Make Your Own Backpack

Shopping for a new backpack was always a bit of a struggle for me. I could never find anything that was both original AND cheap. Because I am cheap. Very cheap. If only Threadbanger had existed when I was in high school. This week, they posted an awesome video on how to make your own backpack out of an old men's jacket. This tutorial has so many amazing possibilities for originality, I would almost willingly go back to school just to carry my own home-made backpack. Almost.

Grr, for some reason I can't get the video to embed. I'm not so smart with the html, so I'm not sure what the problem is. So for now, just go here to watch the tutorial and get inspired.

If you make it, let me know! I would love to see the results.

Making Anything Out of Anything

Obscure Homestar Runner reference aside (if you go watch it, wait a little while after the end of the toon, you'll see the funniest part), this week's focus will be on back to school fashions you can make yourself. More specifically, things you can make yourself out of things you already have. Amazing, eh? The reasons why are as follows: a) back to school shopping can be fun, but it can really drain your account. b) do you really want to show up to school the first day (whether that's high school, college, or dropping your kids off for their first day of kindergarten) wearing the same thing as nine other people? ugh, no thanks. and, c) what better way to ensure that your wardrobe is modest than to have made it yourself?

First up, a pretty awesome crafter on crafster.org posted a tutorial on how to make this awesome skirt out of a pillow case. I am absolutely in love with it, and really want to make one myself. I imagine you could make it out of any random textile you have lying around your house: an old sheet, a curtain perhaps?

Here's a link to the tutorial: pillowcase skirt