Thursday, July 30, 2015

How to sew mini minion messenger bag

I posted a similar tutorial on "How to sew a Mini Dora bag for toddlers" a few days ago and I also mentioned that I stitched the bag in last minute without much preparation.I wanted to try sewing a  messenger bag in a proper way with apt measurements and procedure. I got another opportunity to sew a messenger bag and this time it is "Minions" for my another cousin's daughter.Yay!! Lets see how I did it this time.


Materials Required :
1/2 yard Minions fabric
Interfacing
Matching color thread
Iron
Straight pins
Magnetic Clasp button -1
Marking Chalk
Fabric Scissors
Minions button(Optional -pictorial at the end)
Sewing Machine

Step 1:Cut the outer fabric, lining and interfacing as per measurements specified below.

For the body of the messenger bag :
Outer fabric,Lining,Interfacing  - 2 pieces each in 6.5" X 7" (I am using the same fabric for outer and lining but you can change it as desired.)

For the flap
Outer fabric, Lining and Interfacing - 1 piece each in 5" X 5.5"

For handle 
1 piece in  30" X 3" ( if you don't have 30" long piece, you can join the pieces together to attain that length )


Step 2: Iron the interfacing on all the outer fabrics (2 body pieces and 1 flap)

Step 3: Attach the magnetic clasp to outer fabric of the body piece in front and on the lining side of the flap. Make sure both the clasps are aligned.

Iron a piece of interfacing for extra strength on the wrong side. Mark the area where you have to insert the magnetic clasp and make two slits.Insert the button and put the metal piece of the button to secure the button in place and use the edge of scissors to bend the button. Repeat the same process for flap piece. (Refer Dora bag tutorial for step by step pictures of the process).



Step 4: Place both the outer fabrics right side facing each other and stitch around three sides on the edges with 1/8" seam allowance leaving the top open.Do the same with lining pieces of the body. Similarly, Place the outer fabric and lining of the flap right sides facing each other and stitch around the edges with 1/8" seam allowance with one side open. Cut on the corners of seam allowance diagonally to avoid bulkiness.Turn inside out using the open side. Now , you have two body pieces(Outer and lining) and one flap piece.


Step 5: Now square the bottom of the bag.Take the outer body piece and mark 1/2 " square on the corners. Pinch the corner to form a triangle and use straight pin to secure the pattern. When you pierce the pin your pin should come out on the stitch line on the other side which means the triangle is formed correctly . Make a stitch perpendicular to the stitch line which is already there to square the corners.Repeat the same on other side.




Step 6: Take the long piece for handle and fold the sides for 0.75" on each side and Iron.Fold that into half so that the final width of the handle is 1.5" and Iron. Make a stitch on both the sides with 1/8" seam allowance.Your handle is ready.



Step 7: Arrange all the parts together.First take the outer body part with wrong sides facing you.Then place the handle on the sides and pin them .The whole handle should be inside.May sure it is not twisted. Now place the lining part with right sides facing the right side of the outer part.(Picture 1) Then insert the flap part between the outer part and inner lining part with right sides of the flap facing the outer part of the fabric. Do this on the non- button side of the outer part.(Picture 2)Pin all the layers together. Make a stitch all around leaving 3" gap in the front (Button side) to turn everything out.






Step 8: Use the gap and turn everything out and close the gap. Make a top stitch all around to complete the bag. Voila !! Minion bag is now ready :)As you all know I love personalizing things, So I made my own minion button to add as an embellishment to the bag.I made the button as minion holding a speech bubble and I wrote my cousin's daughter name there.Cool, right ?







Here is the pictorial of Minion button. I just referred an image from google and made the polymer clay cutting using xacto knife.I made two holes to sew as a button in the bag and also added some fabric glue for extra safety.I baked the polymer clay at 275F for 30 min as per the instruction on the package. I used markers for writing the name and adding lip color.


This is how I wrapped the gift. It's all "Minionssss" ;) Use a yellow wrapping paper to wrap the gift as you normally would and use black and white cardstock , brown and grey markers to add details.Thats it !! 


