Snappy Bags

Snappy Bags are perfect for keeping little hands busy (they take a while for them to get open) or to hold the small items hanging out at the bottom of your purse. They use pieces of tape measure in the top to “snap” closed when you let go, so they automatically stay closed! So tricky.

To make some Snappy Bags of your own you will need, fabric (scrap or fat quarters work great), a tape measure (my husband freely handed over a broken one), and decorative trim if you so desire.

First, cut two pieces of fabric to be the same size. I found that 6″x12″ was a good size (but you can make them to fit anything!). And place them right sides together.

Then sew the ends with a 1/4″ seam.

Next, flip it so the right sides are out. Press with an iron.

Here’s the trickiest part. Take a screw driver and remove the screws from the back of the tape measure and remove the back-but be careful, the tape might go crazy once it is let free. Using bad scissors (they’ll never be the same after this) cut your tape to the length you need (5.5″ if making a 6″ wide bag) and round the corners. Then to prevent them from cutting through the fabric wrap them with tape.

Then make a casing for the tape (mine was 1″ wide) and slide the tape in. To work right, the concave part of the tape (the back of the tape measure) needs to be towards the outside of the bag.

Fold right sides together and sew up the sides. Go ahead and zig zag the edges to keep them from fraying, and then turn the bag right side out and start filling it.

When we go on little trips, or to grandma’s house, I like to give each kid a snappy bag to fill with their own treasures. Only what will fit is allowed, and they think it is awesome that they get to pick their favorites to take with us!