CRAFTY CHICA: Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

Here is Jasen, an iLTC team member. His wife made his Ugly Christmas Sweater and he won the company contest! Yes, that tie lights up and blinks...

In case you haven't noticed, Ugly Christmas Sweaters have invaded the holiday season more than ever. Chances are by now you've been invited to an UCS party or contest, right? We're here to help. If you are lazy, you can be boring and buy a ready-to-go version from Urban Outfitters, or if you want a dash of elegance (ha!) you can attempt to spin the trend high fashion... like Katy Perry did this week.

However, we here at iLoveToCreate not only appreciate the ugly Christmas sweater (we even held an employee contest last year), but we celebrate this awkward trend because of all the crafty elements! Seriously, check out this Etsy store that features "handcrafted" Ugly Christmas Sweaters, priced at $75 and up! And this is just one outlet, there are many others online if you search.

However, we say that if you are going to rock an UCS, go full-throttle and make your own version! Check out this video by dapper NBC reporter, Ben Aaron. By the way, Ben - we invite you to our design studio to make your next craft project!!


Artist and crafter Stephanie Longoria attended an Ugly Christmas Sweater party last year and made these gems for herself and her husband.

"Last year my family decided to to mix things up and have an ugly Christmas sweater competition," she says. "I made sweaters for my husband and myself. Mine was voted cutest and his ugliest. My advice for making a Christmas sweater is to decide on a theme and push it to the limit."

Stephanie Longoria and her handmade sweaters.

To see even more DIY masterpieces, check out the Washinton Post's article! Okay, you must be excited by now - so here is a list of how to get started:

Here is Brandi from iLTC, she took a sweater vest and glued a door hanger tothe center and then used Tulip 3D glitter Paint to add accents galore.

TIPS:
- Think cheap. Visit the local thrift store and dollar store for your accessories. Even if you can't find a holiday sweater, just go with a basic sweater or sweatshirt.
- Big work surface! Clear a table and have good lighting so you can have room to get down and crafty.
- A good STRONG GLUE - Aleene's Turbo Tacky will do the trick.
- Choose a theme. Your sweater will make more of a statement if there is a kooky story behind it.
- A centerpiece design - You can print this out on fabric paper or from a t-shirt. Or you can even start with a basic sweater that already has a design and go from there. And think dimensional - use a stuffed animal or plastic decoration. It's not like you'll be laundering the sweater, go all the way and think BIG and GAUDY!
- Sparkle. Glue on some tinsel, glittered ornaments, and even battery oerpated blinking lights.
- Comfort. If you want to take your sweater off during the party, you might want to go with a button up garment so you can easily remove it.
- Accents: Use Puffy Paint, felt, buttons, garland, paper cutouts, small toys, etc. Heck, even holiday coffee cups, why not?

Have you made an Ugly Christmas Sweater? Please share a link to your picture! We want to see!

Sweater Clips

After last week's I Love to Create post about monogrammed sweaters I thought it was only appropriate to follow up this week with another cardigan accessory, sweater clips! Antiquated to some, but to others the ultimate way to sass-a-fy your sweater set.


PINK FOREST FRIENDS SWEATER CLIPS
Supplies
Fabric
Felt
Sweater Clips
Fabric Fusion Glue
Scissors


Just because I used a forest friends fabric does not mean you have to. Take a stroll through the fabric aisle and see if something else with graphic images catches your eye. I chose a pink fox and porcupine to use for my sweater clips. I roughly cut them out and using Fabric Fusion Glue adhered them to a piece of stiff black felt. Allow the fabric and felt to dry completely.


When the glue is dry cut out your images. Gluing the fabric to the felt should help prevent fraying. Glue your fabric graphics to your sweater clips. These little babies are not only cute, but they keep your cardigan together.

Let's make another pair out of felt!


NESTING DOLLS SWEATER CLIPS
Supplies
Felt
Scissors
Fabric Fusion Glue
Sweater Clips


Again nothing says you have to make Russian Nesting Doll Sweater Clips, use your imagination and create something else. The felt possibilities are endless. I have made felt sweater clips that were telephones, lipstick and cute little faces and hearts. Cut out your shapes, glue them together, attach them to your sweater clips and presto magic!

In case you are feeling inspired I thought I would show you a few other sweater clip examples. Wondering where the heck to get sweater clips? Well you can easily make your own with alligator clips and chain or you can find some ready made ones in my Etsy store!



Craft on!Click here for today's daily giveaway!

Making Monogrammed Sweaters

Sure monogrammed sweaters first gained popularity with Laverne and Alvin, but they seem to be making a resurgence. I can't help but notice Project Runway contestant Valerie often sporting some sort of handmade looking name tag or monogram. The new movie 'Easy A' puts a different spin on Hester's Scarlet letter A. I thought what better time with fall on the horizon to gussy up a few of my own cardigans.

I made two different cardigans for today's I Love to Create post and am inspired to make several more. Let's start with the ribbon monogram.


SUPPLIES
Aleene's Fabric Fusion Glue
Ribbon
Scissors
Cardigan


This cardigan was super duper easy to make. I cut out 2 pieces of blue ribbon to form the letter J. I then adhered a piece of smaller thinner yellow ribbon in the center of this ribbon using Fabric Fusion Glue. I allowed my letter J applique to dry. Once the J was dry I used more Fabric Fusion Glue to attach it to my cardigan. Be sure to put a piece of paper of cardboard between the layers of your cardigan. You want to use enough glue to make sure your letter stays put!


Next up the glittertastic monogram cardigan that is almost easier than the ribbon cardigan as if that was possible.


SUPPLIES
Tulip fashion Glitter
Cardigan
Tulip Fabric Marker
Tulip Soft Fabric Paint
Paint Brush
Aleene's Fabric Fusion Glue


I must confess I looked up a guide to cursive letters for this cardigan. I used a Tulip Fabric Marker in place of tailor's chalk to draw my cursive letter J. I painted the letter J hot pink with Tulip Soft Paint. On top of the fabric paint I applied a thick strand of Fabric Fusion Glue and dusted a heavy coating of hot pink Tulip Fashion Glitter. When the glue dried I dusted the excess glitter off my cardigan. Again remember to place something between the layers of your cardigan so that the glue does not get through to the backside.


I have been practicing my cursive letter T to make a few cardigans for Tallulah. If Chris will let me there might be one in his future too, sans glitter of course.