Ghost Pillowcase Dress Costume

by Mandy, Sugar Bee Crafts

• Halloween Garland (loved the shimmer of purple), $1
• a pack of black dishcloths, $1
• 2 flour sack things – they’re by the kitchen towels, and there’s essentially a big square of white fabric, $2
• Sewing machine & thread, on hand
• Hot glue & glue sticks, on hand

Total: $4

How to Make It:

1. Cut the flour sacks to the size you want, lay them on top of each other with right sides together, and sew up the side seams.

2. Cut the half-a-“u” shape for the armholes as shown. Turn the edge and sew it down.

3. Cut the garland into 2 pieces – one that will go all the way around the bottom of the dress for trim and one to use as a shoulder tie. Also cut eyes and a mouth from the black dishcloth.

4. Then iron and sew down on the top of the front and back about 1 inch.  This will make a casing that the garland can pass through to tie the dress around the shoulders.

To attach the face pieces and garland trim around the bottom, I just used hot glue.  Then feed the other garland piece through the casing – try on the dress and tie it in place over one shoulder.  Voila!

I love this costume because it can also be everyday wear during the Halloween season.  My daughter wears it with a tank top and leggings underneath.

p.s. Last year I made an updated version of this classic halloween costume, too. Check out my tutorial: a ghost, but pillowcase style.

The post Tutorial: Ghost Pillowcase Dress Costume appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When it comes to t-shirt modifications, one of the best sources for inspiration is Anthropologie (and, Anthro is great for jewelry and decor inspiration, too!). Jen at Tatertots and Jello made this ruffly t-shirt inspired by an Anthro shirt, and she used a dollar store flour sack towel to make the ruffles. Smart! The entire shirt makeover (including purchasing the shirt) was only $5. [how to make an anthropologie-inspired ruffly t-shirt]

Project Estimate:

• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Flour sack towel, $1
• Sewing stuff, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Anthro-Inspired Ruffly T-shirt Dollar Store Remake appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Awhile back, I stamped shirts with stamps and acrylic paints, noting that you can set the acrylic paint with vinegar and make it permanent (no fabric paint medium needed!). Since then, I’ve learned you can even skip the vinegar step. Have you ever gotten acrylic paint on your clothes while you were painting? I bet the paint’s still there! Acrylic doesn’t go anywhere once it dries! One of my favorite blogs, Filth Wizardry posted a great idea this week: decorate dollar store flour sack towels with permanent markers and acrylic paint and sew the towels up to make a colorful one-of-a-kind skirt (or shorts). [how to make painted tea towel skirts]

You can find flour sack towels and permanent markers at the dollar store. Sometimes they have tiny pots of acrylic paint, too, but I recommend investing in a few bottles of regular craft acrylic paint at the craft store. It comes in handy often!

Eden at eden ART took this concept and switched it up by rescuing a princess dress that had been stained. She just painted over the dress, stains and all, and turned her daughter’s ruined dress into a work of rainbowy art! I love this idea for two reasons: one, you don’t have to be able to sew to take part in this great project. Two, you can rescue stained clothing and give it a second life (especially awesome for special garments such as this princess dress). [how to make a painted princess dress]

Tips for working with kiddos plus permanent markers and acrylic paint:

1. Cover your work area with newspapers, or work outside where spills aren’t as big of a deal
2. Clean up any spills immediately (even watered-down paint)
3. Permanent marker comes off skin with a little squirt of hand sanitizer (thanks for that tip, Eden!)
4. I distinguish between these supplies and washable ones with my kids by calling them “big boy” markers and paints and tell them the rules for using them (no painting on self, or on anything other than the designated canvas)
5. Don’t use washable paint or markers for this project

Project Estimate:

• Flour sack towels, $1 each (optional)
• or, a stained piece of clothing, on hand
• Acrylic craft paints, on hand or $.50 each and up
• Permanent markers, on hand or $1
• Paint brushes, on hand

Total: FREE and up

The post Paint Your Clothes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.