Thursday, April 1, 2010

April Dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

April is Earth Month, at least it is on my blog. Earth Day is turning 40 this year, so every day leading up to April 22, I will feature a project using recycled or found materials, beginning with my April dresses. Double click for best views.

This is the front of my mini skirt and top. You can almost believe this might be a cheerleading outfit. The top is made from 2 1/2" wide polyester ribbon that I sewed up the sides. The bottom was cut from three soda pop cans that I ran through my die cut machine using a tag die. I cut a flower from the Coke can using a hand held punch.

To cover the back, I mixed Chili Pepper and Calabaza Orange alcohol inks by Jacquard, then spread them on the aluminum. It was the closest I could get to the color of the top, although it's still a bit too pink.

I couldn't stop with one dress for this month, either. For my second dress, I took old silk flowers apart that had been living outside way too long. I tried all kinds of ways to glue the skirt together, starting with double sided tape from UHU (which worked for just a few minutes until the weight of the piece tore the flowers apart), then UHU Twist & Glue, which also didn't hold them. I finally got out the "big guns" and used E6000. The black flower is made into a pin which can be removed when the wearer wants to wash the dress. The top is made from some of the leaves from the flower bouquet.

I left the back plain. As you can see, the dress is hanging on the hanger like a regular dress would. Only the two outer leaves tops are connected. It shifted when I turned it over to scan the back.

Now for an update:

Remember this March dress?

I really didn't care for the shamrock on the front. It didn't add anything to the overall piece, except to signify St. Patrick's Day. I removed the shamrock napkin, colored the tiny shamrock on the decoration to more closely match the dress color and now feel much better about the dress.

Want to see all the other dresses this month? Go to Alice and Camilla by Margaret, our hostess with the mostess's blog and check out all the other participants' blogs. And be sure to leave them a comment. I know they will appreciate it just as much as I do.

22 thoughtful remarks:

Margaret said...

Wow Elizabeth! amazing dresses for this month, you're so inventive and such a wonderful upcycler! I particularly like the second dress, sooooo Springy with all the petals and leaves! Margaret

Unknown said...

These are wonderful- I love the cheerleader skirt and although the inks are a bit too pink to be a perfect match, I like it- I think it emphasizes the other colors and adds to the overall effect!
Cheers,
Stephanie

Terri Kahrs said...

Each month I look forward to seeing your newest dress, and this month I had a double treat! Both of them are so pretty, but I adore the flowered dress! So creative!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo

PS I can't believe that Earth Day will be the big "4-0" this year! I remember the very first one!

Diane said...

Love these dresses so much, especially the coke one--very, very creative! Thank you too for mentioning me on your blog--I really appreciate this!! and thank you too for Rebeca Trevino--I am now a follower of her blog--I fell in love with her assemblages.

Healing Woman said...

Love the dresses, especially the one with the silk flowers that had been outside. Great idea. What are you planning to do with them?

Halle said...

These two dresses are fantastic!!!! Can't wait to see what you come up with next month!

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

Cheerleader is exactly what came to mind when I first saw your red dress Elizabeth. Great use of found materials as always and your flower dress looks enchanted! The flowers look great and not weathered at all. Nice redo of your green dress as well!
Your wardrobe certainly is going to have a nice variety of outfits!
oxo

BadPenny said...

inspired ! a fizzy drink dress ! It does have the cheerleader look of it and the second could be worn with a mask at the Mardi Gras ! superb - I love the orange petals.
( Like what you've done to the March dress too )

Sherry said...

Great recycled projects! The first one really does look likes it belongs to a cheerleader! I love the shape of the skirt and panels in it you've created.

The second one has the WOW factor - it looks as though it has so much movement in it.

I thought the shamrock made the dress bold and beautiful (although not sure I could wear something like it, being the shy and retiring type - lol). Without it though, it's still beautiful - I like the gradations of colour.

Look forward to next month's now!

Electra said...

Wow, you're so creative-I immediately knew the first one was a cheerleading dress, love how you used the Coke cans, and the second one, stunning!

Unknown said...

they are just beautiful...I love the flower dress and the coke dress! and they are recycled...good for you!

Anonymous said...

You have done it again. Two lovely dresses.

Rachel

Jeanie Callaghan said...

Lovely dresses. That's an inspired Coke dress!

Jen xo said...

i love your recycled dress, i thought it looked like a netball uniformn to start with.
Your sunflower one is stuning with its gorgeous skirt...

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh your dresses are fabulous!!! I love the yellow flowered one!! By the way you cat looks a lot like my cat "Dakota"! Of course Dakota has green eyes. Such a cool name you chose for him/her! Marva

Marlynn said...

You have really taken to making dresses and you are an amazing designer. I thought the red was cute and then BAM -- the yellow flower. I love them all. I can just see Eve enticing Adam in the fig leaf flower! Great post.

Anonymous said...

I just tried to send a comment and I think it flew off into never never land...let's see if I can remember what I said! I love your little daisy dress it makes me want to unfurl my wings and return to the forest where I belong. It reminds me of one of my favorite books "Fairie-Ality". Now let me try this post again...

JaN's ArTy JouRneY said...

Wow, your recycled dresses are fantastic!
Love the cheerleader dress, the flattened soda cans are cool!
...and your sunflower dress is a stunner!
You are so creative!!
Jan x

My Creative House said...

Very beautiful dresses but I especially like the yellow it's so creatively done.
Anni

Mollye said...

Oh my gosh I am lovin these little dresses. I love the birdcage one the best though. I just signed up today to play. Whoops I mean design couture creations! I know it will be fun.

Gini said...

So very creative to use the coke cans in this way, and the flower dress is super!
I like the way you have altered March's dress!
Gini
xx

SandeeNC said...

OMG, I love that flower dress, that is too darn cute! I am enjoying the recyling program and the "cheer leader" dress is a great example of what you can create when you have such an imaginative mind! You are so smart!....to the next!