Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.
I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.
He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.
You’ll need:
Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners
Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.
Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)
If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.
You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.
The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.
The bottom is a little different.
You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.
Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.
We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.
I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.
Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.
Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.
Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.
Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.
If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.
I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.
Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.
Below is the finished product:
I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?
MK xo
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49 comments… add one
That turned out so so great! And Sam is a wonderful sewist. Gotta go find some of those drink packets… hope he’s feeling 100% soon.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..getting over SSS =-.
@Michelle, Thanks Michelle! He is a very good sewer (sewist), it’s probably all his video game playing. He was steady, sewed a straight line, it was great.
.-= MommyKnows´s last blog ..Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To) =-.
You Crafty Lady, You! Love it. Problem is… Isaac doesnt drink those juice things. So now I have to find a kid who does!
Love,
Jodi
.-= Jodi Renshaw´s last blog ..Etsy Love … My Holiday Purchases Thus Far … =-.
@Jodi Renshaw, Thanks Jodi! It took us two months to get enough for this bag :) I actually dilute them with club soda, they are not sweet at all then and the kids really like them. I buy them mostly for when the kids are sick. They have tons of vitamin C :)
.-= mommyknows´s last blog ..Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To) =-.
Loved this post & all the great pictures, will be a nice project to try – if I can find my sewing machine! LOL
@Caseye, Thanks Caseye! It was really fun to do with Sam. Lizzy loves it. I think it turned out really cute.
.-= mommyknows´s last blog ..Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To) =-.
This is SUCH a cute craft idea. I see things like this in the store but had no idea it was that easy to make. Hmm, I have some Capri Sun packets in my house, I might have to get crafty.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..A shirtless man makes me happy =-.
@Jessica, Capri Sun will work well. Kraft makes both drinks. I remember Bob Becker telling us about the Capri Sun shopping totes that are made from their recyclables.
.-= mommyknows´s last blog ..Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To) =-.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
@Christina, Thanks Christina!
.-= mommyknows´s last blog ..Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To) =-.
testing your comment system. Email me if you get notified of this.
.-= witchypoo´s last blog ..Bust A Move =-.
Kim!!! These are AWESOME. I totally Stumbled this.
.-= Angella´s last blog ..I Suck At Titles Too =-.
@Angella, Thanks Angella! Sam and I had fun. He had to guzzle a couple of extra Kool-Aids so the sugar-high helped too!
Wow, I totally love this!!!! Sam did a fabulous job of the sewing! He should teach me how, ROFLMBO!
@Hannah, Thanks Hannah! He really did a great job, way steadier and more confident than I usually am.
Just showed Ryan and he said “Wow, that is so cool, can Sam make me one too??”.
@Justine, absolutely … only criteria … HE has to drink the 15 juices :)
Some days I sign on to your blog and just say, “Seriously Dude!” It’s amazing to me the things you create. If you feel like sharing the idea let me know, I’ve got a Mommy craft blog where ideas can be submitted (with full credit going to the creator and their blog) in a forum for everyone to try and enjoy. Check it out http://www.kidkadoodlekrafts.wordpress.com
Great craft again. It’s almost your best, Georgia’s recycled shirt panties are my favorite.
@Ashley, Thank you! I’d love to be on your craft blog. I’m going to check it out now.
You are a complete genius! That is incredible! :)
.-= pineapple princess´s last blog ..I’m Not a Wedding Photographer. I Just Play One On My Blog. =-.
@pineapple princess, Thank you! It’s true I am … LOL (not).
wow! that’s super cool! i’ll have to file that one away with the candy sushi & recycled underwear ideas i intend to ‘someday’ get around to. :)
.-= Jenn B´s last blog ..A Pic With Nene =-.
@Jenn B, Thanks Jenn! When you get around to it, I want to see pics.
Fantastic post! Where did you come up with the idea? How long do you think the Kool-Aid Cooler will last?
@Casey, I think it will last a long time, it seems very durable.
This looks really cute! You are one talented lady. :)
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.
And this is the first time I’ve been able to comment for DAYS!! Yay for working parts!
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.
@Safire, Ack! I had no idea the comments were acting funky. JennB finally tweeted me yesterday. I was getting some comments, but very few. I thought it was something I said. I was feeling pretty low.
Holy crap – you amaze me! Where do you come up with these ideas… so interesting, so fun, so creative. Your kids must think you’re fabulous (or if they don’t now, they will remember back to how great you were as a mother).
.-= jafer´s last blog ..iPod Crash =-.
He should be out cutting the grass and then raking the leaves. Kids need to be punished for missing school no matter how sick they may be.
You can read this in chapter 5 of my new parenting book. I borrowed some of the neighborhood kids for my research.
That turned out super cute! Your craftiness knows no bounds…
.-= Naomi´s last blog ..Handmade Toys =-.
Just checking up on the comments. I never thought to tweet you about it! Shows you how much I use twitter…:)
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.
also checking in on the comments… my laptop has decided to punk out on me again, it punked out while trying to comment an hour ago, so now on my husband’s computer…if you’re at all interested in those details. ;)
.-= Jenn B´s last blog ..A Pic With Nene =-.
Are you kidding me?! This is about the coolest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.-= Amber’s Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck´s last blog ..Grumpy Old Woman =-.
Love the lunch bag, this was a great idea! Thank you for sharing.
Love it!! what a wonderful idea, I have tons of caprisun packets I should do something like this, well… I can try, I don’t know how to use a sewing machine, maybe your son can teach me :)
wow,that’s a good idea of recycling, i will try this in my free time…I’ve never try to recycle…
.-= sandrine112´s last blog ..Voyage thalasso =-.
you are amazing…as a beginner sewer do u have a sewing machine recommendation?
very informative and easy for my kids to learn such sewing. very good idea for recycling our waste and it would help our kids and environment also. thanks for the post
Thanks for blogging, I have so many empty Kool aid in my house. I love collecting empty wrappers especially juices.Try this
.-= Gems bags ´s last blog ..Sugababes tell us their style secrets =-.
Who was the first person to look at Kool Aid jammers and think “darn it! I MUST make a lunch bag out of that?!!”
I think the finished product is adorable and what a great way to recycle!! I’m not nearly as crafty as you (the sewing machine scares me) so I will have to ride on the coattails of your accomplishments. Great job!! :-)
Hey Scrappy! Actually I think it was one of the execs at Kraft who had to come up with a way to make producing ‘non-recyclable’ juice containers OK. If the containers aren’t ‘upcycled’ they can’t be recycled.
this is such a good idea! to bad i dont no how to sew. last time i tried i almost lost my finger and my son is horrible at it as well
great idea! it’s good to see that you spend such a quality time with your son
Oh wow! I never thought about doing that!
That is so awesome!
I will have to try this!
I love sewing, so this would be great for me to try!
Kylie =]
is it hard to do that but i want to know who 2 make with the zipper lunch bag not a sticky thing ook
Amazing, never thought about that.
That’s a good way of slove that things, and it’s so special.
OH MAI GOSH!! This is sooo fun I’m only 11 and I can do it! I LOVE IT! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
I find the sides a little bit sharp, am I doing something wrong