Shabby chic envelope laptop sleeve

I made this shabby chic envelope laptop sleeve for my 16" Toshiba Satellite because it's difficult to find a nice backpack or sling bag that has an adequately spacious laptop compartment. 

For some reason, I also found it difficult to find a cheap laptop sleeve for a 16 inches so I've decided to do a quick sketch of an envelope laptop sleeve in my notebook. Motivated by the need to protect my bread and butter during my travels, I dropped by a fabric store near UP Los Baños one fine midday and bought two yards each of muslin cloth (katsa) and one with something like a tropical version of damask print in shades of green, brown and yellowish. (Oh well, just look at the pictures.)

Here's a list of the materials I used:

2 yards of muslin cloth (for the outer)
2 yards of patterned fabric (for the inner)
2 layers of felt, 2 yards each (for the filling)
brown dye
a button
an elastic band
embroidery thread
fabric glue
pencil
meter stick
shears

This particular envelope laptop sleeve is really easy to make. I used fabric glue so I didn't need to sew to assemble the envelope. Cross-stitching the border and affixing the elastic band are both really easy to accomplish too.

It always feels good to make something unique out of accessible materials. Muslin cloth is really cheap here in the Philippines, you can even ask the neighborhood bakery to give them to you for free because these cloths are usually used to make flour sacks. You just have to dye them with a color that complements your patterned fabric. I'm planning to make another soon, probably, one in blue.

If you noticed, this project is a pastiche of various elements or objects that are not often seen together. I'm glad it ended with the vibe I wanted—something shabby and hinting an I-don't-care attitude.

Indeed, the best laptop sleeve is the one you made by yourself. My shabby chic envelope laptop sleeve is just me on my most impulsive moment.

P.S. I accept made to order requests if you're from the Philippines! Just leave a comment or send me a message via the contact form.

Found earrings

an assortment of do-it-yourself tutorials

I just thought I needed a sanity break from my "How to Plan a Debut" series, so I decided to scour the interwebs for some cute earring ideas. The challenge I gave myself was to find something made chiefly from materials that can easily be found at home. Just because, you know, mundane is the new black. 

To be completely honest, the only pair of earrings I feel comfortable wearing are a couple of nice and shiny pearls. Don't get me wrong though, I love all those dangling and quirky stuff. But only to look at. Oh, scratch that. I also like making them and giving them to friends and nieces as keepsakes. :)

Here are my top five and the links to their awesome tutorials. I thought I'd call these tiny trinkets of niceness, "found earrings". Have fun reading and crafting!

Paper clips and strings

PAPER CLIP EARRINGS via Evie S.

It's a boring day at the office and you only have a few minutes left before the week ends, what would you do? Oh hey, a pile of paper clips!

I used to tag along with my mom to work when I was young, and whenever I did, her desk became my playground. Paper clips, staple wires, stamps, pencils, sharpeners, notepads, typewriters--these were my toys. That's right, no computers back then, and Mama was always on the typewriter, so when I got really bored, what I used to do was make the longest paper clip chain. I also turned the chains into bracelets and necklaces whenever I felt more girly. But never did I imagine turning them into some fine dangling earrings such as this pair. I guess the internet came too late for me.

Bobby pins and nail polish

BOBBY PIN EARRINGS via The Metric Child

What I love the most about this bobby pin tutorial is that it lets you play with colors in thousands of ways.  

You don't even have to buy new nail polish. You may use the ones that are getting thick and are no longer advisable to use on your nails. In fact, you can still reuse the ones that are already dried up. Just pour some acetone into the bottle to make it thinner again. 

As for patterns and color palette, it would all be up to your wild imagination. You may also refer to your closet to see what's in there that would look good with your new funky jewelry.

Lace and ribbon

LACE EARRINGS via Trey and Lucy

I always end up buying more ribbons and laces than I needed for my projects and here is a great way to repurpose those scraps. 

These lace earrings look really nice and not as tacky as most dangling earrings out there. I actually think that if a time would come when I have to drop the pearls for something fancy, one of these would be the first thing I would consider wearing.

Scrap fabric

FABRIC EARRINGS via Tiny Apartment Crafts

Have I already mentioned about my preference for pearls? Well, the reason for that is they are as unassuming and classy as these fabric earrings. And the latter is even half the price, if not, priceless.

The picture tutorial says it all. You can make as many as you want and wear a different pattern every day of the year. 

Paper beads

PAPER BEAD EARRINGS via DaWanda

I have this bright idea of merging this tutorial with the paper clip and strings tutorial. I will post the finished project when it's ready. 

Now let's talk about paper beads. Oh, them paper beads, they are the reason why arts and crafts thrive. I remember when I first learned how to do this in my Home Economics class back in grade school, I was suddenly struck by a need to keep my hands busy, and that has changed the pauses of my life forever.

Every bead you roll is always a surprise. Different shades, shapes, and textures--they are like snowflakes; only more colorful and could last longer.  

Do you have any addition to my list of found earrings? Please share through the comment box.