Any-Size Bag Tutorial

If you are wanting a simple bag tutorial, this is it!  You can use these guides to make any size bag.  I've completed two and am working on a third; all different sizes.

First, gather supplies.

You will need two coordinating fabrics; one for the outside (I used a thicker fabric for the outside) and one for the inside (I used a quilter's cotton); interfacing, a magnetic snap, and webbing for the handle.

Next, cut two panels from each fabric and from the interfacing.  All of these panels need to be the same size.  For this particular bag, I made my panels 10" high by 12" wide.

Iron the interfacing to the back of the outside fabric panels.

Pin fabric together with the patterned sides facing each other.  (Pin inside fabrics to each other; pin outside fabrics to each other.)

Sew around three sides, leaving the top open.

For the inside fabric, leave an opening in the bottom.  My opening was about 4 inches.  This is how you will turn the bag right-side out.

Next, make a gusseted bottom by folding the seam over to make a triangle in each corner.  Line up the seams.  Determine how wide you want your bottom (mine was 4 inches) and mark the edge.

Pin your corner.

Sew along the marked line.  I went back over my line a couple of times to reinforce the stitch.

Trim off the excess.

You should now have two inside-out bags, looking somewhat like this.

Now is the time to put the magnetic snap in.

Determine where you want the snap.  Remember to leave enough space at the top because you still have to sew to bags together and finish with a stitch around the top.  Press the snap into the fabric to make indentations in the fabric (this step works best on carpet).  Cut slits in the fabric and push your snap in.

This is what it s like from the inside of the bag.

Cut a small rectangle of cardboard to reinforce the snap.  Slide the little metal disc on and bend the flaps back.  All of these instructions are included on the packaging for the snap.

Next, pin the handles to the outside fabric where you want them positioned.

turn your liner right-side out and set down into the bag.  The "good sides" should now be touching.  The pictures really explain this step better than I can.

Pin the liner to the outside.  Make sure your handles are tucked down and out of the way.

Sew around the entire top.  I triple stitched across the handle straps to reinforce them.

Now, carefully turn your bag right-side out from the small hole in the bottom of the liner.

This is what you should have.

Hand stitch the hole.  Don't worry if this doesn't look very appealing... How often do you actually see the bottom of the inside of your bag?

Set the liner down into the bag.

Pin around the top.

Stitch all the way around your bag.

There you have it!

I added a fabric rosette.

This is another bag made from the same instructions.  The starting panels were 12"x20" for this one, making the finished bag about 9"x15"x4".

I'm linking this to my favorite linky parties this week!

Only in FW, Mike...

Mike and I had some errands to run last night. First stop was to Kohl's to return an outfit. How come EVERYTIME I go to Kohl's there are always a ton of outfits I want to buy for Jaden but I never have her gift cards?? They have been sitting on her dresser since Christmas... not anymore!! She will surely be fit for spring the next time I go :o)

Our next stop was JCPenney's. Mom got Jaden some socks for Christmas... only problem was, they were her size. No, that's not a type-o. Jaden got so many socks for Christmas! I hadn't opened the pack that Mom got her yet so I thought I'd try to return them without a receipt and just exchange them for then next size up. I got there, found what I needed and went to Customer Service. You know how when you go to return something and the cashier (with her frizzy hair pulled back in a scrunchie) goes on a power trip and refuses you because you don't have a receipt... or they no longer carry the item... or your receipt has expired (who ever heard of such a thing)... or because they just don't feel like it? Well, that was not the case with this lady in particular! I pulled the smaller socks out of my bag, fibbed a little about just buying them and realizing I had gotten the wrong size AFTER I threw my receipt away. I showed her the larger socks (same brand, same price) and explained what I wanted to do. You know what she told me?!?! "Well, why don't we just do this... (pulled smaller socks out of bag and put larger socks into bag.)" That was it! Nothing more! No form to fill out, no arguing, nothing! :o)

THEN, we (I) went to Baby Gap. Last weekend when I was cleaning out my bedroom closet and going through the millions of purses I have and never carry, I found a Gap gift card. I don't even remember the last time I shopped there OR the last time I carried that particular purse... I assumed it was empty so I gave it to Jaden to play with. After an hour or so I decided to call and check the balance. When I found out I had to actually talk to a human rather than enter the numbers on the phone keypad, I almost hung up. I was ready for her to laugh at me and tell me the card was like 10 years old... Instead, I was told I had almost $5 on it! I didn't find anything to get Jaden though... actually, I couldn't pick from the 12 dresses I had in my arms. I'll use it... later!

