Convention Make & Take - Tag a Bag

The new little Tag a Bag gift bags and Accessory kit are going to be great materials to have on hand this holiday season.  They're fast and fun and perfectly sized for giving a little "something something" to family and friends.  The bags are flat, but at convention they showed us how to turn a cute little flat bag into a cuter little gusseted bag within about 60 seconds.  Check it out:

Here's the bag that started out a flat 5" x 8-1/4", and became a 3" x 2" x 7" gusseted bag.  The stamp is from this year's Ronald McDonald House stamp set "Tag It" (wood mounted item #130300 $22.95/cling mount item #130303 $16.95)  $3 from the sale of each stamp set goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  

It's recommended to use the Simply Scored tool to make the score lines, but the Stampin' Trimmer also has a scoring blade, the Simply Scored just makes a softer, deeper score.

After scoring, trim just a hair off the bottom to open the bottom of the bag.

Pre-fold along the score lines ....

Fold in the short sides first, then close up with the long sides.  I used SNAIL adhesive to secure mine, the Tag a Bag accessory kit also comes with Smoky Slate tape to secure the bags decoratively.  You can add a cut piece of chipboard from the kit to the inside bottom to stabilize the bag, just a little smaller than 2" x 3".

Supplies:

Tag a Bag Gift Bags: (item #131370 $3.95 for 10)

Tag a Bag Accessory Kit (item #130153 $7.95 for 10 large tags, 10 medium tags, 10 mini clothespins, 3 colors of baker's twine -20' ea-, 40 Stampin' Dimensionals, 5" of Smoky Slate self-adhesive strips)

Related items - Tag a Bag Gift Boxes: (item #130927 $6.95 for 8 Kraft food safe boxes with acetate sleeves, 6-7/8" x 2-1/8" x 2-1/2")

Adorable Treat Bags

Here's an uber-adorable gift bag to make for sweet party favors ...

Supplies:

1 sheet 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper 

Stampin' Trimmer (126889 $29.95)

Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334 $29.95)

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate (125586 $11.95)

Adhesive (SNAIL shown here - 104332 $6.95)

Paper Snips (103579 $9.95)

Ribbon and decor...

Step 1.  Cut paper to be 8-1/2" by 12".

2.  Place long-ways on the Simply Scored Board (aka S2B) and score 1" from the "top" and 1-7/8" from "bottom"

3.  Turn 90 degrees and score at 2-7/8", 5-3/4", 8-5/8", 11-1/2" - this will form the sides of the bag (2-7/8" square)

4a. Score the gusset (optional):  slide the paper 1/2 segment to the right and score at 1-1/2 and 7-1/4.  This will divide the first and third sides of the bag in half for folding when not in use. (score lines are at 1-7/16 and 7-3/16)

4b.  Score the bottom angles of the gusset:  Place the S2B Diagonal plate on the S2B and score from the 

1-7/8" score line (the bottom of the bag) to the center line of the gusset.  Do this for both side gussets.    

4c. Turn the paper 90 degrees, and score the other angle of the gusset from side center line to bottom line.

5.  Using scissors, trim along vertical score lines from bottom edge to 1-7/8" line.  This forms the bottom flaps of the bag.

6.  Mountain-valley fold the bag sides and gussets as appropriate, use adhesive along 1/2" side tab to secure bag together.

7.  Fold bottom tabs of bag under and secure with adhesive.  To make the bottom of the bag sturdier, you can place a 2-7/8" square of card stock in the bottom of the bag.   

8.  Fold top 1" edge down to create bag "top".  Punch holes for ribbon on non-gusset sides (optional). 

9.  Now you're ready to decorate! I used 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in Summer Starfruit (126846 $8.95) to create my bag handles.  Other embellishments are Calypso Coral card stock (flower -Blossom Punch 125603 $16.95) and Summer Starfruit card stock with "Dream" sentiment (Loving Thoughts set 125843w $29.95/125845c $23.95)

 It's a very versatile pattern, you can make them as tall or short as you like, add a decorative edge instead of reinforcing and ribbon, or keep it simple by stamping on 12 x 12 card stock and using that in place of the Designer Series Paper.

Enjoy!

    

Beautiful Bee Boxes

I love making boxes!  There are loads of cool box templates available out there on the great big internet, but I favor taking apart boxes found around the house.  This "template" is a hexagonal Haci Bekir Turkish Delight box that came from the World Market.  Yes, the Turkish Delight was delicious.


Supplies:
2 sheets 8-1/2 x 11 card stock (here I used Crumb Cake and Bashful Blue by Stampin' Up)
1 sheet 12 x 12 card stock for the bottom (Crumb Cake by Stampin' Up)
1 sheet Designer Series Paper - it's double sided and a little thicker than average paper.  Of course, it's by Stampin' Up.

The decor on the box is my little "sneak peek" into the new catalog, I just got the Mosaic Madness bundle (item 132733c/132734w), and the Label Love bundle (item 132722c/132723w) which is the stamp set plus the coordinating punch "bundled" and discounted.  One of the great things about being a Stampin' Up demonstrator is getting all the new stuff first.

The foofy flower is 7 layers of filter paper, spritzed with Marina Mist ink (put 4 drops of Marina Mist ink in a Stampin' Spritzer and fill the rest of the way with water).  Spritz until you are satisfied with the color saturation and dry with a heat tool.  Cut 3 - 4 layers at a time with the Floral Frames Collection framelets and the Big Shot, stack and pierce in the center and secure with a brad.  Scrunch the flower layers to the center individually and when you're ready, attach using a Stampin' Dimensional.

First, I take apart the box.  The cool thing about this one is it is held together by folding.  In it's original form no glue or tape is required.   The box size is about 1" deep by 6 3/4 inches corner to corner.   Contact me at creativeflarecards@gmail.com and I can send you a poster board template with instructions to recreate this box, cost is $10 (shipping included).  Whoever originated this box was a genius, and I can't find them in stores anymore...

To use colored card stock, however, it does have to be broken down into parts.  There is an "inside" flap for each top and bottom (above).  Trace these on to 8 1/2 x 11 card stock.  The top is 1/8" bigger all around.

Trace the "outside" pieces on double sided Designer Series Paper (top) and Stampin' Up 12 x 12 card stock.  A light tack masking tape is a big help here.  Thicker paper is better, and I highly recommend Stampin' Up's card stock because it is heavier (80# weight) than most craft store card stocks.  This DSP was a Sale-a-Bration score from a couple years ago....

Cut out all 4 pieces and score using a straight edge and stylus.  It is helpful to have a soft surface underneath like a piercing pad or some grid paper.  Yes, the ruler is a "Tim Holtz" tool....

Place a generous amount of adhesive on the connecting tab of the inside flaps.  I used SNAIL adhesive, but Sticky Strip works well too.

Adhere to the inside of the paper or card stock exterior.  The edge of the inner tab should be flush with the score line on the middle of the exterior tab.

Fold along score lines.  

The fold follows an in-in-out pattern, curling over on itself.

Fold all the sides in, making sure to fold each successive side over the previous side tab.

 

Fold the inner flap over - this will hold all the other folds in place.

Repeat same steps for bottom card stock pieces.

Now it is ready to decorate!  You can have a lot of fun with these, they obviously are great candy boxes, and are great for small gifts, gift cards, jewelry, etc.  They're fun boxes for end-of-year teacher gifts, too.

Enjoy!

Bee Box with Nestabilities Dahlia pattern

Bee Box with Stampin' Up Labels Collection framelets and Blossom Builder Punch.

 The name "Bee Box" comes from my 5 year old, who compares it to the hexagonal designs in honeycomb.