Post a Comment On: Larissa Another Day

FIRST things FIRST. We have a WINNER of the Craftaholics Anonymous giveaway...
the winner is lucky number #44...who is

[Image] A Few of My Favorite Things said...


I love love love the hot pink zipper shoes!Congrats Danielle! Send me your email address so we can get you your gift card.
Do you have someone on your list who is almost impossible to buy for??? They don't want anything new, and you have run out of sentimental picture based presents to give them. What to do, what to do? My suggestion...Do a state themed gift. Pick the place you live if they don't, pick their favorite state, pick a state that has some kind of significance. Then go crazy with putting together a present with things representing that state. AND why don't you start the whole thing off with a great t-shirt bag to put everything in.


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It is really easy to find a cool state t-shirt. Once you have found one you like (get an xlarge), here are the only other things you will need to make this bag-
1/2 yard or so of coordinating fabriccoordinating thread
Start by cutting off the sleeves and
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cutting off a 4" strip off the bottom of the tee.
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You will need to cut out 2 15x16 inch pieces of both the tee and the coordinating fabric. It is easiest to cut the t-shirt pieces at the same time using the front and back of the t-shirt.
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With like sides facing, pin only the  2 outside and bottom edges of the "bag" closed. Sew together with a 1/4" seam. 
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Pinch the corner flat and sew a line across like so, about 1 1/2- 2" from the point. Repeat for other corner.
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Cut off excess fabric.
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Repeat the previous 3 steps on the coordinating lining. EXCEPT, do NOT sew the entire bottom closed. You need to leave about a 4 inch gap, so that you can turn your lining out later.
Turn out the t-shirt part of your bag, but leave the lining inside out. They should look like this.
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Lets make some straps. Use the 4"scrap you cut off the bottom.
Cut it into two strips measuring 4" by 20".
Fold in half so that the strips are 2" by 20". Pin and sew along one edge, to close. Then turn out.
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To assemble bag-
Put inside out lining over the right side out t-shirt piece.
Fold each strap into a "U" shape. Insert a handle in between the lining and the t-shirt part of the bag.
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Like so. Mine was about 4" in from either side. Pin them in place. 
Now sew around top edge, securing the lining to the t-shirt part of the bag and securing your straps in place.
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Now it is time to turn your bag out. Pull the t-shirt part through the opening you left in the bottom of the lining.
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It should look like this.
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Sew the bottom of your lining closed with a small seam allowance.
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Put the lining of your bag in. Once it is all the way in, sew a small seam all around the outside top of the bag, just to finish off.
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Now you have a cute little state tote, which you can now fill with treasures from that state.
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For instance...
In Ohio you can add some homemade Buckeye candy.recipe tomorrow
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You could also add-
other food items representative of the stateprofessional sports team stuffpostcardsbooks by people from theremuseum items from therethings the state is known forstuff from a special store well known in that state (like in Ohio you could do Longaberger baskets OR Amy Butler Fabric...yes she is from Ohio)
Really the possibilities are endless.
Then once you gather all the stuff up, you will have this super cute bag to put it all in.
That hard to buy for person will LOVE it!

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