd 10: sc around (9 sts).<br />
Bind off, leaving tail to use to sew arm to body. If desired, used gold embroidery floss to decorate the sleeves. Stuff arm.<br />
<br />
<b>Angel's Head and Body</b><br />
Using spiral crochet. Beginning with flesh color:<br />
Rnd 1: 6 sc in <a href="http://crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx">magic ring</a> (6 sts).<br />
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc 1] six times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc 2] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] six times (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 6: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 7: sc around (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 8: [sc2tog, sc 3] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 9: [sc2tog, sc 2] six times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 10: [sc2tog, sc 1] six times (12 sts).<br />
Color change to white:<br />
Rnd 11: sc around (12 sts).<br />
Rnd 12: [2 sc in next st, sc 3] three times (15 sts).<br />
Rnd 13: [2 sc in next st, sc 4] three times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 14: [2 sc in next st, sc 5] three times (21 sts).<br />
Rnd 15: [2 sc in next st, sc 6] three times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 16: [2 sc in next st, sc 7] three times (27 sts).<br />
Rnd 17: [2 sc in next st, sc 8] three times (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 18: [2 sc in next st, sc 9] three times (33 sts).<br />
Rnd 19: sc around (33 sts).<br />
Rnd 20: [2 sc in next st, sc 10] three times (36 sts).<br />
Rnd 21: sc around (36 sts).<br />
Rnd 22: sc around (36 sts).<br />
Stuff the head. Sew the wig to the head (see Step 6 <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/08/how-to-make-amigurumi-hair-wig-method.html" target="_blank">here</a>). Sew arms to body underneath head. Sew wings behind arms. Stuff the upper part of body (stuffing it partially now is easier than trying to stuff the whole thing as you are closing it up).<br />
Rnd 23: [sc2tog, sc 4] six times (30 sts).<br />
Rnd 24: [sc2tog, sc 3] six times (24 sts).<br />
Rnd 25: [sc2tog, sc 2] six times (18 sts).<br />
Rnd 26: [sc2tog, sc 1] six times (12 sts).<br />
Stuff the rest of the body. Add plastic bean bag pellets if desired.<br />
Rnd 27: [sc2tog] six times (6 sts).<br />
Bind off, closing hole and weaving in tail.<br />
<br />
<b>Halo</b><br />
Step 1 if you <b>do not</b> have wired gold cord: cut a 9 inch length of regular gold cord and a 11 inch length of floral wire. Run the floral wire through the middle of the gold cord until one inch of the wire is exposed on either end of the cord. Go to Step 2.<br />
Step 1 if you <b>do</b> have wired gold cord: Cut an 11 inch length. Remove an inch of the cord from each end, leaving the wire exposed.<br />
Step 2: If needed, use glue or Fray Check to keep the raw ends of the cord from unraveling.<br />
Step 3: Holding the ends together, twist about two inches away from the ends to create a circle. Twist all the way down to the wire ends.<br />
<br />
<b>Final Construction</b><br />
Trim and style hair. Place halo on head by sticking the bare ends of the wire into the head. If desired, sew the angel's hands together in prayer. Pair with Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus and enjoy your nativity!Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-13831415449036149442012-01-16T19:01:00.002-07:002014-03-01T08:25:19.255-07:00Doll: Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss from <i>The IT Crowd</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>(Update 2/9/12: I've made <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2012/02/it-crowd-dolls-moss-jen-and-roy.html" target="_blank">Jen and Roy</a> dolls too!)</i><br />
<br />
I have to admit that I didn't like the British sitcom, <i>The IT Crowd</i>, the first time I watched it. Actually, I didn't like it the second time either. It took three tries for me to get in to it, but once I did I was in love. </div>
<br />
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_pic2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_pic2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_pic4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_pic4.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Moss, a geek who still lives with his mom, is my favorite character from the show. He's naive, sweet and not at all embarrassed by his geekiness. This is one of my favorite scenes from the show:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BF2svZ-mlPk" width="560"></iframe></div>
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To make the doll, I drew a picture of what I wanted (below) and then just winged it. There wasn't really a pattern beyond that. If I could do it again, I'd make his pants a bit higher-waisted but other than that I am very happy with it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=moss_color1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/moss_color1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The only real change I made from the pattern was his shoes - I tried to follow the pattern in the photo above but it just didn't look right. Here's what I came up with instead:<br />
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=shoe_pattern2.jpg" target="_blank"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=shoe_pattern3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/shoe_pattern3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
To make the shoe I sewed the two edges marked "sew" together, turned it inside out and then sewed the sole to the bottom.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to make your own doll, here's a blank body you can use as a starting point:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=doll_blank1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/doll_blank1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd like to make dolls of Roy, Jen and Douglas from the show too. We'll have to see if I get around to it.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-40869949297743302072012-01-06T14:14:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:25:40.094-07:00Update: Free Pattern for Anatomy Doll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/doll2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/doll2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I've put together a free pattern for the anatomy doll I made a few years ago. You can find the link to the PDF at the top of the original <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/10/anatomy-doll.html" target="_blank">Anatomy Doll post</a>.Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-52221494020010082992011-12-06T08:33:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:25:53.671-07:00Free Christmas Craft Instructions 2011I thought I'd do a quick post reviewing the Christmas craft instructions and patterns from The Crafty Cattery. If you're looking for gifts to make for yourself or someone else, consider these!<br />
