DENIM POCKET GIFT BAGS

Create this casual western style embellishment on a Solid Kraft Shopping Style gift bag. If you happen to be a back pocket hoarder like me (weird I know) you will have no trouble finding pockets to create you very own version of this bag. If you haven't been saving pockets from worn out jeans, now you have a reason to begin. Heck...you can even use the welted seam from the leg of the jeans for a ribbon. Currently bling and fancy embroidery on jean pockets is very popular. I can hardly wait to see a gift bag done up with one of these fancy pockets. Don't know if I can wait for the jeans to wear out. Colored jeans are all the rage this year which will open up a whole new selection of pockets to coordinate with the Solid Color Shopping Style gift bags.

Supplies

Jeans (with back pockets)
Navy Blue Kraft Gift Bag
1 Sheet Red Bandana Tissue Paper
2 Sheets Solid Red Tissue Paper

Tools: scissors, hot glue, hot glue gun

Step 1

Cut the pockets out of the jeans keeping the scissors as close as possible to the outer edge of the pocket face.  Leave the fabric on the back of the pocket intact.

Step 2

Run a bead of hot glue around the edge of the pocket on the wrong side. Place it right side up on the front of your gift bag.  Keep in mind what you plan on putting in the pocket to help you determine the pocket placement on the gift bag. We have used an XL KitKat bar and a pocket from adult size jeans, so my pocket was centered on the gift bag and placed 1" from the bottom of an 11" bag.

Step 3

Cut a sheet of Bandana Tissue Paper into quarters (should measure approximately 10" x 15" after cutting).  Tuck Bandana Tissue into pocket behind candy in pocket and arrange.  Add Solid Red Tissue Paper to the top of the bag.

Tips: Add details with Red Matte Raffia tied to the handle in a shoelace style bow, or tie up a Matte Raffia bow and hot glue it onto the pocket.  Create spa themed gift bags, sports themed, a candy shop or bake shop bag, a pet theme, teen theme...oh my...the list could go on and on. I'll stop and let you take over! 



Ribbons and Favors Shopping List

Navy Shopping Style Gift Bags, Red Bandana Tissue Paper 20" x 30",

Solid Red Tissue Paper 20" x 30", Matte Raffia

JUST US CHICK'S YELLOW FAVOR BOXES

We have used the recipe for our SALTY SWEET FAVOR TREATS featured in the previous post for this Chick Themed Favor. Using only the yellow M&M's for a tasty chocolate yolk in keeping with our themed favor. When you add this simple favor packaging treatment your delicious filler, instantly becomes a beautiful baby shower favor, or wedding shower favor.

Supplies
Natural Kraft Favor Box 3"x3"x2"
Dandelion Yellow Tissue Paper 15"x20"
Sunshine Yellow Curling Ribbon 3/16"
Daffodil Yellow Classic Star Bow
Ribbon Shredder
Quantities will be determined by the number of favors you are doing.

STEP 1

Cut 2 strips of Dandelion Yellow Tissue Paper measuring 3" x 10" lay the two strips of tissue in a crisscross inside the box as a liner,  add 12 Salty Sweet Favor Treats, fold tissue paper ends lightly over the filler. Tuck the flap of the box in

 

STEP 2 

Cut 2 yards of Sunshine Yellow Curling Ribbon, wrap around the box in a traditional crisscross style. Tie the ends in a knot on the top of the box.  Fasten a 3-3/4" Daffodil Yellow Classic Star Bow on top.  Shred the loose ends of the curling ribbon with your Ribbon Shredder and curl.

 

Keeping it classy and still using a fun theme!

 

SALTY SWEET FAVOR TREATS

This is a terrific recipe because it really is just so simple and tasty. Not willing to take the word of just the hubby we had a very willing group of taste testers also critic them, and the voting was unanimous. This favor treat was a winner! The cost per tasty morsel was just pennies per piece.

Ingredients:
Pretzel Wafers
Hershey Hugs (approx. 80 pieces to a 12oz package)
Plain M&M's

 

Preheat oven to 180 degrees (oven temperatures vary so watch your first batch closely)

Unwrap Hugs and place Pretzel Wafers on waxed paper lined cookie sheet.

 

Place Hugs in the center of the Pretzel Wafers and put into the oven for 5 minutes.

 

Remove from oven when the base of the Hugs are soft and just starting to collapse. Press M&M into the center of the warm chocolate.

Chill for 1 hour in fridge, or 20 minutes in freezer.

 

Now you are ready to package them up for gifting!

 

A few helpful hints:

• I purchased a 19.20 oz package of M&M's which was way too much (although left over M&M's are not really a bad thing).
• Once the group had taste tested they were coming up with lots of alternate suggestions like using Rolo's in place of the Hugs, or Almond Kisses with an almond sliver on top. It may seem the possibilities could be endless. Have fun with this one!

EASY TO USE RIBBON SHREDDER

Ribbon Shredders (which, by the way, are one of our favorite tools next to a nice sharp pair of scissors) take economy ribbons to a designer level. This tool is sometimes referred to as a "ribbon slitter" but no matter the name, they are so easy to use on non-woven poly ribbons such as curling ribbon and floral poly ribbon. Such a great look with just a squeeze!

 



 

STEP 1

Slip ribbon between the teeth of the shredder. Pinch the teeth together so they bite into the top and bottom of the ribbon pieces - maintain the pressure on the shredder with your thumb and finger, then slide it firmly down the ribbon. Easy-peasy.

 

 

   

 

STEP 2
Slide the blade of your scissors down the shreds of ribbon to create a fine jumble of ribbon tendrils.

