Kick Ass Gift Bag Tutorial

I'm really quite pleased with the gift bag. In this case it's a brown paper lunch bag. Fold the bottom of the bag so it looks like an upside down "y" (so the front and back are both the same).  With a fold (vary the fold height with content), measure paper to the width of the bag and up to the fold line (repeat for back). Then measure paper for the fold. I used my ATG to adhere all the pieces.

A closeup of the badge (another tutorial on badge making will follow soon). Additional things can be pinned to the ribbon tails if you've a mind to do so. The stamps are from two of Kelly Purkey's Simon Exclusives, F Bomb and Like a Boss. The rosette is from the Tim Holtz Rosette die.

I'm not sure why the pin-back photographed so curvy, but take my word for it that it is actually straight. I used an standard hole punch to allow the ends to go through the top of the back easily.

Here's my favorite practical bit, a pocket for the card.  Just make a pocket using your favorite technique and attach it to the back. Keeps the card with the gift easy peasy (lemon squeezey).

Badges of Encouragement

Simon Says Stamp with Simon Say Stamp Stamps or Simon Exclusives. I combined stamps from two Kelly Purkey Simon Exclusives (F Bomb and Like A Boss) to make Badges of Encouragement.

For a friend who's fighting cancer, I added "cancer" with a Sharpie. The "like a boss" sentiment has an asterisk before it, but I just wiped that clean after I inked it. The other is for a friend studying for her big nursing test. It'll go on the outside of her gift bag. Safety pins will be attached to the back. The rosette is made with the Tim Holtz Rosette die.

I used CTMH's Petal Ink and Memento Tuxedo Ink.

updated to add

I think this is the easiest, most secure paper pin back I've done yet. Mark the high parts of the pin back on the cardstock and use a hole punch. Put the pinback through the holes. Apply Glossy Accents to the pinback and the cardstock press down firmly, burnishing right up to the pinback edges.

Cameo Appearance

Lots of white (Simon Says W is for White Challenge) and a cameo appearance using the monster stamp I finally finished carving. I used Papertrey Ink's  Background Basics: Woodgrain with clear embossing powder, then made an oval rosette out of cream watercolor paper and the Tim Holtz Rosette die (stretched out in an oval shape). The frame from Papertrey Ink's Simply Jane (stamped with Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder). The cameo is made with a  coral pigment ink (on my monster stamp) and clear embossing powder. I'm also entering this in Papertrey Ink's July Inspiration Archive.

Golfer's Notepad

A golfer's notepad made with Erin Lincoln's technique for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #167. I also entered it in Simon Says Father's Day Challenge (because it's for my dad, but he doesn't read my blog).

I really love using every bit of my crafting supplies (including the packaging). The notepad gift sleeve is made with the cellophane from a rubberstamping package and the rosette is made from a Papertrey Ink stamp set label. 

Notepad: 4.25 x 5.5 cardstock, scrap paper (for the "binding" at the top) PTI  On the Links stamp set, PTI Classic Kraft Inkpad, Distress Ink Black Soot, Score Tape.

Sleeve: cellophane packaging, PTI Fine Linen Twill Ribbon, Score Tape, Tim Holtz Rosette Die, PTI On the Links stamp set

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday - 71

This week just flew by.  I have the remnants of my Playing with Serenade by Flowerdisco and Friends contribution for this week left on the table along with my acrylic blocks and some rubberstamps from my ongoing stamp book projects. I have one page set aside solely for Eiffel Tower stamps. I'd have a gnome page, but I only have one very small gnome stamp, so it would look a bit lost. I've been saving my new Tim Holtz rosette die for an incentive for finishing a few things. So after I write up my instructions for my "Take THAT Cancer" easel card, I get to make rosettes :D. I'll have a full post on it sometime, but it seemed like I should show you all since there's been hints and bits of it for a couple of weeks now.

This is the card I've been working on finally finished (see why I needed to find that foil?). Lots of stickles, pearl ex powder, foil and triple thick glaze. I'm thinking of entering it in the Woman Warrior contest. I was tickled pink that it really seemed to bright the recipient's day. All the cuts and lettering are made with my Cricut Superman cartridge.

I'm trying to tweak just a little bit more length out of the coffin boxes, then I have an order for 12 to put together. *tutting at myself* I almost forgot to say if you are wondering what WOYWW is, or you'd like to see more head over to Julia's blog at Stamping Ground.