Making a Purse out of a Stuffed Animal

So, this might be a bit picture heavy, but I don't know how to properly illustrate my directions without visual aids, probably because I find visuals very helpful. SO, here we go.

Difficulty: Easy

What you will need:

Stuffed animal

Zipper [one that will fit into your plush]

Fabric [for liner]

Something to use for straps. ie; ribbon, fabric, backpack straps....

Needle and thread

Optional:

'D' rings

Sewing Machine

So, firstly, start off with a plush you don't mind cutting up.

Any size will do, mine is 15 inches long.

The first step is to make an incision where you will put the zipper. I decided because my plush lays down, to put the zipper along the seam on 'her' back. If you have a plush that looks like it sits or stands, you have the option of turning it into a backpack so you can place your zipper horizontally but it's all to you're discretion.

After that you need to take out the stuffing, but please leave the stuffing in the head and arms/legs alone. You can sew the limbs shut if you choose to do so. I didn't because I'm not that concerned about it.
I decided not to buy a zipper because I had an old purse with the perfect size zipper, so I cut it out carefully and set it aside for later use.

See, my zipper is ready for application, but I need to make a liner to put my things into.

I decided to recycle my reusable canvas bag that I use for groceries because my family accumulates them in bulk. I guesstimated on my measurements so my lining came out to be roughly 8 inches in width and 10 inches in length.

Please figure out your measurements according to you're stuffed animals measurements.
I then folded it width wise 'hot dog' and sewed 2 of the edges to make it into a pocket.

I used really simple stitches and tied it with a french knot. I'm not an expert sewer, just so you know.

I then turned my pocket inside out and lined it with my plush's opening like so.
Which, with the same simple, weaving in and out stitch, I sewed the lining to my plush's opening.

After It was secure all around with no gaps or open spaces, I tucked/pushed the lining into my plush.
The next step, which is the most difficult step was to sew the zipper to the plush's opening.

SO, I overlapped the edge of the plush/lining over the edge of the zipper and using the same simple stitching, I sewed the zipper on.
After finishing one side, this is how the underneath of the sipper looked.

I then opened the zipper and finished the other side.

Voilla! The zipper is sewed on. This is how the end product looked open.

My sewing skills aren't the best or the neatest, but I make sure my stitching is secure. If anything needs to be reinforced, please do so.

Now, on to the straps. I do prefer using backpack straps which you can cut off an old backpack or purchase at you're local fabric store, which I did. I bought a yard which was perfect for the length I was going for.

Please measure the precise length you require for your plush because it might differ from mine.

I also bought 'd' rings to adhere my straps to my bag, which is optional but I wanted to experiment....
If you plan to use the 'D' rings, you must sew the straps to the rings by over lapping the straps over the ring and sewing it shut around the apparatus. Like so.


Then repeating on the other side, making sure that they will both be facing inwards.

You can also incorporate 'd' rings into you're strap to make them adjustable.

But you will have to find a separate tutorial online for that, I'm sorry.
Now, you can attach that with a piece of fabric or by sewing them on directly to the plush. Please use you're preferred choice.

I opted for directly sewing them on, because I got lazy. But, it worked out just fine.
I just sewed into the plush and wrapped it around the ring and repeated it over and over until it was securely fastened on. I harshly tugged on it to make sure it wouldn't rip off.

If you're sewing on the strap directly, I would just use a simple stitch but sew over the strap a good number of times to make sure it won't rip off and give it a good few tugs to make sure the sewing job was done well.

Don't forget to repeat the same process on the other side. [Doubly so if you're putting on 2 straps to turn your plush into a backpack]

Ta da! It's finished!

I'm quite fond of the finished product!
Here are a few examples for making a backpack. There are optional placements for placing you're straps.

Minnie's are on her hand and connect to her feet so it looks like she's hanging on to one's shoulders.
While Scrump, is a basic backpack that hangs off one's back.

Though, mind you, these 2 are purchased from the Disney company.

I hope this tutorial is helpful and enjoyable. I know I really enjoyed making my purse!

<3CarisseIris

My uneventful Valentines day

I absolutely had nothing to do on Valentines day... [as is the life of a student waiting for her student visa].

But I did have something come in the post, which I pretended to be a Valentines present to myself.

