we don’t know about you but there are lots of days when we feel like we live in the car.
from morning till dinner time….it’s go, go, go.
if you can relate, go grab yourself a potholder.
you need one of these babies!
it’s a girl’s emergency clutch!
(cute potholder turned emergency wallet)
for the things you always need….but never have.
it’s perfect for your car or purse or boat or camper…..
so, let’s get started!
here’s what you’re going to need:
(just a few things really)
1. a square potholder (ours are from Target…the Dwell line)
2. a large button
3. about. 6″ grosgrain coordinating ribbon
4. 10 snack size zip lock baggies
5. tape
6. coordinating embroidery floss
7. sewing machine
step 1: lay your potholder inside up (make sure your pocket is at the top, either on the inside of the wallet or the outside). place one zip lock on the right side (zipper toward the right edge) and place a piece of tape on the top and bottom (to keep the baggies from moving). place another zip lock on the left side overlapping the first (with the zipper toward the left edge) and tape the top and bottom. continue alternating sides and overlapping the bottoms of all ten baggies (5 on each side).
step 2: now that the baggies are securely taped in place, sew a zig zag stitch all the way down the middle of the potholder (which should also be down the middle of the overlapped baggies).
step 3: fold your potholder in half to make your wallet and find your middle to sew on your button. we used yellow embroidery floss…just to make a statement.
step 4: using your 6″ piece of grosgrain ribbon, fold in half lengthwise and sew all the way down. (you can use a thinner ribbon or even a hair elastic…this is just what we had on hand). then, on the backside of your wallet, make a loop with your ribbon large enough to fit over your button and sew down.
and…there you have it!
(back)
(front)
a few ideas of things to put in your emergency clutch:
advil or tylenol
tums
band aids/first aid cream
gum/mints
tooth picks/floss
hair elastics
eye drops
cough drops
emergency medication
matches
feminine products
an emergency mimi (pacifier)
cash
spare house key
nail file
tweezers
pen and pencil (for that cute front pocket, of course!)
of course, you’ll need to make a few of these…
one for you, one for your child’s teacher and one for each of those special mothers in your life.
I'm Jen Sedillo, one of the bloggers behind Eighteen25. I love creating and crafting, reading good books, visiting new places and being with family!
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I adore this idea…I'll be making it this weekend – and I have just the postholder…;) Thanks so much for the terrific idea! Perfect, and just in time for warmer weather & playing at the park!
I have made this a few times a gifts and I recommend putting clear tape down the while side of the plastic you are sewing down to give the plastic more strenght because the little baggies rip out easily if the stitches are too close together.
well now, that is so stinkin' clever i can't get over it!! I love your blog-just found you and started following 🙂
xoxo
cm
I love this idea but I don't own a sewing machine. I'm also not very good with a needle & thread. Any suggestions on how I can "sew" the baggies in place?
This is genius!!! I'm sharing this with everyone. How stinking cute!
This is really just super cute! I think I am going to be giving this a try over the weekend…just gotta make a trip out to Target. I have a feeling a few people may be getting these as Christmas gifts too.
totally cute and super ingenious!
I love this idea! So cute!
I love this project! A+ ladies!!
kisses
heather
suuper cute idea for mom's day!!
What a cute and clever idea! by the way, the Post a Comment at the bottom of your page doesn't work for me- or isn't that supposed to be a button? I have to click on the number of comments at the top of the comment section to be able to post. Maybe that's normal, just a little confusing to me (not a blogger, what do I know!) Anyway, love your ideas!!! 🙂
So stinkin cute!!! Love this idea!
This is freaking amazing! Please come link it up at my party today! http://www.smallfineprint.com
Oh my goodness-I haven't even read the whole post and I already LOVE the idea! I gotta go out and get hotpads!!
So cute! You ladies are so clever!
ok, that is awesome!!!!!
thank you for sharing! this is a must do!
SOOO cute and very clever!! Definitely will be making this for myself and for gifts. 🙂
I've seen these made in R.S. before but never so cute! I love that you used Dwell line pot hol;ders – they are beautiful! I will be making a few of these too. Plus tahnks for the tutorial, I never really knew how to do it. This should be a snap!!
I was just thinking these would be an easier version to the crayon rolls! Then the kiddos could keep like colors in the seperate baggies!
I love that these have a whole slew of ideas popping into my head! I may have to make them for all the ladies in my life for either mothers day, birthdays, christmas, etc etc…. Guess I will be sewing a lot 🙂 Thanks so much!!! You gals rock
This is adorable!! And so useful!!
that is so clever. i want to try!
Love this! Can't wait to make a few! So cute!
Wonderful idea!!
Love it! This would also be handy for those that follow Dave Ramsey's financial advice using it for the envelope/wallet system (label each bag according to your budget categories and place the cash for each area inside). Super cool. 🙂
Such CUTENESS!!!! What a clever idea!! Thank you!
are you kidding me ? what a great idea thanks for sharing 🙂
That is brilliant!!
Ooo, I love this! What an awesome idea!!
this is brilliant – super cute, super cheap, and super fast! thanks for the inspiration 🙂
I definitely need one of these for my classroom! And if I can find some cute potholders – for a few fellow teachers next week. Oh how I miss Target – we've got sandy beaches and sunny days, but NO Target. The things we give up to live in paradise:)
I've gone to 5 different stores including 2 different Targets and all the potholders I've seen are not as cute as the ones you posted. My Targets don't carry the Dwell line at all. Would love some suggestions of where to go to get cute potholders. I tried, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Ross, Pier 1, Kohl's, Super Target, Normal Target.
