Trick-or-Treat Tote Bag

I love when I can make something and spend NOTHING on it. I made this trick-or-treat tote bag for my son using scraps. It only took a little over an hour - I made the whole thing during his nap. This post is loaded with pictures of the process . . . sorry for a lengthy post. First, I traced a tote bag that was the size I wanted it to be, but I added a little to the edges to account for seams. I also wanted a flat bottom to it so I could have the corners instead of a flat bag. I cut the same size pieces out of the lining fabric.

Sew the bottom seam on both the lining and the outer shell. Then using a 1.5" square template, cut the corners on each bottom edge of the lining and the shell.

Since I wanted a design on the front, this is where i added it. First, I cut the oval shape out of the fabric that had been fused to the wonder under. Then I ironed it to the front of the bag.

Next, I top stitched the edges with a decorative stitch.

Back to sewing the bag . . . sew the side seams on the outer shell and the lining (but leave a 3-4" hole in one side of the lining to turn the bag right side out later.)

Next, box the corners on the lining and the shell where you had previously cut the squares out from. Bring the side seam to the bottom seam and stitch. This is what gives you a flat bottom to the bag.

Sew the handles to the outer shell. You could make handles out of fabric, but I used the stuff that's used to make belts since I had that on hand and it was faster.

Now, with the outer shell turned right side out and the lining still inside out, put the shell piece inside the lining and line up and pin the tops together.

Stitch around the top edge of the bag.

Turn the bag right side out through the hole you left in the side seam of the lining.

Hand stitch the hole in the lining's side closed. Then, tuck the lining into the bag and iron the top edge flat. Top stitch around the edge to keep the lining flat and in place.

Next, I painted the "BOO!" onto the bag. I normally would have done this in the beginning, but I didn't want to wait for the paint to dry before putting the bag together. So I did it at the end. I used my Cricut to cut the letters out of Freezer paper, ironed it to the oval and then painted it with the fabric paint. Once that's dry, it's done.

Shadowbox Frame

If you aren't LDS, then this document won't make much sense to you. Our Church keeps a record of Priesthood Lines of Authority - which I sent in a request for so I could do this project.

This project could be done with any document that you want, so even if you aren't LDS, the technique could be something you want to try.

I emailed lineofauthority@ldschurch.org and they replied with an attached form to fill out and mail in. The stipulation is that you have to be requesting your own record or that of someone in your household - and they will need some info including the membership record number.

Once I received that in the mail, I retyped it and printed it out on vellum paper. I debated doing this on a transparancy sheet, but opted for the frosted vellum look.

I used a 10"x10" shadowbox frame and positioned the vellum (with a paper border) up against the glass. The picture below is of the document inserted into the frame.

Next, I used a template for a tie from Crap I've Made (that I had first used to make a tie onesie for my son a few months ago) to cut out the pieces in a fabric and batting. The tie wouldn't show up unless it was closer to the glass since the vellum isn't completely transparant. So I cut one tie out of the fabric, and 4 ties out of scrap pieces of blanket batting since that's thicker. Depending on the depth of your shadowbox frame, you may need less or more thickness. You could do this out of paper and not even use a shadowbox frame with dimension.
Then I glued the pieces together and adhered them to the center of a 10" square cardstock. Next, I inserted the paper/tie into the back of the frame and closed it up. Voila! A dimensional framed tie and document.

Beaded Coasters

I made these about 6 years ago, so I don't have pictures of the process. But I'll explain it . . .

Supplies (I got all of these at Jo-Anns):
thin cork circles
Small circle mirrors
seed beads
thread
glue
felt

Process:
1. Thread hundreds of bead on the thread (this took forever, but I remember watching t.v. at my parent's house while doing this)
2. glue the circle mirror in the center of the cork - this is optional, but I didn't really want a full bead coaster
3. while the glue was still tacky under the mirror, I tucked one end of the thread under it to hold it into place
4. begin winding the beaded thread around the mirror from the center out, gluing as you go (keep beads tight on thread and tight against the previous row)
5. when you get to the end of the cork, glue the other end of the thread to the bottom of the cork
6. cut a circle of felt (slightly smaller than the cork so it doesn't show from the top) and glue it to the bottom of the cork
7. let dry, and you're done

I've been using these for about 6 years now and they've held up tremendously well. I have to keep them out of the reach of my son since he tries to chew on them.

New Diaper Bag

I made this diaper bag from Simplicity 2924 . . .

The pink fabric is one that I had be eyeing at Jo-Anns for months, but couldn't bring myself to pay the $10 a yard they were asking. Well, my patience paid off. I found it in the red tag clearance section for $5 a yard . . . but even better, they were having a 50% off sale on red tag fabrics . . . so it was only $2.50 a yard. The green striped fabric was left over from a Ralph Lauren sheet I've been cutting up for months (bought at goodwill). And the interfacing and ribbon are scraps left over from other projects. So all in all, this probably cost me about $4 in materials (and I got the pattern for .99 cents at the last sale).

It was the most detailed/involved pattern I've used before. It was easy, but took a lot of attention. I used lining, interfacing, elastic, made interior pockets, side pockets, pleats, and a fabric flower. It took me several days, but that's just cause I run out of energy quickly being 8 months pregnant, and trying to fit in the cutting/sewing during nap times. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

The pattern called for a ribbon bow on the front, but I decided to take some of the fabric scraps and make a flower instead. I put the green fabric strip on top of the pink one, and sewed a gathering stitch down the middle. Then I wound it into a circular shape as I sewed it on.

Side pockets for bottles or sippy cups.
There are 4 interior pockets . . .

