Saturday, September 18, 2010

Place Mat Purse...Part 2

Remember the brown purse I made here? Well, here is part 2.
This is a simple one and even faster to make than the first purse.




This time I used one place mat.



Just place it face down...the short end facing you.


Fold up the bottom, about 2/3 of the way up.


I folded mine up about 7 inches.



Sew down each side with a 1/4 inch seam.
I just sewed on the existing seam of the place mat with matching thread.




All done...almost. Needs a little decoration.



The top folds over nicely for a cute little clutch.



You can also hot glue a vintage button on the front.



I just used adhesive velcro to keep it closed.


Easy to open and close.


I also hot glue a little decoration!



Find that perfect place mat and a little fabric and you can match any outfit.
Especially when you need that one certain purse to
match and you probably won't use it that often.



Easy Peasy!



Enjoy your weekend,
~Karen~

Friday, September 17, 2010

Recycled Cupcake Carrier...

Do you know what I've noticed over the many years of making cupcakes? The carriers they sell don't hold 24 cupcakes...and a batch of cupcakes (a box mix that is) is 24.

So what does this case of bottle water have in common with a batch (24) of cupcakes?




Do you see it there on the bottom of the box?



Look at those circles...there are 24 of them!!


Perfect for 24 of these.


or 24 of these little cute cupcake papers from my trip to Ikea.



I know what you're thinking...where are the cupcakes. Well, I took these pictures earlier this week and I wasn't going to bake a batch of cupcakes with only my husband and myself here to eat them. You know I would have to finish them all. We found out yesterday that our daughters were going home for the weekend, but I made 2 apple pies instead. I made cupcakes the last time we saw them.



So cute!


and here are your 24 cupcakes all ready to take to a party or gathering. You can always add colorful tissue paper or pretty doilies on the inside of the box to cover the cardboard and now that I'm looking at these pictures...a cute ribbon around the outside would be nice too.



I had saved several boxes for different things and left one on the floor...I guess this one is Hallie's bed now. I took so many pictures of her when she was in there, I felt like the paparazzi!



She was so sick of me taking pictures, she did this! How rude.



Here's another idea for cardboard cases. Works great to hold all the parts, pieces and pattern to one specific quilt or craft project. If you're like me, you have a lot of these projects going at once.



See you tomorrow,
~Karen~

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Would You Like to Donate Fabric for QOV?...

I'm sure all of you know the power of a blog...the people it can each and the hearts that it can touch. I have made so many wonderful friends through blogging and Sandy is no exception. Sandy is from Maryland and we have emailed each other over the past 2 months and have become fast friends. Even though Sandy doesn't have a blog...and she really should (hint, hint, Sandy)...she is an inspiration to me in many different ways.

One such inspiration is her Quilts of Valor quilts. Sandy's son served 3 years in Iraq and is still in the military. She is making QOV quilts in honor of his service to our country and she donates them to Walter Reed Hospital.

The button I've made below is a picture of one of the quilts Sandy has made. Isn't it just perfect. I love the pattern and all the beautiful colors really make this quilt. I offered to send Sandy some fabric for her next quilt, but then I had a better idea. Why not do a post to see if any one else would like to donate some of their stash or scraps of fabric too!!

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Sandy is using the chisel pattern, so any scraps larger than 4" X 7" would be great. The colors she uses are any reds, whites, blues, golds or yellows.
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This is such a wonderful cause. If you'd like to read more on QOV click here for their site.
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If you'd like to donate any fabric...even the smallest piece...please email me at:
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I will give you Sandy's address to mail the fabric directly to her. Sorry, but no anonymous bloggers...only people who have a blog that I am familiar with. I just don't want to give out her address to people I don't know!! I know you understand.
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Thanks so much,
~Karen~

Monday, September 13, 2010

Tool Time Tuesday...Place Mat Purse

I know, place mats are not tools, but it's Tuesday and this tutorial is cheap, fast and cute. Besides, they sell tools in the store where I bought these...so that counts as a TTT, right!!

See all these place mats? They were $1.00-$1.29 each. I bought them at the Christmas Tree Shop. If you don't know what The Christmas Tree Shop is...you have to experience it yourself. These stores are located in 15 states and I just can't explain it other than to stay...it's a store where you go in, spend too much money on things that have great prices and oh yeah...you really don't need any of it!

I am going to have several tutorials this week turning these place mats into fun and useful items.




Today's tutorial turns these 2 faux crocodile or faux snake skin place mats into the cutest purse.





See cheap, cheap, cheap.


The first step is to fold over the top edge of one of the circles to form the front part of the purse.



Sew a 1/4" seam across the top. I used a regular needle on my machine. The place mat is just made of vinyl, so it was easy to sew through. The vinyl that is gliding across the top of your machine might skid on the metal plate, but you can just push it along.



close up of seam.



Trim to a 1/4" away from the seam.



Here is the finished front piece.



Now take your second full circle and place it right side down.



Place your front section, that you just sewed, down onto the full circle right side up.



Sew, with a 1/4" seam (or follow the original seam line of the place mat), from the top of the folded front section...



all the way around to the other side. Back stitch to reinforce the beginning and the end.



At this point, you could be done and have a cute little clutch, but this next part is for a handle. Take that section that you cut off the first circle.



Measure up 2 1/2" from the flat bottom edge.



Cut on the line.



Fold it in half to clean up the ends.



cut off the ends to straighten it out.





Fold over both long edges 1/4".



I used paper clamps instead of pins.



Once the edges are folded over, fold the whole thing in half.







Now sew that open folded edge with a seam that is close to the edge.


All stitched on the short sides and across the long edge.



Center and place the handle where you would like and sew in place. Sew back and forth a few times to reinforce.



Now for the closure. I used Velcro tabs on the inside for ease of opening and closing.



But I wanted something decorative for the front. I hot glue a vintage wooden button to the front.



I first cut a thin piece of the place mat scraps and threaded it through the button, so it looks like the button is sewed on with the leather.



I had a little piece of place mat scraps left over, so I made a key chain. Cute, huh? The key chain handle is just one long strip folded over and sewn at the top.



and here you have a $2.00 faux crocodile purse all set for fall.



It's really roomy inside too!



This is all I have left from the scraps. Hmmm, I think I see a pair of matching earrings! Where is that covered button kit?



This tutorial is perfect to make just the right purse to match that certain outfit. Can't guarantee how long it will last, but it's fast, easy and cheap. Maybe this is how Louis Vuitton started out! Yeah...I don't think so...LOL



Happy Tuesday and I'll see you in the place mat isle!
~Karen~
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I've linked to Somewhat Simple for Strut Your Stuff...button's always in my side bar! Love it.

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