A Back To School Special - DIY Tutorial : Drawstring Backpack

A back to school special! May it be for school, your toddlers day care bag, your child's library bag or even a fashion accessory for yourself, learn how to customize and create a Drawstring Backpack.

INSPIRED: I've recently been seeing a lot of Tutorials and hauls for back to school specials on blogs and youtube, so I was inspired to create a Tutorial for all you DIYers out there who want something customized that stands out from the crowd of backpacks we see nowadays. 
VERDICT: I made this especially for Maddy when we need a grab and go nappy bag for short outings. I just love how it's made especially for her. 

Materials You Will Need:

• Material for your backpack 
• Material for your customized Letter (if you want one)
• Template of your customized Letter
• Rope - Bunnings
• Thread and Needle 
• Scissors
• Pins
• Iron

Step One
Cut your bag fabric according to the templates above. I have provided both measurements for Junior Size for little bubba or Adult Size for yourself. 

Cut your ropes according to these measurements:
Junior: 2 lengths of 60"
Adult: 2 lengths of 90"

Step Two
Pin and cut your lettering template out onto your chosen lettering material.

Step Three
On the right side, center of one of the rectangles you had cut out in Step One, pin and sew your letter on.

Step Four
On the wrong side of both rectangles, fold the edges in 2" and press it down in place with your iron.

Step Five
On the top of both rectangle pieces sew the top fold down - this will be where you thread the drawstring later on, so sew as far from the folded edge as possible.
Follow as indicated in the picture. 

Step Six
With the two rectangle pieces facing right side to right side, sew them together.
Make sure not to sew the two bottom corners and the top edge together - sew as indicated in the picture.

Step Seven
Turning the bag inside out thread your set of ropes through the top edge, one rope designated for each side. Make sure the bag is in the center of both ropes - as indicated in the picture. 

Step Eight
Turn the bag inside out.
In the bottom two corners of the bag that you did not sew, thread the two ends of the ropes into each corner and tie a knot.

Step Nine
Pull the rope down as close to the corner as possible and sew the bottom corners a few times, to keep the ropes in place - as indicated in the picture. 

Turn it inside out and there you have it! Your own Drawstring Backpack!

Styling.

Looks like the bags got Maddy's approval! hehe.

First time visiting? Feel free to check out my other DIY Tutorials and follow by email (located on the top left corner) for news about future updates and DIY's. 

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If you do decide to do this Tutorial, I would love to check it out, just hashtag it on Instagram with #maddyandme

DIY: That Not So Transparents PVC Clutch Bag.

A DIY Tutorial on how to make your own PVC (if you're Asian you will know what this material is - it's what nearly every Asian household has to protect their dining table... LOL!) Clutch Bag. 

Inspired: It seems like almost everywhere I look on outfit posts and different look books a girl is holding a transparent clutch bag. Because I'm a pretty anal girl and don't like my possessions to be shown to just about anyone, I decided to make a DIY on my own take on the trend - a 'not-so-transparent' clutch bag.

Verdict: I'm a huge fan of PVC (it's so versatile), that when I was able to use it to make this bag I literally jumped for joy. 

First things First, cut your PVC to the following template.
I wanted a fairly over sized clutch so the following measurements were how I did mine, you can adjust yours to whatever size you prefer.

Materials You Will Need:

• PVC that you have cut according to the template above - I chose one with a lace print. (Material store)
• Stanley Knife or anything sharp enough to pierce through PVC 
• Good Industrial Glue
• Magnetic Bag Clasps (Spotlight)
• A Pretty Bead
• Matching Thread

Step One
For a more sturdy structure fold the edges of your PVC rectangle 1cm over two times and sew down - as indicated in the picture.

Step Two
With the wrong side facing you, fold up and sew the edges, leaving a 15cm flap, as indicated in the picture.

Step Three
For your magnetic bag closures, determine the center of the flap, and insert two slits 2cm away from the edge. 
Fold the flap over and where the slits meet on the side of the PVC clutch bag facing you, make another two slits for the other half of your magnetic bag closure - make sure to only put the slits on the side facing you.

Step Four
Insert your magnetic clasps where you had cut the slits.

