Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose Project

Hello crafty friends! 

Recently there was a contest on the Glue Arts blog, it was to recycle, reuse and repurpose some items into a project.  I would like to share my submission with you today.  I didn't win the contest, but I had a great time making my projects.  I had to use Glue Arts products in my submission, but keep in mind that you can use which ever products you like.  To be honest, I wouldn't use the Glue Glider Max again.  I borrowed it from a friend (thanks Jen T!) for this project and I found it very difficult to use.  I would use my ATG Gun in the future.

Supplies needed:

pockets cut off old jeans
Glue Glider Max
Glue Glider Pro
Crop a Dile
scrap fabric
scrap card stock
Pearl accents
ribbon
silk flowers and leaves
charms
crystal accents
butterfly applique
old bracelet
glitter glue
Say it With Studs (hearts)
Say it With Crystals (flourish)

These are the supplies I used for the 2 projects I am showing. Any type of embellishment may be used. These just happened to be what I had on hand.

These are the two projects I made. They can be used for many different purposes. When my daughter was young I made one of these as a “locker pocket” and put magnets on the back so she could put it inside her locker door at school. She kept small things like pencils, pens, erasers etc. in it. The one with the strap can be used as a little purse, or it can be hung on a door, like in the picture to put notes into it for your child. Hang it on your child's bedroom door and leave little love notes in it, or maybe hang it somewhere it is sure to be seen and use it for outgoing mail. Keep the extra keys in it, or extra change, or maybe you sunglasses, so you know where they are. The one with out the handle can be used to put a small gift in as a gift bag, put magnets on it to go onto the fridge to hold coupons, or take out menus. There are a lot of uses for these adorable pockets.

Your first step is to find some old jeans and cut the pockets off the back. I use two matching pockets, although you could use one and back it with another fabric.

Next use the Glue Glider Max to apply adhesive to the back of the pocket right along the stitching . Fold over the extra fabric right along the edge of the pocket. Cut off any unwanted fabric. Do this with the other matching pocket.

Now you will apply adhesive to the back of the pocket, line up the 2 matching pockets back to back and press them together. You will now have a “double” pocket. You can decorate both sides, but I have only decorated one on mine.

Now you can embellish you pocket. For this first one, I used some scrap fabric to make flowers. I cut the fabric into long narrow strips, about 1” wide. I cut a piece of scrap card stock into a circle, using my Glue Glider Pro, I covered one side of the circle with adhesive. Starting in the middle of the circle, I began to attach the fabric as seen in this tutorial, I made 3 of these fabric flowers in different sizes and added some pearl accents to the centers of the flowers. I used Glue Glider Pro to adhere silk leaves to the back of the flower and then to adhere the flowers to the pocket. I embellished the pocket further with some “Say It With Studs” (Prima) hearts and a butterfly applique. You can embellish in any way you like, a little, a lot, girly, boyish, whatever you like.

Next use the Crop a Dile to make holes in the fabric between the 2 pockets. Narrow strips of fabric are again used, to make a strap for the pockets. Use the Glue Glider Pro on the back of the fabric and then folded the fabric onto the adhesive and trim off any extra threads. Then simply fed the ends of the strap through the holes and tie a knot at the end. You could also use ribbon as a strap.

The 2nd project was constructed the same way, but was embellished differently. I used all items that I had on hand in my stash.

First I took a red crystal bracelet that my daughter didn’t want any longer and I cut it, this I adhered to the pocket with liquid adhesive. I then used my Glue Glider Pro to adhere the flowers and a bow that I had made. The flourish and the small flower are “Say it With Crystals” (Prima) I found the butterfly and heart charms in my stash and adhered them with liquid adhesive.

I decided that I didn’t want a strap on this pocket project, but I can easily add one at a later date if I choose. I had a lot of fun making these and think they would make great gifts for the little girls in my life.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have enjoyed these projects and tutorial.  If you would like to leave a comment that would be great, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section or e-mail me (address is in right column) and I will get back to you asap.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!