Last weekend Scarlet, her BFF Niko, myself, and Niko’s Mama all headed out to the Ace Hotel Palm Springs for Crafting Community Weekend put on by Kimmel Kids and Kid Concierge, and we had a BLAST. It was a weekend of swimming, playing, and crafting, with stations set up all throughout the day for kids to make all sorts of awesome crafts like succulent gardens, necklaces, mod podge pots, felted rocks, crochet, etc. etc. etc. We had barbecues, smores, jumping on the bed, swimming till we could swim no more, and drinking wine on the patio after the tots konked out. It was a total blast. Totally worth the trip – really the best vacation a crafty family could imagine. See more pics and get inspired to do some crafts with your kids after the jump!
As usual, leave a comment and you could win this week’s prize, an awesome 1/2 yard of nicey jane oilcloth!
We love our oilcloth around here and since a bunch of you have requested a tote bag/shopping bag/gift bag DIY, we put one together using this fabulous material. See how we are? We also love bias tape so we threw some of that in too.
My priorities were to make this easy and to use only 1/2 yard of oilcloth because while it’s totally worth it, it’s pretty pricey stuff. Prudent!
And remember that any sweet/clever/weird comment you leave this week could win you 1/2 yard of Nicey Jane oilcloth from our personal stash. Then you can make one too! Will you make one? Have you tried oilcloth yet? What DIY would you like to see on Prudent Baby? (and don’t say carseat cover, say something easy)
• 1/2 yard oilcloth. You can also use canvas. If you use something lighter, like cotton, you should line the bag and add interfacing which would be very easy. I love this project so much that I’m sure we will share a lined version in the near future.
The large front and back panels are 19″ wide and 14″ high. The bottom panel is 19″ wide by 4″ tall. The side panels are 4″ wide by 14″ tall. Note that one of your sides is oriented the “wrong” way so you want to be sure that it works with your fabric. Something like stripes would be difficult with this configuration. Cut out your pieces.
I’ve read that you shouldn’t iron your oilcloth but if I have some creases, I’ve ironed the fabric side or the laminated side (WITH A CLOTH PROTECTING THE SURFACE) with great success. But do so at your own risk!
2. Keep the ends of your straps from unraveling by running a bit of clear glue (or no-fray) along each edge. Set aside to dry.
3. Fold over the top of your front panel 1″ and press (WITH CLOTH PROTECTING)
4. Pin one strap to bag through top layer only, 5″ from each side.
5. Apply masking tape along top (folded) edge of panel, front and back. (ignore stitches in photo.)
6. Stitch along entire length of top edge through strap, 1/8″ from edge. The masking tape is there to keep the oilcloth from sticking to your sewing machine.
7. Lift up the tape and remove the strap pins.
8. Replace tape and sew another straight stitch the entire length, 1/4″ from bottom of seam.
9. Remove tape. Be careful not to rip out stitches at the ends. They should be fine in the middle, just tear it away.
9. Repeat steps 3-9 on back panel.
10. with right-sides facing, sew two side panels to bottom panel end to end.
11. Fold both seams over so right side is facing out and press (WITH CLOTH PROTECTING)
12. Add masking tape to front and back on both sides and stitch with a straight stitch 1/8″ from fold.
13. Remove tape again being careful of end threads.
14. For the two unfinished ends of the sides, repeat step 3-9 (minus the strap steps.)
15. Lay down your front panel (wrong side up) and align the side of the side panel (right side up) with the side of the front panel.
16. Leaving 1″ at the end, wrap bias tape around edge of side and pin through all layers.
17. At the top, fold the end of the bias tape into the bag like so and pin.
18. When you get to the corner, align the bottom of the front panel with the long end of the bottom panel and continue to pin. You can create a mitered corner in the front of the bias tape now or do it later while you are sewing. Continue the same process up the third side and tuck the end of the bias tape into the bag as you did in step 17. This is what your bag will look like from the back.
19. This is what it will look like from the front.
20. Begin at the top on one side (with a few forward and back stitches to secure end) and sew straight down side through all layers. Make sure you are catching the oilcloth inside the bias tape. I stitched down center of bias tape to avoid doing the masking tape on the sides. It stuck a bit but not bad. You could add the tape under the bias tape and tear it out when finished. In which case, I would have sewn along the inside edge of bias tape rather than down the center. Make sense?
