Purse into Camera Bag {DIY}

Wayyyy back in March I came across this tutorial to transform a regular 'ole purse into a camera bag.  Since those adorable girly camera bags are way out of my price range (our full set of luggage was cheaper than these bags!) this was the perfect solution for me! 

I promptly headed out shopping (with coupons of course) and purchased a bag for around $20-30.  I made sure to get a bag that had both short straps and a long strap to give me options when carrying it.  This is the bag I chose (actually in it's finished state). 

I didn't find the headliner fabric at JoAnn's so I bought the cheapest foam I could find.  It was about $3-5 for a 1 inch thick sheet.  I also got the stiffest needlepoint canvas they had (to give the bag structure). 

I didn't take pictures of the process and be thankful I didn't!  It was ugly.  ha!  It was pretty much trial and error with the canvas and foam.  I cut them both down to size and attached them with spray adhesive.  I made canvas/foam pieces for the bottom and the longer sides.  I ran out of foam so for the ends I used batting and hot glued fabric over the batting and canvas. 

If you were to look inside the lining of my bag it wouldn't be pretty...but it's all covered up, so who cares?  The trickiest part about this bag was the shape.  It's narrower at the top so I had to trim the foam/canvas to be curved in these spots.  After the fact I figured out I could have gotten away with not turning the bag inside out, as I could have just pulled the liner out.  I had trouble turning the bag right side out and had to re-open the liner to get everything in the right place.  But in the end I have a cheap, cute and padded camera bag!

(Since my DSLR is the only camera I have I couldn't show it inside to show how roomy it is)

I currently don't have any extra lenses (hoping Santa brings me one!) so I haven't made any dividers.  But I have some from my old camera bag so I'm just going to use those since they fit (the orange divider).  There is plenty of room for my charger, cord, manual, lens(es), camera and any other accessories!  There's even room to throw in my phone and wallet so I don't have to carry my purse when I have my camera.  I love it!

Total Project Cost: $30-35
Time to Make: an hour or two, just however long it takes you to customize it for your bag

If you have a DSLR camera, what do you use for a camera bag?

28 weeks and an update

Sorry for my absence!  I have been busy making Christmas gifts and a couple of Etsy orders, not to mention getting ready to move.  I am headed to KY at the end of this week and our stuff will be packed up early next week.  Our stuff won't be delivered until about 10 days after it's packed up.  Kind of a bummer, but doable.  Just means we will have to take a lot of stuff with us to my parents house!   And the good news is that we will be moved in before the end of the year so I can start on the nursery, finally!

My posts might be sparse for the rest of the year (which is only 18 days, crazy!), but I know you understand. :)  I do have some good stuff to share this week and I will share the gifts that I have made this year (after they are given of course!). 

In the meantime here is my 28 week picture (which is now 10 days old!).  It's hard to believe I will be 30 weeks on Friday!  So excited to meet our little girl!

Hope you survived Monday!

My Memories Suite Giveaway Winner & Discount Code

Well not many entered, but we do have a winner!

Congrats Lindsey!  I will be sending you instructions on how to get your copy of the My Memories software!

And if you didn't get a chance to enter (or win) and are still interested in the software I have good news for you!  With this code (STMMMS26341) you can get $10 off the software AND $10 to use in the My Memories Store (to download kits, etc!)  Just copy and paste the code into the appropriate box when you are checking out.  This code never expires and they just released a new and improved version of their software!   Awesome!

My Etsy Shop!

I finally did it!  I opened my etsy shop!  I only have a few random items at the moment, but slowly but surely I am adding products. 

Most of what I offer will be handmade jewelry, paper products and fabric products (mostly accessories and baby/kiddo items).  Some will be custom/personalized items and some will be one of a kind pieces.

To keep updated you can follow my shop on Facebook by going to the link (or clicking follow on the link on my sidebar).  Or you can favorite my shop (click on the heart on the side in the shop or when viewing an item).

Hope you like what you see (and if you do, please share!).  If you have any feedback or requests, let me know!

Matchbox Advent Calendar {Mini Tutorial}

Thanks to Pinterest, I decided to make an Advent calendar for Brett and I.  There are so many great ideas out there, but I needed something quick, cheap and easy.  So I decided upon a matchbox advent!

To make this advent calendar I did the following:

1. Gather empty matchboxes (or buy 3 packs of 10 at the dollar store and empty out the boxes)
2. Make a template to use to cut out scrapbook paper (I just wrapped a small piece around a matchbox and made little cuts on the edge and then used my paper cutter to trim it down)
3. Select  scrapbook paper and cut out covers for matchboxes
4. Using spray adhesive, cover the matchboxes with the cut paper
5. Punch/cut out circles from scrapbook paper
6. Stamp 1-25 onto circles (you could also print out the numbers and then cut them out)
7. Adhere circles onto matchbox with spray adhesive
8. Hot glue magnets onto the back of the matchboxes
9. Fill matchboxes with activities, candy or tiny gifts/ornaments
10. Put matchboxes on fridge or other metal surface (I am using a cookie sheet from the dollar store-I may paint it red and attach something to hang it, but it will have to wait til after the move!)

Easy peasy! 

Since it's just Brett and I, I thought it would be a good idea to put activities for us to do together inside the matchboxes.  In this busy time of year it's easy to get caught up in the holiday preparations and over look spending time with our spouse so I wanted to avoid that (especially since it is our last Christmas just the two of us!).  Here are the activities we will be doing (but in a different order):

• Bake and decorate sugar cookies
• Watch A Christmas Carol
• Drive and look at Christmas lights
• Make peppermint bark
• Wrap presents together
• Read the story of Christ's birth (in Luke)
• Enjoy hot some homemade hot chocolate
• Watch Polar Express
• Decorate the Christmas tree
• Take spare change to the Salvation Army bell ringer
• Buy each other's stocking stuffers for under $10
• Watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
• Play a board game
• Have a candlelight dinner at home
• Send out Christmas cards
• Make a gingerbread house
• Attend Christmas Eve Service
• Plan & go on a free date
• Watch Elf
• Participate in an Angel Tree or Food Drive
• Listen to favorite Christmas music
• Take cookies to friends and/or family
• Make ornaments
• Take a family picture
• Go see a Christmas movie

Did you make an advent calendar this year?  I'd love to see it so let me know if you did!