How to Make Your Own No-Sew High-Low Hem Shirt from a Men's or Unisex T-Shirt

This post has been written in partnership with the Red Bubble Affiliate Program.  Thank you to Red Bubble for providing the Buffy t-shirt, created by an independent artist, for our DIY fashion project.  All opinions expressed are my own.

There are certain silhouettes in tops that I find to be particularly flattering on most body shapes.  The boxy high-low t-shirt is one of them.  It hides any flaws you may have around the middle and still provides coverage in the back for those of us who want to be more modest when wearing leggings or skinny jeans.  Even though the high-low hemline is something that is extremely popular at the moment, it seems to be difficult to find them in casual t-shirts.  I also have trouble finding women's t-shirts with a boxy hip-length cut.  There are so many cute t-shirts out there, but the girly fit is too form-fitting for my taste and the unisex t-shirts are too long.  I often forgo buying printed t-shirts I like because there does not seem to be a shirt style that's a good fit for me. That's why I decided to try making my own hip-length high-low t-shirt out of a unisex t-shirt.  Two birds . . . one stone!

Today's Project:  No-Sew High-Low Hem T-Shirt

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Men's or Unisex T-Shirt (2 sizes up from your normal size)

scissors (sharp enough to cut through fabric easily)

pen, pencil, or chalk
tape measure or a hip-length shirt you already own

Before you begin, be sure to wash your t-shirt to get any shrinking out of the way.  My Red Bubble t-shirt does not recommend machine drying, but I needed to shrink mine, so I put it in the dryer inside out.  I am about 5'5" and purchased a unisex XXL.  The shirt hem hit just above my knees.  After machine washing in cold and tumble drying it, the t-shirt length was 3" to 4" shorter, which was perfect for this project.

Step 1.  With your shirt laying perfectly flat (front facing up), use scissors to make two tiny cuts on either side of the trim around the neckline.  Then insert your scissors into the opening you've made and cut around the neckline of the front of your t-shirt only as close to the trim as possible.

Step 2.  Flip your t-shirt over and lay it perfectly flat on your work space.  Then continue to cut around the band along the neckline on the back of the t-shirt until the entire band has been removed.

Step 3.  Make a tiny cut at the bottom seam of the left sleeve as close to the band as possible.  Then insert your scissors in the opening and remove the band starting at the front by cutting as close to the band as possible.  Then flip the shirt over to continue cutting to remove the entire band.  Then repeat this with the right sleeve.

Step 4.  Repeat Step 3 with the hem of the t-shirt.

Step 5.  With the front of the t-shirt facing out, fold your t-shirt in half vertically.  Be very careful to match up the shoulder seams, underarm seams, and hemline.

Step 6.  Fold a hip-length t-shirt that you already have in half vertically with the front facing out.  Then lay it on top of your project t-shirt and make a small mark on the bottom shirt to note the length of the shirt on top.  You can do this using a pen, pencil, or a thin piece of chalk.  If you don't own a hip-length t-shirt, then you can use a measuring tape to approximate and mark off how high up hip-length would be from the bottom hem.

Step 7.  Lay your project shirt flat with the design facing up.  Then draw a curved line connecting the mark you just made at the middle of the shirt to the bottom right corner of the shirt.  Do the same thing, connecting the center mark with the bottom left corner of the shirt, mirroring the first curved line you drew.

Step 8.  Using scissors, carefully cut along the arc you drew to create a curved hemline on the front of your shirt.

Step 9.  Lay your shirt so that the right side seam is flat on your work space.  Then carefully remove the sharp angle at the bottom of the seam so that the front hem transitions smoothly to the back hem.  Repeat this with the bottom of the left side seam.

Step 10.  Give all your raw edges (neckline, sleeves, and shirt hem) a few good stretches to create a more natural slightly rolled edge.

Now you're all done and should have a comfy and stylish new high-low hem t-shirt!  This was my first time doing this project, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I will definitely be doing this again and am thrilled that, going forward, I can buy the printed t-shirts that I love without hesitation due to the shirt style.  If you give this easy DIY fashion project a try, let me know how it turns out!


You can find this Magic Box Advertisement t-shirt by independent artist, UtherPendragon, and other Buffy t-shirts at RedBubble.com.

Easy Convertible Spring to Easter Burlap Wreath Craft and Tablescape

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing decorating and craft supplies to facilitate this spring and Easter craft project.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Some people love to craft new holiday-themed decorations every single year.  I am not necessarily one of those people.  I enjoy crafting very much, however, I would like to enjoy the fruits of my labor for at least 2 or 3 years.  The same philosophy applies to decorating for the various holidays throughout the year.  I always decorate for Christmas because the decorations go up about a month before the actual holiday and I am able to enjoy them for several weeks.  Putting up decorations for just one week hardly seems worth it to me, especially if spare time is a valuable and rare commodity in your home.  That's why I came up with the idea of "convertible" decorations for spring and Easter.  Below you will find an easy-to-make wreath and tablescape that can be converted from a springtime theme to an Easter theme and then back to springtime again with just one or two small changes.

