Sweet Floral Holiday Bags

Howdy! I wanted to share with you a project I did.  I made a paper tote and gift bag.  But, I used non-holiday pattern paper, to make holiday themed bags.  Because like a lot of us can't always afford to purchase another collection of pattern paper.  And lets face it, I really need to start using the paper I have, and not keep adding to my collection {smile}.  I am entering the current challenge over @ A Snowflakes Promise Challenge - Anything Goes.

and here are my projects

the paper tote:

and here is my gift bag:

~ disclaimer:  I was crafting late into the evening, and lighting was scarce. ~

Recipe:  I used Cocoa Bean card stock, and snowflake die, are by Paper Trey Ink.  The pattern papers I have used are digital papers.  The sentiment is a stamp.  The vellum card stock, Early Espresso embossing powder, seam binding, ribbon, and champagne glitter paper are by Stampin' Up!.  The tulle trim is Mellissa Frances.    The two peach blossoms (on the tote) are from Recollections.  The beige blossom (on the bag) is from Prima.  The tiny pink ornament bulb is from a big box store.

The Tote:  I used a die from Paper Trey Ink to die cut the tote.  I layered the pattern paper onto solid card stock, and added some machine stitching.  I adhered the floral circle paper to the front of the tote with foam tape.  I tucked the snowflakes between these two layers.  I hot glued the blossoms to the corners.  To create the sentiment piece, I heat embossed the sentiment onto vellum and adhered it off center of the blossom circle.  And lastly, wrapped the ribbon around the tote, to help give it a finished look.

The Gift Bag:  I only had scraps of this pattern paper, so I wanted to use them up, before I started printing again.  The large floral pattern was a 6" x 6" piece.  So, I cut my piece 4 1/2" x 6", to use more of what I had.  I added two different polka dot papers, both of which were scraps.  I added some machine stitching to give it a homespun look.  I added the tulle trim and seam binding to help hide the seam where the two papers meet.  I tied the seam binding into a multiple loop bow, attached a bulb, and tucked in a paper blossom.  I created the sentiment piece, just like I did for the tote (heat embossing).  To hide the seam, at the top, where the two pattern papers joined, I added a scallop trimmed pattern paper.  I adhered the card stock panel to a paper bag.

These two types of bags were for sale at yesterdays craft fair.  I hope these two samples have given you some inspiration to use the non-holiday themed pattern paper for your next holiday paper craft.  {smile}