Christmas Gift Bag Tutorial

Hello my friends, hope you are all well.

Christmas is fast approaching and I so enjoy making things for this holiday. 

I thought of making these sweet little gifts bags and paper ornaments, and after I had finished the first I decided to take photos for a tutorial, but first a few finished pictures :)

 The Ginger is made from a scrap of brown kraft wrapping paper. Same for the start and I also made a heart. Punch tiny holes and add a hanger for your tree.
It's easier if you draw your design on the doubled paper first, then stitch around it before cutting it out. As I was sewing them on the machine, I poked in a little stuffing so they are not so flat. You don't need much.

This is the paper bag I used to cut out
my first tree. I just lined it with sheet music.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial, it's been ages since I made one. You can make these bags with regular paper of any kind really, just be creative and make it your own. Enjoy.....

This is what you will need to get started.
Paper bags X 2 if they are flimsy like mine.
Paper bag x 1 to cut out Christmas Tree.
Old book paper
Sheet music
Burlap or Cheesecloth or other
Twine for handles
Buttons and embroidery floss
Thread and glue gun

The paper bags I used are not lunch bags, they are from a gift
shop and much lighter.
so I had to double up and in using old book paper as a lining
 it makes them nice and strong.
I first cut the edges so they were even, but his step is up to you.

Lets get started :)
This tutorial shows me using cheesecloth which is laid down
first on one paper bag. This will be the front.
Add some sheet music that has been torn on the edges.
Now stitch around the sheet music in a random line.
You don't have to be perfect. I go in a curvy line.

Cut a Christmas Tree shape or other shape from another
 paper bag.
Now, it's back over to the machine to sew it on.

Cut your twine or whatever you have for handle into two pieces.
Can you see how I have placed them inside the bag?
It's about an inch in on each side.
Now you are going to sew along the top of the paper bag
and seal in the twine for hanging or carrying the bag.
One straight line across the top.

Cut your old book paper to fit the size of your paper bags.
Now sew it along the top edge of bag on both paper bags.
On the inside. This is going to make a lining.
When you have done this you are ready to stitch
the two pieces together.

We are almost done :)
I used some wooden buttons which I had dyed with coffee.
Using some embroidery floss I made stitched
through the buttons so it looks as if they are
attached this way. You could stitch through the paper
but I decided to glue mine on with the glue gun.

Your inside will have old book paper, or whatever
you choose to use. I think it gives it a nice finish, it
just seems to add some strength too.

Now you have some sweet little gift bags for that
special small gift :)
I made some little paper ornaments too using brown kraft
wrapping paper, they will be nice to pop in the bag.

Happy Kindness Day to you all,

Lynn

Have a beautiful Christmas

I want to wish you all a love filled, joy filled, and healthy Christmas, I have so enjoyed this year with you all my blogging friends. I have learned a lot and am still learning a lot from you all, and have been inspired and felt loved too. Thank you so very much.
I decorated in whites and gold in the front room, and then in burgundy and gold in our family room where I sit a lot on these latest cold days. It's just so cozy here with the fire on. We have not had much snow yet but it is very cold.

We had Christmas yesterday with my young nieces, the little artists I have posted about before, my mom and dad were here too and we had a lot of fun. The girls dressed up Cooper but it was hard keeping that hat on him, he just wasn't having it *giggle*


Next week on Christmas Day we will be doing it all over again with my DH's family, so I am going to try and take it easy this week. Although I love it all, it knocks me out, even if it's family and friends visiting I still get flustered and try to do too much.

I will see you all again in 2011... wow, doesn't that sound strange?
My DH is taking some holidays now, and will get back to work after the New Year, so we want to spend more time together :)

Take care all, and enjoy the holidays

Handmade Christmas Week 2

Here I am, and it's been so long. To be honest I havn't had much to share, I have been so busy decking the halls and Christmas shopping, and just with life in general.
I did make some little birds as I said I would, but only two because I lost interest. There is still time to make more anyway if I want to.

I drew my pattern then sewed them on muslin. Once the body was stuffed I stitched on the wings and then painted them. As you can see, one is gold... hmmmmmm not sure about him.

I think I like the white one more. They have different wing designs and the white one I used french knots for the eyes. I gave them a dusting of mica flakes too, can you see them. Click on the image for a close up.
If anyone is interested, I would be happy to scan my humble little pattern for you and post it on my blog. I have scanned the drawing of my skinny stockings too and will share that too. I also have a chubbier stocking pattern that I used before.

