Gift bag tutorial

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday. Today is Cyber Monday which I so much prefer.

As we all know-it's the season of giving so I thought a tutorial for a gift bag would be handy.

Start with clicking this picture and then right click, to print it out (on cardstock preferable)

Since everything is so "christmassy" these days, I wanted to be different and make a birthday bag. People do have birthdays in December too;)

When you have your template ready, trace it to paper of your choice and cut it out. You can use cardstock or heavier patterned paper- double sided or not.

Tips- draw the lines where you're gonna make the folds too.

All lines folds outward except from the red lines (if you can see them on the template) They fold the other way. Be sure to use your bone folder if you have one.

Don't forget to fold the top of the bag down as shown in the picture.

Put glue according to the template and fold your bag together.

Punch two holes on each side and string a ribbon through. You will need about 1 yard of ribbon.

When you're done you can cut out a rectangle of matching paper to place in the bottom of the bag.

Decorate and prettify your bag as much or as little as you want to.Think:

• stickles
• flowers
• inking and distressing
• hanging tags
• photo on the front of the bag

Be creative!


As always I wanted to get done fast and made mine very simple:

Good luck with those bags!


Those of you that follow the challenges over at AAM, know that a new one starts in a few days. Here's a peek of my layout for the next All About Me challenge:

My Design Team call is closed and now I just have to sit down and make my choices. Not an easy task.

The Design Team will be revealed on December 13.



OH, and I made a new sketch over at
 www.scrap-a-little-sketches.com.

See ya real soon!

Tutorial for strips roses

I came across a new kind of rose at Creating Keepsakes blog. They remind me of these ones I made with ribbons.





(Click here to see that tutorial)


You will need cardstock or double sided patterned paper. Don't use the flimsy kind. You want it to be a bit sturdy.

Cut a strip 12" x 1/2" and "scrunch" it up as much as you can. Do this over and over. You can't overdo it. I even took a spray bottle and slightly sprayed some water on to the paper. This will make the paper more manageable.


Cut out a circle about 1 1/2" from cardstock and add fast drying glue .

Start in the center and work your way outward. Twist the strip as you go, making sure that both sides of the paper shows (if that's what you want). If you want a bigger flower then add another strip after the first one is glued down.

Once you are done, cut off the excess cardstock. Add glimmer mist to your rose.

Click here to see how to make your own glimmer mist.

You can also add a flower center. I prefer it without since I think that makes it look more like a rose.

I actually think that these roses are my favorite at the moment. And I have even used them.

Here on a layout with Cosmo Cricket paper:

based on my sketch # 7

And here I made a joy fold card with Graphic 45 papers.