Upcycled and Fabulous: Creative Ideas to Decorate Your Old Jeans

Hello everyone

Have you ever ruined a pair of jeans with paint because you forgot to wear an apron while crafting? I know I have. In the past, I would have simply thrown them away and bought new ones. However, these days, I try to be more mindful of my wastefulness.

Recently, while watching an episode of "The Great British Sewing Bee," I was reminded of the importance of reducing waste, particularly when it comes to denim. The show highlighted the issue of our society's throwaway culture with fashion and the impact it has on the environment. I was shocked to learn about the significant amount of water required to produce denim, from the cotton-growing process to the use of pesticides and fertilizers. This is why we need to upcycle our clothing more often and reduce our overall consumption of textiles. 

Feeling totally reinvigorated and inspired by my incredibly talented friend Montse, from El Niu de L'Art, during a crafty visit to Barcelona, I decided to seize a pair of my paint-splattered jeans, along with my Cadence Fabric paints and pastes, to enjoy crafting a distinctive fashion statement.

 

What was the first thing I did?

I begin by washing my jeans without fabric softener, then drying and ironing them in preparation for adding paint and any other medium.  Now I am ready to start creating!

I chose a variety of Cadence Style Matt Fabric paints and other Cadence fabric pastes to upcycle my jeans. To add some extra details, I selected a few stencil designs and incorporated a stunning foil transfer to make my jeans stand out even more.

Now, let's start upcycling those old jeans!

I focused on just one leg as a bold fashion statement, but you could certainly style both legs depending on how daring you feel!

I designed the jeans by layering techniques. The initial layer was background shadow stencilling, which involves laying down one colour through a stencil, allowing it to dry, then slightly shifting the stencil to one side and applying a second colour to produce a subtle shadow effect.

Next, I applied a stunning foil transfer to achieve that 'wow' effect. Next, I applied subtle streaks of colour with a paintbrush using Cadence HiLite paste, which added a slight sheen to the fabric.

The next step creates an incredible texture that I adore! I used Cadence Textile Crackle Paste, which is a two-step process. I randomly applied Step One with a spatula over the leg of the jeans where I desired texture. After it dried, I applied Step Two in the same manner over the areas where I had used the first step. 

Once it dried and the delightful crackles emerged, I applied slightly diluted fabric paints to add colour and depth to the textured areas.

I built up layers by applying some paint freehand with my spatula. Next, I added colour and shading with fabric paints along the seams of the jeans. After the paints dried, I applied the finishing touch with Cadence Fabric Glitter Paste. I diluted a small amount of glitter paste with water and brushed it over the jeans design to give a subtle sparkle.  The final touch was adding a bit of stencil detail with Cadence Fashion Paste in silver. Voila! They are finished.

So ditch the fast fashion cycle and unleash your creativity! With a little effort and these upcycling ideas, you can transform your old jeans, jackets, shirts etc, into unique, statement pieces that reflect your personal style.

Don't forget to share your fabulous creations with us using #UpcycledAdventures on social media and inspire others to join the sustainable fashion movement!

Stay tuned for more upcycled fashion inspiration coming soon!

Thanks 

for 

Popping By

If you liked my jeans and have been inspired then take a look below;

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El Niu de l'Art Online School: Unleash Your Inner Artist

Calling all creative minds! El Niu de l'Art Online School caters to artists of all levels, offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. This fantastic platform allows you to learn Montse's unique mixed-media and home décor techniques from the comfort of your own home, no matter your location.

If you are interested please go to: https://www.patreon.com/laboratoriodeideas

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