Create Fairy Garden Magic with DIY Fairy Dust Bottles

My daughter and I have been having a blast shopping for the perfect items to add to her fairy garden.  Since she and I also enjoy crafts (of the easy variety), we decided to try our hand at creating our own miniature bottles of fairy dust.  We had seen bottles of fairy dust for sale that were filled with brightly-colored glitter.  They looked pretty cool, but we wondered how could we expand on that idea to make our bottles of fairy dust even more magical?  This is what we came up with . . .


How to make your own Magical Fairy Dust Bottles:

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Sample Pack of Glitter (Fine)

Clear or White Glitter (Regular)

Mini Glass Bottles with Corks

White Glue

Sticky Notes (or Small Funnel)

Scissors

OPTIONAL:

1/8" Satin Ribbon (Any Color)

1/16" Hole Punch

Step 1.  If you don't happen to have a small funnel handy, you can make your own by rolling a sticky note into a cone shape.  Use the self-adhesive or a small piece of tape to keep the cone from unrolling.  Don't have a sticky note?  A regular square of paper will do.

Step 2.  Place the funnel into an open bottle.  Then fill the bottle about 2/3 with white or clear glitter.

Step 3.  Using scissors, carefully snip off the very tip of the corner of the pouch holding the color glitter you have selected for your fairy dust.

TIP #1:  Since these pouches of glitter are not resealable, keep some tape handy.  Once you're done with the glitter, fold the opened corner of the pouch down at least twice and secure with tape.

Step 4.  Place the funnel into the bottle containing the white or clear glitter.  Fill the bottle to the base of the neck with the fine colored glitter.

Step 5.  Cover the mouth of the bottle tightly with your index finger and shake the bottle vigorously to mix the two types of glitter together.  Continue to shake until well-blended.

Step 6.  You'll notice that the glitter has settled a bit after all the shaking.  Place the funnel in the bottle.  If the color of the fairy dust is to your liking, fill the bottle to the base of the neck with the clear or white glitter.  Then shake to blend.  If you'd like to have more color, add a little more colored glitter.  Shake to blend.  Repeat if needed.

TIP #2:  Do not overfill the bottles.  This will ensure there is room for the cork stopper to be inserted securely.

Step 7.  When your bottle is filled to the base of the neck with glitter, apply a small bead of white glue around the circumference of the cork stopper (as pictured below).  Then insert the stopper into the filled bottle, making sure it's snugly in place.  The glue should dry clear.

Step 8.  (Optional) Choose a star from your glitter sample pack.  Then punch a slightly off-center hole through the star with your hole puncher.

TIP #3:  I found that it was common for 2 or 3 stars to be stuck together.  It would be a good idea to double-check that you are punching a hole in a single star only.

Step 9.  Cut a 5" to 6" length of 1/8"-wide ribbon.  Then cut one end at a sharp angle, so you have a point.  Thread the ribbon through the whole in the star.

Step 10.  Tie the ribbon around the neck of the bottle.  Double-knot the ribbon in the back.  Then trim the tails of the ribbon to match the width of the bottle's neck.  Then you're done!

TIP #4:  If you plan to use a different color of glitter for your next bottle of fairy dust, be sure your funnel is completely free of the previous colored glitter, otherwise traces of the previous color will appear in your next bottle.  If you are using a paper funnel, you may consider discarding that funnel and making a new one for each color of glitter.

Cool Fairy Garden Finds . . . 

Cat with Butterfly - If you shop around on Etsy, you'll see this black and white cat from several sellers, but fairyinthegarden1 made hers special by adding a butterfly.  This extra handcrafted touch is what made me fall in love with this cat.

Sitting Fairy - There are actually four of these adorable little fairies to choose from at the FairyBestWishes Etsy shop, and I ended up purchasing them all.  They are each in a different pose, wearing a different color dress, and holding a different colored gem.

Magic Wooden Chest - I found a cute little toy chest in the MLSLaserEngraving Etsy shop.  I inquired whether I could have the word "Magic" engraved in a chest in place of the word "Toys."  The seller happily accommodated my request.  Originally, I thought my daughter would paint or add gems to the chest, but she seems to like it the way it is for the time being.

