I love joining challenges to motivate me to work on projects and use up my craft supplies. This month I’m doing an upcycle challenge with several other bloggers. The theme for this upcycle challenge is thrifted or found fabric. For several months now, I’ve been avoiding my local thrift store. Frequent visits often result in more projects and ideas than I have time for! But, for this challenge, I was about to head over, with some things to donate, to look for something that inspired a project. And then I took a second look at my donations. Christmas gifts have been arriving at my house fairly regularly, reusable gift wrap and gift bags were looking back at me from my donations!
Supplies
Craft supplies seem to find me, often when I’m not even looking for them! My basement has bins of yarn from a friend that I’ve been using to make baby blankets for my church.
While I want to use all the materials I collect, I recently separated a huge collection of Christmas fabric, much of which was also given to me, picked up in thrift stores or yard sales. Fabric is something I try to only purchase myself when I have a very specific project planned. I kept fabric I had specific plans for and put the rest in a bag to donate.
This past spring Tasha and I went to Book Con. We accumulated tons of free tote bags. With all the books and freebies we collected, the bags really came in handy at the event! I have probably close to 20 of these:
They are large in size and I thought they would be good for organizing on the go crochet projects.
I have plenty to spare and only needed a little embellishment to become gift totes.
Reusable Gift Bags and Gift Wrap
Sometimes I photograph each step of a project. Other times I use the first project to figure out a plan and photography the second time I make it. The latter was my plan this time.
Unfortunately, this past week has been a battle of allergic reactions and eczema flare-ups for my Tasha. So, I wasn’t able to go back and make a second. Since I still have plenty of time before Christmas, step by step pictures and instructions will have to come later!
To make this project quick, I used pinking shears so the edges wouldn’t fray and I didn’t need any extra steps to encase the edges.
For this first one, I used the blank side of the tote. I’m planning on either putting a larger pocket over the flip side or possibly using some fabric paint and painting something specific for the recipient over it.
Since much of the fabric I was going to donate is already cut (possibly originally for a quilt), I worked with the size I had and made a pocket all the way across.
Perfect for tucking some smaller gifts into.
I also made a quick bag that can easily be tied with a ribbon. Perfect for the handmade tags my friend gave me and I still have a few left.
I’m looking forward to making lots of these now. Starting with the sizes I need for the Christmas gifts I’ve already purchased. Maybe it’s not a bad thing my craft room is totally a disaster, no one will know where the presents are hidden!
More Upcycled Fabric Projects
Check out all the projects from these great bloggers!
My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies | Across the Blvd
Stone Cottage Adventures | Purple Hues and Me
Domestic Deadline | Sew Crafty Crochet
Sum of Their Stories | Cookies, Coffee, and Crafts
Loading InLinkz ...
7 Comments