Crafty Pirate

Song of the Day : 30 Seconds to Mars - Hurricane

2012-01-26T23:16:00.003-07:00

I've been a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars for a while, but I haven't had a chance to listen to the newest album. While my little sister was visiting me at the shop today, she put this song on for me. I'm seriously in love with it. The video is awesome too! I can't get enough!

30 Seconds To Mars - Music - More Music Videos

Video Tutorial : No Sew Spiderweb Top

2012-01-24T23:07:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I was watching Tank Girl the other day and I got super inspired by Tank Girl's boyfriend's shirt. I can't for the life of me find a photo of it to show you, but his shirt looks a bit spider webby. So I decided to make myself a spiderweb shirt, and I filmed it's creation step by step for you. Hope you enjoy it!

52 Videos : Video 4

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I've mentioned to you guys that I'm on a bowling league, but I am. We bowl every Friday night. This video shows you some of the shenanigans that go on.

Weekly Photo Dump

2012-01-22T00:00:00.001-07:00

52 Videos : Video 3

2012-01-16T00:00:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! Here is the 3rd video for my 52 videos challenge. This video is from New Year's Eve (December 31, 2011). After C.W., Pat and I got done selling fireworks that night, we headed over to Pat's parents house for a little New Year's Eve shindig. We set off a ton of fountain fireworks, and January first is Pat's dad's birthday so we got him a cool firework for the top of his mini cake. It was a super fun night! Check out the video below:

Room Redux

2012-01-11T00:00:00.003-07:00

I've been slowly redecorating my bedroom since I've been back home. I've added things here and there, but now it's really coming together. It's like my own personal utopia. I'd probably stay in here all day every day if I didn't have to go to work or go downstairs to get something to eat.

On Monday I went to the dollar store and purchased three black frames. What did I frame you ask? Batman comic book scans of course! I stole the idea from my craft wife Max. I love comic book art (and especially Batman) so it only made sense for me to add some comic book art to my room.

Then I decided to make this super cute fabric basket to match my brand new comforter set. It was super simple to make. I got the idea (and pattern) to make it from the book One Yard Wonders. It's currently my favorite crafting book. The ideas are simple and you only need one yard of fabric for each project!

52 Videos : Video 2

2012-01-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! It's time for video two, in my series of 52 videos. This video is from Christmas Eve/Christmas day 2011 at my boyfriend's parent's house. One tradition they have is they make homemade eggnog on Christmas Eve, and oh my goodness is it good! I captured the group making eggnog, as well as unwrapping presents on Christmas morning. I'm super happy with the way the video turned out. Enjoy!

Sunday Evening Photo Dump

2012-01-08T16:38:00.012-07:00

52 Videos : Video 1

2012-01-01T22:36:00.006-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! First of all, Happy New Year! Yay! It's a fresh new year and there are tons of things I'd like to accomplish but instead of making some crazy list of 'to dos', I've decided to focus on one goal above all the rest. This year I'm going to make 52 home videos. That's right folks, one video a week.

You may be wondering what spawned this crazy idea right? Well, I suppose it's because lately I've been watching America's Funniest Home videos a lot. It got me to thinking. I have photos of events and such, but there's nothing like a video to capture the real mood of a situation or event. I really enjoy editing and making movies as well. Thus, the 52 videos idea came about. I just think it's a great way to document your life. I also think it's a great way to share glimpses of my life with you all. So for the next year, I'll be filming a lot!

So let's get this party started! Here is the first video I created. My friend (and roomie) C.W. got hired to run a Fireworks tent this past week. He hired my boyfriend and I to help him out here and there. This video highlights the shenanigans that went on while we were working. Hope you enjoy it!

What a craftastic day!

2011-12-11T19:22:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me maties! I've been in the making mood today. I don't have a whole lot of storage space in my room so I decided to make these cute little hanging wall pouches:

The eyeball pouch holds my body sprays, lotions, and deodorant. The zebra pouch is for my boyfriend's wallet and glasses. I used a pattern from the book One Yard Wonders. It's a great book filled with patterns that only use one yard of fabric. The book has so many awesome projects you can make to spiff up your house. If you sew, you should totally pick up a copy.

I picked up this plain black hoodie last week with the idea to applique one of my pirate flags to the back of it. I freakin' love it! It came out so perfect!

And lastly, I finally hung up my eyeball lights today. I got them on sale for a whopping $5 at Target after Halloween. They're so cute!

Holy Crafting Batman!

2011-11-28T18:56:00.007-07:00

Ahoy maties! I feel so accomplished right now. I got a ton of crafting done today. I've been (slowly but surely) trying to restock my Etsy shop. It doesn't look like such a ghost town over there now! Here are two new aprons I made last weekend:

Today has been a really crafty day for me too. I started the day out making some new jewelry. I bought some Swarovski rhinestones a while ago but I've had them stashed away in my craft bin. Every time that I try to use them I come up with some excuse not to (totally not pirate-like at all). Anyways, today I finally decided to but those sparkly babies to good use. I made some new necklaces and I'm really digging them.

This is the only finished one at the moment. The photos don't do it justice at all! It's so sparkly. I'll be making a few more tonight. I love how 'girly with an edge' they are!

And last, but certainly not least....I just finished making these awesome Batman pj pants for my boyfriend. Once again I had to improvise....

There was only 1 1/4 yard of this awesome Batman fabric left, and that just wasn't going to cut it. I needed 2 3/4 of a yard of fabric for the pants. So I grabbed some plain blue flannel, cut both prints in half and stitched them back together. I think they came out pretty amazing. I love how the paneling came out. I must say, I'm pretty jealous of his pj pants. The good news is that I have just enough left over to make myself some sleep shorts. I'll definitely be making those soon.

Anyways, I'm off to craft some more. I'm wearing down, but there are a few more things I'd like to get done tonight.

Free Shipping!

2011-11-27T15:34:00.002-07:00

Hello Lovlies! I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on my current shop deal:

Free shipping on every order.

All you have to do is type in the code FREESH1PP1NG at checkout.

Click the banner below to check out all the new items in my shop!

New Swagger Savvy Designs Stuff

2011-11-26T16:41:00.004-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I just got done adding some new aprons to my Etsy shop. Check them out:

Click the banner below to check out all the new goodies in my shop!

Show me your bones......

2011-11-24T03:20:00.003-07:00

I just got done whipping up a super cute pair of flannel PJ pants for myself. I've had this bones flannel in my fabric stash since last Halloween. I actually didn't have enough yardage to cut the pattern out properly, so I had to improvise a bit. Check them out:

Sheesh! Sorry about the dusty mirror. I forgot how dusty the desert is! Anyways, I had to cut the top of the pants from the yardage I had, then cut the lower half of the legs from the scraps I had left over. The bones on the lower part of the pants are going a different direction but I think it looks super cute. I also used pink thread and a zig zag stitch to finish the seam where I sewed the two pieces together.

I used pink velvet ribbon to hem the pants. I love how it makes them a bit more girly. I'll definitely be making myself another pair of these pants (in a different pattern of course). They were so easy to make.

Hewwwo!

2011-11-23T23:02:00.002-07:00

Ahoy there! It's been forever since I've updated my blog and I'm soooo sorry! I've been buzzing around like a busy little bee! I've basically been enjoying my life (and free time) so crafting has taken a back seat for far too long now. I desperately need to make some new clothes and some new cute things for my Etsy shop!

I can't believe this year is almost over. It's crazy how fast time flies! The scenery is a whole lot different this time of year in Arizona. There's no snow, and it barely gets down to 60 degrees at night. There are no leaves changing colors, or falling from the trees for that matter. I'm definitely okay with that though. I'm so happy that I made the decision to move back home. It's amazing how things can be so different (and happy) in just a year's time.

I don't have any cute photos to show you right now, or any crafty tutorials written up just yet.....but I assure you I'm working on making my blog a priority again. I just need to schedule some posts and come up with some new creative things to share with you.

I hope you are all doing well. I miss you all dearly. Leave me a comment below and let me know what you guys are up to. I can't wait to read about all your adventures.

For now, I'm off to make some PJ pants since I'm a bit chilly! Then maybe work on some more stuff for my Etsy shop. I promise I'll have some photos for you soon.

Ahoy!

2011-09-28T22:30:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties! Sheesh! I've really been slacking on updating my blog. I've been so swamped with work (and play) that I haven't really had time to post anything. I'm all settled into my new home and job and things are going swimmingly.

My birthday was Monday. I'm the big 3-0 now. I wasn't too happy about it, but now I'm okay with it. I've had a few days to adjust. It's not that I feel old, it's just weird that my 20's are gone. I bought myself a birthday present and they finally got here today. Check them out:

Aren't they awesome!? I've wanted these for quite some time now. They're made by Iron Fist and they've been quite hard to find. I finally found them on eBay and snatched up a pair. Yays!

Tonight I made some new Swagger Savvy Designs garb:

Necklaces! With Ribcages! Oh my! I'll have them posted in my Etsy shop soon.

Jeppy made me these super cute bracelets today:

I'm really into BIG, chunky, blinged out bracelets at the moment. I love how heavy these bracelets are, and how they clink together when I wash or style people's hair.

What have you guys been up to? I want to hear all about it!

Operation Australia

2011-08-13T00:00:00.002-07:00

(source)

Ahoy me hearties! I have some super exciting news to share with you. I've finally started planning my trip to Australia! I've been wanting to visit Australia for some time now, but life has gotten in the way of my trip planning. I'm refusing to put it on the 'back burner' any longer though. Today I took the first step to make my dream trip happen:

I had my passport photo taken! I then headed straight over to the post office to pick up a passport application. I have it all filled out and I'm taking it back to the post office in the morning to have it filed. Eeee! So excited! From now on, my trip will be referred to as 'Operation Australia'. I'll be posting updates on my progress, as well as the steps I needed to take to get everything I needed for the trip in order.

