Howdee pards!!!!!
I want you guys to get out your super secret craft glasses!
(the ones that let you see craft potential in nearly everything!!!!)
...and take a look at this bag...
What do you see????
Do you see an animal in there???
Do you see a beak? ...a place for eyes?
(Do you guys hear crickets?????)
ummmm.... no, Crazy Lolly (my new official title)...
We see a plain ole camera bag!!!
When I laid my eyeballs on that camera bag...
I saw this!
You have to squint really really really hard to see it, but I promise you, she's in there!
I know it's kinda crazy, but I am gonna share how to turn that bag into Miss Owl Fabulous Pants!
I had seen glimmer mist used to "dye" similar Donna Downey Prima bags in their "Live..." videos!
So I figured it would be a terrific way to jazz up the base of my owl!
I cut off the button from the front of the bag.
I lightly spritzed the bag with plain water first to prime it to accept the color and then...
I sprayed the bottom in Glimmer Mist in "turquoise blue (a.k.a. teal) and the top in "lime twist"
I also ran a paint brush over the spritzed bag (another fabulous Prima tip) to smooth everything together!
You can see the gradient pretty well and the color saturation is really nice.
I set it up to dry...
Got impatient and blasted it with my heat gun!
That fella dried right up lickity split!
Just a teeny tiny little Glimmer Mist tip...
Unless you are going for the Pandora look...
Wear gloves!
I was going to make a "smurf hands" crack but that might date me.
Smurf?!?!?!
What's a smurf Lolly?
Man do I feel old!
The Pandora comment is Lolly trying to get with "modern times"!
How did I do???
Ohhhhhh... one more thing...
If you do end up with Pandora Smurf hands...
Neutrogena Daily Face Scrub will completely remove it!
I discovered this by accident!
No Pandora Smurf hands for this Lolly!
I busted out my handy sketch book and placed my color swatches and made a few notes.
(I also saved the packaging for the teal trim cause I thought it was pretty)
I used my handy Sizzix to cut felt leaves.
(I used the "Flower Layers w/Leaf" die)
I laid out the leaves before I dyed the bag...
Just to see what it would look like (craft testing at it's finest).
I thought this might be too much teal!
(which is a total lie cause there is no such thing as too much teal as you ALL know)
So I added in some green for variety.
Actually what happened was Martians came down from outer space and made me add in the green.
It's their favorite color!
(totally not even kidding cause that's the only way this Lolly can be steered away from teal)
See how boring that bottom looks..
That's why I decided to dye it with Glimmer Mist.
(I know I am jumping around here but hang with me... I'll make sense someday)
I used this glue to tack the leaves to the owl body (aka camera bag)
I figured if this stuff was washable it was bound to be pretty sturdy!
I thought about sewing each leaf on like I did for Hammie the Hedgie...
But this bag is really thick and it might have been too difficult!
Apply a dab of glue to each leaf
(Pandora Smurf helped me with this step)
Start from the bottom layering the leaves in a row with the points facing down.
Just keep working your way up and all the way around the "body"
Your bag should look something like this!
Nextly....
We gotta get that flap looking more beak-ish!
So snip off the loop thingy
(I have no idea what it's called so we'll roll with "loop thingy" for now)
Sew the flap together so the point stays how it's supposed to stay.
(you guys speak Lollish so it's all good and I don't have to explain myself right???)
Then sew a mega gigantor snap on that puppy!
(only sew though ALL the holes and don't be lazy like me)
See... craft magic!
The bag will now close without the aid of that mega button and loop thingy!
The eyes have it!
I stumbled upon the shape of the eyes by accident.
I started off wanting to cut circles as eye backs...
...so I folded a piece of felt in half and just ran it through my Sizzix!
When I opened it up to get the circles out I saw this...
(I was wearing those special craft glasses again)
I thought it kinda looked like an owl face...
So in order to shape it a little better...
...and keep things uniform on both sides...
I folded it back in half and trimmed the edges until it looked like this...
I cut a little point there too!
(inspiration for the point came from HERE)
...and when you open it up...
It kinda looks like 1960's owl glasses!
I cut a piece of stiff felt in the same shape...
...and blanket stitched the two together...
I used that same glue and adhered the little mask to the front of the flap!
Then I added some stacked buttons to the center and glued those down too!
Lastly to nextly...
You gotta dye the handle too!
This time I simply laid it in a box and sprayed with with "lime twist" Glimmer Mist.
(I did not want Kermit the Frog hands on top of my Pandora Smurf Hands!)
Then I took some cool teal trim from Webster's Pages (resource below)
I simply glued the trim to the handle.
...and sprayed the whole thing with scotch guard to help protect it...
So here she is with no handle and no arms...
I think she looks pretty darn sweet!
I showed her to RonChops and I declared her DONE!
Ahhh no!
He told me she looked like a box with eyes and needed something else.
.men.
So I made her some wings!
(and RonChops **might** have been right)
(but that's our little secret ok)
Here is her back...
I added some of that trim to conceal the tops of the leaves!
Here are her insides...
