Blog Card Holder

As I was preparing to go to the Colorado Bloggers Meet-Up last weekend, I decided I wanted some blog cards to have available if anyone asked what my blog was. Being a firmly entrenched DIYer, I didn't buy them (didn't have time, anyways!), I made them!  I put my blog logo at the top, typed up my URL and email address, printed them out myself, and cut them out.  Easy Peasy.

Now, though, I needed somewhere to put them.  I didn't want them loose in my purse; they'd get all wrinkled.  I've never had business cards or anything before, so I don't have a holder for them.  I've seen cute ones you can sew, and I thought of doing that.  But, this was the night before the meet-up and I just didn't have time (or, really, the inclination to pull out my stash and try to find the fabric I wanted).

I thought about using an Altoids tin and looked in my drawer where I thought I had one stashed.  When I looked, I saw a package of gum and inspiration struck.  

It would make a totally cute card holder.  It was just the right size, too.  Perfect.  

I covered it with pieces of scrapbook paper I had laying around.  I love this measuring tape paper.  This was the perfect time to use it, too, for my crafty/sewing blog blog-cards.  

I mod-podged the paper onto the gum package, doing a few coats to make it more durable.  

And before you knew it, I had a super-cute, functional blog card holder.  Love it!

 

 

Envelope Clutch Tutorial

I made my envelope clutch with thrifted items, but you could make it with any sort of fabric you want.  Or, maybe you'll be lucky enough to find awesome table linens like I was.  Either way, here's how to make my envelope clutch!

So, my before picture shows the placemat and the table runner. Technically there were two placemats. I'm not sure how the second placemat didn't get into the photo...

Again with my trusty blue plaid scrap fabric, I measured out a pattern.  I sewed the two placemats together to make them long enough for the lining, leaving enough extra for the cell-phone pocket.

And then I cut out my lining.

I cut out the pocket, too, and determined where I wanted to place it.

I pinned it and sewed in in place.

After sewing the bottom in place, I pressed under the sides and top-stitched the pocket to the lining.

I used the lining as the "pattern" on the table runner.  I actually even just sewed it on before cutting anything.  I placed the lining and the table runner right sides together, and stitched along the pointed part of the lining.

I cut off the extra when I was done.  Then, I smoothed it out and pinned the bottom of my lining (what you see on the right in the below picture).

I stitched it to the table runner too, and cut off the extra.  So now I had a "house" shape, that was sewn to the table runner at the top and at the bottom.  I turned it right side out and pressed it.  Then, I sewed the sides of the lining closed (leaving the outside table runner layer still open on the sides).

I marked the spots to put the snap closure.

I installed the snaps, then turned the purse right side out again.

I hand stitched the sides of the "table runner" closed.  I finished the raw edges left on the top part of the clutch with some red twill tape I had on hand (see picture below).

To make the tassel, I rolled up some of the cut off fringe and cut off the rest of the fabric.

I used red embroidery floss to hide any remaining fabric and to sew the roll of fringe to itself.  I then stitched the tassel to the clutch with some more embroidery floss and called it a day!  :)  

I'd be so grateful if you headed over to Mommy By Day...Crafter By Night and voted for my clutch!  Voting has ended and I'm in the top 6!  Thanks for the votes!  Click here to see my entry for week 3.

SYTYCS Entry, Week Two: Envelope Clutch

This week's So You Think You Can Sew challenge is "Repurposed Items."

Most of the things I thought of making at first have already been done (a lot).  I spent a lot of time staring at old sweaters and worn out jeans.  I was just not feeling inspired. So, I abandoned my box of sweaters and headed over to the thrift store.

I wandered the aisles, looking for inspiration to strike.  The first thing I found that struck my fancy was a cream placemat.  It was nothing special.  It was a little stained, too.  But, I liked the pleating around the edges.  I was really excited, though, when a found a brightly colored table runner.  I may have done a tiny little jump of joy.  :)  It was perfect.

I thought it would look cute as a clutch purse.  I thought perhaps it could even look a little Anthropologie-esque.

I used the placemat as the inside lining for the clutch.  I made a cell phone pocket out of it, too, making sure to use some of the lovely pleating.

And, to give it a little something extra, I made a tassel out of the table runner's fringe.

I think it turned out pretty cute.  A nice little purse for a night out.

(Voting is open!  I'd love it if you headed over to Mommy By Day...Crafter By Night and voted for me.  Thanks!)  Also, the tutorial is now up!