Most of you probably read this blog post I wrote the other day. Well that blog post (and some thinking) really started the fire under my ass on this trip planning. I requested info on the local fashion design school that night, and the admissions adviser promptly contacted me (Monday afternoon) to set up an appointment to talk shop and show me the campus. Well, Monday night I was doing some thinking and suddenly an epiphany hit me. I thought, "everything I want to learn sewing/fashion design wise, Max can teach me."

Long story short: I canceled my appointment at the fashion design school! I'd rather put all the money that I'd spend on fashion design school (which would of been A LOT) towards my trip to Australia. It's going to be way more fun and fulfilling to sew and spend time with Max, than to sit in a boring classroom. Making this decision and planning this trip has already given me so much joy, and that's really what I need in my life right now.

I can remember being obsessed with Australia when I was a kid as well. I used to go to the library and get research books on Australia. I was fascinated by Uluru (Ayers Rock). I would spend hours reading about it! Nerdy huh?

I'm looking forward to meeting Max and her family in person, and hopefully some of my other Australian friends as well. This trip is going to be the highlight of my life, I just know it. I can't wait!

Happy Friday!

2011-08-12T22:14:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! Today was such a great day. I slept in until 1 pm (yeah, I know I'm a slacker) but it felt good to catch up on sleep. I work three, 12 hour days at the salon so by Friday I'm super tired. This week was particularly busy as well, but I'm not complaining. I'd rather be busy than just sitting around.

Here's a few photos that outline my awesome day:

I went and had my passport photo taken today. I'll share more on that later....

After being home for over a month now, I finally had some yummy, authentic mexican food. MMMmm...it was delicious!

While doing some research, I looked over to find this cute pup snoozing in my fuzzy blankets. What a rough life.

I wore my favorite kicks to run errands today.

How about you guys? How was your Friday?

My weekend (in photos)...

2011-08-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I'm absolutely in love with the Hipsteroku camera for Retro Camera. I think I'm verging on being obsessed with it! I love the photos it takes. I thought it would be cute to show you my past weekend in photos. Hope you enjoy!

My friend Leveda sent me this super cute skeleton costume for Higgins. It glows in the dark too.

At lunch with my brother.

My new Darth Vader shirt. It says, 'Come to the dark side [we have cookies].'

Are my sunglasses too big?

New apron!

A hair bow I made for Lonnee.

Hope you guys had an amazing weekend! I sure did.

2011-08-07T12:28:00.002-07:00

The past few weeks have been a bit trying for me. I've only been home for about a month now, but things are starting to look up. The decision to move back to Arizona was not an easy one, but I'm so glad I did. I came home to so much love, it was overwhelming. I never realized that so many people cared about me. It's like all the pain I felt was left in the past (where it should be) and I've got a second chance to start my life over. To piece my life together exactly as I'd like it to be. I don't have to settle for anything, or anyone. To be able to build my life again is such an amazing gift.

I've been a bit wishy washy with my blog lately. Not because I don't like to blog anymore, but because I'm having a hard time feeling inspired. I'm sure it's all part of the settling in process. I just need to get my priorities set again. I have so many goals that I want to achieve and it's hard to put them in order. I just have to remember to put one foot in front of the other. Just keep going.

I've been watching Project Runway a lot lately and I feel like I really want to go to school for Fashion Design. Designing just stirs something in me. I'd love to have my own clothing line someday. I realize I don't need to go to school to do any of the things above, but I'd love to have some formal training in these areas. I've sent off for some info on the closest school to me. We'll see how it pans out.

As far as everything else. Things are good. Work is going good. I'm hopeful that I'll build my clientele back up quickly. I'm trying to get some things made for my Etsy shop so I can get back in the swing of things there. I've decided that I'll be focusing more on making aprons and hair goodies for now. I'll still make purses, but they'll be more of a custom order type thing.

What I've been up to....

2011-08-05T11:18:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me maties! I've been busy settling into my new home and job, so I've had little time to blog. I've been trying to get my Etsy shop restocked too, and slowly but surely I'm getting some super cute stuff made. Check out the fruits of my work:

I'm seriously in love with the bat apron. It's the perfect combo of patterns. I hand drafted the apron pattern myself, and made them a bit more girlie this time around. I'm really liking the way they came out. You can find most of my new items in my Etsy shop.

I'm off to make more aprons now!

Reopening......

2011-07-17T22:33:00.002-07:00

AHOY! Sorry it's been so long since my last blog update. I've been settling in here at my new home and my first week of work at my new (old) job went well! Hurrah! Things are slowly but surely falling into place here in Arizona. I got the crafting itch Friday, so I went out in search of a Jo-Ann's so I could buy a few crafting supplies. Turns out, there's one about five minutes from my house. I'm in BIG trouble. That makes it so easy to just run down there and pick up crafting supplies. This leads me to my next bit of news. I've decided to reopen my Swagger Savvy Designs Etsy shop. Who was I kidding? I can't stop creating cute stuff! I've been making some super cute hair bows with my new crafting supplies. Check them out:

I'm smitten with all of them! I think they came out way cute. It feels so good to be making things again. Check out my Etsy shop HERE.

New Job, New Apron

2011-07-10T22:35:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I can't tell you how happy I am to be back home in Arizona! I've unpacked and put away most of my stuff and I'm finally feeling better after that LONG drive. I started shipping my stuff home in late April, so I've been without most of my crafting and sewing supplies since then. I was going crazy not being able to create! AH!

I decided to make a new apron tonight since I'm starting my new job on Tuesday. Technically it's not a 'new' job since it's the shop I worked at before I moved to St. Louis, but I am going to be starting over again nevertheless. I'm hopeful that most of my clients will come back to me though. Alright, enough jibber jabber! Let me show you my new apron!

I love how it came out! I can't wait to wear it. It felt so good to sew again too. I think tomorrow I'll make myself some new shirts to wear to work. I had to downsize my wardrobe for the move so I'm in dire need of new shirts! My brother had a whole pile of clothing he doesn't wear anymore waiting for me when I got here. I think I'll use that to create my new wardrobe. I think I'll make it a sort of challenge as well. Make each piece of clothing 'new' again! No matter what it looks like! Yeah! I'm feeling very inspired by this idea. I'll make sure to take before and after photos of everything as well.

Hello from Arizona!

2011-07-10T17:32:00.001-07:00

Guest Post

2011-07-05T22:00:00.001-07:00

Hey guys! I'm on the way back to Arizona right now, but never fear, I've got something special for you. I'm guest blogging over at My Beautiful Disaster today, so make sure you pop on over and say hello to Erin!

Outfit Post :: Black Mini Skirt

2011-06-26T20:30:00.004-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I have been in desperate need of a black mini skirt for some time now. I decided to hit up the local Goodwill today, in search of a pair of black 'old man' pants. As luck would have it, I found a pair in the exact size I needed! Hoorah! I got right to work transforming the pants into a skirt. Here's the before photo of the pants:

Now, they're a skirt:

Outfit Details:

Tube Top :: Reconstructed by me
Skirt :: Reconstructed by me
Socks :: Pink Cookie
Shoes :: Converse XX Hi
Necklace :: Vintage

Outfit Post :: Girl's Night Out

2011-06-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! This is the outfit I wore to my 'Topnotch' sendoff. Jeans with wedges is my usual outfit for when I'm going out for a casual night on the town. It's comfy, you can dance in the wedges and you won't feel too dressy wearing jeans.

Tank Top :: OP
Jeans :: Levi's 518s
Wedges :: Iron Fist
Necklace :: Vintage Coffin Pendant

Video Wars!

2011-06-22T19:08:00.005-07:00

It all started with this video I made for my craft wife Max. I simply made a nice little video for her since we don't really get to talk on the phone (she's in Australia, I'm in the USA). So yesterday, she made me a video reply, and then commenced making some videos for her other friends as well. When I got home from work this afternoon I was browsing FaceBook and I discovered that Max's sister Betty has gotten in on the video action as well, only that she's completely turned the videos into jokes! Mocking her sister and jokingly creating a mock eyeglasses makeup tutorial. It's hilarious! Hence, Video Wars has begun!

I saw this video on Max's FB wall, and immediately a video idea popped into my head! Check out my first Video Wars video:

Then, since I was all dressed up I decided to make a few more videos:

Before anyone asks me, No, I'm not drunk (or high)! I just love being goofy. I love making silly videos as well. There is nothing better for the soul than some good laughter. I think everyone should be able to laugh at themselves too. You shouldn't take yourself too seriously.

So what do you think? Are you down for some Video Wars? If you think you can hang, I want to see your silly/goofy/odd videos! Leave them in a link below, and if you post your videos to Twitter use the #videowars tag so we can blow this thing up!

Check out all my other videos HERE.

Check out Max's videos HERE.

Check out Betty's (Max's sister) videos HERE.

Ask Trisha Anything....

2011-06-21T17:00:00.001-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! After watching my Q & A vlog, my pal and DIY comrade Trisha, has decided to host her own Q & A session. Yays! Let's show her some love guys. Click the button below to head over to her blog to ask her a question.

If you're feeling at all compelled to make your own Q & A vlog, hit me up so I can help promote you! This is such a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers. You really get to see their personalities and little quirks.

craftypirate [at] gmail [dot] com

Featured

2011-06-21T13:35:00.003-07:00

Hey guys! One of my tutorials is featured over at Chic Steals today! Click the button below to check out all the great tutorial links she has posted.

Ryan

2011-06-20T17:21:00.006-07:00

(source)

I didn't know him in real life, but I feel like I've grown up with him. It feels as though I've lost one of my dearest friends. He was always there to pick up my spirits when I was sad (I usually watch CKY, Viva La Bam or Jackass when I'm down). I am overwhelmed with sadness and heartbroken in the wake of his death. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Rest in Peace Ryan. You will be missed.

Answers

2011-06-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Cherry BOMB!