   

 

 

   

TIPS: You don't have to shred one strand of ribbon at a time. For the shredded ribbon accent on our gift bag we placed about 5 strands of 3/16" curling ribbon between the teeth and shredded them all at one time. So shredding your ribbons actually goes very quickly when using a Ribbon Shredder.  The more ribbons you use the fuller your bow.

 

Ribbons and Favors Shopping List:

Ribbon Shredder, 3/16" Curling Ribbon, Shopping Style Gift Bag

 

 

 

SMALL TISSUE PAPER PUNCHED FLOWERS

 

 

Did your Mom or Grandma save wrapping paper? Mine did. She carefully flattened out the fancy wrapping paper that came off gifts, requesting that we try not to tear the paper, which we would have much preferred to do in our hurry to the good part, but instead she wanted us to carefully open it at the seams and lay the paper aside.  She would then flatten out the fancy wrap, carefully fold it and save it to be re-used on a smaller sized gift.  

 

We may laugh at this old fashioned frugality, but guess what, the modern day guru's of recycling are touting this as a great way to re-use, re-purpose, recycle, be green and eco-friendly.  Over 4 million tons of gift wrap and gift bags reach the nations landfills each year! That's a lot of paper that we could have some fun with. It is also a good reason to purchase good quality gift bags that can stand up to many uses.

 

So here is a quick and easy project to make use of used tissue papers, gift wrap, newspaper and even book or magazine pages.

 

SUPPLIES

Paper

Punches

Brass Head Fasteners (1/2" long)

 

We have used pre-used tissue paper for our project, a 2" scalloped round punch, a 2-3/8" blossom punch and plain brass fasteners from our local office supply store.  Tools: awl (for piercing the papers)

  

 

STEP 1
Punch design from your paper.  You can use as many layers of paper as you wish, we typically use at least 6, often more for a fuller flower.  You can combine colors, use all one color or even combine prints and weights of papers. We have punched 4 scallop rounds (top layers) and 3 blossom (bottom layers).

STEP 2
Stack punched designs on top of each other and pierce the center of the stack with your awl, or the sharp end of a geometry compass works also.  Remove stack from piercing tool.


     

STEP 3

Crumple up the punched layers. Then gently uncrumple and slip the fastener through the center of the pierced layers.  Pry open the tines on the back of fasteners and press flat against the back of the flower pieces. Create your 3D flower by re-crumpling and arranging the layers to cover the fastener (if desired) and fanning them out all the way to the bottom layer.  

   

 

 

Finished flower



 

 

TIPS: When using pre-used papers for this project the punched edges are often not as clean as when you use new papers.  For this application we don't mind that edges are often not as perfect, but if you need a crisp outer edge we suggest using new paper products.

 

You can use fancy paper crafting brads in place of the plain brass fasteners and leave the center a little more open so it can be seen.

 



Enjoy ~ Sandra

 

DAZZLING HEART FAVOR BOX

Oh so pretty...yet...oh so simple! I must tell you that this favor packaging project was motivated by comments in a bridal forum. The professionals were saying that there should be no DIY's at weddings...yikes...I disagree and told them so. Their thoughts were that DIY elements at a wedding never turn out well and cheapen the feel of the event.

The challenge was now on to create a boutique style favor that those with basic crafting skills could make themselves. This turned out far-and-away better than any pre-mades, kits and even many customs that I have seen, and the beautiful part is the favor box is simple to make with minimal supplies needed. Fill them with whatever YOU fancy; a cookie, truffles, candy, gift card, etc.

Supplies

 
 
3"x 3"x 2" White Kraft Favor
Box                                                        

2 yards 7/8" wide Pink Organza Ribbon
White Pipe Cleaner
Sparkling Pink Card Stock
Heart Die (made from AccuCut Heart #6-small die)

Tools: scissors

 

 

We filled our favor box with pink gourmet jelly beans. As you can see we have used a white paper cupcake liner for our food safe barrier. The cupcake liner is resting on a little nest of white crinkle cut shred to bring it closer to the top of the box.

       Cut 1 yard of 7/8" organza ribbon and wrap around the favor box as pictured. Tie in a knot.

Make 3 loops of your 7/8" ribbon about 3" wide. Fold pipe cleaner around center of loop then twist to secure (as pictured above).  Glue ribbon bow to top of favor box. Glue point of die cut heard to the corner of the top of the box. Then glue the top of the heart to center of ribbon bow (as pictured below). This will give the heart
a nice lift.
Trim up the ends of the ribbon and you are done! 

 

 

 

WEDDING COLORS 2013

Here we are... Spring 2013 has arrived and around here the weather is very temperamental. Although, our Spring weather is changeable the color palette for 2013 wedding season is set! Take a peek and see what you love.




Star Bows

Pantone has published their 2013 fashion colors and what a lovely line up it is. Along with the purple, blues, greens, yellows, pinks, reds and oranges the colors black, pewter gray and silver are coming in as strong accent choices.  As always, classic white is the base color of popular choice.

 

 

 

With Pantone's guide in mind we recommend Ribbons and Favors tissue papers in oxford blue, turquoise, sapphire blue, soft lavender, scarlet red, red, dandelion yellow, light yellow, leaf green, pistachio, Caribbean blue, teal green, tangerine, blush pink, gray, black, metallic silver and white.



 

 

We recommend Ribbons and Favors matte and pearl raffia in daffodil yellow, celadon green, pink, lavender, emerald green, red, burgundy, black, charcoal gray and white.

Pearl Raffia in Celadon Green, Daffodil Yellow, Pink and Lavender

 

 

For information on Ribbons and Favors color matching services visit our page at Free Custom Color Matching ribbonsandfavors.com