This post was originally posted on August 24, 2010. Hand painted bags are always a fun gift to give and receive. Enjoy!
Each year my theatre company holds an annual weekend retreat. Here is a photo of all of us at the retreat:
Each year I make a present for each of the company members. I've done t-shirts, jewelry, mugs, framed scrapbook pages, and this year I made bags. Everyone in NYC can always use another bag!
I bought some plain bags at Michaels. They didn't have enough in any of the styles, so I ended up mixing two different kinds of bags – a tote bag and a hobo bag.
I painted one side with a pattern…
…and stamped the other side with "Milk Can Theatre Company."
The stamping took about as long as the painting! Made me wish for a yudu. But I had a lot of fun nonetheless. I sat in my Mom's kitchen painting away.
I tried to match the painting to each person's style and personality. Take a closer look:
I used acrylic paint, gesso, and clear coated everything with a layer of matte multi medium!
Thanks for stopping by!
Your bags are wonderful. Looks like it was a fun time.
Your bags are wonderful. Looks like it was a fun time.
Your bags are wonderful. Looks like it was a fun time.
Your bags are wonderful. Looks like it was a fun time.
Your bags are wonderful. Looks like it was a fun time.
Wowzer what lovely work.
Wowzer what lovely work.
Wowzer what lovely work.
Wowzer what lovely work.
Wowzer what lovely work.
Fantastic gifts they all look so happy with them.
Fantastic gifts they all look so happy with them.
Fantastic gifts they all look so happy with them.
Fantastic gifts they all look so happy with them.
Fantastic gifts they all look so happy with them.
thank you for sharing this!! i have a bag i want to paint but have been afraid to!! you may have just given me the get up and paint it push!!
thank you for sharing this!! i have a bag i want to paint but have been afraid to!! you may have just given me the get up and paint it push!!
thank you for sharing this!! i have a bag i want to paint but have been afraid to!! you may have just given me the get up and paint it push!!
thank you for sharing this!! i have a bag i want to paint but have been afraid to!! you may have just given me the get up and paint it push!!
thank you for sharing this!! i have a bag i want to paint but have been afraid to!! you may have just given me the get up and paint it push!!
Looks like so much fun. Are you still involved in this theater group? I want to know more — how did you become involved? What did you do with them? Don’t know if you knew that I ran a theater group in NJ for the past 20 years! Just stepped down as executive director. But I still do all their publicity for them.
Looks like so much fun. Are you still involved in this theater group? I want to know more — how did you become involved? What did you do with them? Don’t know if you knew that I ran a theater group in NJ for the past 20 years! Just stepped down as executive director. But I still do all their publicity for them.
Looks like so much fun. Are you still involved in this theater group? I want to know more — how did you become involved? What did you do with them? Don’t know if you knew that I ran a theater group in NJ for the past 20 years! Just stepped down as executive director. But I still do all their publicity for them.
Looks like so much fun. Are you still involved in this theater group? I want to know more — how did you become involved? What did you do with them? Don’t know if you knew that I ran a theater group in NJ for the past 20 years! Just stepped down as executive director. But I still do all their publicity for them.
Looks like so much fun. Are you still involved in this theater group? I want to know more — how did you become involved? What did you do with them? Don’t know if you knew that I ran a theater group in NJ for the past 20 years! Just stepped down as executive director. But I still do all their publicity for them.
What wonderful bags! Clearly you knew these people well…it’s obvious in the photos you hit the nail on the head when trying to match paintings to personalities. I have a canvas bag that I bought at a garage sale this summer, haven’t been able to decide what to do with it…it might just get painted! Thank you for all of your sharing!
What wonderful bags! Clearly you knew these people well…it’s obvious in the photos you hit the nail on the head when trying to match paintings to personalities. I have a canvas bag that I bought at a garage sale this summer, haven’t been able to decide what to do with it…it might just get painted! Thank you for all of your sharing!
What wonderful bags! Clearly you knew these people well…it’s obvious in the photos you hit the nail on the head when trying to match paintings to personalities. I have a canvas bag that I bought at a garage sale this summer, haven’t been able to decide what to do with it…it might just get painted! Thank you for all of your sharing!
