Drab to Fab Diaper Bag

You know those freebie diaper bags the hospitals give out to new moms? While they are useful, they're pretty boring....I got one when Owynne was born & figured it would be a nice little bag for quick trips to the store or whatever, but wanted to liven it up a bit. Here's the BEFORE:

 

I got so excited to cute-up my bag that I forgot about the before picture until I had already started the beautification process! OK, here's the AFTER & a couple close ups:

 

A little better, huh? I am loving it so far ---- I still need to do the straps & add Owynne's monogram to the big pocket (if I ever get to it!). I could not get a good picture of the zipper "skirt"! I used my sewing machine to do a basting stitch on the leopard print ribbon to gather it, then I hand stitched it to the top of the pocket. Well, you could totally see the stitches, so I hand stitched some thin, black grosgrain ribbon over the top of that! I used some more gathered ribbon to make the flower, then sewed the button & flower to the inside of the bag. I love it & wish I'd kept the one we got when Karsen was born! I will now be stalking moms of newborns to ask if they would like a bag makeover....