How to make a reusable Trick or Treat Bag!

Here's a way to make a reusable treat bag for your kiddos--or yourself--this Halloween!  :)  Just start with some cardboard, fabric paint, paint brush and a bag.  The bag can be homemade or not.  Here are a couple of how to's for bags you can use here or here.  You can control how involved you want this to be too!  Big or small bag, one color of paint or more, etc...  :)  The possibilities are endless!  (You can also experiment with different fabrics.)

The supplies . . .

Once you have your supplies in order, choose what design you would like to put on the bag.  You can sketch it on the bag with a pencil before painting or just wing it. ;)  (I sketched it beforehand.)  Place a piece of cardboard in the bag so they paint won't go through.  Then paint your design!  Again, possibilities are endless.  Princesses, Pumpkins, Cars, Animals, etc...  I did a little black cat, just like ours. :)

Finished Product!

 Let dry flat for 4 hours. (or more depending on the paint)  You can attach a strap or handle if desired.  Enjoy!  :)

This will be around for years to come, and you can always touch up paint as needed.  It's also washable, unlike some store-bought treat bags!  :)

How to make a tote bag

I don't know about you....but I really enjoy tote bags. :)  They come in every shape and size.  You can use them at the Farmer's Market, Mall, Grocery Store...and really everywhere!   I used to have some I really liked--mostly because they were pretty.  They actually had some of the most uncomfortable straps ever.  And then, my reusable bags aren't the prettiest things in the world...but they are comfortable to carry.

So, I decided to make one (and hopefully will turn into some) for myself.  Here's the how to...but I'm going to be honest with the fact that I'm not ever sure how to go about writing it to make sense to you.  So, feel free to ask questions! :)  Also, Apple Pie Gal just recently did a tutorial on purses that would probably be helpful for you!  :)

Oh, and I just got the greatest deal on the fabric I used for this bag...so naturally I have to share that with you!  when I was at Target last week, I noticed they had some clearance items on an end cap of one of the bedding aisles.  Sometimes their "Clearance" can mean just 15 or 30% off.  But this time, it was a whopping 75% off!  So, I picked up a set of twin sheets for only $3.48!  And they are adorable!  And, I am using them to make things like totes! :)


On to the tutorial eh?  :)

Start out with some fabric.  More specifically make two rectangles that are the same size.  Each one of these is roughly the size I wanted my finished product to be, when folded in half.

 Now if you'd like a pocket on the inside cut a long rectangle out of fabric.

 Then fold that pocket fabric in half like so.

 Then sew around the pocket fabric so it has finished edges like sew.  ;)

 Now, take one of the large rectangles of fabric and pin your pocket into place.  Make sure that the pretty side of the fabric is facing up on both the pocket and the large rectangle.

 Sew the sides and bottom of the pocket, to make the actual pocket.  You can also make stitches through the pocket to hold pens, phones, etc....  I did make one for a pen.  You'll see in a minute. 

 Backside of the pocket that I just sewed on the beginnings of the bag.

 My pen slot on my pocket!

 Alright, this is when you are going to sew the bag together.  First off, I for some reason didn't get pictures of this whole part of the process....and for that I'm sorry!  But, I think I can explain it ok.  

Lay out your large rectangles on the table with the pretty sides facing each other.  Then pick it up in the middle and fold them in half, together.  So you'll have 4 layers of fabric that you will sew together, and you see the non pretty side.  Like above pic.

Pin those into place so they don't move while sewing them together.  Then sew around the sides and bottom, and be sure to not sew the top closed!  :)  You can double stitch the sides and bottom, I did just to make sure it will last a long time!  :)  

Then once you have sewn the bag together turn it right side out.  This part will be confusing at first, but fear not, you'll get it!  Just turn it until the pretty sides of the fabric are on the outside and inside.  Oh, and make sure the pocket is on the inside...unless you want it on the outside! :)  

 So the outside should look like this at this point.

 And the inside should look like this.

Then....I apparently didn't get photos of the next step either. :(  You'll have raw edges at the top of the bag, so we'll turn those in and top stitch them, where we'll also attach the strap.  For now, fold the edges in about 1/2" at the top and pin into place.  Then get the strap ready before top stitching...

Strap:  Figure out how long you'd like it.  I wanted my long enough to be able to cross my body, so I just held it up until it was the right length for me.  Be sure to cut the fabric wide enough so you can have a few layers.  (To better distribute weight....trust me on this one!)  Then once you have your fabric cut out, fold it until it is your desired width with all raw edges hidden.  Then top stitch it so it looks like the strap below.

 Once the strap is all sewn together you can start top stitching the top of the bag to finish it and attach the strap!  Just go around the bag, and insert the straps where you'd like.  I did then just next to the side seems so it will cross easily.

 Once you are done top stitching you are almost all done!  Good work!  All you have to do is add a few finishing touches--some of which are optional!  :)  One that isn't optional though is reinforcing the strap attachments.  You can sew something like above to reinforce the straps...notice now I didn't use contrasting thread for this step.  You can do whatever floats your boat though!  :)

Then some other things you can add are:  closures like a button, some velcro, snaps, etc... 

But if you'd just like to stick with simple, you're done with your tote!  That's where I stopped with this one...I will probably get more adventurous with the next one though!  :)  I can't wait to go somewhere just to use it!

Hey, if you want to check out the bag in use see this page.

How to make your own reusable produce bags!

Sew, I've been eyeing reusable produce bags online and at stores...but can't seem to find any that are very reasonable.  Sew --  and yes I do think I'm clever using sew for so today (:  -- when I found this mesh laundry bag of mine (that I got free from someone handing them out at college my freshman year) I decided it would be perfect to use as the material for my bags.  (Sorry for the run on sentence.)

I'm planning on using these at the grocery store as well as farmers markets for fresh produce.  If you can think of other ways to use these send me those ideas too, I'm always interested!  :)  You could also easily do this with lightweight fabric that you have on hand, or mesh you can buy at the store.  I did want some that you could see through though, so you may want that as well.  :)

Anyway, here's how I did it, and you can too!   It's sew easy!  ;)

1.  Lay out your bag on a flat surface.

2.  Cut into 4 equal pieces.  (You could measure and be exact...or you could just wing it like I did today.)

3.  Sew up the rectangles so they are bag like shapes with one end open.  (Somehow I ended up with no pics of this step...but I did double stitch the mesh sides that I sewed up to ensure they would be secure!)

And since I cut up a bag, I didn't have to sew all the sides--just an fyi.

4.  Then get some string or yarn to use for the draw string.  Cut a piece that is long enough to go all the way around the bag at the top, and knot it together to make a loop.  Then place it at the top and fold over the mesh/fabric like so and sew it to make a loop for the string.  (Fold the bag inside out and fold over the fabric to sew for the loop, and be careful not to sew the string or else it won't work as a draw string.)

5.  Repeat with the rest of the bags, and the end product should look something like this at the top.  Then cut a small hole in the mesh/fabric and pull the string out where the knot is.  Now you have a functioning closure for your bag!! :)

Here's a better view of the drawstring closure working on one of my bags.  Cute huh?  And functional. :)

Viola!  Here are my four produce bags (with drawstring closures) that I made out of the unused laundry bag I had lying around!  Sure they aren't perfect.  Sure they aren't all uniform.  But, hey!  They didn't cost me a thing, AND I can use them instead of one time use produce bags at the store from now on!!  :)

Hope this made sense and is helpful.  If you have any questions feel free to ask a question or let me know!  :)