After the mall, we went to Border's so I could get my Plum fix :o) DISAPPOINTMENT CITY!!! The "between the numbers" book I needed is TINY!! It is only 5 chapters! I could read it on the way out to my car! OH! PLUS, it is the same price as the 15 chapter books!! What a load of crap... I got it though. I'm going back today after work to get book 9. What can I say, when you have an addiction, you get over the disappointments fast ;o)

Then, we walked (it was SO nice out!) over to World Market to get Jaden's Easter basket goodies. Mike had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I saw how EMPTY that store was!! I know they are going out of business, but I was JUST there for Valentine's Day and it was STILL packed! Now, they were basically selling wine and structures...

Next stop, Factory Card Outlet! I saw online they had the George birthday party supplies 50% off! To get there, we had to drive through Wal-Mart's parking lot. Anyone who knows us knows how much we despise Wal-Mart. I'll occasionally hold my breath to run in there to grab something really quick, but Mike REFUSES to walk through the doors. That store is just SO dirty!! The building, the people, everything. ANYWAY, as we were driving through the parking lot, we saw a man (you seriously won't believe this...) with a METAL DETECTOR CLIMBING THE DIRTY, MELTING SNOW MOUNDS!!! Seriously?!?! We had a good laugh and went into FCO. We found the kids' birthday isle. It was FILLED floor to ceiling with every kind of party theme you can imagine!! Cinderella, Sponge Bob, Spiderman, Strawberry Shortcake, Batman... you name it!! We found the George section and stopped dead in our tracks when we discovered it was the only section that was EMPTY!! Are you freaking kidding me?? The one character Jaden is so obsessed with and they are GONE! They had like a four-pack of bubbles, party hats, and a piñata with a smashed face... that's about it! No plates, no napkins, no cups, NOTHING! I found an intelligent employee and asked if they had any in back... "We are discontinuing the Curious George line. What we have is out." Ok, say it with me... ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?! We DID however, find a 3' tall George Mylar balloon! I bought it and was told I could bring it back in April to have it filled :o) So, I guess that stop wasn't a total bust :o)

Finally, it was dinner time! We enjoyed a VERY yummy meal at Logan's before going to pick up Jaden. As soon as Jaden was in bed, I got online and ordered all of my George supplies :o) I had to pay a little more for plates though because the FCO site was out of them. The important part is that we got them!! Yea :o)

Well, it's FRIDAY!! We have our "first" ultrasound today :o) I'll post pictures of our little "lime" later... Have a great weekend!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

Holy cow! April is halfway over already! (Did you get your taxes done, Dad?) I can't believe how fast this month is going. I was just looking at my calendar for the coming weeks and I am swamped! Tonight after a quick post-work Wal-Mart stop (I've found that the Wal-Mart at Jefferson Pointe is less trashy. Don't get me wrong, you still have your toothless wonders floating around in their ripped sweat pants and Nascar shirts, but the hardwood floors kind of give it a nicer touch!) to find big-girl curtains for J's room, I'm headed home for a big birthday celebration!! No, we didn't move Jaden's party... today is Ty's birthday!! We have a fun celebration complete with kitty birthday cake. Nobody is left out in the McClure house!

I have another OB appointment tomorrow afternoon. I really think they have the due date wrong. I am feeling her kick and squirm so much! I didn't feel Jaden until 20 weeks, and even though I'm already 18.5 weeks along, I've been feeling this little one for a couple of weeks now. What was is Shane said on Easter? Oh yeah! He said he would completely shave his goatee if I would have the baby before September 1st. He doesn't want to share his birthday month :o)

Saturday is a busy, busy day getting ready for Jaden's birthday party! We have major housework to do. I've been getting a lot of stuff done after work this week. I got the furniture moved in Taylor's room last night. Tonight, I hope to get a little more decorating done. As far as painting goes, I just have a second coat to trim on the door and the closet to paint. I am dreading the closet... any volunteers?? I am SO close to being done though! You will be so surprised! It is NOT anything you would picture a baby's room to be :o)

Sunday is party day!! Jaden will have so much fun! She LOVES presents so she should be a little more in to it this year. PLUS, I know a couple of gifts she is getting and will LOVE!! I think Gram & Gramps on both sides really hit the nail on the head this year!

