D.I.Y.
If You Don't Know What to Do
for the Holidays…Bag It!

By Clare Tattersall, staff writer

Yes, the holidays are coming and the usual pressure is upon you. It really doesn't seem very festive to have to spend your hard-earned money on gifts, especially when you've been saving up for that stylish little bag you saw at the boutique.

What to do? You have a few options: One, you can make gifts for everyone and buy yourself the bag. Two, you can make gifts for everyone and make yourself a bag (that way you still have all your savings left over to keep on growing and growing for your college fund). Or three, you can buy gifts, buy a bag and have nothing left over at the end of the year.

So, now that you've decided to show off your creativity, what bag are you going to make? The options are endless. You can choose any multitude of fabrics and colors that show off who you are. One great way to display your style and make a statement is to take magazine or book covers and create a bag that speaks volumes — a laminated bag.

To make a laminated bag, first choose the style you want. Do you want a clutch bag? A carry bag? Or just a small purse to swing from your arm?

1. For the carry bag, place two pages bottom ends together (about three inches apart) and both facing out in the same direction. Visit your local copy center to laminate them together with about three inches between the bottom of each page. The whole strip should be approximately 25 inches long.
2. Create 3 more pieces of laminate (that have no content) and are 13 inches long by 3 inches wide. These will be the sides of the bag.
3. Use a hole-punch to create holes equal distances apart down the sides of all pieces of laminate.
4. Glue the side panels to the blank space between the front and back. There should be a 2-inch overlap to glue.
5. To make the handles, attach grommets at the top in the thickest part of the bag, and attach a chain using "O" rings.

And your bag is ready to be worn. Remember, this is just one style. Using this technique, you can make a bag in any shape or form. As always with style, the choice is yours.