Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Valentine's Day Chair Backer {Tutorial}






Now that Jack's birthday party is over, and the house is back in order...well almost back in order...I have moved on to some fun projects for Valentine's Day.

I have been dreaming about creating a knock-off of this...

Valentine's Day Chairbacker

I can use my sewing machine...I can even thread the bobbin!  BUT, I wouldn't claim to be a seamstress. Attempting this type of chair backer would be challenging, and at the moment I do not have the patience for anything challenging.  

So instead of attacking the mounds of laundry overtaking my house, I went to my #2 happy place...Hobby Lobby.  I {heart} that place.  After wandering the aisles a bit, I came up with an idea for a chair backer that wouldn't involve dusting off my sewing machine.



Supplies you will need:
  • Small canvas tote bag
  • Fabric (approximately a 12 in square)
  • Coordinating trim or ribbon
  • Coordinating embroidery thread
  • Fabric glue (I used Fabri-Tac)
  • Snap fastening kit
  • Card stock
  • Pencil
  • Scissors and/or pinking shears

Cut out a heart from card stock large enough to cover most of the tote bag while leaving about a two inch border.


Turn the bag inside out and trace heart onto bag.


Cut heart out of bag using pinking shears or scissors.  I used pinking shears to give the edge a nice tattered look.


Fray the edges a little more if desired.


Use the same heart pattern and cut a heart out of the fabric square.  Leaving a border at least 2 inches wide.


Use fabric glue to attach the fabric (pattern side down) onto the bag.  I placed a very thin bead of glue along the edge of the fabric heart.


Once the glue is dry, turn the bag back inside itself and cut off the handle attached to the front of the bag.


Cut the handle attached to the back of the bag in half, but leave it attached to the bag.


Add trim to the top of the bag.  I attached my trim to both sides of the bag.


Use the embroidery thread to sew a simple running stitch around the heart.



Use the snap fastener to attach snaps to the two ends of the handle that was cut in half.


Attach the other half of the snap to the back of the bag.


Make sure it is lined up to snap together correctly.


Attach to back of chair and enjoy!

Delaney Bug has been SO into making cards for everyone lately...everyone gets a card...everyday.  Sweet Girl!  She is going to be THRILLED to make Valentine's and deliver them to her brothers in these bags...


Jude's bag.


And Jack's bag.

Even the boy versions are too cute!

I made all three bags for less than $20!  It also took me only about an 1 1/2 hours to make all three bags.  I am so pleased with how they turned out, and even more tickled that they took so little time and money!  I can't wait to fill these with Valentine's Day goodies for my little angels.

Check out other great ideas at these link parties:


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3 comments:

  1. These are so cute!! Great idea.

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  2. Ohmigosh these are so awesome I can barely contain myself! I too have a sewing machine but a PBkids like chair backer is totally beyond me. I made a foam knock off version a couple of years ago and it's pretty cute but I love how this mimics the PBKids one better. Great idea and tute! Thanks for joining us at A Crafty Soiree. I love being inspired by the participants. I hope you'll come back next week too, we love to see familiar faces!

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