Wheelchair Bag Tutorial

We made these wheelchair bags to take with us for our Activity Days trip to the Pocopson home in December.

Here's a quick tutorial!

What you'll need:

~ A sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper (This will be your template)
~ Approx. 1/3 yd of Main fabric
~ Approx. 1/3 yd of Lining fabric
~ Thread
~ Sewing machine
~ Scissors

Step 1: Using the sheet of paper as a template, cut out two rectangles from your main fabric and two rectangles from the lining fabric.

(This fabric reminds me of the 90's......)

Step 2: From the remaining fabric (main or lining) cut four strips 2 inches wide x 12 inches long.

Step 3: Straps - Fold fabric strips lengthwise with right sides together.

Starting at the folded side of one end, sew across and down the strip of fabric with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. 

Clip corners and turn inside out. (I used a wooden chopstick for this step...It was a perfect tool.)

Press straps.

 Step 4: Bag - with right sides together, starting with a short side, sew three sides of the rectangle using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Repeat with the lining fabric.

Press the seams flat near the opening of each pouch.

Clip corners.

Step 5: Turn the sewn lining fabric pouch right side out.

Insert it into the main fabric pouch. 

Sandwich and pin the straps between the main fabric pouch and lining pouch, two at each end. Make sure they're lined up with one another. The length of the strap should be tucked between the two layers. 

Sew around the edge of the bag with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 1 inch opening for turning. I also back-stitched at the start and finish AND at each strap for reinforcement (optional, of course).

Step 6: Gently turn the bag inside out.

Stuff the lining inside the bag. Pin or press the edge around the bag opening. 

Sew 1/8 inch from the bag opening around to close the hole. 

Press.

(Demonstrating the bag's use on the girl's shopping cart....)

 Done!

St. Patrick's Day Hair-bow

Do you need a spot of green for Saint Patrick's Day? A great idea (you know, if you're under 10) is a little hair bow.

I got some lovely themed ribbon from Joann's for 50% off, and a St. Patrick's Day four-leaf clover lei from Michael's (for $0.59) - which I then harvested for the clover shapes (below).

(Consult any one of a million tutorials out on the internet for a how-to on bow making - you'll need a glue gun, hair-clips, ribbon and about 10 minutes. It's easy and fun!)

The end result is this - a lovely little hair-bow for my little girl.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Construction Paper Flower Tutorial

For my first official Activity Days activity we made these construction paper flowers.

Here's what you'll need:

A hand (you should have one of those, right?)
Construction paper
Pipe cleaners
Tape
Something to trace with and add some color (Crayons, markers, pencils, etc.)

Step 1: Put your hand on the paper and trace around.




Step 2: Cut out your traced hand.


Step 3: Take your pipe cleaner and make a fun design at the end

OR twist several colors together and make your stem colorful!

Step 4: Take your crayon/marker/whatever and roll the fingers around it to give them a curl.


You could also color the petals at this stage if you'd like.


Step 5: Start rolling the pipe cleaner with the paper hand starting at the corner at the wrist.



Step 6: Tape at the base of the flower when finished.


My little helper with the finished product.

I also tried a different flower style by making two lily patterns and layering them:


The only difference in the method is that I attached the the two layers together with tape before I rolled them onto the pipe cleaner.



Enjoy your beautiful bouquet!