Ruby Star Wrapping: Newspaper Flower and Pillowcase Pouch Combo

This is my third entry for the Ruby Star Wrapping Wrapalong at Sew Mama Sew.  I combined the projects for the Newspaper Flower and the Pillowcase Pouch for this gift.  Instead of a pillowcase I made a lunch bag for my husband, afterall this is his gift.  I made it with some of my "man fabrics" that really rarely get used.  First I screenprinted the brown fabric with a screenprint I've had for years but rarely have used.

You can see that my screenprinting skills are rusty!  Anywho after I screenprinted it I used the dimensions of a paper lunch sack and cut out a lining and ironed on some fusible fleece I've also had forever and have been intimidated by for far too long!  That stuff is easy to use and GREAT!  I also squared off the corners to help the bag stand alone.  Probably the best tutorial I've found for that technique is here.  To cover up one of the stencils that went all wrong I made a heart pocket (ok I know its sappy) for a note or a piece of chocolate for Micah's lunch.  Don't worry I made the bag in such a way that you can't see the heart unless you open the bag.

See the other "manly fabric" for the heart. 

Then I added a leather button, again keeping with the man theme (rolls eyes) and to stick with the theme of the Ruby Star Wrapalong I added a big Newspaper Flower on the front. 

This is not just any newspaper, this is Sports Illustrated newspaper, again keeping with- you guessed it, the man theme!  Here's a closer look at the flower.

I think it looks like a Sports Illustrated Poinsettia, very Christmasy!  I included a surprise with the gift.  My husband hates the way most travel coffee mugs leak at the top so here is a picture of his solution to that problem.

Its a wad of paper towels and a produce rubberband.  So I decided to make him a cover for his new travel mug and here is my solution, now granted my solution looks a little bit like a Granny's night hat but it solves the problem of all our paper towels disappearing.

 

Wha-la, a new solution for an age old problem!  Eventhough this travel mug is not supposed to leak at least now if it does it can be soaked up by the manly-granny night cap!  If you are so inclined you should also enter a package in the Ruby Star Wrapalong contest and maybe you will be lucky enough to get your hands on a copy of that book...here's hoping I win a copy!  Well happy wrapping to all and to all a good night!