DIY Colourful Kool-Aid Jammers Lunch Sack Craft (How-To)

by Kim Becker ·

in DIY / Tutorials, Family, General

Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.

I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.

He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.

you'll need 15 clean dry packets

You’ll need:

Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners

Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.

bottom

Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)

5 pieces you'll need

If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.

tape pieces

You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.

front or back

The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.

The bottom is a little different.

measure the width of the bag

You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.

Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.

sam sewing

We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.

front or back

I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.

sewing the bottom

Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.

Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.

sides and bottom

Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.

5 pieces sewn together

Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.

lunch bag

If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.

I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.

fastener

Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.

velcro closure

Below is the finished product:

finished lunch sack

I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?

MK xo
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facebook comments:

{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Michelle October 21, 2009 at 16:55

That turned out so so great! And Sam is a wonderful sewist. Gotta go find some of those drink packets… hope he’s feeling 100% soon.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..getting over SSS =-.

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2 Jodi Renshaw October 21, 2009 at 17:16

You Crafty Lady, You! Love it. Problem is… Isaac doesnt drink those juice things. So now I have to find a kid who does!

Love,
Jodi
.-= Jodi Renshaw´s last blog ..Etsy Love … My Holiday Purchases Thus Far … =-.

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3 Caseye October 21, 2009 at 17:20

Loved this post & all the great pictures, will be a nice project to try – if I can find my sewing machine! LOL

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4 Jessica October 21, 2009 at 17:59

This is SUCH a cute craft idea. I see things like this in the store but had no idea it was that easy to make. Hmm, I have some Capri Sun packets in my house, I might have to get crafty.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..A shirtless man makes me happy =-.

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5 Christina October 21, 2009 at 18:26

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

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6 witchypoo October 21, 2009 at 18:56

testing your comment system. Email me if you get notified of this.
.-= witchypoo´s last blog ..Bust A Move =-.

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7 Angella October 21, 2009 at 19:07

Kim!!! These are AWESOME. I totally Stumbled this.
.-= Angella´s last blog ..I Suck At Titles Too =-.

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8 Hannah October 21, 2009 at 19:23

Wow, I totally love this!!!! Sam did a fabulous job of the sewing! He should teach me how, ROFLMBO!

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9 Justine October 21, 2009 at 19:27

Just showed Ryan and he said “Wow, that is so cool, can Sam make me one too??”.

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10 Ashley October 21, 2009 at 19:30

Some days I sign on to your blog and just say, “Seriously Dude!” It’s amazing to me the things you create. If you feel like sharing the idea let me know, I’ve got a Mommy craft blog where ideas can be submitted (with full credit going to the creator and their blog) in a forum for everyone to try and enjoy. Check it out http://www.kidkadoodlekrafts.wordpress.com

Great craft again. It’s almost your best, Georgia’s recycled shirt panties are my favorite.

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11 pineapple princess October 21, 2009 at 23:40

You are a complete genius! That is incredible! :)
.-= pineapple princess´s last blog ..I’m Not a Wedding Photographer. I Just Play One On My Blog. =-.

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12 Jenn B October 22, 2009 at 07:21

wow! that’s super cool! i’ll have to file that one away with the candy sushi & recycled underwear ideas i intend to ‘someday’ get around to. :)
.-= Jenn B´s last blog ..A Pic With Nene =-.

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13 Casey October 22, 2009 at 14:55

Fantastic post! Where did you come up with the idea? How long do you think the Kool-Aid Cooler will last?

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14 Safire October 22, 2009 at 16:02

This looks really cute! You are one talented lady. :)
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.

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15 Safire October 22, 2009 at 16:03

And this is the first time I’ve been able to comment for DAYS!! Yay for working parts!
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.

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16 jafer October 23, 2009 at 05:54

Holy crap – you amaze me! Where do you come up with these ideas… so interesting, so fun, so creative. Your kids must think you’re fabulous (or if they don’t now, they will remember back to how great you were as a mother).
.-= jafer´s last blog ..iPod Crash =-.

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17 Broke But Still Drinking October 23, 2009 at 08:32

He should be out cutting the grass and then raking the leaves. Kids need to be punished for missing school no matter how sick they may be.

You can read this in chapter 5 of my new parenting book. I borrowed some of the neighborhood kids for my research.

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18 Naomi October 25, 2009 at 13:02

That turned out super cute! Your craftiness knows no bounds…
.-= Naomi´s last blog ..Handmade Toys =-.

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19 Safire October 25, 2009 at 14:04

Just checking up on the comments. I never thought to tweet you about it! Shows you how much I use twitter…:)
.-= Safire´s last blog ..Bushwacked =-.

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20 Jenn B October 25, 2009 at 16:43

also checking in on the comments… my laptop has decided to punk out on me again, it punked out while trying to comment an hour ago, so now on my husband’s computer…if you’re at all interested in those details. ;)
.-= Jenn B´s last blog ..A Pic With Nene =-.

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21 Amber's Crazy Bloggin' Canuck October 25, 2009 at 20:25

Are you kidding me?! This is about the coolest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.-= Amber’s Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck´s last blog ..Grumpy Old Woman =-.

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22 Debb October 27, 2009 at 09:49

Love the lunch bag, this was a great idea! Thank you for sharing.

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23 Silvia October 27, 2009 at 19:10

Love it!! what a wonderful idea, I have tons of caprisun packets I should do something like this, well… I can try, I don’t know how to use a sewing machine, maybe your son can teach me :)

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24 sandrine112 October 28, 2009 at 02:56

wow,that’s a good idea of recycling, i will try this in my free time…I’ve never try to recycle…
.-= sandrine112´s last blog ..Voyage thalasso =-.

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25 katie bowen November 13, 2009 at 09:29

you are amazing…as a beginner sewer do u have a sewing machine recommendation?

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26 rogen November 17, 2009 at 21:56

very informative and easy for my kids to learn such sewing. very good idea for recycling our waste and it would help our kids and environment also. thanks for the post

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27 Gems bags January 17, 2010 at 22:53

Thanks for blogging, I have so many empty Kool aid in my house. I love collecting empty wrappers especially juices.Try this
.-= Gems bags ´s last blog ..Sugababes tell us their style secrets =-.

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28 One Scrappy Gal March 21, 2010 at 07:18

Who was the first person to look at Kool Aid jammers and think “darn it! I MUST make a lunch bag out of that?!!”

I think the finished product is adorable and what a great way to recycle!! I’m not nearly as crafty as you (the sewing machine scares me) so I will have to ride on the coattails of your accomplishments. Great job!! :-)

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29 sue young June 13, 2010 at 10:06

this is such a good idea! to bad i dont no how to sew. last time i tried i almost lost my finger and my son is horrible at it as well

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30 Pete August 2, 2010 at 05:53

great idea! it’s good to see that you spend such a quality time with your son

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31 Kylie Hackett November 9, 2010 at 10:14

Oh wow! I never thought about doing that!
That is so awesome!
I will have to try this!
I love sewing, so this would be great for me to try!

Kylie =]

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32 april cindy February 19, 2011 at 10:52

is it hard to do that but i want to know who 2 make with the zipper lunch bag not a sticky thing ook

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33 nonwoven bag December 16, 2011 at 02:07

Amazing, never thought about that.
That’s a good way of slove that things, and it’s so special.

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34 Mia August 6, 2012 at 06:41

OH MAI GOSH!! This is sooo fun I’m only 11 and I can do it! I LOVE IT! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

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