Life with a dream: A DIY Project!

Over the weekend I decided to become your regular old Martha Stewart.

I think I did a pretty damn good job, considering I have never (ever ever) used a sewing machine in my life. I got the hang of it after a bit.

I only wanted to punt the thing a few times.. but we made mends (harhar, get it?)

Anywho... here is what I decided to make.. and I will show you a step by step so maybe you too can make these! They're obviously easy if I could do it!

My first project was a plastic bag holder to hang up and store all the crazy amounts of plastic bags you get in a weeks time. I do re-use them a lot.

1. Pick out your fabric, and some either ribbon or strap to go with it

2. Cut it about 22 inches wide, by whatever length you want it to be.

3. Cut 2 pieces of elastic about 15 inches

4. Fold over your ends of fabric about 1/4 inch and sew just the beginning of the elastic on the end. Pull the elastic out of your way and fold it again another 1/4 inch and sew your ends.

5. Do both ends of the bag this way.

6. Next cut a strap to a length you would like and sew it to the top of the inside of the bag

7. Next, sew your sides shut. Make sure your are doing this inside out, so all your sews are in the inside.

8. After you sew it shut and it's starting to look like a bag get a paper clip and fish your elastic through the hole and pull it tight. You want the top of the bags hole to be bigger then the bottoms, so you can shove them in and only pull one out at a time. Pull the elastic until you reach an appropriate size hole for each. My top was about 7-8 inch diameter, where my bottom was about 3 inches.

9. After you get it to a size you'd like, sew the elastic down (keep it tight!) and shut any seams that still are open.

10. Fix the bunches around the elastic, and you have yourself a plastic bag holder!

My next project was a clothes pin bag to hang on my new clothes line my husband made me! I took a few ideas that I found and put them together to get a look and feel of something I'd like. I made this one, because it can actually hang on the line with me as I put clothes up and slide along the line with me.

First, I choose a canvas bag, because it is much sturdier and weather resistant. It was also water resistant. I used the same straps I picked for the plastic bag holder, that is why my straps were a little more heavy duty. You don't really need heavy duty straps for the plastic bag holder, but to save money I used it for both.

1. I started out my cut using a fold for the bottom of the bag. I then cut a little over how wide I actually wanted my bag. You need to cut about an inch over on each side. Then, I cut my length much longer then where my hole would be, for where I put my straps and a flap for decoration and to close the top.

2. You should have a long rectangle. I used a more square flap for the top. You could cut it however you want, as long as it covers the top of the bag, and leaves room for your straps.

3. I then cut the hole I wanted in the front.

4. Hem all your seams on the side, fold each end about half an inch in and combine together and sew. I also hemmed the hole and the top of my flap. This stuff would definitely fray.

5. This is what I had before I put my straps on.. I know it's not perfect, but I was SO proud of myself!

6. I had cut 2, 8 inch straps to put on the bag. First I cut button holes on the bottom, and hemmed the button holes, because these would fray as well. Sew the straps on the back and good few times, you want it sturdy! Make sure you keep it even, and test out where the strap would land on the front with the button.