Makeup Bag Tutorial {+Monograms}

Go right ahead and make yourself comfortable because you are in for a long ride!  You know how I love a good, detailed tutorial so here we go!

Head over to PreciousPrep to check out what I make and sell - including these monogrammed makeup bags!  Order one today if you don't feel like making your own with my tutorial!

1. Cut out your material.  I start with a 9" x 12" piece of felt that I buy pre cut.  Then I lay that on my fabric and cut around it.  Finally cut that exactly in half so you have 4 pieces, all 9" x 6".  You will also need 2 small pieces to use as the zipper end covers (approx 2" x 3").

2. Add embroidery to one of your fabric pieces!  I love monograms! Sometimes I also just use an initial.  I also just added Greek letters to my collection.  (Remember, all of this is available to you at PreciousPrep!)

3. Fold over one edge of your zipper end cover. 

4. Lay the zipper face down, and wrap the fabric around the end, placing the folded over side towards the zipper.  Then sew a straight stitch near the edge, make sure you grab the fabric and zipper.

5. Repeat on the other end, you should end up with this:

6. Lay down your fabric, right side up.  Lay the zipper on the top, face down (aka facing the fabric).

7. Now lay a piece of felt on top, make sure all the edges line up at the top.  You should have fabric, zipper, felt.

8. Sew through all three layers at the top.  You could use a zipper foot here but I personally do not like to use one because I can never go in a straight line!  Anyone else have that problem? Any ways - just let the edge of the foot be right up against the zip part of the zipper.  The end with the zipper pull can be a little tricky, but just push it on through!

9. Next sew a top stitch.  I never used to do this because I thought it was a waste of time and thread but one time I tried it and it really makes a difference!  So just do it! ;)

10.   Now you are going to do all of that again on the other side.  Starting back at step 6!  When you're done you should have what you see below.  Make sure you open the zipper now!

11. Now take the 2 fabric pieces, right sides together, and sew all along the edge - only on the fabric part.  Then take the corner and mark about 1" from the point.  Draw a line or some sort of marking there:

12.  Sew across your line and then cut off the corner.  This will give your bag a flat bottom and allow you to fit more stuff in there!  Repeat for the other side.

13. Now match up the edges of the felt and sew along there, using a slightly larger seam allowance than you did on the fabric part.  Make sure you leave a turning hole on one of the sides or the bottom!

 Turning hole:

14.  Now do the same thing for these corners as you did for the fabric part:

15.  Turn the bag right side out.  You should still see the felt on one half and the fabric on the other.  Now is when you should sew up that turning hole:

16.  Push the felt down into the bag and use your fingers to get the corners all matched up at the bottom.  You did it!  You survived the world's longest tutorial and have a great, personalized makeup bag as your reward!

Bonus step! Make a bunch for your friends, sorority sisters, or bridesmaids!  Or order them from me!  I would love to create something special with you!  In my shop, PreciousPrep, YOU pick the fabric, thread color, and type of personalization (monogram, initial, greek) you love!  

Thanks for reading! As always, leave me comments with any questions!

Makeup Brush Roll Tutorial

Today I actually had time to do some crafting!  How exciting!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been working on my new blog Deals Actually!  I hope you'll check it out soon!

My tutorial today is for a super cute makeup brush roll!  This is super quick to make (30 mins?) and would make a great last minute Christmas gift for all the lovely ladies on your list!  How cute would this look in someone's stocking on Christmas morning?

So all you need to make this is some felt, fabric, and ribbon!  So easy!

First, cut felt to 8" x 9" and 4" x 9" (super easy if you are using a sheet of felt like me!)

Wow the felt looks GREEN in that pic!  I promise it does not glow in the dark! :)

Next, sew the 2 pieces together, creating the slots for your brushes.  I left a half inch on either (for the next step) and then I have a 2" slot on each end and four 1" slots in between.

