Ryan's room update and my VW camper van bag

VW camper van messenger bag

You will have noticed a distinct lack of posts updating the progress of my makeover of Ryan's room. I promise as soon as I persuade the other half to venture up to the loft and retrieve my paste table, work will begin.

VW camper van fabric

 In the meantime I have been busying myself with making a few more bags, with the idea of either selling them at a craft fair or giving them as Christmas gifts.

Bag of the bag

After my first attempt at making and doing the messenger bag tutorial, using a mans shirt I found in my local charity shop, the bug has bit. I have now started hunting out charity shops, just so I can see what interesting shirts they have. I now have a box full of future bags, ready for the winter. 

I have already completed two bags, a checked man bag messenger and just finished a VW Camper van smaller bag. The VW bag came about after seeing a piece of fabric in little shop near me, just big enough for a flap and trim. It sparked my imagination and my new bag was born. The main body of the bag was recycled linen type trousers and an old webbing belt for the strap.

What do you think, should I sell or gift?

Today was also the day I made my Facebook page live, I'd love it if you wanted to take a look and like my page.. click here Bunting Corner on Facebook
If you want to see the original messenger bag tutorial here is the link messenger bag tutorial

Nat x

Messenger bag tutorial

Messenger bag tutorial

For this tutorial I used a mans shirt that I found in a charity shop. When I drew out the pattern I took into account where the pockets and details were on the shirt as I wanted to incorporate them into the design. You could always just buy your own fabric

pattern pieces

You will need :

Shirt or fabric approx 1 mtr

lining approx 1 mtr

interfacing firm 1 mtr

webbing for strap

fastener

• decide on the dimensions you want your bag to be. I wanted to be able to fit my A4 book inside. Using these add your seam allowance and cut out the pattern pieces.
• Cut out as per pattern above. You will need to cut interfacing to stiffen the fabric and give it structure.

• If not cutting from one piece of fabric do all the joins first.
• iron or sew interfacing to bag pieces.
• Sew flap and flap facing together RS together.

Bag body pieces added together

Interfacing added

Sewing flap and flap facing together

• Sew flap to bag body.
• Sew sides together.
• Add strap, you can make this adjustable or as I did with this bag measure required length and use a fixed piece of webbing for the strap.
• Made lining in same way.

Adding a pocket to the lining

Lining joined to the bag

• Sew lining to flap facing.
• Place lining inside bag and pin to bag body, top stitch together.

I added an extra piece of fabric to inner to fasten a clip to bag

• Add the fastening to your bag.

The finished bag

• Enjoy your new bag

Robotic Cookie - Jewellery with personality

I think I am really going to enjoy blogging, currently working on another bag tutorial, I will post it up as soon as its completed. Tweeking a pattern I found on the internet to make a few custom changes and upcycling a shirt I found in a charity shop to make the prototype. Upcycling, isn't that a fantastic word.

Well any-who while I busy myself playing with the bag I wanted to share another blog that I follow,  RoboticCookie is a blog by a geeky jewellery designer, her designs are both cute and on-trend and just that bit different.

Robotic Cookie - Work in progress

I am also  immensely proud of all of her designs, Robotic Cookie just happens to be my daughter. From items inspired by popular shows like Game of Thrones, Dr Who and Sailor Moon through to cute icelolly and doughnut earrings, her pieces allow you to add that touch of individuality to an outfit.

Robotic Cookie - Beach huts 

With Christmas now on the horizon why not try and buy gifts this year that are handmade, made in the UK and unique. I know that's my plan this year. In fact as I love beach huts so much I am commissioning her to make me some beach hut Christmas tree decorations to add to my tree this year. 

What do you think? 

Nat x

Sport Cartoon Decoupage Numbers

Cartoon Decoupage Tutorial

If you read my earlier blog, you will know that I am starting a room makeover for my stepson Ryan. His list was quite long and slightly challenging, but I do love a challenge. He wants the shirts of his two favourite footballers on his wall, Messi and Pele. Even as someone that does not follow football, I realised that replica shirts would be very expensive and as my budget for the makeover is pretty small, I decided I needed to improvise. I plan to draw the outline of the shirt on the wall and use covered cardboard for the player's numbers. Both players wear number ten, not sure yet how I will do the player's names but sure I will think of something. 

I got the numbers after a trip to my local  Hobbycraft ,at only £2 each,I thought they were very reasonable. I also picked up to some Mod Podge and a brush. Well with numbers, glue and brush all I needed to get started was some football magazines. Thankfully he has a big drawer full of Match magazines, so armed with a pile of last years editions I was ready to get started. Below is my go at a tutorial to show you what to do:

1. First grab yourself a tray or cover your table with a cloth or some paper.
2. Go through your magazines and cut out the images you want to use, the more the better as you can pick and choose which you want to  use where.

   

   My number ready to be decoupaged

3. Once you have a piece selected for use cover it with Mod Podge and place it on your number. If the area has any curves I found it better to cut the pieces into thin strips. That way you don't get any creases or wrinkles. 
4. if your number has a middle, as with my zero, I found it easier to cover the inside first.

   

   Starting to stick my pieces on - I realised it was better to do the edges first after I took this picture

5. Once this done, then cover the outer edge.
6. The last step is to cover the centre sections front and back. Make sure to let some of your pieces go over to the side to let the deign flow.
7. Once you have covered the whole area feel free to go over the design with a layer of Mod Podge to seal it.



The finished number - not bad for a first attempt

8. All that is left is to stand back and admire your handiwork.

I love the look of this so much, I think i may have to decoupage his bed and skirting board

Number ten ready to go on the wall

Well I hope this has shown you how easy and inexpensive it is to do some decoupage yourself. I'd love for you to share your ideas and projects with me.