Category Archives: DIY

My new bag

Posted on April 13, 2011 | 7 Comments

The past weekend , I stitched my self a bag. Its not any ‘ol bag. Its the bag of my dreams.

I’ve had this skirt for years. Having worn it only once. Its brand spanking new.

Me
Thats me wearing the skirt in september of  ’05

There is no way, I will fit into that skirt in a hurry. So, i decided to make it into a bag.

Bag Closer

While at it, I also made an organizer for my bag

Inside

The Organizer attaches itself to the bag  by way of a detachable zipper.

Zip

Its perfect for my needs as it stores all that, I need to take with me.

Inside with Stuff

Now i will never have to turn my bag inside out for my keys as long as it is attached to this key hoder.
key ring

 

 

There is a place for everything and every thing has its place.

 

The stuff

 

What i love most, is that this bag can me made as versatile (by adding newer organizers) or as simple as i need!.

Here how it looks without the detachable organizer

 

Inside without the insert

 

To complete the look, i just used an old tie around the loops of the skirt.. err bag

 

Skirt bag

Do let me know what you guys think!

Rashmi

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Posted in DIY, Recycle

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Paper Bag Catch All

Posted on April 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Some Ideas are well thought out planned and some just pop out of no where. This is the latter.

I carry my own bags, but if the store offers a paper bag, I never refuse. I love to reuse paper bags and make something nice out of them, or use them to cover things. I cut out the base of a brown paper bag and used the remaining  to cover a box i was trying to make for my earrings ( that project bombed) .  Later when i picked up the fallen base to trash it, i realized, it was quite solid and, I could make a catch all with it!

Imagine having one while you travel.

So heres How to go  about it :

What you need :

Paper Bag any color. Coffee house take away bags work best.

Scissors

Staples ( optional )

How To :

  1. Take a paper bag

    2. Humble Paper Bag

  2. Lay it down flat , with the base folder to one of the sides . the bags naturally fold down this way

    3. bAG FLAT

  3. Mark the edge of the base on the body of the bag with a pen or pencil.

    4. Bag draw line

  4. Fold back the base , such that both edges of the base are aligned

    5. 5593776965_ed1902dbb8_z

  5. Use a scissor and cut out the body of the Bag. The body of the bag can be used for anything else

    6. Bag cut

  6. Open the base and let it stand on a flat surface

    7. Bag Base and Other

  7. Start folding the walls of the cut bag inwards in half such that the cut edge meets the base of the Bag.

    8. bag folding

  8. Do this for all four sides. Secure with staples if needed.

    9. Bag fold 2

  9. Your catch all is ready! You can embellish it in any way you like.

    10. Bag Organizer
    Bag Brown

    This Catch all Folds down to take it while travelling as well. It is simple enough to make it while you travel.

    Rashmi

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Posted in DIY, I am Inspired!

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UPCYCLING : FRAKTA bag into Laundry bag

Posted on March 11, 2011 | 1 Comment

I don’t have IKEA  in my country(not yet atleast), but when ever I travel to a country that does have an IKEA store, I never miss out an opportunity to visit one and snag some cool stuff. Since IKEA does not give away plastic bags (yay!) I have managed to get more than one FRAKTA bags to lug my cool picks back home.

Img : Ikea website

Normally,  I  use them to accumulate clothes that need to be sent to the guy who Irons our clothes.  I needed something  to collect the clothes (To be laundered) )that collect outside our attached master bath. I did consider buying something  new, but hubs suggested using some thing we already have, like one of the FRAKTA bags.

When we did start using the bag, It would collapse and not stand upright. I needed to some how make its stand erect.

So Hack It!

I started with a FRAKTA bag and flatted it to get the edge seams. Then, I stapled all four seams to make it stand erect.

Corner sharpness

I then folded the top lip back about 2 inches to make the rim more stable.
Laundry Bag


and it was done.

Thanks

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Posted in DIY, Recycle

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IC : The Fat Quarter

Posted on March 9, 2011 | 1 Comment

I had not heard of the fat quarter until last Thursday morning when i saw the latest IC challenge. What fun! Fat quarter is a material that measures 18″ X 22″ .

