I'm back! And I've got another idea for pretty packaging for all these handmade gifts!
One of the things about the holidays is that there's lots of cooking and baking going on. At our house that means paper bags.
We are going to transform those bags into funky home made wrapping paper! I've got three different decorating ideas for you, but the prep is the same every time.
Cut the handles off of your bags.
Cut down the side of the bag and around the bottom…
…so that you'll be left with a long strip and the bottom of the bag (which you can throw away).
Flip that long strip over and you've got a great surface for decorating!
STITCH IT
Cut out a collection of fabric circles.
Using the free motion foot on your machine, stitch around each fabric circle.
To get to the next circle simply doodle with your sewing machine in a swirling line.
Your finished wrapping paper is ready to be wrapped around a gift!
You can see that I added one of the leaves from this tutorial to finish off the packaging.
PAINT IT
I'm the girl who can't stay away from paint, so here's a quick way to use a little bit of acrylic paint for some holiday cheer!
Paint stripes (no points for neatness) with teal paint.
Add some red stripes.
Do a little bit of doodling with black paint.
Add a bit of gesso (the white paint doodles) and you're done!
I simply added a decorated tag to finish off my gift!
MIST IT
Place several large doilies on your bag.
Mist over them using your favorite spray ink. I used a combination of Adirondack Color Wash and home made Glimmer Mist.
Remove the doilies to see your design.
Check out the shine from that home made Glimmer Mist!
I used acrylic paint to add a little note inside each of the doilies.
Here are all three of my packages together:
I hope you feel inspired to transform those brown paper bags into fabulous wrapping paper!
Thanks for stopping by!
Ohh I love that funky look. Beautiful!
Ohh I love that funky look. Beautiful!
Ohh I love that funky look. Beautiful!
Ohh I love that funky look. Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing this!
Now I know what to use as giftwrapping this year!! beautiful work I think.
best wishes Pia U
Thank you for sharing this!
Now I know what to use as giftwrapping this year!! beautiful work I think.
best wishes Pia U
Thank you for sharing this!
Now I know what to use as giftwrapping this year!! beautiful work I think.
best wishes Pia U
Thank you for sharing this!
Now I know what to use as giftwrapping this year!! beautiful work I think.
best wishes Pia U
Awesome ideas! Thanks!
Awesome ideas! Thanks!
Awesome ideas! Thanks!
Awesome ideas! Thanks!
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
These are so pretty!! The places I shop don’t give out bags anymore (really!), we have to use our own. But I could totally use these ideas with brown shipping paper instead of using wrapping paper. Thanks for the inspiration!
These are so pretty!! The places I shop don’t give out bags anymore (really!), we have to use our own. But I could totally use these ideas with brown shipping paper instead of using wrapping paper. Thanks for the inspiration!
These are so pretty!! The places I shop don’t give out bags anymore (really!), we have to use our own. But I could totally use these ideas with brown shipping paper instead of using wrapping paper. Thanks for the inspiration!
These are so pretty!! The places I shop don’t give out bags anymore (really!), we have to use our own. But I could totally use these ideas with brown shipping paper instead of using wrapping paper. Thanks for the inspiration!
you never cease to amaze me. Love these.
you never cease to amaze me. Love these.
you never cease to amaze me. Love these.
you never cease to amaze me. Love these.
Why didn’t I think of this? Great use of brown bags… Do you have a craft idea on how to use those cute (used) coffee bags from Starbuck? I think it’s from the Christmas blend with a cute snowman?
Why didn’t I think of this? Great use of brown bags… Do you have a craft idea on how to use those cute (used) coffee bags from Starbuck? I think it’s from the Christmas blend with a cute snowman?
Why didn’t I think of this? Great use of brown bags… Do you have a craft idea on how to use those cute (used) coffee bags from Starbuck? I think it’s from the Christmas blend with a cute snowman?
Why didn’t I think of this? Great use of brown bags… Do you have a craft idea on how to use those cute (used) coffee bags from Starbuck? I think it’s from the Christmas blend with a cute snowman?
Sherry — Im sorry to tell you that Im not a coffee drinker, so I dont know what youre referring to.  Send me a pic if you get a chance and Ill see what I can think of!  Also, check out Wilna Furstenberg.  Shes a scrapper with a love for coffee and she often makes a mini album from Starbucks coffee cozies!
Sherry — Im sorry to tell you that Im not a coffee drinker, so I dont know what youre referring to.  Send me a pic if you get a chance and Ill see what I can think of!  Also, check out Wilna Furstenberg.  Shes a scrapper with a love for coffee and she often makes a mini album from Starbucks coffee cozies!
Sherry — Im sorry to tell you that Im not a coffee drinker, so I dont know what youre referring to.  Send me a pic if you get a chance and Ill see what I can think of!  Also, check out Wilna Furstenberg.  Shes a scrapper with a love for coffee and she often makes a mini album from Starbucks coffee cozies!
Sherry — Im sorry to tell you that Im not a coffee drinker, so I dont know what youre referring to.  Send me a pic if you get a chance and Ill see what I can think of!  Also, check out Wilna Furstenberg.  Shes a scrapper with a love for coffee and she often makes a mini album from Starbucks coffee cozies!
You are so clever! These turned out beautifully! Hope I can remember these ideas when I need to wrap!
You are so clever! These turned out beautifully! Hope I can remember these ideas when I need to wrap!
You are so clever! These turned out beautifully! Hope I can remember these ideas when I need to wrap!
You are so clever! These turned out beautifully! Hope I can remember these ideas when I need to wrap!
Those are great!
Those are great!
Those are great!
Those are great!
wonderful wrapping ideas, thank you so much!
wonderful wrapping ideas, thank you so much!
wonderful wrapping ideas, thank you so much!
wonderful wrapping ideas, thank you so much!
You are indeed clever when it comes to this thing.
You are indeed clever when it comes to this thing.
You are indeed clever when it comes to this thing.
You are indeed clever when it comes to this thing.
Ok, this one’s darn clever – kudos 😀
Ok, this one’s darn clever – kudos 😀
Ok, this one’s darn clever – kudos 😀
Ok, this one’s darn clever – kudos 😀
cool…
good to hang on a wall too 🙂
cool…
good to hang on a wall too 🙂
cool…
good to hang on a wall too 🙂
cool…
good to hang on a wall too 🙂
What a creative way to recycle!
What a creative way to recycle!
What a creative way to recycle!
What a creative way to recycle!