Last week I gave you a sneak peek at my newest project, I feel like it’s been a month since. I was so excited when my husband pitched the idea to make a camera bag and I couldn’t wait to get started. First step was to find a cute bag that was big enough to fit everything and that had a large enough opening to make putting in and taking out my camera simple and quick.
I was hoping to spend about $40 on a nice bag, so I went to Burlington Coat Factory since they always seem to have a nice selection at fair prices.
As soon as I saw this bag I fell in love and knew it would be perfect as an undercover camera bag. Problem was it cost $80 much more than I planned on paying. I looked through the rest but had no luck finding a bag that was as perfect as this one. So we took the plunge and paid $80 for it. I know, I know, it’s a lot, but it’s just perfect. See…..
It’s kind of like those old doctor bags which I think is really cute. 
Since the bag was so expensive I used only what I had on hand for the rest. I found some foam in my husband’s car and I looked through the fabrics I had and found the perfect one. I measured the inside of the bag and cut the foam in the sizes I needed and pulled out my new sewing machine to get started. 
On a side note isn’t my new sewing machine great?! I got it at the thrift store a few months ago for $50. It was practically new. I love it.
I cut my fabric to the sizes I needed and sewed two sides together leaving one opening for the foam. Once I placed the foam inside I glued the opening with my hot glue gun. For the center pieces I made sure to glue the bottoms and sew the sides. Since I will be removing them I didn’t want any stress on the glued area so as to risk them coming apart.
Once the middle pieces were sewn I moved on to the sides. I had to sew the Velcro before sewing the cover together. As I mentioned on my placements post, I don’t know anything about sewing. I kept having trouble with the fabric scrunching up when sewing the Velcro. I redid it four times before giving up and just moving forward.
I must have used the wrong needed because I ended up breaking the one I was using. I put in a thinner one when my first one broke and noticed a difference. It felt like it was sewing much more smoothly than before.
Once I had placed the cover on the foam and glued the opening together I was excited to almost be done. I put them in my bag to see how it looked and that’s when I noticed a problem. I put the rough Velcro side on the sides, which was not good because they would end up scratching my camera at some point. All that trouble with the scrunching up, redoing it FOUR TIMES, and it was the wrong one the whole time.
I was so irritated I shelved the project for a few days.
I finally got to working on it yesterday and had to remove the Velcro with this thing (not sure what it’s called)
Then I spent a few hours resewing everything and sewing by hand all the smaller Velcro pieces to the side cushions.
NOTE: The following pictures were taken at night using my DIY SoftBoxes.
It’s was tedious work but I’m so glad it’s finally done. 
The great thing about this is that it’s completely removable. So I can place it in another bag if I ever want to do that or I can use the bag as a purse.
There’s plenty of room for my wallet and other items. and the pockets on the side of the bag are still accessible so I can store items in there too.
Pretty awesome huh?! I’m so happy with my new bag. It’s perfect. Best of all I have a camera bag and a purse, whichever I chose.
Now that I have a safe place to store my camera I can focus my attention to learning the ins and outs of my camera. I have yet to do that and I really want to learn to use it properly.
Have a great day.
‘Til next time,
-Karla
Come party with me!!
I love how you did that even more then some of the others I have seen. And I have that same fabric! Found you from Delightful Order.
Thank you!! I’m so happy with it. I want to take it everywhere lol. Isn’t the fabric gorgeous!
I love it.
wow, it’s beautiful – great job!
Thank you.
I love this! Such a great idea to use a normal bag – much prettier than most specific camera bags out there!
heronscrafts.blogspot.com
Thank you! and cheaper too.
FANTASTIC idea!! I have been drooling at the Timbuk 2 Camera inserts for the messenger bag I have, but this is a great idea!! The bag is perfect!! one can never have too many NICE bags!!! Oh and the tool is a seam ripper!!
Cheers,
Cindy
Hi! Visiting from Delightful Order. I LOVE this!! I have a diaper bag that I adore, and I’ve been thinking about making it into a camera bag! Thanks for the great tutorial!!
Well done! I love that you made it! I purchased an insert from etsy, but wish I’d given it a shot myself, first! I’m here from Serenity Now.
