Doll up your tutu's!

Doll up your tutu with ribbons, flowers, craft puff balls, Jingle bells, sequens, craft diamonds, . I have even used glittery snowflake table scatter from the dollar store! Anything that is light-weight, soft (so's not to poke or bother the child wearing the tutu), and can be glued on!

**I just use a glue gun to glue all my stuff on. Mine is a "High Temp" cheap one that I got from Walmart years ago but it works great. I think you can get them for around $2.50. Just glue items to single layers of tulle skirt.

Ideas:

-Buy a stem of small flowers on sale in the floral craft section from Hobby Lobby or get them at Walmart. Pull the flowers off the stems and glue them randomly on the tulle.

-Packs of glittery puff balls are about $2 at Walmart or Hobby Lobby. Just glue randomly on tulle.

-I have even taken glittering craft glue, put dabs on my finger, and lightly spread it over the tops of the tulle to glitter up a tutu!

-I buy small (1/2") Jingle Bells, thread one strand of tulle through the bell, turn up the end and glue ribbon around the tulle above the bell to hold it on. (These are a choking hazard so use only for an older child!)

**Another way to get the jingle bell on is to add strips of ribbon randomly throughout the tutu. You can tie them on or glue them on. I prefer to glue them. I just spread apart the tulle to expose

the elastic band, then glue my ribbon around it.

Then thread the end of the ribbon through the bell, flip up the end and glue it to the ribbon above it to secure it.

My tutu's that I have created

White tutu with glittery red and gold accents. Also has Jingle Bells!

Cute Candy Cane tutu with some green and Jingle Bells

Beautiful White tutu with Sparking Turquoise Snowflakes!

Matching bear for tutu.

Pretty pink and white tutu with flowers. Matching hair clip.

I didnt make the top part, I altered it and turned it into an improved version of Dorothy!

This one is a fun, fancy witch costume me and my friend made.


Adorable head piece!

Spectacular broom!!

Getting started on a tutu.

Buying Tulle:
**When buying tulle make sure you get the right Tulle.
Craft stores/sections have a thicker net stuff next to the tulle...I have tried this before in my tutu's. It works, it just doesnt look as pretty and it is kind of scratchy. If your child doesnt mind the scratchiness it is fun to have a couple pieces throughout the regular tulle. ( I wouldn't do the whole tutu out of it) It just makes it a little different. ALSO, be aware that there is shiny tulle and regular tulle. Shiny costs a little more money.

Choosing Tulle:

You can either buy tulle from the BOLT or you can buy a 6" SPOOL of 25, 40 or 100 yards. I prefer the spool. 6" is already a perfect width for each strip so all you have to do is cut the length!

***One roll of 100yds. should make a full tutu for a 2T-6T size. I did a tutu for a size 2T with about 50 yards.

**When buying from the bolt you have to deal with a LARGE piece of fabric. It's easier to have a friend help you fold it in half, then half again and just cut strips that way.

Price Range (Approx)

-Hobby Lobby Spools: ($9.99/100yds.) ($5.99/40yds.) ($2.99/25yds.)

**(I buy the 100 yds. spool for $5. Just watch the 50% off sale!..though there are not as many color choices in these large rolls at Hobby Lobby)

-Walmart Spools: 65 yds for $6 in the wedding section but there are very few colors and they don't have coupons.

-Bolt

-Regular tulle $.99/yd or $1.09

-Shiny tulle $1.27/yd or $1.17

(These prices are pretty standard at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Joann's that I've noticed. )

-Waistband

For the waistband I just buy the $1 or so braided

elastic from Walmart or Hobby Lobby. 1/2" to 3/4" works best.
**If I am making for a newborn, I use the 1/2" as it has a softer, loose stretch than the 3/4"

How to make a tutu.

Getting ready: Measure elastic around child's waist, leave 3/4 " or so extra to overlap and stitch together. (If you are using the 1/2" elastic and it is easy to stretch, try using a little less than the child's waist measurements because after you tie on all the tulle it'll stretch a little.)



Cutting the tulle: Cut your tulle strips double (+1-2") the length of your child s measurements from waist to ankles, or however long you are wanting it (each piece will be folded in half and tied on) . The 1-2" is to allow some loss in length while tying it around the elastic. For example, measurements from waist to ankle is 15", cut 32" long



~Now...Cut lots at this same length!...............keeeppp cutting!!!!
***When cutting, lay the tulle flat out and cut it. Don't gather it up in your hands so it is all scrunched together to cut it.....I have tried this 2x and somehow my strips slowly start to get shorter!!
*Tip: You can cut some strips a few inches shorter and randomly place them throughout the tutu. These shorter ones stand out from the other ones and make the tutu look more puffy!

Now you are ready to start tying them on the elastic band!!

Take your first strip of tulle and fold it in half, pinch the looped end in between 2 fingers. Put the pinched end inside the circle of the elastic band (1st pic).

Take the 2 loose ends and bring them over the top of the elastic
band putting them in the "hole" from the loop on the other end. (2nd pic)

Pull Tight

Adjust loop around elastic until it is tight. Keep doing this all the way around ALSO squishing them together as tight as you want...the tighter they are squished together, the more strips that can fit on there and the puffier the tutu!

Welcome To My Blog!

Hello. My name is Dawn. I am a stay-at-home mother of 2 boys. I LOVE to craft. I love scrapbooking, making tutu's, hairbows, decorating Christmas trees.....anything creative that has a "WOW" effect. When I first start getting into crafts I don't have a clue where to start. How do I do it, what works best, where can I find it, not just where can I find it, but what is the best cost?? I usually learn things over LONG periods of time, researching internet, youtube, listening in on conversations at the cutting counter in the fabric section of Walmart.
With that in mind, I want to create a blog where I can go and share my tips that I have learned over long periods of time and from a variety of people and places. I want these to be simple, step-by-step, quick effective tips so that you are not wasting time reading or watching LOADS of information that you really don't need.