She's carrying my little Canon camera but could also easily store a cell phone, chap stick and some credit cards and such.
The bag is pretty roomy and has two pockets as well!
I could totally see using her as a little clutch for a special date can't you!?!?!?
Sew does she need the wings????
She's not really sure.
(this is her rendition of the Edna the Owl Bag shrug)
Supplies I used (feel free to change it up and use different colors (just
kidding... this can only be made in teal or it won't come out as cute...
honest to peanuts)):
Donna Downey Prima Camera Bag - HERE
Felt
in "Taffy" and "Robbins Egg"- HERE & HERE
Coordinating fabrics (I just took my felt
to the fabric store until till I found fabric colors I liked)
Sizzix
dies - "Flower Layers w/Leaf" - HERE and
"Circles #2" HERE (the circles die is optional but helps make the eyes)
Coordinating
embroidery floss, fabric glue, buttons and stiff felt
Webster's Pages
- teal trim - HERE
Tattered
Angels Glimmer Mist - Turquoise Blue and Lime Twist - HERE
and HERE
I wanted o share a few more projects that you guys have sent me (all LollyChops inspired)!!!!
Sarah Youde made the MomChops crochet rose and adhered it to this sweet little card (crochet rose tutorial HERE)!
Melly from Decomom's Daillance made this awesome flower from wall flowers week (tutorial HERE)!
...and lastly!
Charmaine from Oak Leaf Designs made the felt flower topiary for her Mom (and is making another one for herself)!
Tutorial HERE!
Thanks for sharing your projects with me girls!!! Keep'em coming!
That's owl she wrote!
Next Monday I am doing a crochet on the page VIDEO (it's been 300 years since I did a video and I figured it's time I got LollyChops TV back on the air)!
I will also be featuring the latest round of cards for Crystal from my card drive (you can read about it HERE)!
I hope everyone has a super fab week! Thanks for dropping by for a visit!!!!!
P.S. Even if you don't have a Face Book account, you can check out the LollyChops FB page anyway HERE. You at least gotta go and see who won the button wars over the weekend and lay eyeballs on my new Slightly Wobbly Brown Bear pin cushion (shhhh... he's my new boyfriend)!
P.S.S.T. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO's
Hi Crazy Lolly *hahaha*
The Owl looks very, very awesome!!!!
What a funny idea - I love it!
Can one punch out the circles and sheets with the Sizzix templates? I did not see it here unfortunately ever .... but I can looking for... ;-)
HUGS
Gabi
Posted by: Gabi | May 17, 2010 at 06:22 AM
Lolly this owl bag is so adorable!!!! Love love love!!!
A smurf is called "Schlumpf" in German and the female smurf (why is there only one female among all those men?) is called Schlumpfine ;-)
I'm already a fan of your Facebook Site, can't get enough of Lolly :-)
Here's mine: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tante-Sandy-Design/111698178871994
I tried to ship your package today but there were like a zillion people at the post office, so I#ll try again tomorrow morning....
Big Hugs
Sandy
Posted by: Queen of Bristol | May 17, 2010 at 06:31 AM
totally in love :) !!!! I have a thing with owls and this is really awesome! can't do it, but thank you so much for the instructions :)
I'd like to buy your special craft glasses :)))) You're special Lolly!!!
ciao e baci :)
Posted by: Simona Gargiulo | May 17, 2010 at 06:34 AM
I'm very sorry, don't know why my pc signed with the account of my DT blog...
I'm MANU ih ih ih
http://manuscrap.wordpress.com
Posted by: Simona Gargiulo | May 17, 2010 at 06:36 AM
That is super cute! You are something else!
Posted by: Shawna | May 17, 2010 at 07:20 AM
WOW LOLLY! You never cease to amaze me! Seriously this is so adorable! Now if only I could get rid of all the tv's in our house so I could make the time to do all that you and Ron chops do! This is so adorable! You my friend are one super talented and crafty (in a non sneaky way) lady! *hugs from conroe, tx!
Posted by: Nancy Wyatt | May 17, 2010 at 07:27 AM
Wow lolly. I really love this. You are so super smart.
Posted by: monika | May 17, 2010 at 07:28 AM
Tooooo cute!
I'm sure any green loving alien would love to see this on a special date.
The world needs more Smurf hands I say.
Posted by: Sue | May 17, 2010 at 07:30 AM
Oh I remember Smurfs! Just the other day, I had an athletic taping done on my foot, and I said, "Now I have a Smurf foot." The doc kinda looked at me like I had three heads. Oh well!
Your little owlie bag is A+ADORABLE! I love it! You have way more patience and creativity than I in the embellishment department!
Posted by: geek+nerd | May 17, 2010 at 07:39 AM
Oh my word Lolly!! That's the cutest owl camera bag I've ever seen!! Ok, it's the only owl camera bag I've ever seen but still, it's the cutest thing ever!!! Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted by: Sue | May 17, 2010 at 07:58 AM
Woooh Lolly, this bag is so cute! love the teal as well :)! looking forward to the next lolly video!
