Studded Floral Shorts

Hey guys, I'm back with another shorts tutorial and this time we are going to keep it short and sweet. This is a super easy DIY. It was so easy, I debated even making it. Here's what you'll need:

pair of shorts with floral applique or embellished lace ($20 from Marshalls)
cone studs ($2 from Etsy.com)
scissors
pen/pencil
sewing machine
thread
straight pins
iron

Step 1:
The first thing we need to do is try on the pants.

(Now, for those that can't find pants with this lace on it, here's a really quick way to make them yourself! Just go to Michael's or any craft store and buy some embellished lace of your choosing. Make sure this lace is thick because we don't want it to fall apart. Then cut it out on a right triangle and use some fabric glue to glue it into place. That's it!) Mark off where you want them to be cut. Make sure to leave a about half an inch to an inch of seam allowance. Cut on the line.

Step 2:
Now that you have your shorts it's time to stud. I am not a very girly person, so keeping these shorts with just flowers was not going to cut it for me. I bought these studs on Etsy.com for a couple of bucks and they are super simple to use. All you do is make a hole in the middle of a flower using a scissor.

 Then take the backing of the stud and push it through the back. Then just snap on the front cone of the stud and voila!

Continue this as many times as you want.

Step 3:
We're almost there! Take the raw edge of your shorts and fold them inward about half an inch and pin. Iron the seam so that it stays in place.

 Sew a straight stitch as close as possible to the edge, removing the pins as you go.

 To finish the edge in the inside, you can either pink the edges with pinking sheers or use a Serger to finish it off.
Try them on and you are good to go! Now you have these awesome shorts for the summer! Enjoy!

DIY High Waisted Union Jack Shorts

A twist on the ever popular American Flag shorts. High waisted shorts are the latest fashion and with summer around the corner, these shorts are a must have. These shorts are quick and easy to make (not to mention cheap). Enjoy!
Here's what you'll need:
-Pair of high waisted jeans (I bought mine at Goodwill for $2.99)
-Union Jack Bandanna ($1.99 from Michael's)
-Bleach
-Spray bottle
-Scissor
-Sponge brush
-Safety pins
-Fabric glue (Quick note here: I bought my fabric glue from Walmart and I DO NOT recommend doing that because my glue was very dry and hard to squeeze out. I had to stop a few times to let my fingers rest. I recommend getting glue from a hobby or fabric shop because their products will most likely not be like this.)
-Pen/Pencil/Chalk (This will just be used to mark the fabric)
- Sewing Machine/Needle,Thread-optional

Step 1:
First take your bleach and carefully pour some into your empty spray bottle. This will make it a much easier (and less messy) way to apply the bleach. Place your pants on top some kind of plastic (I used shopping bags that I cut open) so that the bleach doesn't ruin your floor. Spray the bleach onto the top portion of the pants. You don't have to bleach the entire pant because you're just going to cut it off anyways. Just bleach it half way. Make sure it is very saturated with the bleach and don't forget the back side.

Step 2:
Let the bleach set for at least 12 hours for maximum effect. When they're ready, wash and dry them to get rid of any extra bleach.

Step 3:
Now, try on your jeans and mark off where you want them to end. Remember to leave 1-2 inches for the cuff. Cut the shorts and make sure they are even on both sides.

Step 4:
Put the shorts on again and fold up the cuffs to where you'd like and CAREFULLY pin them in place.

Step 5:
Take your bandanna (you don't need to use this design. Be creative!) and place it over one side of the shorts and trace the edges of the shorts with either a marker, pencil, or chalk (I used a very old eyeliner pencil that I never use).

After tracing, cut out the pattern leaving 1/2-1 inch seam allowance. Repeat for the other side.

Step 6:
I like to then pin the pieces in place before I glue them on.

Fold the side edges of the bandanna and glue them into place. After that is semi-dry, use your sponge brush to spread the glue all over the pants and carefully press the fabric on. Don't forget to glue the middle so the fabric doesn't bubble. Make sure to apply a substantial amount of glue to the edges so that they don't fray up when you wash them.

Let is sit for at least 12 hours.

Step 7:
This step is optional. I like to either machine or hand stitch the inside and outside seam of the cuffs so that they don't unfold when you are walking and that they stay even. you can even use glue instead of sewing it to make it easier.

 I also made a small stitch in the front and back of the cuff to keep it in place. Again, this is optional.

Try them on and voila, you're all done! Now you can wear these shorts out anywhere and make all your friends jealous.

UPDATE: After washing them in the washer I noticed that the fabric near the pocket started to fray. If this happens, take a lighter and burn the edges. This should stop it from fraying any further. BE CAREFUL when using a lighter or any kind of fire. You wouldn't want all your hard work to go into flames!
Hope you enjoyed my tutorial and let me know what you think in the comments! Good Luck!