We are so excited for Valentines Day!!  What are some of your traditions?  We like to write notes, and make cards, my kids especially:)  I have a whole drawer full of notes and pictures from my kids.  They are a little obsessed, but I think it is kinda cute…

So, they were my inspiration for my tutorial this week!  I wanted to make little pouches for them to put their notes in, or that mom and dad could sneak little notes in as well.

Ok, but first, here’s my disclaimer… My camera is broken, (not that it was that great to begin with) but now I am stuck with my camera phone, hmmm.  So I apologize for my pictures!!

Ok, ready for the tutorial!

Supplies:

• fabric
• felt
• embroidery floss
• tulle
• cutting board
• rotary cutter and ruler
• wooden board
• spray paint
• knobs

Step 1:

Cut your fabric.  Decide on the size you would like.  I wanted my squares to be about 8 inches, so I started with a square that was 9 inches, and the other, I cut 13 inches. 

Cut your lining fabric to be the same size.  (Forgot to take a picture).

You can keep your flap completely square, or if you’d like some shape, cut a bit of a triangle to the edge.

Step 2:

Add contrast and embellish.  I added a strip of black floral to the back.

For the front, I wanted some ricrac, and some tiny little hearts along the side. 

 I wanted to try embroidery floss to personalize each of my kids’ pouches, so I stitched my kids’ nicknames and some details along the edges.  Make sure you embellish before you sew everything together.

Step 3:

Ok, now we sew everything together!  Place your pieces (both outer fabrics and lining) right sides together.  Sew about 1/4 inch seam starting at the top edge, and follow along to the other side, and back stitich.

Now, clip the corners and turn the lining right side out.  Press along the edges and along the bottom to flatten all your seams.

Slide the lining inside the pouch, lining up all edges as best you can.  (I asked my husband to grab 1/3 yd of some red fabric… Iwas hoping for polka dot, paisley, floral, stripes, but he came home with gingham, hmmm.)  LOVE him!!  At least it’s the lining, and I don’t think my 6 yr-old minds.  Sorry if I sound like a fabric snob:)

 Step 4:

Pin in place, (sorry no photo).  Start about 2 inches from the pouch opening, and stitch toward the corner edge.  Continue stitching, and make a right angle at the corners, follow along the flap and finish about 2 inches for away from the opposite corner edge, leaving about a 4 inch opening right in front.  Now, find each corner where your stitching makes a right angle.  Clip that corner, being careful not to cut through your stitching.

(Sorry, I totally forgot to photograph this entire step!!!)

Now, pull everything up through the opening, and push the lining back down inside the pouch.  Straighten everything and press in place.  Fold the edges inside about 1/4 inch and stitch the opening closed, continuing along the entire flap.

Now add some velcro to keep everything closed.

Step 5:

Add your knobs to your board.  Grab a board at Home Depot, or use something you have on hand.  This was a wooden board I decided to re-use and re-paint.  It started out green…

And ended up black.  Nice, chic, neutral.

Use a drill to place a hole in each spot you would like your knobs to be placed.  (I found these ones at Hobby Lobby)  Screw the knobs all the way in.

Step 6:

Grab some ribbon or tulle, and tie around your pouches.  I found that I needed to add a strip of felt to the top of the pouch, where the tulle wraps around.  Just to give it some stability when it’s hanging from the knobs.

I made a little pouch out of felt to store the paper and notecards.

Hang up your pouches, and you’re good to go!!

Linking up at these fabulous blogs!

Including: