Creative Ways to Update Kids' Clothes

Make any outfit party-perfect with our no-sew embellished collars.

First, use the link below to download our collar template. Cut the shape from felt and trim the edge with pinking shears, if you like. With tacky glue, add decorations such as pom-pom trim, plastic gems, and lace. Cut two 20-inch lengths of ribbon and glue an inch or so of each length under an end of the collar. Or glue cord along the inside edge of the collar, leaving about 1 foot of excess on each end for tying.

Need a particular color for your collar? Find dozens of shades of wool felt at purlsoho.com

Originally published in the December/January 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

This shoe-decorating idea is truly visionary. To get the look, use strong glue (we like Crafter's Pick The Ultimate!) to attach googly eyes to sneakers with rubber cap toes, such as Converse. For the strongest bond, make sure each eye lies flat without overlapping. Let the glue dry and get ready for some second glances.

Originally published in the September 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Place newspaper or a piece of cardboard inside a prewashed, ironed T-shirt to keep the paint from bleeding through. Tape down the shirt at its shoulders and hem. Firmly adhere lengths of painter's tape to the shirt, using them as outlines for the areas you'll paint. With a sponge brush, dab fabric paint onto the shirt. After the paint dries, carefully peel off the tape. Set the paint according to the package directions.

Originally published in the June/July 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Turn your kids' denim from flood waters to fabulous capris with some no-sew hemming and painting.

Use fabric, thread, and a bit of imagination to mend a torn knee.

Repurpose an old t-shirt into an adorable statement piece, complete with a customizable thought bubble for your child to express himself!

This funky, fringed fashion accessory can be made in a flash from two or three adult-size tees.

Use this everyday craft supply to make fashionable jewelry or add charming trim to a plain outfit.

Originally published in the April 2013 issue of FamilyFun

Turn a few iron-on patches into a sweet panda pal. Press a 4-inch square of paper-backed fusible web (we used Heavy-Duty Wonder-Under) to the back of a piece of black jersey fabric. On the paper backing, draw eye, nose, and mouth shapes or trace the shapes from our template (see below). Use a hole punch to add pupils. Arrange the pieces on the sleeve of a white T-shirt and press with an iron according to the fusible web package directions. Cut ear shapes from black jersey and press fusible web to just the lower half of each, then fuse the ears to the shirt.

Lunch box joke: What kind of socks do pandas wear? None -- they prefer bear feet!

Originally published in the May 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

This shirt bites -- but only when your child "chomps" with his arms. Have your child put on the shirt and bend his arms as shown. Place a piece of masking tape on the top elbow to mark where the gator's nose will go. Have your child remove the shirt.

Cut three stamps from adhesive felt: a triangle (ours is about 1 inch tall) and two circles (ours are 2/3 inch and 1 inch). Adhere each shape to the end of a cork or a marker cap.

Lay the shirt facedown, sleeves outstretched. Dip the triangle stamp in white fabric paint and stamp teeth just above the seam of the sleeve with the tape mark. Stamp two larger circles for the eyes and the nose, as shown. On the other sleeve, stamp teeth below the top fold. When dry, use the smaller circle stamp and black paint to add dots to the eyes and nose. Let the paint dry.

Originally published in the May 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Wearing this adorable top turns an outfit into an "awww"-fit. A raglan-sleeve shirt (one with sleeve seams that run diagonally from the collar) works best, but any shirt will do. Cut two large ear shapes from fleece fabric. Run a line of fabric glue along the bottom edge of each ear and adhere them to the shirt along the shoulder seams. Add a face with black dimensional fabric paint. Let it dry.

Originally published in the May 2015 issue of FamilyFun magazine.