holiday bags Click image to enlarge Designer: May Flaum I'll admit - I don't always think ahead or plan enough in advance to hand-craft presents for everyone on my list. Also, with a tight budget I find myself giving smaller gifts that aren't as exciting or impressive as years past. What's my solution to ensure my loved ones know I put effort and time into their gifts? I make special bags and containers! I've been making felt gift card holders (and posting on my blog as I complete them), but today I wanted to do something bigger, something that a scarf, jewelry, box of special tea, or other gift could fit inside. Something that could be re-used and that might be treasured nearly as much as the gift inside. I've created three bags (two fabric, one paper) to share with you today - I hope you enjoy and that you're inspired to put some more hand-crafting into your gifts this year by either making the gift or the wrapping! Difficulty rating
Instructions (Print version) Christmas Joy bag:
1. Cut a piece of fabric (mine is approximately 8 x 12) and fold the top edge over just enough to stitch the raw edge down. 2. Fold in 1/2 (so it's about 6" wide and 8" high) inside out and sew along open edges (side and bottom). 3. Turn right side out and stitch a strip of ribbon to top to create handle. Mine is about 6" long.
4. Use USX template to cut out ornament shape on canvas, then paint green and edge and top with gold leaf pen. Let dry. 5. Once dry stamp design on the ornament and place on bag. This canvas is sticky-back, however I added a circle of stitching to give it extra strength for shipping.
6. Add punched "holly" (it's pieces from the 'pine for me' squeeze punch- an idea I got from Lisa Storms!) and a button with liquid adhesive to finish.
Holiday Cupcake:
1. Create bag by sewing fabric (bottom and side) together while inside out. To add a closure to the top I left the back side of my bag about 3" longer than the front. I then folded and stitched it to create a flap. Like the previous bag, sewing is very simple and quick. 2. For embellishment cut out pieces of cupcake from felt using cupcake USX template.
2. Stitch them together using embroidery thread and then place onto front of bag, holding in place with a few dots of fabric glue around edges. 3. Hand cut some holly leaves from felt (mine are freehand - no template) and stitch into place. Take care to only stitch the front piece of fabric, not the back side of the bag.
4. Finish cupcake by stitching with same thin green thread some beads for sprinkles and sequins for holly berries. 5. To add a handle, just stitch a thin ribbon to the top inside of the flap.
Don't sew or have a sewing machine? Just take your creative ideas and put them to paper! paper bag:
1. Take paper bag (I used a white bag about 8x10 in size) and place a piece of patterned paper on front center. (about 5 x 7)
2. Add fabric embellishment, then place stars all over and mist with pink and brown to create masked look on white portion of bag. Save the stars used to decorate bag with. 3. Finish by adding a layered and punched ornament tag with a pre-made tag at the top and add some glitter to the "25" as shown.
tips: Use your scraps and leftovers for paper bags, buy bulk plain bags and customize, and/or use brown lunch bags for this as well! Paper or fabric - you're sure to customize and make any gift so much more special by putting the time into it's wrapping.
supplies: http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_limitedsqueeze-jinglebulb.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_limitedsqueeze-pineforme.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_razor-edged-no-8-bent-softgrip-sci.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_twinkle-twinkle-l.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_stamps8x8-farmhouse.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_sealofapproval-xl.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_dont-leave-me-hangin-xl.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_comfort-grip-45mm-rotary-cutter.aspx http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pinking-shears.aspx Pink Paislee fabric accent and papers Claudine Hellmuth sticky back canvas and paints other: fabric, glitter, tattered angels glimmer mist, thread, beads, sequins, ink, felt |
