Purse revamp: book it

I was visiting a cool gallery in Wisconsin last year, the FLYING PIG, and  found these "intellectual" purses. I "booked" a ride on this craft trip, and "read" up on sewing techniques. This project might "turn a page" on your recycling urges.

You'll need:
an old book, with a cloth cover (hunt them out in thrift shops, or even your own library)
glue gun
fabric
scissors
handles (bamboo or fabric or chain)
D rings or split rings (used for key rings)
needle and thread

Now this is my idea of how this might work...

This is the view from the front. As you can see the artist used an book with a cloth cover and then a added a bamboo handle attached to the book with metal rings.

I'm thinking they used wire or key rings to attach the handles to the bag. But we can use whatever we want, as far as handles.

If you pull out all the pages and left the cover you will get the base for this purse. You would have to use a glue gun and fabric to add to the inside of this purse.
Remember, if you mess up, it's only an old book. Use a less desirable one to practice on. Then graduate up to a vintage book with a cool title or color.

This is the end view of the purse. So all you creative peeps check it out and see how you can figure this out.  This is NOT for the novice, but perhaps for the creative, "let's give it a try" and see what I CAN do crafters.
I know the shape, when the purse is open is wider at the top, to allow you to get into the purse easier.

 I, myself, could not tell you how to do this, because I have not tried. But I'm dying to. So perhaps in a future blog, I may get this down to a science.

I totally adore the idea that you can take a cigar box, or book or whatever and make it into a purse/bag. Cuz I LOVE those.  I will be searching for fun stuff to make totes and fun stuff make bags in a way we didn't expect!!!!

tip of the day:

I picked up some great veggies at the grocery the other day. But I think I might have gotten tooooo many. So to keep them the freshest I can, I placed a couple of brand new sponges into the vegetable bin to absorb the excess moisture. Be sure to check these every couple of days, and wring them out. You'll be surprised to see how much moisture is absorbed by these that would have made your food soggy.

That's all for this week...
:D

April Showers

This has been a wet, dry, cool, warm, let's just say a ~crazy winter. The 20th of March was the first day of Spring. And it tends to be pretty rainy around here. So I needed a bag that was waterproof, fast and easy to make, and recycled.

So when I changed my shower curtain liner, I had to perfect material for this tote bag.

Today's Project is:

shower curtain bag

The top of the shower curtain was perfectly clean (we won't disuss the bottom part, ugh) so I cut off about 18" from the top. And cut the width big enough to get two grommets on either side (for the handles).

I had some cotton cord (that I think came off a gift bag) that made perfect handles.

I folded up the curtain (side to side) and sewed up the one side and bottom. The vinyl material was a bit hard to shove through the sewing machine, but I did it slowly and it seemed to work okay.

Then to make the bottom flat, I laid out the bag with the side seam up. I folded up the corner inward (forming a triangle) and used duct tape to fasten it down. I did the same thing on the other side. Now it stands up on its own. I used camophlage duct tape (just because I had it). I didn't think I would be able to sew through so many layers of this heavy vinyl, thus the duct tape.

Turn the bag right side out, thread the cord through the grommets and make a knot. This will keep the cord from coming out.

I have a book by: Jodi Kahn (simply sublime bags) that talks about making a similar bag, but she used staples and duct tape. So it would be a no-sew bag. She stapled the seams, instead of sewing, and then covered up those staples with duct tape.  So for those of you without a sewing machine, go for it!  YOU too can make cool stuff! And you can find duct tape in all kinds of cool designs. That would add lots of fun to this bag.

I have used this bag as an "emergency snow/rain bag" in my car. I have my snow boots, rain poncho, hat, scarf, socks, gloves, umbrella, and granola bar (I get hungry putting on those chains on my tires) I will use this tote for a beach bag when summer comes (I'm already dreaming about the hot weather :) ahhhh

You can use a cloth shower curtain also, the grommets are the things that make this bag easy. It wouldn't be waterproof, but water resistant at any rate. And nice strong material.

I know the Dollar Store sells liners (for $1) so it's a cheap way to start. And you'll have the rest of the plastic left over for lots of other stuff.  More ideas to follow...:)

tip of the day:

Don't let the winter doldrums get you down.  Spice up it up a bit... Let your loved one know you are thinking of them by using a bar of soap and writing a sexy, fun message on the mirror. So when they get up they get a little surprise...hey...it couldn't hurt!!!! And you can wash it off easily, and add something new later....Keep smiling~

That's all for this week...

:D



hearts to clovers

February has Valentine's Day, and March has St. Patrick's Day.
This project can be used for both.
Cuz you see, I'm always trying to figure out themes for 'get-togethers', cards, gifts, etc.  Because...that's just the way I am! :)

And I hope that's the way you are too. Because it's fun to make things, and I think most people really appreciate handmade items.
Hope you are planning on some fun events this year. And I hope I can help jazz up your celebrations.
Today we are folding paper, which in Japanese is called Origami. And a little bit of cutting paper, which is called Kirigami.

today's project is:

Origami folded card

You will need:
paper (cut into squares), scissors, glue, ribbon

1. Fold the paper point to point (diagonally). Then flip it over and fold edge to edge. And then rotate and fold it edge to edge again.

2. Then gently guiding it with your fingers, close it so that you will have the (unfolded) square shape on the outside of it.
3. You will make four of these.

4. With the folded corners on the bottom, you will cut a heart shape out of the 'open' top side. Then you will trace this shape on to the rest of the folded papers, so your hearts are all the same shape.
5. Trace this heart shape onto 2 other papers. I used a different color of green, and the paper is stiffer card stock. This will be the outside covers.
6. Stack two hearts and glue together.  Continue stacking and gluing until you have all four shapes glued together.
7. Tape one end of a ribbon onto the last side, put glue on it, and glue the lighter green card stock heart onto this. Do with the other end also.
8. Now you can fold up the hearts, tie the ribbon and it is flat (for mailing or putting in an envelope). When the recipient gets it, they will untie the ribbon, open up and re-tie.

If you want to make a necklace out of this, cut a ribbon (long enough to get over your head). You will need a pony bead large enough to thread through both ends of the necklace. Then glue the ribbon ends onto the hearts, as shown in red ------>
I glued little words from a magazine, but you can write messages inside, too.
Instead of tying the ribbon, now you will slide the bead to fasten the folded shape.

tip of the day:
you can take one of these clover shapes, cut a small X with an exacto knive in the center, and push a straw through it, and use for your next party for sippin' in style.

That's all for this week!
:D




The paper I used to demonstrate is purple on one side, and orange on the other. To make seeing the folds easier. But I used green paper for the final project.