on a recent trip to one of my favorite vintage stores, i splurged on a major impulse buy. no, it wasn’t that vintage Coach Bucket Bag i’ve had my eye on. or even those perfectly worn-in (but slightly too small) red cowboy boots. i bought…a mannequin!
i was so busy dreaming of all the fun ways i could use my newly acquired friend (play dress up on a daily basis, preview outfits before i ever put them on, seasonally thematic costume changes!), it wasn’t until i got her home that i noticed she looked a little more than lackluster. why i hadn’t i seen all those chips and scratches in the store!? she was in need of a major makeover.
painting her to hide the imperfections seemed like the obvious choice. but i opted to put to good use those vintage dress patterns i’ve been hoarding for so long. with the help of a little mod podge (oh how i love mod podge!) i transformed this “seen better days” mannequin in to a pretty place to display my prettiest things!
supplies you need:
- scissors
- mod podge
- a paint brush
- dress patterns
cut up the dress pattern in to small-ish sized pieces (use varying sizes and shapes to create an interesting layered look). determine where you want each piece to lay. hold the piece flat up against the mannequin, then starting from the center, wipe your mod podge dipped brush out towards the edges. smooth out the wrinkles and bubbles. (don’t fret too much if wrinkles happen. they give a really lovely texture to the finished project!)
a mannequin can be a lot of space to cover so ask a friend to join you in the mod podging fun! my cat, Bittermelon, loves to get in on crafting action. although burrowing herself in unused dress patterns wasn’t much help !
i love the way the dress patterns give the mannequin a vintage-y feel. right now i’m using her to display some of my favorite necklaces but during the winter months, i plan on draping her in my favorite hats and scarves!
restyling and repurposing found objects is one of mine and Lexi’s favorite things to do! tell us about a restyle project you’re currently working on. or a repurposing project you’d like to see us feature here on the blog! we’re always up for a challenge!
xo
So crafty! Great idea! Wish I could’ve seen you carrying this home from the train! haha
Love It!!
What an adorable way and a fantastic idea for extra pattern scraps! And kitty assistance makes any project more fun!
julia…it was certainly a sight to behold! but i’m sure we’ve both seen much stranger happenings on the Blue Line!
so glad that you ladies liked our little diy!
xo-
Lo