Over the next few weeks we will be making a similar bag together. You can either knit or crochet your bag.  It really isn’t difficult. I’ll show you how to make the lining without a sewing machine. 

For this first week you need to decide on the size of your bag, the stitch you would like to use for your bag, the fabric for the lining and what yarn you would like to use.

You can find some free stitch patterns for knitting and crocheting at the following sites:

• Knitting Pattern Central

• Crochet Pattern Central

• Last year for Ramadan I made an Advent Calendar for my children.  I wrote down various treats, activities, and games on little slips of paper to put in each pocket.  My kids really liked it.  It is currently rolled up and stored on a shelf in a closet just waiting to be reused again this year.  You can find detailed directions and pictures at UmmLayla’s blog. I did a few things a little different on mine.  I also left mine a little more generic so that it could possibly be used for something else in the future.

• The Muslim Homeschool has three good ideas; candy wrappers, banner, and “Ramadan Boxes” with activities and snacks for children during Taraweeh .  The candy wrappers could easily be used in conjunction with the advent calendar or as treats to be handed out to others.

• I also found TJ Ramadan which has loads for resources for Ramadan.  There is also an e-book with craft projects for Ramadan that has been compiled from different people, websites, and blogs.  The e-book is a pdf file so you can either save or print it.

• I found Ramadan Joy today that has some good ideas, including making cookies for your neighbors and including a little note about Ramadan.

Everyone in my family likes this recipe for Stuffed Crescent Rolls.  It is really east to change the filling to your family’s preferences.  You can make extra to store in the refrigerator or freeze for snacks or a quick meal.

2 (8 oz) cans Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls Dough
2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 1/2-7 oz green salsa verde (optional)
chopped onions (yellow or green, any amount desired)
2 cups grated cheese

Set oven to 325 degrees. Combine chicken, cream cheese, salsa, onions and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Roll up 1 tbsp (or a little more) of mixture in the crescent rolls. (You can seal 2 crescent roll triangles together to make larger rolls, you would use more filling.) Then place the crescent rolls seam-side down on a lightly greased pan and sprinkle with remaining grated cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes.

• First thing I did was download the postcard back pdf file from here and printed them on cardstock.

• Next I gathered various things from my stash of craft supplies. (If you don’t have a stash of craft supplies try your local dollar store for some inexpensive items to get started.)

• I cut the postcards out using paper edger scissors.

• I cut various shapes out of scrap colored paper and glued it to the front of the postcard.

• I cut pictures from a sheet of scrapbooking paper and glued them to the postcard.  Then I used colored pencils to decorate the background.

• I colored some blank scrapbooking stickers and placed them on the postcard.

• I used some stamps to create a design on my postcard.

With three very active little boys in the house, quick and easy meals are a necessity.  Spaghetti is a frequent meal at our house.  It is economical, quick, and easy, especially when you use a bottle of spaghetti sauce.  However the bottled spaghetti sauce can be boring.  I have started added a few things to the jar of spaghetti sauce to spice it up.  Everyone in my house enjoys it and actually eats it! Which can be an accomplishment with young children!  This is the basic recipe. Personalize it to your own family’s preferences.

• Spaghetti Sauce

• Curry Powder

• Chili Powder

• Onion, chopped

• Garlic, minced

• Spinach or Peas (optional)

• Ground Beef/Turkey, cooked (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in a sauce pan.  Simmer on medium/low heat for at least 15-20 minutes.  This is good served over both noodles and rice.

This is a unique, personal, inexpensive way to wrap your gifts.  These bags are a great way to dress up any gift. It can be used from anything as simple as a small bag of candy to an expensive gift.  Even after your gift is gone the bag can still be used for something else. 

What you will need:
Fabric
Ribbon
Scissors

Instructions:
First you will need to decide how big you want you gift bag.  You will want to make the bag about twice that size. You can use just about any fabric you have stashed away or go to your local fabric store,  sometimes there are some great finds in the clearance and remnants section.

Fold your fabric in half, right sides facing together.  I used the end of the fabric that doesn’t unravel for the top of my bag to avoid needing to hem it.  You could also use a pair of pinking shears to cut the top edge of your bag.  I put a 8 1/2” x 11” folder on my fabric and cut the fabric with about 3 inches on each side of the folder. 

Starting along one side of your fabric you will cut slits about every 3/4”.  I would suggest making the slits about 2 1/2-3 inches long.  When you come to the edge of the fabric you will cut out a square.  Continue to make slits on three sides of your fabric.  Do not slit the side you will be using for the top of your bag.

Tie a double knot with one slit from the bottom piece of fabric and one slit from the top piece of fabric.  Continue all the way around the fabric.

Turn the bag right side out.  Tie a bow around the bag with the ribbon.

Variations:

1. For a bag with the knots showing put the wrong sides of the fabric together in step 1.  Follow the rest of the instructions, skipping step 4. 
2. For a reversible bag cut all four layers of fabric at once.  Follow steps 1-3.  For step 4 leave one bag wrong side out.  Place that bag inside the right side bag.

   

 

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