Giveaway from SarahsQuiltsNCrafts!

Welcome to another great giveaway hosted by Love 2 Upcycle! This is so exciting, I think everyone will love this fun upcycled tote Sarah has donated today.

Sarah’s mother had all three of her children sewing at a young age. Sarah said she was only 5, “so you could say it is what I know”.

Cathedral Windows Quilt

A few years ago Sarah discovered Etsy and thought it would be fun to try it out. Friends who sew, local stores and websites that sell fabrics continually inspire her as well as wanting to be a member of society that contributes something that is useful and hopefully attractive.

Retro Print Clutch

Sarah has struggled with pricing items fairly. Although she loves a bargain as much as the next person, having a handmade store on Etsy has really begun to open her eyes to how we've been seduced by "cheap" and "sale", to the total neglect of the individuals behind handmade items, who are trying to make a living wage.

Vintage Zipper Wall Art

Despite the difficulties of the oversaturated handmade market and the challenge of getting visibility Sarah said her motivation is the same thing that keeps her breathing every day.  “Life itself! The sheer wanting of expression of the Life Force that is in each one of us.”

Canvas Tote/Book Bag with Vintage Lace

When I asked Sarah about her favorite item in Sarahsquiltsandcrafts, she expressed how most of us feel. “My favorite item to make is the one I'm really "into" at the time. Right now I need to work on 5 tote bags for a request, which I will enjoy, and I have an idea for a new mandala zafu burning away in my mind! Can't wait to get to it, but need to focus on first things first!”

This is a little like a double giveaway! You can enter for our tote giveaway here, then head over to Sarah’s blog and enter for a Cathedral Pillow!

Enter now to win this fun tote!

Giveaway Rules!

1.  This giveaway is only open to followers of Love2Upcycle! (Not a follower? It’s easy! Click the follow button in the right sidebar!)

2.  Each comment only counts as one entry, so if you are entering multiple times you must comment separately.

3.  FIRST entry: Check out Sarahsquiltsncrafts and post your favorite item in the comments below.

+1 Follow Sarah’s blog
+1 Post on YOUR facebook about this giveaway - please post link in comments.

+1 Tweet about this giveaway - please post link in comments. 

Winner will be announced April 20th - Good luck!

Love 2 DIY on the Weekend: Everything has a Place

I would post a picture of my craft desk, but we would all just be embarrassed of the mess. So you can imagine I'm always on the look out for cute, cheap, upcycled storage solutions. This little tote is perfect because you can carry it room to room or even take it with you to craft night at someone else's house.
Honestly there is no reason you can't just use a little 6-pack tote as is. But I decided to decorate it so you wouldn't necessarily recognize it on my craft table.

Any six pack cardboard container will do. I found this one in a neighbor's trash. Not really.
I used some craft paint I had left over from another project and my 8 year old daughter helped me put on a coat.

It didn't seem quite enough coverage so we decided two coats would be better. 

Much better! Next, we chose 3 fabric samples from my huge supply a friend of mine sent me. My daughter loved the floral and green, and i decided the orange and yellow were a perfect compliment. 

I cut out some of the flowers and glued the other pieces of fabric directly onto the tote. If you don't have fabric, you can paint directly onto the tote, or use paper to decorate. Make it your own! 

I can't wait to show you what other easy, fun DIY upcycle projects I have to share with you, but feel free to leave a comment if there is something in particular you would love to see a step-by-step tutorial on. 

Sammi