Now that Christmas planning is officially over and the gift giving has come to a halt, it’s time to start planning your New Year’s Eve outfits! We’re huge fans of the glitz, glam and anything sparkly (check out this DIY disco ball skirt) so it’s the perfect time to throw some confetti and celebrate. This year, bring the confetti with you wherever you go with this confetti clutch. This project takes a bit of sewing knowledge, but it’s great for beginners. Grab the party poppers and disco balls, you’re going to need them for this DIY!
Materials:
– clear vinyl
– thin leather fabric
– white thread
– confetti
– zipper
Tools:
– sewing machine
– sewing pins
– ruler
– pencil
Instructions:
1. Cut out two pieces of leather and piece of vinyl in the size you want to make the bag. Leave 1/4 inch for seam allowance.
2. Put one piece of leather and one piece of vinyl on top of one another and sew the zipper, pull-side down, to the top. Take the other leather piece and sew it to the other side of the zipper.
3. Flip over the zipper so the pull is facing upright and sew a top stitch along the edge of the bag.
4. With the bag inside out and the wrong sides of the fabric together, sew 2/3 of the remaining open sides. Use the last open side to pour and sandwich the confetti between the vinyl and the leather.
5. With wrong sides together still, sew the last remaining open side. Turn the whole bag right side out and rock it with your NYE look!
When sewing on the zipper, make sure your vinyl and leather are lined up perfectly so the bag doesn’t end up being crooked. Use pins or tape if you need to to keep the fabric from shifting while sewing.
The top stitch on the outside of the bag is important to help keep the zipper area from bunching up and to keep it lying flat.
Add as much or as little confetti as you want to the inside of the vinyl before closing off the last edge and finishing up the bag!
Put on your sequin dress and get ready for a night full of sparkle!
How hot is this for NYE? Share your NYE looks with us on Instagram using the hashtag #iamcreative.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.