All you need is

one piece of oil cloth 5″ x 8″ (outside)

a coordinating 5″ x 8″ piece (lining)

2 pieces 2 1/2″ X 5″ for inside pockets for the notebook cover to slip in

one 1 1/2″ X 3″ piece for the pencil pocket on the front

Sew pocket on front. Place it just shy of 3/4″ up from the bottom edge and over just over an 1 1/2″ from the side edge. Just eyeball where it works for you.

Sandwich outside piece right side face down, then lining face up, and pocket pieces on each end. Fasten with mini clothespins.

Sew all the way around the edge, removing clips as you sew along.  I sew on the top side.

The inside looks like this.

Get a mini composition notebook (found at Wal-Mart) and a mini pencil. I found my pencils at the dollar store. A golf pencil would work also.

Slip notebook into cover.

There you have one cute little cover!

So easy to whip up a bunch in no time!

If you love to sew you might also like these free sewing tutorials right here on Skip to my Lou! Every tote needs a matching pouch.

Pleated Zippered Pouch

Lined Zippered Pouch

Tote Patterns and Tutorials

1. Dish Towel Tote Tutorial

2. Tank Top Totes Tutorials (two styles)

3. Ruffled Tote Pattern

4. The Twenty Minute Tote Tutorial

5. Beach Bag Tote Pattern

6. Simple Lined Tote Bag Tutorial

7. Hobo Tote Bag Pattern

8. Pleated Tote Pattern

9. Pillowcase Tote Pattern

10. Oil Cloth Tote Tutorial

I think if you happened upon a sweater instead of a vest you would be able to also make matching mittens for the hat and scarf. It would also be fun to think of other animals, or a plain set would be great for older children!

Disney writes…

My name is Disney, and I have a little craft blog called Ruffles and Stuff. I’m a (new)preacher’s wife and stay at home mommy, so I love to spend my free time sewing, and trying to figure out easy ways to make all the cute things I can’t afford.

How to make a hat and scarf from a sweater

4) Lay two of the ear shapes on top of the other two, and sew around the edges with your machine. (not pictured)
5) Pin the ears to the right side of the beanie, facing downward. Lay the other piece of the beanie on top of it(right sides together), with ears sandwiched in between, and pin.

6) Sew the two hat pieces together, leaving the banded side open.
7) Take your scarf piece and fold it over, right sides together, and pin. Sew all the way down the side.

Turn the scarf right side out, and sew the banded edges closed.
9) Pin the face shaped where you want them, and hand stitch them on.

My goodness, I love that child. )

We used the Paper Doll cartridge and fun foam to make  perfect sewing dolls.

To cut the fun foam I purchased a Deep Cut Blade. For best results I set the blade depth to 5.5 and used low speed and high pressure. This doll is 11″.

I used a 1/8 ” hole punch to make the holes for sewing. Once I had the doll punched I placed the clothes underneath and used a dull needle to mark where the holes on the clothes needed to go so they matched up.

A dull yarn needle and some yarn works great to sew the clothes to the doll!

Magnetic sheets, paper  scraps, recycled cardboard and spray adhesive made darling magnetic dolls.

I had best results when I used the deep blade set at 5.5 with high pressure and low speed. I found the mat must be really sticky! The cereal box was cut at 6 blade depth, max pressure and low speed. I am sure settings will vary, this is just a starting point! This doll is 7″.

After the doll and clothes were cut, I glued the patterned paper  to the shapes with spray adhesive. Make sure you glue the paper to the appropriate side of magnet so it is magnetic.  The doll shape was glued to a recycled cereal box to make it more rigid. They do make magnet sheets that are adhesive if you like. You can probably cover the black magnet with paper to match you child’s skin tone, but my daughter wanted hers black.

I even made her a little holder for her dolls. Wouldn’t this make a cute gift?

This machine is clearly a crafty investment.  If you are unable to make that investment right now have no worries. Simply draw out a doll shape (look online or at coloring books for inspiration) on the fun foam or magnetic sheets and cut by hand.

I was concerned that since I don’t scrapbook this machine would go un-used–so not true.  I have found that we use this machine for a variety of uses. My boys 17 & 12 have made cards, favors and completed school projects, my husband was able to make a vinyl lettered sign for work (all by himself and was thrilled to have saved hundreds of dollars), I have enjoyed cutting favor boxes and fabric for applique. It has been unbelievably handy for Sunday School and cutting shapes for various projects. It is just a very useful and clever machine!

Cricut is hosting another fabulous giveaway to Win a Gypsy and a trip of a lifetime!  They’re giving away over 200 Gypsies, 20 travel packages and a “Cricut Swarm” in one of five fabulous locations. Purchase one of four new Cricut cartridges for a chance to win. Look for winning cards in the new Every Day Paper Dolls, From My Kitchen, Sweethearts or Winter Woodland cartridges.

Looking for more ways to win? Enter Today’s Mama’s Great Escape Meme Contest!

This year I bought the new Crayola Washable Window Crayons to give a try.  When he got up this morning he was greeted with a birthday wish on the mirror.

Just a side note: I do like the way the window crayons make a smooth easy mark. They  give a more opaque effect than the window markers. I also like how you can color back over the image and it is not removed –unlike the window markers. There are less colors than the markers and the red is more pink than red.  However, my daughter has been playing with them and doesn’t seem to mind only having a few colors.  I was really concerned after reading the reviews that they would be difficult to clean.  I allowed a picture to dry about an hour and then cleaned the window.  I did not have any trouble (I use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean my windows and mirrors).  I don’t know if allowed to stay on the windows for days if it would then become more difficult to remove.

