DIY Dress Form Tutorial: Vintage Themed

I recently moved my office into a new room in our house and this newly decorated DIY dress form fits perfectly into my decor. And this lovely vintage lady can be used to photograph any necklaces I make. What a fantastic display piece!

You can easily create this beautiful paper maché DIY dress form mannequin to use as a display piece in your home. Incorporate some vintage treasures as well as some store bought items to make your DIY dress form personalized to your taste!

DIY Dress Form Supplies:

Darice Paper Maché Mannequin
Feather Angel Wings
Petaloo Canvas Craft Flowers
Marth Stewart Crafts Doily Lace
Gold Leaves
Tissue Paper
Mod Podge
Aleene’s Tacky Glue
2 1/2″ Satin Ribbon
Tulle
Needle and Thread
Paint Brush & Scissors
Assorted Trims and Embellishments

I didn’t want the paper maché color of the dress form to show through on my decorated piece. To cover the form I used tissue paper to create a layer of clothing.

To start, cut a piece of tissue paper into a rectangular shape. Make sure it is long enough from the waist to the bottom of the dress form and that the tissue paper will wrap all the way around the dress form. Also cut two slits near the waist to help the paper lay flat as you are gluing it on to the form.

Use a paint brush and paint on Mod Podge around the bottom of the DIY dress form where the skirt will be.

Start pressing the the tissue paper onto the Mod Podged dress form.

Continue painting on Mod Podge and pressing the tissue paper skirt onto the dress form all the way around the mannequin. The seam of tissue paper will over lap a bit where it comes together in the back. Use a scissors to trim off the over hanging tissue at the waist.

To create the tulle skirt, cut a large square. You will want the tulle to be at least twice as wide as the mannequins waist. You also want the tulle to measure twice as long for the length so you can fold the tulle in half. Once the tulle is cut, fold it in half. Then using a needle and thread make a running stitch along the top edge of the skirt. Push the skirt together to form gathers as you sew. Keep the needle and thread on the skirt when you get to the end.

Wrap the skirt around the DIY dress form and then use the needle and thread to sew the back seam together. Knot the thread and cut off the remaining thread.

Add some doily lace along the bottom of the skirt. Glue along the bottom edge of the tulle and then press lace into place on glue.

Cut a rectangular piece of tissue paper. Make sure it is wide enough to cover over both sides of the dress from and make sure it measures long enough to reach the skirt. Cut a slit in the tissue paper to form the neckline of the top. Fold the tissue paper under to form a V in the neck of the tissue paper. Paint on Mod Podge along the top of the skirt and the side of the dress form. Don’t Mod Podge everywhere or the paper mache will show through the tissue and it won’t look like a shirt. Carefully press the the tissue paper into place. Make darts and folds in the areas where the paper doesn’t lay flat.

Cut another piece of tissue paper for the back. Paint on Mod Podge on the side of the dress form and press the tissue paper in place. Carefully add Mod Podge along the top of the shoulders and flatten tissue paper down. Trim off any excess paper along the waist.

Use a wide piece of lace and wrap it around the middle of the DIY dress form. Glue the ends of the lace in place. Add a shabby flower with some folded stain ribbon to the waist line. Garnish with a gold leaf accent.