We are baking, sewing & crafting up a storm, preparing handmade gifts for this holiday season. I am sharing 30 wonderful sewn gifts from 30 amazing bloggers! Head on over to According to Kelly for 30 fabulous crafty gifts. A Southern Fairytale is spotlighting 30 edible yummies & holiday-inspired recipes.You definitely don’t want to miss a day!

Hi everyone! My name is Ellie G and I blog over at Less Cake {more frosting}. Where I love to share little snippets about things I adore. Mostly being creative, and keeping it real. With some frosting thrown in, for good measure.

Today I want to share a gift that you can totally personalize for the recipient. That’s one of my favorite kinds of gifts to give. Things that people know you REALLY thought about.

Who am I thinking about for this gift…..well…..it’s totally gonna be mine. Because I’ve fallen in love with it. I’m like the kid who brings a gift to a birthday party and then wants to take it back.

 

 

 

How to make a zippered pouch out of cardboard Packaging

To make this super fun gift, you’ll need:

  • 2 pieces of cardboard product packaging. I love Diet Coke. Let’s just get that out there. But you can use any product you want. (Again…I suggest Diet Coke…did I mention I really like that?) Cut them to be 8.5 in. x 7 in. I used packaging from a 24 pack of soda. And yes….I really drink that much.
  • 2 pieces of fabric for the lining. (same dimensions)
  • 1 seven inch zipper. (the kind that has a stop closure; meaning it won’t separate when opened all the way)
  • Heat fusible vinyl. (I used Heat n’ Bond)
  • Any trim you’d like

Start by fusing vinyl pieces to the fronts of all your materials. Follow the product’s instructions to complete this step. You should end up with 4 pieces that now have a protective plastic coating on them (PS…..heat fusible vinyl and I might have just had an affair. Seriously….I’m DYING over how cool this stuff is!)

Next you’re going to layer your zipper and materials for sewing. Here’s the order:

  • Product packaging-Right side face up
  • Trim (if you have it)
  • Zipper-face down…..meaning the zipper part should be touching your product packaging piece)
  • Lining-Wrong side facing up

It would be extremely difficult to pin through thick cardboard. But you REALLY need this “sandwich” to stay lined up. I like to use binder clips to keep everything in place. And remove them as I sew. Just like you would pins.

  • Sew (using a zipper foot) along your first “sandwich”. Go SLOW! This cardboard is thick. But your sewing machine can totally handle it. I recommend switching to a heavy duty needle though. (the kind you’d use for denim)
  • Next, repeat the “sandwich” on the other side of the zipper and sew it as well.

  • Flip everything over and make sure it all lines up. I had to press down on the cardboard and just get it to loosen up a bit.
  • Then “sandwich” everything so it looks like a pouch. Outsides on the outside, insides on the inside. This clutch will not be “flipped” because of the cardboard. So no need to sew inside out.

Then just sew along the edge. Again, SLOWLY. I decided to round my corners. It makes for a prettier finish.

I used a 1/2″ seam allowance, and then trimmed the edges to be about 1/4″ seam. Then sewed around again, just for stability.

And Ta-Da! You’re done!

That cute little lining peeking out….squeel! I just love it.

There’s nothing like giving someone a gift you KNOW that they’ll love. This little beauty holds a can of Diet Coke. Such a fun gift. And it would hold a gift card as well. The options are endless….let your loved one know you love them. (throw one together for yourself while you’re at it….you are worth it!)

I would LOVE to see you over at Less Cake {more frosting} anytime! Come over and see all the goofy fun we have over there! And Merry Christmas to you. (PS…I’m not opposed to pulling out the Christmas tunes right now….just sayin’!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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