You could make this gift bag from a sheet of paper from the kit, but by now, if you're anything like me you'll not have enough of any of the sheets left to use, so instead grab a sheet of the 12x12 Bazzill from the kit to make it with.
If you've used all that too, then substitute with some card from your stash - and don't try to tell me you've nothing suitable, you can't fool me, I'm a stashaholic too, remember! lol
This little gift bag stands about 16cms high, is 10cms across and about 4cms deep.
To make it you'll need
from the November Kit: sheet of 12x12 card, papers, journalling card, ribbon, sticker sheet, cards sheet, pom pom trim
from your stash: Silver card, Silver thread, White Stickles, Twine/string/piping or braid in matching colour for the handles,
1. Cut the sheet of card to 29x22cms then measure and fold on the lines as shown on the diagram (click for larger view)
2. Now mark and cut out the sections shown in red on the diagram below
3. Your card should now look something like the photo below. This pic is of what will be the inside, so take notice of which way the folds go and make the creases on your card go the same way.
4, Now turn the card over so that the right side is uppermost, and the tabbed section is on the left.
* Cut a strip of paper about 5cms wide and 29cms wide. Ink the long edges and apply glue to all but a few cms nearest the tab section (column on the far left)
* Adhere in place about 1cm up from the lowest fold line. As you are working make the creases at the various points to ensure the paper goes around and into them. If you cut the paper strip too short you'll end up with a gap when you form the bag as the paper needs to be slightly longer to go around the creases in the card base.
* Take care to ensure that the ends of the strip will meet when the bag is formed.
*Once you're happy that all is lined up correctly, cut off any excess level with the fold as shown below
5. Bring the two ends of the bag round to meet, apply glue to the tab area and stick so that the tab is on the inside of the bag, the two ends of the paper strip should now meet together.
* Squeeze the sides of the bag inwards, then squash flat and rub over the folds with a bone folder to really set the creases well
*Now apply glue to the inside edges of the upper folded section and tuck it into the bag - the photo shows this being done
6. Turn the bag upside down so that the end with all the cut out triangles is on top to do the next bit. It's a bit fiddly to get everything lined up and shaped neatly so use enough glue to keep it "wet" for long enough for you to do any tweaking that's needed!
*First, apply glue to the small end bits and stick down one of the longer flaps as shown
* Now apply glue to the edges of the other longer flap and stick that down too.
* Try to make the corners neatly squared off: in the photo below you can see that this wasn't quite right - but as the glue was still wet I was able to "wiggle" the flaps a bit and get it right
* Once you're happy, stand the bag the right way up on your craft mat (in case any glue oozes out) and push something like a ruler, or a the handle end of a wooden spoon all over the inside base of the bag to make sure it's all firmly stuck together.
7. Punch holes for the handles
Cut a couple of pieces of piping, ribbon or twine each measuring abt. 15cms, thread through the holes and make knots on the inside, Getting the handles the same length is probably the trickiest bit of the whole thing!
8. Use one of the border stickers from the Sticker Sheet and stick it on to the piece of card you cut from the original 12x12 sheet.
* Cut out and ink the edges. Cut two 10cm strips from it
* Cut small pieces of thick chipboard and stick in place as shown below
* Now glue the border pieces over the top - make sure your handles are going the right way first though!
9. Cut two 10cm lengths of pom pom braid and glue about 1cm down from top of the paper strip
10. Make a tag using more of the card leftover from cutting the original shape as a base.
* From the "cards" sheet find the one with two journalling boxes on, cut off the top one to use for the tag and trim down to measure about 7 x 4cms.
*Mat this onto a corner of the journalling card with the zigzag edges, Trim the upper and left hand edges flush with the first piece then mount onto the base card, trim to leave a narrow edge.
Ink the edges of the message tag, Write "To" and "From" on the lined section. Punch a hole in the top left of the card and set aside
11. From the baubles paper cut 3 pairs of matching bauble shapes.
* Glue two pieces of silver card back to back togetherso that there is silver on each side.
* Glue one paper bauble to the silver card and vut out leaving a narrow silver margin all round. Stick the matching paper bauble to the other side. Ink the edge of the silver card to conceal the core of the card.
Repeat with the other two pairs of baubles.
*Punch a small hole in the top of each and tie a length of silver thread or cord through each.
*Apply White Stickles (I used Distress Stickles) to one side of each bauble, then when dry repeat for the other sides.
12. Once they are all dry, gather the ends of the threads and make a knot when you're happy at the way the three baubles hang - you want them all to be slightly different lengths
* Push the knotted end through the hole in the gift tag, place the tag where you want it to go on the bag and check the length of the baubles is correct. Once you're happy apply some glue to the back of the card and stick the ends of the strings in place, cut off the knot if you can as it may bequite bulky =- it was only really there to make handling easier.
*Knot a length of ribbon through the hole to finish and stick the tag in place at an angle as shown - the ends of the threads should be concealed.
The bag is all finished now and ready to present your gift in. Add some crmpled toning tissue paper, or maybe even the wrinkly shredded stuff to make your gift bag look even more luxurious.
Once you've got the basic idea on how to make these, you could try making smaller ones for teeny gifts, or if you need something bigger, check out Artist Supply Shops for larger sheets of stiff paper to use as a starting point.
That's it for today, I hope you'll have a go at this project - and that you'll come back and leave a message where we can see it.
Happy Crafting
Kathy xxx
all text and images ©Kathy Black 2009
