Gift Bag Tutorial

* Make Your Own * Burlap Gift Bag *

{Quick and Easy DIY}

I was putting together a little gift to give Little Man’s preschool teachers and thought I’d try to create a gift bag.   I wanted something that would be quick and easy and that would also use materials I already had.  Burlap!  I decided to use some burlap I had.  Since burlap is a coarsely woven fabric, I wasn’t worried about making it look perfect or sewing it perfectly. I wanted the ‘raw’ edges of the bag to show, I figured the ‘fraying’ edges would give the bags a more interesting look.   

These bags can be used for any occasion!

Supplies needed:

Burlap

Thread {recommend one the color of the burlap}

Scissors

Sewing machine

Ribbon for handles

{CUTTING}

Decide how big you want the bag to be {mine was about 8” x 6”}

Cut two rectangles from the burlap for the each side of the bag.  

Cut one smaller piece for the base of the bag, making sure it is the same size as the bottom side of the bag {mine was roughly 6” x 2”}. 

Cut two pieces for the sides of the bag, an inch longer than the height of the bag and as wide as you’d like the inside of the bag to be {mine were roughly 9” x 3”}.

Cut two strips of ribbon for handles.  {Mine were about 10” long}  Cut the ribbon longer if you want higher handles, and shorter if you’d like shorter handles.

{SEWING}

Now it is time to sew!

First, I took the large {front and back} pieces and sewed them to the bottom piece.  Since burlap doesn’t have a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ side to the fabric, it doesn’t matter how you sew it.  Just grab and sew!  Make sure your seams both sewn the same way {raw edges facing out}.

Next, pin the side pieces on, making sure the edge are facing out.  Sew.  While sewing, as you approach the corners of the bag, slow down and make sure you are getting all the layers of the burlap when you sew.  Corners can be tricky.  But, the good thing with the burlap is you don’t have to sew it perfectly because the lines wont’ be as noticeable if they aren’t perfect.

Next, take the ribbon {or whatever you choose to use} for the handles and pin in place.  I pinned my handles roughly one inch from the edges of the bag.

Sew in place.

Cut all the loose threads. {I used white thread, but I recommend using a thread the color of the burlap!}

You are almost done! 

Last step, pull strands of burlap to create the desired look…

And, done!   Fill the bag with whatever goodies you’d like!  
I had Little Man write his teacher's names on paper to make gift tags too.

Easy and unique gift bag!  What will you put in yours?? 

‘BOO’ Bunting Banner Tutorial - Quick and Easy

Burlap ‘BOO’ Bunting Banner  

{Tutorial}

I wanted to create a bunting banner to hang over a mirror in my entryway.  I also didn't want to spend too much time creating it.  

So, using supplies I already had on hand, and 30 minutes, I came up with this bunting banner! 

From start to finish it took less than 30 minutes.  You could probably even finish it in 15 minutes! 

Fast. Easy. Fun.  
And, a good way to use up scraps you have on hand!

What more could you want?!

Let’s begin!

Supplies Needed:

·      Sewing machine

·      Burlap {or any plain fabric}

·      Stencil for lettering

·      Acrylic paint {or anything you have on hand}

·      Ribbon or Rick Rack or Pom Pom String

·      Foam brush

·      Bowl to put paint in

·      Thread

1) Cut burlap into triangles {I cut six (6) triangles}

I created a pattern from a piece of paper by folding the paper in half, marking on the fold the desired height {mine was roughly 5 inches} and cutting from the bottom to the point I’d marked. Unfold the paper and you have your pattern!

2) Squeeze the paint {or pour, depending on your paint} into the bowl.

3) Take your stencil and place on top of one triangle burlap piece. 

** Make sure to put something under the burlap before painting.  Otherwise the paint will seep through onto the surface underneath.  I learned the hard way.   I painted my table top in the process {thank goodness the acrylic paint I used washes right off!}

4) Dip your paintbrush into the paint and paint the letter onto the burlap.

5) Let the paint dry then you are ready to sew the bunting banner together.

6) Using your ribbon/ rick rack/ whatever you choose to use, {I was going to use a fat rick rack ribbon, I chose a piece of left over pom-pom string I had} pin the painted burlap triangles onto the ribbon.

7) Sew the triangle on.  I double stitched to make sure the burlap would stay on.

8) And, Done!!  How easy was that?!  

Now you can hang your burlap bunting banner wherever you choose!

What do you think?

I think I might make a few more! 

Thanksgiving Fall Wreath Tutorial

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Supplies Needed:

~ Styrofoam Wreath {can be found at any craft store}

~ DMC floss, various colors

~ Burlap or any fabric, cut into strips roughly 2” wide

~ Felt, various fall colors

~ Fabric flowers {mine are made of felt and silk}

~ Needle

~ Pins

Cut burlap into strips, roughly 2” wide.  My strips were about two feet long, so I needed roughly four strips of burlap.  

Then take the strips of burlap and wrap them around the wreath, overlapping as I went along.  I used pins to make sure the ends of each piece stayed in place. 

Next step, and the most time consuming part, making the leaves.  Cut leaves from the various colors of felt.  Depending on how many leaves you want on your wreath will determine how many you’ll need to cut.  I used about 20 on my wreath.

Take your first color of DMC embroidery floss and cut a piece {I cut about 15 inches}, thread it into your needle, then tie a knot at the non-threaded end.  Starting from the backside and bottom of one leaf, push the needle and thread through.  Put the needle back through the felt leaf roughly ½ centimeter up the side of the leaf.  Continue this process all the way around the leaf.  Tie a knot at the end, cut the remaining thread, and start the process all over again on the next leaf.  

Making the fabric flowers {you can skip this and leave the flowers off the wreath to save more time}.  HERE is a fabulous tutorial on how to make fabric flowers by Tatortots and Jello.

Once you have ‘decorated’ all your leaves and created your flowers, you’re ready to finish the wreath!

This is the fun part {but also the part that took me the longest- cause I couldn’t make up my mind!}  Take the felt leaves you made and lay them around the wreath however you like.  Place the fabric flowers on top of the leaves.   I put the majority of mine on one half, and three on the opposite side.    Once you have the leaves and flowers where you’d like, you can use pins {or glue, or whatever you’d like} and stick the leaves and flowers in place.  

 

And… done!  You have a fun and festive wreath for fall and the Thanksgiving season!

What do you think of this wreath?  I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Thanksgiving Fall Wreath

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Now that Halloween is over, and the pumpkins are {mostly} put away, I wanted to make something festive for the Thanksgiving season.

Since I often choose to spend time creating something fun and new, instead of doing things I probably should be doing {housework can wait, right?!}.  I decided the empty space on the wall needed a fall wreath.   

Fortunately, I was able to use supplies I already had on hand.  I’ve had the styrofoam wreath for a while, waiting to be used for a project.   I used burlap, felt scraps and DMC floss I had left over from various previous projects.  

Some left over supplies, a little time and viola!  New wreath!  The little man even told me he ‘loves it!’- huge compliment for sure!!

I think it might be missing something…or have too many leaves.  What do you think?  Do you think it needs anything else?  What would you add/ take away?

Easy tutorial coming soon!