How to make fun pencil pouch from duct tape

It’s almost July and pretty soon it will be time to purchase school supplies.  You can personalize a fun pencil pouch from a plastic zipper storage bag and some duct tape.

There are literally hundreds of different color duct tapes available.  So there is a personalized design for every taste and color preference. And duct tape is very sturdy. You can even punch holes in the bag to add to a binder. 

This fun pencil pouch is fun to make for kids.  So you will never  be at a loss when they come to you saying they are bored.

Materials:

One gallon sized slider style storage bag

Duct tape in desired print or color

Plastic cutting mat-- optional (helps with cutting the duct tape)

Ruler, marker, scissors

Three-hole punch or regular hole punch

1.     Measure and cut 3 inches off the bottom edge of the storage bag.  Discard the cut off piece.

2.     Measure and cut 5 pieces of duct tape to 10 ½” each.

Cutting duct tape is easy to measure on a plastic cutting mat

3.     Starting at the upper edge attach a 10 ½” piece of duct tape over the plastic of the bag and across. Press to adhere.  Repeat with three more pieces of duct tape overlapping just a bit where the edges meet to cover the bag. Overlap the bottom edge of the final piece and press to the opposite side.

4.     Turn over to cover the other side.  Cut 4 pieces of duct tape to 12” each.  Start as you did on the first side except fold the extra length on each side (about ½” on each side) to the back. (Already covered side)  

5.     When you have completely covered the bag, you will need to reinforce the sides and bottom edge.  To do this cut 2 pieces of duct tape 7 ¾” each.  Press half the tape on one side covering any uneven edges and turn the excess to the opposite side.  Repeat on the other end.  For the bottom, cut another piece of duct tape 10 ½” and attach part to one side and fold the rest to the other side. (Bottom reinforced)

6.     Use a three-hole punch to make holes for the loose-leaf binder along the bottom edge.  If you do not have a three-hole punch, use a piece of loose-leaf paper to trace where the holes should be and punch with a regular hole punch.

Come back and visit each week for more Quick craft tutorials, recipes and more from Make it easy crafts!

Quickly make adorable ornaments from laser cut wood

Laser cut wood shapes are available for pennies at the craft stores.  There are ornaments and frames of all shapes and sizes.  And the best part is that they are so inexpensive!

The scrollwork is so elegant and lends itself to quickly make adorable ornaments.  Mom or dad can spray paint the shapes and kids will love to add the beads to them. The resulting ornaments are stylish and classy.  And the memories of creating them as a family will be a lasting treasure.

Materials:

Laser cut wood shape ornaments

Spray paint in gold and silver

Silver, gold, and pearl beads

Tacky craft glue

Tweezers (optional)

Paper or foam plates to work on

Silver or gold cord for hanging

For the snowflake:

Bag of sparkle snow

Instructions:

1.     Spray each ornament in gold or silver and let dry.  Turn over and spray the other side.  Let dry completely.  Work in a well-ventilated area or outside.

2.     Add dots of tacky glue to the shape and attach the silver, gold, or pearl beads as desired.  You can be creative.  Run a ring of beads around the ornament; add to the corners or in the middle.  The sky is the limit.  When you have added the amount of beads you choose let the ornament dry.  You may if you desire turn to the back and add more beads as you did before.

3.     Cut a length of gold or silver cord and attach to the top for hanging on the tree or in a window.

For the snowflake:

1.     Cover the entire silver spray painted ornament with tacky glue.  Work on a paper plate.

2.     Sprinkle the sparkle snow on top and press with your fingers to make sure it adheres.  Let dry.  Add a hanging cord to the top.  You may add a second coat of sparkle snow after the first one is dry if you want a fluffier snowflake.

How to quickly make a fun, geometric book cover

You can quickly make a fun geometric book cover for all your books.  And what’s even better is this book cover has a post it notepad attached to the front for all those quick little notes and reminders you may have!

If the kiddies aren’t back to school yet, they soon will be and with it comes all the papers to sign and the book cover requirements.  You can buy book covers or you make them and personalize them to fit your individual personality. 

Make this book cover using drawing paper or pastel paper or even recycled brown paper bags. 

So, let’s get started!

Materials:

·      Medium weight paper, I used pastel paper but you can substitute drawing paper or even a large brown paper bag.

·      Cardstock in two prints

·      Tacky craft glue

·      Disappearing marker or pencil

·      Ruler and cutting board or cutting mat

·      Stylus (optional)

·      Scissors

·      Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

·      Post it note pad, any size, any color

·      Clear tape

Instructions:

1.     First, gather your materials.

2.     Now measure your book to be covered.  Mine was approximately 9 ¼” x 6 ¼”.  The paper I started with was 18” x 24” and since my book’s vertical measurement was 9 ¼” I wanted at least 3” above the top and bottom edges.  So the first thing I did was cut the larger paper 15” x 24”. 

3.     Next, I measured from the top to the bottom to find the vertical center of the paper and made a mark.  I centered my book spine down on this center mark and folded the paper around the book making sure I had a good 3 inches over both side edges horizontally.  I made a mark and cut my paper 15” x 21”.  (You measure each book this way, which is why I start with a larger piece of paper.)

4.     Now, Placing your book in the center, measure evenly from top of the paper and bottom and draw a line across.  Mine was 2 5/8” from the top and the bottom.

5.     Place the paper on a cutting board and following the lines on the top and bottom score with a stylus.  (This is optional but makes a neater fold)  Fold on the lines top and bottom.

6.     Now place your book in the center and bring the front cover around and stick the cover of the book in the pocket.  Run your fingers along the sides to crease the book cover.  Repeat with the back cover.

7.     You may, if you desire, add a piece of tape to the front and back to secure your book cover. 

Decorate the book cover

8.     Cut two pieces of decorative cardstock 6 ½” x 4 ½”.

9.     Apply tacky craft glue to the back of the cardstock pieces spreading with a piece of scrap cardboard as a squeegee.

10. Add the cardstock to the front one at a time, staggering the placement.

11. Use the hot glue gun to attach the post it notepad in a geometric look design.

12. Add name, subject, etc. with markers to further personalize. Pastel paper comes in colors as well so you can have a different color book cover for every subject.