Easy Holiday Gift You Can Make Yourself for Ladies and Girls

If you are on a tight budget for the up-coming holidays, here is a great idea for the ladies or teenagers in your family. You do not have to be too "craft minded" to complete this project.

Purchase slightly used denim shorts or denim jeans at the local used clothing store or at a large yard sale. Most of the used denim jeans are priced from $3.00 to $5.00 or less if you find them at a garage or yard sale. Denim shorts ( any color) are easier to handle sewing up the legs than full length denim jeans as you would need to cut off the legs before sewing up the opening at the legs. But you can find some interesting designer denim jeans at local used clothing shops. Some that have the pockets already embroidered or embellished with studs and rhinestones so most of the work is already done for you in this respect.

Once purchased, turn them inside out and sew up the legs of the denim shorts ( use a denim fabric needle in your sewing machine as it is for heavier fabrics and will not break when you are sewing up the legs) -you can trim the edges to make a smoother sewing seam. Sometimes, I leave the fringe on the bottom of the legs to create a different look for the handbag.

Turn the denim shorts ( after sewing up the leg openings) right side out. Take a pair of old denim jeans -matching colors-cut a shoulder strap about 6 inches wide and sew both sides and trim the edges or you can sew up the strap on the wrong side and turn it right side out to make the shoulder strap handle. I hand sew the straps to either side (inside area) of the denim shorts. Other suggestions for the shoulder strap--use a belt and secure it to either side of the shorts, work with different fabrics and materials to create a unique shoulder strap for your personalized handbag.
You can make button holes in the strap-sew buttons to the inside of the denim shorts ( both sides) and button the strap on. I do not recommend using Velcro as this may not hold in place if the handbag is full of heavy items.

Use your imagination-you can find slightly used belts, scarves, fabric and other materials to thread thru the belt loops of the shorts. Use strips of colorful and
co-ordinating fabric and tie a bow in the front of the handbag. Match your child's favorite outfit with pieces of fabric to make patches for the pockets and the sash to thread thru the belt loops. Your favorite football, basketball or baseball and soccer team colors can be incorporated into the making of your handbag. These handmade bags are big and roomy with comfortable shoulder straps.

The BIG BAG handbags have pockets on the outside for cell phones, keys, or the many other items that ladies and teens carry with them. They can be used for carrying books as the inside in large and roomy for many items. You can use the big bag for take -along, sewing, yarn projects, plastic canvas or embroidery projects to work on when you are waiting at doctor's offices, etc.

The pockets can be embellished with rhinestones, studs and buttons. You can use acrylic paints to paint your designs on the pockets or leg area of the handbag, embroider designs or sew on patches to personalize the handbag. Cartoon character patches, iron on patches and other items like this are easy to find in your local sewing center.

The best thing about this project? It does not cost a lot of money, will not put a strain your budget that you have planned for the holidays and you have a gift that you handmade yourself to wrap and give to any female on your gift giving list this year. These handbags are durable and washable and they have many, many uses.