The Map Magazine

With so many children’s costumes to choose from this time of year, unfortunately the selections of Halloween pails are not always as vast. Children’s costumes such as dogs, cats, dinosaurs and other “non-character” costumes prove more difficult to match in the search for the perfect pail. If you’ve been looking for an adorable bag to no avail, follow these simple directions to our adorable and affordable alligator bags.

What you’ll need:

Canvas tote bag
Green fabric dye
White peel and stick felt
Green Felt
Google Eyes
Red fabric paint

This bag works best for reptile related children’s costumes but looks stunning with most any little boy’s costume. First, you’ll need to take your canvas bag and dip it into the green fabric dye mixture. Make sure to follow the directions on the back of the bottle for best results. Let dry. Cut out four “legs” for your alligator - set them aside. Next, you will want to paint on your alligator’s smile. You can make him sweet and friendly or naturally grumpy in true alligator-like fashion. While your smile dries, cut your desired amount of triangles from the white felt for your teeth. Peel and stick to the alligators smile. Lastly, use your hot glue gun to attach your google eyes and your legs. You will attach two of the legs to the bottom of the bag and one on each side of the bag for his arms.

And viola! Just like that, you have an adorable bag to complement even the most unmatchable children’s costumes. If you don’t have a little reptile this year, change these steps around to create different animals such as ducks, bunnies and even black cats. With a little time, you can make this work for your own child no matter what outfit they will be sporting . . . all you need is your imagination!

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Many celebrities seem to get their newborn babies personalized baby clothes. Why? The simple is because they can. They’ve got all the money in the world so it shouldn’t be a surprise when you hear Jennifer Lopez got her twins personalized baby blankets one with each of their names. Or maybe this is another way they reveal the sex of their baby without actually coming out and saying, “I’m having a boy.” Matthew McConaughey recently purchased a ton of bibs with the words HUNK written across the front. You telling me this means he’s having a girl? No, that’s exactly the plan, he may not say something but their personalized touches say things loud and clear.

As you can see there are a few reason celebrities will purchase personalized baby clothes, other reasons may be because they want something different. No celebrity wants to hear they just bought the same adorable dress for their baby that such and such did. They want to be different.

Plus if you get them a personalized gift it’ll surely stand out in the crowd, it doesn’t matter if the onesie reads, “Mommy’s a Celebrity” or “Mommy’s Baby” these aren’t shirts that everyone on the block will be getting them.

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Ladies,

Spring has come for some of us and will happen soon for others. Here
are some tips for creating a new spring/summer fashion to your wardrobe.
Go to your favorite fabric store and purchase a 1/2 yard ( 18″ by
54 to 60″ wide) of stretch fabric.

This will be enough to make a tube top and cover a pair of thong
sandals. If you have three or four pairs, pruce them up by covering
them up with other different types of print stretch fabrics.
Now make the tube tops to match them and you have a new
spring and summer look. Take those old flip flops sandals out of
the closet.

1. You start by covering the sides with your new
fabric (the stretch fabric), you can use a spray adhesive (3M
Supper adhesive) you can purchase at a hardware store. Cover the
top and bottom part of the sandals so you don’t get any adhesive on
those areas.

Cut a wide strip of fabric that will wrap around the sides of the
body of the sandal and cut away the excess hanging over the top edge
and bottom edge.

2. Now cut a strip to cover the top part of the thong.
Make sure you protect the area where you feet sits onto the sandal
by covering the part where your feet rest on the insole. Use
brown paper bag with masking tape. Spray the thong and spray the
inside or wrong side of the fabric and press it onto the thong material
part of the shoe. Have a new sole put on those that need it.

3. Tube top blouse are very simple to make. Just cut the fabric 3″
less than the size of the width of your waist. Example, if your
waist is 28 inches cut the fabric 25 inches wide,
fold and sew edges together, 1/2 inch on the seam.

A good stretchy fabric that stretches both direction is what you look
for in a good stretch fabric. It will fit comfortably on
your bust size as well.

Enjoy your new fashion. Also suitable for young teens and little girls.
For a step by step illustration go to: http://www.deyostudios.com
You’ll see swatches of new spring stretch fabrics we sell. We also
sell cement adhesive kit with brushes. This cement gives a better and
tigher final attachment. It’s sold by the ounce (2 1/2 oz).
You can also see other creations and designs that may be of interest.

Designer

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