Christmas Flora

Christmas Flora

Hallo Everyone!

So, here comes our second

dip into the realms of Flora to

be found at Christmas time

Craftyfield is centre stage

today:

"Sometimes I need to wrap a present 

and find myself without the right paper.

I don't know about you but I wrap a lot

 of CD and video/games cases and I hate cutting

 a small shape in a large roll, so much waste... 

Also, with wrapping paper the shape gives 

the game away immediately so I like

 to use bags for those gifts.

How about some options to create your own, 

quickly and easily, with supplies you 

already have ....

My first option is to transform envelopes

 into bags. A C5 envelope works well for 

CDs and a C4 (letter size) for video cases.

First decide on the depth of your bag and

 score the envelope on 3 sides at half the 

depth you require. 

My large envelope has been scored at 

2cms to give me a depth of 4cms in the 

finished bag, which can easily accommodate 

2 video cases.

Before the next step in the construction 

of the bag, it is time to decorate 

whilst still flat... 

Here I chose to create a Gelli print with 

stencils (I used Andy Skinner's Sunburst and 

Imagination Crafts Drop Screen)

 Adding the large Woodware snowflake

 twice embossed. First with white and 

on a whim I re-stamped (thanks to the Stamping

 platform) and sprinkled a mix of clear and 

Sea Turtle powders.

I couldn't resist and added the small stamps

 from the same Woodware set in

 Brilliance Starlight silver ink, all over the bag.

For the small bag, I stamped directly on the 

envelope with Versamark and embossed with

 Cosmic Shimmer Brilliant Sparkle Embossing 

Powder in Gold .

 I added the smaller snowflakes 

with gold ink.

For good measure I added both sentiments 

from the stamp set in black ink!

With the bags decorated, onto the construction...

To finish the opening there are many options, 

from a straight cut as I did on the small bag

or more elaborate using border punches, dies, 

adding handles with ribbon or twine etc...

For my large envelope, after cutting off the 

sticky flap I folded about an inch to the inside 

to get a more sturdy base for my 

twine handles.

Form the shape of the bag by pushing open 

along the score lines with your hand inside 

the envelope.

The photo shows a side view of the bag 

with the formed triangular flaps to be

 stuck under.

The bottom of the bag should look like this

 and double sided tape is applied on the small 

triangles and stuck down to the bottom 

of the bag.

 If you don't have envelopes or don't

 fancy using them, how about designer papers?

 Bo Bunny and Kaisercraft have gorgeous

 designs and the paper is of a decent weight 

for the purpose. 

You can also use your Gelli prints...

Or you can use cardstock, from the standard 

card to Mirri and of course Glitter card

 (if you're like me and hate being covered

 in glitter, go for non shedding).

I created this simple template above for

 a bag to be cut out of a standard A4

 sheet with the least waste. 

If using 12"x12" it is easy to adapt the design 

by extending the drawing. Just remember to use

 the same measurements for the bottom flap 

and the right hand flap as this is what decides

 the depth of your bag.

 Here's my 2 A4 pages cut and scored. 

One option is to add scoring lines at the 

top and fold the top closed in a box shape

I went for the bag look and added handles

 by die-cutting them with a rectangle shape. 

I can thread a ribbon through it to keep 

the bag closed to thwart the curious...

That large snowflake stands on its own

 perfectly as a center piece and I embossed 

it using that gorgeous Frantage embossing

 powder in Shabby Rose.

To make up the bag use double sided 

tape on both tabs (the 1cm wide seen 

on the left on this photo), both side flaps and

 one of the large flap which will be at the 

bottom of the bag. 

This bag is the perfect size, and sturdy 

enough, for a (thick) paperback.

Just for you a close up of the shiny bits..."

Supplies:

Christmas Woodware stamps:
Embossing powders:
Inks:
Gelli plate:
Fresco Paints:
Stencils : 
Christmas Papers & cards:
Double sided tape: 

Great idea there with the

envelopes Craftyfield.......not

to mention what you have

put in them....

That's my present list sorted

and wrapped!  

'Till tomorrow

Mickie xx