Bag Lady

So, I might have become obsessed with making bags. I am pretty stoked that I have finally learned a new "trick". No longer the, "one trick apron" lady I am now a bag lady too!

My mom bought some star wars fabric for Noah and since we have the entire week off due to snow and ice, I decided to sew a bag with it yesterday. I am loving having this time off with no obligations.

I used this tutorial and the knowledge I learned with the messenger bag I made the other day and LOVE the outcome! Noah immediately put his library books in his bag and seems to love it!

After that, I felt like I had practiced enough to make a bag of my own. I am tough on bags so I used a thick felt between the layers to add some ruggedness and I sewed the handles quite a few times to be sure they would stay. I added felt in the handles as well for cushiness. 

And, of course, I made some fabric scrap rosettes to spruce up the front. That took me longer than making the bag. They have to be hand sewn to the bag. However, it was worth it in the end. I think they are adorable!

I can't wait to be able to get out of the house to show off my bag, but I am content for the time being with being snowed in. It happens once every 10 years or so, right? So enjoy it while it lasts. Today I must get the chores done! Even IF my fabric is calling my name!!!

Snow Days!

For those of you that don't know, we don't get a whole lot of snow in Middle TN. The northern parts do and the eastern parts on the plateau do, but not the entire state the way we did this weekend. We are all happy to be snowed in in our house. Snow and ice to play in, crafts and tinkering to do.

I took the opportunity to do as little as possible yesterday (to the detriment of the housework) and I napped and then decided too craft. I have been wanting to make a bag for awhile and I wanted to start simple, so I started with this mini messenger bag. It is made for a child, but would be great for a purse when you are out and about.

I used fabric that I have here in the house for obvious reasons. Most of middle TN is shut down at this point and some places, police are stopping you and asking you to go back home if you don't have an emergency so...I used what I have.

For my first real bag using real instructions and figuring it out on my own, I am thrilled with the outcome. I think that in the future I will use thick felt and interfacing to stiffen the bag and make it more sturdy...as well as make it larger. I didn't want to confuse it with changing dimensions though.

Now Noah is begging to sew something. Not sure if this is the bag to do for him....think I will start with something simpler...maybe a pillowcase???

Valentines Eve

Just a quick post. I made a couple of sweets for the sweet ladies at work to go with the washi tape wonder cards that i made last week. 

I put a few truffle kisses in a bag and then sealed and decorated it with washi and bakers twine. 

 They were a big hit and it made me happy to create...even if it only took 5 minutes. 

Happy heart day to you all!!!

Smash*ing Weekend

As most of you know if you follow this blog, I really enjoy Smash*ing when I can't scrap. I like the freedom it allows.

This weekend, I took the opportunity to catch up on my Christmas Smash*album. I just bit the bullet, ignored the chores and did it.

I was behind 2 Christmases so when all was said and done I ended up with 4 pages of goodies. I am pretty happy with the end result. Wish I had done a bit more spritz or ink or something but its good.


Here are the pages from last Christmas (2013). We went to the Smokies in Gatlinburg. It was great to get away from it all for Christmas! No fuss no drama...just us. I love these photo sleeves and I wish more of the Smash* books had them.

 Here is the third page of 2013. Since it was a more special year it warranted more space in the book.

 The photo on this page was a flip open for journaling. I love using this technique for the sake of saving space and bulk. Really good washi tape is great for this!

Did I mention that Santa was hiding in the garden department at Walmart this year? Yeah, it was strange...and he had like...mickey mouse hands or something....it was strange. 

Sorry. I have had a lapse of memory and for the life of me can't right a couple of these photos. Anyhow, The top photo on the gold page is yet another flip open to make room for another photo of the munchkins. On the left I did some quick journaling. 

So there you have it. A few smash*ing details in my Christmas album. It is so neat to flip through and see the changes over the years and all the happiness and love. I am thinking this might be one of my favorite scrap or smash* books of all time. 

Thanks for popping by

Valentines

Valentine's Day is upon us once again. This year, I made grown up valentines. Its been many a year since I have made any and with my success with Christmas cards I decided to try a few more Washi Tape Wonders. 

I bought the tape at Target and was so excited to come home and get started.  The stamps are a mixture of Julie Nutting, and a set I bought on clearance at Michaels last year. The twine is Studio G and the spray was Heidi Swapp. 

I love quick and fun cards. Working all the time now leaves little time for my first love, art...so this helps curve that urge a bit. 

 Even managed to decorate the envelopes too. 

                                   
                                     

Have you done any valentines this year? If not, BE INSPIRED!