Miniature Cupcake - These cute little pink cupcakes came in a set of 4.  I found them in an Etsy shop called BeesKneesMiniatures.  This shop has the most adorable miniatures.  I'll be sharing everything I purchased from this shop soon.


Like this fairy garden craft? Pin It for later . . . 

Have a cool fairy garden craft or find to share?  Leave a comment here.

Find more fairy garden inspiration here.

Fairy Garden Finds, Crafts & Inspiration

It all started with a gift idea for my daughter's 10th birthday.  Having two brothers, she didn't have too many girly hobbies.  We had built her a small dollhouse a few years ago, but furnishing it didn't seem to hold her interest.  Then, while shopping for the perfect bonsai tree for my home office on Etsy, I started seeing all these wonderful fairy garden items mixed in with my search results.  That's when the idea of putting together a fairy garden kit began to form in my head.

Before long, I became so enamored by all the creative and magical things I found while shopping.  I spent way too much time (and money) finding the perfect fairy garden items to include in my daughter's gift basket.  Some may say (ahem . . . my husband) that I went a little overboard.  I was just so excited that I found a hobby that my daughter and I could enjoy together.

I was right!  My daughter oo'd and aah'd over each item as she removed them one at a time from her gift basket.  It was then that I realized that a fairy garden had something a dollhouse didn't have . . . no limits.  Anything goes for a fairy garden as long as you can imagine it!

I'll be sharing all the magical fairy garden items I've found (many of which were handcrafted by some very talented people), some easy fairy garden crafts I've made, and sections of our fairy garden that may inspire new ideas for others.  As I share these things, I'll add the links below.  Let the fun begin!

Fairy Garden Inspiration . . .

DIY Light-up Personalized Window Box Beach Fairy Garden
DIY Miniature Magic Fairy Dust Bottles

DIY Miniature Dollhouse Size Books

Have questions or suggestions? Leave a comment here.

Fun Non-Candy Activity Goodie Bag Party Favor Ideas (Plus a Free Printable Zombie Word Search)

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing the party favors used in creating the activity goodie bags featured below.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Earlier this week, my oldest turned 11.  He'll be moving onto middle school next year and I'm still having a little trouble accepting it.  Since this is his last year of grade school, I wanted to make sure we sent some fun goodie bags to school for his birthday.  We always send non-food goodie bags due to there being so many students suffering from a variety of allergies, plus the school does not allow sweets to be sent in for birthday celebrations.  We do this for all 3 of our children, who all happen to have birthdays in January.  Sometimes it's difficult to come up with a fun new idea.  Thank goodness I found some inspiration from Oriental Trading Company!

Our twins will be turning 8 later this month.  Their goodie bags were easy to put together.  Since our family went to the local Super MegaFest comic convention, our children have been obsessed with drawing their own comics.  So, when I saw these superhero-themed party favors, I just knew I had to create something fun with them.  That's when I had the idea to make DIY comic book kits for the twins' 2nd grade classmates!

What you'll need for DIY Superhero Comic Book Goodie Bags . . . 

Publish Your Own Book Journals

Superhero Super Stickers

Superhero Roll of Stickers

I Love To Write Pencils

Silver Size Comic Book Bags

There are 100 stickers on the roll, so I had enough to put one sticker inside each of the goodie bags and to place one outside of each bag to seal it.  These books have a framed space for drawing on each page, as well as lines below for writing.  I think one frame per page is perfect for 2nd graders.  The twins can't wait to hand these out to their classmates!

Like this idea? Pin it for later . . .

For my oldest son, the theme of his goodie bags changed several times.  One thing that stayed the same was the nose pencil sharpeners.  After he saw them on Oriental Trading, he just had to have them.  After playing with a few different body part themes, we settled on the ever-popular zombie theme.

What you'll need for Zombie Activity Goodie Bags . . .

