crafts

Nightmare Before Christmas Nursery on a Budget!

By kristinameister April 29, 2015 4 Comments

Some people get this idea, some people have been skeptical, but here it is, and it is wonderful. Kids need a little spooky, to help them imagine the world with all its shadows lit up.  They only fear what we teach them to fear. This is a room for all you kids born in the […]

Stenciling on Leather or Vinyl Furniture with Rub n’Restore

By kristinameister April 26, 2015 Leave a comment

As some of you may know from tracking my blog, I am an avid costume maker and DIY fanatic. It was while doing research for a common costume dillema (how to make second hand leather or vinyl pieces match an existing costume color scheme) that I encountered this wonderful product. Rub n’ Restire has been […]

Making a Recycled Art Deco Inspired Light Fixture

Making a Recycled Art Deco Inspired Light Fixture

By kristinameister February 22, 2015 Leave a comment

To make this spiffy light fixture, I trolled the estate sales and thrift stores and party supply stores for only a few items. What You’ll need: – embroidery hoops of different sizes, no two the same. This will allow them to nest. You can do this with other round cast off items, but I chose […]

Making a Victorian/ Steampunk Bustle

Making a Victorian/ Steampunk Bustle

By kristinameister May 25, 2013 1 Comment

A Victorian Bustle is simply a dress train that was tacked upward toward the hips. Over time this became exaggerated until it was the fashion. However, it’s difficult to source or create a dress with that much fabric hanging off the back in a modern setting. The solution is to create a detachable bustle that […]

Creating a Victorian Bustle Pad

By kristinameister May 17, 2013 9 Comments

Mid to Late Victorian Era gowns were graced with a bustle, and while the profiles may have changed, the most famous and instantaneously recognizable is the backswept narrow profiled bustle. This means that the dress, usually very long, had its train swept up and tacked to the butt of the gown, creating a poof of […]

Making an Appa Towel-Monster

By kristinameister November 28, 2012 Leave a comment

Maybe you love crafting and sewing. Maybe you’re a hard-core Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon show fan. Maybe you really want to make a unique holiday gift for your favorite grandchild, neice, or nephew. Or maybe you just love towels with hoods on them. Whatever the case, this is a quick and easy sewing project […]

The Mysterious Stranger Costume Build; Part 8: Shoulder guards

By kristinameister October 31, 2011 2 Comments

In honor of Halloween…This is the final piece of your costume!!  Yay! SHOULDER GUARDS: Materials: package of small balloons (can be purchased at dollar store, walgreens, etc. tons of newspaper or brown paper bags white glue or wood glue (sturdier) 2 small bowls resin two heavy duty lengths of cord about three inches in length […]

Mysterious Stranger Costume Build; Part 7: Gorget, or Neck Armor

By kristinameister October 24, 2011 3 Comments

This piece is the round plate that fits over the breastplate and wraps around the neck. In the claymation, this piece of armor is solid, however, when I attempted to make a solid piece, it strangled me, so I found another way of doing it that looks solid, but is flexible enough so that you […]

The Mysterious Stranger Costume Build; Part 5: Masks and Staff

By kristinameister October 19, 2011 Leave a comment

This is an ideal for any costume requiring a mask, like a carnival or masquerade costume. the staff can be used with any mask, and can be painted any color! So if you need to learn how to build a mask, this is the place! If you’re here for the Mysterious Stranger Costume, you may […]

The Mysterious Stranger Costume Build Tutorial; Part 4: Gloves

By kristinameister October 18, 2011 1 Comment

In order to make these gloves, you will need to buy a pair of gloves that fit you. It’s best if they are cheap, made of satin or some kind of polyester. I bought a pair of elbow length prom gloves in red from a site on ebay for five bucks, shipping included. Materials: gloves […]