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Before I get too wrapped up in talking about gift bags, I want to tell you about a change that will be happening in the October 13th edition of this newsletter.
While the content that you know and love will remain the same -- plenty of fresh new ideas for crafting gifts and home decor, free downloadable patterns, plus helpful hints and tips from readers like you -- the name of the newsletter will be changing to Creative Woman.
I wanted to give you a heads-up so you were sure to open and enjoy your next newsletter from me and not think it was sent to you by mistake. Please mark your calendars, and note that at the top of the next issue you'll see ...
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Now on to the fun stuff! Can I let you in on a little secret? I am a terrible gift wrapper! I know what you're thinking -- how can I be that bad considering what it is I do for a living? I wish it weren't true, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot neatly wrap a present.
Tape gets stuck to my fingers, paper tears -- and don't even get me started on my messy, crinkled corners! As a result, I have spent many years fine-tuning the art of the creative gift bag.
In This Newsletter
In this newsletter, you'll get my four favorite ideas for transforming a basic brown gift bag into a present in itself! You'll meet crafter Yolanda Thorpe and read about the new craft she's learning. You'll lend a helping hand by answering a few crafty questions. You'll get reader-supplied ideas for "tagging" gift jars and crocheting a wasp-be-gone nest. Plus, you'll get free step-by-step instructions for paper crafting a thoughtful gift set.
Clever Gift Bag Ideas!
While gift bags are available in all shapes and colors, my favorite bags to use are the inexpensive brown ones you can find at your local craft store. I like the rough texture rather than the glossy colored varieties, and I like that brown is the perfect base for anything you want to build onto it. Here are my four favorite ways to dress up a basic brown gift bag:
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Removable Panels -- One of the handiest craft products around is hook-and-loop tape. You can use a few small pieces to attach a decorative panel to the front of a gift bag so that the panel itself can be removed later as a gift.
- Paper-Craft Panel -- Cut a panel from card stock to fit the front of the bag. The panel can be square, rectangular, or a shape such as a star or heart. Use paper-craft products to embellish the panel, adding a frame, a stamped design, machine sewing, epoxy stickers or any other product/technique you desire. Attach a few small pieces of hook-and-loop tape to the back of the panel and to the front of the bag and secure it in place. This piece could have ribbon attached to it so it later becomes a wall hanging, a door hanger, or depending on its size, an ornament. If desired, cut smaller panels and add a magnetic strip (in addition to the hook-and-loop tape) so that the pieces can be later used as refrigerator magnets. If making magnets, consider including photos in your design. Additionally, if you are giving a jewelry gift, you could use a small bag and attach earrings or a pin to the front of a paper panel and attach it to the bag.
- Sewn or Quilted Panels -- Just as pillows often have removable seasonal panels, you can use this same idea when decorating a gift bag. One fun idea for a bag is to make a mini pillow with four seasonal panels. Attach one of the panels to the front of the bag using hook-and-loop tape and tuck the rest inside, along with the pillow. Another way to attach a sewn or quilted panel to the front of a bag is to add a small hole to each side of the panel. Tie a piece of ribbon through each side and tie together on the inside of the bag. Also, monograms are very popular and would make great designs for a fabric panel. For a fashionable gift, attach hook-and-loop tape to the front of a basic cloth tote bag. Tuck the tote in the gift bag and include a whole set of removable panels so the recipient can frequently change her tote's design.
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Bag Toppers -- Cut a piece of card stock or heavy patterned paper to fold over the top of the bag, extending a few inches down from the bag opening. The paper can be cut to fit evenly on each side, or left wider than the bag to create a border. If using a bag with handles, use a craft knife to cut an opening on top for the handles. Leave the topper as is, or decorate with paper shapes. A bold paper flower adhered to the center of the topper would give a dramatic effect. Another idea is to cut strips from a variety of paper and either adhere side by side to the front and back of the panel (vertically or horizontally) or weave the strips to create texture. Place the topper over the handles and adhere in place if desired.
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Enlist the Kids! -- Nothing warms the heart more than a child's artwork! Let your kids add a lighthearted touch to gift bags for family and friends.
- Handprints -- First things first: cover your work space! Then, set out a few plastic bottles of finger paint and let your kids decorate a bag with hand and fingerprints. Have them sign and date their masterpieces, and if they're old enough, have them include a personal message for the recipient. For Thanksgiving/autumn gifts, show your kids how to create handprint turkeys! They can also create people and animals using fingerprints. Add wiggle eye stickers for even more fun!
