Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Reusable Shopping Bag to Apron!


I promised you a project today, and here it is! When I was working on Anna's changing table transformation last week, I had this ingenious idea {if I do say so myself!} I have quite the collection of reusable shopping bags, but my favorites are the huge bags from TJ Maxx. They have the cutest patterns and colors, and for only 99 cents each, I can't leave the store without a new one :)

I thought it would be fun to make her a little apron to wear when she is "working" in her ice cream parlor. I had this bag in my collection in the perfect colors, so I thought... how cute would it be to have matching mommy-daughter aprons? There was plenty of bag for both!

I started with my apron...


The best part is, you just leave the bag handle as it is and it becomes the top {neck} strap for your apron! I continued to cut down to include the bottom piece of the bag to make the apron longer. It still wasn't quite as long as I wanted, so I added a few rows of ruffles. Then I just sewed on 2 pieces of ribbon for my ties.

For Anna's, I used a little apron she already has as the pattern, and cut it out {using the top edge of the bag as the top of the apron}. I left the sides unfinished because the material is plastic-coated and doesn't fray!
I added some pom poms and ribbon for her trim, and then re-attached the "handle" for her straps on top. I also used velrco to make it adjustable around the neck. Look at it on my baby.... Oh my cute!


She loves it so much, she wanted to wear it all morning... I even let her wear it to the store :) I had one of my friends snap this picture of us together:

{My apron is quite a bit longer than it looks here!}

These were SO quick and easy to make! The most time-consuming part was adding the ruffles and trim, but those are not even necessary... they would still be super cute without it. And they are great for kids because the material is totally wipeable! I am so excited to make more! $1 for 2 aprons -- how can you beat that? Wouldn't they make cute gifts?


Let me know if you try it!



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51 comments:

  1. lovely idea, tks for sharing it!
    rgds, dalys Ç(visiting from 36th ave.party.

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  2. How fun is this?!? I LOVE this idea!! So creative! I want to dig into my bags now and make some! Thanks for sharing at Thursday's Temptation.
    JIll

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  3. Cute idea! I'll have to try this when my little girl gets a bit bigger.

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  4. Found your blog via the Blog Hop. I’m your newest GFC follower!
    http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/

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  5. What a great idea!! They turned out so cute! I'm learning to sew, so I might be able to try this! :)

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  6. These are FABULOUS!!!!!! I would like one for my and my daughters!!

    I sure would LOVE IT if you shared this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream to Reality! PLEASE :)
    http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/03/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-8.html

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  8. CUTE!! Seriously, how do you come up with these ideas?? I laughed out loud when I read this, because I think we could be cousins. I TOO love these TJ Maxx bags and can't leave the store without one! At Christmas they had really cute Christmasy ones and I used those as placemats for a Women's Christmas Luncheon at church. They doubled as take-home gifts. Clever, eh?? :)

    Also, could your daughter be any cuter?? Adorable!!

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  9. What a brilliant idea! I am going to have to make one of these for my daughter!!

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  10. I especially like the idea of it being wipeable! Think I'm going to try this too!

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  11. That is adorable! She is too cute for words! I would love for you to link this up at Fantabulous Friday going on now.

    http://littlebeckyhomecky.blogspot.com/2012/03/fantabulous-friday5.html

    Hope to see you there!

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  12. This is genius! Thanks for sharing, I'm on way way to find these.

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  13. oh, look how talented you are :) I found both your links on Not Just a Housewife link party... I love these! How cute, and I think even I, who doesn't sew, could figure out how to pull this off!
    PS, I also have an Anna! :)

    Leanne

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  14. Hi Holly. The print and colors are so cute. And you're an Einstein for thinking of it!
    I'm now following you, maybe your genious will rub off on me.

    Hugs…Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute

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  15. Such a cool idea and they both look fabulous!!!

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  17. Aren't you the cutest mommy EVER! I'm sharing this on my FB page this second! XO, Aimee

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  18. What an amazing idea! I love the colors. Megan

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  19. Well my little Nat-cat and Holl-doll you two are too cute for words. I have just discovered these bags and in fact just bought the same bag you used for the apron last week - great minds do think alike. I'm planning on showing your idea for our mother's day work meeting at church. What a big girl Anna is getting to be - it's still so funny that she's blond! I think I know who is in charge of WW craft night this
    year!!! Your blog is adorable and I love the name - I can remember how excited I always was to see MY sister's suitcase in the hall :) Keep up the good work. LOVE YOU BOTH! YFA Kath

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  20. How AWESOME!!! We must be on the same wave length!!! Your aprons are darling! I love all the embellishments! So super cute!!! Thanks for your comments on my blog. I am your newest follower!!!

