My New Diaper Bag

Okay, so it's not really new, new since I've been using it for the past couple of months since baby E was born. But it is newer than the diaper bag I used with my other two babes, and it's new to this blog. When I was expecting baby #3, I decided that I deserved to upgrade to a new bag. My prior diaper bag was a nice one from Kalencom that my mother bought me and I loved it. It is still in excellent shape though it's gotten a bit dirty. So instead of figuring out how to clean it, I decided I wanted a new one. After browsing for bags online, I always fell in love with the $200+ ones or I'd find one in a good price range and it wouldn't have all of the features (pockets, pockets, pockets) that I wanted. Thus, I decided it was time to pull out the sketch pad and pattern my own. I made sure to include all of the details I wanted: tons of pockets on the inside and out, longer straps that can hang over a stroller or shoulder, zipper top, sturdy yet soft structuring, fully lined, fun shape, detail trim, and awesome fabric. It took some brain power to figure out how to fully line it the way I wanted with no exposed seams white doing a zipper around the top curve, as I've never done it before, but I figured it out and here is the result:

Front

 Back with large flat pocket

Side- both sides have a gathered elasticized pocket, perfect for water bottles, sippy cups, keys, etc.

Front flap pocket with magnetic closure. I drew in this pocket half for styling sake and half to function as a pacifier pouch. However, it's more commonly used as the library card pocket. I added the fabric flower just for fun.

The inside: there are 7 pockets around the inside edges- 3 smaller elasticized on one side, 2 large elasticized on the other size (great for diapers and wipes), and one flat pocket at each end. Plus there is tons of free space in the middle to throw blankets, nursing cover, toys, etc. It has a super stiff rectangle insert in the bottom to add to its sturdiness and help it hold its shape. The great part is that it zips closed for security.

Cost breakdown (most items were bought with a 40%-50% coupon:

exterior fabric- $10.50 for 1.5 yards [This was the biggest steal making my project much cheaper than it could have been. This Thomas Paul fabric is regularly $35/yard but I bought it during a store moving sale at Calico Corners and got it for $7/yard- that's 80% off!]

lining, piping, and straps- $5

fusible fleece- $5

elastic- $2

magnetic closure- $2.50

zipper- $3

Total: $28!

I love this bag! The super low price combined with the fact that I made it hence no one will have like it and that it actually turned out exactly how I envisioned and drew it up, makes me love it even more!

Unforgotten

Ironically, I forgot to post about this project that was created to let K know that she wasn't forgotten. It was created to make big sister feel special when little brother came into this family. This bag was filled with lots of goodies to keep K busy and let her know how much we all still love and care about her. There were stickers, a coloring book and crayons, a big Big Sister book, a picture book of all the people in her family who love her, and a few other goodies. Though it's nearly the size of her, K loves to carry it around and even puts her dollies in it.

I cut the letters out of scraps of fabric, heat-n-bonded them on, then zig-zag stitched around them. Then I hand embroidered "I'm the Original" on it. It's simple and cute and made K really excited!

Western Week- Day 1

Lately I have been making a lot of items out of one of my favorite novelty prints- Lil' Cowpokes by Michael Miller. Living in Texas, this print seems to perfect to me! So here is the first of several items I will be posting this week that feature this print. I made this diapers and wipes clutch for a friend's baby shower- it was a diapers and wipes shower (because it's her 3rd boy), so I thought this clutch was only fitting. It's size can easily fit 3-4 diapers (those are large size 4 diapers, I bet it could fit a ton of those itsy bitsy newborn diapers), a wipes case, and diaper rash cream- and improvement I made to the one I got that can hardly hold 2 diapers and a wipes case.

100th Post GIVEAWAY!

**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

I've finally made it to post 100! It has taken just over a year- yes a whole year to get 100 posts. Half of those have been in the past couple of months so blogging is picking up. When I first started most of my things were for little miss Kiera, since then I have expanded my skillset to include some new fun projects. I feel like I've learned so much and I look forward to the next year of learning and creating!