The package ended up being my Daisy Duck shirt I ordered off ebay. It's really so lovely and well made that I had to change my whole outfit and take pictures of myself wearing it.

Hmm, maybe I should get a part time job because cam-whoring isn't exactly a great hobby to put on a resume, haha!

Yes, I did bobby pin my bow to sit up high on my head like that, so I could emulate the character on my shirt. ;3

I have to say, my room looks so lovely in pictures~

I also tried to dress up my dog, which was kind of unsuccessful. Her reactions are priceless.

Nom nom nom, apparently hats are something to eat.

Yeah, that apparently was my Valentines day. I did manage to reinforce buttons on my clothing, stitch up some runs and holes in some sweaters and cook for the family, so it's not like I just sit around and twiddle my thumbs ahaha.

I hope everyone had a lovely and more productive Valentines day than moi.

<3CarisseIris

Deck out Women Crystal Eyelid Patch Review

I received the 'Deck out Women Crystal Eyelid Patch' from pinkyparadise with my purchase when you use a coupon code which I find here.

According to the package, the patches

• Powerful reduces dark circles
• Powerful reduces puffiness
• enriched with moisturizers
• prevent & refine aging
• Anti- wrinkle
• Refirming

Well, after 2 days without sleeping, I looked quite zombie like and decided it might be the best time to try out the eye patches.

According to the directions, you are to peel them from the plastic liner and immediately apply them onto you're under eye and smooth them to the skin to ensure a good contact with the skin.

The instructions also said to wear them for at least 30 minutes or while sleeping but not to exceed 12 hours.

Within the first 15 minutes I had to keep readjusting them because they kept slipping off and after the first 30 minutes, they were quite comfortable and stayed in place quite well. Near the end of the 2nd hour, they were pretty died out and kept falling off which is when I decided to just remove them and see how well it worked.

After the patches, my eyes felt a lot better and were very moist and supple. I really loved how they felt rejuvenated. Now, for how it looked. I really felt my left side was noticeably improved because my eye bags were less severe than my right side's under eye. I also noticed that the dark colorization lifted slightly too. Also, the puffiness under my eye dramatically decreased.

I really do like the product, I'm not sure if I would pay for it and am glad that I got a free sample of it and if given it again I will happily use it.

If I had heavy under eye bags [without lack of sleep] I would probably invest in them though because they do make a noticeable difference but take what you may from my example.

<3CarisseIris

Short and sweet~ Twitter

Well, I guess I have a twitter again.

For some reason I got this notification:

And I am assuming it's a glitch because of the aforementioned reasons included in the picture. Also, because I received it at 10 pm and it's well past midnight here and I still can't post on my tumblr..

Thus, I succumbed into the gnawing need to have some form of social outlet and remade my twitter account.

HERE

Feel free to follow me, I guess.

I'm not sure how prominent that site will become for me, but I guess it may be worth a little something.

My makeup routine and a trip to Downtown Disney

So, I made a video of my whole makeup process this morning.

Gosh.. It's so much work to look natural....

Here's a list of the products I use:

Clinique ‘Dramatically Different’ moisturizer

Urban Decay Primer

Clinique BB Cream in ‘Shade 02’

Missha ‘Prefect Cover’ BB Cream in No.31

Clinique concealer in Medium Beige

Missha concealer

Missha ‘Signature Radiance’ 2 way powder

Beautique ‘Blonde’ Eyeliner [for brows]

Some Japanese Eyebrow pencil/mascara2 in one thing [the name rubbed off] in ‘New Born’ ~ a blonde colour.

Urban Decay eyeliner in ‘Bourbon’

Dolly wink eye shadow in ‘01’ pretty much used for the whole eye

Sephora Brand eye shadow in ‘Universal Beige’ for highlighting

Make Up For Ever eye shadow [also for highlight] ~some shimmery beige [the name rubbed off]

M.U.D black cake eyeliner [I LOVE cake liner, but it really takes practice because you mix it with water till the right consistency and use a brush to apply]

Fresh mascara [I love it. It’s actually made my real lashes longer and thicker]

Maybelline ‘Colossal Volume’ waterproof mascara

Jumily false lashes in ‘#4’

Dramatic Cosmetics [Japanese brand] pen liquid liner in black to draw on my bottom lashes

M.U.D blush in ‘Soft Peach’, ‘Rose Beige’, and ‘Rose Petal’[which I use just on the apples of my cheek]

Make Up For Ever eye shadow ~once again the name rubbed off, but it’s a taupe/cork/light brown matte colour [I use for contouring]

M.U.D lip pencil in ‘Natural’ [the best natural colour lip pencil I’ve owned]

Mentha Lip Shine in ‘Vanillamint’ ~ it’s the lip gloss at Bath and Bodyworks..

