Take Along Kiddies Art Bag

Hello Bloglanders

Happy Tuesday to you all.  I'm still working on my Sunday Summary for Week 44 and it will get up sometime soon. Problem is - we currently have horrible weather down under in Sunny SA and I can't photograph my outdoor projects!! My Photoshop skills are just not up to upping my photo quality.  I'll put it on my 2015 wish list.

BUT, I did finish my Kiddies Take Along Art Bag!!!

I've got new neighbors with 2 small kids and I was thinking about a useful Christmas gift to make for them. SO, while working on my Watercolour art bag, it hit me - a Kiddies version!!  I really want them to be able to use it while travelling so I opted for a mini chalkboard (Mr H halved a shop bought one for me), multi colored chalk and a felt eraser.

This time round I decided to make the chalkbag and eraser detachable as I thought the child can fold the bag over while travelling and work as it it.

Here you can see the inside info:

And a close-up of the chalk bag:

I used a piece of thick book plastic, added the Velcro, folded it over and stitched. DONE.

For those of you who want to try your hand at it, here is the unfinished inside and outside pieces:

The size of my finished bag (closed without the handles) is 25 x 16cm {10 x 6). About A5 which is perfect for little hands. Open (without the handles) it is 25 x 34cm {10 x 13.5 inches). The finished handles are 2.5 x 33cm (1 x 13 inches)

I decided to decorate the outside with Silhouette heat transfer.  I used the same cut file that I've used here. This time I added a funky "i" and omitted the "heart".  Reason for using the heat transfer???? I keep all my offcuts and had it on hand.  You know, "waste not, want not".

That concludes my Take Along Bag series.  I'm so glad I tried my hand at it. I love my Watercolour bag and I've used it every day over the past month!!  Also, now I'm sorted for Christmas pressies for my neighbor's kiddo's.  Best part is that I only used what I had on hand.

I'm off to start on my girlfriend pressies. Of course, I'll share!!! Just check back.

Thanks for looking at my blog today and remember to try your hand at something new. Have fun and craft
on!!

Take Along Art / Craft Bag - Part 4

Hello Bloglanders

I'm running a bit behind schedule but that's how it works down under in Sunny SA. Our ADSL doesn't live up to expectations on month-ends BUT finally, I'm here to share the last part of my Take Along Art / Craft Bag.

How to add the "Puffy Pocket":

The secret is to sew the bottom seam first, then measure and add the Velcro to the Puffy Pocket and inside of the bag and only THEN pin and stitch the side seams.

I've added Velcro to these places. You can add more / omit some:

Now finish off your bag:

In my last picture you can see the pocket that forms between the front and back panels of the bag. I added heavy cardstock to these "pockets" as well as to the bag's spine.  In here, I fit my scrapbook paper. Perfect size and due to the sturdiness, it wouldn't bend.

And finally, My finished bag.  If you missed the post on the Craft Storage Ideas blog, just click here to be redirected.  I shared my tips and tricks on decorating the bag with Fabric Inc over there.

And that concludes my DIY Take Along Art / Craft Bag.  I'll be back over the weekend to share my kiddies version.  Perfect and just in time for Xmas.

I'm off to do some more crafting. Thanks for looking at my blog and see U again SOON.

Take Along Art / Craft Bag - Part 3

Good morning Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Thunderous Thursday.  Thanks for joining me today where I'll explain how I did the "Puffy Pocket" for my Art / Craft Bag. If you missed part 1 and 2, just scroll down to catch up.

I always keep my paper, print-outs and die cuts in a plastic letter box. The one I used is A4 but if you want to use a bigger one for scrapbook paper, just adapt the size of yours. Because of the "bulk" in this pocket, I had to "puff it up" with boxed corners. Let me show you how easy it is:

First, pin the corner of your pocket over the stuff that you want to put in there.

Mark with pencil on both sides. (It should make a square when you unpin the corner)

Now stitch along the pencil line BUT leave the bottom 1cm UN STITCHED!!!  This 1cm seam allowance is where your pocket will be joined to the bag.

Trim the seams.

As easy as that!!!

Tomorrow we will finish our bag.  Thanks for joining me today! Have a GREAT day and remember to try something new - TODAY!!

Take Along Art / Craft Bag - Part 2

Hallo Bloglanders

And I'm back with the second part of my Art / Craft bag.  If you missed the first part, just scroll down or click here.  Hurry and catch up - you are going to have SO much fun sewing along.

It's a great idea to slip your paintbrushes under some elastic as it keeps them right where they should be. You can even hang your bag and they will stay put!!

And this is how I did it:

Draw a line down the middle of your "Puffy" bag.  (I'll be showing how I made it tomorrow) I used pencil as the elastic is going to cover my markings.




Pin the elastic over the items you want to keep on the outside of your "Puffy Pocket".


Remove the items.


Stitch.



DONE!!!

As easy as that.  As promised, I'll be back tomorrow with the "Puffy Pocket"  Thanks for sewing with me today.

And for my non sewing friends I brought some more Halloween inspiration.  Just click on the links beneath the pictures and you will be redirected to the post that explains how I did it.

                  LINK                                              LINK                                            LINK
        Haunted House Bag                           BOO Babes                                 Spider pillow packs
  
Thanks for looking at my blog. Have fun and remember to try something new - TODAY!!

Sunday Summary Week 43

Happy Sunday to you all!!

Can you believe it's less than 10 weeks to 2015?? I have SO much still to do!!

OK, let's not get into that. This week I didn't craft that much and I don't know why. As the builders are working on converting part of our house to a flatlet for Wernich, I've been cleaning, running around, fetching stuff and deciding on tiles, paint and bathroom accessories.

Right now it's a mess but I'll show once it's done.  Even my OLD garden bench is getting a makeover. I've painted it purple and I loved the colour but after 10 years in the African sun, the paint started peeling away and as we had to repaint. I stripped it down to the original wood.

My father bought it second hand when I was very small. It has been painted brown, yellow, green (2 variants), blue, red, and purple.  My mum did the yellow and blue and YES .................... I did the purple. Wynand jokingly said he's going to paint it orange as he has some leftover paint. Little did we know that it was the only colour still outstanding. BUT it's my bench and it's going to be purple again. No orange in my garden except for flowers.

Talking about my garden. Last week I showed me white Amaryllis lilies and this week my red ones opened up.

And the "hanging bow" our Princess ordered .............................

On the left it's on my dressmaking dummy, middle, my inspiration and on the right - our Princess en route to her party.

And I just remembered what kept me so busy .........................

I was lucky enough to receive a fabric ink kit from Silhouette and decided to make a Watercolour art bag to store all my goodies and also to have it packed and ready to take along on trips. It will be on the Craft Storage Ideas Blog this week and once it's up I'll show right here on Play as U GO how to make it.

Get your leftover fabric out and "sew along" this week. It's going to be fun and I'll give you all the inside info. I specifically made the bag 35 x 35 cm as it's big enough to become a scrapping bag as well. SO, even if you don't do watercolour, this is the perfect scrapping bag 4 U / craft bag to keep your kiddo's entertained.  

I'm also making a miniature version with a twist.  GREAT idea for Christmas pressies!!

Talking about Christmas, it's time to get started on cards, tags and handmade pressies. It's going to be on my "to do" list THIS WEEK. I hope you will be joining me and sew / play along.

Thanks for visiting my blog today. I'll be back tomorrow with the first part of my "TAKE ALONG ART / CRAFT BAG".  In the meantime, have fun and remember to try something new.