Hope you enjoyed learning how to sew a mini messenger bag along with mini tutorial of button and wrapping idea. You can use the same steps and make a large one for you or mini bag for your toddler. Use the favorite cartoon print or pattern of the recipient and I am sure it will be a "hit".Sorry for the poor pictures in between those where taken with my mobile as my camera went for service.Hope you understand.If you have any doubt ,feel free to ask.. Do try it and let me know. Share what you think in the comments below.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

How to draw skyline silhouette + NY Gallery Wall

My husband is fond of maps, he likes collecting all sorts of  NY maps and puts up in the wall or wherever possible. I did not like the way our living room was with maps all around , couple of them in doors, one pasted in wall like so. To overcome this , I decided to make New York gallery wall so that I can bring all the maps in one place and add pictures of New York here and there. We are so used to hang our keys in the DIY Multipurpose Wall art that I made last year,so I repurposed that into a New York Skyline Silhouette to add to the gallery wall and today I am sharing with you all how I made that.


Materials Required :
A canvas 22" X 28"
Black Acrylic paint
Paint brush
Paint pens with fine point
Ruler and pencil
Eraser
A reference image

Step 1: First choose the important buildings which contributes to the skyline and decide the layout and height of the building by drawing a straight line.

I took an image from google as an reference image ,however this particular image is not exactly how the New York skyline looks which I came to know only after  I completed the painting. I was so keen to finish the silhouette that I did not think much about the layout. But that is okay as long as the buildings represent New York. But if you are so keen about the layout , check the image twice to make sure that the image looks how you wanted it to look like because if it is not ,you can make the changes when you start the painting.



Step 2: I decided to split the canvas into two and completed one part and then shifted to the next.First draw the outline of the building around the straight line and then add dimensions to the building using pencil.Once you are satisfied with the look add architectural details like windows,arches,etc. 





Step 3: Now use the fine point paint pen to draw the outline and details of the buildings.







Step 4: Fill in the area with black acrylic paint ,be patient and careful while painting the corners. Use Painters tape and paint brush with small tip if needed. I used a strip of painter's tape to paint the edges of the World Trade Center. Your painting is now half done. 


Step 5: Repeat the same steps to complete the remaining half of the painting.Then, Your skyline silhouette is ready to beautify your wall. I painted the sides of the canvas with gold paint as you may know how much I love gold accent but it is your choice to paint the sides or leave it as is. I also removed the hooks from one sides and screwed them all to the other side to hang keys.But these are optional steps.






Step 6: NY Gallery wall 
I used clear tape, permanent double sided tape and metallic washi tape to paste the maps on the wall. (Ya that sounds like too many tapes;) But if you don't want touse  many tape you can use sticky back velcro to hang them. I used tapes as I had them in my stash). 
Surprisingly, when my cousin and family visited us ,they got us a beautiful picture of NY skyline at night.They knew me well,right?(They have no idea that I am making a NY gallery wall. I made these before they actually came to visit us.It was a total coincidence.)  It was very much perfect for the NY wall so I mounted that above the one of the maps. The arrangement of the pictures are not in a perfect layout as I tried to use the nails that are already there on the wall. Even though not 100% perfect, I like how it turned out. May be I will do little modifications and add some extra touches(Like a photo of us in NYC ,some quotes,etc) when I get a chance.


What do you think about that skyline silhouette and gallery wall? Share with me in the comments below. As always I will be happy to hear from you.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Make your homemade cakes personalized with laminator

Do you bake cake at home ?? Has Icing letters on the cake always been a challenge ?? It has been a great challenge for me.I enjoy icing designs but when it comes to writing I always screw up in some or the other way.So, I found an easy way to make the cake look more personalized than just writing "Happy Birthday XXX" or whatever the occasion may be.Ready? Today I will show you that easy way to personalize your cake.