I spent the whole week thinking of what  I would make of a Fat quarter. Fat quarter.Fat quarter.Fat quarter.Fat quarter.

Just love saying it ;)

Any ways .. So today morning  cut my self … guess what? ..a Fat quarter and Eureka .. Idea!

I needed a kit to keep my make up stuff. so there it was ..” I’ll make a make up kit”!

It had to have place for the following

comb

face wash

eyeliner

Kohel

Lip balm

and spare earings

4 hrs of  non stop stitching and this is there it was!

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A look inside.

cOLLAGE


I don’t have step by step tut yet. Would love some inputs on how to improve the design.

Thanks

Rashmi

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Posted in DIY, Iron Craft Challenge, Recycle

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Recycle : Softener bottle to vase

Posted on February 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

Some time back we received a small bottle of comfort softener free with our washing machine soap. DSC00594 I had this bottle for a long time and was about to throw it away when inspiration struck.DSC00595

I just ripped the plasric cover to expose the white plastic . The shape was cute .DSC00596 I just poped in some flowers and lo behold
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Its a cute vase!

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Posted in DIY, Recycle

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The Love Challenge

Posted on February 2, 2011 | 1 Comment

The challenge #5 of the iron craft challenge is all about love and valentines day. I like valentines day… never really celebrate it, but its nice .

In an attempt to get into the V-day spirit, I came up with these bookmarks.

It’s very simple and you don’t need a lot of  equipment!
DSC00520

What you need :

    DSC00500


  1. Cutting mat
  2. Scissors, Cutter
  3. Scraps of paper
  4. Glue
  5. Heart shaped punches in 2 sizes.
  6. glitter pens , sharpies etc

Making the various Heart shapes :

Heart windows

DSC00506

  1. Cut the  paper to about 1 inch wide. Start with the smaller Heart Punch  and punch out the shape.
    DSC00509

    2.  

  2. Next  take the bigger shape and place it on the work top with the underside of the punch on top. Thread the punched paper into the punch and adjust the paper such that the smaller heart is placed in the middle of the bigger punch.

    3. DSC00521

  3. With the palm your hand press the punch and you should get a heart shape with a heart-shaped window !

Inverted heart windows

    DSC00511

  1. The process is the same as above only difference is when threading the paper in the big punch invert it, such that the hearts are in opposite directions.
    DSC00510

Assembling the Bookmark :

  1. Start with a long strip of paper, preferably a thick card stock. If you can’t find thick card stock double the layers of paper
  2. Glue the hearts in the desired layouts.
  3. Embellish with sharpies or glitter pens
  4. I chose not to have ribbon on the bookmark.

    Do let me know what you think!

    Rashmi

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Posted in DIY, Iron Craft Challenge

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TUTORIAL : Recycle Old calender

Posted on January 3, 2011 | 3 Comments

My 2010 desk calender was a beautiful calender by Taj Group of hotels. It features two of its prized properties, The historic Taj Mahal Hotel and Towers in Mumbai and The Pierre in NYC.

It was full of amazing photographs of interiors and the exteriors of both these iconic properties . I did not have the heart to just throw it away , so i recycled it into Book marks

 

 

cam dump Jan 21

 

1) Decide on what picture you would like to recycle

2) Trim the dates etc. In this case all the details were in the sides , It was easy to trim the excess

3) You should have Just the picture

4) Flip it over

 

 

Collages2

 

5)  & 6) Fold in half, such that it is split in two vertically. Use two sided tape or glue and adhere the two sides . Trim if  necessary

7)  &  8)  Punch in a hole and thread a String or ribbon to make a book mark.

Simple!

 

 

 

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TUTORIAL : Yogurt tub lights

Posted on November 9, 2010 | 2 Comments

 

Yogurt tub diya

The Festival of Diwali or Deepavali means “The Festival of lights”.  ”Deep” means a “LAMP”…in all forms, Simple wick and oil lamps, string lights, lanterns, and anything else that glows. Inspired by many of the lights projects online, I wanted to create lamps that spelled the message of the season

To make this You will need:

  • News paper
  • Yogurt Tubs
  • Colored paper or Brown paper bags
  • Hole punch
  • Stapler or Glue
  • Tea Light Candles
  • Sand
  • Message to be lit up .

