Gift Card Money Pouch

This little pouch is perfect place to slip that birthday gift card or a little cash. I love to use mine for storing all those punch cards that accumulate in your wallet. Whenever I'm in a store, I pull out my card pouch and easily find the rewards card I need.

Level: Easy-Peezy

Time: about 45 minutes, less if you make more than 1 at a time

Materials: 2 pieces of Scrap fabric at least 6" x 10" each

Light weight (pellon 911FF) iron-on interfacing 6" x 10"

Snap Button and tool ( hammer and thread spool)

Coordinating thread

1. Cut a rectangle 6" x 10" out of 2 different pieces of scrap fabric. You can use 2 colors that coordinate or accent each other...don't feel limited here as I love a fun bag with a surprise on the inside!

2. Following manufacturers instructions, iron-on the interfacing to the fabric piece A (the fabric that will be on the outside).

3. With right sides together, match up short and long ends of both pieces of fabric. Stitch all 4 sides leave 3" on one short end open for turning. Be sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end as well as at each corner.

NOTE" when stitching across the opposite short end from the opening you will have the opportunity to either stitch straight across for a squared flap or as I have done here, angle your stitch to have a triangular flap. You could also use a soup can to mark a rounded flap....the skies the limit on this design!

4. Clip corners and turn right sides out. Press and then stitch across the bottom closing the opening at the same time.

5. Fold your pouch into thirds so that it is approximately 5" wide x 3.5" tall when folded. Stitch up one side, across the flap and then down the other side. You now have a pouch with a flap!

6. Add a snap! You can buy these snaps with a tool for attaching them but you can also use a thread spool and hammer as shown here. Mark where your snap will go by folding the flap down over the main part of the pouch then fold it up about 1/2". At the center (approx 2 1/2" from the edge) mark both the flap and the pouch where the snap will go.

7. Attach the top snap to the flap (this is the part of the snap with the decorative head). Then the opposite part of the snap to the pouch.

Voila! Fill with money or gift card for a fun reusable present!

IDEAS: Add a personal touch to your pouch by printing a message on fabric paper and stitching it to your pouch before assembly. You can also fold the fabric paper in half and stitch it into the side seam for a "tag" affect. Add the recipients name, a greeting or message, or words or inspiration for a truly unique and personal gift.

Scrappy Lanyard

Keep your keys or work id in a handy place, around your neck or simply find it in your bag of tricks.

Supplies:

Scrap fabric to be cut into 3" wide strips of various lengths

Thread

Snap bolt hardware and/or split key ring (checkout the purse hardware at your fabric store)

Time: about 1/2 hour-1 hour

Seam Allowance: 1/2"

1. Start by measuring the length you want your lanyard to be. I like mine to be 36-42" round so it lands about mid-torso. For this we will make a 38" round (19" long) lanyard

2. Cut scrap fabric to 3" wide x 6" long x 8 pieces

3. Stitch fabric pieces together at the short end so you will end up with one long strip 3" wide by approximately 40" long. Press open seams.

4. Fold wrong sides together working on the long sides. Iron. Fold again in half, iron. You should now have a 3/4" x 40" strip.

5. Top-stitch both edges of the strip approximately 1/4" from edge.

6. Slip snap bolt onto the strip. Taking care that the strip is not twisted, match up the raw ends then stitch and back-stitch 1/2" from the raw edges.

7. Place the snap bolt next to the loop closure stitch you just made. With the snap facing out (away from the loop), stitch and backstitch as close to the snap as possible and through both layers of the loop.

8. A split key ring can be used instead of or with the snap hook.

Tip: To lesson the bulky-ness of the lanyard you may consider lengthening your fabric pieces and stitching them together using this diagonal joining method.

{Copyright Info: I love to create and share ideas with you. All patterns and tutorials are for personal use and not for resale. If you find something here that you want to share on your blog, please do and note the tutorial is by Maranda Lee at http://www.marandalee.com/ Copyright 2011-2012 All Rights Reserved Maranda Lee Design Ltd}