Lunch Box Make-Over

My Sweet B is starting at a new daycare this week, and while she has been in daycare for about a year, it feels different for some reason. Maybe it's because I see how quickly she is growing up, maybe it’s because I know that the next time we start a new program it will be pre-school and then kindergarten and then college, well maybe not college but you get the point. How is it possible that you can just barely blink and your sweet baby is like a tiny human and then like a giant human that you have to look up to in heels #shortmom. Anyways, for her new school, she needs a packed lunch, and what kind of crafty mom would I be if I didn't jazz up her new lunch box. So we did a little bargain shopping at Dollar General and picked out a cute unicorn lunch box, and then mommy got to work to make sure it was as unique and special as my little girl. 

 Cute Right? And I found a cute Rubbermaid lunch set that fits perfectly inside it as well. 

After B is all tucked in bed and my smallest one finally falls asleep, I slip away into my craft room and get to work. I love crafting, and my Cricut makes it so fun and enjoyable, and personalizing B's lunch box was a perfect quick project for my Cricut. 

I found a cute design of a unicorn that would match her new lunch box. (Bonus Points *** I already had the file on hand because a customer purchased the design for me to cut for her daughters birthday shirt). I uploaded the design in the Cricut Design space and welded it to Brianna's name so it would cut as one piece. This design is cut out of HTV or Heat Transfer Vinyl, this is a permanent adhesive that I will actually adhere using a heat press in a later step. 

I also cut her name in a very basic font to add to her Rubbermaid Lunch Blox. This is cut on the Cricut and the Vinyl is Oracal 651 (in my opinion, the very best vinyl I have worked with) 

Once my designs are finished cutting on the Cricut, I weed them and then its time to transfer them to my surfaces. First Up the Rubbermaid Lunch Blox. 

 So one of my favorite tips that I share with all my Cricut Crafty friends, is that instead of using expensive brand name transfer tape, you can use Glad Press'n Seal to transfer regular vinyl. 

 

 I line up my designs and press it down, give it a good rub, and peel back the Glad to reveal her adorable new Lunch Blox! 

Next up the Unicorn Lunchbox. I heat up my Cricut Easy Press and lay the top of the lunch box flat on my heat-resistant surface, and following the Cricut Easy Press Heat and Time guidelines for the material of the lunch box I heat the Design and press it onto the top of her lunchbox. 

And there you go. This whole project took me less than 1 hour, most of my time was honestly spent picking out the font... 

Bonus Tip !!! 

Did you know???

If you have scrap Glitter HTV, even without the clear transfer sheet attached, it will cut out cleanly with a punch? Simple punches work best. I knew I loved the unicorn, but I also felt that it needed just a little flair, so I pulled out my star punch and a piece of glitter HTV that I honestly threw away the night before. Those little scraps worked perfectly for just a touch of glitter, because what unicorn doesn't need glitter??? 

 

So her lunch box is all packed and ready to go, this is my teary-eyed pic as I watch my sweet B and her daddy walk into her new daycare, lunch box in hand. Gotta love it!

I am glad to be back sharing my love of crafting, I am so thankful for each and every person that reads and follows our story. It's not perfect but it is ours.

An Update....

Many years ago, I had a completely different vision for this blog. In 2011 I was sewing all the time, hence the name "Sew a Harvest", but since then everything in my life has changed in a huge way. I still sew, but I also scrapbook, make cards, work with electronic cutters (The Cricut is my absolute favorite), paint, travel, cook, and crochet just to name a few. And I do all of this being the mom of 5, working part-time, and helping my husband with his new business, and being a full-time online college student. So to answer your first question, no I am not busy at all. 
As this blog evolves I will share our story as well as some of my crafts. I will share our travels with our kids and family and maybe even a recipe or two. But for now, I just want to post something to get started. It's not real deep or sentimental but it's something. 
I want to share what I love, and that is not just one thing, but exploring through many different mediums to express myself. So come back and join me as I start this blog again. 

Sew Simple Ipad/Tablet Case

Ipad's, Tablets, e-readers they seem to be everywhere. They come in so many different shapes and sizes and the cases that are available are typically only made for 2 or 3 sizes. So lets make a super simple, but oh so cute multi-use case for whatever you have. This case can be completed with just one piece of fabric, so feel free to splurge (a little) on the fabric of your choice. :-)

What you need:
                            Pre-quilted material (1/2 yard)
                            Matching Thread
                            Large Button
                            Dimensions of the item you want to create your case for
                                   ex:) Tablet  Height: 11", Width: 8", Depth 1/2"

* To determine the dimensions for your specific case take your width add 2 inches and this is your width of the case, then take your height double it and add 2 inches.

Height of Case = height of e-reader + 2 inches

Then make a point at the top - it really doesn't need to be perfect just close

See my example below 

 *Note this is one piece of fabric*

With right sides facing in, fold your fabric in half up to the triangle base (see picture in Red for an example)

Start at the top and stitch along the side of the fabric using a 1/4 inch guide on your sewing machine

Leave 1/2 inch at the bottom unstitched

           

With your non-stitched bottom - fold it flat so that it is now perpendicular to side stitch

(This will create the effect of a flat bottom)

 Stitch along this seam

*Flip your case right side out*

Add a button hole near the top point of your case

Add a button of your choosing  to the front of your bag

I lined my bag, but you can finish your edges with double fold bias tape or with a Serger.

Finished Bag!

Thanks for reading, please let me know if you have any questions.
                                                                      Em

A Sewsational Bag

This is my first blog entry, and I wanted to show everyone a simple and fun way to make a small book bag. I actually created this bag while I was on vacation. This bag is inspired by my best friend Kristi and her bright bubbly personality. So lets get started.

This is a super easy and fun way to create a bag. It can be done with just one piece of fabric, or as in my example I used a great contrasting fabric to create a band around the top of this bag.

Start with your base fabric cut to the dimensions above 23 inches tall - by 19 inches wide

The contrasting band is the same width 19 inches by 6 inches tall

With right sides together, use a (zigzag) stitch along this seam (19 inches long)

Do this along each side of the polka dot base.

Your finished piece should look like this. 

 Now fold in half (so right sides are facing together, 

and contrasting bands are lined up at the top of the fabric).

*Start at the top and stitch down until you have 2 inches left at the bottom.

Stitch along both sides.

Measure 2 inches from your stitch line and cut out a square from each side.

 Now take your square from the bottom corner and reposition it so the seam is centered.

Hint: take a corner in each hand and pull until the edges line up, creating a straight line.

(think about how a fortune cookie is folded.)

 

Stitch along this opening to close off the bottom of the bag.

Do this to each side of the bag.

(Remember everything up until this point is sewn inside out.)

Flip bag right side out and 

Your Finished!

Check back later this week for a great tutorial to add handles and a cute liner for the inside.

Thanks for reading.