Anywho, this was my outfit today... My sweater is just too lovely and I have a compulsion to wear it as much as possible. This time I paired it with my maxi length American Apparel chiffon skirt... It was SO static-y today and my chiffon kept sizzling [?]. Then I put on some foux glasses and a pair of super over sized oxfords [they're 2 whole sizes too large on me but I love them]

Any whosits, I went to DTD to by my Disneyland pass for the 29th,which I'm super excited for!

I couldn't resist the urge to window shop though.

I'm in love with this Sebastian plush because he's the correct size and he stayed on my shoulder until I left the store [it's a good thing I remembered to return him because I almost forgot he was on my shoulder].
I also passed by the Vinylmation* store in hopes that I could find the 'Disney Afternoon' collection toys. Alas, they weren't there. BUT, there was this super cute Donald from 'Fantasia 2000' and I kind of want him because he's just super duper cute and I loved the Noah's Ark scene from that movie..

Also, I love these hats... Too bad the Animal one is a collectors edition and $50 something... Which kind of makes it not worth it...
My friend and I decided to hit up Cha for Tea. Freaking nommers.

I love the Peach Green Milk tea and the Chicken steamed dumplings..
Yeah.... That's pretty much it. Haha.

<3CarisseIris

My seasonal wardrobe [winter/spring] weather

This is my seasonal wardrobe which is separate from my walk in closet. I do that so it's easier to see what I have and helps me to visualize what outfits I can put together.

I call this my winter/spring selection because in California it's 75-80 degrees F but with a biting wind occasionally during the day time and super cold like 45-50 F in the evenings. So the weather plays a pretty big deciding factor in what I wear.

I'm not going to picture all my clothing on the rack because some of them are basic under shirts/ tanks, lace ponchos, basic turtle necks and a vast collection of white and pink lace shorts and skirt that all look quite similar and I use year round.

I will label under the pictures a brief description of the item of clothing.

American Apparel chiffon pleated skirt and a basic pleated wool mini skirt from Yesstyle.
American Apparel chiffon maxi skirts in cream and tan.
Loose fitting dark mustard blouse and Nautical navy and white striped blouse from Top Shop.
Flowing chiffon bat wing blouse and Chiffon shoulder cut out asymmetrical collared blouse.
Forever 21 peach jersey button up blouse with lace sleeves and Cream lace blouse with bat winged sleeves.
Blush double crisscross spaghetti straps asymmetrical dress and a basic button up collared shirt dress.
Cream cropped knit with heart, Dazzlin' tiger knit top and WC sailor knit knock off.
H&M Bambi knit sweater dress and Metro Park mint cashmere top.
Distressed/ripped cream sweater dress, Vintage white sweater dress and Forever21 [mens] hooded knit sweater [which I use as a sweater dress].
Juicy Couture varsity sweater, bell sleeved cream lace sweater, and Juicy Couture olive ombre open back cardigan.
Lace/knit/jersey [idk] white racer back maxi dress and self made crinkle dip dyed maxi skirt.
DIY bleach dip dyed high waisted shorts [made from $9USD mens pants]
My accessories;

Crocheted back fur vest, wide tan belt with lace snap, Top Shop floral skinny belt, Metro Park gold studded skinny belt , Urban Outfitters feather detailed wide belt, Yesstyle white beret with bow with crystals, straw wide rimmed hat and Urban Outfitters fut hat with ear flaps.
My favorite fur trimmed bunny knit coat.
Guess vintage jean jacket and you can see my pink Members Only wind breaker.

That's pretty much what I consider seasonal in my wardrobe, some pieces may stay behind into summer but a lot of the knits and wool will get retired into my closet in a few months.

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my clothing collection.

<3CarisseIris