Scrap Bag Swap 2014 - A Pocket Organiser

Ever since seeing this gorgeous pocket organiser on Pinterest  (from the blog post http://nicety.livejournal.com/1217050.html which has lots more photo's of the stunning kids space the organiser is hanging in) I wanted to make my own one and late last year I finally did, making one for my friend's daughters 7 year old birthday. Some of the fabrics I used were from a fabric scrap bag swap I took part in 2 years ago organised by Nin  (I was very lucky to also get Nin as my swap partner who sent me a beautiful bag of scrap fabrics which have been well used) so it was fun to get them out again to make this.  If you have a bunch of scraps then this is the perfect project as you can have a lot of fun choosing different pieces for the pockets and you don't need a lot of fabric for each pocket. I didn't do any measuring for this project which really appeals to me so it was a reasonably quick project too - it probably took me 2 hours max.

For the white back and front pieces I cut out 2 large pieces of fabric (each one about 50cm x 80 cm approx). I used my favourite off white cotton duck that I get from Bernina, a lovely heavy linen looking fabric that I use for heaps of my projects.  Then the fun part-  I got out all my scraps and found a mix of pink pieces, then cut out different size rectangles and played around fitting them on the front piece of fabric. Once I had them sorted I folded over the tops and sides of each pocket and ironed them, and then stitched around them.

For some pockets I added a bit of embellishment like a piece of lace or ricrac.

You could also do things like hand stitch the initial of their name to a pocket, or appliqué their name across the top of the organiser.

I added a ribbon down one side to put hair clips on, and a little ribbon loop under one pocket to attach things like headbands, or a carabina with hair ties on it like this one I shared on my Facebook page a few weeks ago.

I also added a line of lace across the top of the pockets so things like cards and postcards could be attached with pegs.

Then I pinned the pockets on and sewed around the sides and bottom of each pocket to attach them to the front piece of fabric. Once that was done I placed my back piece over the front piece (right sides together), sewed around the whole thing leaving a gap at the bottom for turning, then turned it right sides out and top stitched around the organiser to finish it off. I added two ribbon loops to the top back of the organiser so it could be hung on the wall.

I found a small container and filled it with a few things for the pockets to give with the organiser- 7 year old girls are lots of fun to buy for :) 

I can't wait to make one of these for each of my kids - anything to facilitate any sort of tidying/storage will be a good thing in their bedrooms!

Don't forget to check out all the other blog posts for Nin's Scrap Bag Swap series- there's a link to them all here, and join in the swap next year if you are keen!

http://notchkas-wardrobe.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/a-blog-hop-quilt-along-and-competition.html

Megan

Using Decorative Tapes at Home

This is my last post as part of my series of ideas for using the new Scotch® Expression Tapes,   I have had a lot of fun thinking of ideas for each of my posts- it has been pretty challenging getting them all done during one of the busiest months of the year (school holidays/going away trips) but I have enjoyed sharing my ideas with you!  So here is my last post with a few ideas for using washi tape and the new Scotch® magic tape in your home. As I said in my first post I've been using washi tape for quite a few years for all sorts of things so this is a pretty easy post to write...

I used the magic tape (a matte repositionable tape) to label my containers in my pantry.

I also use it to label containers that go to school for bake sales and the like rather than writing straight on the container.

We use our pantry doors as a bit of an art display wall so I love using washi tape to stick the pictures to the doors.

It's Valentines Day next week so I taped this heart onto a wall by our dining table and made some more washi tape heart stickers  as well.

I bought some new mascara the other day (I buy it probably less than once a year) so I had the idea of taping a bit of magic tape on it and labelling it with the date so I'll know how old it is (apparently it only has a shelf life of 3/4 months!!) 

I also had the idea of using washi tape to make a bookmark type thing just by folding over the tape about 2cm higher than the book and sticking to the other side of the page.

And here are a few more cute ideas I've found on blogs and pinterest-I have heaps more ideas on my 'I love washi tape' pinterest board as well :)

More kitchen labelling and decorating

http://www.sisterssuitcaseblog.com/2012/04/washi-tape-week-day-1-kitchen.html

Washi tape shelf edging

http://www.auntpeaches.com/2013/04/washi-tape-shelf-edging.html#more

A stripy washi wall!

http://www.annkelle.com/my-washi-wall/

Label wine glasses at a party

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/268808671481396667/

Use for gift wrapping - this is how I wrap most of my presents now!

http://www.vitaminihandmade.com/2011/06/i-love-this-tape.html

So I hope you've enjoyed my series of Scotch® tape posts- all of the tapes are at Warehouse Stationery or Fishpond so have fun and get crafty!

Megan x

Here are my other Scotch® Tape blog posts...

Getting Crafty with Scotch® Expressions tape

Washi Tape Craft Party

Washi Tape Kids Art and Crafts

Washi Tape Back to School ideas

Decorative tape ideas in the Classroom

A Washi Tape Dollshouse

A Washi Tape Dollshouse

At the end of last year I took home a dollhouse from a teacher's classroom at my daughters school, planning on doing a quick reno on it for her. Here are some before shots...

I got the kids doing a bit of sanding and then painted the whole thing white.

Then on the last weekend of the school holidays I realised I better quickly get it finished! I used scrapbooking card to wallpaper the top rooms, and then just painted the bottom floors back walls. Then I had the brainwave to use the new Scotch® Washi and Magic Tapes to tape the floors (I especially love the blue patterned magic tape that I think looks like a mediterranean tiled floor and the black and white chevron washi tape floor which I can just imagine on some stylish New York loft apartment)

As I was taping the floors I was checking facebook for something and up came this photo from the Small Acorns facebook page of a dollshouse made out of cardboxes and decorated with pictures from magazines.  Can't believe I hadn't thought of doing this before as I was thinking the dollshouse was going to be a bit sad without any furniture! So I got my stash of Your Home and Garden magazines out (so glad I hadn't got rid of them when we moved) and had heaps of fun going through them for pictures  that would work for each room. 