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<a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/joseph2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/joseph2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Amigurumi Nativity Crochet Pattern.</b> So far it's just <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-mary-and.html" target="_blank">Mary and baby Jesus</a> and <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/01/amigurumi-nativity-crocheted-joseph.html" target="_blank">Joseph</a> but I plan to release a new pattern each year for another figure in the Nativity. </div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/11/advent-calendar-part-3-complete.html"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/cathy_calendar1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/11/advent-calendar-part-3-complete.html">Felt Advent Calendar.</a> </b>Includes instructions for making the calendar and ornaments. No patterns for the ornaments, unfortunately. You're on your own with those!</div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/quick-hanging-christmas-card-holder.html"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/cathy_cardholder02.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/quick-hanging-christmas-card-holder.html">Christmas Card Holder.</a> </b>Instructions for making a very simple string and clothespin card holder.</div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/peppermint-felt-christmas-tree-skirt.html"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/cathy_tree_skirt1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/peppermint-felt-christmas-tree-skirt.html">Peppermint Felt Tree Skirt.</a> </b>Instructions for making a simple tree skirt.</div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/furoshiki-japanese-cloth-gift-wrap.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/cathy_furoshiki1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Instructions for <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/12/furoshiki-japanese-cloth-gift-wrap.html" target="_blank">furoshiki</a>, the Japanese art of wrapping gifts in cloth. Great for reducing wrapping paper waste.<br />
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<b>Not really Christmas themed but these still make good gifts:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2008/08/crochet-pattern-amigurumi-wolf.html"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/wolf1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2008/08/crochet-pattern-amigurumi-wolf.html">Big Bad Wolf Amigurumi Pattern.</a></b> Crochet a little friend for the wolf lover in your life!<br />
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/06/knitted-saguaro-cactus-pattern-for.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/cactus1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
For, um... that person who always wanted a <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/06/knitted-saguaro-cactus-pattern-for.html" target="_blank">knitted saguaro cactus keychain</a>?<br />
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<a href="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/baby_sweater1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/baby_sweater1.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
Instructions for a crocheted <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/02/single-crochet-kimono-style-baby.html" target="_blank">kimono-style baby sweater</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/03/office-paper-doll-michael-scott-with.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/michael2_web.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/06/new-office-paper-doll-creed-bratton.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/creed_paper_doll.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/09/new-office-paper-doll-kelly-kapoor.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/Kelly_kapoor_web.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a><a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/03/office-paper-doll-michael-scott-with.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/michael1_web.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/03/office-paper-dolls.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/standees.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Printable Office paper dolls.</b> Free PDF paper dolls of <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/03/office-paper-doll-michael-scott-with.html" target="_blank">Michael Scott with desk</a>, <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/03/office-paper-dolls.html">Dwight, Pam, Jim,</a> <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2011/09/new-office-paper-doll-kelly-kapoor.html" target="_blank">Kelly</a> and <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2010/06/new-office-paper-doll-creed-bratton.html">Creed</a>. Make great stocking stuffers!</div>
Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-61665131142325937852011-11-29T14:16:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:26:17.993-07:00My Five-Year Craft Blogging Anniversary<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5396/jacksparrowpumpkin2ne6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5396/jacksparrowpumpkin2ne6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first craft post</td></tr>
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With all the craziness of <a href="http://www.catcarlisle.com/search/label/NaNoWriMo" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> this month, I missed my five-year craft blogging anniversary on November 14th. I will have to go buy myself something made of wood (the 5th anniversary gift) to celebrate!<br />
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I counted it up and discovered that I have made 128 posts over those five years. It doesn't seem like much, but I never set out to be a high-capacity blogger. My goal with The Crafty Cattery has been to make every post useful (or at the very least, interesting) and I think I've accomplished that goal.<br />
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If you're curious, my <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2006/11/jack-sparrow-pumpkin.html" target="_blank">first post</a> was instructions for carving a pumpkin using a real photo, which I did with Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean (as you can see in the photo above).Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-15371670283839221172011-11-18T08:12:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:26:34.680-07:00Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation Paper Dolls by Kyle Hilton<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=gob_ron_swanson.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/gob_ron_swanson.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who would win in a fight: Gob Bluth or Ron Swanson? (Ron, obviously!)</td></tr>
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I thought I'd take a break from <a href="http://www.catcarlisle.com/search/label/NaNoWriMo" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> to let others like me, who enjoy paper dolls based on TV shows, about <a href="http://kylehilton.com/" target="_blank">Kyle Hilton</a>. Kyle has made several dozen <a href="http://kylehilton.com/BreakingBad1.html" target="_blank">free printable paper dolls</a> from shows such as <a href="http://kylehilton.com/ArrestedDevelopment1.html" target="_blank">Arrested Development</a> and <a href="http://kylehilton.com/ParksandRecreation1.html" target="_blank">Parks and Recreation</a>. I also noticed that he has The Office paper dolls listed as "coming soon." He's an amazing artist so I can't wait to see them!<br />
