Is it still crafting if they are necessary items?

I wondered this today.  Because for the last two days I've been hard at work at my sewing machine, making things.  But they are things that are for us to use when we travel.  Totally practical items.  So does it still count as crafting?  I've actually enjoyed myself.  Everything worked out the way it was supposed to, the very first time even.  It worked out so well that I added extra stuff on and made a couple extra just because I could.  If you read my previous crafting post, you know that crafting and I are not on the best of terms.  So since everything went really well I want to say that I was crafting, but I think deep down I feel like it is cheating to call it that.  So I'll tell y'all what I made and you can tell me if you think I can get away with it!

First off:  Shoe bags!  Don't scoff!  We have an awesome tote with a lid now that all our shoes will fit in.  This means that I don't have to worry about packing shoes in the suitcases with clean clothes and wondering how much room I need to leave and hoping that I get everyone's shoes in.  So I'm excited about having one bag that all our shoes fit in that I can just tell the girls to look in the shoe bag to find whatever shoe they're looking for instead of having them rummage through 4 suitcases.  The downside is that our nicer shoes get thrown in with the tennis shoes and flip flops.  Not the best idea, especially for Hubby's expensive shoes that we spend a lot of money on so he'll have something nice to wear with his suits that will last more than 3 months.

 My solution is the shoe bags I found on Pinterest.  Each bag will fit at least one pair of shoes, even though it doesn't look like it.  Trust me, I tried 3 different bags because they all look too small.  But they fit.  These were super easy to make because you just use Fat Quarters, no cutting involved.  I was smart this time and broke out my ironing board to iron down the edges I was sewing instead of pinning them.  Hmm, wish I had figured out that little trick a couple of years ago.  Sometimes teaching yourself something, like sewing, just doesn't pay off!

I made a total of 7, just because they were going so well.  I made a couple for my Mom and then one for the girls' shoes as well.  I'll discuss the decals in a sec.

The other items I've been working on are toothbrush and toothpaste holders for each of us to have for traveling.  I have to buy new toothbrush covers almost every time we travel because I just can't stand re-using the ones we had, even after they've been washed.  It was just too gross for me.  I saw these toothbrush carries a while ago on Pinterest as well, but with school going on I didn't have a chance to actually make them.  The last couple of times we've traveled I have rolled all our toothbrushes up in a washcloth, which helped with the gross factor a little bit, but since the girls were not willing to take the time to re-roll the brushes once they brushed their teeth it ended up being just a bunch of toothbrushes in a wet ziplock.  So gross! 

So I was super excited to make these.  And they turned out very well too, if I say so myself! 

So much cuter in the hand of a 3 yr old!

 I was so proud of myself I even went looking for some iron-on decals to put our initials on them.  Partly because I thought it would be fun, but mostly because I didn't want to have to ever hear the question, "Which ones mine?" from any of the girls.  Did they all get different colors?  Absolutely.  Would that help stop the question?  Nope!  Anyway, I about abandoned the idea when I saw that most of the decals were running between $5 and $10.  I would write their names in Sharpie before I spent that much.  But then I was in the clearance section and found these cute little pink camo decals for $1.  That is what I was looking for!  Too bad for Hubby that he doesn't get a decal, but I'm pretty sure he can figure out which one is his without asking.  As an added bonus, there were enough letters to put on the girls' shoe bag.  Major win at Hobby Lobby! 

So what do you think?  I think anything that includes sewing, ribbon, and iron-on decals ought to be considered crafting!  So look at me!  I can craft without crying!  Big step here people!  Big step!