Get Creative with DIY gift bags

 Hi Everyone, Sometimes you just don't have a nice gift bag to use when wrapping a present, or maybe you just want to give a gift with a specially handmade bag, but regardless of your reasons, knowing how to make a professional looking gift bag is a great skill to have. I’ve mentioned before that I either decorate plain white or craft gift bags, or I make them myself, and today I have a DIY Christmas gift bag to share

To start use a Ranger applicator and sponge to apply Dylusions After Midnight paint to 2 x A4 size 160 gsm white cardstock.

Apply a little paint to the sponge and use a circular motion so that the application is pretty smooth [the same motion Dyan Reaverly and Tim Holtz use].

Lay a small amount of Dylusions White Linen to the craft mat and add a little water until it’s quite a runny consistency.  Pick up some paint on a thin paint brush and tap the paint brush to “flick” the paint onto the surface.

Scoring:
Score the one long side at ½” and the other long side at 2” [this side will be the gusset] . Repeat this for both sheets. Score the short side at 1 ¼ “[this is going to be the bottom of the gift bag] and the other short side at 1” [this is going to be the top of the gift bag]. Repeat this for both sheets. Fold the score lines and use a bone folder to make sure they are crisp.

 Apply double sided tape on both the ½” strips. Make sure the score lines at the top and bottom of both pieces of cardstock are aligned. Remove the double sided tape from one piece of cardstock and carefully lay the 2” strip from the other piece of cardstock over it making sure you keep it straight.

The base of the bag:

Use a pencil to mark about ¼” on each side of the score lines over both pieces of cardstock. Use scissors to cut a line from the ¼” mark to the score line. See pic below.



To create the Gelli print, place a little paint onto a craft mat, brayer over the paint [you need a very light layer] and brayer very lightly onto the Gelli plate and pull a print.  [Do not cover the whole Gelli plate with paint] Repeat the process a number of times. This technique requires that you build many layers with co-ordinating colours until you are happy with the outcome.

Draw or trace some houses onto the Gelli print using a thin black pen and cut them out quite close to the edge. Use a glue stick to stick them down to the bottom of the bag [just above the score line]. Use a silver Posca pen and draw some lines and stars from the score line at the top of the bag above the houses.

 Assembling:

Apply double sided tape or a strong glue to the outside of gusset flaps and fold them in. Remove the top layer of the double sided tape, lay the back bag flap over. Stand the bag on its base and tap down inside the bag with a ruler to make sure the gusset flaps and back flap are adhered. Apply double sided tape or a strong glue to the inside front flap, and stick it over the other flaps. Stand the bag on its base and tap down inside the bag with a ruler to make sure the front flap is adhered. Fold the top flap inside. On the top of the bag punch holes on the front and back and thread through ribbons string and tie a knot to secure.

For this gift bag follow the above instructions except use Distress Ink Spray, Dylusions or Brushos to create the background and the Stencil-Art Snowflake stencil and Dina Wakely silver paint.

Supplies:

160 gsm cardstock
Dylusions After Midnight and White Linen paint
Ranger round applicator and sponge
Brayer
Gelli plate
Scoreboard [optional]
Bonefolder and ruler
Scissors
Thin paint brush
Black pen and Silver pens
Double sided tape or strong adhesive
Stencil-Art Snowflakes Stencil
Scraps ribbon and a small hole punch
Dina Wakely Silver paint

Get Creative – Christmas Crackers and Coasters

Hello …………….. Christmas is getting closer and I’ve been busy, busy, busy getting my Christmas Crackers and Coasters done. It’s something my sisters and I have done for years. I have to give credit to my sister for the measurements because I lost mine and she kindly let me use the coasters idea which was hers.

If you want to have a go, the step by step is below.

There’s a bit of prep but it’s worth it in the end.

Cut a sheet of white cardstock to 7¹/₂” x 9”, and 3 smaller pieces at 2 ¾” x 7 ½” and about 4” x 4”.  

On the 7½” x 9” and 2 ¾” x 7 ½” and 4” x 4” white cardstock either brayer a light coat of Dylusions Pure Sunshine, then a layer of Cherry Pie and lastly a layer of Postbox Red and leave to dry. OR brayer a light coat of Dylusions Pure Sunshine onto a Gelli Plate and pull a print, then a layer of Cherry Pie and pull a print. Lastly a layer of Postbox Red but before you pull the print lay a stencil onto the Postbox red layer, pull a print with a spare piece of paper, lift the stencil then pull your last print.  It gives a lovely effect. Don’t clean your Gelli plate in between each layer.

