I FINALLY FINISHED MY FIRST I SPY BAG!!!!

So, for years I have coveted my sister and sister-in-laws "I Spy Bags" they made for their kids/family and lived away (as usual) for their craft project of making it or even hearing about it. I thought it was genius of them to have it. A quiet toy for church, long car rides, waiting rooms, etc. I decided to start collecting the trinkets that go inside so that one day when I learned how to do it, I'd have a great sentimental collection.

I thought the day had arrived a few months ago (oh my gosh, it's was more than a few months! MY how time flies when you have a baby! I guess it was 6-12moths then) when some friends here had a craft night at my friend Lindsey's house, specifically to make these bags (none of us really knowing what we were doing, we thought we could figure it out.. LOL). Well, I spent the night cutting almost everyone's fabric and they had a clownishly funny time figuring out how to do these. lets just say one of them stared out as a "circle" but ended up as a "purse" LOL (you're welcome katie). It was actually cooler that way. So... I've been crafting again for a couple weeks and was just about to put up all my mess when I saw my collection of trinketts staring sadly at me, begging me to start the project! I couldn't resist those pink and blue google eyes! (some of the trinketts) I started from scratch at 4pm with a goal to finish before michael would get home at 6pm. I decided right there, since the fabric had states and capitals on it, I would cut it the shape of Tennessee! I made great efforts to make it accurate and am very impressed with myself with the outcome. ;) As I was about to sew, I decided to add handles like my friend Lacey did to one she made me with a rice filler (it's at my work for clients to enjoy, smokey would eat it in a second if it was at my house). I had also added the window then decided I needed to type all the 'Ingredients" to see how many there were and to be able to print it on iron on paper and iron it next to the window so you know what to look for or 'check off' what you found. THEN as I sewed, I realized the whole states shape would be a little much for the ingrediants to lay so I sewed an 'inner' rectangular shape around the window and to it's left to accompany the list. This made the ingredients contained in a more manageable area. I was careful to leave an opening to stuff the hole even though I almost forgot. I mixed the doll filler plastic beads with all the trinketts and made a paper funnel to get it in. I am sooo happy with the result!!! I'm addicted. I finished AS my husband walked in the door and surprised him with what I had made. I knew he's be surprised and pleased that I made anything in the shape of Tennessee. He doesn't say but I think it warms his heart a little that I love Tennessee so much and that I try to impress him with my thoughtfulness. What do you say Michael? (i won't hold my breath for a comment... lol). So... here you go! I'm going to make these eventually to sell also.

Front. Shaped like the State of Tennessee with handles so it can be folded in half and carried. The "S" is made for our last name so Evan can share it with any future children we are blessed with. Hopefully he will grasp 'sharing' in our teachings. ;)

Back with window and list

close up of window...

close up of list

the "ingredients" before they were counted, documented & placed in the back. This is an "I Spy" on it's own... Can you see the doughnut, robot, 'Love' confetti, pipe wrench (there are two kinds so you have to know your wrench) or rooster?

Did I mention that I LOVED this project?! I cannot wait to do it again.

One more thing, can you find "C-T-R" in 'red, yellow and blue' (not in that color order)?LOL