Nose Pencil Sharpeners

Eyeball-shaped Erasers

Brain-shaped Erasers

3D Skull Key chains

Zombie Roll of Stickers

Zombie Pencils

Printable Zombie Word Search (at bottom)

Silver Size Comic Book Bags

Apparently zombies are extremely popular with 10 and 11 year olds.  The goodie bags were a big hit and our son was thrilled to finally have a nose pencil sharpener.

Pin this idea for later . . . 

TO PRINT:  Check to make sure your computer's printer is on and ready to go.  Click on the desired image to enlarge.  Then right-click on the image and select print.  Use your browser's back button to return to this page.

Zombie Word Search (plus Answer Key)

I made the above free printable word search puzzle with the help of Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker.  This particular puzzle is difficult and would be perfect for adults and older children.  Enjoy!

Kohl's Deals on Disney FROZEN Holiday Gifts Continue On Post-Black Friday & Cyber Monday!

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Kohl's. I received Kohl's gift cards to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating.

Although I love visiting my local Kohl's store, during the busy holiday season, I shop almost exclusively online.  We live in such a highly populated retail area that it takes us a half an hour or more just to drive a mile or two this time of year.  Why deal with that when I can shop in the comfort of my own home, where there is no traffic, no lines, and no crowds?

Another perk of shopping online at Kohl's is that there are some great FROZEN gifts that are available online only.  Throw in the free shipping deals, Kohl's promo codes, Kohl's Cash and Yes2You Rewards, and I just cannot find any reason not to shop at Kohls.com!  I also love that Kohl's does not hold your order if part of it is not available to ship yet.  I placed my order on Black Friday and have received 2 of the 3 shipments already.

You all know that I'm an early shopper, right?  By the time Black Friday and Cyber Monday roll around, I'm pretty much done with my shopping already.  What does that mean?  I end up seeing things I had been eyeing in the past for a great price and just cannot resist purchasing them for myself or someone in my family.  From this Kohl's order, my daughter became one Disney Frozen Elsa Castle Raglan Tee, one Elsa & Heart Earring Set, and one Anna & Elsa Heart Alarm Clock richer!  We also have the Disney Frozen Floral Anna Tee, which was love at first sight for my daughter, and the Disney Frozen Microfleece Throw (my favorite item of all the ones we ordered) coming from the same order!  In addition to these, I also bought my daughter a new rain jacket and a Paw Patrol toy for my nephew for Christmas.

I do have to share one Kohls.com shopping tip with you! . . . When I shop, I usually add things to my shopping cart and come back to checkout when I know my order is complete.  Well, I learned that you just cannot do that during this time of year.  At least 4 items I had in my cart were sold out when I returned to checkout the next day: a different Frozen earring set, the Olaf Throw & Pillow set, the rain jacket for my daughter in a different color, and a fleece jacket for my husband.  My advice is:  If you want it, don't wait to complete your order!!!

Want to shop for Frozen gifts?  Kohl's has all things Frozen, including clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, electronics, toys, and more.  All you need to do is go to Kohls.com and click on the Disney Frozen banner on the upper right of the homepage and you'll be taken to a selection of 800+ Frozen items.

By the way, did you vote for your favorite singer or group in the Frozen "Sing Your Heart Out" Contest?  If you weren't watching the 2014 American Music Awards, you can find out who won by visiting Disney.com/FrozenFriday, where you can see spotlights of the winners and all the finalists.  It's so interesting to hear their individual stories about how they got to that moment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 24 hours, a new winner will be drawn. Although every effort will be made to have the prize received in time for Christmas, we cannot guarantee that the prize will arrive by 12/24/2014.

4 Reasons Why I Love My Prescription Eyeglasses from GlassesShop.com!

Thank you to GlassesShop.com for providing sample prescription eyeglasses for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are our own.

If you've seen me around the web this past week, then you may have noticed that I have a new profile photo.  That's because I wanted to show off my new glasses from GlassesShop.  I've owned many different pairs of prescription eyeglasses as an adult and these might be my favorite pair yet.  Here's why . . .

