minorpunk56,
it's about 70 pages, 75 at most... It took me an evening to print and tape them all together though, so it's probably worth using commercial printing if you want to save yourself some time!
Oh, I also set it to lightest amount of ink and grayscale using only black ink; that will save you some ink too. 

amazing!  thanks for all the pictures too, showing how it can be done... my first idea on reading this challenge was to light up flowers-your idea is lovely!

I think Kim's blog on the anatomy of the square will help you.  Are you wondering when to change color or how to go about actually tying off one and adding another?

http://blog.interweavecrochet.com/  march 9 entry--scroll down a bit to it.

i especially love the blue dress and jacket (and lounging in the grass).  I'd love to do a sew-along soon!

thank you all for the wonderful replies--i'm definitely inspired to create more!

violet jayne--yours is wonderful! thanks for pointing it out.  i love the sailboat fabric and the net on the bottom

arcadian green-- the pirate fabric is from joanns last summer, the print is really small (the skulls are less than an inch) so i liked that.  they might still have it on their website.

tattered spider-- i didn't plan to wear it inside out, but it did work fine.  it isn't tight on me, so the shells weren't noticeable at all, maybe because they are all fairly rounded?  i was kind of surprised, but it is definitely comfortable both ways.

azuzuinatree-- it only took a few days to sew the corset, it has three parts-the brocade(which is lined with iron-on interfacing), the lining, and the boning (which is on the lining seams using seam tape for guides).  I kept the pieces separate and embroidered, patched, beaded, etc. the brocade over a couple of months here and there.  I think it would take a few weeks of afternoons if I worked on it everyday.

Lil Dead Girl--yes on the shells fragility!  i didn't intend this for hooping, it just happened and it's the only action photo i have!  the shells didn't break, but they did come loose a bit.  I hope you have great fun at burning man this year too.  i can't confess to how much time i spend daydreaming about it!

cocomoo--thanks... we can credit my boyfriend for making me look good in the photo...  

fervidfemme, Kymy-- i'm not sure which pattern I used, but I'll find it.  I did reshape the edges and refit the seams to my own measurements, but it was a good beginning, so worth using anyway. 

butterfly grl
the zip ties i found that were long enough, were also strong enough... about 1/4" wide and i guess about 16" long.  probably 1/8" thick.
i already have a small waist in proportion to my figure, so it's not cinched in that much, but it was super comfortable.  i did place two at diagnols along the front and back panels and one on each side of the back grommets so it wouldn't bend.

spent a along time daydreaming of this, my idea was that someone crafty, clever, elegant, satin wearing girl was lost on an island... thus adding scraps and shells to her original bodice over time.
i used a pattern--made a mock-up and fitted it to me, then made my own.  it has zip-tie boning, which worked wonderfully.  the outside is brocade from a little set of 4, all golden.  the inside is pirate   my original idea was to wear it with a brocade skirt, deconstructed to look like seaweed and ocean had crept in, these pictures are how i wore it in the desert.
the close up pictures are post burning man, so dusty, but i suppose that adds to the effect?

not easy to hoop in, couldn't feel the hoop

details... there are shell designs running up the front seams, beads and patches sewn on here and there...








and the secret fun part... pirates on the inside

it can be worn inside out... the skulls glow in blacklight

thanks... they are fun to make...
camilaustral--they don't open after making them, but you do make them with the shell open and then close it at the end.  the layers at the collar are meant to represent the may layers of kimono that royalty would wear on special occasions. there are many many ways these dolls are interpreted, these are pretty simple, but some are amazingly complex and elegant, i encourage you to do a google image search for hina dolls to see more.

these are dolls my friend made for me... they are clam shells with kimono silk and paper. 
you can see the paper ones i made and more about the tradition at this posthttp://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=230174.0
the princess in her many kimono layers...

the happy couple

these hina ningyo are made only from paper... oh and matches!  
they are traditional from japan and some of the simplest of a what can be a very elaborate display.  i was taught to make them from my friend's mother--she entertains kindergardners, so we get along great
the princess

the whole crew

i need some peach trees and mochi for the bottom tier.  bigger displays often have musicians and more goodies. these guys are each about half the size of my thumb, so the whole thing is pretty tiny.

similar idea... made by my friend from shells http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=230176.0

from wikipedia:
Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri)
Date: 3rd of March
Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls Festival)
Information: This holiday is also known as the Peach Festival because peach blossoms herald the coming of spring and are the symbol of courage and feminine beauty. Young girls put on their best kimonos and visit their friends' homes. Tiered platforms for hina ningyo (hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake).