Using a photograph to make a custom t-shirt with your Silhouette plus 17 inspiring silhouette crafts from other bloggers

I am so excited about today's post! I not only have an awesome project to show you with my favorite heat transfer vinyl, I also am giving away the chance to win one of my favorite craft products of all time...a Silhouette Cameo! EEEKKK! Want to know what the cherry on top is? 16 other amazing bloggers coming together to show some pretty amazing Silhouette crafts. If you don't have a Silhouette yet, you will be adding one to your list!

My oldest son has become a pretty amazing photographer. He mostly uses his iphone for photos because it's what he has on hand. Last week, he was downtown Seattle with some friends at snapped a photo of the Space Needle.

Not only is the Space Needle iconic to Seattle, it also holds a special place in my heart because that's where my husband proposed.I'm going to show you how I took his photograph and turned it into a custom t-shirt by using my Silhouette machine.

I also can't wait to share with you 17 pretty amazing Silhouette crafts made by some pretty awesome bloggers! Make sure you check them out! 

If you don't have a Silhouette, read on to find out how you can win a Silhouette Cameo II of your very own!

Pocketful of Posies - Sultry and Saucy One of a Kind DIY DIP Cups
Hobnail House - Silhouette Craft Blog Hop: Cut Vinyl Art Upcycle
In The Loop - How to Create a Silhouette Using the Silhouette Cameo
Craving Some Creativity - Silhouette Project Challenge: Distressed Laundry Room Sign
DIY Passion - Cheeky DIY Tote Bags that will Make You Smile
Domestic Abiliy - Paper Boxwood Wreath
Our House Now A Home - A Silhouette Giveaway and Creating New Wall Art 
My Life From Home - Silhouette Challenge: What's Cooking? Recipe Holder
Holy Craft - How to Use a Photograph to Make a Custom T-Shirt with Your Silhouette
Knock it Off Crafts - DIY Otomi Coasters using a Silhouette Machine and Silhouette Giveaway!
One Project Closer - DIY Princess Party Decorations 
Dream Design DIY - Chalkboard Workout Calendar and Silhouette Giveaway
The Country Chic Cottage - Makeup Organizer
Refresh Living - Custom Word Throw Pillows with Vintage Fabric
The Deans List - Scalloped Milk Glass for Valentine's Day
Tried & True - "Life Is Good" Bicycle Lover's Tee

Tastefully Frugal - Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day Reversible Sign

So many great projects out there, but first...how to use a photograph to create your very own custom t-shirt. This tutorial uses a few of my favorite silhouette software features.I started by taking the photo and opening it up in PicMonkey. I wanted to change it to black and white since you really need the contrast for our next step.  While you are in PicMonkey, go to exposure and auto adjust your contrast as high as you can go and still have your necessary details.

Once you have that done, save your image and open it up in your Silhouette software. If you want to know how to use any image with your silhouette software, you can see this tutorial. I love the trace feature and if you don't know how to use it yet, you are going to love it!

This is just a partial tutorial since you can find the full tutorial on how to trace above, so sorry if I miss any details, this will cover the high points.  Select trace area, highlight what you want traced, 

make sure high pass filter is selected and move it until your image is lit up like a Christmas tree, and then click trace. 

Once you have done that, you can move your original image over and you are left with your red cut lines. Amazing right!

I used the erase tool to clean up some of the lines, but really, I like most of them being there and with the exception of a few random strays, I didn't erase too much.

This image didn't really have a "right" side so I didn't need to mirror it, but if you are using an image that has lettering or a true left and right don't forget to mirror it!

I keep my eyes peeled for sales on plain t-shirts throughout the year. I found this tank top on clearance at Target for $3.50.  I also buy blank t's at garage sales and if you would believe it, the dollar store even has then sometimes.

I am not going to lie, this design took a LONG time to cut out on the Silhouette. It has a lot of detail that I didn't want to skimp on. If you notice some of the lines are missing on some places. I actually really like that in the design. I think it makes it look more screen printed.

I expected this design to also take a really long time to weed, but it didn't. I love Expressions Vinyl their heat transfer material works amazingly and cuts like butter.  But the last time I made an intricate design it took me a few hours to weed the design, so I was prepared and if you do the same thing, you should be prepared too, just in case!