Monday is Jaden's actual birthday. Mike and I both took a vacation day from work to do something really special with her. We HOPE to go to the zoo... (No rain! No rain! No rain!!!) Does anyone have a rainy day fun thing we could do as a back-up? We do have a zoo membership so even if it was just a little drizzly and we could only do the indoor exhibits, we might be ok. It's not like our money would be wasted, you know? Do you think I could get J to carry an umbrella?

Wednesday, J goes for her two year check-up. The doc will probably wonder why we haven't enrolled her in kindergarten when he sees how big she has gotten! I swear she is the size of a 4-year-old!

Thursday night we have Marissa's spring program at school. I'm really looking forward to this! I love going to kids' programs :o) I still remember singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in my fourth grade concert. I can't wait for Jaden's concerts!

Next Saturday is our monthly Scrappin' the Night Away party! I haven't really been in the mood to scrap at the past couple parties, but I am ready to go this time! I want to stay caught up on Jaden's 2-year book and then go back and fill in the blanks of her 1-year book when I have time.

Next Sunday, we are visiting the lake for the last time :o( Ron and Karen's cottage on Wawasee sold in less than 24 hours! When they told us they were listing it, we figured with the way the housing market is going, we'd have at least half the summer to hang out there. As luck would have it, they listed it last Friday afternoon and accepted an offer the very next morning. So, we get to have one last hurrah there on the 26th. We'll laugh, cry, and maybe even try out the torture chamber one last time... Last summer was so much fun with Jaden on the boat. I'm so glad I took millions of pictures and will have those memories for her forever.

THEN, April 29th through May 3rd is what, ladies?!?! THE VERA BRADLEY OUTLET SALE!! I'm decorating Jaden's room in Raspberry Fizz colors, so I will be in search of anything fun and cute in that pattern for her. Oh, and a few new handbags for me! OH! I'll also need a new VB diaper bag too! I forgot, I need to find a cover for my iPod! I wonder if they'll have zip-around wallets this year? Not that I'll have anything left to put in it after the show though ;o) It's SO worth it though! I'm a hard workin' lady... I deserve a few fast trips up and down the many aisles of brightly colored quilted fabric! I could count it as exercise since I'm practically running :o) I really want to take Jaden because I feel that she needs to be exposed to this kind of thing at a VERY early age, but I think I am going to pass this time. I took her to the past two sales and frankly, she slowed me down a little! I KNOW! I'll get a VB leash and start training with her, running up and down the street in a harness so she will be set and ready to go come the October sale ;o) The day I set her loose in the coliseum and she meets me with a fuller pink garbage bag than I have will be a proud day for Maw!

I hope you all enjoy the last couple of weeks of April showers! Let's hope they really do bring May flowers... and some stinkin' sunshine!!

The Secret Ingredient is LOVE

Sorry I couldn't show this to you earlier but several blog readers were recipients of J and T's tasty little treat.  Jaden, Taylor and I worked very hard on these puppies!!

I think this is the recipe we used:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

We used Jello Jigglers cutters because 1. we had them, and 2. they were smaller than regular cookie cutters.  Then, instead of frosting them (because I knew we were going to put them in baggies and the frosting would get everywhere), I dipped them in chocolate.

Jaden did the sprinkling!

They turned out great!!

Then, we put one of each in snack sized baggies.  I wanted to make the card the same size as the baggie so it would look like a store-bought package but time got away from me (and I measured wrong didn't measure the width of the baggie first) so I just tied the note to the baggie!

Jaden carried them in her little bag and passed them out to her friends at the babysitters, the employees at the grocery store, and to her grandparents.  Everyone loved them :o) 

We even had enough to fill up our cookie jar at home!

I'm linking this to my favorite linky parties!