2011-06-15T19:47:00.007-07:00

Today my friend Amanda came to the shop to get her hair done. She's been coloring her hair black herself for quite some time now. We had talked about doing blue a while ago, but that never came to fruition. Instead, she decided on becoming a red head. When she told me what she wanted to do on the phone this morning, I was a bit overwhelmed. Getting [box] black out of hair is a bit tricky and time consuming, not to mention damaging to the hair. Thankfully, as soon as I hung up with her a game plan popped into my head! Here's her before photo:

She had at least 2 1/2 inches of new growth, and the rest of the hair shaft was black. Luckily, she'd been using a home remedy (prescribed by me) to get the black to fade a bit, and it worked!

After about 4 hours of work, she's now a red head! Check it out:

It came out so good! It looks amazing on her. These photos don't really do the color it's full justice. I added some cherry red streaks in there for more dimension too.

She also brought me this amazing sign:

Gah! I love it! I can't wait to hang it up in my new room in Arizona.

She had my little boyfriend Phineas (her son) in tow today as well.

Isn't he adorable?! He's such a good baby. He just smiles and hangs out. Everyone at the shop loves him. He's such a flirt too.

My 'Topnotch' Sendoff!

2011-06-13T13:02:00.029-07:00

Saturday night, my sweet coworkers took me out for a 'Topnotch' sendoff. The hair salon that I work at is named Topnotch Hair Biz, see what I did there? Eh,eh? Okay, my jokes are cheesy, oh well. They took me out for a sendoff since I'm preparing to move back to Arizona to be closer to my family. It's probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. These ladies are like family to me, and I'm going to miss them so much!

We decided to hit up The Loading Dock for some dinner and live music. The Loading Dock is this really cool restaurant/bar right on the Mississippi River in Grafton, Illinois. Their food is delish and it's so cool to look over and see The Big Muddy. Right when we got there the Gypsy Rose pirate ship was pulling up!

It took every ounce of my self control to not commandeer that ship for myself. I can't help it, it's the pirate in me. And yes, there were pirates on the ship.

Leveda, Jana and I.

Jana and I.

The Ladies!

This is Mary Beth, we affectionately refer to her as 'MB'. She's hilarious! She kept dripping her drink on her chest so we made her a bib. She loved it. Look how happy she is! I've been spending lots of time at work throwing stuff at her and giving her love taps. We're a bit like siblings. She wouldn't sit next to me at the table because she knew she'd be 'black and blue' before the night was over. LOL!

After being at The Loading Dock for a few hours, we decided to change venues. We went down to Fast Eddie's Bon Air for some live music and dancing.

Sherry and I.

Kari and I.

MB and I. Aww..feel the love!

Who knows what she's yelling about.

Sherry and some dudes that were sitting behind us.

Amy and the dudes.

And boy do I have a treat for you. MB dancing! She's so funny! Check her out in the videos below. I just had to post these!

As you can see, we had a blast! Such a fun night and I'm so glad I have all these photos and videos of it. I'm really going to miss these girls.

Quit drooling on my shoes.....

2011-06-12T16:11:00.009-07:00

Yesterday when I got home I was greeted by a package waiting for me on my doorstep. I was super excited when I realized that it was probably my recently purchased 'Oh No' wedge heels from Iron Fist. After creating this fashion inspiration post, I knew I had to have them.

Upon searching for them online, I realized they came in purple as well. I don't love the color red (I don't hate it either) but purple suits my tastes better so I purchased the purple ones. I was surprised they were here already as I only ordered them a few days ago. I love fast shipping! I was hoping they'd be here in time for me to wear them to my going away party (more on that later) and they were! Let the drooling commence:

I freakin' love them! I got so many compliments on them last night. They were super comfortable too. I can't really wear stilettos because I'm clumsy and would fall down a lot, but also because they hurt my feet. I have no arch at all, so wedges are WAY comfier for me.

I think my favorite part about them (besides the eyeball print) is the cute bows on the toes. You know I love me some bows! I'm seriously in love with these shoes!

Q & A with Crafty Pirate!

2011-06-10T22:00:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties!

I thought it would be fun to host a little Q & A about myself here at CraftyPirate.com. The only problem is, I need some questions to answer. You think you guys can help me out with that?

The best part is, I'll be answering your questions on video! That's right, you get to watch more of me being hyper/twitchy/odd/piratey/awkward on camera.

You can ask me anything you like. I won't discriminate against questions [as long as they aren't rude or mean]. Just leave your questions in a comment below this post and I'll get to filming!

Don't be shy, ask away!

New Tags!

2011-06-10T15:30:00.002-07:00

Hey guys! I just wanted to share some of my newly published pet ID tag designs. If you'd like to purchase one, simply click the design.

Video Tutorial :: T-shirt to Tube Top

2011-06-07T22:00:00.004-07:00

Outfit Post :: Zebra Rodeo T-shirt Surgery

2011-06-07T17:28:00.005-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I made this super cute Zebra Rodeo tube top today using one of the shirts Richie sent me. It was super simple to make and I just love the way it came out. I'm a sucker for simple black and white color schemes. I also made the skirt. It was originally a pair of 'old man pants'. I know, go figure. I just can't help myself, they make such cute skirts! Anywhoo, on with the show.

Listen to this while you peruse the photos:

Outfit Details:

Tube Top :: Reconstructed by me
Skirt :: Reconstructed by me
Necklace :: MarySew
Boots :: 20 Eye Dr. Martens
Socks :: Sock Dreams Thigh Highs

:: Fashion Inspiration ::

2011-06-06T22:00:00.004-07:00

Eyeball Casual by TheraJoyce featuring skinny fit jeans

Vanessa Bruno sheer top
35 GBP - net-a-porter.com

TopShop skinny fit jeans
$80 - topshop.com

Iron Fist platform pumps
$50 - heels.com

Giles Brother chain necklace
135 GBP - net-a-porter.com

Red hair accessory
$14 - hottopic.com

Silver Iridescent Glitter Nail Polish
$2.99 - hottopic.com

I think you all know how much I love eyeball themed fashion items. I recently made myself a super cute eyeball top and I also carry an eyeball ruffle purse (that I also made). This outfit is right up my alley. I love to pair jeans and a simple tank top with cute and bold accessories. It gives the outfit just the right amount of character. The heels are my favorite part of this outfit. I think I'll be needing to purchase those for myself soon......

CraftyPirate.com!

2011-06-05T01:07:00.003-07:00

Hey guys! Yesterday I purchased my very own domain name and I'm super excited to be posting to CraftyPirate.com now! Yays! You may need to change the URL you use to follow me in whatever blog reader you use. I also have a new email. You can now email me at:

therajoyce [at] craftypirate [dot] com

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!

Dog Tag Art

2011-06-04T15:03:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I'm super excited to announce that I'm now an artist for Dogtagart.com. I first heard about the site through my sweet pal Ashley (she's an amazing graphic design artist) because she designs super cute tags for DTA. I purchased one of her tags for Higgins recently. I tried to get a closer photo of him wearing it, but he HATES having his photo taken.

It says, "I Fight Zombies." It took me FOREVER to get this shot of him wearing it because every time I would go to take his photo he would position himself with his back to me or simply walk away from me.

The tags are amazing quality. They're made of recycled steel core and the image is printed on the tag using a special polymer. They're manufactured here in the US as well and the back of the tag is customizable so you can add your phone number and pet's name.

As I was perusing the site's tags, I noticed that there weren't very many Pirate or Rock 'n' Roll themed tags so I'll be focusing on making those types of designs. Check out my first published design:

Isn't it cute!? They actually sell chains for humans too, so you can even purchase these for yourself. Check out my DTA profile HERE.

This week in my life......

2011-06-03T18:11:00.006-07:00

Wowzers! I've been UBER busy at the salon this week so I haven't had time to do much of anything. Even still, it's been an amazing week filled with a special gift from my friends, goodies in the mail and a fun addition to my hair!

On Wednesday two of my dear friends gave me this amazing ring.

They found it at a state sale and immediately thought of me because it reminded them of bones. Most of you that know me well know that I'm enamored with skulls, so that's why it reminded them of me. It's actually Indian jewelry (which I adore as well) and I've been looking for a piece like this for quite a while. I was super excited when they gave it to me. I love it. It's perfect.

When I got home from a LONG day of work yesterday I was greeted by a package (from Australia) in my mailbox. I recently spoke to Richie (the lead singer of Zebra Rodeo) and I asked him if he would ship me a Zebra Rodeo shirt. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my package to see two shirts, a Zebra Rodeo CD and a ZR button.

Gah! What a doll! They're seriously one of my favorite bands ever! I'm super stoked to have the CD now. I played it all the way to work and all the way home from work today (as well as last night when I opened my package). My ZR button is living happily on my purse and I can't wait to do some T-shirt surgery on my ZR shirts. Cuteness to ensue. EEee! Thanks a bunch Richie, you rock!!

Today, I got a fun addition to my hair:

Feather Extensions!

My coworker is offering them so I just couldn't pass them up. I don't do too much to my hair because it's so long and I don't want to damage it. These feather extensions are the perfect solution. They're easy to install and remove, and you can style them just like your own hair. I love them! What a nice little change.

HLAH :: Head Like A Hole

2011-05-25T22:00:00.011-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! Oh my goodness. Have I got a treat for you today. After reading my post about Australian bands, one of my readers, Trees, suggested some New Zealand bands for me to check out. And I'm so glad she did. I've hit the mother load. From the first few riffs of the first video I looked up on YouTube, I knew I was in LOVE. Are you ready?! Are you sure you're ready? Okay, I give you:

HLAH (Head Like a Hole)

HLAH is a rock band from Wellington, New Zealand. They disbanded in 2000, but reformed sometime in 2008. Thank goodness! They are amazing! I can't believe I've lived my life thus far without their music. I've picked a few of their videos to share with you. On with the show:

What about the banned zombie video eh?! I think it's safe to say I may have a bit of a crush on the lead singer as well. I think you can really see this band's charisma in their videos and I love that!

