mom sectionmom sectionFiltering the water in a home aquarium is necessary if the fish are to be kept healthy. A do-it-yourself charcoal bag-type filter can be made for the water to pass through so it is cleaned of contaminants. Supplies from a home-and-garden shop will be needed, as will tools from around the house. The savings realized from your DIY charcoal bag-type filter can be used to improve the decor of the aquarium.
Nothing livens up a party more than a theme. A pirate theme, with its built-in promise of adventure, will please party-goers of all ages. Make your pirate party guests feel like true swashbucklers by sending them home with gift bags full of pirate-themed gifts. To make these gift bags truly memorable, make pirate loot bags yourself and fill with items that you have created especially for your guests.
Valentine's Day is the time to show love and appreciation for family, friends and loved ones. An innovative and inexpensive way to share the Valentine spirit is with handcrafted felt goodie bags. Fill these heart-shaped bags with chocolate treats, trinkets and stickers. They will make perfect gifts for family, friends, teachers and co-workers.
Canoe end bags are the pyramidal-shaped floats that are inserted into the ends of a canoe to prevent it from sinking. They came about as canoe paddlers tackled wilder and wilder white-water streams. Commercial end bags are typically complex and intricately installed flotation units that stay with the canoe for its lifetime. Canoe end bags can be completed as a do-it-yourself project, resulting in effective and easily installed units that can be relocated to another canoe.
A heavy bag is a central piece of equipment in any boxing training program, so it is critical to include one in a home gym. Assuming there are solid wood joists in the ceiling, any room with enough space to move around the heavy bag can be turned into a home gym. While there are a variety of specially made mounting kits for heavy bags, strictly speaking, you can mount even the biggest heavy bags using parts found in any hardware store.
Make burlap rice bags into large floor pillows to add an exotic touch to a casual room. Quilt batting is great for stuffing floor pillows, as it does not shift around like loose stuffing does. It allows you to create a custom "pillow form" that will perfectly fit any size pillow cover. A stack of these pillows can call to mind a pile of rice bags on a steamboat dock in an exotic Asian location.
Make a simple bag to store your yarn-craft projects. This bag works for knitting or crochet projects and is small enough to fit into a bigger bag so you can keep your projects separate. Pick interesting fabrics, selecting a different fabric for each bag for easy identification, and customize the bag for your needs. With each craft project in a separate bag, you will not have to worry about tangled yarn any more; just pull out the project you want when you are ready to work on it
Cycling around the city and country is a good way to get around. However, a bike does lack in storage space for groceries and other items. Making your own pack saddlebag for the bike will help give you carrying space without weighing you down.
A Japanese bag, also known as a knot bag, is a great sewing project for the beginner and the experienced seamstress alike. The bag is made with two handles, one twice the length of the other. To close and carry the bag, the long handle is slipped inside the loop of the short handle, and then knotted into place. Simple floral designs, such as those of cherry blossoms, make great patterns for Japanese knot bags.
Making a drawstring bag is a fairly simple process, whether you know how to sew or not. The bag will be more durable, however, if made with a sewing machine. Making a drawstring bag is a great way to recycle old fabric you might have lying around the house. They can be made out of everything from denim to your favorite T-shirt. The entire process takes less than an hour (depending on your sewing ability and familiarity). Do-it-yourself drawstring bags are also a great way to wrap a gift.
Tool bags are a handyman's or handywoman's best friend when working on any type of home improvement or repair project. While a tool bag can be relatively expensive, with a little know-how and some simple, inexpensive materials, you can create your own wearable tool bags. Canvas fabric comes in several colors to customize and personalize your bag. This project requires some minimal sewing and measuring skills. You may want to make two bags, one for each side of your body.
Sending your wedding or shower guests home with a favor is a way of thanking them for coming and giving them something to help them remember your event. Putting your favors together yourself is a good way to help cut costs, since do-it-yourself favors can be very affordable. Buy bag materials in bulk from a craft store and enlist the help of family members and the bridal party to assemble the bags. Plan ahead so you can get the favors done weeks before the wedding to save yourself from last-minute stress.
Weather you are traveling with documents, or storing them in a place that may not be water resistant, you can create inexpensive, reusable water proof protectors. Freezer bags serve the purpose of keeping out moisture and vapor, which keeps foods stored within them dry and unaffected. These features make freezer bags ideal for the purpose of protecting your documents.
Make your own bike bag that hangs from your handle bars to gather and hold items as you travel. A bike bag offers a hands-free and safe way to transport items while riding your bike. Sew a simple bag designed as a fabric replica of an old-fashioned bike basket using different fabrics to suit your personality. Make several bags and change them out as you desire.
Whether you're heading out to a cafe for a cup of coffee or you're gearing up for an international business trip, it is essential to protect your laptop computer to prevent damage when you're on the go. Though portable, laptop computers are relatively fragile and even one drop can mean hundreds of dollars in repair costs. Retail, a good laptop bag will cost you anywhere between $50 and $150 as of 2010, depending on the brand. With some crafty ingenuity you can make your own laptop bag for a fraction of the cost.
Whether you're a casual bicyclist or a serious bike enthusiast, you will eventually find the need for a bike saddlebag. A saddlebag (also called a pannier) is a bag or set of bags which can be mounted to your seat or over the top of the back wheel on a back rack. While commercially made saddlebags can cost upwards of $50, with some sewing know-how and a little creativity, you can make your own set for half the cost.
Make a reusable lunch bag to avoid throwing away a paper or plastic sack every day. Lunch bags made from insulated layers of durable cloth last for years and keep the foods they hold cool for hours. Hand making a lunch bag gives you the opportunity to express your personal style and artistic nature. Hand sewn fabric lunch bags also send the message that you care about reducing waste and protecting the future of the environment.
Keeping your makeup essentials handy even when you’re on the go can be a challenge when they are loose in your purse. Luckily, you can sew a reversible makeup bag at home for storing your makeup. Once your bag is complete, you can keep your makeup wherever you need it for quick access. As you make your bag, be sure to choose two fabrics that go well together so you can use your bag with either fabric on the outside.
Nylon rip-stop fabric makes durable drawstring bags that can go everywhere: short hikes, beach trips, the gym and the grocery store. Reusable bags help eliminate the need for plastic and paper grocery sacks. Grommets in the bottom corners provide added strength, while braided cord serves as backpack straps. Although not as comfortable as a standard backpack, a drawstring bag can hold a days' rations and a first aid kit for short hikes.
Do-it-yourself handicraft bag designs have been revolutionizing the handbag industry. Although you may associate these DIY bags with the eco-friendly totes at your local grocery store, they recently have become a part of handbag manufacturers' collections. Designs on these bags have been inspired by artisans from around the world. Many are made from jute, which is known for its durability, and the handles---often an extension of the design---incorporate a wide variety of media, including bamboo, fabric and natural wood.
Well-made, hardwearing tote bags are useful for a huge variety of tasks. Concerns for the environment mean more shoppers choose to bring their own tote bags to carry groceries in rather than using paper or plastic. Instead of purchasing multiple tote bags for groceries and other needs, they can be made easily and inexpensively at home using a variety of craft techniques.
Bags made from seat belts are becoming increasingly popular. Fortunately, seat belt material is not hard to come by, and assembling one yourself is relatively simple.
