Reusable Shopping Bag Cover Up

I purchased a couple reusable bags a few years ago when we stayed in Seattle for my husbands first stem cell transplant.  I used them many times, but usually only at the Safeway store.

We're back in Seattle and I'm using them again, but I have to take them everywhere I go unless I want to purchase shopping bags from every store I go in to.  It's the law!  It's so funny when the cashier asks if you want to purchase a bag, when you've just purchased clothing or food and need a way to get it to your car. The grocery store asks before they ring up your food, so they know how to bag it. They thank the past mayor.

I don't like advertising for other stores and I have a hard time using a bag that says Safeway in Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, or any other store.  I decided to do something to fix that.  I didn't have a sewing machine, but I did bring a little sewing kit, so I sewed it by hand.  Not perfect in size of stitch, but perfect in covering up.

Below the checkered fabric is a red printed SAFEWAY logo.  No one can see that now.

I like the look! 

Now I have one reusable Walmart bag that I'll have to fix too, but all I have is the black and white check fabric and I think I want something different on this one.

Fabric has been added to my shopping list, and covering this bag remains on my To Do list.

Summer Fun Stuff

Happy Summer!

Oh what do you do in the summer time?

Paint cute stone creatures like these from a Woman's Day 7/18/89 magazine ...

 

or from the same magazine, comes this idea of a rock mosaic ...

or this idea of a leaf fan ...

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I don't know where this comes from, but can see that it is from the year 1999. I have seen others like it online, but wanted to save the look here, especially since I had in on paper.

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Another twig project is this basket.  This project was saved from a Woman's Day 7/18/89 magazine.

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Use twigs to help create a Charm Bag like these seen in a July/August 2006 Family Fun magazine.
It looks like a fun craft for young girls.

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More nature crafts include these adorable creatures from a Family Fun June/July 2012 magazine.

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Pool Noodles can be used for some fun out of the pool as seen in these next two images

this is from a Family Fun magazine July/August 2006

and this is from a Family Fun magazine July/August 2007

Have some Fun!

 

Use Up Your Fabric Remnants

Fabric Remnants can hang around for a long time if you can't think of what to do with them. Sometimes it seems that throwing them away would be a good choice.  Here are a few ideas I came across and thought I'd save for a rainy day - just in case I need help remembering what to do with all of my scraps.

 Drawer pulls - made with fabric scraps.   I think they are pretty cute!  From Anna Maria

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A hand bag is another idea - patch together some pieces and then create a bag like this from Crafterholic.

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Tipnut has a post with 50 ideas for using fabric scraps.

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Another post from Tipnut shares 40 fabric flowers to make.

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One idea from The Art of Homemaking shares a fabric wreath.



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I have seen and created my own paper covered clothes pins, but here are some fabric covered pins - sure wouldn't take a very large piece of fabric.  Maybe we should keep some clothes pins on hand to make up some of these with the tiny scraps after our sewing projects are done.  Collect them in a pretty glass bowl or vase or bottle and give an assortment for gifts when the need arises.
These are from etsy

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Decorate your gift cards like these from Art and Blog.
These could be hearts, stars, flowers, or bear shapes, or any outline shape including a simple circle. How about a men's tie for Father's Day?

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Personalize a picture frame with scraps of fabric like this from Moda Bake Shop


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Or, leave the frame as it is and decorate the inside of the back board like this from Little Big Town Designs

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Favors

Cutely wrapped pillow box favor - love the ripped fabric look

from The Plaid Barn - a daily special spot

(sorry this special is a past one - over and gone - but still love the look.)

 

 

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Cutely wrapped paper bags from Bubble and Sweet




 

16 COOL Re-purposed Projects

There have been times in my life when re-purposing was cool and other times when re-purposing was NOT the thing to do.  I'm glad it's back - and with a vengeance it seems.  Maybe it seems more in style because I see it so much on the internet, which wasn't so available in earlier years.  Oh, I'm feeling old.

There really are so many great ideas and ways to re-purpose.  I've found a few in my paper files that I will share, and there are so many more on-line to share too.  Happy Re-purposing!

1. memory bears

made with old clothing or fabric or blankets that belonged to you or your loved ones.

Such a great idea!  A beautiful way to preserve memories!

I saved this from a Feb/Mar 1998 Country Sampler magazine, but I was curious, so I googled and found Treasured Teddy Bears on-line.  Fur coats aren't something my family had, but I should have been using other old clothes or blankets or table cloths or ....