Materials Required :
A photo printed on normal copy paper
Laminator
Scissors
Laminating Pouch
Clear tape
Bamboo skewer
Cardstock
Markers
Any colored thread or cord

Step 1:  Cut the outline of the photo you want to put on the cake using scissors. As I made a simple cake ,I chose a standing pose but you can go one step ahead and make it more creative .For example, if the birthday boy/girl is a sports person you can design a cake as a playground and put a picture of them playing in the ground. In this scenario , you can make two copies of the same photo (print one of the photo flipped) so that you can put wrong sides of the photo together when laminating and when done you will get photo on both the sides.(What do you think??)




Step 2: Keep the cut photo inside the laminating pouch and laminate as per the instruction of the laminator.


Step 3: Now cut the photo in laminated sheet leaving 1/8" on the border.Use clear tape to secure the bamboo skewer at the back of the laminated photo. Use the skewer to put the photo on the cake.



Step 4: Cut small triangles from cardstock and spell each word (according to the occasion) in a triangle using marker and attach it to the rope with clear tape. I used a red cotton waxed cord here.Or you can punch tiny holes on either side of the triangle and string them into the rope.Then tie the rope to the bamboo skewer. Adjust the height of the bunting so that it is not hidden behind the photo.And then you are done !! Once the cake cutting is done , you can remove the bamboo skewer and attach a magnet to use it as fridge magnet. (Double treat!! )



How easy is this idea compared to the Icing the letters?? Share what you think about this idea in the comments below. As always I will be happy to hear from you.If you want to know what recipe I followed and my first baking experience, click here.


Friday, July 10, 2015

How to sew bib - 2 ways (Traditional & Knotted style)

It's baby season in my circle, my friends ,my cousins are all blessed either a cute baby girl or a handsome baby boy and some are going to be . So, before I went on a vacation I made around 11 baby bibs to give as gifts for them along with the other gifts.(You know ,right ? I love giving Handmade gifts :)). As I was searching for something different to sew for babies I came across the knotted bib tutorial which was unique that I wanted to give a try.Let's see how I made them. This is also a great starter project if you are in the starting stage of learning to sew.





Materials Required :
1/4 or 1/3 yard of the fabric to make one bib.(Depending the fabric and size choice)
Matching sewing thread
Velcro (For traditional bib)
Button hole feet (For knotted bib)
Iron
Straight pins
Fabric scissors

Patterns (Traditional & Knotted )


Step 1: Print and cut the pattern. Pin the pattern to the fabric as specified and cut the fabric pieces. I cut the first piece using the pattern and the next piece using the first cut piece as the pattern. I don't why I am comfortable that way but you can use the pattern to cut all the pieces.And I used Terry fabric as other piece for the traditional bib and checked blue pattern for knotted bib.







Step 2: Keep the right sides facing each other and pin both the pieces together.Sew on the corner with  1/8" seam allowance leaving 3" gap to turn inside out. Carefully make slits all around the bib on the seam allowance to give neat finish.Turn the bib inside out using the gap.







Step 3: Iron and make a top stitch.Also close the gap while top stitching.

Step 4: 
For Traditional bib : Cut 1 1/4 inch velcro and attach. Make sure to stitch the hook side of the velcro on the wrong side of the bib on left and loop side of the velcro on the right side of the bib on right side of the bib in the same place or visa versa.And you are done !!!





For knotted bib : Use button hole feet or hand sew a button hole  to make the button hole. I used a button which was 0.55" in diameter and it was perfect for the flap to slide in.Once you are done with the button hole your bib is ready!! The pattern which I have linked for knotted bib is bigger (Toddler size) compared to the traditional pattern( Perfect for babies).


                         



1-2-3-4 and you are done !! Isn't it that easy ?? Try this simple project and let me know how it turned out. These make a perfect gift for baby shower or as gift for new born babies. You can chose the type of fabric you want and type of fastener you want. Laminate fabric works great for bib and in order to avoid threads tangling on hook side of velcro, you can prefer the knotted style. There are many possibilities that you can try. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.Feel free to share your comments below. As always I will be happy to hear from you.