Crayola will help us celebrate by giving FIVE lucky readers a chance to give the Crayola Washable Window Crayons a try.  For a chance to win, please leave a comment on this post by Monday 7:00 a.m. CST.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKE!

I made this juice bag pencil pouch for my son’s first day of school. He really wanted the Kool-Aid Sport juice bags (because they look Cool) but the store was out and this is what we had.

You need 4 juice bags and an 8 inch zipper for this little pencil case. If you need a larger pencil bag try 3 bags lined up vertically.

Cut a slit in the bottom of each empty juice bag and rinse. Allow bags to dry.

Lay two bags end to end, one on top of the other. They should measure 9 1/2 inches in total length. Stitch through the bags at the bottom of the top bag. I found a heavy duty needle (like for denim) helpful. I was also using a heavy duty thread. Repeat for other size.

Stitch one side of the zipper to the top of the bags —right sides together.

Notice carefully where to stop stitching. Do not stitch to edge.

Stitch the other side of bag to the zipper, again right sides together.

Lay zipper and bags flat and top stitch down each side of zipper.

Bring bags together wrong sides together. Fold zipper ends down on each side.

Starting at top side stitch down the side, across the bottom and up the other side.

I trimmed off just a little on each side to make it even.

There you go, a recycled pencil bag!

I have been loving the suggestions for the “Yes, You Can Make It” posts! Thank you! So up first is a request for a tutorial on how to make a reversible tote. If you have something you are interested in making please fill out the form in the left sidebar.

You will need:

2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (outside)

2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (lining)

1 piece 4” X  about 44″ long

1. Cut a piece of fabric 4″X 44″ long. Press fabric in half lengthwise.

2. Open fabric up and press each outside edge to the center.

3. Fold fabric in half and press.

4. Top-stitch down each side of strap close to the edge. Cut fabric in half so you have two straps about 22 inches long each.

Cut four pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches.

Sew lining fabric right sides together on three sides and also outer fabric right sides together on three sides. For this bag the bottom is 13 1/2 inches wide and the sides 14 inches long.  The bag can be made any size.

3. Pinch bottom corner together and stitch across 1 1/2 inches from corner.

4. Repeat until all four corners have been sewn.

5. Place lining fabric inside the outside fabric right sides together.

6. Place straps in between right sides of fabric on each side about two to  three  inches from the side edge.

7. Pins straps and top edge of bag well. Stitch around top of bag 1/2 inch from edge. Leave a 2-3 inch opening for turning bag (I usually leave this on the side).

8. Turn bag inside out.

9. Push lining inside the bag and top stitch all the way around the top of bag. This will close up the opening used for turning.

Finished!

You might be interested in making a matching pocket tissue holder and zippered pouch to go with your tote!

The fabric is from Heather Bailey. I used Pineapple Brocade in green and Zag Stripe in gold (I think).

I have provided the instructions here in this post. You can make the shapes up as you go along or if you want to make it  really easy you can download the templates for the food for $1.75 or place my button (code in the left sidebar) on your blog and you may download the templates for free. E-mail me that you have placed the button (or already have the button)  and I will e-mail you the templates.

The Brown Paper Bag

You need two pieces of light brown felt. Cut a  square out of the bottom corner on each side.  With pinking shears trim across the top. Trim just enough to pink the top.  Sew across the bottom and along each side.

Pinch the side and bottom together and sew.

Finished!

The Chip Bag and Chips

Cut two pieces of felt. Embellish the front with stripe and medallion. I meant to embroider “chips” in the white circle.  You could also write chips with a paint marker.

Place right sides together and stitch along each side. Turn right side out and then stitch across the bottom.  I used a blanket stitch along with a couple rows of stitching.

Cut chips out of yellow felt. Stitch together close to the edge. You can add rows of stitching to make them ‘ruffled’ chips if you like.

The Ho Ho

Cut 2 pieces if dark brown felt and two pieces of white felt.

Place the pieces together and sew around the outside edge, leaving an opening for turning on the short side.

Turn right side out. Top stitch around the edge on the white piece only. Don’t worry about closing the openings–they will be in the center. Place the white piece on top of the dark brown (bottom edges lined up) and roll up.

Slip stitch the roll closed along the outside edge.

The Sandwich

Cut two pieces of off – white fabric  and a strip of light brown felt about. You might need to attach two pieces together.

Sew  the strip to one side of the white square overlapping the ends.

Sew the white square to the other side leaving an opening for turning.

Turn right side out. Stuff with polyester fiberfill and slip stitch opening closed.

Make ingredients for your sandwich by sewing two of each color together.  You can sew around the edge leaving an opening for turning, turn and topstitch or just sew the pieces together (this is how I made them except for the bologna which I turned).  Add details with your machine.

Every sack lunch sandwich needs a baggie.

The Baggie

Using medium weight vinyl (this is really thin) fold top down  and bottom up (bottom edge lays on top of the top edge. Sew along each side.

Pinch corners and sew across 1 inch from edge.

Do this for all four corners.

Trim off corners.

Turn right side out and slip in the sandwich.

Bon Appetit!

Still hungry try some doughnuts!

I cut the shape out of a sheet of felt, making it as big as possible.  Then I ironed interfacing to one side of the felt.

I embellished the outside by sewing on some felt details.

I  cut 4 strips of tulle about 4 inches wide in different lengths. The longest was about 36 inches. Fold the felt right sides together and place the tulle in the middle with the end sticking out of the top.  Sew as close to the edge as possible. Be careful to only catch the end of the tulle  in the seam.

Sew a piece of elastic string to the inside at each side. Turn right side out and there you go!