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sticking with the clothing theme,
2. t-shirt flowers
from Homemade Ginger with how to here



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clothing seems to be a great theme,
3. designer designing jeans
Create a new look ..., your own designer jeans. Just use your old jeans.
This idea is from a Family Fun September 2006 magazine



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More denim ...
4. jean pocket bags
aren't they so fun!

The above image was from my paper files, but I found one more colorful online HERE, with instructions too.

That sight, Beach Petals, is full of ideas for recycling crafts. 

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sticking with the bag theme ...,
5. shopping bag to baby bib
Take a reusable bag and turn it into a bib - at Homemade Ginger

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This next idea still has to do with clothing, but the clothing is not the re-purposed item here - the piece of furniture is.
6. cute costume closet
At Rambling Renovators
this

becomes this


Don't ya just wanna go make one right now!?!?!?

If you check out their sight you'll find a fun mirror attached to the side of the closet. So Fun!

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so, in keeping with the furniture theme
7. ladder book shelf
and several other ideas for re-purposing from Bored Panda
I really want an old wooden ladder.

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keeping with the books theme ..., next up is lighting

8. book lamp
Find out how to make this at The Shabby Creek Cottage

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and keeping with the lighting theme
9. drum shade light
I noticed that this was also on the post with the ladder shelf, but I originally found it HERE
I have an old drum ..., now I'll consider using it as a lamp shade for the boys room.



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Changing the theme - how about a wreath ..., made of clay pots ..., filled with plants?
10. clay pot wreath
 I saw this great look at Someday Crafts, who credits the wreath to Bees Knees Bungalow (where you'll find the instructions).  I guess planting plants in pots isn't really a re-purpose thing, but using them in a wreath is.



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Here we have cans holding plants
11. hanging trio (and ..., bonus ..., a door)
This and other fun re-purposing ideas can be found at Upcycled Garden

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This next idea comes from the same post as the hanging trio comes - Upcycled Garden
12. car coop
How's that for re-purposing? Gotta love it - it's just the right car for the job!



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That post from Upcycled Garden was the second post of it's kind, and the first one, found here, includes some fun things too, like this.
13. old window hung from a tree.
Awesome way to re-purpose a window! I need a good tree!

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more for the yard
14. bike fence 
From Fence Workshop
I think we could make a fence similar this if we had all the bikes from our children's growing up days. It would be a fun way to show the grand kids what used to be.

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This beautiful outdoor scene includes a lovely headboard re-purposed as a gate.
15. head board gate

found here

I don't really have a look in my yard like this yard with the lawn and trees gracing a lovely little hill, but I do have a white fence ..., :) ..., maybe it could use an old headboard somewhere.

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and finally something especially for Easter
16. eggcup candles
I found this years ago online, from Family Fun.  This image is what I printed then and scanned now.
Find the how to HERE




I made these several years ago and liked what they looked like.  
I still have them, so I took a picture, though they are a bit crushed from storing so many times.
You can see that I've never lit them.  Maybe I should this year!

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Colorful Looks

Spring can be quite colorful with the flowers blooming and Spring springing up everywhere.

Sometimes the spring colors inspire us to add more color to the areas we are living in or decorating.  Here are some lovely ways to add color and cheer.

The Design Files has a post with these great looks - using an assortment of color in tassels and chairs.

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I love the look of this kitchen - I found this lovely look, and a few other colorful looks, from a post titled Pottery Display - Some Of My Favorites, at
Gold Country Girls

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Wouldn't this be a cheerful place to visit - from House of Turquoise

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Similar colors as above, but not so bold - a bit calmer to my soul.
from HERE

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This collection of magazine holders, from here, is colorfully fun to look at. This whole corner is full of color.
I love my little drawers covered in paper, here. The colors are cheerful to be around.
I have used these types of magazine holders before and still have a few waiting to be used again if needed.  I might have to pull them out and find a place to use them so I can cover them in cute paper or fabric.

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I still love bunting, and using bunting is an easy and fun way to add color to things and places. These three ideas come from Tatertots and Jello

Cute and colorful fabric bunting and adorable bunting cookies.

bunting on a bag will cheer up a loved one

bunting on a wall, over top of  some colorful pinwheels - imagine the colors you could use.

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Here is some bunting made of colorful paper circles and white paper doilies, from Landee see Landee do.  She made this rainbow of colors for St. Patricks Day, but it would work equally nice for Easter or for birthdays, or any celebration of color.



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 Color seem to add cheer and delight to any day.
Color can be so inspiring!

So ..., Spring ..., bring on the Color! 

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