- Stickers -- My 2-year-old loves stickers, and I bet that your kids do too! Buy a bunch of stickers at your local dollar store and let your kids "stick up" a gift bag or two. Turn it into a learning activity by having them use letter stickers to spell out the recipient's name. If the gift is for a younger person, the kids could use number stickers and add the age. For a special treat, let older kids choose a few favorite stickers from your craft stash.
- Shapes -- With Halloween on the horizon, now is the perfect time to have your kids make a jack-o'-lantern gift bag! Use colorful construction paper and help them cut out the shapes. Use basic craft glue to adhere the pieces in place on the bag. For Christmas, create a snowman or Rudolph with a big red nose (add red glitter to make it shine). Every holiday provides a multitude of shape ideas!
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Cutouts -- I like to use a pencil to lightly draw a simple design onto the front of a bag. Then I use a craft knife to cut out the design. Once the shapes are cut out, I then either adhere patterned paper to the inside of the bag to fill the shapes with color, or simply let the shapes remain open and fill the bag with colorful tissue paper. |
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Reader Spotlight: Take Five
NAME: Yolanda Thorpe
AGE: 52
HOMETOWN: Akron, Ohio
FAVORITE CRAFT: I am a card maker at heart, but I am also beginning to crochet.
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What time of day are you at your creative best?
I like to craft in the evening when everything is done for the night. It relaxes me. |
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How do you get into a creative zone? Are there certain mood-setting items (music, food, etc.) that help put you in a creative frame of mind?
I listen to music when I'm making cards or scrapbooking. I crochet while I'm watching television. |
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How do you squeeze crafting into your busy life?
I try to spend some time almost every night in my craft room. |
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What are you working on now?
I'm working on birthday cards for my church. I'm also crocheting a baby blanket for a friend, and I just finished my Christmas cards. |
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What three tools could you not live without?
Stamp, ink pads and my paper trimmer. |
This could be you! Please fill out my easy feedback form if you'd like to be the featured reader in an upcoming newsletter. Put "Take Five" in the subject line of your e-mail.
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Readers to the Rescue: Questions of the Month
This month we have two questions:
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Reader Patti Sulpizio asks -- My 16-year-old daughter's Girl Scout troop is planning a holiday boutique fundraiser. We need ideas for gifts we can make to sell at the boutique. |
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Reader Ayla Drummond asks -- I have lots of coffee filters. Can you think of any craft I can use them for? |
Want to weigh in on the above questions? Or do you have a question of your own? Fill out my easy feedback form
and let me know.
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Readers Weigh In: Gift Jars & Wasp Nests!
 In the last newsletter (click here to read that newsletter), I included a question from reader Judy Schumaker. She said, "I make gifts in a jar for family and friends, but I have a hard time attaching the instructions. Do you have any suggestions?" Below you'll find a few of the helpful responses readers sent my way:
- Shirley Subora shares -- If you use a fabric flower with a long wire stem you can slide the instructions onto the stem and then put it around the top of the jar, twisting the end around the flower to add an additional ornament.
- Patricia Reiff shares -- I type the instructions and print them out on plain paper. Then I cut the instructions out with decorative-edge scissors and glue them to a piece of colored card stock a bit larger than the instructions. Then I trim that with the same scissors, leaving another decorative edge. I then punch a hole in the corner of the tag and tie it on with matching or coordinating ribbon or raffia.
- Gayle Eberhardt shares -- I would make a large card-stock tag and either write the directions onto the tag, or print and cut them out and attach them. You can embellish as desired with flowers, stickers, etc., and attach with coordinating ribbon or raffia. I would wrap the jar in a piece of paper to match the tag and add a label to it.
- Cynthia Bailey shares -- I use covered hair ties to attach tags and directions to my jar gifts. They are inexpensive and come in a huge range of sizes and colors. It's easy to sew on additional beads, charms or other decorations and then they just slip right over the jar. Cute, cheap, easy -- perfect!
I also included a question from reader Sue Lockshine. She said, "I have discovered that wasps/hornets love my back deck, and I want to get rid of them without pesticides. Can you help me find a pattern to crochet a wasp/hornets nest?"
- Reader Debbie Murray shares -- This pattern looks easy and is actually kinda cute!
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Free Project: Abundant Thanks Gift Set
Pamper a friend this autumn with a treat-filled gift tin. She'll love that it's as pretty as it is thoughtful! Click here for instructions to make the exclusive Abundant Thanks Gift Set project.
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