For my son, I had been using a diaper bag my sister made me from an Amy Butler pattern. She told me she will never make that pattern again - I guess it drove her nuts. Anyway, that diaper bag has been beat up over the last 18 months, plus, this time, I wanted a diaper bag that had the flap to close - I drop things out of my current one too much and it's huge, so I tend to over stuff it.

Pumpkin Carving Trick

We've been using this trick to carve pumpkins for a couple years now. I always had a hard time trying to design my own pumpkin face to carve, so we find templates online (or you can draw your own on paper).

1. Cut off the top and clean out the inside of your pumpkin

2. Tape your template to the front of the pumpkin

3. Using a push pin or another sharp pointed thing, poke holes in the pumpkin along the outline of the object 4. Remove the paper to see your dotted outline 5. Using a pumpkin carving knife, cut out along the dots

Here are 2 that I did this year with this technique and then some from a couple years ago . . .

Mod Podge'd Cocoa Container

I was getting tired of storing my ribbon scraps in a shoe box. It was messy, unorganized, and not cutely stored. So I cleaned out an empty Cocoa Mix container and Mod Podge'd scrapbook paper on it. I cut the letters out of cardstock on my Cricut, then Mod Podge'd those on too. Sealing it all with another layer of Mod Podge.

I had cut 80+ sheets of vinyl for my Church's "Super Saturday" craft day, and each tube of vinyl came with a giant popsicle stick to rub the vinyl on with. I saved all those and quickly found a use for them. I wrapped my ribbon scraps around them and then stored them neatly in the cocoa container.

I still have smaller scraps that weren't really worth wrapping around the stick a couple times, so I'm going to cover another container soon and toss all the tiny scraps in there. I've started saving them if they are 2" or more now . . . in hopes of making a scrap ribbon belt like Ashley did at Lil Blue Boo.

Paper Coffin

I saw this idea on Martha Stewart . . . she used the coffin as a treat box. But I just made mine as a decoration. I do like how easy the coffin itself was easy to make.
Here are the top and bottom templates.

Step 1 - tape the templates to black paper

Step 2 - using a score blade, score along the dashed lines

Step 3 - cut out the top and bottom along the edges

Step 4 - cut the solid lines to be able to assemble it

Step 5 - glue the tabs to the adjoining pieces to form the coffin
Step 6 - decorate as desired

Big Brother Shirt

I found a blog where someone made a "big sister" shirt for their daughter, so I decided to make one for my son. I didn't write down the blog where I got the idea, so if it was you, please let me know.

I am going to be having my baby girl right after Thanksgiving, and when my Mom brings my son to the hospital to see his new little sister, I want him to wear this shirt - he won't know what it means (he'll only be 20 months old), but others will know that he now has a new sibling.

What I did:
1. Cut the fabric letters out on a Cricut (or you could print them out, trace them onto the fabric and cut them out if you don't have a Cricut)
2. Attach them to the shirt with Wonder Under
3. Keep looking at it day after day to decide if you want to add stitching to the letters to hold them down better and to add detail

It was a great way to use all those tiny scraps of fabric that I've been saving but not knowing why.

Super Saturday Crafts

We had a craft day (Super Saturday) at our church last Saturday. I didn't sign up for all the crafts, but here are the ones I did end up making.
1. Fabric Strip Flowers - We took a long strip of fabric that was about 1-1.5" wide and using a needle and thread, stitched a running stitch up the edge of one side, then gathered it and twisted it into a circle and stitched it closed. Then I stitched on a button in the center. We glued an alligator clip to the back so it can be used as a hair clip.
2. Stamped Tile Coasters - These were made in sets of 4. We used "Stayz On" ink and stamed onto tiles. (there's a good tutorial for this on Trey and Lucy)
3. Gift Jars - There were 3 different options for these jar mixes. I made 2 of the Santa's Peppermint Chocolate bars. The ingredients are measured and stacked in the jars. Then you tie a paper on the jar with the recipe and any other ingredients that need to be added (like butter or eggs) and how to make it.
4. Hand Soap w/ Transparancy - The text was printed on transparancy sheets and then we cut them up and stuck them in an empty soap bottle. Then we poured in the soap.
5. Quoted Tile - These are the tiles that I actually cut all the vinyl for. I ended up cutting about 82 sheets of these (2 different quotes). They are 12"x12" and the vinyl was rubbed onto the tile. I can't find my plate holder to display it on.


There were other crafts . . .
1. zipper/cell phone charms
2. pumpkin spice muffin mix
3. hot cocoa mix
4. fabric backed plates (mod podge fabric to the back of a clear, glass plate (not diswasher safe)

Car Notebook

After making the purse notebooks out of standard composition notebooks for my nieces, I decided to make one for my son . . . but a little less girly. He likes anything with wheels, so I made an attempt at drawing my own car shape - I'm actually really proud how it turned out. I didn't really want to put the handles on it like the purse ones, but I still needed a velcro closure. I don't really like the look of the closure on the front since it's not "car" like in the placement, but oh well.

Here it is open. I'm hoping he will use this with the crayon roll I made in a previous post - maybe in the car or to keep him quiet/busy during church.

Halloween Plate

I can't find my plate stand, so for now, this is just sitting on the table. I found the orange plate at Value Village for 49 cents - can't beat that! And then I found the perfect looking haunted house image to cut out of the vinyl.

Button Eyed Frog

I found an adorable frog on Lil Blue Boo and wanted to make it . . . her's is cute and mine is, well . . . scary looking. I think I should have used bigger buttons or maybe he just looks angry with the red button eyes. My frog is stuffed with stuffing instead of beans cause that's what I had on hand.

Oh well, Ethan loves him and started playing with him right away - scary eyes and all.