Cargo Shorts Scrapbook

When they first came out with cargo shorts werent you thrilled? You suddenly had a way to carry many different things at once. Whereas women generally have a purse for all of that, guys were formerly limited to what they could cram into the two front pockets, and two back pockets. With cargo pants, though, you have those four pockets, and several more. But do you have a pair of them that you no longer wear? Are the pockets still intact? If so, you can make a cute and unusual scrapbook.

Its helpful to iron cargo pants before cutting them up to make the scrapbook. The flaps on the pockets are often sticking out, or wrinkled up, and ironing can start you out with smooth, flat fabric, for the book. Cut out pockets from the shorts, choosing ones with flaps. They can be different sizes; thats fine. As you cut them out, stay very close to the stitching on the pockets.

Stack the pockets so that the largest one is on the bottom and the smallest one is on top. Position them so that they align on one side. Then, use a grommet kit, or eyelet maker, to create two holes on the aligned side. Make sure the holes are both below the flaps on the pockets. With the eyelets or grommets installed, all you have to do is insert a notebook ring in each hole. There are many things you can do to embellish the unusual scrapbook. Write on the pockets with a paint marker to give them themes. Or, use fabric glue to attach anything from lace, to rhinestones, to appliques. The finished scrapbook is so cute. Slide pictures, note cards, and other things, into the pockets to preserve. Dont have any cargo pants? You can use pockets from old jeans in a similar manner as the cargo pants pockets. Just cut off two pockets, and sew or glue them together, stacking them so that their wrong sides face each other. Make a few sets of the double-pockets, stack them, and insert grommets or eyelets. After that, you can simply add the notebook rings to finish. When you add a plastic pocket to each denim pocket set, you can create even more places to display photos and such. Just cut a pocket of plastic to be slightly smaller than the pocket to which it will be attached. You can sew the clear pocket on before sewing or gluing the two denim pockets together. Or, just glue the clear pocket on after making the double-pocket. The pocket scrapbook is unusual, small, but precious. Set it on a coffee table to show off to friends or carry it around in your purse. Its adorable and a lot of fun to make.