Barbie Bathing Suit and Dress from Headbands-Tutorial

Here's a fun project to whip up for summer and you have to love that there isn't any sewing involved! As soon as I saw the headbands I knew they'd be great crafting material for Barbie. Now you don't have to use the glitzy sequined ones (which I seem to be drawn to:@), but they do need to be at least 3/4" wide.

Introducing Vegas Vacation Barbie???

Materials for Bathing Suit:

One headband per doll (six came in a pack for $2.50 at Walmart-lovin' the colors!)
Scissors
Glue, either your strongest quick drying craft glue, liquid stitches or a hot glue gun-that's all I had
Tape-optional
Barbie doll for fitting

1. Cut the headband close to the seam. Wrap it around Barbie's chest, pull a little snug, you want it to stretch over her boobs so it covers them completely. Give yourself enough material to overlap the edges by 1/4" for gluing. Glue closed, the top is done. (The headband hasn't been glued in this pic)

2. Bring the headband up between her legs and lay it under where the belly button would be. You may want to use a small piece of tape to hold it in place, you'll see the tape in a later pic.

3. Holding the front piece in place with your finger or tape, turn the doll over and wrap the headband over one butt cheek.

4. Now wrap it around the front of her waist keeping it low on the hips. (Note the excessive tape... you don't need that much folks.)

5. Wrap it to the back again and bring it back down over the other butt cheek. Add 1/4" or more where the two overlap and while holding the material in place with one hand, cut off the excess headband.

6. At this point you will add glue to the piece on the right and tuck it 1/4" under the piece on the left. Hold in place until the glue dries.

7. Flip the doll over and remove the tape (if using), carefully lift the band that goes around the waist and add glue to the top of the flat piece that we started with, pull the waist band out and over top of the glue, hold in place until it dries.

8. Take the bathing suit off to make sure it's not glued to the doll. Clean any tape or glue residue off with rubbing alcohol. Trim any loose strings or fuzzies off the suit and and slide it back on the doll-no one likes a naked Barbie... well, except maybe Ken:@)

Materials for Dress:
One 2" headband (2 per pack at Dollar Tree-you'll get 2-3 skirts from one headband)
One 3/4" headband in a complimentary color
Scissors
Glue, either your strongest quick drying craft glue, liquid stitches or a hot glue gun-that's all I had
Barbie doll for fitting

1. Cut the 2" headband to the length of skirt you want.
2. Make the top as in #1 above.
3. For Belt-wrap the 3/4" headband around her waist, make it a little snug (but it still has to stretch over her hips) and give yourself 1/4" overlap. Glue as you did the top.
4. Slide on her top. Open the 2" headband to make a tube and slide the skirt on, stretch the belt over the skirt and make it cover the top of the skirt (to hold the skirt in place).

My inner child was tickled by these ideas and since I have 4 more headbands... stay tuned!

Click here for my Barbie Pinterest Board.

Have a happy day:@)

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