I always like to have matching accessories for my costumes, and so for this brand new dress I made, I decided to make a pair of nude gauntlets! Gauntlets are great because they cover parts of your arms without adding much weight to the overall look. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make these nude gauntlets that look… Read more →
Do you have a statement necklace to wear with your costumes? This DIY sparkly belly dance / ballroom necklace was requested by some of you, and I’m so happy I gave it a try! It’s a simple project, yet you get a pretty big result! Plus, once you make it, you can wear it with any outfits! Let me show… Read more →
Want shortcuts for rhinestoning your costumes? 🙂 Today I’m excited to share with you this cool product! The ladies at Crystal Queen contacted me a while ago and sent their rhinestone stencil kit for me to try! Since I had a new dress in progress, I used it to decorate the neckline of the dress! So let me show you… Read more →
I launched a new Vine Rhinestone Applique Collection at my shop a few weeks ago 🙂 And I’ve been thrilled to see so many people trying the kits! The new collection is not only looking gorgeous, but super easy and beginner-friendly! The best part is, these kits can be made just by gluing. No sewing required! … Read more →
Today is the day! 😀 I’m thrilled to announce the brand new Vine Collection of DIY Applique Kits is finally available at the shop! Some of you requested applique kits that don’t require sewing…. and I listened! The Vine Collection can be made just by gluing. No sewing required! So it’s super beginner-friendly 😀 And… Read more →
Decorating a costume is the best part of costume making. 🙂 You get to be creative and play with all the sparkly items! But because there are so many embellishment options out there, it can be overwhelming! And once you start decorating, you realize there’s SO MUCH SPACES to fill! So no matter whether you want… Read more →
A few months ago I did a review on Swarovski’s shimmer effect rhinestone series, which was initially introduced to me by Alisa at Har-Man Importing. And last month, she sent me another new line of rhinestones, called Star Bright. Thanks, Alisa! Sign up for the free course & start making costumes! Star Bright is an Austrian Crystal collection, and Har-Man… Read more →
In my last video, you saw how to make a heart shaped beaded applique. And this week I want to share with you this paisley beaded applique. I love paisley designs, and they look great on costumes in every colour. Let’s get started! Download the free paisley patterns here! To make these paisley appliques, you need: Felt – to use… Read more →
Last week I announced that the enrolment to my online Belly Dance Costume Workshop (BDCW) is opening on May 22, 2016. I’ve been receiving messages and questions from excited dancers 🙂 If you have questions about the workshop, feel free to email me at mao@sparklybelly.com. I’m happy to answer your questions, and it’s great to know what you are wondering… Read more →
Rhinestones are your best friend when you make dance costumes. But it can be overwhelming to know which one to buy. I often buy rhinestones from Dreamtime Creations. and since I was buying some rhinestones for a project the other day, I thought to buy one of different brands to compare the quality and colours and share my observations with… Read more →