It’s birthday season in our home, which means beginning in January we have one birthday a month until June when there is two celebrations.  This year will be different since I am expecting in early May, so we’ll have two in May and two in June.  I am completely anxious for spring!! Much like Christmas (and my Handmade Holiday series), birthday time around here means homemade or purposeful gifts. My youngest boy is so wanting to be like his older brother, so I decided to give him a messenger bag just like his brother’s…

…with all the fixings to go bird watching – a favorite pastime in my family.

I will never deny that I am a thrifty person, and this project is no exception. After all, Thomas Edison said it best, “The scope of thrift is limitless.”  My kind of man.

All the materials for this bag came from second-hand purchases or were made at home, (minus the velcro & thread).  Just time and creativity were all that were needed.

The basic pattern idea came from One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! I changed it to suit my liking and redesigned it a bit to meet the needs I had in mind.

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For instance, I like boxed-corner bags for their ability to open wide and stand on their own when using a sturdy fabric.

I found all the fabric at Goodwill ($1 a yard minus my 20% off coupon = cheap!) and it was brand new denim, pinstripe blue, and sort of stretch cotton canvas for the lining – all found at different times.  Never miss an opportunity to peruse the aisles of fabric for great finds!

See how it sits up all by itself so that my toddler-turned-big-boy can reach in for his equipment.  Also, I add a cut of thin foam to line the base which adds to the sturdiness.

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Now for the fun bird graphic.  Did you know there is no need to buy the expensive inkjet fabric sheets and that you can make your own?

With the idea of giving my little guy a bird-watching bag, I wanted to add that theme to the outside, but definitely my style is vintage, like this adorable yellow bird image.

One last tidbit. I never throw anything that purpose away and it always pays off. For the life of me, I couldn’t find a sliding adjustable clip for the strap ANYWHERE!  And, I didn’t have time to order it online, so I went to my stash of deconstructed purses. In addition, my stash includes all sort of hardware, and found exactly what I needed.  A cast-off dog collar I found in my yard.

You see, my neighbor has an escape artist husky dog that chews out of the collar in a matter of hours and left this one in my yard. It had the exact hardware I needed – bingo!! I love it when things work out like that.

Here’s my little guy’s gift in it’s entirety:

• Messenger Bag
• Canvas Sun Hat – found new at thrift store – 80 cents
• Binoculars – $10 at Walmart
• Journal – $1 at dollar store
• Vintage Audubon Bird Call – $1 + shipping on ebay (I love these little things!)
• Audubon Plush Bird – from JoAnn with 40% off coupon

I’m not sure which he liked more out of the set, but he can’t wait to take it out and put it to use…just like his big brother.

Got questions?  I’d love to help you if you need it! To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!

Also, more stitching eye candy for you like my messenger bag: