"if the shoe fits"...

…”wear it,” right?! okay, but what if they are less than desirable? enter the most rad do it yourself project (i think); super easy & too cute not to share!

a few weeks back, i was watching a disney channel program with monkey & happened to notice one of the little actresses with a really cool pair of hi-top sneakers on. they were very colorful & appeared to have some sort of comic strippy type design. hmm…i could fashion something like that with a pair of old flats. i hit the ole google to see if there were any other crafters out there with the same thought. of course, there was! awesome! (because i really needed a clue in to a good & effective sealer for said project)

materials:

a pair of misfit flats or heels begging for love

comic books

awesome scissors

mod podge (washable or disposable plate/dish for glue. i used a moe’s kid’s cup top…i only had a million of them)

sponge brushes

nail file/buffer

clear acrylic spray sealant

patience!

if you don’t own any comic books or refuse to go at your personal stash with scissors, then you’ll need to visit your local comic book store (best place ever!) other than offering a huge array (if you’re looking for a specific character), most stores will have a pretty decent selection of comics costing next to nothing. this is where i headed…2 books, 2 dollars…sold. if some of you are wondering if i picked up an extra ‘wonder woman’ or two…i did, but not to cut. it just kinda felt sacrilege to me…ha!

so you have your shoes to makeover & comics picked out? it’s time to get creative. make sure your surface area (shoe) is free & clear of any dust, dirt, etc. flip through your comics & tear out pages that “speak” to you. for instance, i chose a color & a black & white to work with. i went through the black & white comic & cut out pictures here & there to set as my basic all over backdrop for the shoe. there’s absolutely no rhyme or reason; the thing that i love most about this upcycle. it doesn’t have to be precise…at all. everything will need to be cut into smaller strips, triangles, squares, etc. anyway. so if you find any words that you like: pow, bam, wobash!, set those to the side for now.

starting around the edges of the shoes, take your brush dipped in mod podge & glue on your pieces; working your way in, saving the seams & toes for last. they tend to be a little trickier. also, when working around twists & turns, you may find cutting smaller pieces works best. it’s like putting together a puzzle. once both shoes are covered, let them air dry for about 24 hours. if you’ve missed a spot or two, it’s quite alright. you can go back & cover them later.

next, i took out my color comic book & looked for fun words & pictures to glue onto the existing black & white. but, no rules! you may have other artsy ideas for your new walkabouts. (p.s. it’s time to grab those words or whatevers that you set aside) when my pieces were set to my liking & a few slivers were filled in, i went over both shoes again with mod podge; for an all-over finish.

hang on, we're almost done!

again, let them air dry. 24 hours, or to the point where they are not tacky to the touch. take your nail file/buffer to gently wipe away any glue buildup or rough areas. this will also add a nice shine to the overall appearance, & lead to the final step…the sealant! (yes, more waiting, but worth it!)

i thought that they came out great & i can’t wait to wear them! with any project, i usually start searching for other things to create, add to, or cover up. it’s fun…& it keeps me out of trouble.

off with the old...

can i just say how much i hated taking down the christmas decorations in my house? i did…i really disliked it a whole super lot. it’s not that it takes a ton of time to do so; trust me, it takes longer to put everything out. it just marked the end to another seasonally type décor thingy for me, that’s all.

it’s like halloween & christmas are my big visual shenanigans up in this household. towels to soap dispensers to dishes to funny things that sing; you name it. & the spread gets bigger each year. even certain scents that i use around the house…over. looking around the house without the pretty lights & cutesy pillows laying around makes me sad.

on the upside, when i do pack everything back up & hide it all in the attic until next time, i recognize some regular standbys that could use some love. insert spinning wheels…hooray, project!

doing a dining room makeover can take time...& money. two things i haven't much of. my biggest concern for the day is the center stage furniture; what i see as i enter the house, dining room set. ugh...i get annoyed by the phrase “set”...eludes to super matchy matchy, & i’m not a fan of matchy matchy. i adore the table (simple, versatile), but the chairs aren't really my color palette (2nd hand). luckily it's just the cushions that are sort of out of date & need revamping. plus, the fabric has become stained & worn over the period of time that they've been used (they’re actually disgustoid, hence numero uno on my radar) now, i'm no reupholster wizard; more like a “sure hope it turns out the way it looks in my head 'macgyver,'” if you will, & tackling these frames was gonna be easy peas-y for me-sy (sorry, i was trying a rhyming thing...no? & moving on...)

the very first step led me to the mecca of all foundational home aesthetics...the fabric store. oh, how i loveth you, wonderful store of yardages!

i figured that i wouldn’t put a ton of thought into this project. going with the first thing that caught my eye. (mulling over this could take until forever; instant impulses, people!) it only has to be liveable & likeable before affordable (pretending that the hubs doesn't see that part) but, of course, with anything, it isn't. i narrow it down to two, & send a quick pic text to hubs. he chooses my first choice & i'm set. (because i’m not an island, or whatever of the sort) & it's actually on sale. win win.

eww, gross & embarrassing...get it out of here!!