Step Five
On the other side of your flap, conceal the back of the magnetic bag clasp but gluing down your chosen bead/gem.
Allow to dry. 


Yay! You have now completed your 'Not-so-transparent' clutch bag. Statement piece? I think so.

 Styling.

I hope you all enjoyed this DIY Tutorial. 

First time visiting? Feel free to check out my other DIY Tutorials and follow by email (located on the top left corner) for news about future updates and DIY's. 

Instagram: Maddyandme12

Twitter: Maddyandme

Pinterest: Maddyandme

If you do decide to do this Tutorial, I would love to check it out, just hashtag it on Instagram with #maddyandme

DIY: Make Up Brush Roll

An easy DIY Tutorial on how you can store all your make up brushes, a make up brush roll. Convenient for traveling and hygienic for home!

Inspired: I'm a very out of sight, out of mind person - when I don't see my stuff in front of me I completely forget I even own them. So when I was looking through Pinterest I stumbled across a picture of a similar make up brush roll made from a place mat, I was inspired. I made myself one and decided to document it for all of you make up brush hoarders (like myself), who like to have all their things laid out in front of them when getting ready, or who want something convenient to grab and go when traveling.
Verdict: It's been really convenient, when I'm finished getting ready I just roll and tuck away into my make up drawer. Convenient when it comes to cost as well, everything I used I already owned, but after making a visit to the Dollar Store, I calculated how much materials would cost to purchase and it all would cost $8.00 AU. 

Materials You Will Need:

• Bamboo Place Mat 
• Sewing Elastic
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Matching Thread & Needle

Step One
Cutting the elastic twice the length of the bamboo place mat, I then threaded it through one side of the place mat. 
Hand sew it in place as indicated in the picture. 

Step Two
Using my brushes as guidelines I then threaded the elastic through the bamboos. 
Make sure to make it tight, but not too tight that the place mat actually gathers together - just tight enough to secure the brushes in place. 

Step Three
Once I had completed the weaving for all my brushes I then repeated Step One. I weaved it through the end and secured it in place by hand sewing it, cutting off any excess of the elastic. 

Step Four
To secure the roll I then turned the place mat over and weaved my ribbon (30cm in length) through the elastic and tied a double knot. 

Step Five 
Now to close it up, I just rolled it, wrapped the ribbon around the roll and secured it by knotting a ribbon. 

Voila! Finished and organized!

Organizing. 

I hope you all enjoyed this DIY Tutorial. 

First time visiting? Feel free to check out my other DIY Tutorials and follow by email (located on the top left corner) for news about future updates and DIY's. 

Instagram: Maddyandme12

Twitter: Maddyandme

Pinterest: Maddyandme

If you do decide to do this Tutorial, I would love to check it out, just hashtag it on Instagram with #maddyandme

DIY: Clutch Bag Using A Place Mat!

Who says that place mat's are only used for the dinner table? Here is an easy DIY Tutorial on how you can think outside the box and transform a place mat into a new clutch to add to your wardrobe. 

Inspiration: I'm a huge fan of browsing Material Stores and Dollar Stores for inspiration, I came across this place mat with a beautiful pattern that I couldn't turn away from. After browsing the entire Dollar Store with the place mat in my hands, I realized it had the perfect structure to make a clutch bag!
Verdict: Cheap (all together costing me $4AU for all the materials) and quick to make, only taking me 5 minutes to make (with sewing machine, would be longer if sewn by hand).

Materials You Will Need:

• 1 Place mat
• Thread and Needle
• Button (I used an old one I had in my sewing trunk).
• Self Adhesive Velcro Tabs (Dollar Store)
• Pair of scissors

Step One
Fold and Sew, leaving a 20 cm flap as indicated in the picture. 

Step Two
Sew your button on the right side of the 20cm flap you had left. 

Step Three
For your bags closure, under the button (on the wrong side of the flap) stick your self adhesive velcro tabs down. 
On the clutch bag stick down the other self adhesive velcro tab down, making sure it is symmetrical to the first tab.


- YAY! You have now completed your place mat clutch bag. Simple right?

Styling. 

I hope you all enjoyed this DIY Tutorial and give it a try!

If you do decide to do this Tutorial, I would love to check it out, just hashtag it on Instagram with #maddyandme