Papertrey Ink September 2012 Blog Hop Challenge - Wine Gift Bags

When I first saw the PTI Blog Hop Challenge this month, I knew immediately that I was going to pull out the sewing machine and finally make a few fabric wine gift bags. The details of the challenge are on Nichole Heady's blog and this is the inspiration photo.

When the glitter settled from an epic couple of months making musical theater costumes for dear daughter's school I was left with a piece of heavy white canvas (denim?) that I thought might be useful in my crafty endeavours one day. 

I had enough canvas to make 8 bags, so have a few more to do, but I LOVE the way these turned out! 

If you have sewn a straight line before, you can whip these up pretty fast.

I used 12x18" rectangles, sewed the patterned fabric to the canvas first (right sides together leaving a gap on the bottom), flipped them right sides out and ironed the rectangle.  A channel was sewn for the pull cord (or ribbon) about 3" from the top edge - I picked out the stitches for the opening after this channel was finished. On one of the bags I added a line of gathered tulle - still debating whether I like this or not.

Because 2 of my fabrics had text on them, I was careful to make sure the text would read the right way when the top of the bag was turned down.

With the patterned side out, I folded the rectangle in half and sewed the bottom edge and side up to the cord channel, creating my bag. A different ribbon or cord is used for each bag and bells are tied on the ends of a couple - star or snowflake charms would be great too.

I used my ancient Making Memories foam stamps to print the sentiments. This was probably the toughest part - I had no back-up plan for any stray paint.

My plan was to make matching gifts tags using the new PTI Happiest of Holidays stamp set, but the PTI package is still somewhere between here and there, so I shifted gears quickly to plan B.

I will definitely be making a few more of the HAPPY bag, because it is the most versatile sentiment. What was going to be a Happy Holidays gift bag is now Happy Birthday! 

One of the PTI Half & Half dies is used to create a base for the sentiment from the PTI Movers & Shakers stamp set. The tag is made by running a piece of cardstock through the Xyron and laying the fabric on top of it. The excess fabric trimmed away and the corners rounded to mimic the Half & Half die.

A few rhinestones colored with a Copics and a piece of chiffon ribbon finish off the gift tag.

When my new stamps arrive, I will be making tags with them and scraps from these text fabrics.

I still can't decide whether or not I like the line of tulle on this bag.

I am off to check out what everyone else has linked to the Blog Hop.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie