Cupcake Bin

I started this blog because I couldn't find any crafting/sewing/quilting blogs that I could relate to. Too many of them catered to crafters with kids. I don't have any kids and do most of my crafting for theater or just what I need for my childless, adult existence. This post may look like a craft for kids, but it came about in a completely different way.

A couple friends and I have put together a burlesque troupe and were working on putting on our first show (see totally not kid-related). Our event (which happened this past weekend) was to be gluttony or indulgence themed since it was happening in November (Thanksgiving as a theme is not exactly sexy) so our numbers were about food and booze.

I had this fabulous idea to do a super cheeky French number with uber cutesy costumes (think Katy Perry in California Girls) that starts sweet and ends with unexpected twerking (it turned out awesome BTW). To go with the cutesy theme I wanted us to have little cupcake stools to sit on to start the number. The other two girls in the troupe have woodworking significant others so I was hoping one of them could make a simple stool base that I could then upholster like a cupcake, but alas they were both too busy and it was up to me to do some clever crafting.

And was I ever clever! As if you would ever doubt me.

It's made from a kids toy storage bin and I covered it in such a way that it still opens up and can be used as a bin. It's not as easy to carry with the covering, but it's light and easy to move around.

I tried to find a simple stool at Target that I could cover, but what I found was either too large or too expensive. And then I saw these:

They came in two different styles: Frozen and Ninja Turtle. So I bought three, got some cheap vinyl (1 yd for each cupcake), some buttercream colored felt (2 yds of wide felt for 3 cupcakes), and some poly fiberfil seat cushions at Walmart and got to cupcaking.

I'll go through step by step on how I covered the bins, but a couple notes first. I used hot glue which isn't great at sticking to either plastic or vinyl - it will work, for awhile, but it's easy to rip off. The felt on the lids stayed well stuck, but the vinyl around the bottom had some issues. As things came apart I re-glued them with super glue. The super glue worked much better, but due to the size of the project it might be worthwhile to start with hot glue and come back through as needed with the super glue.


So, starting with the lid. I took a seat cushion and cut it into a circle the same size as the lid. Using the cushion corners that I cut off I kind of built up the center since the lid was concave in the middle. Then I covered that with the cushion circle.

Then came the felt, I had to gather it a bit to get it to the right shape, and actually managed to do so without burning myself with the glue gun (don't worry - that part happens later.)

All that was left was to trim the excess felt so that the lid went back on properly.

For the base of the bin/cupcake, I cut my vinyl in half against the grain (not that vinyl really has a grain) and folded the edges on 2 sides to make a clean edge. I pleated the vinyl every 3 inches and just glued it on the top since I would have to adjust for the taper of the bin once I glued it on.

One half of the yard of vinyl made it about 3/4 of the way around so I did have to use some of the second half. Once I made it all the way around the top I went through and glued the bottom pleats in place (this is where I burned myself).

Then I just glued all the pleats over the bottom and covered with a circle cut from the remainder of the second half of the vinyl. And there you have it.

We eventually went through and added some felt sprinkles to the top. 

If I had had more time I might have added a ruffle around the lid or something like that, but oh well. I don't have a picture of all three cupcakes - as you can see from the pictures, one was pink, one was blue, and one was green - but I do have a picture of us in our super cute costumes that go with the cupcakes:

Tinkerbell

After being a zombie for Halloween for many years in a row (6 I think) doing Thriller all over the island, this year I wanted to do something fun and cute and pretty and very much NOT zombie. 

So I chose Tinkerbell:

The costume turned out awesome, though I'd originally had grander plans for it (the wings were going to light up). I ended up not having enough time to do the extras, but I still had a great costume.

The dress was made from a corset pattern (https://www.etsy.com/listing/218051177/overbust-corset-sewing-pattern-lingerie?ref=related-7) I just extended it into a dress. 

All the corset structure is underneath:

I dyed the coutil - it didn't come out as green as I would like, but I swear it looked teal while I was dyeing it. Weird. I used flat steel bones for the center front and center back and plastic whalebones for the rest. I also added a zipper on the side since I wasn't going to have a busk. 

One of the challenges while fitting the mockup (toile) was how to do the back - I didn't want it to lace all the way up from the bottom but I needed someway to cover my bum. I tired just sewing the center back together below the lacing but it did not fit right and kept bunching up in the back. So I ended up making a floating modesty panel that was the same size as the two center back pieces (sorry I didn't take a picture before I laced it up):

The full length modesty panel covered my bum (as a proper modesty panel should) and let the dress keep its shape at the bottom. 

I bought the wig and the shoes on Amazon, and the shoe clip-on poofs on Etsy (annemusingdesigns - I had to request them).

 

The wings were difficult. I've never made wings and they seem like they'd be easier than they were. I'm sure there are some easier techniques, but I had some specific requirements because I had planned on making them light up (maybe someday I'll get around to it). I had planned on using fiber optics to light up the veins of the wings, so I needed to be able to sew the fiber optics on - so I couldn't use cellophane (though there are some amazing cellophane wings out there). Also, with the shape I didn't think that stocking would look right. So here's what I did (sorry, again no pics of the process - I was in a bit of a rush):

1. Frames: I made the wings out of 12 gauge wire from the hardware store. This is a very sturdy gauge, but it can also be a little difficult to work with. Next time I might try 14. I shaped the wings and then taped the wires together with electrical tape - there's probably a better, more elegant way, but this worked. I made a U in the middle so I could use my corset to hold it up:

2. Fabric: I used an iridescenct organza for the fabric of the wings. I like the look of the organza but it would have been nice to have had a stretch fabric. I hot glued the fabric around the edges of the frame - again, I'm guessing there's probably a better, more elegant way to do this, but it worked though I did end up with a couple gnarly burns. 

3. Decoration: I used glitter puff paint for the design. I had it drawn out on a piece of paper and just traced over the wings with pencil and then added the puff paint. My puff paint was old and kept clogging. It ended up being a little messy. Also, I might recommend a chrome silver rather than a glitter silverm but I already had the glitter. 

If I'd had more time I would have covered up the middle section with green fabric or felt so it was a little less visible. But overall, the wings worked out great. They were a little uncomfortable in one spot, but I think if I fiddle with the wire I might be able to fix that. 

Things I've learned and things I might do different:

1. Boning: I might hav shortened the boning a bit at the center front. It was exceptionally hard to sit in and almost impossible to drive in. 

2: Lining and casings: I think it might have looked better if I had done a lining instead of individual casings. Probably would have been easier too. 

3. Fashion fabric pattern: the fashion fabric was a little too long in the waist. The structure fit fine, but I ended up with a roll in the green satin. I need to remove maybe a quarter inch at the waist for the outter fabric only. 

4. Zipper: I put the zipper on the wrong side. Oops. I also upgraded zippers halfway through. I started with a nylon zipper and it wasn't strong enough so I got a metal one instead. 

5. Wings: like i said, there's probably better, more elegant ways to make the wings, but I'm not entirely sure what they might be. If you have any ideas/suggestions/experience please let me know.