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accessories, arts and craft, gifts, Sewing, tote bag

Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt

Customize a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt | Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome to another Tote Bag Week Post! Are you getting lots of ideas for how to make and dress up tote bags? If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

Monday: How to Sew a Canvas Tote Bag
Tuesday: Dress Up a Store Bought Tote with Piping
Wednesday: Reusable Tote Bag Sewing Tutorial
Thursday: Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt
Friday: 21 Ways to Make and Decorate a Tote Bag

Today I have a fun tutorial for Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt.

Materials:

Canvas tote bag
Long-sleeve button shirt
Scissors
Pins
Sewing machine (or needle and thread)

Instructions:

Begin by cutting off the sleeves and cuffs on your shirt. Save the sleeves to use on another project, like Adding Piping to a Tote Bag (or piping on a pillow, an upcoming tutorial.)

Cut off the pockets (cut as close to the seams as you can.)

For the customized tote bag, we’re going to use the cuff and two pockets.

Fold the cuff in half and cut it.

Stitch the end of the raw edges on the cuff closed.

Pin the cuff halves to the inside center of your tote bag (buttons facing out.)

Stitch the cuff end to the tote bag until secure.

Pin the pockets to each side of the tote bag (if your tote bag doesn’t have sides, the pockets would look just as cute on the front and back of the tote bag.)

Stitch along the top of the pocket. Then lift the pocket flap up and sew the rest of the pocket to the tote bag.

Feel free to finger print a star on your tote bag (tutorial for finger-printing stars here.)

These shirt embellished tote bags are perfect for a day at the beach. Or as a gift for a friend, teacher or grandparent.

Personally, I think I’ll be making many more of these in the future.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial for customizing a tote bag with an old shirt. Get ready for a grand finale tomorrow!

Pin for later!

August 6, 2015/4 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, Crafts, gifts, Sewing, tote bag, Très Frugal, Tutorial

Cute Reversible Reusable Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl

Are you enjoying Tote Week?!

If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

Monday: How to Sew a Canvas Tote Bag
Tuesday: Dress Up a Store Bought Tote with Piping
Wednesday: Reusable Tote Bag Sewing Tutorial
Thursday: Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt
Friday: 21 Ways to Make and Decorate a Tote Bag

Today I have one of my closest friends and blogging buddies here. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, she’s the amazing, the incredible and the always vivacious Sandra from SawdustGirl.com. And she’s going to give you a tutorial for sewing those cute reversible and reusable tote bags!

Howdy Handy friends! I’m Sandra of Sawdust Girl – formerly Sawdust and Paper Scraps. I try to reduce, reuse and recycle anyway so this tutorial for reusable, reversible, ruffled totes is fitting. Don’t ya’ think? I like to use my totes as grocery bags and have given a pair of these as gifts along with a few reusable produce bags found at the dollar store.

I used an old sheet and a set of pillowcases to make mine but for a gift item, maybe use new fabric. If you look for sheets on clearance you can get a LOT of fabric for just a few dollars.

This is a really easy pattern that I made from looking at a canvas tote. (It fits perfectly on a standard pillowcase.)

*Seam allowance? I run the fabric along the right side of the foot. I think it’s a waste to take a wide allowance and then trim!

Instructions:

1. Use the same pattern for the bag and the liner. You could use the same fabric for both or mix it up for fun. I like to use 2 different fabrics so I can flip it inside out and have a totally different bag!

2. Sew all 4 pieces (excluding the bottom) together like this: front/side/back/side making one long piece of fabric.

3. If you are going to add any kind of embellishment, now is the time. I’m adding three rows of ruffles! Read more

August 5, 2015/6 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, gifts, painting, Star pillows, tote bag

Dress Up a Plain Tote with Piping

Make Piping Out of Thrift Store Finds | Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome back to Tote Week! If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

Monday: How to Sew a Canvas Tote Bag
Tuesday: Dress Up a Store Bought Tote with Piping
Wednesday: Reusable Tote Bag Sewing Tutorial
Thursday: Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt
Friday: 21 Ways to Make and Decorate a Tote Bag

If you’re short on time (or don’t have a sewing machine), there’s nothing wrong with cheating a little.

Today I want to show you a great way to add some character to a store bought tote bag. You can dress up a plain tote bag with piping. I purchased canvas tote bags at Michael’s for a few dollars. You can purchase piping or make your own easily (if you have a sewing machine.) If you don’t own a sewing machine, purchase pre-made piping and buy some double stick hem tape or hot glue to secure the piping instead of sewing it on.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial

Materials:

Tote bag
Scissors
Piping (tutorial to make your own piping)
Fabric
Rope
Thread
Needle
Sewing machine (use hot glue or double stick hem tape if you don’t have a sewing machine)

Instructions:

Start by making your piping. Be sure to make enough to line the rim of your tote bag and overlap by at least 2 inches.

If your tote bag handles are sewn to the inside of the bag, rip the top seam off to free the handles from the top edge of the tote bag.

