More hand-made stuff!

More hand-made projects - as promised!

Hand-made project idea #3  Make your self a bag!

This is ideal for phones and purses, or if you make it out of sturdy stuff and HUUUGEEE, it can be used for school/laptop/satchel type bags too!


You need two different pieces of fabric - a lighter one for the bag and a darker one for the flap. also some string or really long strips of fabric would come in handy for the strap, and a sewing machine would be best (hand sewing is soooo painful!)

  . 

Grab a sheet of A4 paper (or 8.5 x 11in)
 - this is going to be your base for the pattern.First, cut two pieces of the darker fabric A4 sized.  

Hem the shorter edge - turn the top over twice...

...And stitch

Do this for both pieces.

Now take your darker piece and cut it A4 sized.

Divide it roughly into thirds, it doesn't have to be exact.

And remove one third.

Do this for both pieces. You could do one, and then just
trace it to cut the second piece, this ensures they are the
 same size.

Stitch them together, right sides together. Only stitch three
sides, leaving the side that will attach to the bag open. 

Turn the flap inside out and fold the open end inwards
by about a cm. Place that end near the top of the back
piece for the main bag, right sides together.

stitch a single line across.

It should look something like this when you fold it up, with
an invisible line of stitching.

Place them right sides together - this is the
patterned side, the side you want to
see.

Stitch together (preferably on a machine).
Make sure that you dont catch the flap in your 
line of stitching. For less of a satchel look,
 you could round off the corners - but make sure 
they are equal!

Turn  inside out,it should look something like this with the
flap still down the back.

Flip the flap over the top, and it should look like this!

Grab some string, ribbon, or other long, bendy thing for the strap.

I would recommend hand sewing both ends into
 the inside of the bag, but if it's really thick and strong you
could use a machine.

Finished!
It should look something like this, 

Hand-made project idea #4 Twisted paper-chain bracelets

These won't last too long but they're kinda cool.

All you need is some paper, some scissors, and a
stapler (preferably full of staples.)

Cut some strips of paper that are roughly the size
of your finger - about a centimetre wide and 10
centimetres long.

Cut quite a few of these - I ended up using about ten.

Make a loop - like a circle, but keep the ends together
and twist to
e l o n g a t e

Do this with two and have the ends join.

Staple them together
(This can be a leetle finicky...)

Should look something like this.

Thread another strip of paper through one of the loops,
and make a third loop.

And complete it with another loop...

And staple. You get the idea.

After the chain is long enough to fit around your wrist,
make your final loop.
Do this by making loops like before, but make sure
that both loops connect to others.

You have a complete circle!

You can add charms as well to jazz it up a bit - simply
cut out shapes from some coloured card and attach
to a strip of paper which you can then loop
around the bracelet.

Ta-da!
Have one charm or add ten - it's up to you!
One groovy paper chain bracelet, handmade and free!

*all images here are my own and the rights remain with me.

Don't you just love it!

Hand-made stuff is the best.
We pay a fortune for it in la petites marchés de la France but we can't be bothered to make it ourselves?
Time to change that.
In the next two posts there will be bag patterns and bracelet ideas!

FILL YOUR CRAFTS WITH LOVE!!!

Tip #1    Glitter Glue is endlessly useful

Tip #2    You don't actually have to buy anything. Cut up old PJ's for material, pilfer beads out of your                  little sisters bead box, or steal off friends (that's what they're there for, right!?).

Tip #3    If it fails, don't worry about it - it's a) called home-made for a reason and b) why you have                                                  more than one tube of glitter glue in a pack.        

Hand-made project idea #1  Braided Bracelets

You need:

*25cm ish random strips of material

*old bracelet chain (with fastener on the end)

*creativity

*ten minutes of your precious lives

STEP 1 Gather your random strips of material and divide them into three sections, one slightly thinner than the rest, and put the chain in with this section. Vary the thickness of each strip, it looks better this way...

STEP 2  Tie all three sections in a large knot with the chain ending up on top

STEP 3 Braid/Plait to your hearts content (or until the fabric and chain run out.)

STEP 4 Tie another big knot with the chain on top

STEP 5 Take a photo and send it to me so it can be posted on my 'results' page and comment below

STEP 6 Wear with delight!!

Tip: If you don't have a bracelet chain to use, just braid lots of material, it looks just as good.

Tip x 2: Make loads with different fabrics and stack them!

Hand-made project idea #2  Make a clutch!

You just need one colour of fabric, cut out an A4 (8.5' x 11')
sized piece.

Lay it portrait and roughly divide it into thirds. Fold
the bottom third upwards.

Make a small zigzag fold about an inch, as if you were
making a paper fan.

Make a second fold, you should now have something
looks like this.

Fold the edges inwards and stitch up one side...

... and the other. Also hem the edges of the top flap.
If you have used a material that wont fray, you don't need
to hem.

Add a quirky design to the top flap, you could either
embroider a pattern to the top (if you are really craftsy) ...

...Or you could cheat like me and stick a broach on the
front. (This is a hair clip/broach I bought for about £1.50
from New Look ages ago, it just pins onto the flap.)

This is a free badge from the Apple Store I picked up
during the Olympics a couple weeks ago.
 Any kind of badges, a single or an array will do.

More hand-made crafts to come!

The maker and creator x