Easy Cufflinks

During one of our thrift store hauls, my mom and I picked up a beautiful blouse. After we purchased it and got it home, we noticed the blouse was missing its cufflinks.  We went looking through our wardrobe to see if we already owned a blouse with a pair of cufflinks, thinking we would just pop the links off and use them on the thrift store blouse.  Unfortunately, there were no cufflinks to be found. So then I throw out the idea, "Why don't I just make some?" Mom looked a bit unsure, but replied with a, "If you think you can."
I love a challenge, but as it would turn out, making your own pair of cufflinks is a piece of cake!  All you need to get you started is a pair of cufflink bases that you can purchase at a local craft store.  Once you got your bases, you need to decide upon a design. I went with a couple of flat backed turquoise stones I had lying around my craft room and some champagne colored micro beads. I affixed both the stones and micro beads to each cufflink base with some clear epoxy.  That's it!  *TIP, if you are using a sealant/glue/glaze and you want the product to stay level with your work (and prevent spillage over the sides) use rice to stabilize your craft upright.

Glitter Shoes

I had a pair of white, canvas Keds.  With natural wear the shoes began to get dirty and dingy.  I didn't want to buy a new pair of white sneaks-- but I really missed their bright, clean look.  I tried a little bleach on the shoes, hoping to whiten them up.  The bleach ended up making matters worse because it stained the shoes with yellow splotches. Frustrated, I put the shoes to the side and kinda forgot about them.  Their existence would enter my mind during my typical stroll thru Michael's Craft Store.  While looking amongst the clearance items, I came across a HUGE bottle of orchid colored glitter. Thus, the idea of glitter covered shoes was born!

Old, dingy white canvas sneaker

Supplies! ...and of course a paint brush

 

Mixing textile medium and acrylic paint in similar color as glitter, apply your newly made fabric paint to areas of high friction.

 

Paint thin coat of Tulip glitter fabric paint on to shoe (excluding tongue). Apply first layer of glitter



Second coat of glitter, applied same as first. Once dry, seal with third coat Tulip glitter paint, only.  Paint and glitter is easily scraped off shoe eyelets with finger nail.

I'm ready to have my Wizard of Oz moment, in my new ORCHID slippers!



 

I realize I could have made this whole process easier if I would have purchased a purple fabric paint, but (excluding the glitter) I was trying to be thrifty and use the stuff I had on hand. I get creative when it comes to keeping cost down. The cost breakdown:  $2.99 plus tax, for glitter.  All other supplies were remnants from previous craft endeavors.

Oh yeah...if you're doing this craft indoors, make sure the house fan is off.  Not that I mind the fine dusting of glitter all over everything, but; it becomes a bit troublesome when you're unable to clean it from the nose wrinkle of a pug.