DIY Projects Lifestyle

Great Find + Quick Fix #2 [DIY hamper]

DIY Guest laundry hamper - linen closet details - linen closet makoever - This is our Bliss

Hello! Since I have apparently been on a mini blogging hiatus, I am actually sitting here at my computer ready to roll again! I didn’t actually intend to be MIA for so long, but between a wonderful vacation in Cancun, my 30th birthday celebration last weekend and being sick the last few days, it turned into a couple weeks away from you all. My apologies!

Aside from not feeling so great this week, life really has been wonderful and I have been savoring each and every moment. From the beach & sun, on to celebrating with friends & family over my birthday / valentine’s day weekend. Full-on indulgence. I was even surprised with a short weekend getaway to downtown Chicago the night after we flew home from Mexico. Ted came home at lunch from work whisked me away for the night.  I was “told” we were just having dinner and drinks and relaxing away from the kids, but then was pleasantly surprised by our families and a couple friends when we walked into the restaurant. I thought my parents were at my house with the boys, so when I spotted them inside at a table waiting for us to walk-in, the first words out of my mouth were, “Who’s babysitting??!!?” They even had that covered, too 🙂 I was then surprised a second time at the bar after dinner. Such a fun (and late) night, topped off with breakfast and shopped in the city on Saturday afternoon. After heading back to snuggle my babies, we had a nice Valentine’s dinner at home with my parents and in-laws. It was quite the perfect mix of everything I love! I plan to share some highlight photos next week.

Ok, so enough about me and back to one of my latest projects. This project did make a sneak appearance in my linen closet reveal and I received quite a few inquiries about it. “Where did you get the gold laundry hamper?!”  Well, I made it! Sort of. I spotted the round gold metal piece on clearance at Homegoods awhile back and knew it needed to come home with me. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but I bought it anyways. I am pretty good at that. The fact along that it was gold was enough for me, but the scalloped edges gave it a delicate, but bold look.

Gold metal frame for DIY laundry hamper - This is our Bliss

It looks as if it originally was meant to be a side table. See the little suction cups for holding the glass?

glass table suction cup on gold metal table frame - this is our bliss

I could have made it into a table of my own, but I didn’t really need one anywhere in our house, so when I started thinking of adding a few gold touches in the linen closet, I thought this could make a perfect hamper for guest towels and sheets. All I would need to do is sew some sort of a bag insert and set it inside. So, off I went to the fabric store and picked up some basic white material. I believe it is a cotton blend of some sort and it was on sale for $2.99/yd. I didn’t follow any sort of pattern when making the cloth insert, so hang with me and try to follow along!

First, I did measurements around the base to see what cuts I needed to make in the fabric in order to sew the bag.

how to make a cloth insert for DIY hamper - This is our Bliss taking measurements - how to make a cloth insert for DIY hamper - This is our Bliss taking measurements - how to make a cloth insert for DIY hamper - This is our Bliss 1 taking measurements - how to make a cloth insert for DIY hamper - This is our Bliss 2

Then, lay out your fabric. For the circular bottom, I used a piece of ribbon and a marker to trace my circle. Since it was approximately 18″ across, I taped the ribbon around the marker and then cut it off at 9″. Next I folded my fabric in half and then I simply placed the end of the ribbon on the crease of the fabric and pressed my finger down firmly on it to hold it in place. I pulled the marker out taught and then traced the semi-circle.

How to make a cloth insert for DIY hamper - circle pattern - This is our Bliss 3

Next I cut around the black line and opened it up so it was a full circle and set it aside.

The second piece of fabric would measure approximately 59.5″ x 25″. I took my circumference of 59″ + .5″ for seam allowance and 19″ height + 3″ for the fold + 1″ seam allowance (.5″ on top and .5″ on the bottom) + 2″ for slack at the bottom of the bag and made the cuts for the rectangle.

Then, I pinned my circle to the bottom edge of my rectangle and sewed around leaving a half inch seam. Then, where the 2 ends of the rectangle met, I pinned and  sewed up the side of the bag leaving a half inch seam again. Next, I folded the top, unfinished edge over 4″ and stuck a few pins in to hold the fold. After that I turned over that same raw edge 1/4″ and then another 1/4″, pinned and sewed all the way around. That part would be the section that pulls over the edge of the metal frame.

fold over edge of DIY hamper insert - This is our Bliss

Finally, I flipped the bag right-side out to place inside the frame.

inside of DIY hamper - This is our BLissHere’s a shot of the raw edge running from top to bottom on the inside of the bag.

DIY laundry hamper - fold edge over frame - This is our Bliss

What do you think? Laundry hampers and linen closets deserve to be glammed up every now and then!

Gold hamper detail - linen closet makeover - This is our Bliss DIY Guest laundry hamper - linen closet details - linen closet makoever - This is our Bliss

Here are a few other gold touches in the closet. I just can’t get enough.

Linen closet makeover - gold basket - declutter & organize - This is our BlissIMG_9054That’s all I’ve got for now, but the lineup is lookin’ good, so please stop back for more! I promise I won’t be taking any 2 week breaks again anytime soon, so thanks for sticking around! Goodnight.

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This is our Bliss @ IHeart Organizing
Bargain Buy [$5 pillow] + Guestroom Revamp checklist

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  • Shelly Dolen (@dolendiaries)
    March 2, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Oh my gosh! What a fabulous idea! I love how it turned out and am a little jealous I don’t have a gold could have been a side table thingy so I can make one, too! I’ll definitely keep my eye out next time I’m at Home Goods!

    Thanks SO much for linking up to Hit Me With Your Best Shot! I hope to see you again this week!

    • Rachael @ This is our Bliss
      March 5, 2015 at 3:19 PM

      Thank you, Shelly! It was a unique find and little idea that just so happened to work out! Love it when that happens 🙂 thanks for hosting and for stopping by!

  • Julie (Being Home)
    February 26, 2015 at 12:29 AM

    My goodness! This is too cute and creative! I love the gold accents you have in the guest closet. Well done and thank you for the tutorial. Going to pin this. 🙂

    • Rachael @ This is our Bliss
      February 26, 2015 at 8:38 PM

      Hi Julie! Thank you so much! I am so glad you stopped by 🙂 I am looking forward to getting caught up over at Being Home, too!!