Do you remember Ms Pearl? I created her two Christmases ago and still love her, she goes perfect with my white and off white decor. Which I am almost done with and will take photos for my next post.
I wanted to make another snow lady, just havn't felt like being in the studio lately, and I have decided for the good of my sanity not to worry every time this happens and just do something else , whatever makes me feel good. Well , within reason LOL

Cooper wanted to say hi.....
Here is, my little teddy bear. This was before I cut his hair last week.


Here we are preparing for Christmas and all of my American friends are just having Thanksgiving tomorrow. I don't know how you do it, I am thankful that our Canadian Thanksgiving is in early October, I really am. Give us a break :)

I wish you all a wonderful, happy and healthy Thanksgiving, and could someone please tell me why Friday is called Black Friday. I know it's about big sales everywhere but where does the Black come from?

Until next time, hope it is sooner,
Lynn

Handmade Christmas Week 1

I have this crazy idea that I want to decorate two Christmas trees this year. It's our first Christmas in our new home and I want to go all out, so I have decided to make as many ornaments as I can to fill up a second tree using bits and pieces from my stash.

I hope to share something new each week this month :)

For my first set of ornaments I decided on a cute elf shaped stocking and used some left over fabric I used on some chairs, which is a light upholstery fabric.

I have embellished them with bits of lace and old earrings etc I have collected in the past.

Everything is from my stash of supplies, and what a good feeling to actually use some of it.

I think I have a dozen of these now, and am thinking I will make some doves or some type of bird this week and see how they turn out.

My theme for the new tree is a Shabby Chic style in off whites and with a touch of red or burgundy here and there.

How about you? Are you making anything this year for Christmas? I would love to hear about it , and if you post it on your blog let me know.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lynn

Happy Holidays

What's a boy to do?

Does he look a bit angry at me?

It was at long last a beautiful sunny day, so I took the opportunity to take some photos of Cooper in the little Christmas neck warmer I found for him, the one he doesn't like :) He wants to tell you all Happy Christmas but he is busy eating his dinner at the moment.
(You can see him so much better if you click on the photo)

This beautiful little dog has the biggest heart, a wonderful soul and amazing energy. He has helped and comforted us so much the past two weeks since the loss of my father in law, and he has been visiting my mother in law regularly lately too and making her feel warm inside even though she is in pain. God bless you our little Cooper :)

For those who don't know, he is a Yorkie/Maltese mix, but he is a big boy at 15lbs now full grown, and just over a year old. He is so soft and snuggly, I don't know what I would do without him, but all you pet lovers know how that is.


I did have one day to be creative last week and so I painted this Angel in my art journal.
I want to use her as a little card to wish you all a happy, peaceful, blessed holiday this year.

It has been a wonderful year with all of you, and I know it will be another wonderful year to come :)

I also want to take this time to "thank you" all so very much for your thoughts and prayers, your beautiful comments on my last post.

For all of you who are missing a loved one this week, may you find peace in the good memories you shared and may your heart heal a little more.

Much love,
Lynn

A Little Blogging Break

An altered tin I finished over a week ago, and below with some stocking gift tags.

I also put together another ornament that same day, I think this is my favorite Christmas Angel.

I have already packed up the Christmas art supplies, I am done with it for this year. It just doesn't seem that important anymore. We have been spending a lot of time with my father in law since last week when he took a turn for the worse. He is home, and they are keeping him comfortable, that is all that can be done now. It has been a very emotional, stressful time for us and I just need to take a break from blogging. I havn't visited a blog in a week I think now, and I don't even feel like being on the computer much, but I know it is just something I have to go through, another process. Not to worry, I am not depressed, just very sad. I have never watched a person die before.

I must say, I am very impressed with my father in law, who we love very much. He has already accepted his death, and has been organizing his funeral so his wife and son's don't have to deal with it all later. I sat with him one day, and we went through all of his photos, and he chose the ones he wants on his memory board at the funeral home. I have that to put together now, nothing fancy just a collage of photographs celebrating his life :)


I have started to knit some fingerless mittens for myself, something I have not done in over a year and I find it very relaxing, that is, once I remembered how to use 4 double pointed needles again :) It's something I can do while I am sitting around at the inlaws and I can take it anywhere really, I am just very slow at it.