21.When you get to the end of the first side, add a few back stitches to secure and tuck the corner of the bias tape to create a mitered corner on the front.
22. Then sew along the next side securing the mitered corner with a few back stitches at the start and finish.
23. Note. When you turn the corner make sure you move the extra fabric (the bottom and side panel) out of the way as shown below.
24. At the other tucked end of the bias tape (the top of the bag) sew up very close to the top and add a few back stitches to secure.
25. Repeat step 15-24 to attach back side to bag. Trim all threads, and you are done. If you look inside and there is a hole where you missed sewing the oilcloth into the bias tape, just smooth everything out and sew another row along the inside edge of the bias tape. No one will ever notice.
And you are done! I love the idea of using these as a gift bag for the holidays although it makes a fantastic gift on its own! I’ve already used mine and I love it!
The comment that stuck with us this week (that’s right, a glue pun) is from Shannon who says…
“Are you KIDDING me? These are absolutely adorable and exactly what I want to finish off my fall decor. I am making one right now, like literaly rumaging through my fabrics and scraps right NOW! Must stop typing as cutting will get tricky and a might bit danfergous. THANK YOU!!!”
Shannon, we love your enthusiasm for Scrappy Pumpkins and that you live danfergously. We do too. Enjoy this awesome Aleene’s Fabric Tacky Pack of delicious glues, including No Sew Fabric Glue, Jewel It, and OK To Wash It. Perfect for making Rolled Fabric Flowers! And now for this week. It’s a repeat prize but a great one and quite appropriate as we have the perfect 1/2 yard oilcloth project coming up! It’s an entire HALF YARD of NICEY JANE Oilcloth Picnic Bouquet in Moss from our lovely sponsor Fabricworm.com This is a laminated fabric that is gorgeous and easy to work with. So turn on the charm like you always do ladies, we can’t wait to hear what you have to say this week…
Just to clarify: you do not enter this giveaway by leaving a comment on this post. You enter by reading prudent baby all week and leaving funny or interesting comments on any/all of the posts throughout the week. On Friday we will pick our favorite comment from the entire week. Good luck!
Tonight is the big launch party for Prudent Advice! I’m excited (and nervous). Hope to finally meet local prudent mamas! Get the details on the party here, and enter to win TWENTY free copies of prudent advice at Babble today. Just visit this article and enter by leaving a comment with your best advice.
I hate when I go to wash my makeup off and my white towels get all nasty (not that us Hot Mess Mommies are wearing that much makeup, but anyway). So I was super excited when the Ace Hotel started stocking the rooms with black washcloths that said “makeup” on them. No, I didn’t steal them. Since my mom is a master embroiderer, I picked up some black washcloths and asked her to make me some. These were $1.50 each! I think they’ll make super cute stocking stuffers. This is more a suggestion than a DIY….so buy some black washcloths, embroider the word “makeup” on them, and never worry about ruining your towels again! Genius right? Thanks mom!
Leave a comment with your thoughts/best makeup removal tips and you might win that tacky pack of fabric glues!
Erin from Clickin’ Moms is here to share another fantastic photo tip (one I can personally relate to.) Take it away Erin…
Who is the last person on your list to take photos of? Chances are, it’s you. Memories of your appearance, your hobbies and your personality are going to be just as important to your family as those of the kids as they grow up. But self-portraits can be tough, and take some creativity.
Here are some ideas beyond the standard mount-your-camera-on-a-tripod-and-hope-the-pic-comes-out-right.
1. Use the late afternoon sun to create a shadow 2. Reflections in mirrors are good 3. Look for reflections in unlikely places too. Do you see me holding the camera in the middle of the lemonade ladle? 4. What characteristics define you? My toes are always red because my husband loves them that way. Make sure you have pictures of yourself – your kids will thank you for it!
I may not be making lots of fall decor but I’m crafting away over here for the Prudent Advice Book Launch Party on Friday! Can’t wait to share all the DIYs and pics with you. I hope some of you can make it! Get all the details here on facebook or at PrudentAdvice.com. The gift bags alone are awesome thanks to Smashbox Cosmetics, California Baby, Kimmel Kids, InCase, and more!
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, embroider the word “makeup” on them, and never worry about ruining your towels again!
