Reusable "green" sandwich bags

If you pack your lunch everyday like I do, you probably use tupperware or Ziploc bags. I hate how bulky tupperware containers are... and I hate how wasteful Ziploc bags can be.

Enter: reusable sandwich bags!

I have been eyeing these on Etsy for a while now. But, they were just a little too pricey for me. I knew I could make them myself with my own fabric choices. Plus, I love sewing, but hardly ever make anything for myself.

So, I looked a couple tutorials, and while they gave me great ideas and inspiration, none of them were exactly what I wanted. Plus, I knew that some of these tutorials were just making it more complicated than it needed to be. I ended up using techniques from two different tutorials to make the bags I wanted (from Clover Creek Baby and Crafty Staci).

I ended up with something I love -- I can't wait to use them! I decided to post a photo tutorial. Keep reading below for pictures and step-by-step directions.

Pen pals?

I got this adorable letter from a student's parent yesterday. She handed it to me and just said, "Sorry - she wants to be your pen pal!" I laughed and opened the envelope to this sweet little message:

[Dear Mrs. A - It's only the first day of summer and I already miss you. I was hoping we could be pen pals this summer. This summer, I want to go to the Durham to see you and see the dinosaur.]

How could I not write back to that?! Look at that writing -- totally ready for first grade! :)