a special bag for a special someone

My girl is a gift-giver.  When she knows that someone's birthday is coming up, you will find her feverishly working at coloring, stapling and creating.  When I discovered that we could take a piece of fabric and color on it using crayons, and then iron the design into the fabric, I knew that this craft was for us!

Here is how to do it: 

First, take a piece of cotton fabric and have your child color a picture on it.  I suggested to Aubry that she use bright colors and try her best to fill the center of the fabric piece, as opposed to the edges.  It is also a good idea to press hard with the crayons to get the best color.

After the picture is complete you will take a piece of blank newsprint paper and lay it on your ironing board.  Then lay your fabric piece face-down on the newsprint.  Lay a damp towel on top of this and add one more layer of blank newsprint on top to complete the stack.  Iron on medium-high heat until the crayons appear to melt into the fabric and the colors are set.  (I found the technique in this book.)

After I ironed the picture into the fabric, I trimmed the piece into a 12-1/2" by 15-1/2" rectangle and then I sewed a 4" by 15-1/2" piece of fabric to the top edge of her picture so that the finished bag front would equal 15-1/2" by 15-1/2".

After I squared up the bag front to 15-1/2" by 15-1/2 inches, I pretty much followed this technique to finish the bag.  The only differences are the measurements and the fact that I didn't use any oilcloth to make the bag or bias-tape on the straps.  I also used fusible interfacing on the bag and the straps for sturdiness.

This bag was easy and fun to make.  Aubry chose to draw a picture of Grandpa, Grandma, Great-Grandma and herself, and she decided that this bag will be going to Grandma Alice.  The best part is Aubry's happiness over the finished product and her idea that Grandma Alice might use it to tote books home from the library!

Happy crafting!

Comments

[Tracy]

We will definitely be trying this. It's adorable!

[Beck]

What a great new blog! I love doing crafts with my kids - and this craft is WONDERFUL! It would make a good Christmas present for Grandparents, I'm thinking.

[Allie]

What a cute bag, and wonderful idea for a blog, yay!
I may have missed this in your instructions, but it's really helpful to iron the fabric to a piece of regular freezer paper as a backing, which really makes it easier to color on. Then the paper peels right off with a bit of warmth. I did a pillow like this, and it turned out quite vibrant. I had-washed the pillow cover once in cold water and lost a little color, so in the future, I might try to seal it somehow.
Thanks for all your crafty help!!
Allie

[Anna]

I may have to try this one!

[chickadee]

this is a great idea. i hope i can do it. i'm going to try because one of their art projects coming up in our artistic pursuits book is to make a drawing on cloth. so, this will take it a step further and we will be able to make that project more useful. love it. i hope i can do it. i hope i can. i've never made a bag before.

[Christina.B]

i think the concept of your new blog is a great one, i will be readin it for sure

[Susie]

What a wonderful new site Randi! I'm looking forward to seeing more projects..
xo

[Rose]

Thanks for this blog Randi. I hope you inspire many moms to not only craft, but more importantly to spend more time with there kiddos doing fun things like this. Life (especially when kids are in the house) is too short to not MAKE THE TIME to do things like this! My daughters will love this craft.
~Rose

[Ainslie]

Wow, what a wonderful idea for a blog. You've been immediately added to my "Favourites" and I will check you out regularly. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Amanda]

That's awesome! Can't wait until my 3 year old and I can give this a go.

[Alisa]

This blog is a great idea! I have three young daughters and already enjoy crafting with the oldest one (4 yrs). This bag looks really nice.

[Shauna]

I love this idea! I'm adding the new blog to my feed reader.

[erin s]

It looks so great Randi. I still can't quite figure out how you have the time to do all that you do.

[Melissa]

Great idea! This is a great idea for a blog.

[Mommy, the Human Napkin]

I'm so glad you started this blog! My kids love doing crafty stuff, and I was running out of ideas! My daughter will love this project. I think I know what Grandma is getting for Christmas now! :)

[Raquel]

CA-UTE! I'll be bookmarking you ... right ... now.

[clara]

this is just so creative!

[Kathy in WA]

What a GREAT idea! I love it. I have some basic sewing skills but I haven't done a very good job at passing them along to my children. Thank you so much for sharing some simple (doable) projects.

[Cass]

I made something similar recently using freezer paper. I scanned a pic my daughter had drawn into the computer, ironed the freezer paper onto fabric then printed the picture onto this and then made up the bag. Might have to give your way a go though as it seems much easier. What is blank newsprint though?

[Judy]

Wonderful bag! I'm a grandmother and would be tickled pink to have a bag customized like this by one of my grands.

Aubry is a budding artist!

[MONICA FERNANDEZ]

HELLO, I`M FROM ARGENTINA, BUT I LIVE IN TENERIFE, SPAIN. I'VE GOT A GIRL, SHE IS FIVE, AND THIS IS A BEAUTYFUL IDEA TO SEND TO MY MOTHER TO ARGENTINA, A BAG MADE IT BY MY DAUGTHER MARIA JOSE. I CAN'T UNDESTOOD SOMETHING, THE DRAW MADE IT ON A PAPER, AFTER PUT THE PAPER WHIT THE DRAW FACE ON THE FABRIC, AFTER THIS PUT A WET TOWEL AND MORE PAPER AND FINALLY IRONING? PLEASE SEND MY THAT IS THE CORRECT FORM. THANK YOU SOO MUCH

[Cody]

Posted on I dont know about Hillary and Onumnut, Onumnut has too many idoit rinos, like Anal Colin Powell, and several fcainial advisors, who endorsed Onumnut, that are black smucks who will vote for him again, since he is a Kenyan muslim socialist. Plus I think the muslim will ditch FOOT IN HIS MOUTH Biden, and go with the dyke Hillary. Both are Chicagoians and will make and cut deals to keep going, no matter how stenchy it is. With unemployment climbing another 12,000, especially in the summer months when every able bodied person should be able to get a job on construction, it doesnt bode well as the year progresses. The muslim and democrats stimulas program with hope and change, just will not work. If the dems keep following the marxist and communist plan, there might not be an election, excetive orders again will be in effect.

[Ionut]

Posted on It wont help to spend money we dont have to protect jobs that Obama wants to save. There comes a time we have to bite the ebllut and protect the borders even if it is on a volunter basis and with the borders so compromised now we need real eblluts in real guns to stop the infiltration rather than cede land to Mexico because the creep will continue until it hits middle America, if it hasnt already. Our Country should be sovereign and English speaking, undiluted and free from outside influence from the White House.

[Banstan]

Posted on Eric,I wonder, the Administration that was eesalp at the wheel in your blaming 9/11 on, could that have possibly been the one that also had White House aides on their knees?As bad as the circumstances were under Bush in your overly active imagination youd think that he was trying to take total governmental control over America. Something that Obama and his liberal congress is well on their way to doing in just two short months.The black man doesnt bother me even though your favorite word for me is racist. The bottomfeeders do. They are there because they choose to be not because they havent been afforded the chances to rise above their squallor.I did look at Wikipedias explaination of ACORN, and then did a liltle further exploring. The various sites gave me ACORN telling me what a good institution ACORN is. Well pat me on the back Superman, did you honestly think any of those sites were going show any thing derogatory about them. An intelligent person would wonder who has to do the reasearch. I deal in sound reasoning, rational thought and common sense. I dont believe everything I hear or read from the left-media. I suggest you do the same in order to get a less one sided veiw. Thats oppressive.