How to Add Pockets to a Cute Tote Bag

I have a new calling at church! I teach the Sunbeams! (They are the 3 year olds.)  I love them and I love this calling.  3 year olds have a very short attention span, so I get to be very creative planning activities and projects to enhance the lesson's main message.  That means I carry a lot of supplies every Sunday to church.  I quickly realized that I needed a bigger tote to keep myself organized, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money.


I decided that a trip to JO-ANN's was in order to find what I needed.  Right when I entered the front door I discovered this tote bag on clearance for $8.99:

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​Pretty cute, but no pockets.  After looking around the store at different ideas, my daughter-in-law suggested I add pockets to this tote.  I remembered an idea I saw on a Martha Stewart site that showed how to use a canvas carpenter's apron to add pockets to a bucket.  So, I found a 3 pack of aprons like this for under $10.00:

I had my 50% off coupon, so these were a super good buy!  I took them over to the tote and they fit across the inside perfectly! Two of them would work just right, giving me lots of pockets and helping me be organized. (That leaves me one apron left for a later project. I'll let you know.)

So I pinned it in the bag under the zipper and stitched it across with my sewing machine.  Even though I got it a little crooked, it barely shows on the outside at all.

Just cut the waist ties off.


Then, start to fill your bag with all the goodies you need to keep your Sunbeams happy!

(See the cute play-dough my daughter-in-law's mom gave me? It is awesome. Thanks Anita!) Get to work making your tote! Then share your cute pictures with us!