GLITZY RECYCLED JEAN MINI

Got a pair of old jeans that you don't love anymore? Don't ditch them - recycle them into an awesome denim mini-skirt! Now that's environmentally aware, and totally fashionable. Just follow these tips from Myjellybean.com to design your newest wardrobe essential.

What You'll Need:

-Jeans (they should fit you in the waist/hips)
-Pattern for your embellishment (details below)
-Fabric glue (available at craft shops) or sewing machine
-Gem glue (also at craft stores)
-7mm Rhinestones (ditto)
-Scissors
-Iron
-Pen
-Toothpick

Step One:

Cut jeans off at the knee (do not discard the scraps).

Step Two:

Using a small, sharp scissors, open up the inner leg seam of your cut-offs. Open up the bottom, front seam to about 1-inch below the zipper. Open up the bottom back seam to about 8-inches below the waist.

Step Three:

Lay the skirt down to make sure both the front and the back will lay flat. If not, open the seams up further. The back will have extra fabric. Trim extra away, allowing a half inch of fabric to overlap.

Step Four:

Use your fabric glue, following the package directions, to close up seams. (If you're a sewing whiz, you can also use your sewing machine and top-stitch overlap in place).

Step Five:

You'll need some extra fabric to close up the front. Use a piece of leg that has been cut off and cut a triangle to fill the space, adding a half-inch extra for overlap. Glue or sew into place.

Step Six:

Try on the mini-skirt to see how it fits. If it's too long, trim to 1/2-inch LONGER than your desired length. Fold the extra half-inch under, to make a hem. Iron it flat, then glue or sew hem in place.

Step Seven:

Choose a simple embellishment to add to your mini - a star, a heart, or a spiral would be good ones. Find a pattern for your embellishment on the Web, and print it onto paper. Place in the desired spot on your skirt, and use a pen to push through the pattern, working along the lines, to leave a dotted outline of your picture on the denim.

Step Eight:

Use a toothpick to dab a small dot of gem glue onto each spot. Press a 7mm gemstone into each. Let dry completely.

SPARKLY HEM ALTERNATIVE:

Use toothpick to glue gemstones along the hem of the skirt, for a glitzy alternative.