Snow White Wrist Cuff

Lets finish off the Snow White extras today. 

One thing I have been seeing in Steampunk costuming is wrist cuffs. These can be layered or carved leather, metal, lace, fabric. Any shapable material.  I have wanted to try to make one and my limited ability is still best in fabric. This is my step by step. 

I cut out a fabric piece in this shape

Then made accordion folds

Then, realizing the back wasn't going to look too good,  I cut out a muslin backing, sewed it wrong sides together leaving an opening about midway on both sided to add ribbon ties later. Turned it right side out, reshaped the accordion folds and added some cool lace. Sewing the lace down to secure all the folds. 

I gathered items that I thought might work then eliminated most of them due to weight. The chains, charms and Seven Dwarves ended up on her belt chain. The scrolled frame is actually a dollhouse mirror. I covered the mirror with tape to repaint and glaze the detail then decided I liked a different shape more (it came in a 3 pack) I also used a tiny drill bit on my Dremel to drill a hole through the top and bottom of the mirror.  I sewed through that to attach it onto the cuff. 

This is what I decided on. Then sewed it all down with transparent thread. 

I don't have a clear shot of the cuff with her costume but took this to show how it ended up. Nothing too major. Just a fun extra detail. 

Still lots of photos loaded and awaiting attention. More should be coming soon. 

Have a wonderful sunday

Christmas Starburst Continued

A couple of weeks ago I did a small post about the Starburst I wanted to make. I thought it went up. but this week I realized it probably hadn't.  

So Here is the missing post.  

I had already started my starburst and had pieces glued in before I even considered putting it on a blog. So there is a pretty important photo missing. I was in Michael's and found a round wood "block". They had one that was  5" diameter, 1" thick for $.99. I brought it home and set it on my Quilting Mat marking the vertical, horizontal and cross lines

                                                                  Badly improvised shot 

I drilled a hole at each of those marks then added 2 in between. Giving a total of 24. I then carried it to the store with me to find dowels that fit. You could buy a package of precut dowels but I wanted mine longer.  I bought 12 dowels, making sure to watch for straight ones, then with Painters tape, I taped them together and cut them a bit off center so every other one was longer.  

One tip is to lay all the dowels parallel to spray paint. I had already glued mine in. It took 2 cans to cover each individually. Spraying them together will save you paint.  

Next up are the mirrors. I wanted different sizes. JoAnn's had the best price. I was able to get a package of 4-2" mirrors for $.99. Everywhere else was about double that. The price for 24-1", was about the same everywhere, usually just over $2.00.

5" flat mirrors are available at any of the stores. But I took the advice of the wonderful Epbot.com and bought a 5" blind spot mirror from O'rileys for $8.00. I considered driving around to find a better price, then decided I would waste as much in gas as I might save. It came on a plastic base with a large mounting bracket on the back so out comes the Dremel tool. (and a smile on my face)

It is slightly rounded giving a little extra dimension to the starburst. 

Now here is where the "Mel" brain kicks in. I wanted to make sure I had a secure mount on the mirrors,  and sitting them on top of a rounded dowel hoping the glue would hold wasn't working in my mind. I grabbed some fabric from the stash. I did the blue to see it better but I actually used muslin which was cut much more flat and a little wider than the mirror. 

Pinching it together, I added hot glue at the ends.

Making a nifty little sleeve that wraps around the dowel. 

I then slide them on figuring out how I wanted mine to look. Once each mirror was placed I went back and glued them down. 

The last step is setting the rounded mirror. I used E6000 Glue. 

 I placed a soft cloth on top of the mirror and set a book over that till it set. Then clean off the mirrors and try to stay away from a teen age, blond daughter just itching to touch each one as you cleaned it. 

And that's it.  

Pretty Huh?  

I did add some wood rounds that will hopefully tie it into my new accent I'm making for the Christmas tree. (Christmas Swirl post) They are neutral enough that I think this sun burst will be staying put for a while.  

See you next week.