Ruffled Crepe

I am a procrastinator. I am easily intimidated by techniques and tools. These two personality glitches can cause me trouble at times.

This is the story of the Ruffled Crepe.

Yesterday I was coming to the end of a project. It needed one last item for it to be complete. Tea dyed ruffled crepe.

I had a bit left from a class I took from Ann-Denise, but it wasn't enough. I knew she had some for sell at a local shop, so I headed over there. Wouldn't ya know it... someone purchased the only package of white tea dyed crepe, that had been sitting in that basket for over a month, last Saturday.

That's okay, I think to myself. Ann-Denise told us how to ruffle our own.

When I returned home I pulled out my white crepe paper, set it on the table and proceeded to stare at it for 10 minutes. (it's no wonder it takes me forever to complete things)

Finally, I think, "I can do this."

I spent the next 5 minutes trying to figure out how to increase the tension on my sewing machine. Oops, it was right there on the front of the machine, the whole time... at eye level.

After a few tries, I started to get the hang of it and made a nice long piece of ruffled crepe. But it was all white and I really wanted the edges (just the edges) to have a lovely tea dyed aging to it.

Well, that's no biggie. Last spring, after months of procrastinating an attempt at tea dying, I finally jumped in and did it. I do it all the time now.

I set up a dying station and once my tea bath was ready, I plopped my crepe in.

It sunk to the bottom of the bowl... not real sure what I was thinking there... of course it would sink and become a sodden ball of mess. I left it to soak anyway.

After a bit, I pulled it out, squished it between some towels and left it to air dry.

I know I told you that I'm a procrastinator, but did I also tell you that I'm impatient?

I couldn't wait, so I gently unraveled my glop of crepe and turned my hair dryer on to it.

As it started drying it became crinkly and crunchy. And I gotta say, even though it didn't look as I had intended it to, I'm really please with the outcome!

I have a feeling there is going to be more crinkly-crunchy crepe ruffles in my future.

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Now, can I just tell you, that you ladies are absolutely the BEST ever!!! Thank you so much for all of your encouraging and lovely comments on my paper dolls! I'm not feeling as nervous about them anymore. Thank You!!!