The Bible bag I have been using for years was a gift and I loved it but ... alas, I wore it out and it has long since been time to replace it.
Here's what I replaced it with and how I customized it ...
It started out as a plain canvas tote that I got at Hobby Lobby for $6.95.
My old worn-out Bible bag had my initials embroidered on it and I wanted to keep those, so I cut out a rectangle, added batting and a backing, stitched around the edges and then pinked them using pinking shears. I then punched a hole in one corner of the rectangle and tied a piece of fabric through it. Next, I took just a plain ole safety pin and pinned it on the bag.
For the inside, I wanted to add something to the bottom to give it some structure.
I measured the size I wanted and cut two pieces of heavy-duty cardboard according to the measurements. I then took thick, strong rubber bands that came off purchased produce ... that I had saved ... and banded the two pieces of cardboard together. Then I made a cover for the cardboard, slipped it in and viola ... I have a structured bottom for my bag.
Into my Bible bag I put 3 zip lock art project plastic storage bags. (These came from Hobby Lobby as well.) I use 3 ...
One for the Sunday morning ladies Bible class that I teach (all the materials needed for this class goes in this folder) ...
One for the Wednesday night teen class that I teach (all the materials needed for this class goes in this folder) ...
and one for transporting the church bulletin that I do each week to church without it getting crumpled.
Next in my Bible bag are my note-taking notebooks. The one on the left is almost full and the one on the right will be its replacement.
Next, are my two zippered bags that carry all the small things that I use such as ...
highlighters,
thumb drives,
sticky notes,
extra pens, etc
(The bag on the left is one I made and the one on the right was given to me.)
Everything except my Bible stays in my Bible bag from week to week but, since I use my Bible in my daily Bible studying, I don't add it to the bag until before we leave for church.
Do you notice the small key charm laying between the handles? It's attached to a loop attached to the Bible cover. It represents and serves as a reminder that Bible study is a key in our relationship to God.
Here it is loaded and ready for use. There's also room for my laptop when I need it in teaching.
There you go, a new to me Bible bag that's functional, didn't break the bank to create and that I think is classically quite pretty!
That's it for this post, what are you stitching up and or creating?
