Tutorial: Simple Drawstring Bag

Hard to wrap gift + scrap flannel + sewing machine/serger + napping kids = a simple drawstring pouch.

Who here doesn't have a stash of fabric scraps that you "might" use?  I made these PJs for my son when he was 2.  I have been holding onto the remnants since then. 

I decided to make a simple drawstring pouch to store the gift and I love that the fabric is yellow so it matches the barrel.   The best part is that this is re-useable and good for the environment.

Here's how to make a simple drawstring pouch (reads from left to right)

Test your pouch by putting the barrel in it.  If it fits, move onto the drawstring.  Cut 2 strips of fabric to your desired length.  I usually cut 2 x width of pouch + 2 inches.  You can always cut it if it's too long but it's a pain to lengthen a too short strap.

Press the fabric in half , open, and press both sides in again (almost like a bias tape).  Sew and that's it!

Thread the bag from opposite ends and tie a knot on all 4 ends.

Well, there you have it!   This doubles up as a little toy bag for action figurines or little cars.  So easy and ready by the end of naptime.

Just monkeying around...  (ya ya bad joke)

Yay for scrap fabric!

The holidays were quite busy so I missed most of the Ruby Star Wrapping Series from Sew Mama Sew!
Ruby Star Wrapping is a book with ideas to inspire you to reuse items you already have to wrap your gifts.  Less landfill is always a good thing.   Check it out... it's not too late to be inspired for the next upcoming holiday!

Linking up here:

Baking is Done... now I can say Merry Christmas!!

So every year I go a little bit crazy baking for us and everyone. At the end of it all, I always say, "never again!" But here I am again :o)

So this year, we made giant gingerbread boys (which still have to be decorated with jube jubes and m&ms).   

We ended up making a lot of gingerbread which the kids helped to decorate.

 
We filled up some Ikea Burken jars with cookies (inspired by this post at One Chic Mom) and wrapped them with bows before handing them out.

We ended up making the coconut treats from that post too.  More on that at a later date...

We also made some sugar cookies which are iced and ready to be packed too.

I'm done!!!!   I am hanging up my baking apron for the next couple of days.  Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas is coming up pretty soon so we've been doing lots of Christmas-y things at our house.  Sewing has taken a bit of a backburner as a result.

We don't have snow but we have a Christmas Tree!

We took the kids to see Raffi at Roy Thomson Hall.   Hubby and I grew up listening to songs like Baby Beluga and Bananaphone.   Now our kids are listening to him.  It was a fantastic show!

Made a couple (or more...) trips to visit Santa

We mailed out our Christmas cards early this year.  I got some fantastic cards from Thunderpeep Designs, a local Toronto shop on ETSY.

We wrote letters to Santa

Then to practice his handwriting, Josh wrote Christmas cards for his classmates and we stuck some candy canes onto the envelopes.

I got presents for his teachers... nothing handmade this year but maybe next year with better planning!

In between all of that, we got a new front door!

Happy Christmas and hope you're spending some time with family,