As far as blogging goes, I have been trying to update my blog's look and content to provide variety to my readers. Thank you all for the support, thoughtful emails, and sweet comments- it helps keep me encouraged to keep at this. But even without the blog community, I know I would still have this great passion for creating!

(Above were some of my big sellers)

So now for the moment you have all been waiting so patiently for... the big GIVEAWAY! This is to thank all of you for your support! Last week I posted this sneak peak:

That sneak peak was for this item:
Since making it on a whim, I have recreated it twice, one to giveaway, and since I could hardly bear to part with it, I made one for myself. Here is the item up for grabs: The sneak peak clutch got reworked and the new version transformed into a wristlet with a removeable strap. It zips and is fully lined. It is the perfect size to fit your keys, sunglasses, some lip gloss, a small wallet (or as I do, just grab my license and credit card) and whatever else you need to grab and go! Isn't it so fun and perfect for Spring (well and then on into Summer!) So what do you have to do to get a chance to win? Simple, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. So easy it shouldn't be allowed. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada entries only. Want extra entries? For extra entries you can:

1. Add a KinziesKreations button to your blog and let me know about it in your comment.

2. Create a post about this giveaway and let me know about it in your comment. (You can temporarily save and use the two photos above to use on your post if you'd like.)

I will be checking to see if you did these, so make sure I have a way to get to your blog.

I haven't yet decided when this will end, so be sure to check back for an updated end time! XOXO

**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

No Longer a Surprise

I can finally post these pictures, as my sister finally received it in the mail and it's no longer a secret. My youngest sister just celebrated her 19th birthday so I sent her this lovely purse- or as my daughter calls it, a "poose. She started it last summer by sewing the floral pieces together into two panels, but that's as far as she made it. It was sitting lonely at my momma's house, so I decided to finish it for her and send it off to her for her birthday {she seems to be the recipient of many purses.}

I added lots of pockets for organization, and by the end I wanted to keep it for myself. Can you believe that with all the bags I've made, that I haven't yet made one for myself... maybe one day! But, I'm glad to report that the recipient loved it and left a nice {and loud} thank-you message on my phone! Love you sis!

Divergence

So I decided to add some variety from the usual sewing of clothes for K, myself, or my shop and go back to my former life of bag making for a day or so. Both were given away to some special people in my life. We all know that I don't need another bag, although I will probably add some more to my personal bag collection shortly. Here are two of the bags I made:

The other divergence was this little dessert plate. My mom collects them, and what a better way to add to her collection than with a one-of-a-kind plate made by her family. I had painted a lot of things for K's room back almost a year ago and I forgot how much I love to paint. It took a while to get K's handprint because she just wanted to play with the paint, but eventually this is what we turned out:Another non-clothing item that I made is this lovely apron that I made for my mother-in-law. It was a pattern I came up with as I went and love the fabrics and the little flower. So far she has put it to good use!!Also, while going through my pictures I stumbled across this picture. I made this itsy-bitsy graduation gown for a friend's baby whose daddy just graduated. He was able to carry her across the stage dressed in her very own graduation cap & gown to match daddy! This was a fun project!!
So here's a challenge to switch it up every now and then to add some spice and variety to your crafting!!

The Bag Making Continues...

One of the things my sister wanted to do while out in Utah was to go to the Cotton Shop. We went and she loved pretty much all of the fabric! She wanted to make a bag, so we bought enough material to make two. This is the first bag and it is so cute- I want one just like it! It is a pattern that we created as we went using a variation of the pleated tote I made for her. We used some heavy cotton webbing for the straps, which made assembly much quicker, and the look is perfect. Don't you just love this big button!?!

A Surprise Pleated Tote

I made this tote for my sister I while back, but couldn't post pictures because it was her birthday gift. Now that she has received it, I can post away! After making it for her, I want to make 100 more in various materials and variations!
I love yo-yos!