Tuesday, August 6, 2013

DIY: A Crayon-tastic Dress and A GIVEAWAY!

 What you see here is an art teacher that's one crayon short of a full box. 
Partly cuz, let's face it, I'm nutz (and I'm not just sayin' so. During our school's evening registration, I was asked on more than one occasion by the under-10 set if I was planning on being "even crazier this year." When I replied with an "um, I suppose so?" I was met with mostly "yes!"es and a few "oh no"s. But those came from parents and the administration. Which doesn't count, says me.) And the other partly cuz, well, I used several of the crayons from my box for that there hair clip.
But that crayon clip was just the icing on this Ultra-Geeky-Crayontastic-Art-Teachery-Get-Up Cake. 

When I stumbled upon this crayon fabric at JoAnn's, I knew deep in my tacky-bedazzled heart that it was meant for curtain-making or bulletin board decorating. Not dresses. I thought to myself, "Should I? Or would that be taking things a little too far?" And then I remembered THIS get up, laughed manically (which drew stares and whispers and a phone call to the police) and realized I done took things too far a long long time ago.

I also scooped up a coupla yards of that blue chevron. I loved the idea of it paired with the crayon fabric (look, I can teach about zig zag lines and crayons with this dress. Shoot, this dress just does the teachin' itself. Thank goodness because with all this sewing I forgot to write my lesson plans. Just kidding, principal lady!).
You might recall I scored a batch o vintage patterns this summer that just happened to be in my size. I decided to use the one above...with much anticipation. I've never heard good things about Vague, er, Vogue patterns and, I gotta say, with good reason. I mean, I thought Mrs. Butterick was bad. She at least talked to me. Vogue just uses pictures, arrows and a couple line drawings of the middle finger. It's most off-putting. Thankfully, this pattern was pretty self-explanatory, so my wee brain was able to manage.
 I really loved the dress on the envelope with the butterfly border fabric so I used the crayons as the boarder to the chevron. I was a little concerned that so much blue zigzag would be boring and toyed around with other fabric choices. In the end, I decided that having the zigzags run in different directions would be twofold terrificness: horizontals to accentuate and verticals to elongate. Wow, that sentence made me sound all smart -n- stuff. Maybe I'll include that in my lesson plan. Oh! By the way, crayon shoe DIY here. Cuz I know you're dying to make your own. Double Oh! More about my Art History Wall here.



 Just a coupla books I plan on reading whilst wearing said dress. See, I did plan. A little. 

Have ya'll read these? Love 'em.

 And there you have it! One Crayon Dress complete(-ly crazy. You're welcome, children.)
 And now, lemme giveaway some stuff! I have a coupla odd-shaped yards of this crayon fabric (due to cutting to create the border) and this super rad vintage box of Crayola crayons in hardly-used condition. The fabric would make great quilting squares, classroom curtains, underwear, the possibilities are endless. To enter, all you gotta do is leave a comment about what you'd do with either the crayons, the fabric or both! International friends, you are always welcome to join the fun. I'll throw all ya'll's names in a jar and announce the winner sometime next week. When I've finished writing my lesson plans.

Until then, lemme hear from you and enjoy the rest of your week!




25 comments:

  1. Cassie, your dress is absolutely the cutest. Love the crayon fabric! I'm thinking it would make a cute retro style apron, Butterick 5435 comes to mind.

    Christiana
    sewamusing.blogspot.com

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  2. Anonymous8/06/2013

    The fabric would make great quilting squares, classroom curtains,UNDERWEAR!!! the possibilities are endless. I follow you on pinterest. The crayon underwear idea! Love it

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  3. Cassie, I want to know who takes all those great photographs of you!

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  4. Too cute. I am still in denial that I will be going back to work (we don't start until after labor day) My house is such a mess where has the summer gone. I think I would use the crayon fabric for an apron to keep all your pretty dresses free of art room oopsies.