1.  I wanted dark-rimmed glasses, but didn't want the same old plain black frames.  I also could not see myself in some of the more ornate frames I've seen out there.  The Charlottesville frames in black really caught my eye because they were different, but subtle.  The text along the side is very on-trend since typography is currently so popular.

2.  These eyeglasses are incredibly light!  I have quite a strong prescription and it's been a very long time since I've worn glasses and have forgotten that they were on my face because they were so light and comfortable.

3.  These glasses look and fit great!  Two things helped me to make my decision about whether these frames were the right one ones for me:  trying on the glasses virtually and comparing the measurements of these frames to those of my old ones.  This is the first time I've worn non-metal glasses that did not constantly slide down over the bridge of my nose!

I should mention that I have uneven ears, so every pair of glasses I try sit crooked on my face.  Like with all other glasses, the ear pieces on these needed to be adjusted in order for the glasses to sit straight on my face.  I was able to do this myself by making small adjustments.

4.  The final price for these glasses upgraded with Ultra Thin lenses and anti-reflective, anti-scratch, and UV coating was $92.80!  That is an amazing price.  We usually go to our local BJ's Wholesale Club for our eye exams and to buy our prescription eyeglasses.  The final price for our glasses after upgrades is usually about twice that price.  GlassesShop also offers free shipping on orders over $49.

These Charlottesville eyeglass frames also come in blue and purple.  To browse their entire selection of frames, visit GlassesShop.com.  Before you shop, be sure to check for GlassesShop promo codes in order to get the best price possible!

Clean Out Your Closets to Support Your School . . . Fundraising Made Easy with Schoola!

Thank you to Schoola for sending us a gift code to sample the experience of shopping on this unique fundraising website.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I am not one to purchase many things that have been previously owned.  In the past, I've purchased cars, wooden furniture, and fine china that were pre-owned and just recently starting buying used books.  I have never purchased used clothing for myself or my children.  That is why I was a bit skeptical when I was invited to checkout the new fundraising site, Schoola.com.  In fact, I only took the time to visit the site because I know tons of moms who buy previously owned clothing for their children.  This fundraising idea had merit.

The concept behind Schoola is a smart one.  Look for clothes to donate that are gently used or new with tags (Yes! Schoola also sells new clothing) in your own closets and attic, and send them to Schoola in a postage paid polybag.  Then when the item sells on the website, your school will receive 40% of the sale price.  You can do this individually or organize a school-wide clothing drive.

Would this type of fundraiser be successful?  Well, I was able to shop on Schoola to see if I, an avid online shopper, would choose to shop on this website.  After all, in order for the fundraiser to be successful, people need to purchase the clothing you donate.

I must say that I was impressed by the variety of name brands and retailers represented in both the selection of girls clothing and boys clothing, such as The North Face, Columbia, The Gap, Shaun White, and more.  You can shop by gender, age group, or simply type in a brand or keyword search.

I ended up purchasing this Bongo graphic tee and camo hat set for my daughter at half off the retail price on the tag.  Was this the best deal ever? . . . No, but it was a great price and I felt good knowing that $5.40 from my purchase went to support an elementary school in California.  Yes, the product page includes a note stating the amount of money that will donated to a particular school if you buy the item.

My daughter ended up loving the tee and hat set, and insisted on wearing it for the first day of school since the weather was unseasonably warm.  I had also picked up an Old Navy striped long-sleeved tee for her twin brother, but it was too warm to wear just yet.

I've introduced Schoola as a fundraising option for our school.  The fundraising chairs may test it out as a way to raise money for the 5th grade class to fund their field trips, yearbook, and so forth.  I hope they decide to move forward with it because this is an innovative idea that does not solely depend on your own school's community to spend money.

To learn more about fundraising with Schoola, visit www.schoola.com.  Want to shop?  Use Schoola promo code: bestreaders25 to save 25% off your purchase through September 30th, 2014.