My favourite pictures are the bookcases as they really look 3D on the walls of the dollhouse, and I love the couches in the lounge too. Some things are a little bit out of proportion and the upstairs especially is quite random but all in all it looks pretty cool and costs a lot less than my previous dollhouse!!

Here are some more pics...I used modpodge to stick them all to the walls, and then a layer of modpodge over all the walls and floors to seal them.

I was finding it hard to find a kitchen that would fit under the window and then I spotted this cute kitchen by Emily Henderson that LeeAnn Yare shared on her facebook page so I printed it out- easy!

I found out that the lovely painting I cut out for this bedroom is from the home of Hayley who runs The Art Room Limited- she spotted it when I shared a few pics on my facebook page! 

It was pretty fiddly cutting out this bunting but a lot quicker than making my own still! The mini art works on the left and right were from an ad for wallpapers in one of the magazines.

The arrow light is from Alex Fultons home 

I thought of Miss Molly Coddle when I cut out the turquoise peacock chair for the kitchen :)

So if you are wanting to do a dollshouse reno this is a great option- you could even washi or magic tape the walls- a lot easier and quicker than paint or wallpapering! (and if you want to change it it's really easy to remove the tape). This would be a great activity to do with kids too, just give them a shoe box and let them decorate it! 

Megan 

 PS: This is the last week of the Scotch® Back to School "Make it Amazing" Promotion so if you've made anything with the new Scotch® tapes upload a pic on the Scotch® facebook page here and you'll be in to win an i-pad mini- there are prizes just for voting as well. I've got one more blog post to publish 'Using Washi Tape at Home" so look out for that :)

Here are my other Scotch® Tape blog posts...

Getting Crafty with Scotch® Expressions tape

Washi Tape Craft Party

Washi Tape Kids Art and Crafts

Washi Tape Back to School ideas

Decorative tape ideas in the Classroom

Decorative tape ideas in the classroom

One of the things I really love doing (and something I hope to do more of this year) is helping teachers set up and organise their classrooms. Last year I got to help a teacher at the end of the year declutter and sort all of her classroom stuff as she was moving classrooms and I loved it. I only wish my work with the Scotch Expression Tapes Promotion had started a bit earlier as I would have had a ball using the new Scotch tapes in her classroom! So for this blog post I've had to search pinterest and blogs to find images for all the ideas I've got for using decorative tapes in the classroom... maybe someone will let me do a bit of decorating in their classroom if they read this blog post ;)

* This is a cute idea for organising your supplies so you can change the labels if you change the use of the containers- use small pegs decorated with washi tape to attach labels to the containers



http://www.miss-kindergarten.com/2013/08/scotch-expressions-tape-organization.html

* Decorate boxes or small tins with washi tape and attach magnets to the back so you can attach it to your whiteboard

http://www.miss-kindergarten.com/2014/01/scotchexp-magnetic-supply-organization.html

*Use washi tape or the Scotch magic tape to organise and divide spaces on your whiteboard

http://applesandabcs.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/scotch-expressions-tape-classroom-diy.html

http://www.craftinterrupted.com/2012/09/washi-whiteboard-calendar-w-magnets.html

*Decorate teacher clipboards with washi tape



http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/washi-tape-clipboard

*Style up your filing cabinet with duraseal and washi tape edging

http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html

*I love using old cans/tins for classroom supplies- nice and sturdy, and free! Use washi tape to decorate them and fill with supplies. You could also decorate old boxes for supplies as well.

http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2012/04/washi-tape-tin-cans.html

http://butterflyfish.de/2013/06/14/diy-freitag-die-schnelle-stiftebox/

* With all that time you have spare why not decorate your laptop- you could really push the boat out and decorate your cords to match as well :)

http://feltsocute.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/washi-laptop/

http://deliciousspaces.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/washi-tape-cords.html

*And this could be really handy in the classroom for all the different cords you need for the digital camera, ipad, phone etc- label each cord using washi tape


http://dabblesandbabbles.com/organization-with-washi-tape/

*Make your day planner a bit more appealing and fun to look at by using washi tape to highlight events, things to remember etc

http://take2theyresmall.com/my-calendar-from-overloaded-to-energized/

*Use the Scotch decorative duct tapes to mark out areas on the classroom floor (maybe check they will easily lift off the carpet first before going too crazy though!) Mark out areas for your mat, childrens seating or construction play areas etc. Also, if you have to have cords running across the floor use duct tape to tape them down.

http://www.aspecialsparkle.com/2013/07/visual-solutions-for-staying-in-your.html


http://www.montessorimessy.com/2012/05/how-to-make-ellipse-on-floor.html

This would be pretty cool if you have a vinyl area in your classroom- make a little town or car track using tape.

http://lejardindejuliette.blogspot.be/2012/09/washi-tape-car-track.html

All the best to all the awesome teachers out there who have been working hard these holidays getting their classrooms all ready for their new students, have a great first day tomorrow.

And don't forget to to check out the Scotch® facebook page and app 'Make it Amazing' to be in to win an i-pad mini with your own creations!

You can check out my other Scotch® Expressions tape posts here...
Getting Crafty with Scotch® Expressions tape

Washi Tape Craft Party

Washi Tape Kids Art and Crafts

Washi Tape Back to School ideas

Megan