Wearable Crafts

Crafts of all sorts can be fun; but wearable crafts are a special kind of fun! Here are some ideas for craft projects that your kids can have fun wearing.


1. Tutus

How many little girls fantasize about wearing a tutu? The good news is, you don't have to spend a bunch of money to get a tutu; you can make one at home. Here's how.

Materials:
* Scissors or a rotary cutter
* Measuring tape
* Ruler
* Strip of elastic, 1/2-inch wide and cut to fit around your child's waist
* 6 to 8 yards of tulle (the net-like fabric that bridal veils are often made of)

Directions:

Measure your child's waist with the tape measure, then purchase/cut a piece of elastic that length. Cut the tulle into strips, approximately 6 inches wide x 18 inches long (you can make them longer if you like, or use different colors to make a multi-colored tutu).

Lay 3 strips of tulle on top of each other, and fold them in half over the elastic. Tie the group of tulle strips into a knot over/around the elastic. Repeat this until the tulle strips are tied all the way around the elastic.

Here's the only sewing part - when you come to the end of the elastic, sew the ends together by hand or with a machine. You can arrange the tulle to cover the stitched part.


2. Custom Shoes

Footwear can be fun if you make your own custom shoes! This craft can work with young and old alike. There are a couple of approaches to customizing your shoes; you can decorate existing shoes or actually make a pair. Here are some ideas.

Using acrylic paint, you can customize many shoes. Canvas shoes especially lend themselves to being painted. Try a simple flower pattern (small yellow dot surrounded by larger, colored dots), or polka dots. Or you can get really elaborate and do a camouflage or leaf pattern. Simply making colorful dots along the band and edge of a pair of Mary Janes gives them a new look.

Flip Flops

With some thick foam and a little time, you can make your own flip flops (beach shoes, thong sandals, etc.). Here's how.

Materials:
* One-inch thick foam
* Cardboard
* Hot glue gun
* Plastic cording, strips of fabric, or whatever you want to use for the sandal straps
* Box cutter

Directions:

Trace your feet on cardboard leaving a half-inch or so margin. Cut them out, then use the cut-outs to trace the pattern on the foam. Use the box cutter to cut out the shapes from the foam. Stand on the foam cut-outs and determine where the thong will go between your toes and where it will go into the foam base on either side of your foot. Mark these areas with a pencil.

Using the pencil, poke holes in the foam where you made the marks. Take two pieces of cord or fabric. Measure the space between the central toe mark and one of the side marks; add a little length to allow for your foot's arch and cut to size. Repeat on the other side.

Place hot glue into the central hole, and poke the two cords down into the hole. Hold them together so they are fused together right at the hole. Separate the cords or fabric strands and use the same glue-and-poke technique for the side holes.

You can get creative with this and string beads on the thongs before gluing them down.