Find On-Trend Back-to-School Fashions, Sizes for Tweens, a Way to Help Local Kids & More at OshKosh! #OshKoshFirstDay

This post was written as part of a sponsored campaign for The Motherhood and their client OshKosh B'gosh, featuring back-to-school fashions for boys and girls.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Like with all my other shopping, I start my back-to-school shopping early.  I usually have 90% of the school supplies purchased from the lists sent home on the last day of school by mid-summer.  I also pick up clothing in the next size up throughout the year if I find something that's stylish for a great price.  I take a quick inventory 3 to 4 weeks before school resumes to see what's missing from my 3 children's fall wardrobes.  Then I make it my mission to fill in those gaps before school begins.

Now that my children are 7, 7, and 10, shopping isn't as easy as it used to be.  My children seemed to have developed stronger opinions about what styles and colors they want to wear.  Luckily for me, OshKosh.com had more than enough on-trend and age-appropriate children's fashions to please me, my two 2nd graders, and my 5th grader.  In fact, when I asked each of them to pick out one outfit each, they tried to convince me that they couldn't narrow it down, so I would just have to purchase 3 or 4 outfits . . . each.  Their efforts were commendable, but I stood my ground . . .

Layered OshKosh Original Graphic Tees + OshKosh Classic Denim:

Our 10 year old son lives in graphic tees and jeans.  Like with many boys, comfort is almost more important than style for him.  With the selection of clothes for tweens at OshKosh in sizes up to a 12, our son can have both.  Here he is in the Glow-in-the-Dark Space Tee layered on top of an OshKosh Originals Graphic Tee paired with the Mellow Medium Wash OshKosh Straight Jeans.  OshKosh is name synonymous with quality, especially in denim.  This is important to me, especially when it comes to clothing for my oldest son.  Nearly everything I purchase for him will get passed down to his younger brother, so it needs to last.

When it comes to clothing, our 7 year old daughter wants it all.  She demands style, comfort, functionality, and . . . sparkle!  Her clothes need to be cute, girly, but also playground-friendly.

Bold Graphic Tee + "Awesome" Neon Hoodie + OshKosh Jeggings:

Our daughter wanted glitter and she found it!  She fell in love immediately with this bold floral text-free OshKosh Originals sugar glitter graphic tee.  When she saw the Girl Power Hoodie with the glittery text in neon coral that coordinated with the graphic tee so well, she just had to have that too.  We both very much liked the inspirational, yet fun messages on these OshKosh yoga-inspired hoodies. Our daughter loves the look of denim, but prefers the comfort of leggings.  It was no surprise to me when she opted for the Shoreline Blue OshKosh Jeggings.  Finally, she always likes to finish off her outfits with a coordinating hair accessory or some type of jewelry (or both).  She ended up putting one of the bows from the 3-Pack Sparkle Bow Pony Holders in her hair and used the other two for bracelets!  Smart, huh?

Our 7 year old son is extremely easy going when it comes to his clothes.  As long as it's comfortable and fits, he's good with it.  That being said, when he is asked to choose his own clothes, he definitely has his own style.  In fact, his picks for his outfit from OshKosh were right in line with the top back-to-school trends for boys this season . . .

The first item our son chose was a pair of Camo 5-Pocket Pull-On Cargo Pants.  How did he know camouflage is a major trend this season?  His whole outfit revolved around these must-have pants.  Something else we're seeing a lot of is dino-themed graphic tees.  Well, our little man happened to pick the OshKosh Originals Dinosaur Hunter Graphic Tee to go with his camo bottoms.  His next pick truly surprised me.  I predicted that our little boy would have opted for a hoodie to go with his outfit, but he chose the Fleece Letter Jacket.  Our son loves this soft comfy jacket so much that he puts it on first thing when he gets up in the morning, even if it's 75 degrees outside!

Will your children be trendsetters this year at school?  Well, there are more ways than one to lead by example.  Your children could participate in the B'gosh Jeanius Campaign to help give local children a 'Leg Up!' this back-to-school season . . .

