Laptop Bag Tutorial

My husband challenged me with a grand idea he had. He needed a laptop case. However the ones that you can purchase are too bulky for his needs. His needed to be able to protect the laptop but fit in his back pack at the same time. He also asked if it could have a pocket for his cords and possible pens or pencils...so off I went. It's not perfect, my sewing machine sometimes hates me, but all in all, I think it worked.

You will need:

some fabric (I used the bottoms of curtains that I cut off when I hemmed them shorter last year, yes I stash everything)

thread and your seing machine

a zipper

batting (I used thick felt)

double sided interfacing (thick, thick, thick)

snap

Step one. Let's make the handles first. Cut fabric to your desired length of handles. Mine were 12 inches long. I wanted my handles 1.5 inches wide so I cut my piece 12 inches long by 4 inches wide. You need two of them. Then for the strap Mine was 36 inches long (I would do it longer next time maybe 40) and 1.5 inches wide. So the piece I cut was 36 inches long by 4 inches wide. You then need to cut one piece of the double sided interfacing the size of your straps. So you will have one piece that is 36 inches by 1.5 inches, and 2 pieces that are 12 inches by 1.5 inches. (Phew, I hope I didn't lose you)

Take your fabric peices and iron in 1.25 inches. Along one side.

The place the interfacing inside the ironed piece like this:

Fold over the remaining fabric and iron down like this:

So it looks like this:

The take it to your machine and sew as close as you can to this line:

Repeat with the other handle and the strap.

Step Two: Cut two pieces of fabric for the bag. Hmm... You need it to be 2 inches wider than your laptop. But as far as front to back. You need to measure the top of your laptop, double it, and add three inches. (So if your laptop measures 11 inches you will cut your fabric 25 inches). Then cut a piece of the double sided interfacing the same. Iron on one piece of fabric to one side:

Then this is where I made a pocket. I took a piece that was 10 inches wide by 10 inches high. Cut a piece of batting that same size. Place it in the middle and fold it in half and ironed it. Then I sewed just below the fold.

I then turned the bottom edges under and sewed along those lines.

Here is a detailed look. Fold one edge over the batting like this:

Then fold the other edge under so it's a little shorter than the bottom edge to get that inside the pocket look:

This is what the two sides of the pocket now look like:

The pocket opening is going to face the short edge of the main piece of fabric. Tuck the side edges of the pocket under and lay it onto the main fabric piece and sew around the two sides and bottom edge, leaving the opening towards the top of the main fabric piece. I made mine stick out, but that is what my machine got mad at...I'll do a tutorial for that later, it takes a while and is tricky.

I then added two loops for pens or pencils.

Step Three: Place the other side of the main piece of fabric on the other side of the interfacing now. Cut back the interfacing from the two edges about 1/4 inch. Fold over one side of the fabric like this:

Sew along that line close to the edge.

Then Put the zipper (with the pull facing the pockets if you want the pockets out) right along the edge of the fold, so it fits snug. Fold over the top fabric.

Sew as close to the zipper as you can.

Then Sew about 1/4 inch away:

Do the same to the other side. So both of the short sides of your main peice have a zipper!

Cut the zipper off at the edges. Put the pull back on to both of the zippers, making it so the pocket is now in the inside and the main piece is folded in half, making the case. Sew down both sides of the case:

Step Four: Attach the handles. Turn the case inside out. This is tricky. You must push the zipper open, because you have sewed the bag shut, right sides in. So use your finger and slide that upside down zipper open. Then carefully turn inside out. Take your long strap and with the edges turned under slightly attach it to the sides of the bag. I attached mine about 1 inch below the start and stop of the zipper. (this is the other part my machine did not like) Sew it right over the seam. Then take your two handles and attach one to the front and one to the back, about 5 inches apart. I made a double sew line to make sure they were secured. Just like with the zipper. I then hand sewed a snap onto the center of the pocket to hold it closed.

I hope this tutorial doesn't leave you too confused...I was lacking with pictures. If you want to attempt this and have questions...please please don't hesitate to ask!

And the husband claims it's what he wanted...I was satisfied with the imperfect product...it's hard to be a crafter when you are a perfectionist...but I am working on it!

(Pardon the camera and new one will be coming soon, then I will have decent pictures once again! And I am so excited...it's looking like a canon rebel!!!)

Super Easy and Really Yummy!

Need a super fast, super easy recipe? These were a hit at my house. I took a suggestion from my husbands cousin added a few ingredients and walaa...PERFECT for those time crunched dinners.

Tube of cresent rolls

1 brick of cream cheese

1 can of chicken

celery

green onions

Take the cresent rolls and spread them apart. Take the cream cheese, the chicken, some chopped celery and onions and mix them al together. Drop into the center of the triangles. Fold them in so you can't see it. Just take all the corners and start tucking. Place on a pan and cook according to package on the rolls. So yummy and so fast and little clean up is necessary!!!

Waterbottle Strap

Here is a great idea for adults as well as children. You can now have your hands open when walking or hiking. Simply make this strap to add to your water bottle.

You will need:

an o ring (you can purchase this at a hardware store. They are about 50 cents)

ribbon

a sewing machine with thread

scissors

Instructions:

Take your o ring and slip it onto the end of your ribbon. Fold your ribbon over about 1 inch.

Zig zag stitch along the edge of the ribbon. Straight stitch about 1/2 inch below.

Here is the front view.

Repeat on the other side. Your ribbon will be in a great big loop.

Place the o ring over the top of the water bottle with the ribbon design facing out.

You can adjust it to your height be lengthening or shortening the amount of ribbon you use. Or you can tie the top of the loop into a knot. (See bottom picture). Sling it over your shoulder and you are ready to go enjoy the day!

(thanks for the idea Becki)

Homemade Post Cards

Supplies:

Old boxes (capri suns, cereal, granola bars, etc)

scissors

permanent marker or pen

Instructions:

1. Take your box apart on the seams.

2. Lay your box flat.

3. Cut a rectangle out of your box. I believe the largest size a postcard can be to send it like a post card is 4 and 1/4 inch by 6 inches. (you can check out more info at usps)

4. Recycle the unused pieces. And here you have the front of your postcard.

5. Turn your postcard over and draw a line down the center.

6. Now draw three of four address lines on the bottom right side.

7. Draw a little rectangle up in the top right corner for a stamp.

8. Repeat until are your boxes are postcards. This is a great craft to do with kids. My son's loved coloring pictures on the left and off we mailed them to Aunties, Uncles, and Grandma's. And they LOVED them! Such a unique and creative idea for your little one's to do with you!