Many years ago, when we took the trip of a lifetime to Tokyo, I was mesmerized by everything. I had never been to the orient and found everything Japanese to be astounding.

One souvenir I bought was a cute purse-pack tissue holder. In the back of my mind, I always knew that I could make these myself. This summer, I finally sat down and made several of them as gifts for my nieces, all of whom have birthdays in the same month.

This is a very simple project, and you can even make it by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine.

Materials:

• fabric scraps
• double-fold bias tape (optional, for bordering the pouch opening)
• thread
• scissors
• iron-on decals (optional, for decoration)
• purse pack of tissue

Instructions:

• Cut fabric into a 7×5 rectangle.
• Cut two pieces of the bias tape into 5 inches.

• Open the bias tape and pin it down to the wrong side of the fabric.
• Sew to one short end of fabric, using the crease in the tape as a guide.
• Flip the bias tape to the right side of fabric, pin and sew in place.
• Fold the fabric, wrong side out, placing the two pieces of bias tape side by side.
• Pin in place and sew 1/4 inch seam across each  short end.
• Clip corners.

• Turn right side out, insert a tissue pack, and embellish with an iron-on decal for a personal touch.

There’s so much you can do to individualize each one. Use ric-rac or lace on the opening. Embroider an initial or name. Quilt it. It’s a fun, easy project, and you can make several of them in a few hours.

Have a great week, my friends! xo