step 2…removing the old, yucky fabric. i am no stranger to this feat, so i was ready to just knock it out. holy hell! never in my whole life of do-it-yourself furniture upcycles have i entered such an endless chore of staple removal. & the fact that i was starting to get a few sniffles (that would turn into a major shoot.me.now cold), made it so much worse. seriously, i’m pretty sure that whoever was in charge of the staple gun at the ethan allen factory that day was getting paid…per freaking staple! i couldn’t deal.

to name a few...seriously

fast forward to the following weekend (yesterday & today) these chairs are getting done…period. with the help of my sophisticated tools, of course: flat head screwdriver, gerber pliers, & the sharpest fabric scissors possible; you know, girl’s best friends.

finally, progress…yes! despite the new claw-like hands, scrapes, & puncture wounds, i am in love with my new chairs (besides, what crafting experience would be complete without a few bandages?)

yay for newness, inexpensive projects, & loads of cursing…i mean patience! now, for my next venture…

& done!

no year's resolution...

i decided to opt out of grand statements changing this & that. seemed a bit negative (for me, personally) after all, isn't that kind of what resolutions do? concentrate on how one can do better; be better? nope, i've decided to focus on strengths...expand, grow...ya know?! it's the whole "if it ain't broke" with a twist.

1. i don't exercise, but i crafticize! being crafty helps me to explore the many facets of my creativity. when i'm in the zone, i accomplish stuff. i snack less, drink less...get it?
2. being in my yard. i love it. my girls are well & loved & i can't wait to build my mind's ideal greenhouse to aid in mine & their veggie addiction!
3. makeup. i have & will continue to consume every new technique possible.
4. writing my ass off. yep, more to come. like, much more. i censor myself enough...yes, so far a lot of this is actually filtered a bit. (i try to edit sober, remember?)
5. drama free. i dig this lifestyle. (or, i've at least learned to know the signs so i can steer clear) positive energy is definitely the way to go.
6. i don't boast or brag...why should i have to? i put my stories, etc out in the universe; if someone else doesn't know what i've done, what i'm doing, or what i'm capable of, it's because they aren't paying attention. i don't feel the need to remind anyone or scream “look at me!”

7. i don’t concentrate on my weight. who cares? i’m healthy & comfortable in my skin. the moment that i realized that i’ll never be a size zero again, was the moment i was free from my own self-inflicted agony. viva la curves!

so, this is just pretty basic stuff. & i know that it doesn’t sound like a bazillion great things for me, but it's working, so i'll stick with it. sure new ideas & better ways to work smarter & not harder will come to me…i guess, for now, i’m just really happy with what i do have & not concentrated on what i don’t; with who i am & not who i wish i was. does that make sense? does this post make sense? did some of you fall asleep on me? ha!

sorry, jc...

weird. weird. weird! you guys are never going to believe what happened to me at school. it’s been a slow week because of the holidays, & since i had no one to shampoo or shear, i turned my attention to some much needed worksheet & mannequin work.

now, let me start with an explanation of sorts…the school has two mock materials that are used for color, relaxers, etc for mannequin, or baby, heads; cholesterol & gel (thick bleck gel). i learned early on that i was allergic to the cholesterol…yay, me. so i always grab a color bowl of gel for my fun busy work. tonight, i set up my “girls” & got to work…a nearby pedestal as my prop to house my box of flexi perm rods & gel. the first baby head received a fabulous soft perm for curly hair which consisted of gel (bleck) & flexi rods. i rolled it, got my sign off, & was on to the next task. i wanted to knock out a straight diagonal slice foil (color technique) on my other baby’s head. with just enough gel left in my bowl, tackling it would be no problem.

everyone has probably gathered by now (by reading previous blogs) that i’m not a super religious person…more spiritual, i guess. i mean, i know in my heart that there is definitely something bigger than me out there. that being said, here’s where shit gets freaky quick!

after hearing the normal school’s music loop via overhead speakers & streaming videos, i was particularly rolling my eyes at the beibs (twice) & that really catchy, annoying-but-you-have-to-sing-it, “hey, i just met you…” (you just finished that whole verse, didn’t you? you’re welcome!) then, it happened. do you guys remember that 90’s christian rock group, jars of clay? well, their song ‘flood’ starts playing, which, for some reason, i know all the words to…because i’m a sponge of all things non-profitable to myself? whatever, it’s on the hi-fi. & let’s just say my natural instinct (because it’s thursday & i’m bored & ready to start the weekend) to be silly kicks in. insert imaginary lighter in the air, me singing the lyrics to this lame (no offense) song, & going “whoo, yeah…lift me up. wwjd?” 

about that time the freaking bowl of gel flips of the pedestal, gel first mind you, into my open (combs, brushes, clips…everything) kit on the floor below. i swear! at first, i was like “crap,” followed by a “sorry, jc…guess you really like this band!” i thought HE of all people would know my smart-ass better...hmm. anyways, it was funny & bizarre (like, a lot bizarre) all wrapped into one. & i pretty much answered my own question…what wouldn’t jesus do…for a kicking 90’s god-fearing band?