Tutorial: Gift Bags
28 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in My Crafty Projects, Tutorials Tags: Art, Craft, Gifts, Homemade, paper, ribbon, tutorial, upcycle
These are easy to make and chances are you will be able to make them from things lying around the house. I particularly like the effect when they are made out of magazines or newspapers and another benefit is that you often have these things anyway so they are FREE! As Christmas is quickly approaching I will be making for Christmas presents.
You will need:
Wrapping paper - I'm using the left over from last year
Ribbon - I'm getting some from my stash however if you do not have any you could use string, twine or even wool. If its too thin maybe you could cut several lengths and plait it for added effect.
Card: I have taken this from some junk mail that came through the post
Ruler, glue or double sided tape, pencil and hole punch and scissors (although I've forgotten to take a photo of the scissors and hole punch).
Once you have gathered all of that you can then get started.
Step One
You need two rectangles of the paper that measure 39cm x21cm. If your paper has a directional pattern try to make sure it is going in the correct direction. Use my picture below to help you do this.
Step Two
Stick together the two pieces of paper back to back. This will ensure that the inside of your bag is patterned and add to the strength. If you want it to be blank on the inside stick plain paper onto the back of it.
Step Three
Make a fold 1cm from the right hand side.
Step Four
Make another fold 11cm on the left of the previous fold. This will make either the front/back.
Step Five
Make another fold 8cm on the left of the previous fold. This will make one of the sides.
Step Six
Make another fold 11cm on the left of the previous fold. This will not only make the other front/back but also will leave 8cm for the remaining side.
Step Seven
Make a fold 3 cm deep from the top.
Step Eight
Make a fold 5cm from the bottom.
Step Nine
Cut out two piece of card 11cm x8cm to fit below the top flap (see below). This will add strength to the top of your bag. The fold down the flap and stick it down to make a neat edge.
Step Ten
Put glue on the 1cm flap and glow the four sides together.
Step Eleven
Turn the bag upside down and push down one of the 8cm sides. The fold along he flaps to make half triangles (see below)
Step Twelve
Repeat with the other side.
Step Thirteen
Stick down the flaps to make the base of the bag.
Step Fourteen
Next glue down a rectangle of cardboard into the base of the bag to strengthen the base.
Step Fifteen
Finally make holes and thread ribbon through to make the handles.
Now it is ready to put your presents in and give to your nearest and dearest. The best things about it though is that each one can be made to suit the person you are giving it to and they are cost a fraction of what they are in the shop.
I hope you found this tutorial was helpful. I welcome any comments and thoughts you have.
Can’t believe I Used To Pay For Gift Bags!
26 Nov 2011 2 Comments
in My Crafty Projects, My homemade gift mission Tags: bag, Craft, Gifts, Homemade, paper
I’ve joined a small craft group in a hope of learning new skills and having more craft experiences. The craft of the evening was making gift bags, especially handy with Christmas just around the corner. They are actually quite simple to make and making them saves an absolute ton of money. I will just show photos to begin with and a tutorial will follow. When making these ones I forgot to take photos and so I don’t have any photos to go alongside the tutorial.
My Gift Bags
The one on the right was my first attempt and I must say it wasn’t entirely successful. For a start it just wasn’t rectangular at all. I guess it is full of character :-p
Epic Fail
The one on the right was my second attempt and lot more successful. For a start it actually looks like a normal gift bag. This one I might even be able to use.
Footstool Update
24 Nov 2011 1 Comment
For a quick reminder of how my footstool looked before take a look at this link.
I have now painted the legs a lovely white which has cleaned it up really well. I have replaced the webbing and as you can see I am in the process of replacing the foam.
The white fabric hanging down has been glued to the foam and will be used to secure the foam to the footstool using 13mm improved tacks. I now need to go find the outer fabric for it. I can’t wait to see what it looks like finished.
Framed Glass Piece
22 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in My Crafty Projects Tags: Art, Craft, frame, glass, Homemade, picture
Here it is! This is the first chance I have had to put it up onto my blog. I am really impressed with how it has turned out. It is now sitting happily on my living room side table. What do you think?
28 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in My Crafty Projects Tags: Art, Craft, frame, Gifts, glass, Homemade, picture
Last Thursday I went to another glass workshop where I made a framed piece. I am actually getting quite good at cutting the glass and I must say I am getting more confidence with my designs. Although this could easily become my downfall but time will tell. Maybe one day I will get sooooo good that I will be able to have my own kiln. I would also need a larger house to accommodate the kiln but that is a small technicality.
Glass before the kiln
When it comes out of the kiln it will be glued (with extremely strong glue) onto a lovely dark frame. Each of the three pieces will be kept separate and have a space between but will stay in the same frame. I think this definitely adds another dimension to an otherwise typical picture.
My next glass workshop is to learn to make a bowl so am going to have to start looking around for ideas. If you have any feel free to send them across.
Ta Daaaaaa!
27 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Upcycle, Upholstery Tags: chair, Craft, fabric, furniture, Homemade, painted, upcycle, upholstery
This is just a quick post to show off my newly re-upholstery chair that was re-upholstered by yours truly. I have recently brought it home from college and am currently trying to solve the dilemma of where am I going to put it? So as a result it is now sat in the living room waiting for one of the rooms in my house to magically become larger to accommodate for it or for when we do eventually move house.
BEFORE
AFTER
Trimmed corner
I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. I was unsure about the white trim against the cream wood but I quite like the look of it now. I think it sets the purple of beautifully. Plus it was super hard trying to find a shop that stocked purple trim to match the fabric. I am now going to make a nice comfy cushion out of the fabric leftovers to lean my back on when sitting on it to make it extra comfortable.
Ebay Addict Strikes Again!
26 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in Upcycle Tags: Craft, Decorating, furniture, Homemade, painted, upcycle, upholstery
I have recently been buying furniture from eBay. In particular, I’ve been looking at furniture that it battered, unfashionable and basically unwanted. I love the idea of breathing new life into otherwise unwanted furniture…making something beautiful again.
On Saturday, during one of my usual eBay browsing session I found this bedside table and realising it only had 15 minutes left I, of course, couldn’t help myself and impulsed bidded on it. I then found myself winning it and the lovely lady that was selling it asked me if I wanted to pick it up straight away. Anyone that knows me can imagine just how much of a buzz I got from winning something and it was this excitement that made me immediately agree to collect. So Saturday evening I dragged my long suffering boyfriend along to collect my new project.
Since then I have been priming, sanding and painting and I now have the before and after photos. Although I am thinking about doing a little bit more to it.
BEFORE
It’s made of MDF and has that horrible plastic coating and was very scratched and battered but I really like the curved shape of the drawer and base and it has a really pretty door knob.
AFTER
It took me a while to get this photo as it seems my dog loves to get in the way of photos. So now my digital camera is full of photos of his nose! Anyway, I have kept the door knob because I think it looks really nice against the greeny blue of the table. You can just about see the distressed edges and corners of the table but they can be seen a lot better in the photos below.
Distressed corner
Distressed edge with door knob
I’m thinking about painting trailing roses across the front of the drawer and base. I think this will add to the shabby chic-ness of the table. Although I am unsure about whether to paint them as kind of border of the door.
What do you think? If you have done something similar I would be really interested in seeing pictures or of hearing your opinions.
