Jamie Burke

A touch of shimmer can bring old clothes back to life! We all have outdated or out-of-style clothes that could use a revamp. I am not a huge fan of bold appliques and rhinestones, but done correctly, you can pull off this very couture look! Start with going through your closet and identifying some items you haven’t worn in a while that are basic. Try not to go for bold prints and patterns. Go through your broken jewelry, button jar and, if need be, the jewel or applique section at your local craft store. Anyone can bring these clothes back to life in as little as 30 minutes, with very few supplies.

Supplies:
Simple clothes or even an accessory like a plain hat
Alene’s Fabric Fusion
Needle and thread
Appliques
Broken jewelry
Beads
Buttons
Chalk or marker
Small craft brush

Steps:

  1. Take your item and wash and dry it. Lay the item flat on a clean, dry surface, with either cardboard or a box in between layers. You do not want glue bleeding through the fabric.
  2. Next, lay out a design with all your collected bling. You really can use anything! This looks great on collars, cuffs, hats, gloves, etc. Lay out a basic pattern or a design of your own. If you need to sew anything on, you will want to sew first. You can mark with chalk or even a marker prior to sewing so that everything is symmetrical.
    Sew items on first, then make sure everything is aligned perfectly the way you want. Then, take your Alene’s Fabric fusion glue and either put it on directly or use a small craft paintbrush to apply the glue liberally to the fabric and the back of items you are adding. You must let everything completely dry before wearing. If you do not own Alene’s Fabric Fusion, this is a must-buy for any fashionista. You can find it at any sewing or craft store in the glue section.
  3. Once dry, you can wear your refreshed clothing however and whenever you want! Be very careful washing! Try to spot clean instead of just throwing stuff into the washing machine. The glue works great, but it is not made for everyday wash and wear. Apply glue again if anything becomes loose or falls off!