Got some bands you want me to check out? Leave them in a comment below.

Outfit Post :: The Eyes Have It

2011-05-23T22:00:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I made this super cute ruffled tube top using a vintage Simplicity pattern and what was left of my eyeball fabric stash. I love the way it came out!

My pal Ashley made me that super cute, over sized bow head band. CLICK HERE to get your own.

Outfit Details:

Top :: Handmade by me
Skirt :: Mossimo
Shoes :: Converse XX-Hi Sneakers
Head Band :: Flyby Designs
Necklace :: Handmade

Did you know....?

2011-05-22T19:34:00.003-07:00

.....That when I'm hyper I call myself 'The Tornado'? See what I look like when I'm 'The Tornado' below:

I wear my sunglasses at night......

Okay, in all seriousness...

Fashion Inspiration :: Apocalyptic

2011-05-22T11:29:00.003-07:00

Apocalpytic by TheraJoyce featuring a checkbook wallet

Black evening dress
25 GBP - desireclothing.co.uk

Iron Fist checkbook wallet
$25 - moodswingsonthenet.com

Tarina Tarantino gold jewelry
$95 - zappos.com

B Low the Belt waist belt
$258 - zappos.com

Black shade
7 GBP - punkypins.co.uk

Hot Topic Search - Search Results for neon
$2.99 - hottopic.com

1420
drmartens.com

Brush off the apocalypse wearing this ultra fab, wildly unrestrained outfit. Those burning embers will be no match for your legs since you'll be wearing your 20 eye Dr. Martens. Fend off mutants with your zombie wallet, they'll never know it's not alive. You'll be the talk of the village wearing this sequined, leopard print tube dress. Atomic bombs you say? Just put your shades on to protect your eyes from the glare. Stumbled upon a pool of green toxic goo? No worries, your neon green nails will match. As for the belt and necklace, well, no post apocalyptic girl can have too many accessories.

And the winner is......

2011-05-19T17:50:00.002-07:00

Comment number 9: Urzelgruz

Congrats Urzelgruz! Please send your mailing address to: therajoyce [at] gmail [dot] com

Thank you to everyone that entered! You guys rock!

Australian Bands...Hey!

2011-05-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! Today's music feature is about my favorite Australian bands. I have quite a few friends in Australia [and I even plan on traveling there someday to meet some of them]. My craft wife Max is from Australia. She's introduced me to some amazing bands that I would of never had a chance to hear being that I'm in the states. So let's get started:

Silverchair

(source)

In high school my first encounter with an Australian band was Silverchair. The band formed in Merewether, New South Wales [Australia]. OMG. I seriously wanted Daniel Johns to be my boyfriend. He was the most perfect grunge boy I'd ever seen! I can remember spending hours upon hours listening to Frogstomp [their debut album]. I would just pop the CD in my CD Walkman and disappear into my room. Check out my favorite Silverchair song:

My craft wife Max introduced me to the next three bands, and I'm so glad she did! I love them all. They're all different musical styles, but I can appreciate each of them for their unique sound. Check it out:

Zebra Rodeo

(source)

Oh Zebra Rodeo, how I love thee. They are awesome! They hail from Brisbane, Queensland [Australia]. They're broken up, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy their music.

Zombie Ghost Train

(source)

These guys are from Sydney, New South Wales [Australia]. They're considered psychobilly/gothabilly. I love their sound. It's so different from anything I would normally listen to. They broke up in 2009, but you can still find most of their music on YouTube. Here's my favorite song:

Evil Eddie

(source)

This is Evil Eddie. He's awesome. He hails from Brisbane as well and is considered Hip Hop/Punk. I totally want to make a Queensland shirt thanks to this video.

Yearning

2011-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget....

2011-05-17T12:38:00.002-07:00

To enter my giveaway. There's still time! Check out all the awesome goodies you could win:

CLICK HERE to enter.

2011-05-15T22:00:00.001-07:00

Life after Divorce.

I've been a bit hesitant to write about this on my blog, but I thought that it might help/comfort someone else that's going through the same thing. Life after divorce is no walk in the park. You loose weight, your desire to do anything you once loved, and sadly: your heart gets broken. I'm not talking about the hurt you felt when your first boyfriend dumped you, I'm talking complete and utter sadness and despair. Depression. Hate. Loneliness. The laundry list of emotions goes on and on. I don't think that most of you even knew that my [ex]husband left back in November, or that I got divorced. I never mentioned it to you. I just picked myself up off the ground, brushed myself off and kept moving forward.

It came as a blow to me, I was completely shocked. This will explain why I left my blog unattended for a few months, posting here and there, but nothing steady. I just couldn't find the inspiration to write, hell, I didn't feel like doing anything at all. There were days that I didn't even want to get out of bed. I had dedicated myself [and life] completely to a man that in the end, just walked away from me. I recently found out that he's marrying his ex-girlfriend in a few days too. Let me be clear, I do not want him back. But you can understand why this would feel like a punch in the gut. He's only been gone six months, and has already decided to make such a huge commitment. I'll also throw in here that I moved to Illinois for this man. I gave up my friends, family, and great job back in Phoenix to move here with him. That's why I'm here in Illinois. I guess I'll never understand how such things work. Why a loyal, trustworthy, loving person always gets left in the dust.

I'm grateful that I had so many wonderful friends to lean on during this whole thing. That's what got me through. And my family of course. They're always there when I need them. I'm slowly, but surely starting to feel like my old self again. I'm finding the inspiration to write again, to sew, to do things I stopped doing because I was so sad. It's like a fresh start [and wake up call]. I'm trying to take the positives out of this situation. It really opens your eyes to what you will and will not tolerate in future relationships, as well as that characteristics you really need in a spouse. I'm also proud of myself for being so tenacious. I stayed strong and held myself together. I got through something that could of been a nightmare for someone else, especially being so far from home. I'm here to tell you that even though going through a divorce sucks, I walked away from the situation knowing that I did everything in my power to make my marriage work. I gave it my all, and for that I can not be ashamed. I can move on with no regrets.

Things are starting to 'look up' for me. I feel like I have a new lease on life. Each day I feel better and better, and the past is just drifting away. The key is to not be bitter. Just move on, trusting that something better is around the corner. This quote says it best:

I will leave you with these two Authority Zero songs because I think they really relate how I feel. I listen to them a lot. They're both great pick me up songs. They could really relate to any situation that's getting you down. Maybe they'll help you feel better too. Enjoy, and thanks for listening, er, reading.

Fashion Inspiration :: No Fear, Destination Party

2011-05-15T11:27:00.006-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! It's been forever since I've posted an outfit from Polyvore, so here you go. I think I'll call these posts Fashion Inspiration from now on. Check it:

No Fear by TheraJoyce featuring a black lace dress

Black lace dress
25 GBP - desireclothing.co.uk

Iron fist shoes
36 GBP - grindstore.com

Alexander McQueen chain link necklace
$365 - net-a-porter.com

Leather hair accessory
199 DKK - shopfriiscompany.com

ASOS Double Buckle Zip Cuff Bracelet
$14 - asos.com

I think this outfit would be perfect for an evening out with the girls. The dress is super cute and flirty with a rock edge (just like I like my fashion). The shoes are perfect for dancing since they're wedge heels (your tootsies will thank you for not wearing stilettos). As for the accessories, you will be the talk of the table with that cute bow in your hair. The wrist cuff gives the outfit a bit of toughness, and I think every outfit should have a skull accessory included in it.

Don't forget to enter my Buried Treasure Giveaway! CLICK HERE to enter.

Buried Treasure Giveaway

2011-05-14T19:17:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I thought it was about time I hosted another giveaway. It's been far too long since the last one. X marks the spot, so check out the Booty:

If you win you will receive:

Skull and Roses Wrist Cuff (handmade by me)
Nautical Bling Necklace (handmade by me)
Nautical Star Hair Bow (handmade by me)
13 sheets of stickers

How to enter:

* You must be a follower of my blog
(leave a comment telling me you follow me, and your email address)

Want extra entries?

* Blog about my buried treasure on your blog
(leave a comment with a link to your post)

* Post a link to my buried treasure on your Twitter
(leave a comment telling me you tweeted my giveaway)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

If you complete all of the above you will earn 3 entries.

I will pick a winner via random.org on May 18th.

May the best pirate win! Good Luck!

My new favorite song of the moment.....

2011-05-13T22:45:00.002-07:00

Oh my goodness. I'm addicted to this song from The Rasmus. Check it out. I promise you won't regret it.

It's a ruff life.....

2011-05-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

Outfit Post :: The Saints

2011-05-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else in here love The Boondock Saints as much as I do? Well, even if you don't, hopefully you'll dig this outfit featuring a Boondock Saints Off-the-Shoulder Top T-shirt Surgery.

I actually made the mini skirt [back in February] from a pair of 'old man pants' my friend Amanda gave me. I just haven't had time to photograph it. I have to say it's one of my favorite wardrobe pieces. It even has pockets!

Since it's getting warmer outside I opted for electric purple eyeliner. I love how vibrant it is! The photos do it no justice. I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Deviant to give myself a think, winged line. Then I applied Glittersniffer Cosmetics Lickity Split pigment eyeshadow over top of the eyeliner. It really made it electric looking.

Outfit Details:

Top :: Thrifted and Reconstructed by me
Mini Skirt :: Reconstructed from Old Man Pants
Tights :: Delia's [ripped up by me]
Thigh High Socks :: Sock Dreams
Necklace :: Vintage
Bow :: Made by me
Boots :: Dr. Martens 20 Eye boots
Fox Tail :: Ebay

Tutorial :: No Sew T-Shirt Surgery :: Off-the-shoulder Top

2011-05-10T16:00:00.002-07:00

Here's the scenario: You've got a rockin' gig to attend tonight, but you have nothing to wear! Whomp whomp whomp. Never fear, I've got you covered. This simple No-Sew T-shirt surgery takes only minutes to complete. The best part is you'll be going 'shopping' in your own closet for a shirt that needs a makeover. You know what else? You don't even have to know how to sew to make this top! When you're done, you'll thank me for the kickin' new shirt. Check it:

You will need:

A T-shirt that fits you well (the snugger the better)
Chalk
Scissors

With your chalk mark about an inch in from each shoulder seam.