Now cut out your fabric to 9" x 8" (I didn't actually measure, I just used the felt as a template!)  You'll also need a length of ribbon.  Exactly how long?  Whatever your gut tells you ;)

Next place the fabric and the felt right sides together (the side with the slots is the right side of the felt).  Make sure you fold the ribbon in half and place the separate ends inside your fabric sandwich, leave about an inch of the loop end sticking out.  You'll want to position the ribbon parallel to the top of the slots.

Sew around the edges (make sure you only catch the ribbon on ONE side!) leaving an opening for turning near the middle bottom.  Trim away any excess and clip the corners.  Turn and top stitch the opening.  You should have something like this:

Now how quick and easy was that?!  Felt is my new best friend!  It eliminates the need for interfacing and batting, its basically the best thing ever.  And the edges never fray!  Oh so amazing! 

Fill her up with your brushes:

Roll and go!

No time to make one?  Check out my Etsy store, Precious Prep, and place an order!  I am offering free shipping for the rest of the year!  Take a look around while you're there, maybe you'll find something else you like too!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Precious Prep Now only $20!

Precious Prep Now only $15.40!

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Dress Success!

Hey everyone!

I am excited to share with you my latest creation!

Another dress, but this one is even better than the last! I got the idea from Sweet Verbena's tutorial here.

Please let me know what you think in the comments section!

Well?!?! I like it so much and I think I may actually venture out in it at some point... if I'm brave enough!

I made a few changes from the tutorial:

1) Instead of using one solid piece of fabric I wanted a patterned skirt and plain top so before following her directions I measured my torso (~18" from shoulder to waist) and length (~45" from waist to floor, leaving a bit extra for seam allowances, hemming, and fitting).  I'm 5'-10" so your measurements may be less! Then I sewed those pieces together and continued on as if they were just one piece from the get-go.

2) I took in the sides after cutting the neck and arms and looking like I had on a bag! lol I have no idea how the one in the tutorial looks so good without any fitting! Mine was awful! I took in about 2" from each side and that was MUCH better! Still flow-y and loose fitting but at least a little more put together!

Here is Lola wearing it :) (is it weird I named my mannequin?? I think not!)

Please follow me on Pinterest and leave a comment! 

Have a great week!!

Cell Phone Case

Hello again!

I am here with my latest sewing project! It is another simple one that turns out super cute... and useful too! It is a cell phone case and can be done several ways.

The original tutorial, here, uses all of the "official" sewing supplies and tools. For those of us who haven't quite built up our collection of supplies, you have my two variations:

1) use this plastic grid material, I am not exactly sure of its name so here is a picture:

2) use felt!
Both of these materials were used in place of the interfacing and batting, which are materials used in sewing to make bags and such more sturdy.

For my phone case I added 1/4 inch more length because I have an HTC EVO 4G, not an iPhone and it is a bit taller. I used a different fabric for the inner and outer material and I used the same fabric as the inside for the tab.

My first phone case used bright fabrics with pink as the main color... Perfect! I followed the instructions (leaving off the parts for the interfacing and batting) except when it says to leave a hole for turning on the side, I left one of the short ends open instead. This allowed me to then fold the fabric in half with the inside fabric out and sew up one side, insert my plastic grid in the opening, sew that shut, then turn right side out and sew the final side stitch. Unfortunatly this final stitch is visible but since I used pink thread and sewed so close to the edge you can hardly notice!
**note: I used a peice of plastic grid that was the same size as just one of the finished sides(half as big as the batting or interface measurements).

I was so pleased with my result I have been using my case ever since! Here is a pic:

Isn't it cute?

This pattern was so fun and simple I decided to make another! This time I experimented with felt to replace the interfacing and batting. In this case I used more primary colors, reds and blues with fun patterns!

I again used the slightly bigger measurements and cut the felt the same size as suggested for the batting (plus 1/4 inch). Then I pretty much just followed the instructions and I was done! Here is the result:

Another cutie! You can get this one in my store on smashion.com, ChicBoutique! Check it out!

Let me know how you like this blog and this craft :)