How to Make a Key Fob Lip Balm Holder - A Free Tutorial

Do you need to whip up a quick gift to pop in a card for a teacher, or maybe you need an easy and rewarding project for a group of girls at Girl Guides/Scouts? This isn't just a great scrap buster, these are are very handy to have swinging from your keys too. Living in Canada, where the North wind blows, I appreciate having a chap stick handy!

Cyndi, from The Nosy Pepper, is joining me today with this quick and easy tutorial.

Let's get started!

I'm excited to share with you this tutorial on how to use Emmaline key fob hardware to make these quick and easy lip balm holders. I am a total lip balm addict, and I swear those little buggers are always getting lost in the bottom of my bags. Not any longer! Now you can whip one (or four) of these holders up and always have your lip balm handy. Pick up your key fob hardware HERE.

Supplies:

• (1) 5" x 6 1/2" piece of fabric
• (1) 2 1/2" x 6" piece of interfacing (I tried several but found I liked shape flex 101 the best, the others end up very structured and make it harder to get your lip balm out)
• A fabric marking pen
• Emmaline Key Fob Hardware
• A pair of pliers

Step 1)

Gather your fabric and interfacing. Fuse the interfacing in the center of your fabric, with the bottom edge aligning with the bottom of your fabric. It will look like this:

Step 2)

Turn down the top edge of your fabric ½” and press (the top is the side that the interfacing is ½” from the edge). The top of the fold should be right where the interfacing meets the fabric.

Step 3)

Now press your fabric in half lengthwise to create a center crease. Then open your fabric up and then fold the edges to the center crease you made. Press well.

Step 4)

Top stitch the top edge of your fabric (the end that you pressed under) using a ⅛” seam allowance. 

Step 5)

Now take your fabric measure from 1 ¼” from the raw edge of the fabric.

Use your marking pen to draw a line across .

Fold the bottom edge up to this line pin or clip in place.

Step 6)

Stitch down the long sides using a ⅛” seam allowance. I chose to use a longer stitch length (I used 4) as it is topstitching however it is IMPORTANT if you are going to use a longer stitch length that you STOP just before you get to the edge that your fabric is folded up to and shorten your stitch length (I used a 2.5 length at this point) and backtack at the point that the top of your fabric. A longer stitch length isn't strong enough to hold up to the stress of pulling your lip balm in and out (I learned this the hard way). Once you feel like you have secured the top edge you can lengthen your stitch and continue on to the short edge of the fabric.

Step 7)

Repeat the previous step on the other long side of your fabric. It will look like this:

Step 8)

Gather your Emmaline key fob hardware, some scrap fabric (or I grabbed a kitchen towel) and a pair of pliers. Slide the raw edge of your fabric into the the bottom of the hardware. Using your scrap fabric to protect the pretty metal edge of the hardware, pinch firmly with the pliers to secure your key fob hardware in place.

Step 9)

Add your key chain, lip balm and enjoy!

These cuties take less than 10 minutes to stitch up and also make great gifts. You could whip together dozens in a couple hours and use for back to school gifts.

Happy Sewing!

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Photos and content provided and written for Emmaline Bags by Cyndi Farfsing, from The Nosy Pepper. Cyndi's blog is chock is full of more bag photos and make making tips. Check out her recent bag series "It's in the Bag! Better Bag Making Series," to learn a ton of new bag making skills!