My mom made one of these for my sisters and I many years ago. I love mine and I use it all the time!
I also looked at Target and can't find the same ones. Did you buy them in a set?
Fabulous…I am going to make at least 6!! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us 🙂
After checking a couple local Targets, I found the hotpads and made a couple of my own. Love them! I posted the idea on my blog (and gave you the credit!) Thanks again!
http://antsi-pants.blogspot.com/2011/05/girls-emergency-clutch.html
-Chessa
THis is great idea! Thanks for bringing us the cute and the practical!
Very cute! great idea too! a big thumbs up over here!
happy crafting!
Linda
This is such a great idea. I made something similar-oh-4 years back or so, but it was just items stuffed into small makeup type bags I had nabbed at thrift stores etc. You have to pull everything out in order to get at what you want. Using the potholders as cute cases & sewing the baggies in? BRILLIANT.
I think I have a crush on you now.
Maybe THIS would be a good teacher's appreciation gift too. . .thinking. . .thinking. . .
Clever and cute idea, would pack well. Have a few cute potholders I can now put to good use
PERFECT Mother's Day idea!! Just what I was looking for. Hurray 🙂
Very cool! I will be showing this off on Random Crafty Georgia Girl. I have been on a blogging break for a few days, but I am back and looking for great ideas.
Cate from Random Crafty Georgia Girl
http://randomcraftygagirl.blogspot.com
Definitely one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Would make great first aid kits for girls camp or medication bags for mom — tons of different and exciting ideas. Thanks for the tutorial.
OH!MY!GOODNESS!!! This is so flippin' adorable and darn cute!! I am trying to hand make ALL of my Christmas gifts this year, and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for this!!! I will be making many!! XOXOXOOX!!!
Hi Ladies,
My mom and I just made these and they worked out great! thanks for a clear and informative tutorial!
I think I see more of these in my future….friends' Christmas gifts perhaps:)
Thank you so much for the inspiration and such an easy tutorial! I actually used your idea to make give-save-spend wallets for my little girls. They adore them! And I love that I will be able to easily replace the baggies if needed. Thought you might like to see how they turned out and where I linked back you you! Thanks again!! LOVE following you!!
http://crayonwishesandpopsicledreams.com/give-save-spend-wallet/
PLEASE start selling these on Etsy!!
I've made about 8 of these so far! The first ones I made were for entertaining my girls when we go out to dinner. My mom got a look at them and decided they would be great for storing jewelry in while you're traveling. I've made one for all the women in my family and my mom has 'ordered' a few for her friends. Thanks for such a great idea!!
I love it. Wish I would have found in time for Teacher Appreciation.
one year ago,5/2011 I saw this clutch on your site and fell in love with it. I am so excited to get started and make one for my grand-dughter who is going into high-school.thanks Barbara
Made these last night for my kids' teachers and it took 15 minutes to make two! I actually used ribbon over the seam on the Ziplocs and my potholders already had a loop for the button! Cost me $3 (excluding the contents I put in the bags.) Love, love, love!
What a great idea! It looks so easy.
This is awesome and I know several people who could use one! Definitely going on my gift list!
This would be awesome to keep in the car with change for tolls (and a secret $20 stash.)
Great. I love it. Every essentials i can. Thanks for sharing.
I have made these before and have used the bigger hot pads, the rectangle shaped ones rather than the square ones. This way you can use the sandwich sized bags (They will need to be cut down just a little, after you've sewn them in, cut the excess off the bottom, or just leave it) but it gives you more room in the bags. Also, I have put small tape measures (Can get them for $1.00 a piece sometimes), stamps, post it notes, single serve wet wipes, etc. in them. Also, you can use one specifically as a first aid kit. I have gotten my hot pads at the dollar store.
looks like it could be a great eyeglass case or sunglass holder to throw in the glove compartment.
That's a great idea. No more scratched up sunglasses. 🙂
Hmmm… Seems like I'm the only one who doesn't understand something on this pattern. If you sew ziplocs through the centre, what happens with the bottoms of the ziploc bags? Wouldn't there be flaps of baggie that have no zipper opening on them? Anyone? Thank you-I love the idea but I don't get that bit…
Hi! You do have a little bit of a flap but not much at all. The zipper part should be facing out and you'll be sewing down the closed end. Does that make sense?
You Don t sew the middle of the plastic bags. U sew d own t he middle of t he potholde r which catches t he botto ms of t he bags. That's how I understand it anyway.
What a clever idea! Pinned! Sharing on fb today!
Thank you Amy!!
Bought quilted material, doubled it and put binding on. Still under $2 invested. Giving as Christmas gifts. Thanks for sharing.
just made one of the adorable little clutches, so easy. Want to make a lot for our upcoming Spring Fling at our church, thanks
Great idea! Thanks
This would make an Ideal crochet needle container.
This will be a great ‘small’ gift for the girls in my family this Christmas. I’d better get started!
Great idea! 🙂 Hope you get them all them done!!
Do the ziploc baggies hold up to opening multiple times?
mine have! 🙂
I’ve made these years ago, but the sewing machine I have now will not sew the plastic bags without skipping a bunch of stitches. What is my mistake? Help!