31 Days of Handmade Gifts: Day 26 {Tote Bag}

Welcome to Day 26! You can find the other 31 Days posts here.

In my opinion, one can never have too many purses and bags.  And I think most women are this way (if they're not, it makes me feel better to think they are! haha).  A handmade purse or tote is a great gift for a female of any age.  There are a lot of purse tutorials available out there, but I'm sharing the ones that are pretty simple so that you can knock out gifts quickly. 

20 Minute Tote

The Purl Bee has a great tutorial for a 20 minute tote bag.  It might take a beginner more than 20 minutes, but not too much!  Part of the ease is that the straps are cotton webbing so you don't have to spend time making them.

Ruffle Embellished Tote

Stripes and chevron ruffles...my favorite!  This tote found over at UCreate is super simple, as the actual bag is pre-made!  I have a couple of these and have embellished one for a gift before (last Christmas, seen here).  You can find the plain bags at Wal Mart for about $6 in a pack of 3.  So a simple and affordable gift!

Lined Scallop Tote

For See Kate Sew's anniversary she is giving away a free pattern for this cute scallop tote!  She is also having a link up party with everyone's finished totes (by November 15th) which means I need to get started on mine!  Be sure to head over and get your pattern (and follow along if you don't already!).

Bamboo Handled Purse

I wanted to also include a tote that was more like a purse since all of the previous totes are pretty similarly shaped (but remember you can simply add more width to your fabric to make them wider!).  And Little Birdie Secrets delivered!  I love this purse!  For one I just love that fabric (why can't I find that kind of fabric!?) and it is a simple project-no handles to make!  I actually have some purse handles like this (for a project that never got done...sad face) so I might have to make it to clear out some of my fabric stash!

What's your favorite tote bag tutorial?  Do you have another one to add?

Hope you all are having a blessed week!  October is almost over...wow!

31 Days of Handmade Gifts: Day 25 {Decorated Onesies}

Welcome to Day 25! You can find the other 31 Days posts here.

Everyone knows that onesies are a necessity for a baby, so they make a great gift.  It's even better when they aren't just the store bought onesies, but are personalized and unique!  The great thing is that they don't take too long to make.  And they can be quite affordable too.  Craft stores (Michael's, JoAnn's) sell Gerber onesies in a multi-pack for about $10.  If you have a coupon you can get 5 or 6 onesies for about $5-6!  And with dye (I've used Rit dye successfully) you can make them unique colors too!
There are lots of ways to embellish a onesie...

1. Appliqued Onesies

Image Source: Bump Smitten

 
How adorable are these!  My favorite is the turtle.  You don't have to do anything elaborate, just a simple shape adhered with something fusible (Heat N Bond) and outlined in a simple topstitch is perfect! 

2. Simple Onesie Dress

Image Source: Prudent Baby

With just a little fabric, you can make a onesie into a complete outfit for a little girl!  Prudent Baby has a super simple tutorial for a onesie dress.  You could even embellish the top to add to the cute factor!

3.  Painted Onesie

Image Source: Faye Dodges Zombies

 
I love this one and will definitely be making it for our little girl!  The flower stems were painted on with a freezer paper stencil and the flowers are fabric circles sewed on.  You could also use rosettes and use fabric glue to adhere them (that stuff is strong!).  I'll be doing a freezer paper stencil tutorial after the 31 days, so stick around if you're interested in learning how.

4.  Heat Transfer Onesie

Image Source: Homemade By Jill

If you have a way to cut out heat transfer material (Silhouette, Cricut or super awesome scissor skills) heat transfer is a quick and simple way to embellish!  I haven't tried it with my Silhouette yet, but I will be soon!


5.  Ruffled Onesie

Image Source: UCreate

Who can resist a ruffled bum?!  I know I can't, and I'm sure other mommas would say the same!  Ruffles don't take long to make, so this could be done in less than 10 minutes.

I hope you are onesie embellishing inspired!  Have you made any embellished onesies?  Please share if you have!

31 Days of Handmade Gifts: Day 24 {Book Page Gifts}

Welcome to Day 24! You can find the other 31 Days posts here.

One of the biggest "crazes" of the craft blog land is book pages.  They are cheap (Goodwill sells books for $.50) and make unique decor.  I have gotten a lot of comments on everything I have made out of book pages (now that I think about it I think that's only three items, but people have loved them!)

Here are some of my favorite book page crafts.  I think for gift recipients that like home decor items, these would be great gift options.

Book Page Wreath

This is the book page wreath I made. (Inside the frames are more book pages).  My tutorial for the book page wreath can be found here. 


Glitter Book Page Ornaments

Image Source: Flea Market Style Mag

I found these on Pinterest and they are on my must make list!  I might even make some for myself they are that cute!  You just need any ornament (craft stores sell glass and plastic ones in packs and with a coupon they are quite cheap), book pages, glitter and modge podge.  A sealer would help the glitter stay in place.  I also really like the Noel tag, it gives them a great vintage look.

Rolled Book Pages Monogram 

Image Source: Little Things Bring Smiles

Ahh how cute is that!  This is just book pages rolled up and glued to a wood letter from the craft store. You could also use flat book pages or little ripped up pieces and modge podge it on.

Vintage Book Page Pomander

Image Source: Our Footprints

 This is definitely on my DIY decor to-do list!  It's so vintage and cute and would look great anywhere!  The hard part would be deciding where to put it!  You can find the tutorial over at Our Footprints.  But all you would need is a candlestick and foam ball from the dollar store, some book pages and hot glue!

What's your favorite book page craft/gift?

31 Days of Handmade Gifts: Day 23 {Camera Strap Cover}

Welcome to Day 23!  You can find the other 31 Days posts here.

If you have anybody on your list with a digital camera that has a strap, a personalized strap cover would be a great gift!  I made one last year for myself. 

Since it was my very first sewing project it is so not perfect (one end is smaller than the other!), so I will be making another one that is much cuter!  I have found two tutorials that I really like.

Finding My Feet has a great tutorial for a ruffled camera strap with a lens cap pocket.

How cute is that!  This tutorial is for any camera strap so it's great to follow if you are making a gift and don't have the strap to measure.

Cluck.Cluck.Sew. posted a tutorial over at Make It Do for this next camera strap.

This strap cover doesn't have a ruffle so it could be used for a guy or a girl that isn't a big ruffle fan (although I don't know why anyone wouldn't be!).  It does include batting which in my opinion isn't completely necessary (especially if you don't have it).  Mine was made with the batting but I don't think it's that uncomfortable to have to have it.  Your choice.  :)

If you or the gift recipient doesn't have a SLR you can always make a strap for a point and shoot camera.  I made a couple last year when I made my strap cover. (Sorry for the terrible picture!)

You can find the tutorial over at A Pretty Cool Life.  It's very simple and takes less than 30 minutes to make one!

Have any of you made a camera strap before?