How to Make Box Bags

I am heading up a service project that needed a basket or bag. I saw a tutorial HERE on how to make a box bag - but the bag was way too small for what we needed. I liked the idea and I made some adjustments to make bigger bags. The problem it posed was that we needed paper that was bigger than 12 inches. I found some fabulous wrapping paper that did the trick. Thin wrapping paper works, but try and find the better quality thicker paper. Here is how you make the box bags:

Choose your size, and make the box bottom.

For the small bag - cut paper that is 6 inches high and 14 inches long.

For the medium bag - cut paper that is 7 inches high and 15 inches long.

For the large bag - cut paper that is 8 inches high and 21 inches long.
* If you want to cut a fancy edge - make the paper 1/2 -1 inch higher*

I have some awesome ladies working with me on this service project. We made 24 large bags. These bags are a little addicting to make.

Have fun with all the possibilities these box bags have to offer!!

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Tatertots and Jello

Tip Junkie

Silhouette Christmas Tags

Here is another project from my pinterest to do list - Christmas silhouette tags. The inspiration for these tags can be found HERE on a blog called Anne's Paper Fun. 

First I printed out a a book page background (found on Vintage Moth) - and cut it into tag sizes. Then I printed some mini tags using a dingbat that you can download for free HERE called "Christmas Cheer". The tags on Anne's Paper fun blog had the silhouettes printed directly on the book page - but I couldn't find any digital silhouettes I liked, so I cut some silhouettes out with my Cricut, using "A Child's Year" cartridge. I glued the silhouettes on the tag - added a black tag for a background and put it all together with some jute. I used cream cardstock for my paper, and of course used Tim Holtz antique linen distress ink to make the paper more interesting. I read somewhere that you can use shoe polish to distress paper and get the same effect. That would be interesting to try one day. 

I was playing around with some different ideas like the monogram. I think the child on the rocking horse was fitting for a Christmas tag. I sure like the dingbat "Christmas Cheer" - it has some neat images on it that could be used as silhouettes for these tags. 

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Whipperberry

I Love Kraft Paper - Gift Wrapping

My daughter had a birthday recently, and I have so much fun wrapping that I wrapped all her presents individually. I have had a kraft paper craze for a while now, and with all the ideas I have been seeing on the internet - I thought I would give some of those ideas a try.

1. Lace - When I wrapped this one - I was wondering - how am i going to attach the lace? I ended up measuring it and sewing it, and then stretching it over the gift as tape would not hold the lace on. I attached one of my clip on earrings that I don't wear anymore to add some bling.

2. Typography - I have noticed wrapped presents with book pages or some other typography style paper in the middle. This gift was small enough that found a nice graphic on Graphics Fairy. I used THIS GRAPHIC - but there are many other options on this site. I printed it out the graphic out on cream paper, ripped the edges and taped it on the gift. The red ribbon gives a nice contrast.

3. Stamped - Black ink, kraft paper and jute always look good together.

4. Doilies and Butterflies - I put lace on the same as the black lace gift. I taped the doily on with double sided tape. I made the butterfly out of paper I made with a clock background. The clock graphic I got from Graphics Fairy. I cut out two butterflies, glued the center together and puffed up the wings on the top butterfly. I added some jewels to the center of the butterfly. I attached the butterfly with a puffy dot.

I love wrapping - it is just one of the many ways one can be creative.

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Graphics Fairy

A Bag With a Twist - tutorial

I saw this idea on Pinterest and I had to try it. They are so much fun to make - and a little addicting because of that. The tutorial I used was on DIY Wedding Ideas - please go there and see what their bag with a twist looks like. They used this idea for a wedding favor. They sewed the bag together - and although I do have a sewing machine - I made mine a little different....

1. First of all, I printed out on a regular piece of paper the image called Antique French Newspaper from Graphics Fairy. I had to put two of these images on the page to fill the whole 8 1/2 x 11 inch area. After I printed the image out, I cut one inch off the top and side to make my paper 7 1/2 x 11 inches. You can keep it the full size - I just wanted my bag to be a little smaller than what a full page bag would make. Then I put a piece of double sided tape down the whole right back side.

2. With the sticky exposed - bring the other side of the paper over to make a tube and stick it together.

3. Without creasing the sides -  fold up the bottom about 1/2 and inch and staple at least twice.

4. Now for the top you want to turn the tube so that you will close it the opposite direction as the bottom.  I just fold the top over for now - as I want to fill it with some goodies.

I punched a lattice edge from my Martha Stewart punch for the top and bottom edges and applied them on with staples. I tied on a bow, and added a metal "Believe" tag. I am going to make a whole bunch more of these for Christmas. 

I made a smaller bag by putting two images on one page and cutting the page in half. These little bags are just adorable. On this one I sewed the bottom edge to enclose it and I punch two holes in the top and tied it shut with a ribbon.  The image I used on this one is from Graphics Fairy -Vintage Floral Spray Postcard

I am loving these bags - and I am thinking you will too! Go on and give it a try!

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Graphics Fairy - Brag Monday

Best Pop Ever - Father's Day Gift Wrap Idea

I saw this pop bottle gift idea in a recycling book a few months ago, and I knew I had to make this for my hubby! This is an emptied 2 liter pop bottle, filled with goodies. It all came together when I found the most awesome label on the

Oopsey Daisy blog. 

She covered a pop can with this fabulous label she made.  I printed out the largest one I could print on my printer - and had to print out another one to fill in the gaps as it didn't quite fit around the bottle - but the width was the perfect size. 

Check this label out - it is so clever!

