tulle and tutus

with my niece's birthday being just a short week-ish away - and her party being this weekend - i have been kicking it in overdrive with my auntie duties and godmother roles.  seeing as i physically can't be there for all of the preparation and craziness that is the creation of a first birthday party, i figured i'd hold up my end of the deal and get to town on a little diy: the ladybug tutu.

this can be done for less than $10!
okay, pick your jaw up off the floor, i'm being serious here.
it was a one stop shop for me at walmart picking up:

 red tulle for 98 cents a yard. (i chose to get three yards to be on the safe side)

elastic for around $4 (i chose to get a thicker width seeing as it is for a little one)

black polka dot ribbon by the roll (only $2-$3)

Velcro (i had this previously but you can buy a big pack for about $6ish)

a cinch, no?

and the rest is just as easy as the shopping.  

make sure to measure your little.  my niece was about 14-15 inches around so i stuck with 16 inches, just to be safe.  

the elastic doesn't tend to pull as much once you've knotted the tulle around it. 

fold the tulle in half and cut straight down. the width and length is to your own preference.

(i.e.: the spikier the tutu, the shorter the tulle.)

loop the tulle around the elastic and pull it to a knot.  i double knot just for the extra security and it looks nicer once the strips are all bunched up.

keep on knotting until you are all the way around and leave just enough room to tie to 12 inch ribbons on each side to tie together over the velcro to close.

this makes a nice bow and it covers the velcro nicely.

the end result will look as so - or probably a little better, seeing as a little one will be wearing it.

now go and make yourself an adorable little tutu.

who says that you have to have a little to make one for.

big girls can dress up too.