    <3

    Risa

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  21. Featuring you on my blog tomorrow! Cutest aprons EVER! XO, Aimee

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  22. Oh my goodness - some people are SO BRILLIANT! I would love to give this a try. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Warmly, Michelle

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  23. These are so darn cute! And the two of you are absolutely adorable! I am going to look at those bags in a totally different way now :)

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  24. This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that??" ideas. :) SO creative!! I will definitely be making some of these for myself, my daughters and all of the other ladies/girls in my life! Thanks so much for sharing! I pinned this. :)

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  25. Printed Bags
    I especially like the concept of it being wipeable! Think I'm going to try this too!

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  26. These are precious! what a totally genius idea! thank you for sharing at uncommon!

    Bonnie @ Uncommon

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  27. shopping online fashion items at Shopatmajorbrands you can reduce the effort and time of shopping. Here you are assured to get 100% genuine products and quick delivery of products. Payment options offered by this online store are quite convenient. The payment process has secure network systems that keep your personal and financial information safe and secure. In case you feel dissatisfied with the bought product you can return it to this store as it has return policy. Thus you will get innumerable benefits when you shop online at this store. gifts for girls

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  28. Super cute! I love the colors! From a shopping bag?! Genius! ...and that little lady--so cute!

    I'd love for you to link up to Crafty Cousins.
    http://crafting-cousins.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-i-wore-sunday-week-10.html

    ~Natalie @ Crafty Cousins.

    Holla! We're your newest followers! :)

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  29. Love your aprons! So creative to make them from a shopping bag!

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  30. Printed Bags

    These were SO fast and simple to make! The most time-consuming aspect was including the ruffles and decrease, but those are not even necessary.

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  31. came from one of Beckie's sites - pinning this! I've been wanting something "smock" like for my 2 year old girl

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  32. This is such a great idea! I would love to share it with my readers. May I ?

    robin :-)

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  33. Brilliant! I can't wait to make one for my little one. She will love it!

    I would love for you to stop by my Pinterest Party and link up: http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/search/label/Link%20Party

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  34. This idea is so cool! It's nice to see something fresh!

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  35. AMAZING!

    Such a simple, useful idea. And they turned out incredibly cute. I have to try this.

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  36. I think this is genius. I cannot wait to make these for my daughters and myself! How cute! Please visit my weekly blog shout out.. I've featured your aprons there this week! So awesome! http://therookieseamstress.com/2012/05/03/weekly-blog-shout-out-2/

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  37. Adorable!!! Especially for those of us who aren't seamstresses! Could you tell me how you added the ruffles?

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    1. I hope you see this comment :) The ruffles were actually pretty easy, this was only my second time attempting a ruffle! You just need to cut your strip of fabric at least twice the length of the section of the apron where you will be attaching it. Depending how much you want it to bunch up :) Then you just adjust your machine to the biggest stitch size, and lower the tension. Sew the entire length of your fabric strip, and then sew it again right under the first row of stitching. That way, if the thread breaks when you are gathering it, the ruffle will still stay in tact. Does that make sense? Leave the ends of the thread long on both sides and don't backstitch. Then just pull one end and your fabric will start to gather, creating your ruffle. Once I had all three ruffles done, I pinned them in place on my apron, and sewed them across the top. I hope that helps!!

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  38. In...freakin...genious!!! I made these for my daughter's lemonade stand: http://www.simply-inspiring.com/2012/06/diy-lemonade-stand.html

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  39. These are adorable... my daughter and I saw them and she thought it was a kiddo apron and an American Girl Doll matching apron. I showed her the pics that it was a mom and daughter matching set but I think we might try to do her idea and make a matching set for her and her American Girl. :) So cute! Thanks for sharing.

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  40. Interesting post. Now you can use this indian services directory to promote shopping bags import & export business.

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  41. What a brilliant idea! I am going to have to make one of these for my daughter!!

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  42. Hello,

    Great information! Reusable shopping bag is typical plastic bags. These reusable bags come in different sizes are can be made of different materials . Today and customers all over the world enjoy this type of bag. Thanks a lot....

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  43. LOVE this. We're getting a TJ Max in our little town soon - now I really want to go there! With 2 little girls and a few nieces of my own - this will be a great gift idea! Thanks!!!!

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  44. This is super cute and clever! I would love for you to join my Creative Thursday Link party and share your awesome posts at www.michellestastycreations.blogspot.com. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Michelle

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  46. Bag looks almost same to website picture. After this bag this all other bags I removed from box was nice and in good condition. I felt so relief...I thought I will get few more shocks now.
    bid at auction

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  47. I love this! What a great gift idea! New follower, would love for you to stop by my blog! ~Andrea

    www.lifelovelarson.blogspot.com

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  48. I can't believe how quick and cute these are!!! I will have to try this. Although I never wear an apron... but for the dramatic play area? Great idea!!

    Lindsey @ GrowingKidsMinistry.com

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  49. This is so cute! I couldn't wait to make mine. They only took about 5 minutes! http://lindseyedits.blogspot.com/2013/02/reusable-shopping-bag-childs-apron.html

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  50. I made the bag go even further to make an apron for my daughter's doll. The pictures are here; http://woolandflowers.blogspot.co.uk/

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