MY LITTLE CRAFT PROJECT

First, I have to say THANK YOU to Cassie for the inspiration to become creative and make gifts instead of spending money to buy them. We're on a VERY limited budget right now, so this works in more ways than one. Cassie, you inspire me greatly, not only with your crafts, but as a mother, a wife, and friend. I look forward to reading your blog every day.
So, my girls attend "Friday Night Book Club" every week where they have treats and juice, they read books and do some simple craft projects. A local lady has taken this on since her children have all graduated and left home. She loves kids and they love her. Anytime somebody has a birthday, she always throws a birthday party for that individual. This past Friday, it was a birthday party for a little girl who used to be our neighbor and her mom was my daycare provider. So, I wanted to give her a special little gift. I got home from cleaning a friends house at 4:00, and Book Club starts at 6:00. I didn't know if I was going to get this pulled off, but it did work. I have TONS of jeans with holes in the knees, jeans that have been outgrown, etc. So, I put them to use:

I made a simple small denim multi-purpose bag. I used squares of different

shades of denim, and cut a pocket off a ridiculously short skirt I acquired

somewhere and would never wear in public. I sewed it on with raw fabric around

it so as it frays, it will look more and more "distressed"

The back was pretty basic...just the squares of different shades of denim

I used the waistband of a pair of my husband's jeans to "finish" the

top rim of the bag. I turned it wrong side out so the

"Faded Glory: Relaxed" tag showed on the side of the bag.

For the handle, I used more of the waistband of my husband's jeans,

mostly for embellishment, but also so she could undo

the strap and connect it to something if she chooses.

When I took the finished product to Book Club, all 25 of the kids wanted me to make them bags like this. They take books home each week, then return with it the following week to get a new one. So I told all the kids to ask their parents to send any old worn/grown out jeans with them to the next Book Club and I would make bags. They only take about 2 hours per bag but multiply that by 25 and I might have pulled all my hair out before I'm finished. But, the birthday girl was very pleased with it, so guess that's all that mattered. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS EMILY.