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Recycled Dress

Recycled Dress
This dress is made completely out of recycled materials. Although it's a bit time consuming, it's absolutely FREE!

Materials Used:

Top:
- Newspaper
- Glossy Mod Podge (you can get this at walmart, hobby lobby or you can make it yourself)

Cut out the frame of the top from newspaper. Begin to decoupage newspaper on top of that to thicken up the base. once the base is thick enough, cut strips of colorful newspaper and decoupage them onto the base of the top.

Skirt:
- Magazines
- Various types of cardboard boxes from food products

Collect a bunch of recycled cardboard from your recycling bin (cereal boxes, granola bar boxes etc.), over lap them in a curved shape and begin to hot glue them together. (Don't worry about how they look, they will be covered up by the magazines) Since I was fitting this to my own body I had to continually check for the fitting, but if you have a mannequin, it would probably be a lot easier.

Next get a bunch of old magazines, rip out bright colored ads and cut A TON of pedal shapes. (These can vary in size, I cut mine about 5-6" at the widest part of the pedal, but no need to get out a tape measure for this) The pedals are then folded like a fan to give the dress some dimension.

Once all the pedals are done, put a line of hot clue at just the top of the pedal. Line the pedals side by side in a row onto the cardboard. For the next line of pedals, the top of the pedal (where the line of hot clue is) will be placed about 3" underneath the pedal from the previous row. This way, you won't be able to see how it is glued on. Continue to do this row by row.

Belt:
- braided strips of plastic grocery bags

Cut any kind of grocery bag into long strips. Tie three strips together at the top and begin braiding. Do this three separate times. Once you have three sets of braids, you can hot glue them together to make them thicker.

The belt is then hot glued to the top of the skirt to hide the top of the first row of magazine pedals.
34 comments
May 4, 2012. 10:08 AMlsophie says:
This is such an awesome dress!! Could you send me PDF too??? I want to make it for a wedding!! How do you put it on?!

Thanks so much!!!

Leonorasophie@gmail.com

:)
Mar 10, 2012. 7:03 PMCarmucha says:
Love it. How were you able to put it on? please send instructions to cmhoff62@yahoo.com
Oct 4, 2011. 1:10 PMdlynch martin says:
This is really awesome. My daughter is doing a fashion show. Can you please send us instructions on how to make it. This is a 1st place winner. Please send to jmdm28@comcast.net. Thx
Jul 17, 2011. 1:50 PMlilwitteck says:
OMG this is soo cool can you pleaseee send me the pdf :D My email is lilwitteck597@aol.com Thanks!!
Jul 14, 2011. 12:05 AMrpeņaranda-dungo says:
Hi! is your dress for rent? Can i have your contact number please? thanks.
Apr 23, 2011. 9:11 AMkawaiipie says:
Will you send me the PDF file?

email: inez@stuven.dk


Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D
May 3, 2011. 6:23 AMinvaderTINA says:
heyy, could you send me the pdf please? love this!
tinaaaaa.ox@hotmail.com
Apr 29, 2011. 1:13 PMCherryBow26 says:
omg its LUSH!! can you send me the PDF plllleeasee e-mail is : xoxwikyxox@hotmail.co.uk
(: x
May 1, 2011. 11:41 AMbethanyschmall says:
Brie, I'm so proud of you!!! your recycled clothes are awesome! what a great artist you are :)
Apr 13, 2011. 12:16 PMeilgonzalez says:
I love your dress!!!!!! can you email me the PDF Please :S
eileen-gonzalez@hotmail.com
Mar 10, 2011. 12:45 PMkawaiipie says:
OMG i love it will you please make a video or slideshow on how to make it I WANT IT SOOOoooo BAD
Mar 13, 2011. 8:09 PMshirlytemplewithcherryspleez says:
yessssss!!!!please make a vid!!i loveeeeeee this idea, i wanna try and make this dress cuz it just so kawaii!!
Apr 5, 2011. 10:06 AMdanibon says:
can ANYONE email it to me please:):)
Apr 5, 2011. 9:37 AMdanibon says:
can you email me the PDF please because im making it for my personal chose project at school :):) Danibon@hotmail.co.uk---I really want to make this dress it is gorgeous can you send it to me before the 8th please :D:D
Mar 17, 2011. 4:53 PMLaurpin says:
<3 !!!!!
Mar 14, 2011. 11:02 PMthechort says:
What a Star you are bdesigns! Gorgeous work!!! Nice touch with the braided belt.
For those wanting to make this, I saw another Instructable a while ago by prixprix called "Sew a Newspaper Dress". Maybe you could use some of the same principles to make this #1 oufit! :)
Mar 13, 2011. 7:23 PMBlueberryCrazy says:
This is so funky and colorful!! I'd love to try make one but don't know if I could pull off wearing it :]
Mar 13, 2011. 6:53 PMbellatrice says:
OMG....... definitely a designer dress!
Today I was thinking about paper shoes, but after such a piece of art.... well, me thinks I do need some further training...;o)
Mar 13, 2011. 12:26 PMoli_rdz says:
This is great!! but can you show the steps of how you got attached the skirt!? Pleasee is AWESOME
Mar 13, 2011. 9:45 AMprixprix says:
Very cool!
Mar 13, 2011. 9:31 AMnjdjs says:
Can you sit down in that dress?
Mar 10, 2011. 5:23 PMbern229 says:
Love, Love, Love!!! Very Cute and creative!!
Mar 9, 2011. 11:31 AMscoochmaroo says:
Awesome! How does it close?
Mar 9, 2011. 1:18 PMPaleoPunk says:
That's really cool. Where does one wear such a dress?
Mar 9, 2011. 12:12 PMhappyjo says:
Wow! This is really awesome! :D
Mar 9, 2011. 4:38 AMi_am_vindicated says:
That's so cute :D i love making recycled things and this is so pretty, the belt especially :)

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Author:BriannaSchmall
Hi my name is Brianna and I am a recent graduate from DePauw University. I am currently living in Chicago seeking work in any type of creative field. Please check out my portfolio to see more sample...
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