DIY; Tie-Dye!.

1/. Using a thin pointed item (I used a paintbrush) select the area of the fabric you want to create a circle on and put the paintbrush underneath the fabric (see image 2)

2/. Wrap an elastic band tightly around the paintbrush - you can just use one elastic band to create one circle, but for a more interesting look add a few more elastic bands in intervals! Depending on the effect you want you can put the elastic bands closer together, to create close circles or further apart,  to create circles with more of a gap between them. Once your happy pull the paintbrush out and find another part of the fabric and repeat the process!.

I experimented with the amount of elastic bands I used and the spacing between them as this was my first attempt at tie dye. 

3/. Once you've covered the whole item with elastic bands - front and back. Find a colour you want to dye your item and follow the instructions on the dye!. Be aware that depending on the colour of the starting garment the final colour will vary from that on the packet! My dye was a deep purpley red, however the final dress is a lot lighter than it looks on the packet! Once you've left it in the dye bath for as long as the dye packet says rinse and take the elastic bands off then let it dry!. 

I've always wanted to experiment with tie-dye! I think it's a really interesting print and so many different outcomes can be created from such a simple technique. I found this vest top style t-shirt in Cancer Research for £3. Like I've mentioned in previous DIY posts I like to experiment and in-case something goes wrong I don't like to spend too much in-case so used something old or search your local charity shops for a suitable item! I didn't actually take a picture of the top before I started, however it was a grey colour as you can see but it was a really flattering shape too it is thinner at the waist then curved out a little at the hips as you can see in the final images! I'm actually really happy with this DIY - the print has turned out really nicely, it's a gorgeous colour and the top is also long enough to wear as a dress, which I love!!  :). 

Things I used; Suitable garment to tie-dye, Elastic bands (assorted sizes if possible - this just creates more variety to the pattern, mine were all the same size though and it worked fine so that's just personal preference !)  Disposable Gloves, Dylon Hand Wash Dye in 'Burlesque Red', Plastic Washing Up Bowl - to make the dye bath in - then something to put on the floor to avoid too much mess whist dying!. 

Week in Pictures 20/05

Latest DIY, check my blog in the next few days for a post featuring it!. Pretty much my view today - not feeling the best :/, Hand-in at the start of the week! Preparing my portfolio etc. Taking stupid pictures before a night out - like my hair/make-up combo though :D, 

It's odd to have finally finished Uni - it's gone so quickly can't believe I've finished first year already!. I've had quite a chilled week to be honest, it's nice not having any work to do, then again it's weird too find myself not knowing what to do half the time!. I've really enjoyed doing a few DIY's though and hope for it to be a regular feature from now on!. There's quite a few charity shops here so I've been hunting out pieces I can use for future projects!!. 

I'm going home on Tuesday for a few days then coming back to Uni on Friday to collect my module results for this term, which I'm not looking forwards too! I know I've not done as well as I could have in a few areas, but all I can say is at least first year doesn't count to my degree - at least next year I know the work load and what is expected so I should be able to time manage better. 

I haven't really decided what I'm doing for summer yet! The plan was to stay here, get a job and find a flat!. However I don't have a job as of yet! I went to team workshop to work in the SU on Saturday so fingers crossed for that however that would only be as of September I really need something now!. I have got a job at home which I can go back to for the summer if needs be but then it'd be difficult to find somewhere to live etc here for September so at the moment I'm really struggling to get my head around that! I'll just have to try my best to get somewhere with it all somehow in the next couple of weeks!. 

Hope your all well! I've had really positive feedback from my DIY posts - which is really appreciated! If you have any ideas what you'd like to see let me know :):) I do have a few ideas in mind but it's always nice to get other peoples opinions and input too!!. 

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DIY; Bleached Studded Shorts.

DIY Bleached/Studded Shorts. 

1/. Try the jeans on and use tailors chalk to mark on where you want to cut them.

2/. Cut them just below the line (it's always safe to cut them a bit longer than you want as you can always cut a bit more off!!). 

3/. Dilute some bleach into a spray bottle then spray onto the jeans. 

4/. Leave the bleach to develop for approx 30/40 minutes. 

5/. Follow the instructions on the dye packet and submerge the fabric into the dye bath you've created!. Follow the timing on the packet then rinse in cold water. 

Once dry, you can add any extra embellishments if you so wish! I've just studded one of the back pockets in the shape of a cross! However you can fray them or stud different areas, whatever takes your fancy :). I want to fray some more areas as I'm not completely happy with them yet!...

I've been wanting to make some more shorts with the summer coming up! My old ones were wearing a bit too much. I don't like buying expensive/full price items to do DIY's/experiment on so went hunting around the charity shops for something suitable!. I got these jeans for around £4 in Barnardos. I decided to bleach them to make them a bit more 'exciting', I initially wanted the bottoms to be ombred but it didn't really work! I suppose bleaching is a bit hit and miss - it's hard to know what the outcome is going to be!. As I was bleaching them it didn't look as if it was taking very well in areas, but once I had dyed them it did show up in the areas that I thought hadn't bleached!. 

Things I used; Spray Bottle, Disposable Gloves, Dylon Hand Wash Dye in 'Burlesque Red', Plastic Washing Up Bowl all from Wilkinsons!. Then something to put on the floor to avoid too much mess!.