Here is my first crafting tutorial. I have been into the green craft movement for awhile, looking for ways to re-use what I already have instead of filling the landfills or overburdening the thrift store industry with junk that isn’t worth selling. So each day, yes, daily I read online for new ideas. Craft Gossip is a favorite for new ideas as well as Whip Up and the Craftster communities.

Today I realized I needed a giftbag to wrap up my almost 2 year old grandson’s birthday gifts. He is really into Disney Cars and Lightning McQueen. Can you say Ka-Chow?!!! It’s so cute when he says it. Ok, back to the project.

I recently turned a knit t-shirt into two scarves for me and my granddaughter so I am on the t-shirt recycling kick. I figured my heavier long sleeve red t-shirt, with grease spots and holes in the sleeves would be a good candidate for my next project. It almost became more scarves. But like I said, I had a need. So I figured I could make the drawstring bag for Asher’s gifts and personalize it as well.

So I found a picture of Lightning McQueen online, printed it on iron-on paper, reversing the images first, and then used some white cloth, doubled, and made my “stickers” for the bag.

For this project, I wanted about three images. Next, I sewed all around each image to join the layers of the white cloth since it was lightweight.

Next, I laid out my t-shirt, it’s an x-large size, so this bag was wider than it’s height but it works out well. See the grease stain? Yeah, not good for wearing now.

Fold the shirt in half and cut just below the armpit area.  Then cut off the bottom hem and save it, as this will become the drawstring for the bag. Be sure to trim it, the hem was serged so it’s not going to unravel.

Next I cut the “stickers” with pinking shears and pinned them in place. I put two on one side and the third on the other side. I also wanted there to be no raw edges showing inside so I decided to do a French seam. These are super easy and give a great finished look to any project.

For the French seam, you join the fabric, wrong sides together first and sew with a 1/4 seam allowance. I sewed the bottom of what is basically a tube of fabric from the shirt. Then you turn the fabric right sides together and press that seam allowance. Then sew 1/2 seam allowance on the wrong side. What you have when you are done is this:

This is the inside of the bag, see no raw edges. I did not trim after the first stitching because I used enough of a seam allowance when I turned it to wrong sides together that it didn’t get in the way.

Next, I boxed the corners so there is depth to the bag. I pulled the sides out until there were points, as you can see in the picture. Basically the side seam or crease matches up with the bottom seam. I measured 2 inches from the point, drew a line and pinned. Then sew on the line. Ta-da! You did a boxed corner!

Next, turn down the top hem about 1 inch, making sure there is enough room for the drawstring to be encased. Cut two small slits in one layer of  the casing, again, knit won’t fray so this is safe.

Next, grab two safety pins. Put one pin through one end of the string for threading through the casing and use the other pin to secure the opposite end of the string to the bag so it’s not pulled all the way through.

Here is the bottom seam on the outside, and the inside with no raw edges. All ready to be filled with the goodies for Asher!

The loot all stuffed in. I know there will be one happy 2 year little red haired boy at my house come Saturday!

Then I started to take apart my wedding dress. Yes! My dress. It’s made of an off-white, beige really, jaquard print and somewhat heavy.  I knew I could use it for something cool, but what? With the color of beige, it’s not practical for too many things.  So I thought it would work as a purse lining with the red if I found the right pattern.

This is what I ended up with! I made the larger bag of the two in the tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed my post tonight. I loved making this purse. It was so very easy!

Girl Creative

Grace Violet

Vermillion Rules

And for a clearinghouse type of crafting site, I check Craftgossip daily, especially the sewing crafts.

Next up is another bag like this in blue corduroy and a cute print for the lining. And my aunt asked me to make her a purse using her graduation dress, or maybe it’s homecoming dress, either way it was made by her in like 1966 or something. That is when I was born!! lol…Here is the dress-

This is the lining material with the folded dress. I am so excited to make these cute bags.

Next up is some fall crafting for more friends and deciding on gifts for Christmas that I want to make. I am thinking felt food for Elizabeth and an I Spy quilt for Asher and Isaiah. Oh yeah, Brittany is expecting twins next May! We are all very excited about that bit of news. So happy fall crafting!

I am now about 3 weeks into the routines and I am doing pretty good. I feel really good about myself and my home. I know my hubby is coming home each day from work knowing his home will be a welcoming place. I know my sons are enjoying the benefits as well even if they aren’t saying too much. Only once in the last 3 weeks have one of them asked me to wash their clothes because they were out of clean socks. One even took it upon himself to wash a load of clothes since he needed pants. I would say that is pretty good.

In between the cleaning I did a short stint in the hospital last week. I guess I am not taking care of my body like I should. The closest diagnosis they could give me is Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  So I spent 3 days at the hospital and came home with medicines and instructions on how to eat better. I am also hypoglycemic and need to learn how to eat for that issue. I am planning on asking my primary care phys. for a referral to a nutrionist for some planning and counseling on these things.  I just don’t know how to combine the three issues I have-lactose intolerant, IBS and hypoglycemia.

In other news, Lauren is now living with a new family as the live-in nanny. I truly hope this works out for her. I can’t say too much about it because I know she needs to do this and learn if it was a bad move on her part. It seemed like the only job God brought to her during her intense job search over the last few months.

My other daughter is expecting baby #3 and we are all very excited!!! We just love babies. They smell good and are fun to cuddle since my kids are too big to cuddle.

I have been busy playing on Facebook and my farm on Farmville. But I am trying to balance all my internet time with cleaning and personal growth time. So far I am doing ok. I can’t wait until I am doing great! Phil tells me every day how proud he is of me and the changes he sees. I guess I had to do it for myself for it to stick. That’s ok, like Flylady says ‘I am Finally Loving Myself!”.

Lauren invited a bunch of friends and most of them offered to bring or make something for the food part. That is so nice and just the way people are around here. You don’t have to ask, they just do it. Good friends are hard to find and when you find them, keep them close.

Last night Phil’s boss took us, another couple from work, and 2 others out for an appreciation dinner for the hard work the guys have been doing lately. Phil was promoted to a supervisory role and it’s stressful because of the longer hours but he still likes his job. The dinner was at a posh seafood place here in our closest big city. The bill had to be easily $500 for the 7 of us since we had three courses and drinks. Whew. I was thinking how that is a percentage of what Phil makes a week and there is no way we could afford to go have dinner there on our own. The boss is very nice and easy going. It was easy to talk with him and the others. Of course I inputted (is that a word?) my one-liners to liven things up now and then. Overall it was a nice night out. I am so proud of my man!

So tomorrow will be a day for lots of picture taking. I will post some early next week. Lots of the babies!