Easy Craft:  Convertible Spring to Easter Burlap Wreath

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

burlap wreath

wired cream ribbon

ivory jute cord

glass butterfly pendants

small white rabbit

scissors

Step 1.  Fluff the loops on your burlap wreath and decide which part of the circular wreath you would like to be the top.  Then decide how you would like your glass pendants to be positioned around the wreath, keeping in mind that the 12 o'clock position should be reserved for the ribbon hanger.

Step 2.  Cut a piece of jute cord about 3" in length.  Thread the cord through a butterfly pendant and knot the two ends together, yielding a loop that is approximately 1" from the tip of the loop to the base of the knot.  Trim off the ends of the cord about 1/8" above the knot.  Do this for all the pendants.

Step 3.  Cut a piece of jute cord about 5" to 6" long.  Slip the end of the cord through a burlap loop in the desired position on the wreath.  Tie the cord around the loop tightly.  Then slip on a glass pendant using the loop you just tied in Step 2.  Tie the cord again tightly.  Make a neat bow with the cord (you may double-knot if you would like added security).  Make sure the loops on your bow are similar in size.  Then trim the ends with scissors so they are a similar length to the bow loops.

Step 4.  To hang your wreath from a curtain rod in the window, cut a piece of wired ribbon approximately 3' long.  (This could vary depending on how long you need your hanger to be.)  Then thread the end of the wired ribbon through your wreath and around your curtain rod, knotting the ends together.  Adjust the wired ribbon hanger so that the knot is hidden behind the top of the wreath.

Step 5.  To convert this spring wreath into an Easter-themed wreath, simply insert a plush bunny (or a shelf-sitter, rag doll, etc . . . ) into the center of the wreath.  I tied two pieces of jute cord around the bunny's neck into a bow for an added touch.

When Easter is over, simply remove the bunny and you have yourself a simple and tasteful spring wreath.  Of course, you are always able to change the pendants and cord/ribbon colors to coordinate with your own decor.

The same idea would be applied to a tablescape that can be easily converted from a springtime theme to an Easter theme and then back again.  For our tablescape, I used the following items:

DIY large silver tin pail

glitter sand Easter eggs

silk flowers

ivory jute cord

glass butterfly pendants

natural table runner (with seashells removed)

wired cream ribbon

ivy garland

clear light set

Mainly, the tablescape consists of a runner with a centerpiece on top surrounded by wired ribbon and garland that run the length of the table.  You can change the look of the tablescape simply by changing the contents of the centerpiece, by adding clear lights, or by adding Easter-themed items, like our Mod Podge glitter sand Easter eggs (find out how to make them here).  I especially liked the look of the white lights intertwined within the white silk flowers.

These tablescapes would make simple-to-do backdrops for your buffet table, dessert table, goodie bag table, and more.  What do you think about this idea of decorations that can convert between holiday and everyday themes?  What other holidays would you like to do this for?

Easy DIY Mod Podge Glitter Sand Easter Eggs Craft

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing the glitter sand and additional craft supplies for our Easter craft tutorial.  All opinions expressed are my own.

If you've dyed and decorated hard-boiled eggs before, then you might be familiar with the slight feeling of sadness when it's time to discard your beautiful works of art.  On the same note, you might wish that you could display your beautifully decorated eggs all throughout the Easter season instead of hiding them in the fridge.  Having felt this way many times year after year, I decided to decorate some eggs that can be left out to be enjoyed during this year's Easter holiday and can be used again for years to come.

Today's Craft Project:  Mod Podge Glitter Sand Easter Eggs

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

basic plastic Easter eggs (any size)

glitter sand assortment

Mod Podge

craft sponge or brush

shallow trays or bowls (one for each color of sand)

wax paper (optional)

Step 1.  Be sure your plastic eggs are free of dust and hair (they tend to hold a lot of static).

Step 2.  Apply Mod Podge all around the edge of an opened egg.  Then close the egg tightly and hold in place for a minute or two until the glue sets.

Step 3.  Pour one color of glitter sand into a clean empty tray or bowl.

Tip #1:  For a uniform effect, use sand that is similar in color to the plastic egg you wish to coat.

Step 4.  Holding your egg with the tips of your thumb and index finger, apply Mod Podge to the entire exterior of the egg.