Connect the marks you just made. Make sure you curve the line just a bit when connecting them.

Cut along the line you just marked on the shirt. Make sure to cut through the front and back of the shirt.

Your shirt should look like this when you finish cutting.

Voila! You're done! Put that sucker on and rock it!

Hi! [A Vlog from Higgins and I]

2011-05-10T14:22:00.002-07:00

Finnish Rock Bands [make me swoon]

2011-05-09T22:00:00.001-07:00

I'm not exactly sure where my ~~love of~~ obsession with Finnish rock bands started, oh wait, yes I am. It all started with HIM....

Wait, it actually all started with Bam Margera to be exact. I've always been enamored with skaters, so naturally when I first laid eyes on Bam Margera I was completely smitten. I then figured out that he made these hilarious CKY videos. I had to have each and every one of them. It was on CKY 3 that I first heard the song "Right Here in My Arms" by HIM. I've already written a pretty lengthy post on that HERE if you want to refresh yourself with my love at first 'hear' story.

As I watched more of Bam's TV shows and videos I noticed he had more bands that were from Finland play at his house, or he'd be jet setting to some different country to catch one of their shows. I would research these bands after hearing them on the shows or videos, then I'd search around on Last.fm to see what I could dig up. I'd basically start a HIM channel and other bands from Finland would pop up throughout the play list. And that's where it began.

Now I'll share with you my favorite Finnish rock bands. I couldn't live with out these bands on my iPod. Seriously.

HIM [duh]

(source)

Here are my favorite HIM videos:

I could go on and on and post 8 million HIM videos because I really do love them all, but I'll leave you to do some research on your own. Moving on to the next band:

The 69 Eyes

(source)

Oh man. These guys. I love them almost as much as HIM. They're also known as The Helsinki Vampires. Not a lot of people know about them at all. I get asked all sorts of questions when I wear my 69 Eyes t-shirt out. Amazing band. Here are my favorite 69 Eyes videos:

Negative

(source)

I recently found these guys via Last.fm. They popped up on the 'HIM' channel a few times and I really love their sound. They have a sort of 80's love ballad feel to them.

Apocalyptica

(source)

A Cello rock band from Finland. Enough said.

(This song features Ville Valo of HIM and Lauri Ylonen of The Rasmus)

The Rasmus

(source)

Love The Rasmus. They have a bit of a pop meets rock feel to them.

I wanted to post another Rasmus video, but most of them have the embed feature blocked. You're on your own on this one. You'll have to poke around YouTube to get the full effect.

I hope you guys enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope that maybe I've introduced you to some new music as well. One can never have enough music in their life.

Have some bands you want me to check out? Leave them in the comments below this post.

2011-05-09T19:27:00.003-07:00

I've been doing some major rearranging here on my blog and it really got me thinking about what my mission for this blog is. I know that I love fashion, but not necessarily runway fashion trends. My style runs a bit by the way side and I march to the beat of my own drum so to speak. I want every one that stops by this blog to feel inspired when they leave. I want people to feel courageous enough to rock that Batman hair clip [that they made] in their hair. I love teaching people how to make their own clothing and accessories. I feel so fulfilled when one of my readers writes to me and says that they are so excited that they made something that is one of a kind [and their own] using one of my tutorials.

Did you know that I write poetry? I'm sure you've read the two poems that I've posted on here, but I've got many, many more. I think I'm almost too afraid to post some of them because I don't want to frighten my readers away with emotional words. The words of the poems really are a part of what makes me ME. I've been writing them since I can remember. I've got books and books full of scribbled words. Sometimes right when I'm about to drift off into dreamland I wake suddenly with poem words flowing through my mind. I fly out of bed in a frenzy to find a book and pen so I can scribble down yet another piece of my mind. I'd love to start sharing more of my poems on here. I think right now they'll help me heal.

I want this blog to be a compilation of all the parts that encompass Thera, 'Crafty Pirate.' Fashion, Sewing, Poetry, and most importantly...I want my readers to really know who I am. I feel like I try way too hard to keep it 'professional' or to keep it sewing or DIY oriented. I want to really let go and write about what I'm going through day to day, and not in an emo way. Just write. Write what I feel and share more bits about my life.

I think that 'Dear Diary' will be a regular post on my blog from now on. It will basically be me pouring my heart out. The entries will vary of course, but I think it will be a way for me to hash out things in my life as well.

With all that being said, I'm going to really try to post more often in my blog. It's something I really enjoy doing, but I think for a while there I was just overly critical of what I wanted to share here. From now on, if the urge strikes I'm going to write. Write tutorials, or poetry, or write about anything at all. I think sometimes I worry too much about including pictures in my posts too. I will totally include pictures if I have some cool ones....but sometimes you just don't. Sometimes you just want to write. I guess if people don't want to read my posts, then that's their prerogative.

Until next time.....

Run, Fast

2011-05-08T13:39:00.002-07:00

Outfit Post :: Foxy Lady

2011-05-07T20:27:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties! Tonight I decided to have an impromptu photo shoot featuring my new favorite fashion accessory: A faux fur Fox Tail. I originally saw these fox tails online somewhere and knew I wanted one immediately. I tried to DIY one myself, but it turned out looking a bit too much like a cat tail for a Halloween costume. Eh, at least I tried right? I did a bit of research and poking around on eBay and $5.99 later I have my very own fox tail. Check it out:

As usual, I finished my look off with some unique accessories and pretty makeup.

Camisole :: H & M
Jeans :: Levi's 524 Skinny Jeans
Belt :: Hot Topic
Necklace :: Vintage
Hair Clip :: DIY
Boots :: 20 Eye Dr. Martens

Batman Week :: Reader Submission :: Batman Diaper Bag and Snack Bag By Cheri

2011-05-03T22:00:00.001-07:00

The Uber talented Cheri (pronounced Shur-ee) of StellarCheri sent me some photos of some of her Batman inspired creations. Cheri is an amazing seamstress and total sweetheart. Her work never ceases to amaze me. Are you ready for the awesomeness?

Batman Diaper Bag

Batman Snack Bag

Isn't that the cutest diaper bag you've ever seen?! And who wouldn't love to have a Batman snack bag?

Batman Week :: Tutorial :: Bat Signal Hair Clip or Brooch

2011-05-03T08:00:00.005-07:00

You will need:

Chalk Pencil
Bat Symbol Stencil and Oval Stencil (learn how to make stencils HERE)
Glue Gun
Scissors
Black Felt
Yellow Felt
Barrette backing or Pin Back

Trace the Bat Symbol onto the black felt. Cut the Bat Symbol out and set it aside.

Trace the oval onto the yellow felt. Cut the oval out.

Using your glue gun, add glue to the back of the Bat Symbol. I only put glue in a few spots. Then turn the Bat Symbol over and center it on the oval piece. Press the pieces together to make sure they bond.

Add glue to your barrette backing (or pin back).

Center the barrette backing (or pin back) on the back of the oval piece.

Voila! You're done! You've now got a super cute Bat Signal hair clip (or brooch) to wear while you fight crime.

You can make these hair clips or brooches in any design you like. Simply make a stencil of the design you want and trace the design onto felt.

Batman Week :: (My Favorite) Batman Inspired Tutorials

2011-05-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

**Joker cackling in the distance**

I hear that pesky Joker running around causing havoc again....Hopefully these Batman Inspired tutorials will keep you busy while I chase him down and put him in a padded cell for good......

(Simply click the photos to check out the full tutorial)

Duct Tape Batman Mask

Batman Soap

Batman's Gloves (Adam West Style)

Batman Cookie Jar

Batman Week: My Past Batman Inspired Creations

2011-05-02T14:08:00.003-07:00

It's no secret, I LOVE BATMAN. I have a plethora of Batman shirts in my closet, two Bat Signal belt buckles (one glows in the dark), Batman hair bows, and even a Batman party mask. In this post I'm going to round up all my past Batman inspired creations for your viewing pleasure. Are you ready? Here we go!!

Batman T-Shirt Surgeries

Batman Hair Flair

(learn how to make this hair clip HERE)

Don't forget to check out Max's Batman Inspired DIYs HERE.

Now I'm off to fight crime! I'm Batman!

Batman Week :: Reader Submission :: Bat Signal Necklace

2011-05-01T11:00:00.004-07:00

This morning as I was checking my emails and what not I was greeted with a comment on my blog from Anti Mensch. She has already made herself a Bat Signal necklace using my tutorial. Check out how cute it is:

(source)

I think it came out awesome! If you guys make one please send me a photo and I'll add it to this post. I want to see a whole plethora of Bat Signal necklaces! What are you waiting for?! Get crafting!

Batman Week :: Tutorial :: Bat Signal Necklace

2011-04-30T22:00:00.014-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties! It's time for the Batman Week festivities to begin! Max and I have a ton of cool Batman themed tutorials lined up for you. We hope you enjoy them. Now on with the show!

In my first tutorial I'm going to show you how to make your very own Bat Signal necklace. The coolest part about this necklace is that part of it is made of upcycled materials. I love to reuse items around my house, instead of throwing them into the trash.

You will need:

Plastic lid off a coffee can (preferably black)
Pliers
Pencil
Bat Symbol Stencil (Learn how to make a stencil here)
Scissors
Two medium sized jump rings
Two small jump rings
Toggle clasp
Two seven inch lengths of silver chain
Lighter
Pin

Cut the edge of the plastic coffee can lid off so the lid will lay flat on the table.

