https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/shiny-coca-cola-top • Posted by Lilith Kisaragi
So, I was watching Baz Lurhmann's "Strictly Ballroom" and I totally fell in love with one moment in the film where they dance on the roof of the house. The funny thing of this is that what made me totally go "Aww" was the fact that they were dancing in front of a shiny Coca-Cola advert (You can see the scene that I mean if you see in this vid from round minute 0:45 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVIRK_ejlQI ). So I decided to make my own version of that, turning a common plain top into a stylish one, with some pin-up look on it. It's really a sweet and wearable garment, and it's so easy to DIY, so I invite you to make your own! Here the steps I followed (sorry for the lack of images in some steps. Kinda forgot of taking photos at every step, but I guess you'd have an idea of what I'll be doing):
So, I was watching Baz Lurhmann's "Strictly Ballroom" and I totally fell in love with one moment in the film where they dance on the roof of the house. The funny thing of this is that what made me totally go "Aww" was the fact that they were dancing in front of a shiny Coca-Cola advert (You can see the scene that I mean if you see in this vid from round minute 0:45 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVIRK_ejlQI ). So I decided to make my own version of that, turning a common plain top into a stylish one, with some pin-up look on it. It's really a sweet and wearable garment, and it's so easy to DIY, so I invite you to make your own! Here the steps I followed (sorry for the lack of images in some steps. Kinda forgot of taking photos at every step, but I guess you'd have an idea of what I'll be doing):
First step is gathering the material, of course. For the first part of this project, you gotta find a plain top. I highly recommend buying a waisted and sleeveless one, cause it'd have a more beautiful effect when done. If you want it to look like a real Coca-Cola advert, it had to be red, but, of course, you can also make this in another color-scheme, and I'm sure it'd look good. Plus, buy some white (or black)fabric paint and a paintbrush if you don't already own one. Once you've bought the top, next step is searching on the web for a good image of the Coca-Cola logo to use as a stencil. Make sure it's a clear image, and then print it on blank paper. With a pair of scissors, cut the letters, being very careful, and then put the stencil over the front of your top, round the breast area. After you go to the nest step, find some useless piece of cardboard or similar and put it inside the top, cause fabric paint could stain the back of your top if it's too water-y.
Well, now it's time for the stenciling. I must admit I ain't good at all at stenciling, so I highly recommend you watching some serious tutorial about them. The basic idea is using the stencil you printed out and cover it with the white fabric paint. Be careful with this step, cause normal paper is feeble, and you may go off the stencil and paint where you do should not, just like what happened to me. But don't worry if this happens, cause, normally, this kind of paint can be cleaned when it's not dry, and, even if you noticing after, you can cover those bad-looking places with the sequins.
Now, let it dry for a looong while (about a couple of hours, normally)! Important note: as you can see, I let it dry with the stencil still sticked on. DO NOT DO THIS. When paint gets dry, it'd stick the paper to the cloth and it's really a pain on the back to take it all out. Anyway, when the paint is done, you can buy the sequins to continue to the next step of this project.
About the sequins: normally, they're sold not individually, but in some kind of long tape, as seen on the photo. In my case, I bought two different types of sequins: ones are slightly better than the others, as you may see. Of the first type, I bought two meters long, and, of the second -the more little ones- I bought five meters. It depends of how many sequins you'd like to be in the top, after all. The round 7 meters I used are going to be enough to go over all the letters, but, if you want even more, I should say you'll need at least 15 meters long.
The next step is simple: take the sequins and just follow the letters as you sew them onto the top. I must admit this one is a hard step, cause, even though it's easy as hell, is arduous cause there are many many sequins, and that's why I put that much time spent. I did this step a bit through different days, so I can't really tell you how much real time I spent sewing, but, don't worry, as I said, it's an easy step, after all, only time consuming. Just be careful and secure well all the sequins so that they would not fall.
And... that's it! When you feel you've added the sequins you feel to be wearing on the top, it'd be ready to wear! Wear it with a pair of black shorts and some red flower in your hair to have some "pinup-esque" look, or just with your favorite jeans to have a shiny everyday look.
I hope you enjoyed the project. Tried to explain every step the best I could, but if you still have any kind of doubts, don't have a doubt and write them down, via comment or PM. And don't forget to shine with your new top! ;)