First I should start off by talking about the name of my blog. I had other names in mind when I decided to start a blog - but they were all taken. Bummer. So I got out my thesaurus and started typing in different names - uber crafter wasn't taken. Now an uber crafter is what I WANT to be - not necessarily what I am. I think an uber crafter can use what they have and make their world a little more beautiful and useful. I usually don't go out and purchase supplies to make what I want to make right away - I don't know if that is because I'm lazy or thrifty. lol. But I like to look around at what I have and try to "make it work". I love to take old worn-out things and rededicate them to a new purpose. In many of my sewing crafts I'm using old shirts because although there is a stain on the front the back is usually in really good condition. You'll see. I guess this is why fusible plastic bags caught my attention. I first read about them a couple months ago and got all excited and tried it. It didn't turn out all that well. My iron was too hot and I ended up with a hard, shriveled hunk of plastic. I should have saved it to scrape the ice off my windshield. Then Christmas came and I was busy making gifts and decided to try it again later. Lesson #1 - go about a new project slowly. Don't be impatient. I don't mean that you should poke around - but don't let your excitement get the best of you and remember that if it doesn't turn out try again later. I didn't want that bad experience to wreck a fun project. Sooooo, I decided to try again. My daughter carries her shoes to school every day in a plastic bag. I can't strive to be an uber crafter and let that happen!! The fusible plastic seemed to be the perfect choice. THIS time I got a different iron. Didn't turn the heat up so high (middle setting worked the best). Took a deep breath (before the melting plastic fumes could get to me), and got to it. (Really, I didn't even notice any fumes). I am pleased with the results. A couple of things to note: when you cut the plastic after it's been fused don't think you can get squared pieces. I know I cut straight - but they wiggle around a little and not everything was straight in the long run. Next time maybe I'll try to just cut off the jagged edges first - let it rest - then try to cut the squares. It sews like a dream - smoooooooth. I got distracted by an old "Eye of the Tiger" song/video on TV and accidentally cut my mitered corners on the wrong side of the seam - so the bag ended up smaller on the bottom than I would have liked, but if you put the shoes in just right it is a perfect fit!
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