After participating in a recent scrap swap and creating a couple projects from scrap fabrics, I was motivated to use more pieces from my growing stash.

I still adore the Chocolate Lollipop fabrics by Anna Maria Horner, so I decided to combine several pink and brown scraps from my stash with some Chocolate Lollipop scraps for good measure. I love how girly this patchwork project turned out – a drawstring bag using the tutorial from Pink Penguin. What a fabulous tutorial! I would highly recommend trying it.

Since Halloween is coming, I used up some scraps left over from my hubby’s Halloween quilt for this patchwork drawstring bag. It’s not big enough to collect many treats during trick-or-treating, but I don’t need that much candy anyway.

Another pile of scraps went well together so I thought a fabric basket was in order. I used another great tutorial from Pink Penguin. There are many ways to use these fabric baskets – makeup, office supplies, fabric scraps, jewelry, ribbons, buttons, threads, wrapped candy, iPod and cord storage, CDs, spare change, and on and on.

I am growing addicted to both of these projects so I loaded up on Christmas fabrics to make gift bags and gift baskets. I just need to make the rest less cute so I can part with them for gifts. In fact, I carry one of these bags to work to admire during the day. Seriously, I’ll do whatever it takes to get through some work days!