Sun-Inspired Crafting

Yesterday was awfully cold and rainy, so it was a pleasant surprise waking up in the sunlight.  I worked for a few hours at the library today, but I had big plans for my afternoon off.  Let me tell you, I never liked sunglasses...until about a year ago.  I hated them as a kid and I never wore them until I was 16 and needed them to drive.  However, I've gotten a little bit more infatuated with fun and stylish sunglasses, to the point that I don't have place to keep them all.  So today, as soon as I got home, an idea hit me. I took two pipe cleaners (though ribbon and yarn would work well, too) and four thumb tacks and Voilà!  Not the best picture, but you get the gist. I'm kind of in love with this idea :)
I also have this problem of never having my sunglasses when I need them. Not because I'm super forgetful, but because I hate just throwing them in my purse or bag. This is because they seem to get all scratched and even the paint chips off of them.  Yuck!  Thus, I was inspired to make something to protect my sunglasses while in my purse without buying a regular glasses case.  Since I don't spend much on sunglasses, I refuse to spend anything on protecting them.  Here's what I came up with:

 I made a small sunglasses case out of felt! It was super easy and quick. Plus, it's something you can tweak and decorate to make completely your own.  This is what you need:

sunglasses (for figuring out the size), scissors,
felt, glue and I used a pipe cleaner to fasten (more about that soon) 

1) The first step is to use the sunglasses to measure out your case. I just laid them down and wrapped it up to measure out a front, back and a flap.  I cut off the excess.  To fasten the front and back pieces, I left short tabs to fold over front and back.  Mine were square but you can try triangular shapes too. This is envelope-ish in design, so play with that idea as you please.
2) Next, I glued those tabs to create the case.  I kept inserting my sunnies to make sure I had enough room, but be careful to remove them whenever you cut or glue.  

3) Next, make the flap. I cut mine rounded and put two holes in the front and the bottom to fasten.  (I had to use a knife to make the holes, but a good, strong hole-punch would be better).  4) Then I threaded a small piece of pipe-cleaner through the four holes to fasten.  I may try ribbon instead, so it threads and unthreads easier, but you could also try a snap or button to do this.
5) Now throw in your sunnies and be prepared for any sunshine coming your way!
I do have to say that this won't protect your sunglasses if you drop them or things fall on them as it is just felt.  My goal was to simply protect them from scratching against my keys or other things in my purse.  I advise you to still be conscious of them in your bag if you're worried about them breaking.

Happy crafting!

PS Here's a sneak peak at a craft/painting I've been working on.  I'm about to put on the second coat of paint now.  Details to come!