For the embellishments

On the other 2 ¾” x 7 ½” piece of cardstock draw some black lines using a Faber Castell Pitt artist pen big brush. I used a stencil and sorry I forgot to take a pic, but here’s pic of the left over paper.

Cut two thin strips [about ¹/₈” and two wider strips [about ½’].  

Use the Stencil-Art star stencil, Dylusions Fresh Lime paint and a sponge to stencil stars onto the red 2 ¾” x 7 ½” piece of cardstock. Remove the stencil and leave the paint to dry. Line the stencil up again and outline all the stars with a white gel pen.

Cut a star shape on the other coloured 4” x 4” piece of cardstock and stamp with Black Archival Ink. I found a scrap of white cardstock and cut the star shape then stamped with Twisted Citron Distress ink.

 Now to assemble

Score the 7 ½”x 9” cardstock [on the 7 ½” side] at 1 ¾, 3 ½”, 5 ¼” and 7. Score the 9” side at 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½” at the top and the bottom.   Fold all scorelines with a bone folder. Make sure that the  1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½” score lines are folded : mountain, valley, mountain. see pic below.

Use a punch or decorative scissors to decorate both the top and bottom of the 7 ½” side.  Glue a narrow strip of black and white paper just before the first score line on the top and bottom.

On both sides of the 7 ½” side of the 2 ¾” x 7 ½” coloured cardstock glue a piece of the ½” striped paper behind leaving a small bit showing. On the long side, score at 1 ¾, 3 ½”, 5 ¼” and 7”. Glue this down the middle of the cracker; make sure you line it up so that cracker and embellishment score lines are aligned. Use a bone folder on each score line to make sure you get a proper fold.

If you’re using cracker snaps now is the time to glue them to the inside of the cracker. Don’t use a strong adhesive as you’ll never pull them apart.

You can use an envelope punch board or cut triangles for the next step. On the 9” side fold the first score line over. Punch with the envelope punchboard in the middle of the 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½”score lines [in other words at the 2” score line]. Do the same at the opposite end.  Fold the next score line over and repeat. Do the same for all the score lines on both sides including the ½” strip. If you don't have an envelope punchboard, cut small triangles.  

Use glue or double sided tape on the ½” strip [on the long side] and carefully lay this side beneath the other to make a tube.

Tie each side of the cracker with a double piece of string and glue the stars down. Whew you’re done”.

Traditional Cracker

Instructions are identical as above, except for the embellishments.  Splatter some brushed pewter and iced spruce distress spray stain over white cardstock. [I took the lids off and tapped the black part of the lid that screws on until I was happy with the coverage] decorate the 7 ½’ edges with decorative scissors or a paper punch and add some trim.

Embellishments

Spray some Brushed Pewter distress spray stain onto the craft mat and smoosh a piece of 2 ¾” x 7 ½” paper into it until you are happy with the coverage and leave to dry. Use a sponge or Distress Ink Applicator to apply Pine Needles and Festive Berries Distress ink onto a slightly smaller piece of paper but here spray with the Ranger Distress sprayer here and there but only pulling the trigger halfway. Use decorative scissors or a paper punch to decorate the edges. Colour small tag the same way.

Colour the roses using Festive Berries Distress Spray Stain and ink the edges of a tiny little bought tag with Pine Needles Distress ink.

When the cracker is glued together put the embellishments together and add a tiny father Christmas cut out to the tag. [I adhered the roses using Ranger glossy accents.]

Ideas for inside the crackers are: crystal key rings, lip balm, nail polish, mascara, small compass small sharpie pen.

Use some shredded paper in each side of the cracker to keep the little gifts inside.

For the coasters I simply cut circles then stamped them. Make sure you use waterproof paint and/or inks otherwise if the bottom of the glass is wet it might stain your table cloth.

A bit of a job but so worthwhile.

Supplies

160 gm cardstock

Dylusions Pure Sunshine, Cherry Pie, Postbox Red and Fresh Lime

Brushed Pewter and Iced Spruce distress spray stain

Brayer, bone folder, [Gelli plate, envelope punch board and stencil are optional]

Faber Castell Pitt artist pen big brush

Adhesive and narrow double sided tape

Border punch or decorative scissors

Black and Watering Can Archival ink

Ink Applicator and Pine Needles and Festive Berries Distress Ink

Ranger Distress sprayer

String and White organza ribbon

Scissors

Shredded paper

Silver trim