I love using heat transfer vinyl and wrote a post on how to cut heat transfer vinyl like a pro. I'm assuming you have already read it and know all the tips so you are ready to iron on your cut image. 

I always set my iron to a cotton setting and once I get my design placed just right on my t-shirt {or whatever blank medium you are using}, I have a thin cotton scrap of paper that goes on top of my design before I iron it. I have learned that you need to press hard with your iron and keep it in place for at least 30 seconds. I always go over and up and down my design several times. 

Another tip is to let your plastic cool and then use the back of your hand to rub the top of the design to make sure it's firmly in place. Then simply peel back your plastic cover and your design should be adhered to your shirt.  I always use my iron with the cloth and take one more sweep over it all to make sure there is no peeling vinyl. We want that design to be stuck there for many washings!

That's it! It's super easy to take any image and create your own design. {Not so easy to open your eyes all the way when staring into the sun apparently.} 

I think it's pretty cool that I was able to use a photograph that my son took and created something wearable out of it.

You might also like these other silhouette tutorials

How to make custom invitations using your silhouette

Top 10 Silhouette projects {2014}

How to use any image using your silhouette software
Silhouette popcorn containersYou can also use my search bar right on over there on the right to find other silhouette projects. If you don't have a Silhouette machine this post and all the other cool projects by bloggers is probably making you drool and wish you had one. Seriously people, it takes crafting to a whole new level! If you don't have one, put it on your wish list! This is the one I just got to replace my original one. It will change how you create!disclaimer: there may be affiliate links in this post

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Jeans. A wardrobe staple.

Jeans are a part of my uniform.I decided early on that I would do my best to get dressed every day, even if all I was doing in my day was cleaning, wiping noses and playing games with my three littles.

{Two of my three in 2003 at Pike Place Market, Seattle}

I didn't always used to like jeans. 

I remember going through a phase in 5th and 6th grade where I wouldn't wear jeans.

I was such a petite kid that I had a hard time finding jeans that would fit when I was that age

and no on likes to be hiking up their pants all the time.

One of my favorite pairs of pants were actually knit.

Like a sweater.

Yep, I was super cool!

Thankfully, that phase was short lived and I found out how diverse jeans really are.

I love that you can dress them up or dress them down.

My three kids all live in jeans now too.

Now that my oldest son is done with his growth spurt he's been begging me to invest in a pair of designer jeans for him.

He's been eyeing True Religion brand jeans.

Aidan is 16, so his go to pair of jeans are slim fit.

Apparently it's what all the kids are wearing.

These hand picked men's slim jeans have everything he's been looking for...

slight distressing, classic slim fit with an edgy take, skinny but not too skinny..

all in a great dark wash.

While my husband has a professional job

{he's an engineer}

he doesn't meet with clients and rarely gets out of the lab or away from his computer.

His go to uniform for work are a good pair or jeans and a nice t-shirt.

My husband sticks with boot cut jeans

{he's tried, but just can't pull off a pair of skinny jeans}

and since he wears the jeans to work, he tries to stay away from any distressing or holes.

The Danny boot cut would be a good pair for him.

He's not one that likes to stand out, so the simplified pocket detail on the caboose is a good feature.

This fall, I keep coming back to my skinny jeans.

I'm a big fan of the Victoria mid rise skinny jeans.

I can wear them with a pair of tall boots, ankle boots or ballet flats.

I even love this dark distressed wash because it can be dressed up and they don't look like grubby lounge around pants.

I wore a pair like this when I subbed for 5th graders last week. 

I paired the jeans with a button down shirt and a blazer and I must say, while I wasn't sure about wearing jeans to "work" I think I still looked professional and ready to teach.

Are jeans part of your uniform?

What's your favorite pair?

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Harvey's knock off seatbelt purse tutorial

Yesterday, I gave you a little sneak peek at my Harvey's seatbelt bag knock off.

I am so giddy with excitement at how this project turned out and can't wait to share with you how you can easily make your own too!

I started with supplies from Country Brook Design.

You can get seatbelt webbing here.

I used two rolls of 2" black and silver.

You can also get the hardware for the O rings too.

I made a lining for the inside of the purse using fabric I had on hand.

You will need about half a yard.

 I must confess that I attempted to make this purse several different ways, but ultimately,

after watching this video, I made it most similar to the way that a la mode makes their seatbelt bags.

Take a second to watch the video{it has catchy music} and the rest of the tutorial will make more sense. 