I just noticed I am at 202 followers... Wow... I was going to have a giveaway when I reached 200, so what I will do is have one in the New Year when we could all use a little pick me up :)

Take care all, and I will see you soon,
Lynn

Sweet Angel Ornament

I had a few hours to myself one day this week and sat down to make a this sweet hanging ornament. It is now on it's way to a friend, but I can't say who it is because it is a surprise :)

This is half of one of those plastic thingies used for ornaments, in a lovely tear drop shape. I used this sweet little boy Angel in front of a tiny Christmas tree. I don't know if you can see without clicking on the photo, but I added tiny sleigh bells and beads to the tree and a tiny glittered star to the top. Then I attached a tiny little charm which says "Believe".

The Angel is standing in the snow. I used Santa's hair again and glued some Mika Flakes and pearls to it. Oh, I forgot, there is a tiny little bird hiding in the tree too :) It was really fun to make while listening to Christmas music.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for my father in law, he is still the the same, not worse, so we are hoping he makes it through the holidays :) On a good note, we are almost sure we have the house now, we will know on Monday.

To my American friends, I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

Altered Tin and some tags

Altered Tin for Pauline

Hi my dear blogger friends :) I thought I should try and come out of my little hole for a while and post something. I have been of a strange mood lately, just not inspired to create anything or even visit blogs, or even be online. We have been going through the process of buying a home and it has been stressful for me I suppose, more than I expected. It still is stressful, we just sent back the offer on a home this morning so now we are waiting again to here if they will accept it.

I just finished a swap with Pauline from the beautiful Island of Malta, and she recieved her altered tin today so I actually have something to share.
Pauline is a cross stitcher and asked if I would do a swap with her for a stitchery in exchange for one of my tins, so I agreed, and can you believe it only took a week to arrive to her in Malta ? Hopefully my stitchery will arrive today too :)

The Santas are from one of my collage sheets, which gives you an idea of the size I created the sheet in. I used a tiny bristle brush tree in there, and used some of my Santa hair for snow, it's raw wool actually, but I used it for some Santa dolls I made a couple of years ago. I wonder if I will have a chance to make another this year?

There is so much going on all of a sudden. My father in law is not doing too good either. He is losing his 5 year battle with liver cancer , after trying everything from having half of his liver removed, and including Chinese medicine.

Picture this old school Italian guy in his 70's going to a Chinese medicine man LOL,,, I couldn't believe it, but you know what, it helped him in one way or another and he felt great. He then had to stop all that for the doctors to put him on a new drug just approved in Canada this year. It slows down the growth of the tumors, and it did for about 6 months, but not anymore. There is nothing left to do I am afraid, and the shutting down of the liver has started, so we will be celebrating Christmas with him for the last time this year, I only hope he feels well enough.

So this is another reason for being in a strange mood you see, and I wasn't going to talk about it here yet, but just incase I don't visit you often my friends, please don't think me rude, it is just a lot going on. Neither of us have lost a parent and we are finding it very hard to actually deal with the inevitable now.

Something happier, are my new Christmas tags, another sheet of printables I created over a week ago I think now, three different Santa's on one sheet.

I have just signed up to sell on Instant Printables.com and started adding things a couple of days ago. It's a great place, been around for years and if you purchase on there you can download instantly after payment through paypal. You can find anything from Vintage collage sheets, to Primitive Country, and so a lot of my Country friends have come out of retirement on this site.

Since I have been so pre occupied I have not been creating digitally or otherwise, but please do not worry about me, I am fine, I will get back to it when the time is right :)

I know my American friends are gearing up for Thanksgiving Day, so I want to finish by wishing you all a wonderful time, the best ever, and make sure you eat lots, and lots :)

Lynn

Winter Girl Gift Tag Printable

This beautiful young lady is one of my favorite graphics from an old postcard. I just had to make a special tag with her, and for others to print, so this is my latest printable collage sheet which you can find in my Etsy Shop.

This is how they look put together, and I am very happy with the outcome :) I used an ivory lace background and gave the tags a scalloped top edge, but seems you can't see it here. I

What I did is make two sheets to print, one for the front and one for the back. Just cut out, glue front and back together, punch a hole in the top, rub some distress ink around the tag and add some ribbon, and you have some beautiful gift tags :)

Of course you can leave them with a plain white background too, you could also cut out the girl and make another version of a tag on the backside of the tag. Just be creative, they would even make a nice bookmark :)

I had forgotten how much I missed my Paint Shop Pro, I am really enjoying it, yet I still have time to play with my art too.