How to go about it :

1. Check if you can peel off the thin plastic cover off the yogurt tubs. Some tubs have the matter printed on them. You can let them be, as it does not show through.

.2. Start by placing the Newspaper on a flat surface. Trace the contour of the tub as it is rolled out such that the paper wraps around the Tub with a Half inch overlap. Cut it out. Trim the top and the bottom such that some of the tub shows through then the paper is wrapped around the tub. The Newspaper will be the template for the remaining papers.

3 . Each tub will have one alphabet that shines through. If you need the message visible on two sides of the tub , you will need to punch out 2 alphabets per tub. This is tricky as it will need to make sense on both side My Alphabets spelled “HAPPY DIWALI “. The Tubs had the following Alphabet Combinations

Combinations

To get the combinations right , first write the Message (For e.g HAPPY THANKS GIVING)  on a scratch pad FROM L-R and the below that from R-L

From L-R Like : H A P P Y   T H A N K  S  G  I V I  N G

From R-L Like : G N I V I    G S  K  N A H  T Y P P A H

Now that  you have the Combinations punch out the alphabets. Fold the paper in half. In the center of the Left half. punch the alphabet on the top line and on the center of the right half punch out the bottom alphabet.

 

DSC09920

4. Wrap the Punched out Paper around the tub, mark the over laps on the top and the bottom.

5. Remove the tub and align the paper on the overlap points. Staple the paper, such that When you insert the tub, it forms a tight cozy around the tub.

DSC09921

6. Repeat this for all the tubs.

DSC09927

7. Pour half an inch of Sand at the bottom of the tub and place the tea light in the middle of the sand away from the sides of the tub.

8. Light the Tealights  to see your message Glow through.

You can use battery operated Lights as well instead of tea lights.

This tutorial was posted on

oneprettything

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Posted in Diwali, DIY, oneprettything

Daisy me Darlin!

Posted on October 29, 2010 | 3 Comments


Yesterday I saw this Lovely idea from SAMMAREI in cannada.. She writes a lovely blog called craftingwithintention I loved the simplicity of it and instantly wanted make it as a part of my diwali decorations at home.

I pretty much followed her instructions on making the daisy flowers and also on adding the mirrors.

Since i did not get scrapbook papers easily in india, i just color washed both sides of  one side used paper with pink and green.
DSC09723

However instead of making a mobile, I hung them on the walls and added a few leaves for good measure!

DSC09724

DSC09726

I like the way it looks  …what do you think??

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Posted in Diwali, DIY, I am Inspired!

Make your own Planner from any ‘ol Notebook

Posted on October 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

As a compulsive list maker i have always found my self reaching for a pen and paper to organize my thoughts and plans.  Not having a book to collate all the lists meant that i spent more time hunting for the illusive list than actually working on them.  I tried all kinds of binders, but did not find any thing that suited my purpose and So DIY  to the rescue.

I started off with a regular Note book. I had a small 5 X 7 inch spiral bound note book that my husband got at a company conference. I loved the size and the pages were amazing . It has only ruled pages but that would do for me. The Reasons, i like this book is that it has a translucent first page then followed up by a blank white sheet of card stock. Add to that it has an elastic band that keeps the book bound tight and a small loop for a pen or pencil
DSC09707

As much as i like the possibility of the plain white card stock i was not in the mood to do any doodles or painting . I simply stuck a pretty 6 X 6 origami paper  aliging it from the bottom and trimmed out the excess.

On the outer translucent plastic covering page i simply stuck alphabets with a bit of whimsical alignment that spelling out my name .

To partition the secitions of the book I added colorful plastic post it tabs and wrote on them that they were for . Foe me the secitions were

1) Ideas

2) Short term projects

3) Long term projects

DSC09703
I added a different color tab for the months,  stuck a pen in the loop and i was done!

DSC09701

 

I tried to scratch off the Logo but it would not come off :( I am yet to add an embellishment  to cover that.

I am going to explore how to turn any run  of the mill notebook into an organizer soon

 

Resources

  • Note book – free ( had it on hand)
  • Origami paper – Purchased a 5 rm pack from Daiso on a trip to KL
  • Stickers – $1 at  Dollar Tree

 

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Posted in All Menus, DIY