Tuesday 21 February 2012

It's in the can



As I said in my last post, I needed some empty aluminium cans to decorate a bag I envisaged making.  
I wasn't having much luck finding them, but when I was driving to do my weekly shop I saw a couple thrown onto the grass verge at the side of the road.  For once I was glad to see litter! 

If you remember the jacket with the glass pieces on that gave me the inspiration, then you'll see that this has turned out quite a bit different.  The pieces are shiny, but not smooth, as I decided to emboss them with different designs.





The outside fabric started life as a laptop bag that my daughter made a while ago but gave to me for scrap.  I cut it up to the size I wanted and used some of the original spare fabric she had to make the strap.
I've lined it with fabric from a pillow case and added an open pocket plus a handy little key fob
 and also a zipped pocket, which is the first one I've done and I'm pretty pleased with it.


I'd intended to fasten it with a magnetic clasp, but I seem to have misplaced them, so I've put a loop and button on.
I thought about making a button out of the aluminium but it would have been too thin on it's own, and then I had the idea of using a milk bottle top!  I used it to cover a plain button and stuck a piece of fabric on the back to smooth it off.  What I like about it is, if you look closely at it you can make out the 'use by' date which is FEB 15 so is a good reminder of when I made it (ok it wasn't 15th but close).

17 comments:

  1. Hey Georgia what a great idea ....who would've thought to use recycled aluminium cans to decorate a bag.

    It's turned out really well, I love it.

    You've done a great job with the zip too ad I love the button too.

    I can imagine you'll be picking up discarded cans and making plans for more things from now on......

    Claire :}

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  2. I love your ideas! Such creative use of everyday things.

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  3. Now that is neat! There's nowt nicer than objects given a second (or third) life and put together with care and professionalism. Puts my mass-produced "man-bag" (yup, we need 'em too!) to shame.

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  4. How talented you are - excellent bag.

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  5. Fantastic bag! I love how the lining echos the embossed work on the metal pieces. And fabulous upcycling of everyday things.

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  6. That is one of the best up-cycling ideas I've ever seen, totally brilliant. x

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  7. Excellent! I love your creativity and that is a brilliant bit of recycling. Truly wonderful.

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  8. Such a great bag, who would have thought you could make aluminium cans into something so pretty! You have a very creative brain!!

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  9. I love your work. You are very talented.

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  10. wow thats great...it looks so neat and well made and I love the detail!
    xxx

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  11. I love your bag and an inside pocket, WOW, you clever thing. One day I'll attempt one.
    Anne xx

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  12. This is brilliant georgia!!
    I love it :)

    Have a happy week my dear.
    xx

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  13. Hello, I have passed on a blog award to you over on my blog. Hope thats ok x

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  14. Wow, brilliant button idea :D

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  15. What a wonderful idea, and I love how you've found a lining that echoes the cans. Fantastic!

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  16. WOW! That's fantastic!!!
    Would loooove to know HOW you did the embossing. Did you cut various shapes with a regular scissors?
    Designdreamer

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  17. Hi Anonymous,
    The embossing is just done with a ballpoint pen (one that doesn't work so that you don't get ink on it). Do your design on what will be the back first, then turn over and do another line either side of the first, to really make it stand out.
    Yes I just used regular scissors.

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