Valentines Week - Love Heart Leggings

I am so in love with these leggings!  This diy was inspired by some adorable leggings I saw online which were unfortunately sold out in my size.  They seem to be sold out completely now as I can’t find a link on their site to share with you.  Anyway, being the crafty girl that I am I decided if I couldn’t buy a pair I would need to make myself a pair.

I have been wanting to try freezer paper stencilling for ages so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  For those in Australia freezer paper is not readily available in the supermarket as it is in America.  I bought mine at the cutting counter of my local Spotlight for $1.50 a metre.  For this project you will only need a tiny amount.

Okay so firstly you are going to need to gather your materials.  For this project you will need a pair of leggings, freezer paper, pins, pencil, heart cookie cutter (or stencil), fabric paint, paint brush and cardboard.

Firstly you will need to try on your leggings and mark where you would like your hearts to be placed.  I found the easiest way to do this was standing in front of a mirror.  I placed a pin at the top of my kneecap and another at the bottom of my knee.  Then stand up straight and make sure they are even.  Carefully take your leggings off so you don’t pin yourself.

Cut two small squares of freezer paper.  Make sure your squares are big enough so there is a few centimetres of space around the outside of your heart cookie cutter/stencil.  Use a pen to trace around your stencil on the matte side of the freezer paper and then follow this line to cut out your hearts.

Using your pins as a guide place the freezer paper shiny side down onto your leggings and pin in place.  Try your leggings on again to ensure the hearts are straight and line up.  Again be careful putting on and taking off your leggings so you don’t stab yourself with a pin.  Trust me it hurts!  Once you are happy with the placement use a hot iron to the freezer paper in place.

Cut your cardboard down to size so it fits inside your leggings.  Place the cardboard behind your stencil to ensure the paint doesn’t bleed through.  Now you are ready to paint your fabric paint on.  I used a light colour on dark leggings so I had to do a few coats.  Do as many coats as you need to achieve the colour you like.  Follow the instructions on your fabric paint for drying time.  Mine had to sit for 24 hours to dry.

Once the paint is dry carefully peel away the freezer paper from your leggings.  You should be left with a nice sharp image of your heart.  Ta da! Your done. 

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Now pop on your new leggings and wear them this Valentine’s Day.  They give a whole new meaning to wearing your heart on your sleeve (or legs!)