That is a great idea to use an existing bag. I turned out really cute. I’m sure it’ll be well worth the expense.
definitely pretty awesome! good for you! it is perfect!!
Thanks! I love it
This is awesome! I need to make one of these for my new DSLR camera. I love how a camera bag can be so cute.
Christine @ Projectsaroundthehouse.blogspot.com
I just got a new camera less than a month ago and was looking to buy a cute camera bag for women but they were like $200 and the regular bags aren’t pretty at all. I was stoked when my hubby suggested I make my own. I hadn’t even considered it. I am so happy I did though. I seriously almost bought an ugly black one. lol
I LOVE this!! Now, can you make ME one??
Thanks for sharing on Show Off Saturday!
Lol I think I’ve had enough headaches for now.
Thanks again for hosting 
So cool! I am working on something similar, but I want to do the outside too! I am hosting my 2nd link party, and would love for you to add this along with anything else you like!
http://www.mom4realky.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-real-friday-link-party-2.html
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real
What a brilliant idea – love it!
This is brilliant! I haven’t found the perfect camera bag (I don’t think it exists.) I really have to do this for my camera!
Yeah and if you found it I’m sure it would cost a pretty penny. This way you can find a regular purse that you just love and make it into the perfect camera bag yourself.
For much less I’m sure
I love the way you did this. I made mine a bit differently. Yours if better. One thing that I did that I like better is I made a padded top to my insert.
This way I can put my wallet on top and no one can see there is a camera in my purse when I open it. I was so jonesing for a Kelli Moore bad and couldn’t afford a $250 bag. I bought a very large purse on sale and it fits an Ipad/kindle in it, my DSLR, 2 lenses, filters, SD cards, battery charger, and I love Love Love it!
What a good idea, you could also put another even smaller spacer across between two of the ‘middle ones’ like some of the ‘real’ camera bags do so that you can store the lenses upright .
might have to steal this one…
But other than that a good idea
That’s a great idea. I only just have one lens and my camera so that’s why I set it up that way in to photo, but I’m going to have to make smaller inserts for when I get more attachments.
Fantastic! I really need to make this! Thanks for linking up to Manic Monday!
Melissa
Thanks for hosting!
Your bag is GORGEOUS! I also refuse to pay for an expensive bag so I simply have a receiving blanket from the twins bundled around my camera in a normal bag!
Yes, those bags can be expensive. I would have wrapped it in a blankey too if i hadn’t found this bag. It’s better than keeping it in the box it came in like i did for the first month :/
This idea is soooo genius! I think I’m going to have to make one for myself. I think I’ll stop by the thrift store to see if I can get a cheaper back…wish me luck!
Sarah
Good luck! I’m sure it’ll ge great. Hope you post so i can see.
So Awesome!!! Wow! Great job!
Love your camera bag!!! I would love for you to link up at my party going on now! (It’s my very first one!)
Jill
http://www.jillifyit.com
Wow! I was going to write, “you read my mind’, but since you’ve already done this project, I guess I read your mind. I was thinking about making one of these today, out of a GW purse!!! I need to and I need to make a computer carrying case out of an old GW purse of some sort! Love the material, and the idea!
Thanks for linking it up @ Creatively Living!
–Katie
LOL I guess you did.
My iPad fit nicely in the camera bag but I’m going to have to make one for my laptop as well. I’m thinking of hunting down a nice GW purse this time though. Even though I love my camera bag I still think it was WAY too expensive. So I need to keep that in mind for my laptop bag.
This is such an awesome idea! My camera can usually be found in some random place in danger of the kids grabbing it, dropping it or spilling on it! A camera bag would be a novel idea.. I think I should try! Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party.. can’t wait to see what you share next!
Yes, I feel so much better now that I know my camera is well protected. Well worth the money spent. The best part about the inserts is that you can put them inside any bag.
You did such an amazing job! I tried doing this last week and failed miserably…I tried without a tutorial… I am so grateful to have found this!! You are very creative! I am your newest follower!!
Aw thank you!!! Hope your second attempt goes better. Hope to see your finished product. I know it will turn out great!!
Girl you are toooo clever. This is ADORABLE and so practical. Thanks for sharing with the newbie party.
Thank you. Glad you stopped by
What a great and pretty idea! Visiting from the Newbie Party.
Have a great day