NEW BAGS SEWN

 Sew Useful Bags for 2025

I hope this is not too confusing for anyone checking back to my blog for the latest papercrafts, because this post is going to update you all with what’s going on with my sewing projects.

For those that do not know, I started sewing when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and when he died 16 months later I had 2 laundry bags full of bags. So given that papercrafts were not selling well at local craft shows I decided to sell the bags and donate the profits to my local hospital where Brian had received some of his treatments.

Th first shows I sold  Shopping bags, Craft bags, Shoe Bags, Gift Bags, Makeup bags and purses, Since then I have added and tried several other bags. However, displaying so many types of bags has not proved easy and so this year I have decided to limit my makes and therefore my displays to just 5 or 6 bags, as I feel this will concentrate the display and make it easier for the buyers to see what I make. 

As Craft bags have been my best seller, (I was making a 4 pocket bag and a tote bag style) I decided to continue the 4 pocket bag, stop doing the simple tote, and instead make a drawstring top bag. The draw-string bag would be useful for knitters and crochet crafters, while the pocketed bags are great for artists, and card crafters, although there is plenty of cross-over. Both bags are also great for general use , sleepovers and Home Storage. 

I have also had to drop 3 Craft fairs, it was a difficult decision but I was unable to sell one of my best selling items there and so decided to withdraw front the shows. To try and make up for these shows I am going to try some new outlets. The first one is Ebay. I have been selling on Ebay for many years and find it easy to use. It will be interesting to see if I can build a customer base for my bags on this platform. 

The first items to be posted on Ebay are the first 3 draw-string bags I have made.

2 are roughly 14 x 14 x 6” and the other is a large 22”W x 14”H x 6”D.

I will let you know how things progress throughout the year. 

Back soon with more crafts.

Dee

Project 4 Laminated Storage Wallets - Any size

 Laminated Storage wallets - Any Size

Project 4 Trash my Stash.

With the tidy up continuing I found a 12 x 12 brown box with several partly used 12 x 12 pads.

So every now and then when I get an idea I will go back to the box and see what papers will be suitable for the project. 

In amongst the pile are a couple of Crafters Companion, a First Edition and a sample pad from DCWV, as well as a g.c.d. Christmas pad and Craft Consortium. 

As a treasurer for my local WI, I use a few wallets to store receipts, invoice, and collect cash at meetings and fund raisers etc. So I thought I would make some new ones for this year. I needed A5 size for cash collected, and storing paperwork .To store cash including coinage requires stronger pouches and so I decided to make them laminated. I also like pretty wallets for my holiday paperwork, and the papers in the box would work well for this project. The DCWV are 120-150gsm and thinner sheets are great for laminating, so I picked some pretty prints and plugged in the laminator. 

The first folders I made using 10” x 12”. The 2” strip cut off is used for the flap and the main section has a 2cm edge and then folded in half with a 2cm base flap.. The 2” strip is folded in half and the top edges rounded. . Then both sections were placed in a laminator sheet with a little space between the main body and the 2” top. 

You can find lots of videos on YouTube to make these pouches including a great selection from Positively Papercraft, who has a lot of laminating projects.

The next bundle were made wider and shorter as I find this size more useful. But made with the same process.

All the pouches had popper fastenings added .

While the laminator was on I also covered some of the papers one side only to make small purses  and envelope pouches.. To do this I cut the 12 x 12 papers to just smaller than an A4 page so 20cm x 28cm placed to pieces back to back and put them in a laminator sheet. 

With the strips that were taken off I made some purse size pouches that will be perfect for small amounts of cash or vouchers etc.In order to make them more useable I added some side gussets.. With the laminated sheets I cut them down to make laminated envelopes. With one side laminated the other side can be glued down. 

Here is a picture of my afternoon makes.

Another batch of papers used up from my stash. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee