Sparkly Doll Shoe Makeover (Tutorial)

What is up with me and the glitter?? I just can't stay away from it. I bought a plain set of doll shoes from the craft store and decided to give them a makeover...with glitter! Begin with a plain pair of doll shoes (or girls shoes...I think that would work nicely too). You will also need glitter, glue, a paint brush and modge podge.

Remove any embellishments that will get in the way of glittering.

Stuff shoes with a little something to keep them from collapsing while you are working with them. (I just used a cellophane candy package)

Generously coat shoes with glue, using a paint brush. Craft glue is what I used, but Elmer's glue would probably work also.

Optional Step: Go check on the cookies you have in the oven, and come back to find your baby has found and spilled an entire tube of glitter. Sparkles, anyone?

Over a sheet of scrap paper, sprinkle a generous amount of glitter over wet glue. Gently tap shoes to remove excess glitter, and use a dry brush to remove glitter from soles.

When the glue/glitter is completely dry, coat with a generous layer of modge podge.

When modge podge is dry, reapply embellishments. (I used E6000 glue) The modge podge does such a good job that when I rubbed my finger across the shoes there was no glitter rubbing off. If you try this on girls shoes, I would do a second layer just for added durability.

Vintage Lace Doll Dress

I made this doll dress from a vintage reproduction pattern from Butterick. The lace was a garage sale find. While this dress came out very cute, it is quite possibly the strangest construction I have ever seen. The dress itself is one very oddly shaped piece, with pleats, gathers and a placket in the back. The only additional pieces are a placket facing and the ties. I had to make a few modifications as there was supposed to be two more pleats on the front with lace, but as you can see, that would have been overkill. For the closure I used Velcro for ease of use, since it is being made for my three-year-old.

More Christmas Presents: A (Not-So) Riveting Tale of Planning Way Ahead

Long ago, in a land far away (California to be exact) I was a teenage girl who couldn't get enough of sewing. I would spend hours in my room churning out all sorts of sewing projects. Back then, my siblings (won't mention any names..........) used to tease me mercilessly about sewing. They thought I was such a dork for my sewing habit. My, how things have changed. (Again, won't mention any names...;) So back then I would practice on anything I could get my hands on. I sewed a lot of doll clothes because they didn't use much fabric and I figured I could save them for 'someday.' Also, I think I was trying to fill some sort of American Girl Doll sized hole in my heart. Well, the doll of my dreams still hasn't shown up on my doorstep, so I went to the craft store and bought a cheaper knock-off for Katie for Christmas. I have resurected the doll clothes of my youth, and plan to add outfits between now and Christmas. The lavender skirt is one I made recently. The lace part is the edging from a set of linens. The doll dresses of yore are made from various vintage fabrics I happily inherited from a really sweet old lady from our church, Daisey Harrel. Like the vintage labels? I used to cut them out of vintage clothes and sew them into my stuff because I liked the way they looked. I would have never guessed way back them that someday I would be wrapping up those dresses and giving them to a sweet little blond daughter for Christmas. I hope she likes them.