Groupon

Everyone should check out Groupon!

You've probably heard of it, but it gives you great daily deals to local businesses in your city. (Today happens to be a deal for dental work...but most of them are more exciting than that!)

It could be frugal!

Cute Little Tote Bag Tutorial

I love thinking about making bags. Today, I decided to make one. It didn't take me that long (my son took an hour and fifteen minute nap, shorter than usual, but I finished this bag during his nap!)

You will need:

2-10"x 14" pieces for the bag's exterior

2-10" x 14" pieces for the bag's lining (I used the same fabric)

4"x17" piece for the strap

Prepare the strap by pressing it in half (the long way with wrong sides together), then opening it up and pressing each side to the middle fold. Then fold it in half again and stitch it closed.

3.5" x 8" piece for the closure

Prepare the closure by folding it in half (it will be 4" in length now), stitching a tube, and then turning it so the seam is inside. Then press the whole thing and the raw edges in and top stitch around the whole thing.

Prepare the both the exterior and lining by sewing the sides and bottom (exception: do NOT sew the entire bottom of the lining. Leave a space large enough to put your hand through for turning the bag later!). Add gussets (for instructions, see tutorial for the small button-front bag tutorial). Clip the corners. Add one part of a velcro closure to the front of the bag's exterior.

Now place the exterior and interior with right sides together. Pin around the top of both. Be sure to pin the bag's strap to the upper edges at the side seams. It will look like this:

Just sew around the whole top. Then, insert your hand through the bottom of the lining and turn the whole bag. Press. Top stitch around the top of the bag. Add the other side of the velcro closure to the bag's closure piece. Stitch the closure piece to the back of the bag and you're all done!

Easy to make, cute, and a great gift.

More Newborn Slippers

I made a few more pairs of newborn shoes to use up some scraps!

The green ones should look familiar; they were part of the dinosaur gift I posted about yesterday.

Stuffed Dinosaur Tutorial & Pattern

I wanted to make a birthday present for one of our little guy's new friends.

As part of the gift, I made some dinosaur stuffed animals. They're pretty cute. I'm sharing the pattern here. Here are the corresponding instructions:

1. After you print out and cut the pattern, cut two pieces of fabric for the front and back. Cut five spikes out of felt.

2. Place them right sides together.

3. Place the spikes pointing down on top of the right side of the front fabric.

Now place the second fabric piece over top of the spikes. Pin each spike in place being sure to pin the whole way through both the front and back fabrics.

4. Sew the whole way around the dinosaur's bodies but make sure to leave a space at the bottom through which to turn the fabric and to stuff the dinosaur.

5. Stitch up the opening! All done!

This pattern is only for your personal use or to make gifts. Don't sell the finished dinosaurs made with my pattern. Thanks.

Here's what the gift looks like! You can find the pattern for the slippers here.

Double-Sided Washcloth

Here is another way to use up a towel that is no longer meeting your expectations! I made a double-sided washcloth. I used some flannel and minky fabric scraps to make the soft front and then I used my towel (see here for my other ideas for reusing an old towel). I made it approximately 8"x8".

These could make cute baby gifts! You could also make them for grown-ups. I think they'd be good for removing makeup!