Have a great weekend,
Lynn

Altered Box, Santa with children

I am so into creating for Christmas right now, I love it !
This is a paper mache box I have altered using one of my favorite Victorian Santas with the sweet children.
The snow is made with Golden's modeling paste, I gave it a wash of titan buff when it was all set and then sprinkled just a touch of glitter. ( I am not a glitter girl, can't stand the bits getting all over me.)

I glued bits of green, tinsel, some glittered stars, jingle bells, and I am loving the silver ivy leaves I found.

I always wait too long and can never get done all I want to as far as Christmas art, so this year I decided to start really early.

Speaking of Christmas, I now have two digital collage sheets in my Etsy shop for your creative pleasure. Click on the images for a better look :)


I have used some of my favorite images and I have lot's more to work with , so you will be seeing more I am sure of it :)

Tags, tags and more tags

Seems I have made a lot of tags this week....

I am really ready for creating Christmas goodies now...

I made more of the little girl tags for my Etsy shop, which I reopened this week after letting it sit idle all summer.

I had fun making these tiny blue gift tags. The snow flakes are stickers with little jewels on them and they feel like a soft rubber, really nice quality.


And I have been playing a lot in my graphics program this week too.
I had my own website a few years ago, it was called Country Printables. I drew country characters in my graphic program at that time using the vector tool and I created and sold printables and web sets.

I thought you may like to meet some of my country friends :) Here they are saying hello .....

They all have full bodies, you just can't see them here.


I am not into the country graphics anymore, but I enjoyed creating these gift tags for Christmas printing.
This is a terrible photo, it was a rainy day and I tried taking the photo with a light shining on them LOL... didn't work too good.

I have a collage sheet of these in my Etsy shop now, thought I would see if people were interested in this type of thing. So many people just throw out the tags you put on gifts, so I thought why not be able to just print a bunch, cut them out and add some ribbon for those people, just quick and easy.

I enjoyed playing in Paint Shop Pro again so much, I am thinking I will make some more collage sheets, I gave up graphics to have time for my crafts, like sewing and knitting at the time, then just over a year ago I got into Mixed Media, now I realize how much I miss it, but I always have it to go back to whenever I feel the need :)

Have a great weekend all , see you soon,
Lynn

Early Christmas Presents and Ms Pearl

My hubby doesn't know what to gift me this year for Christmas, so I asked for art supplies, and workshops. I don't have the art supplies yet, I have been looking for a nice set of Faber Castel Pitt Art Pens, no luck, I found a set of black ones but I want a nice set of colored brush pens, you can add water to them on your canvas and paint, I saw a demo on youtube. So..... my daughter is going to look on Queen St in Toronto, she said there are a lot of art shops there.

I have however signed up for two workshops woohoooooo. One is Pam Carriker's Art Journalling on Creative Workshops, which starts in January and the other one, is Suzi Blu's Les Petit Dolls workshop, which started this past summer but is still available until March 2009.

I am thrilled to start Suzi Blu's workshop already, and I have to tell you, she is amazing, she is there for her students, she has amazing videos, and pdf files with inspiration to make you feel good about your work, this is not just a regular old class, she is with you every step of the way and there to help if you need it. I watched the first video class yesterday and have been practising sketching some faces, and I just love it. So...... Happy Christmas to me :)

This past week I created a snow lady just for me, her name is Ms Pearl , she is a real lady, kind of Victorian Shabby Chic and is all dressed up for a party in Winter Wonderland. No paper on this baby, I designed the pattern on paper though LOL. I have never made a snow person before but always wanted to, only I wanted something different, so this is what I came up with.

I wanted her all in winter white and very vintage, so for her coat I used some chenille from an old bedspread I got at the thrift shop (I collect chenille) and left the fringe on, then handstitched vintage trim to it, and vintage pearls. I keep saying vintage, ok will stop, it is all vintage except for the little bird on her head and the wreath and gold snowflakes.
So around her neck I wrapped a doily and some laces for her scarf then pinned on a rhinestone brooch. I fashioned her necklace from the pearl strand, just added the old locket. Even the flowers around her head are very old. I stitched her eyes on and added a piece of wood for her nose.
Here she is on my mantle in my living room. This year I put white birds and other white things on the mantle in this room so she looks right at home there :) She stand up on her own because I put lots of plastic pellets in her bottom.

Hope you are having a great day and make some time to create , even decorating for the holidays is creative, have some fun with it :)

Bye for now

Lynn