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I bought craft
paper and stenciled things on it, but still, I felt the paper was going to
waste. Then one year after Christmas I saw holiday fabric on sale and had an
idea! I bought yard after yard of it on clearance and brought it home to make
gift bags.
I cut the fabric in various sizes.
Sometimes I only got 2-3 bags out of a yard, but I knew that they would be able
to hold the bigger items, and better yet - I would be able to reuse them next
year. I basically cut and sewed them like a pillowcase. I sewed a seam up three
sides and left the top open. Then I turned that edge in slightly and stitched it
on the machine to finish it off. Then I folded it in about 3 inches (or more on
bigger bags) and hemmed it. I then put another row of stitching about a half
inch above that one to create a casing for the ribbon. I slipped a piece of
ribbon through the casing and tied it shut. If you have nosey kids, you may want
to tie a knot!
Once the gifts are stuffed in the
fabric bags and poofed up with tissue paper, stand them up around the tree and
enjoy your creative artwork! They look like miniature Santa bags. The best
thing, besides the fact that in the long run you are saving money by not buying
wrapping paper, is that you don't spend hours wrapping the gifts and don't need
scotch tape or bows. One satin ribbon will last the lifetime of the bag. I still
use gift tags and punch a hole in them so they can be run through the ribbon.
You might save old Christmas cards and cut them up for gift tags.
At first my kids hated it - I guess
they liked the sound of the ripping paper and the big mess it created. As years
went by, I was determined to make this work, and feel I have now succeeded. I
continue to buy fabric occasionally because my family has grown and now includes
in-laws and grandchildren. I make the bags big enough that I can insert a shirt
box, or whatever size I may be using. Sometimes I just wrap the item with a lot
of tissue paper and then stuff it in the fabric bag. Tissue paper allows people
to hear the crunching of paper and seems to satisfy the need for noise! Tissue
paper is also reusable for the same purpose next year. Just fold it up and put
it away with the bags. All of the bags can be folded and stuffed inside the
largest bag. You can save space, time, and money.
If you have wrapping paper left over
from last year (some people unwrap gifts and save the paper) try running it
through a shredder to use as stuffing for your bags. The fuller the bags, the
cuter they look under the tree.
Use whatever fabric catches your eye
or whatever is on sale. I like the red and green holiday fabric, but I've since
incorporated some blue and gold into the group. Even plain muslin or pillow
ticking can look good if you spice it up with fancy ribbon. Be creative.
Copyright 2002 Joyce Moseley Pierce
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