So here is how to make this pop bottle into a gift bottle... 

1. Clean an empty 2 liter bottle.

2. Take an exacto knife and make a slit in the plastic - the width of the label.

3. Fill the bottle with goodies. The goodies need to be sort of flat to successfully get in the bottle without any injuries - I filled it with socks, gum, licorice, peanuts, and a gift card. 

4. Glue or tape on your label.

5. To make the label shiny and look like it is all one piece - cover it with clear shelving paper. 

And there you have it - a unique low calorie Father's Day gift!

Check out my Dad's Day page for other Father's Day ideas.

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What You Mean to Me - Deluxe Mother's Day Card

These cards are actually called envelope albums. I made an album for my mom for her birthday (pictured above) and I made an album for my mother in-law for Mother's Day (pictured below). I can't say enough about how well these cards went over. What mother doesn't want in writing how her child feels about her?

I have a tutorial on how to make these HERE on a post called - Gift Idea for Dad.

Fill your album with pictures, quotes, memories and feelings. The picture above is one of the pocket pull outs I made. 

A picture that I didn't put in the tutorial was the envelopes and how they went together. I used three envelopes for my album, you can use more. Glue the flap to the back of the other envelope to make the album. Basically, you will cover this with paper, including making pages for the pockets. 

Here is a picture of an album (the one I gave my husband for an anniversary card) to give you an idea of how it is laid out. The top picture is the pocket side up - and the bottom picture is the pocket side down. 

The "pocket side up" pages, I added little pockets with a quote on each pocket, and then a tag inside each pocket that included memories, compliments, and heartfelt thanks. 

And when it is all folded this is what it looks like.

Here is a PDF file of the Mother related quotes I used in the album...

Mother Quotes

I hope this gives you some inspiration for Mother's Day.
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Paper Birthday Cake with Homemade Cake Stand

I saw something like this but on the "kiddie" side in a recycle book - and knew I wanted to make some for special birthdays. The original idea were covered toilet paper rolls, and they were favors for a child's birthday party. I thought this was a fabulous idea - but I wanted to to my own version.

I purchased a candlestick and a plate at a $ store - total cost $3. Glue together with epoxy glue or your favorite glue.

Super nice for $3 hey?

Now for the paper cake....

Supplies: paper, ribbon, glue, twist ties.

Cut 4 -  8 1/2 x11 sheets of patterned paper in half - then cut the length to be 6 1/4 inches.

Cut two flames shapes from ribbon. You will also need ribbon to tie around the candles.

Cut two 2 in circles for each candle you make.

Hot glue end of paper and glue together to make a tube. I made seven tubes.

Glue your flames together with a twist tie in the middle. Instead of a twist tie you could use chenille stems or wire. I pinched the bottoms of the flame together to give it some depth. Poke a hole in the middle of circle. Insert twist tie and adhere to bottom of circle. Trim if necessary. Snip slits around the circle.

For each candle, make a bottom by gluing a strip of paper to a 2 inch circle and applying glue to the outside of the paper strips and inserting it in the tube - adhering it to the sides using a pen or pencil to help the papers find the sides of the tube. Apply a little glue along the bottom of the tube and circle. 

Your candle will look something like this. The top pops on and off.

Tie your candles together with desired ribbon. I used the same ribbon as I made my flames out of. Put the gifts in the tubes, filling the tube with tissue. You can put in cosmetics, craft supplies, etc. Lots of good things come in small packages. Put the lids on after you put your gifts in. the tissue should keep the lids from falling through the candle but the lids will be tight - that is why you put slits in them.

Tape a paper doily to the cake stand. Tape the bottom of candles and stick them on the cake stand.

Such a unique and sweet way to present a gift. The recipient is guaranteed to feel special. 

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Flower Topped Gift Box

I made three boxes like this for a special Valentines gift. Click HERE to see what I did. The gifts were well received.

Here is how I made the flower topped box.
Supplies:

Crepe Paper Streamers
White Poster Board
Hot Glue
Ribbon
Twist Tie
Small Paper Doily

For each box, cut two pieces poster board 8x8 inches square. The finished box size will be 4x4x2 inches. (I was able to make three boxes out of one poster board. The poster board cost me 50 cents).
There is a video on how to make boxes on the Martha Stewart website CLICK HERE.
The bottom box is scored at 2 and 6 inches on all sides. The top of the box is scored at 2 and 6 1/8 inches. Fold paper on scored lines (the "valley" of the score should be on the outside). Cut scored lines through to corners at two opposite sides. Fold flaps in to create box shape, and secure with glue.

After the lid is scored and flaps are cut and before gluing, I trim an inch off each side. 


Now for the flowers. 
For a great tutorial on how to make these click on the link below. 
Crepe Paper Flower Tutorial 
I bought several different colors of streamers. They were 50 cents each. I made five flowers for each box and one of the flowers was bigger than the others.

Putting it all together:

Have all your supplies ready to go. You need approximately five flowers, 3 leaves, a round piece of cardstock (mine was a 2" circle) , twist tie or wire, small paper doily.

I used the circle to glue everything to, but I wanted it a bit elevated so I cut a slit in it, folded it a bit to extend the cardboard over itself and glued it together. Then I glued the leaves and flowers to the card stock circle starting with the big flower.

Take the twist tie and feed it through the paper doily. Then glue to the bottom of the flower bouquet. Secure the twist tie by putting a blob of glue so it doesn't tear through the doily. This will be how you secure the bouquet to the gift.

And there you have your bouquet. Tie a ribbon around the box and twist tie the bouquet around the ribbon at the center of the top.

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