Travel Jewelry Pouch

I can't decide if this is the lamest thing I've made in a long time or the most clever use of household items and I'm a genius...I'll leave it up to you. I started this blog to show you things I make - for better or worse hahaha! (I will say thoughts of my crafty Grandma came to mind while I was making it, this is right up her alley) The best thing is it literally took me 5 minutes to make - if you find this idea not totally ridiculous and want to make one,  it would be a cute funny quick stocking stuffer (or white elephant gift!). Ok, enough stalling...here it is:

You'll need a square potholder with a hanging loop on the side (use a thinner one that bends easily - I got these potholders at a dollar store 2/$1), 10 snack sized ziplock baggies, a button that fits the loop on the side of the potholder, and some tape.

Lay the potholder inside up (right-side down), place one baggie on the right with the zipper towards the right edge - put a little piece of tape on the top and bottom to hold it in place. Then put a baggie on the left side with the zipper towards the left edge and tape in place. Continue alternating sides, overlapping and taping the baggies until you have 5 on each side.

        

Sew a zigzag stitch down the middle of the potholder (which is also down the middle of the overlapping baggies).

Fold the potholder in half, find where the loop will meet the other side and sew the button on for the closure.

each baggie can hold a different piece of
jewelry and not get tangled together

you can hang it from the loop, although
it's looking much more like a potholder and
some baggies hanging like this! ha!

the jewelry is being protected more since
the potholder has batting or whatever in it
which gives it some cushion. 

I got the idea for this idea here, they made this as an "emergency clutch" holding bandaids, aspirin, etc. - I saw it though and thought it would make a good jewelry pouch. Well, anyone game to make one? :)

Crocheted Bracelets

These bracelets are pretty simple to make, I don't have the pattern to share but if you can do a single crochet you can make them no problem! 

String some beads (approx 50) onto thin cotton yarn (make sure the holes in your beads are big enough to thread onto your yarn. I tried using embroidery floss but there isn't enough in a skein to complete the bracelet and with the beads strung on before you start it would be hard to add on). Chain 7 with a very small hook; turn, skip first chain, sc in remaining 6 chains, chain 1, turn. SC across 6 chains, chain 1, turn, repeat until you have an area big enough for your button closure. Then pull up a bead to your hook and crochet it into your sc's, I alternate 2 and 3 beads per bead row so they look a little more random. After you do one row with beads and turn, just do sc's across the next row (the "back side"), turn and do another bead row. Repeat alternating a bead row with 6 sc no bead row until it's as long as you want (mine are approx 7"). Last row I chained 5 (or as many as it takes to fit the button for a closure, slip stitch into last stitch and finish off. Sew button on the area with . Weave ends in. Done. Doesn't take long at all and I think they are a nice easy project - I'd wear them alone or pile 'em on my wrist. Note: you could make this as narrow or wide as you want, just add more or less chain/sc's and beads.

I wouldn't wear these 3 together normally, just showing you how they all look on!