Lay the Bat Symbol stencil on top of the plastic coffee can lid. Use a pencil to trace the image onto the lid.

Use scissors to carefully cut out the Bat Signal.

Use a pencil to mark two dots close to the top part of the Bat Signal wings.

Heat up the end of a pin with a lighter, and carefully push the pin through each dot you made on the Bat Signal wings. You may have to heat up the pin several times.

Open the medium sized jump rings with pliers and insert into the two holes you just made with the hot pin. Leave the rings open for now.

Slip the 7 inch lengths of chain onto each of the open medium sized jump rings. Use pliers to close each of the rings.

Open the small jump rings and slip one side of the toggle clasp onto one of the small jump rings. Slip the small jump ring (with one side of the toggle clasp) onto one end of the chain and close the ring. Repeat with the other small jump ring and the other side of the toggle.

Now you're done! You now have your own personal Bat Signal necklace, and you saved the planet while making it! Hoorah!

Don't forget that you can always customize your Bat Signal necklace as well. Add rhinestones or glitter to make it pop!

Click the link below to check out Max's latest Batman Week post....

Batman Week!

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oh yes. Max and I have something amazing planned. We're giving ourselves {and you!} plenty of time to prepare, but we are planning one whole week chock-full of Batman-themed crafting!

What are you guys bringing to the table here?
A tutorial a day for seven days on each of our blogs. This means you guys get TWO tutorials a day! Batman themed everything! We're going to be bringing you clothing, accessories, things for yourself and things for your baby.

How can I join in?
You have a month here, and we are calling for submissions from you too! Have you made something Batman inspired? We're calling for EVERYTHING as long as it was made by you and ties into the Batman universe somehow. If you want to submit a tutorial for us to feature as well we totally will! If you just have something you have made, send us that as well!

How can I submit my radness?
Email your interest to max@max-california.com and we will get back to you! You have until April 30 so get cracking!

Buttons [as usual!]

Let's play the "Getting to know you Game"

2011-03-30T08:00:00.009-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! Recently, my good pal (and blogger) Amanda wrote up a "get to know me" post about herself. I was inspired by her to do the same. I had to face a pretty rough situation this year, and what I took from it is this: I will never hide the person I am again. Ever. 'Nuff said. And as Amanda says in her post, " I won't judge you and really could care less if you judge me...."

Fun facts about me:

I'm obsessed with Finnish rock bands. My favorites are: HIM and The 69 Eyes.
I think I was supposed to be Australian.
I love it when men wear eyeliner.
I'm not religious at all.
I absolutely HATE being called Gothic (or being categorized for that matter.)
I'm very shy. (People that know me well would never believe this, but it's true.)
I hate getting stuff on my fingers. YUCK.
I have issues walking into functions/bars/places/parties alone.
I love the smell of WD-40.
I love, love, love makeup. I have so much I keep it in a tackle box.
I'm way too hard on myself. I dwell on everything.
I'm a bit O.C.D. It takes me 15 minutes to leave the house.
I refuse to conform. I wear, do and say what I want.
I'm addicted to my phone. (I hate talking on the phone, but I love texting and Facebooking on my phone.)
My favorite meal is Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Spirals.
I think I could have fun in a paper sack. I'm always up for anything.
I can find something beautiful about anyone.
I HATE liars.
I'm petrified of aliens.

I want to get to know you too! Post fun facts about yourself on your blog and leave the link to your post in a comment below. Don't have a blog? Simply post your fun facts in a comment below. I can't wait to read all about you!

Gray Skies and Good Vibes.....

2011-03-29T15:00:00.004-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I know I've been away for far too long. I've been out on the open seas plundering and pillaging my heart away. Not really. I've been so uninspired and unmotivated to do anything creative at all. I don't know if it's the gray skies and cold weather, or if I've lost my love for creating. I hope it's not the later. I usually don't like to be negative on here but I feel like maybe my time and energy would be better spent writing more tutorials and focusing on my blog, instead of making stuff for my Etsy shop. I just feel like no one is buying anything right now and I can't blame them either. I guess I'm just tired of putting my heart and soul into something that is obviously not working. It's just not fun making stuff for my shop anymore. I'm even thinking of closing my Etsy shop.

The economy is crap right now, but companies insist on raising prices. Case in point: The Post Office. I mean really, how many times per year can you raise your prices? I go to mail a flat rate box today and I'm surprised with a new price. Granted, it was only .25 cents higher, but still. And lets talk about gas. Who can afford a full tank at $4.00 a gallon? I'm just sayin'.

I think my energy would be better utilized helping people save a few bucks in the clothing and accessories area. I mean who doesn't love to be the only one with a green mini skirt made out of old man pants? And you'll pat yourself on the back when you realize you didn't pay a cent for that mini skirt because your pal donated the pants to you. Awesome! You can find all sorts of treasures at Goodwill and The Salvation Army, and I'm the girl that's going to show you how to modify them. I'm thinking of doing more video tutorials, but I'll still be doing the good ol' photo tutorials as well. I'm also going to try and do weekly outfit posts featuring my reconstructed goods too. What do you guys think?? Have I got your attention?

Now, I'll get down off my soap box and show you what I've been working on lately. On with the photos!

I made this custom apron for an Etsy customer. She's an optometrist. Isn't it perfect?!

And I made this super cute cupcake purse last night since I couldn't sleep.

I'm also super stoked that Corinne Leigh (formerly of ThreadBanger) is back! She's launched her own YouTube channel called Craftovision. You should really head over and check it out. She's already posted a few tutorials for you to try out. My favorite is her DIY Bustle. Check out the video below:

Mardi Gras 2011

2011-03-06T18:20:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I am so tired right now! I spent most of yesterday in Soulard (a historic French neighborhood just south of St Louis). What was I doing there you wonder? Well I was there for Mardi Gras of course. Soulard holds the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the US. They had a pretty amazing parade, live music, and plenty of interesting scenery. This was actually the first time I'd ever gone, and I had a blast! I can't wait for next year! Check out these super cute photos of my friends and I:

As you can see, I managed to bump into George Washington and a crazy gorilla and his banana friends. I also scored a ton of super cute beads. I can't wait to add to them next year. All in all it was a fantastic day!

Adventures in Jewelry making.......

2011-02-28T18:13:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I just wanted to show you what I've been working on lately. I had the itch to make some jewelry, and I must say that I'm smitten with these ladies. Check them out:

All of these necklaces are one of a kind and available in my Etsy shop.

Tutorial :: DIY Stencils

2011-02-27T16:39:00.003-07:00

Hello my sweets! I've been busy all day writing up this tutorial on how to make your own stencils. These stencils are super easy to make and totally give your wardrobe that one of a kind edge. You can stencil on your old shirts to give them new life, or stencil onto your mini skirt to make it one of a kind. Check out the details below:

You will need:

White Poster Board (11 inch x 14 inch works great)

X-Acto Knife

Pencil

Cutting Board

Tape

Not Pictured:

A computer with photo editing software

A window or light box

First you need to find a photo of the object you'd like to make a stencil of. Objects on a white background work best. Once you find a photo of the object you'd like to use, open the photo in whatever photo editing software you use on your computer. I'm using Photoshop.

Then you'll need to change the photo to Grayscale (black and white).

Next you'll need to adjust the Brightness/Contrast of the photo.

Adjust the Brightness/Contrast of the photo until your image looks like the one above. It should be very dark, with minimal shadow.

Now make the image as small or as large as you'd like.

Print the image out.

Now you will need to tape the image to a window or lay it on top of a light box.

Next, tape a piece of poster board (with shiny side down) on top of the image.

Trace the image onto the poster board.

This image happens to have "islands" so we'll need to correct these so we don't loose the detail of the stencil. "Islands" are pieces that would be cut out with the whole stencil if we didn't connect them to the outside part of the stencil. I've circled where the "islands" are in this stencil.

To eliminate the "islands" in this stencil, I've simply erased the two small bits near the revolver trigger and re-drawn them as pictured above.

Grab your cutting board and X-Acto knife and carefully cut on the lines that you traced onto the poster board. Remember: Slow and steady wins the race. Take your time on this step. The cleaner the cuts, the better your stencil will look.

When you're done cutting around the lines you traced, pat yourself on the back! You've officially made your very own stencil.

Now you can make your very own customized t-shirts. What are you waiting for? Get to stenciling! Make sure you post your finished 'creations' over at Sliced + DIYced.

Outfit Post :: Bang Bang!

2011-02-22T17:53:00.010-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I was incredibly inspired yesterday so I decided to make myself some new shirts. I bought some plain white v-neck t-shirts a while back and I had some fabric spray paint laying around in my craft room as well as some hand made stencils. I decided to put the three together and make some one of a kind shirts. I came up with this super cute "Bang Bang!" shirt. Check it:

I placed a hot pink revolver on the front left shoulder with some black falling hearts. As you can see I also changed the neckline to an off the shoulder neckline (my favorite). I added some stretch lace around the new neckline and some lace straps to hold the top up as well.

I'm also rocking my new 20 eye Dr. Martens. I freakin' love them!

And here's a closeup of the gun and hearts:

Outfit Post :: Off-the-shoulder Ribcage Top T-Shirt Surgery

2011-01-19T18:31:00.007-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I'm back again to show you the finished results of my latest t-shirt surgery. I bought this super cute long sleeve t-shirt two Halloweens ago. It was originally a Boy's 2XL so it fit pretty well, but it was still a bit too boxy for me. I cut out the neckline to make it a bit more off-the-shoulder and added a fold over band to refinish the neckline. I also took in the arms and tapered the sides a bit to make it more fitted. Check it out:

I'm seriously smitten with it! It came out so awesome. I'm really digging off-the-shoulder tops at the moment since it's winter here and it's the only way to show a bit of skin without freezing your bum off. I have also been compelled to wear a bandanna in my back pocket, so I put a pink one in my pocket for this shoot. I think it's cute! And here's a close up photo of my hair and makeup:

P.S. Did I mention that this shirt glows in the dark? Tee Hee! It does. You know how much I love glow-in-the-dark stuff.