Begin pinning your piping around the inside of the top edge of the bag. Fold the raw edge over and between the bag and the piping as shown below:

Overlap the edges of the piping in an inconspicuous spot (near a back handle.) Read more

August 4, 2015/6 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

art, arts and craft, decor, Decorating, DIY, Door, gifts

Home is Where the Heart Is – Door Decor

How about an unusual front door decor idea today? Jaime from That’s My Letter here to share this house shape door decor project with free plans to make your own.

A little play on “home is where the heart is,” this door decor is definitely different and not your typical wreath. I used 1×3 pine boards to make the house shape then added the cut out hearts to hang in the middle. (Yes the house shape does look like an arrow. If you want to make an arrow shape, those plans are below as well.)

This would also make great indoor wall art. Imagine all the paint color possibilities!

Supplies:

1 – 1″ x 3″ x 6′ pine board
1/4″ plywood scraps
miter saw
measuring tape
pencil
wood glue
finish nailer
1 1/4″ finish nails
3/4″ finish nails
scroll saw or jigsaw
sandpaper
wire hanger
drill
1/8″ drill bit
wood putty
white spray paint
red acrylic craft paint
paintbrush
clear exterior grade polyurethane spray

Below are the step-by-step instructions to make your own wood house shape door decor. Always follow all precautions and safety rules when using power tools.

Cut List:

1 – 1×3 @ 12 3/4″, one end 45 degree miter (roof)
1 – 1×3 @ 12″, one end 45 degree miter (roof)
2 – 1×3 @ 2 1/2″, one end 45 degree miter (roof overhang)
2 – 1×3 @ 13″ (sides)
1 – 1×3 @ 9 1/2″ (base)

Step 1: Assemble roof. Attach long side to short side using glue and 1 1/4″ finish nails.

Step 2: Add roof overhang pieces to mitered ends of roof. Use glue and 3/4″ finish nails here. Below demonstrates how to cut these super short mitered pieces. Read more

July 15, 2015/6 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

Birthday Gift, Build It, Gift Ideas, gifts, party

DIY Cupcake Tray Carrier

Jaime here from That’s My Letter today sharing a DIY cupcake tray carrier. It’s summer and that means lots of friends getting together for BBQ’s and outdoor parties. You can’t show up empty-handed to party, so why not take along this cupcake carrier? It makes the perfect display tray and portable carrier all-in-one, plus a very useful hostess gift too!

I filled this tray with 24 regular size cupcakes, chocolate on chocolate is the favorite around these parts.

The tray is a fairly simple build, the trick is to create space between the top board (with all the cupcake holes) and the base so the cupcakes have a spot to sit down into.

Keep reading and I’ll show you how to make these holes as smooth as possible without tearing up the plywood.

Materials:

1- 1x2x8 pine board
¼” plywood handy panel
¾” circular wood dowel
¾” square dowel (6′ total)
wood glue
pencil
measuring tape
1 ¼” & 3/4″ finish nails
2 1/8” hole saw
¾” spade bit
circular saw, chop saw
finish nailer

Cut List:

2 – 1×2 @ 17 3/4” (long sides)
2 – 1×2 @ 14” (short sides)
2 – 1×2 @ 8 ½” (handle supports)
2 – ¾” square dowel @ 17 3/4” (long spacers)
2 – ¾” square dowel @ 12 1/2” (short spacers)
2 – ¼” ply @ 17 ¾” x 12 1/2” (top & base)
1 – ¾” round dowel @ 17 ¼” (handle)

Step 1: Sketch grid as shown above onto one piece of ¼” plywood. The orange portion indicates where to drill 2 1/8” holes using a hole saw.

Step 2: Drill holes using 2 1/8” hole saw. To make the holes as smooth as possible without much tear out begin drilling on the grid side about 1/8″ down.

Flip the board over and find the center hole. *Be sure board is hovering over edge of table. Place hole saw bit into the center hole and finish drilling the hole.

The circular plywood piece should pop through to the ground. Repeat this process for all 24 holes.

Sand the edges of the holes smooth.

Step 3: Attach long spacers to long side of top using glue and ¾” finish nails down through top.

Step 4: Attach short spacers to short ends using glue and ¾” finish nails.

Then attach base from underside using glue and ¾” finish nails.

Step 5: Attach long sides using glue and 1 ¼” finish nails.

Step 6: Attach short sides using glue and 1 ¼” finish nails.

Step 7: Predrill ¾” holes into handle supports near top end, drill only about ½” deep into 1×2. Attach handle supports to tray using glue and 1 ¼” finish nails.

Step 8: Insert handle in between supports. Glue and attach using 1 ¼” finish nails through ends.

Fill all holes with wood putty then sand smooth. Paint your cupcake tray carrier with semi-gloss or gloss finish for easy clean up of any messy frosting!

Hope you enjoy this fun small build project.

This cupcake holder makes a great party accessory or gift idea too!

~learn more about Jaime ~

Pin for later!

This DIY cupcake carrier makes the perfect display tray and portable carrier all-in-one, plus a very useful hostess gift too! | DIY cupcake carrier | DIY cupcake tray | Pretty Handy Girl #prettyhandygirl #DIY #cupcaketray

June 19, 2015/5 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio