Tag Archives: gift bags

Anne and Crystal’s Annual Bag and Tag Extravaganza

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Yesterday was Anne and Crystal’s Annual Bag and Tag Extravaganza (ACABTE).  We enjoy these events so much – but I always forget to take photos.  Crystal’s son Isaac was the star of the event and we all enjoyed watching and playing with him, but I didn’t take even one picture!  My bad.

A couple of people had last minute conflicts and weren’t able to attend, and I promised I would get project photos up right away.  They’ll get packets with all the pieces to put the bags together but having a photo as your guide is a big help.

Tree Trimmings gift bag

This bag uses stamps from Tree Trimmings, Delightful Decorations, and Many Merry Messages.  The ornament on the panel is 3 stamped ornaments punched with the ornament punch.  Each one is scored down the center and then adhered back to back to make a 3-D ornament.  These are also fun to do as 360 degree ornaments – I use six punched shapes to make a paper ornament.  I thought I’d posted some of these a while back, but I can’t seem to find them – I’ll have to take some photos to show you what they look like.

Peaceful Season bag

This bag uses the Peaceful Season Level II Hostess set and the Tags for Christmas set that is currently offered at a 20% discount when purchsed with the XL Decorative Label punch.  I think Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler were designed with brown paper bags in mind!

If you’ve never made one of these punched paper flowers, don’t be intimidated – they look fabulous but they’re easy as can be.  You can use a scallop circle, a plain circle or any of the flower punches to create the flower, and each shape yields a slightly different result.  Punch 6 to 8 circles, stack them and pierce the center with a pokey doodle (piercing tool!) and piercing mat.  Secure a brad through the stack and use a mist bottle to dampen the circle on the top.  Use your fingers to “smoosh” that first circle up into a standing clump;  I advised a woman at ACABTE yesterday to imagine it was her boss’s head and my goodness did she do a fine job of smooshing!!!  Once  you’ve gotten the first circle smooshed, continuing dampening and smooshing the rest of the layers one at a time.  When you’re done, lightly press the top of the flower to open it back out and just let it dry in place.  Here’s a flower close-up:

As you can see, I was liberal with the Champagne Mist Shimmer paint spritz (a few drops in 70% isopropyl alcohol in a mist bottle).  It’s Christmas time – you’ve got to have some sparkle!!

 

Sweet Baby Laundry Bags

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My dear friend Crystal is getting closer to her due date.  At her shower last month, she received a gift in the cutest little gift bag.  I looked at it and thought “I could MAKE that!”  Last week, I finally sat down to do just that:

Sweet Baby Girl Laundry Bag

Can you stand it? It’s so cute it makes your face hurt when you look at it, doesn’t it?   I’m still grinning.

Of course the baby boys need their own version:

Sweet Baby Boy Laundry Bag

  • Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pad
  • Vintage Labels SAB , Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Sock Monkey Accessories stamp sets
  • Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, and Taken with Teal card stock
  • Big Shot and Build A Bear Beary Essentials die
  • Linen Twine, Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon, Bermuda Bay Polka Dot ribbon, and Pretty in Pink 5/8″ Satin ribbon
  • Wide oval , Curly label , Heart to Heart, Horizontal Slot and Tag Corner punches; 1/16″ hand held punch
  • Tombo Adhesive, Mini Glue dots, 1/2″ Library Clips, Vintage Brads, and sponge daubers

I wanted to make these with colored bags, but I couldn’t find anything that wouldn’t compete with the outfits.  Remember, I live on a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!  It’s kinda country here.

A few things to note:

  1. The linen twine is attached to the bag by piercing holes with a large needle and threading the twine through.
  2. The brads looked sort of like clothes pins to me, but I had to trim the sharp points off with my Craft and Rubber scissors.  Be really careful with those sharp little bits of metal.
  3. The little garments are held in place with glue dots – the brads and clips are more decorative than functional

I’d love to see what you do with this idea, and would appreciate a link back to this post if you publish your work.  Have fun!

Build-a-Santa-Bear

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Last weekend was the final class in Anne and Crystal’s fantastic Holiday Series.  This bag definitely got high marks in the cute department, and would make any boy or girl – big or small – anxious to get a look inside.  We all agreed that you couldn’t put a gift for Just Anyone in such a cute bag…it would have to be a special someone, a someone who would appreciate both the Cute Factor and the effort that goes into attaching all the little pieces that make this bear so darn…well…cute!

BAB_bag

  • Big Shot, Stampin’ Up! Bear die, Stampin’ Up! Beary Merry die
  • Stampin’ Up! Pawsitively Embosslit, Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate
  • Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black, and Summer Sun cardstock
  • Many Merry Messages stamp set
  • Scallop edge punch, 1 3/4″ circle punch,  Gold Elastic cord, Old Olive 1/2″ striped grograin ribbon
  • Purchased kraft handle bag

I’m a big fan of gift bags.  In addition to being the easiest wrapping job you could imagine, they’re re-usable.  I’ve noticed a big difference in the amount of trash we collect on Christmas morning since we’ve started using more bags.  They’re not peek-proof, though, and I usually have all the gift bag gifts hidden (and hidden well, I might add) to be placed under the tree on Christmas Eve.  Just because my kids – and dear husband – are mostly grown up is no assurance that they won’t peek.  They all like to poke, prod and shake, and gift bags are just too great a temptation.