Posted by: Hester | May 17, 2010 at 08:14 AM
My word thats amazing!
I cant make it as I cant get hold of the stuff over here but I love reading your tute. Its fabuloso!
xxx
Posted by: twolittleseeds | May 17, 2010 at 08:27 AM
Lolly! You are sooo clever! I especially love your owl eyes technique!
P.S. I know the smurfs!! They are also making a Smurfs movie so soon all them youngun's will know too! ;-)
Posted by: Lisa | May 17, 2010 at 08:51 AM
that may be the cutest thing i have ever seen~
Posted by: Jeanette | May 17, 2010 at 09:33 AM
Yes, I say she needs those wings! I got a first hand glimpse yesterday and she almost didn't make it home with LollyChops! :) She is so - so - SO ADORABLE!
Posted by: MomChops | May 17, 2010 at 09:41 AM
OH Lolly, I literally gasped out loud when I saw that fabulous owl. Ahh- maay-zing! Love it.
Posted by: amyks | May 17, 2010 at 09:54 AM
Cutest camera bag ever. And it looks a whole lot more complicated to make than it is. Awesome job, Lolly!
Posted by: kendra | May 17, 2010 at 09:56 AM
squueee....SQUEEEE! That is just about the cutest, niftiest camera bag ever! I have one of those Kodak Easyshare Cameras that can't fit into one of those cute little bags....But I'm sure there is something I can turn into a super cute owl.
I agree w/ Momchops she definately needs wings...I don't want to have to giver her some fluids and medicine.
I thought I could see the Owl in everything...but you take the cake (cake w/ cute little teal icing owls).
Posted by: Jessie | May 17, 2010 at 10:12 AM
LOVE Edna. Love love love her! Practically prefect in every way!
Posted by: Leigh | May 17, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Tell me you are in with Prima! This is unfreaking believable!!!! I think Edna's last name is Nickel and she wants to come home!!! ROTFL
Posted by: Jing-Jing | May 17, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Good morning Lolly Chopper!
Since it is tealfully obvious that you are owltastic, I thought I would give a hoot out to your "fan" Charmaine!! While most people were probably admiring her handy work on the topiary, I was thoroughly amazed by her craft space. Helloooo...did you see her color coded button jars???!!! How 'bout the out-of-this-world hanging pen holders??!!! OMG I am in LUV!!!
Anyhoot, hope you have an owlmazing day!!!
Toodles & Hugs,
Beth
Posted by: Beth Hester | May 17, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Could that BE any CUTER?!! Love that SO MUCH! TFS! :-)
Posted by: Deana Boston | May 17, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Lolly, this is so fun!!! What a great and creative idea!
Posted by: Daniela | May 17, 2010 at 10:51 AM
oh. my. goodness. I can't even get over how cute this owl bag is! I love your ingenuity! I NEED to find some time to do some crafting... you have completely inspired me (again).
Posted by: Natalie | May 17, 2010 at 10:56 AM
That ... is ... AWESOME!! You have such a fantastic creative brain. Very cool. Question ... how many layers of felt can you cut at once in a big shot? Looks like you have 3?
Posted by: hdenghel | May 17, 2010 at 11:14 AM
AAAACK! That is so stinking adorable! I want one in red! LOL! You did an amazing job with it! What a wonderful idea!
Posted by: Jingle | May 17, 2010 at 11:20 AM
This is so classically, perfectly, LOLLY! Who else would turn a plain little camera bag into a teal and lime owl? Just you- and I LOVE that!!
Posted by: Sara @ Our Best Bites | May 17, 2010 at 11:40 AM
I have done as many as 4 layers of felt and its not a problem at all! With fabric you can do about 6-8. Its pretty darn awesome!
Posted by: LollyChops | May 17, 2010 at 11:51 AM
I absolutely love your owl!! How great!
Posted by: Dot | May 17, 2010 at 12:29 PM
The bag is just fabulous, do hope your turquoise blue fingers have recovered too!
Posted by: Ruth | May 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
really really cute lolly...i just love owls! what a cute way to upcycle something most of us have anyway!
Posted by: sharon stanley | May 17, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Hey Lolly!
Oh so fab project! And thanks for the shout out. I finally have my blog up and running...my first post...well the topiary of course! I linked back to your tutorial...hope I did it right :)
Charmaine
Posted by: Charmaine | May 17, 2010 at 01:13 PM
me again...here's the link to my post...
http://oakleafdesign.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/here-i-am-again/
Posted by: Charmaine | May 17, 2010 at 01:15 PM
Thanks Beth! My room is definitely a work in progress. My husband is in the process of making my cabinets. The button jars and pen holders are actually spice jars and utencil holders from IKEA. The bar that they are on is also IKEA...love that place. As soon as my room is done I'll post photos on my blog.
Charmaine
Posted by: Charmaine | May 17, 2010 at 01:18 PM
This camera bag is totally owl-mazing!!!!! I'm completely "owlesome" :-D
Definitly, I completely love your ideas!
XO
Posted by: sedna | May 17, 2010 at 01:23 PM