Holy Crafting Batman!!

2011-01-18T21:57:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I'm back in full effect! Thank goodness. I've been so uninspired lately. It had been so long since I'd sewn anything that I feared that I'd forgotten how to sew. Well that was just crazy talk! The crafting spree began yesterday. I had a few things on my list of things to make for other people. My friend wanted me to make her two ruffle purses (over a month ago) and I finally got one of those made. She picked out the fabric that she liked from my stash and gave me full artistic reign over how I put her choices together. Here's what I came up with:

I think it came out super cute! I still have to make her an eyeball ruffle purse as well. I'll be getting to that sometime this week.

Now onto the improvements that I made for my bedroom. As you all know I love wearing hair bows, but I've noticed that lately I haven't been wearing them at all. Well I decided that it's because all my hair bows are laying in a big pile on my vanity and I can't really see them all to figure out which one to wear with my outfit. So I decided to make a hair bow hanger, so I can see them all. Check it out:

It's basically just two long scraps from my scrap bin sewn together and a large button at the bottom of the strip (so the hair bows won't fall off the end). Here's an action shot:

Yay! So glad I can see them all lined up now. I even culled a few that I don't wear anymore so I can add some new ones to my collection.

Moving on.....

I decided to completely redecorate my room today as well. I've been meaning to for a while but like I said, I just haven't been inspired to do anything creative at all. I decided on purple and black for my room colors. I hung up some purple twinkle lights (that I bought on super clearance after Halloween a year ago).

They are so pretty! They make my whole room glow purple. I love them. Since I changed the colors of my room, I had to refinish my bedside lamp. I went with purple leopard print. Here's the before photo:

And here's what it looks like now:

I made a pattern from the lamp panels, then cut the pieces out of some purple leopard print fabric from my stash. I hot glued them to the lamp and then finished the edges with black bias tape. It was super easy and now I have a brand new lamp! I also made a bedside table cover out of an old black sheet. I'll take photos of my room as soon as I hang the curtains so you can see the whole thing.

I also did a ton of work on this glow-in-the-dark skeleton shirt that I bought last Halloween. Here's the before shot of it:

You'll have to wait until my next post to see the finished results. It's super cute now! I can't wait to wear it out.

Twenty Eleven

2011-01-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I've been such a bad blogger lately. I haven't posted in almost three weeks. I've been dealing with some very emotional things, and I just haven't had the gusto to sew or even think about writing tutorials. That is about to change though. With the new year already upon us, things are looking brighter. I can see a light at the end of the dark tunnel and it feels so refreshing. I have so many goals and aspirations for this year, and all of them are so exciting! I'd like to share my goals with you, so here we go!

Goals for 2011:

1). Go to Australia

2). Write more tutorials

3). Be completely open and honest about who I am, what I like, and how I feel. (Not that I'm a fake or phony person, I just tend to hold back with people for fear of being ridiculed for things I like, or the way I feel.)

4). Don't settle for anything less than what I want

5). Sew more!

6). Check into Fashion Design school

What are some of your goals for 2011? Share them with me below.

Snowy Days

2010-12-14T15:30:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties! I've been shacked up in my house since Sunday. It started snowing late Saturday evening, and snowed pretty much all day Sunday. I've taken full advantage of being stuck inside though. I made a couple new aprons, caught up on some sleep, and watched some of my favorite movies snuggled into my bed. Here's some pretty snow pictures for you to check out:

If these pictures look cold to you, that's because it is COLD here. The high yesterday was 11 degrees! Whew! That's chilly. It's so cold that it hurts. Good thing I have tons of hot chocolate.

Here are the new aprons I made. I love how they came out. They're super cute and both are available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

Request a Tutorial :: Tell me what YOU want to learn how to make

2010-12-09T09:00:00.002-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! I'm running low on tutorial ideas, so now's your chance to tell me what you want to learn how to make. Leave me a comment linking me to photos of things you want to learn how to make, or simply write me a detailed description of a tutorial you'd like to see me write. I'm open to everything you've got in mind (clothing, sewing techniques or crafts). I can't wait to see your ideas!! And please don't feel like you're bothering me if you post one, two or three ideas. I want you to bother me, keep me busy!

My new ruffle purse...It's watching you.

2010-12-07T12:12:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me hearties! Long time no blog, I know! I've been uber busy at the salon and I've been stitching up some stuff for my Etsy shop and teaching sewing lessons. Whew! Can you say full plate? Anywhoo, yesterday I decided that it was time for me to do a little sewing for myself. I needed a new purse desperately. I've been carrying the same one for almost two years! At least I know my stuff holds up right? Check out my new ruffle purse:

I used some of the eyeball fabric I scored over Halloween. I just love it! My new purse has an inside zippered pocket, and a phone pocket. I made an extra large sized purse this time so I can fit all my stuff (maybe even a sack lunch) in there.

Video Tutorial :: How to make a fabric bow

2010-11-24T21:56:00.003-07:00

Ahoy me Hearties! I was recently asked to "show" someone how to make a fabric bow so I decided to make a video on how to do it. I hope this video will help my more visual learners. Enjoy!

Handmade is LOVE V4.0

2010-11-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Me Hearties! It's time for another Handmade is LOVE post. I've got a ton of cute things to show you. All these items were found via Etsy, and as usual, just click the photo to go to the item listing.

Sweet Little Cleaver Pendant

Pink Cuts of Meat Dress

Kitty Ear Hoodie Jacket

Black and Blue Cupcake Cameo Necklace

Zebra Print Studded Babydoll Dress

Handcuffs Choker Necklace

Black Chandelier Necklace

Neon Green Skulls Fabric Hair Bows

Undead Beauty Necklace

Baby Bear and Zombies

2010-11-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Me Hearties! I've been working on a ton of custom orders lately and I absolutely love it! My friend from Arizona requested a bear hoodie for her nephew and I was happy to oblige. Here's the finished result:

Isn't the paw print adorable?! I think it came out super cute.

I also sold one of my custom, glow-in-the-dark zombie purses on Etsy. The buyer requested green and black and stripes. Here's the finished purse:

I've already shipped this purse out and the buyer loves it. I think it came out really cute. My favorite part about these purses is the glow-in-the-dark stitching. You can order your very own custom glow-in-the-dark zombie purse HERE.

Since I was feeling frisky, I made another glow-in-the-dark zombie purse for my shop as well. I used red and neon green for the colors. Check it out:

I love that the interior looks like acid bubbles, and the red and neon green look amazing together. This purse is available for purchase HERE.

Stars and Purple

2010-11-13T17:45:00.004-07:00

I've been so busy with sewing and day to day life that I haven't really had a chance to put together an outfit on Polyvore in FOREVER! But never fear, I've got a super cute outfit to share with you tonight. It's starting to get chilly here in the Midwest, but a girl still has to try and look presentable. I paired this super cute knit star print dress with a purple hair bow, purple nail polish, purple tights, a skull necklace and my trusty XX Hi Converse of course. Check it out:

Stars and Purple by TheraJoyce featuring converse shoes

Stars Knitwear Dress - Clothing - desireclothing.co.uk
18 GBP - desireclothing.co.uk
Star dress »

Solid Tights in Purple
$36 - dvf.com
Purple stockings »

Journeys Shoes - Converse All Star XX Hi
$70 - journeys.com
Converse shoes »

Black leather sequin clutch
30 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Leather clutches »

Alexander McQueen Crystal-embellished skull necklace
$365 - net-a-porter.com
Skull jewelry »

Purple studded bow clip
5 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Dorothy Perkins hair accessories »

Hottopic - Search Results for nail polish
$2.99 - hottopic.com

Check out my Cleavers!

2010-11-08T21:54:00.003-07:00

Ahoy Me Hearties! I've been holed up in my craft room all night making some super cute stuff. Check out my Cleavers:

I also made another new Kitty Hoodie...

It's so cute! I love the red tartan heart!

You can find all these items in my Etsy shop.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

2010-11-07T10:34:00.002-07:00

Today is my sweet friend Ashley's birthday!

(source)

I want you all to head over to her blog, Under Those Neon Lights, and wish her a Happy Birthday! She's one of the coolest, sweetest people I know.

Ashley- Thanks for being my pal. I hope you have a wonderful birthday.

WhattheCraft.com Giveaway!

2010-11-01T09:26:00.005-07:00

Avast Me Hearties! I'm sponsoring a giveaway over at WhattheCraft.com. Check out the pirate booty you could win:

To read all the gory details and enter to win this super cute ruffle purse and hair bows, CLICK HERE.

Sewing for Landlubbers :: Hemming with Bias Tape Tutorial

2010-10-31T14:35:00.003-07:00

Hello Landlubbers! Today I'm going to teach you a super simple way to hem things. You can use this method on just about any sewing project. It works really great for odd shaped objects though. This tutorial will be great for all my beginning sewers. You'll learn how to guide fabric in tight spaces, how to keep your fabric and bias tape lined up, and how to cut shapes out.

You will need:

Single fold bias tape
Craft Fuse or Heavy weight iron-on interfacing
Fabric (this is a great way to use up smaller pieces of fabric in your scrap bin)
Iron
Thread
Pins
Scissors
Heart Template (I cut mine out of heavy weight interfacing so I can use it over and over)

Fold your fabric or fabric scrap in half. Fold your heart template in half as well. Pin the heart template on the fold of the fabric. Cut. When you open the piece you cut, you should have a full heart shape.

TIP: If you don't have a heart template (or template for the object you'd like to make) simply draw one out or find an image you like online. Print out the image you like, place it underneath some heavy duty interfacing and trace around it. Cut it out and you have a cutting template. Interfacing works better than poster board or newspaper because it won't rip and you can pin it to fabric easier.

