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

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