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  5. I use to sew all the time. I wish I had saved the vintage patterns! Love your blog!

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  6. Yay! Love the crayon dress and especially love your description of vogue patterns...giggle! I would make a cute head scarf with the fabric! And I love the vintage box of crayons!!

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  7. Nice fabric! I'm going to use the fabric to lengthen a little denim skirt of my daughter with ruffles. The box of crayons is for my daughters; they love drawing!

    Thanks for the nice give away!

    Liz

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  8. Great dress as always! I would use the fabric for something in my classroom.... the awesome vintage crayons would go on display for all to enjoy and inspire memories! :)

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  9. Love your flair for dressing! The fabric is perfect for making a composition book cover. And the crayons are just the thing I need to create that "Welcome Back" vignette.

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  10. Such fun pictures! I would make a book bag for my granddaughter!

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  11. What a lovely dress! I love how you matched the two fabrics.
    The crayon fabric would make a cute shirt for my toddler boy.

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  12. You don't have to enter me...but I have to say "You are the most colorful crayon in the box!" Love ya!

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  13. I would use the fabric to make some awesome crayon roll-up holders that I saw on Pinterest. I could use them at our first family night as door prizes. I have to admit that I would selfishly keep the vintage crayons to put on display with my collection. Found a box last summer in a little antique shop in MI that I had to have because the teacher had written on the back "Teacher's Crayons". Ha-I so do that. Great dress!!!

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  14. That dress is so cute! I teach history in a high school but I have themed skirts, too! I have a vintage D.C. skirt I wear for our government unit. Nerdy! I'm going to make a Rt 66 skirt soon. I love your fun outfits!

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  15. Hmm...so wish my seeing skills were better. I have tons of ideas but lack the skills to make many of my dream projects. I would make matching hair wraps for my 13 year old daughter and I. If there is enough fabric left I would make bandanas for my husband, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. A perfect family photo for my art room! :)

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  16. You are so inspiring! Please throw my name in the jar as I would use the fabric to make an art apron. Thank you for the motivation and great ideas!!

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  17. hhhmmmm I would DIY a pair of shoes (maybe wedges- Ilove wedges!) with the fabric... and I love the dress... are the patterns you use still available? love them!!! Thanks for sharing all of your whacky ideas and making us other whack-jobs not feel so alone!!!

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  18. Anonymous8/11/2013

    Cute, cute dress! I love the fabric and it would go perfectly in my crayon themed classroom. I have an enormous crayon box that I made which holds crayons made from those heavy cardboard rolls that bulletin board paper comes on. I had three so I cut them in half and made six crayons that are really half the size of the box so they aren't so heavy. I would love the vintage box. It would go with the box of crayons I have that my husband's mother kept from his childhood, and the box of crayon candles I kept from mine. You have to admit your fabric would fit perfectly!

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  19. Love your blog! I would use the crayon box as part of a art materials time line.

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  20. You are so inspiring! I used to teach high school art and am finally teaching elementary which I've wanted all along! I can't wait to dress crazy! :) Do you have any posts of your lesson plans? I love your classroom set up!

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    1. Hi Tammy! I do have lots of lesson plans sprinkled throughout my DIY's and crazy outfits. You could look here first: http://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-art-room-art-show-part-1.html and feel free to email me if you have any questions or need more lesson plan ideas. Have fun with The Littles!

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  21. I'm a new teacher and now my passion for sewing is on the back burner since I teach K thru 11th! I don't have much in my classroom, but I'm sure I could use that adorable fabric in my room! Thanks for such a great blog :)

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    1. I'm so sorry friend, but this giveaway is now closed...HOWEVER, I am having a giveaway currently. If you click on my banner it should take you right to my latest post. Thank you!

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  22. I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people.

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  23. I just found your art projects on pinterest, which led to your blog and instagram. Wow. this is all overly aweseome!!! Thank you for the work that you are doing and for sharing. The writing, the shoes, THE DRESSES, seriously cool.

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