recycled gifts and crafts

she_grinch

I have just found this bag http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2476/1600/french_holidays_bag_02.0.jpg
The little D rings could be oversewn on and then you could possibly knit, crochet, use cord,, webbing, or even possibly an old belt for the strap or handle

mary43

she grinch - thanks for that. Can't knit (fingers won't let me anymore) and never could master the art of crochet. Think my best bet might be to forage in out charity shops - they have baskets of belts there for about 50p that might do the job.

she_grinch

This is a useful idea as they just clip on http://www.u-handbag.com/index.php?cPath=21&main_page=index
so perhaps you could use a cat lead or belt in a similar fashion

or (and this is where my head goes into overdrive whilst I have been sleeping!) could you use those suspender straps and a button so that the handles clip on to the bag the same as a stocking to a suspender!;) You could always use the giant kind that hold ironing covers or bottom sheets in place!

The other cheeky idea I had was, I wonder if the local shoe menders would sew handles on for you as they have a machine so that they can stitch shoes, this would be really tough thread but I assume the colour of thread would be limited!

maisiesmum

What great ideas all round!!

I found a site, but can't find the link ow where a lady took your favourite babies outfit and made beautiful teddy bears from it!! I thought that would be such a special gift!!

mary43

she grinch - thanks for that link. Looks a good way of doing it. I'll still rummage through charity shop belts just in case they've got something and must inspect my bags - never got around to it the other day - might be something I can 'recycle' from one of the many unused ones:rotfl:

Chris25

maisiesmum wrote: »

What great ideas all round!!

I found a site, but can't find the link ow where a lady took your favourite babies outfit and made beautiful teddy bears from it!! I thought that would be such a special gift!!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Teddy-Bear you could use any fabric. I think Nina Campbell used to sell them in the nursery fabrics to match bedlinen

claffys

Hi all as I'm at slimming world and losing the baby weight at last my jeans have become too big :T

I'm not going to get away with wearing them for much longer so want to turn them into a bag.

Can anyone direct me to a website with instructions on how best to do it.

Thanks
Em
x

she_grinch

This has easy to follow instructions for a denim bag http://www.threadbanger.com/post/2642/how-to-turn-old-jeans-into-a-sweet-new-purse

Mary look at how these handles are attached!

This is a beautiful apron from jeans http://blog.betzwhite.com/2007/07/by-seat-of-my-pants.html

organiser from pockets http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/denim-organizer.shtml

she_grinch

Here is a longer apron from jeans http://mybyrdhouse.blogspot.com/2007/09/september-apron-tutorial-jeans-apron-2.html

she_grinch

Here is a clever idea for hiding house keys outsidehttp://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/01/craft-project-key-hider.html
using just a pill bottle and a stone!