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Winners of the Lil Blue Boo / Dharma Trading Design Challenge!

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We started with 154 amazing entries in the Lil Blue Boo / Dharma Trading Design Challenge! The judges (Shari, Dana, Disney, Candace and Rae) narrowed the entries down to 15 finalists. After a week long vote, with 3,855 people voting, I finally get to announce the winners! Congratulations to Shannon, Vanessa and Sarah! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest! I can’t wait for the next challenge!

First Place (884 votes):
Kung Hee Fat Choy (Happy New Year) Top
Made by: Shannon from Happy Tomodachi
Shannon used red and gold t-shirts: red-good luck, gold-wealth and happiness. She stenciled the character for “Double Happiness” at the top using freezer paper and Jacquard Neopaque fabric paint and added some 3-D gold glitter paint for some subtle “zing.” She appliqued the flowers using fabric from the original t-shirts and fusible webbing and dusted the flowers with glitter paint for sparkle. She then used hems from the original t-shirts to trim the sleeves and bottom hem of the new top.
Pattern: Recycled T-Shirt Sienna Dress

Second Place (746 votes):
Spring Fever Dress
Made by: Vanessa from Punkin Patterns
Vanessa used three different plain fabrics in a dark pink, light pink and green. The appliqued flowers came from a really beautiful border fabric. The applique goes all the way around the dress and the pockets hide where the applique pieces meet giving the fabric the illusion from far away that it is one piece of fabric.
Pattern: The Paper Doll Dress

Third Place (668 votes):
Chicken Nuggets Dress
Made by: Sarah Boyd from 2 Giggle Boxes
The dress was inspired not from chicken nuggets…… but from four pet goldfish that Sarah’s daughter chose to name “chicken nuggets.” Sarah created the fishbowl on the top of the dress using lightweight vinyl PVC. The underwater world was created using applique and fabric painting. The bottom of the dress features imported Japanese fabric sewn into a bubble style.
Pattern: Recycled T-Shirt Halter/Tie-Back Dress

Honorable Mentions:

Best Use of a Girl’s Pattern for a Boy’s Outfit:

“The Church Waders” by Sabra from Sew a Straight Line

Most Creative Use of a Halter Dress Pattern (tie):

“The Heat is On” by Sarah from Up to Date in Kansas City

The Knit Mermaids by Nicole from Cole’s Corner and Creations

Cutest Hair:

Girl Robot Dress by Charlene from Musings of a Mormon Mom

Most Patriotic:

Flag Dress by Lynette from Get Your Craft On

Best Mini-Me:

“Lil Lu and Bitty Baby” by Ashley from Not Just Grannies

Most Attention to the Details:

“Honeycomb Dress” by Nikki Williams

Best Period Piece:

“All Dressed Up” by Kestlyn from the Kestlyn Collection

Most Likely To Be Coveted By Every Little Boy in the World:

“Monster Hoodie” by Lynette from Get Your Craft On



First Prize:
:: Choice of one of the following: 50 Person Tie-Dye Party Kit, Screenprinting Kit, or $50 Dharma Trading Gift Certificate.
:: $25 Lil Blue Boo Etsy Store Gift Certificate.
:: Choice of boy or girl nursery painting from my fine art website.
:: “Challenge Winner” badge to display on blog or website.

Second Prize:
:: $25 Dharma Trading Gift Certificate
:: $25 Lil Blue Boo Etsy Store Gift Certificate

Third Prize
:: $15 Lil Blue Boo Etsy Store Gift Certificate

Click the collage below to view the entire gallery:

Do something nice…..

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We have an “orange” fairy: the elderly man who lives behind us and throws bags of oranges over the fence. Boo thinks that someone is “throwing their oranges away in our yard.” Small gesture…..but it took thought and time to pick the oranges, bag them up and toss them over the fence. It made me think: here is our neighbor…….that we’ve NEVER met…….and he is throwing gifts over the fence. No one does things like that anymore!


So we took some girl scout cookies (the only ones left after I got to them)….and Boo painted a picture……


…..and we wrapped them up into a present and took a walk yesterday to give them to him. He looked exactly like Mr. Fredrickson from the movie UP.…..hearing aids and everything….no idea how he gets those oranges over the tall fence, but he tossed another bag over to us today!

Adding Bling – A Tutorial

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I love using rhinestones to finish off a design or personalize a custom dress for a customer:


To make your own design you need:
Iron on Rhinestones
Mylar Carrier sheet


Cut your Mylar Carrier sheet slightly larger than your design will be:


Peel off the backing off the Mylar sheet and place it over your design, adhesive side up:
Important: Make sure you have REVERSED your image design….otherwise your design will be backwards when you flip it back over!


Using small tongs or tweezers start placing your rhinestones on the design face down (glue backing is right side up):


I always start adding rhinestones from the outside in so that I end up with a perfect mirror image……


…..so when I add in the final rhinestone it fits perfectly:


Take the Mylar sheet with the rhinestones attached, turn it over and place onto your fabric:


Place a small cloth on top of the Mylar sheet and iron carefully to melt the glue:


Carefully peel off the Mylar sheet. I like to turn my garment inside out and iron it again to make sure all the rhinestones are adhered well:


Be creative…..you can hand drawn any design as well, large or small:


Just make sure you are using low lead crystals if you are adding them to a child’s clothing!


Check out Dharma Trading’s site for a similar tutorial using a more intricate drawn design.

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