How can your family get involved?  Simply make a donation in the form of a pair of OshKosh blue jeans or a cash donation of $1, $3, $5, or $10 at your local OshKosh store.  Denim donations will be given to children in need in yours or a nearby community via K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers.  Cash donations will go to local schools in need who are signed up with DonorsChoose.org.  When your child tells his or her friends how they gave back to their community, maybe they'll inspire someone else to do the same!  Encourage your child to be a trendsetter this year!

Will you be heading to OshKosh to do some back-to-school shopping?  Be sure to print this OshKosh coupon to save 25% off your purchase of $40 or more through 9/13/14.  Shopping online?  You can save with OshKosh promo code SAVEON40 at OshKosh.com.

TO PRINT:  Make sure your printer is on and ready to to go.  Click on the image to enlarge.  Then right-click on the enlarged image and select print.  Use your browsers back arrow to return to this page.

Checkout the cool #OshKoshFirstDay back-to-school ideas below . . . 

Follow Karen Coutu's board Back-to-School with Oshkosh & More! on Pinterest.

5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas for the New Mom in Your Life

This Mother's Day gifts post has been written as part of a compensated campaign for Coupons.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This year, Mother's Day falls on May 11th, a date that is quickly sneaking up on us!  If you need to shop for a new mom this year, my advice is to give her a thoughtful gift that you picked out with solely her in mind.  Since the majority (if not all) of the the gifts that have come into her home for the past year or so has likely been for the new baby, she will greatly appreciate a gift that was truly picked out for her.

Having been a new mom more than once, here are a few suggestions for Mother's Day gifts for new moms that I came across on BabiesRUs.com that I would have loved to receive during those exhausting periods of my life . . .

1.  If you're considering gifting a glider and ottoman, the Stork Craft Custom Tuscany Glider and Ottoman ($229.99) might be a fine choice.  Not only does it come in 6 wood finishes and 4 different upholstery choices, it has been highly rated by other customers for comfort.  I cannot tell you how many times I had fallen asleep while nursing in the middle of the night and woke up wishing I had a more comfortable place to doze off while still securely cradling my baby.

2.  In addition to dealing with the logistics of nursing away from home, many moms have still not returned to their pre-baby clothing size.  Why not treat her to a few stylish nursing tops, such as this Thyme Maternity Sleeveless Nursing Top (on sale for $8.70).  It might make a huge difference in her outlook on days she needs to go out and about while feeling run-down and sleep-deprived.

3.  Like many new moms, I gave up carrying a handbag and just threw my keys, phone, and wallet in a diaper bag.  That is a huge deal for any woman who has a love of stylish handbags.  If this sounds like the new mom in your life, how about gifting her a stylish diaper bag disguised as a handbag like this JP Lizzy Satchel ($59.99)?  This bag looks like a fashion-forward handbag, but it comes with a changing pad and there are pockets inside for diapers, wipes, bottles, and more.

4.  Other than having other people coming in to help, there are not too many ways to reduce the amount of household chores that need to be done.  Having a new baby increases the number of chores, but reduces the amount of time and energy available to dedicate to these tasks.  A robotic vacuum, like the Neato XV Signature Vacuum ($449.99), would be a welcomed gift for any new mom.  Not only does this gift allow for hands-free vacuuming, it might also be handy for soothing babies that are partial to the hum of a vacuum.

5.  Although new moms don't have much free time, it is a treat to fit a little pampering in here and there.  The Susan Brown's Just for Mom Ultimate Gift Basket ($95.00) or any selection of Susan Brown's body products would make a wonderful gift for a new mom.  Some of the products include a Dead Sea Salt Foot Soak, Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, and Botanical Body & Massage Oil.

Before you shop for Mother's Day gifts at Babies R Us, be sure to check for Coupons.com Babies R Us coupon codes to maximize your budget.  This is great advice to follow for any online retailer.  As an avid online shopper, I never complete my order anywhere without checking for promo codes first.

What other ideas do you have for great gifts for new moms?


PLEASE NOTE:  This is a multi-blog giveaway.  Please read the entry requirements carefully, as they will differ than what you would normally see on 3G2S.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

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.