DIY lunch bag with Vintage Finds By Cheri

I love making these fun little lunch bags. People have been making these or something similar for ages, I love this collection so much I wanted to make a new one! 

I used the following papers from the Vintage Finds Collection for the front, back, sides and bottom: Bingo, Titles, Black Damask. Then I layered them onto the Orange Damask (2 sheets) showing the black and white side for the interior.

Titles paper - I cut 4 rows down and fussy cut along the 4th row (trim to the same width as the Bingo cards). Then I cut strips from the Bingo paper - I used Friends, Beautiful, & Charming for one side and Story, Life, Blessed on the other. I used Home and Love for the sides. Black Damask I cut strips 2 x the width of the bingo cards. 

Then layer them together as shown above. Cut the Orange Damask 8 1/2 x 9 1/4 (x2) , 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 (x2), and one strip 9 1/4 x 3 1/4. Ink around all of the edges. I used Tim Holtz Gathered twigs, I love how it blends so well with the colors in this collection.

Once you have all of your layers put together put them into laminating sheets. For this project I used self sealing sheets from my local office supply store.

Measure where you want your handles BEFORE (that's a tip ;) you add any trim around the top edge. Trim around the sides of all of your edges leaving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the laminating sheets around all of your edges except your top.

Using a binding system of your choice punch holes in the edges and stitch all of your pieces together using the twine from the Trims package.

Cut even lengths of the cream ribbon to use as your handles. To attach your handles put a brad through the hole you punched earlier and poke it through the end of the ribbon then bend your brads back and they will hold your handles. Mind you - this is for a light lunch, I wouldn't suggest putting a lot of heavy weight in it.

Then you can start embellishing the front of your bag. I love the medallion with the bling. Using a punch I personalized it with my name! I added some more buttons, flowers, a clock from the clocks paper and some inspirational words from the "Word Labels" paper.