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And, on a not unrelated note, if you haven't seen my Office paper dolls yet, here they are all in one place:<br />
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<a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/03/office-paper-dolls.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/standees.jpg" /><br />
Dwight, Michael, Pam, and Jim Paper Dolls (no accessories)</a></div>
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<a href="http://dmi-ypsilanti.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/37935958/michael_scott_doll.pdf"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/michael1_web.jpg" /> <img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/michael2_web.jpg" /><br />
Michael Scott Paper Doll with desk (PDF)</a></div>
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<a href="http://dmi-ypsilanti.pbworks.com/f/creed_paper_doll.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/creed_web.jpg" /><br />
Creed Bratton Paper Doll (PDF)</a><br />
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<a href="http://dmi-ypsilanti.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/45001388/Kelly_Kapoor.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/Kelly_kapoor_web.jpg" /><br />
Kelly Kapoor Paper Doll PDF </a></div>
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Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-10007211690512221952011-11-05T15:24:00.000-07:002014-03-01T08:28:36.992-07:00National Novel Writing Month<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/Cat%20Carlisle/?action=view&current=dl_cover_small.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/Cat%20Carlisle/dl_cover_small.jpg" /></a><br />
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It's <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">National Novel Writing Month</a> again, which means I won't be doing much crafting (though I do have a mystery crochet project I'll share some work-in-progress photos of soon!). You can <a href="http://www.catcarlisle.com/search/label/NaNoWriMo">follow my progress on my other blog, CatCarlisle.com</a>.</div>
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One of the most fun time-wasting (but also crafty!) parts of writing is coming up with titles and mock covers - you can see this year's attempt above. <b>Based just on the title and cover, what do you think my story is about?</b> Post your guesses in the comments. I'm curious to see what you all think!</div>
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Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-47810711053621936452011-11-01T19:55:00.001-07:002014-03-01T08:28:49.738-07:00Shrek Puss In Boots Costume<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=pussinboots_blog.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/pussinboots_blog.jpg" /></a></div>
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My only opportunity for dressing up this Halloween was at a friends "Trunk or Treat" event (that's where you trick or treat out of the trunk of your car). She and her husband were going as Shrek and Fiona so I decided to throw together a Puss in Boots costume. It only took me an afternoon and I think it could be easily adapted to put together a costume for a child. Here's what I did:</div>
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<b>Hat</b> - Purchased from a costume store. I sewed one side up and stuck in a yellow feather (you can't really see it in this picture). I also sewed on felt cat ears, though in the cartoon you don't actually see Puss' ears when he's wearing his hat.</div>
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<b>Shirt</b> - I got a cheap orange sweatshirt and used iron on adhesive to attach a yellow fleece patch to the chest and yellow stripes to the arms. It probably won't hold up to machine washing, but I only needed it to last for a night. The black cape was borrowed from an old costume belonging to my friend's child.</div>
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<b>Gloves</b> - I sewed peach "paw pads" on to some fuzzy white gloves. In the movies Puss often wears over-sized black leather gloves so those could be substituted.</div>
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<b>Belt and Tail </b>- The belt was my husband's, the sword was purchased from a costume store. To make the tail, I cut a long strip of the yellow fleece I used for the stripes on the shirt and used iron on adhesive to attach stripes of brown felt. I folded the fleece so the stripes were on the inside and sewed it shut, leaving one of the short ends open and rounding the other. I trimmed the edges, turned it right side out, stuffed it then sewed it to the belt.</div>
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<b>Pants and Boots</b> - The pants are khakis and the boots are left over from my <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2007/11/jack-aubrey-costume.html">Jack Aubrey costume</a>.</div>
Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14941667.post-58904637681065084342011-09-29T13:20:00.002-07:002014-03-01T08:29:02.068-07:00My Texas Saguaro: Two Years Later<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>(This was supposed to be posted here two days ago but somehow I managed to post it on my <a href="http://www.catcarlisle.com/">writing blog</a> instead. Oops! Apparently I'm not too good at juggling two blogs.) </i></b></div>
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I went back to Texas for another visit a few weeks ago and got a chance to check up on <a href="http://www.craftycattery.com/2009/04/my-texas-saguaro.html">the saguaro</a> in my parent's backyard. My how it's grown!<br />
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Here's how tall it was in 2009:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=saguaro5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/saguaro5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a few inches short of the fence line</td></tr>
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In 2010:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=saguaro2010_small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/saguaro2010_small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the fence line</td></tr>
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In 2011:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/?action=view&current=saguaro2011_small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/lucy_edward/saguaro2011_small.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above the fence line</td></tr>
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Looks to me like it's grown at least a foot, maybe even a foot and a half. I guess the weather in Texas is agreeing with it!</div>
Cat Carlislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13193769212437249345noreply@blogger.com