Denim Bag

Instructions:
Start with and old pair of jeans and cut them into a pair of daisy duke shorts. Unpick the inseam (crotch) and turn inside out. Cut off the edges that curve out so you have made straight sides.
Bag:
Take and sew the sides to complete the straight line being enclosed for the side of the bag. Use the zig zag or finishing stitch along the bottom and any unfinished side edge to prevent fraying. Turn bag making bottom edge facing up and is now folded angled to the stitch. With the straight stitch on the machine sew across the corner making a triangle. This will allow for the bag to have the flat bottom. Turn bag right side out. At this point attach the finished straps to the bag so that one strap starts and finishes on one side of the bag. (this way the bag lays flat so one strap is only on the front of the bag and the 2nd strap is only on the back of the bag.)



Straps:
Take the legs of the pants that you cut from the top portion and unpick or cut the seam from the side. I suggest cutting along the seam it is much faster than unpicking and you don't miss the minor fabric that was cut off. Cut in half preserving the length of the denim. Turn each piece so right sides are folded together lenghtwise and sew the long edge using the zig sag to prevent fraying. Then turn denin back so the seam is on the inside, finish the edges with the zig zag and change stitch on machine to do 4 finishing stitches on the straps. You can use a brighter thread for eye pop, or contrast to brighten up the straps also. This is mostly for eye appeal, however it also serves to give a nice flat finished strap.

Found this fun idea through the idea room and loved it for its simplicity, but also its adorable finished look. M helped me since it is for her. She picked out the fabric, and ribbons and I sewed some ribbon on ribbon to add more detail. We painted an old frame we had brown, trimmed some left over sheet metal to fit in the frame and got some old padded fabric from an old christmas project for the padding, taped it all together with duct tape and it was that easy. M wasted no time adding her bows once we hung it.

School Glue (Clear or White)
Borax solution (1/2 cup borax to 1 liter water, best mixed in an empty pop bottle)
Food coloring
popcycle sticks

Directions:

Pour aprox 1/4 to 1/2 cup glue into a disposable plastic cup.
Put in a few drops of food coloring.
Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup water (plain old water) into the glue
Add only a very small amout at a time of the borax solution and stir, the solution will soon start to thicken and adhere to the stirring stick.

The original recipe for this that I found through Amy says equal amounts of glue to water make sure you do that step right and small amounts of the borax solution. I added just small amounts at a time of the borax as needed while stirring until it was the right consistency. you will want to stop while it is still sticky as you roll with your hands the slime forms nicely and what was once stuck on your skin works itself back into the main ball of slime you are now holding.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge to prolong its stability.

My first attempt I used the 1/2 glue and 1/2 borax solution and it thickened really stiff and was kind of a bouncy ball except broke really easily when bounced a few times. Here's what it looked like.

Video tutorial

Bouncy Balls

Thanks Amy for sharing this.

2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp borax
Mix the 1st 2 ingredients in a small paper cup label this cup borax and stir.

In another small paper cup mix and label this cup ball.
1 T glue
1 to 3 drops food coloring
1 tsp cornstarch

Add 1/2 tsp borax solution to the ball cup and let sit 10 to 15 seconds without stirring to allow chemicals to bond initially then stir until too stiff to stir then use your hands to roll into a ball shape. Keep rolling until ball holds shape and is no longer sticky.

Ball will keep in and enclosed container for a couple of days, just remove and roll round again.

Playdough

For scouts this week we needed a medium to work with like clay. I found a really great recipe for playdough and I thought it was worth sharing. It has a very good texture and elasticity that a lot of salt playdoughs that I have tried don't have and no gritty salty mess on your hands.

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp cream of tartar (using cornstarch if you don't have this works just as well)
1 package unsweetened kool-aid or other flavored powdered drink
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water

1. Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and kool-aid in medium saucepan and stir to mix.

2. Add water and oil.

3. Stir over medium heat 2 to 5 minutes.

4. When mix forms a ball remove from pan and knead with your hands until fully smooth.

5. This is a fragrant dough and colors can be bright depending on which drink mix you choose. Fragrance diminishes over time.

6. To store put in plastic bag remove air and place in refridgerator.

7. This dough can last past 1 1/2 years if stored properly. If dough dries any just add a little water and knead it into dough until soft and workably smooth again.