What wonderful bags! Clearly you knew these people well…it’s obvious in the photos you hit the nail on the head when trying to match paintings to personalities. I have a canvas bag that I bought at a garage sale this summer, haven’t been able to decide what to do with it…it might just get painted! Thank you for all of your sharing!
What wonderful bags! Clearly you knew these people well…it’s obvious in the photos you hit the nail on the head when trying to match paintings to personalities. I have a canvas bag that I bought at a garage sale this summer, haven’t been able to decide what to do with it…it might just get painted! Thank you for all of your sharing!
these are just the coolest bags Julie-love them!!!
these are just the coolest bags Julie-love them!!!
these are just the coolest bags Julie-love them!!!
these are just the coolest bags Julie-love them!!!
these are just the coolest bags Julie-love them!!!
Wow! The bags you made are beautiful, Julie!.. And it’s clear that loved them… Cute pics!
Wow! The bags you made are beautiful, Julie!.. And it’s clear that loved them… Cute pics!
Wow! The bags you made are beautiful, Julie!.. And it’s clear that loved them… Cute pics!
Wow! The bags you made are beautiful, Julie!.. And it’s clear that loved them… Cute pics!
Wow! The bags you made are beautiful, Julie!.. And it’s clear that loved them… Cute pics!
A useful handmade gift for some awesome work friends.
A useful handmade gift for some awesome work friends.
A useful handmade gift for some awesome work friends.
A useful handmade gift for some awesome work friends.
A useful handmade gift for some awesome work friends.
Your friends must be over the moon with these great gifts. What a wonderful idea.
Your friends must be over the moon with these great gifts. What a wonderful idea.
Your friends must be over the moon with these great gifts. What a wonderful idea.
Your friends must be over the moon with these great gifts. What a wonderful idea.
Your friends must be over the moon with these great gifts. What a wonderful idea.
fabulous- any chance of doing a quick tutorial with more details?????
fabulous- any chance of doing a quick tutorial with more details?????
fabulous- any chance of doing a quick tutorial with more details?????
fabulous- any chance of doing a quick tutorial with more details?????
fabulous- any chance of doing a quick tutorial with more details?????
Lucky friends! how beautiful… youre a dear one Julie
those are fabulous bags, great surface to work on, totally useful afterwards too.
have a great night there, hope not too cold at the moment
Lucky friends! how beautiful… youre a dear one Julie
those are fabulous bags, great surface to work on, totally useful afterwards too.
have a great night there, hope not too cold at the moment
Lucky friends! how beautiful… youre a dear one Julie
those are fabulous bags, great surface to work on, totally useful afterwards too.
have a great night there, hope not too cold at the moment
Lucky friends! how beautiful… youre a dear one Julie
those are fabulous bags, great surface to work on, totally useful afterwards too.
have a great night there, hope not too cold at the moment
Lucky friends! how beautiful… youre a dear one Julie
those are fabulous bags, great surface to work on, totally useful afterwards too.
have a great night there, hope not too cold at the moment
AWESOME BAGS!!! Love them all and how you fit each one to that person. These would be great Christmas gifts, thanks for the inspiration!
AWESOME BAGS!!! Love them all and how you fit each one to that person. These would be great Christmas gifts, thanks for the inspiration!
AWESOME BAGS!!! Love them all and how you fit each one to that person. These would be great Christmas gifts, thanks for the inspiration!
AWESOME BAGS!!! Love them all and how you fit each one to that person. These would be great Christmas gifts, thanks for the inspiration!
AWESOME BAGS!!! Love them all and how you fit each one to that person. These would be great Christmas gifts, thanks for the inspiration!
That is so incredibly thoughtful! I hope they loved them!
That is so incredibly thoughtful! I hope they loved them!
That is so incredibly thoughtful! I hope they loved them!
That is so incredibly thoughtful! I hope they loved them!
That is so incredibly thoughtful! I hope they loved them!
Wow ! This is so inspiring. Lovely website !
Wow ! This is so inspiring. Lovely website !
Wow ! This is so inspiring. Lovely website !
Wow ! This is so inspiring. Lovely website !
Wow ! This is so inspiring. Lovely website !