 If you are using two different colors of seatbelt,

start by taking one color and cutting 5 strips 29" long

Pin the ends together.

You will sew the ends of the seatbelts together making a loop.

These loops that are sewn will be your skeleton.

I attempted about five different ways to make this bag and in the end, 

I'm sharing with you the method that worked.

I spent about five hours taking apart the bag and putting it back together,

so I must apologize for not taking a picture of the start of this process.

The video above has a good picture to get you going.

If you notice in the following tutorial, I have handles in place.

These are two 30" long pieces that I folded in half at the middle and sewed leaving the ends unsewn.

I started by attempting to use a pre-made bag that I got at the Dollar Store and weave the seatbelt around it.

That didn't work, but what remains of this protype is the handles that I created.

Scrap the idea that you see above, and subtract the handles, and we can get started!

Essentially, you begin by laying out your five loops and weaving 30" long strips through them,

alternating colors of seatbelt webbing if you are using two colors.

Pin the tops in place.

This is a picture of the bag with the front woven and the back ready for the long strips.

Below is a picture of the front of the bag as I started the weaving process.

Make sure that you hide the seams of your loops under your woven strips.

The strips on the front side are hanging down and are not folded over to the back yet.

Continue to weave the long strips and pin them in place at the top.

To make the side of the bag use the roll of seatbelt that you have and pull out a long strip.

My bottom strip is 40" long, though I would suggest just keeping your strip attached to your seatbelt roll and working from that.

Start by taking the end of your webbing and thread it through the side loops 

weaving in and out as you go.

Once you get to the bottom, 

turn 90 degrees and continue weaving with your webbing.

Make sure that your webbing is not getting twisted.

Below you will see the webbing for the bottom of the bag going over and under the strips, 

just below the final loop that you have in place.

Thread the piece up through the other side and cut it off at the top.

Pin it in place.

Now you are ready to turn the bag over and repeat this process on the backside of your bag.

After you are finished with weaving, 

you can start thinking about your long purse strap.

You can order O rings from Country Brook Design,

but I requested the wrong size and was scrambling to find something larger.

My solution was to hit the thrift store.

I picked up this purse for $1 with the intention of cutting it apart for it's hardware.

I used two of the O rings from the thrift store purse and attached it to a long piece of webbing that I would use as my strap.

This size will be a personal measurement depending on how long you want your strap.

I pinned the ends in place over the O rings.

Stitch, back stitch and stitch again your O rings in place.

It's starting to look like a bag now isn't it?!

Trim down the tops of your seatbelt webbing so they are all even with the top.

I also took this time to weave in my handles, though you can wait until after since I realized they just got in the way.

I set the bag aside and made the lining.

I don't have measurements to share, I just sewed two pieces of fabric together that fit inside my purse and added a pocket.

You then will turn your lining inside out

and drop it inside your purse.

Pin the lining in place.

This is where you really need a workhorse of a sewing machine.

You are going to take one long strip of webbing and start by lining it up on the side of your bag.

As you sew, you will fold the webbing down so that the top of your bag is encased in your seatbelt webbing.

This means that your machine will be sewing through your lining, and three layers of seatbelt webbing.

I'm not going to lie, I broke three sewing machine needles doing this.

I learned that if you go super slow and remove your pins before you get to them,

you will have better luck.

I looked every where for rivets to attach my handles, but wasn't able to find any that were thick enough to go through three layers, so I hand sewed on the handles{after they were woven through the front and back webbing}and I attached the strap through the O rings to the sides, again, by hand sewing them in place.

I actually love the way it turned out and think that this knock off Harvey bag could fool anyone.

A few tips that I learned,

don't try to get around sewing your own lining.

It's not worth the time that it takes, just make your own.

Be patient and don't be afraid to take your bag apart a few times to get the hang of the process.

I know if I were to make another bag, 

this process would be so much faster the second time around.

Craft stores like Hobby Lobby sell magnetic closures for your bag.

I have one that I haven't installed yet.

I also made a zipper closure using one 29" loop like your skeleton base,

but decided that I wanted to have my bag be open.

 
I'm thinking the one thing this purse needs is a matching wallet.What do you think?I want to thank Country Brook Design for supplying me with the seatbelt webbing and giving me the motivation to try making this bag that I've been saying I should make every time I see one in the store!

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