Brown Baggin It


There are several fun crafts that you can createwith brown bags and your computer/printer. A couple of my favorite things to make are small gift bags and puffed ornaments.

To make gift bags, you will need to cut a large brown bag to 8.5 x 11, the standard page size, so it can feed through your printer. You will also need some raffia or other decorative ribbon for the handles, and a template with a favorite graphic or saying. You can find templates for your bags in several publishing/crafting programs or on the Web. All you need next is creative planning and printing. Design your bag and print it out. The fun part is embellishing. You can leave your bag simple or embellish it with glitter glue, puff paint, or ribbons-- the possibilities are endless. Next assemble your bag and attach the handles by punching two holes on either side of your bag. You can also design a matching gift card to add a special touch. The bags make great party favors for gift giving or decorative purposes.

To make puffed ornaments, you will need a piece of brown bag cut to standard paper size. You can make several ornaments to a page depending on the size of the graphic you are using. I usually keep the shape fairly simple, since I will have to cut it out, and leave approximately a 1/2 inch margin around the edge. This is so you can punch small holes around the entire shape. You "stitch" it together by threading raffia, ribbon or lace through the shape to hold it together. Remember to leave a small opening so you can stuff it to give the "Puffed" look. There are several items you can use to stuff your ornament with: batting, cotton balls, tissue and even dryer lint!

Both projects are great ways to recycle items in your home and look professional when printed. These are basic instructions that you can build on. Let your imagination run wild!

Happy Computer Crafting!

Anna

A great site to get templates from is the Rubber Stamping Resource PageBy Donovan. You will find several templates including the small gift bag used in the first computer craft. Enjoy.

The copyright of the article Brown Baggin It in Graphic Software is owned by Anna Morvee. Permission to republish Brown Baggin It in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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