Repeat step one with your Craft Fuse or Heavy weight iron-on interfacing.

Place the Craft Fuse heart on the ironing board, shiny side up. Then place the fabric heart on top of the Craft Fuse heart (wrong side facing the Craft Fuse).

Using your iron, fuse the Craft Fuse and the fabric heart together.

Now, sandwich the edge of the fused heart between some single fold bias tape. I usually start at the bottom point of the heart.

Stitch the bias tape to the edge of the heart. I don't pin the bias tape all around the heart before I sew it, I just sort of sandwich the edges as I go. I think it's easier that way.

When you get to the middle of the heart, make sure to push the bias tape down into the grove of the center of the heart. Just take your time, this does take a bit of practice. I usually have to lift the presser foot and adjust the direction of the heart a couple of times to get the right shape.

When you get to the bottom point of the heart, snip off the excess bias tape leaving a half inch tail (as pictured in inset). Flip the heart over so that the wrong side is facing up. Fold the tail back and stitch it down.

Now you're done! Simple right?

You can use bias tape to hem skirts and pockets as well. Heck, you could use it to hem just about anything. It's super easy.

Meow.......

2010-10-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

Hey friends! I scored a couple of zip up hoodies last weekend when Wil and I went thrifting, and I was super excited about it because I usually NEVER find them. Guess what I'm going to make with them??

Kitty Hoodies! I felt a bit motivated when I got home from work tonight so I made this cutie. I just love it. I think the over-sized heart with fabric bow is my favorite part about it, well besides the kitty ears of course.

And one of me wearing it for good measure. As cute as it is, I am selling it. It's up for grabs in my Etsy shop.

I also wanted to introduce you to my new friend....

Pirate Pony! How cute is she?! I found her at Target and I just couldn't resist buying her to add to my Pirate collection. She's up on the self with the rest of my skulls and pirates now.

Stitching for Charity

2010-10-27T19:40:00.003-07:00

Hello friends! I spent all last weekend stitching up some cute goodies for charity. Lela, the crafty lady behind Glittersniffer Cosmetics, is putting together a charity basket of epic proportion and I just had to help. For those of you who've never heard of Glittersniffer Cosmetics I suggest you head over there right now and check it out. Lela makes the most amazing pigment eye shadows! I'm already addicted and it's only been a month. I snatch up each and every shade I can get my hands on (when my budget permits of course). And you all know how much I adore doing things for charity as well, so Lela is a stand up gal in my book.

Lela created three custom color collections, one dedicated to each charity. When you purchase a collection, all the proceeds go to that charity. Since there are three charities, I think she'd ideally like to make three charity baskets. To help her reach her goal, I stitched up three of each item so she'd have enough to put in each basket. Check out the cute goodies I made:

The three charities are: GLAAD, TWLOHA, and ASPCA. You can purchase all three collections for $35. Check them out HERE. I purchased all three collections and I can't wait to get them. The colors are so beautiful and the money is going to three great causes! If you'd like to donate your handmade items to the basket(s) email Lela at: glittersniffercosmetics (at) gmail (dot) com.

Tutorial Roundup 3 :: Bookmark Worthy

2010-10-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

Hello friends! It's time for one of my favorite posts again, Tutorial Roundup! I've been scouring the interwebz in search of tutorials to try out, and I've found some really great stuff this time. As usual, simply click the photo to go to the tutorial.

Have you seen my Eyeball skirt

Charlotte Russe Inspired Skirt

The Grandview Bag

Military Pencil Skirt

Men's Shirt to Smocked Halter Top

Make your own padded envelopes

Paper Bag Waist Skirt

Patternless Messenger Bag

Upcycled Sweater Boots

What are you waiting for? Go make some cute stuff!

I Trade Handmade

2010-10-24T19:04:00.002-07:00

A few days ago I received a package in the mail from my friend Trisha. She really spoiled me.

She sent me a cute hot pink polka dot zipper pouch, two necklaces, three super cute hair bows and some yummy gummy candies! I just adore her work! She makes the coolest stuff. I only asked her for one of her winged heart necklaces and some of her hair bows.

(source)

But she threw in that amazing skull cameo necklace (as a late birthday gift), along with the zippered pouch and the gummies. Thank you so much Trisha! I adore everything. You guys should really check out her Etsy shop, MarySew Designs. She has so many pretty things available.

You can learn more about I Trade Handmade here.

Stash Games :: Even More Aprons

2010-10-20T20:17:00.002-07:00

Hi friends! I've been sewing my bum off trying to get some more of my fabric stash made into pretty things. I am just loving making aprons right now, so I made a couple more. These two are probably my absolute favorite out of the bunch I've made so far. The black one with the leopard print ruffle is seriously breaking my heart. I just love how it came out! The colors mingle perfectly. Enough gushing, check out the photos for yourself:

Pretty sweet eh?? Now on to my points for this session.

I used:

2 yards of fabric: + 16
1/2 yard of fabric (combined) for the ruffles, ties and pockets: + 4
2 tags: + 2
Interfacing: + 2

So this sessions total is: + 24

That brings my total Stash Games points to:

Head over to Sliced + DIYced to see what the rest of the gang is up to. Don't be afraid to join in. There's still plenty of time to get some of your fabric stash sewn!

Horrific Giveaway Winner!

2010-10-20T14:55:00.005-07:00

Hey everyone! It's finally time to announce the winner of my Horrific Giveaway, but first I wanted to tell you who my favorite horror flick characters are. Jason from Friday the 13th is my favorite horror icon, with Baby from House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects coming in a close second. I really adore horror flicks so picking a favorite movie is tough, but The Lost Boys would probably be my favorite. So without further ado, here's the winner:

Entry number 54: neoncake

Congratulations! Please email your shipping address to therajoyce (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks to everyone that participated! I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments.

Stash Games :: Aprons

2010-10-18T20:00:00.003-07:00

Hello me hearties! I had to run a ton of errands this past weekend so I didn't get a lot of sewing time in. But today after we ran a few more errands I was finally able to get some sewing done! I whipped out these two aprons today:

I think they came out really cute! I adore the first one. It's so piratey!

So let's get to the points for this endeavor. I used:

2 yards of fabric from my stash: + 16
Half a yard of fabric from my stash for the ruffles and heart pockets: + 4
Interfacing: + 2
Bias Tape: + 2
Two tags: + 2

Today's total is: + 26

That brings my total Stash Games points to:

Head over to Sliced + DIYced to see what the rest of the gang has been up to.

It's not too late.....

2010-10-18T09:17:00.002-07:00

To enter to win some ghoulish goodies!

You have until Midnight, October 19th to enter. There's still time! If you'd like enter to win these goodies CLICK HERE.

REVIEW :: KillerCosmetics Vegan Loose Eyeshadows

2010-10-17T18:05:00.005-07:00

Hello Scallywags! I'm really excited to be sharing yet another review with you. About a month and a half ago I ordered a review selection of KillerCosmetics loose eyeshadows and I can honestly tell you that I am completely and utterly in love with these shadows.

KillerCosmetics was created by the talented KimmiKillZombie of UVKitty.com. Kimmi has really outdone herself with these shadows. These shadows provide amazing coverage with a hint of sparkle. Layer them or wear them alone, you won't be disappointed. You can even create brilliant colored eyeliner by using them wet. They stay vibrant all day (even in the crazy Midwestern humidity) and they don't smudge or flake. They also don't have that 'dry' chalky texture to them like some pigments and shadows. They're easy to apply and blend. The best part is that they're handmade and cruelty free. You know how much I adore handmade stuff and animals. Now, onto the swatches!

I also adore the fact that each shadow is named after either a serial killer, horror flick/theme, or deadly thing. So cool! The shadows come in these super cute 5 gram jars with screw-off lids and sifter tops.

(source)
I created this look with Sun of Sam and Miss Argentina:

I also wrote an eye makeup tutorial showcasing Clockwork and LadyKiller. Click the photo below to check out the tutorial.

You can purchase KillerCosmetics at UVKitty.com or from the KillerCosmetics Etsy shop. There are so many amazing shades, see if you can resist buying them all!

You're also in luck because KillerCosmetics is sponsoring a giveaway going on right now over at WhattheCraft.com. If you'd like to read the full details of the giveaway and enter to win three KillerCosmetics eyeshadows CLICK HERE.

Crafty Pirate's Horrific Giveaway!

2010-10-12T13:27:00.004-07:00

Hello fiends, er, friends. It's time for another giveaway hosted by your favorite pirate. I've been collecting and making some cute stuff for this giveaway and I must say there are some majorly cute things up for grabs. Check it out:

If you win you will receive:

* Full size bottle of China Glaze polish in Turned up Turquoise (neon)
* Mini bottle of China Glaze's fall color Riveter Rouge
* Small Swagger Savvy Designs Eyeball Zipper Pouch (handmade by me)
* Blood Splatter Hair Bow from Hot Topic
* Swagger Savvy Designs Zebra Print Hair Bow with Rhinestones (handmade by me)
* Swagger Savvy Designs Skully Hair Bow with Rhinestones (handmade by me)
* Green Apple flavor Skull Lollipop

How To Enter:

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry (be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win). I'll be using random.org to draw the winner.**

- Simply comment on this post telling me what/who your favorite horror flick or character is.

or

- Follow my blog.

(If you do both it's worth 2 entries. Make sure you leave two separate comments.)

Extra Entries:

- Blog about this giveaway. (Please leave me a comment with the link to your post.)

- "Like" Swagger Savvy Designs on Facebook. (Please leave me a comment with your Facebook username.)

- Post this giveaway on Twitter. (Please leave me a comment with a link to your post.)

Who can Enter:

Everyone! I will ship World Wide.

If you do all of the above you'll receive 5 entries (You must leave a separate comment for each entry).

You have until Midnight, October 19th to enter. I will choose a winner on October 20th.

Good Luck everyone!