Mother's Day Gift Idea #1 - Bath Salts/Potpourri Sachet Tutorial

This Saturday I am going out with several other young mothers for an early Mother's Day luncheon. I wanted to make some sort of appreciation gift for each mother and came up with this...

It is a handmade sachet filled with bath salts (after all, we could all use a nice, relaxing, hot bath every once in awhile).

Note: You could use potpourri rather than bath salts if you wish for an equally nice gift.

I will attach a little card to each sachet with this picture on the front:

 ...a short personal note of appreciation and this quote on the inside:  
"A mother is the most important person on earth. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any Cathedral -- a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body." -- Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty 

...and directions for use on the back.

The inspiration for the little pouch came from this Brighton Jewelery pouch that I had laying around...

In order to make one of these little pouches,

you will need:

4 & 3/4 in. x 14 & 1/4 in. Piece of Fabric

2 x 20 in. Pieces of Ribbon

Thread (matching)

Needle/Sewing Machine

Safety Pin

Strait Pins

Scissors

Note: 1/2 yd. of fabric makes 10-11 pouches

Step#1

Cut the fabric and  ribbons to the correct size/length.

Note: I made 11 pouches so I cut all of my fabric and ribbons right away.

Step #2

Measure 2.5 in. down the length of the fabric on the top and the bottom (i.e. down from the top and up from the bottom at all four corners), mark with a pencil, and snip 1/4 inch in.

Step #3

Fold the side of fabric over, then down, and pin.

Fold it down 1/4 inch past the slit.

Step #4

Using a small stitch (I use "2" on my machine) sew over the flap using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Step#5

Sew over the flap again using a 1 inch seam allowance (or 1/2 inch in from the last line of stitching).

Step #6 

Sew both sides of the pouch using a 1/4 inch seam allowance and turn the pouch right-side out.

Step #7

Take a piece of ribbon, fold it back an inch or so, and put a safety pin through it. Now, slide it through the hole on one side of the fabric then turn it around and slide it through the hole on the other side of the fabric.

Step #8

Using the second strand of ribbon, repeat Step 7 from the opposite end.

FYI...

Since you're all dying to know...my nail color is "cute as a button" by essie ; )

Step #9

Measure 1/2-1 cup bath salt into a baggie/individual baggies.

Don't say a word! I am well aware that this looks highly illegal...but it is bath salt...I promise.

Step #10

Place the baggie(s) into the pouch(s), pull ribbons, and tie them in a bow!

So, would you like to know how much this project cost?

The fabric was $1.16, the ribbon was 45 cents/spool, and I already had the bath salts on hand (bath salts vary in cost...some are very inexpensive while others cost $$$) . The entire cost came to $2.06 + tax...which is approximately 20 cents per sachet!

Have a lovely Mother's Day!!!