Tip #2:  Cover as much of the egg's surface as you can, then place the egg on its side into the tray containing the sand.  Carefully apply Mod Podge to the two spots where your fingers were holding the egg.

Step 5.  Using your finger tips, gently roll and turn the egg until it is completely coated in the sand.  Then place it on wax paper to dry.

Tip #3:  Your finger tips will get coated in glue and sand, but that's a good thing.  Once your fingers are coated in sand, you will be able to hand the egg without taking sand off the surface of the egg while the glue is still wet.

Step 6.  Once the glue has dried, gently brush any excess sand off the egg.

Once you have enough eggs, you can display them however you like.  I used a large silver tin pail decorated simply with ivory jute cord and a glass butterfly pendant.  They would also be perfect to display in your favorite basket, on a mantle, or as part of a tablescape.  You could even use them in an Easter egg hunt or as party favors.

I should also mention that I experimented with mixing the remainder of the blue, yellow, and light green sand together with white sand.  I used the mixture to coat a variety of different colored eggs.  The results varied depending on the color of the bare egg.  I was happier with the results using the lightest colored eggs.  If you experiment with this, be sure to let me know what you think!


If you like this easy Easter craft, be sure to Pin It for future reference:

Easy DIY Personalized Duck Tape & Washi Tape Poly Bookmark Craft (Free Printable Templates)

The time has finally arrived when every member of our household is reading books that they cannot necessarily finish in one sitting.  In preparation of this, Santa put two bookmarks in each of our children's stockings last Christmas.  Unfortunately, most of those bookmarks have vanished into a black hole somewhere.  (I think it may be the same one that mysteriously makes single socks disappear from the washer and dryer.)  In any case, I came up with a fun and easy way to solve our problem of never having a bookmark around when we need one . . .

This easy DIY bookmark craft uses Duck Tape, Washi Tape, and Tapeffiti along with poly folders.  I chose to use poly folders because they are colorful, more durable than cardstock, easy to cut with scissors, and are fairly inexpensive.  I got mine on sale for $0.69 each and one folder can make up to 10 bookmarks if you remember to use the pockets inside too.  This craft would be a fun rainy day activity!  It would also be perfect for a classroom craft or birthday party activity, especially if you cut out the bookmark shapes and the ribbon pieces in advance.  You could even make these to pass out as end-of-the-year students gifts or as party favors.  What a fun way to promote literacy!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

patterned and solid tape (both wide and narrow)

poly folders (in colors that work with your tape)

computer printer

scissors

pen or pencil

standard size single hole puncher (needed for 2 of the 3 styles)

1/8" wide ribbon, yarn, or twine (needed for 2 of the 3 styles)

thin permanent markers (optional)

Step 1.  Print out the bookmark templates I have created for you.  (To print, be sure your computer's printer is on and ready to go.  Then click on the image below to enlarge it.  Right click on the image and select "print."  Then use your browser's back button to return to this page.)

Step 2.  Carefully cut out one or more of the bookmark templates.  If applicable, using your single hole puncher, punch a hole through the black circle in the template(s).

Step 3.  Place the template on your poly folder and trace the shape with a pen or pencil.  Be sure to trace the punched out circle too, if your template has one.

TIP #1:  I started by cutting out the pockets from inside the folder.  They can be used to make one bookmark each.

Step 4.  Cut out the shape you've traced.  If applicable, punch out the circle you've traced with a single hole puncher.

Step 5.  After you've selected which tapes you would like to use for your bookmark, cut a piece of tape about 6" long.  Then position the tape on the front of your bookmark as desired and wrap the ends around the back of the bookmark.  (For a neater appearance, make sure the edges match up where the ends meet.)  Repeat this as many times as you need to create a design you like.  Be sure to experiment with other ways to use your tape, such as creating a frame with it.

Tip #2:  One of the perks about using these poly folders is that, with most types of tape I've tried, the tape can be removed and repositioned if it is not exactly as you would like it.

Step 6.  For the bookmarks with a hole at the top, cut a piece of 1/8" ribbon, yarn, or twine approximately 10" to 12" long.  Then fold it in half and thread the loop end through the hole in the back of the bookmark.  Pull the loop out the front of the bookmark, then feed the two ends through the loop.  Pull tightly to complete your knot.  Tie another knot right at the top of the bookmark for added security.

Tip #3:  You can get creative with this by using multiple colors of ribbon, adding beads, or making a tassel at the end.

Step 7.  Personalize your bookmark with a name, initial, or a monogram using tape or permanent marker.

This craft comes with a warning . . . I started out with a just few rolls of tape and now need to think of a way to store the many rolls I've purchased since.  I may be addicted, so look for more patterned tape crafts in the coming months!