Fabric Gift Bags

During this Advent season we have been striving to keep the focus on Christ - not the secular type & hype of gift giving. By taking the time to make these bags, use them, pack them and re-use them I hope we have created our own little family tradition of giving something handmade. 

Why handmade? Well, it forces us (me) to take the time to remember why we give gifts at Christmas. 

Don't we do it to celebrate Christ's coming?  In giving to one another we give to Him. 

It takes me back to the story of the little drummer boy who gave his talent to the Christ child. (Yes, Jo, I know it is your least favorite Christmas song!) 

Or, another comparison might be to the "clown" in Tomie dePaula's  Clown of God story.  I want to be more like that child and that "juggling clown" in my giving and I want to teach my family that, too


Here are the details:
You can get 2 to 4 small to medium size bags from a yard of Fabric.

Ribbon closes the bags.

 We keep ~ 40 bags that we use year after year @ Christmas.

This allows for plenty of different sizes to be used as needed.

Pack them flat and they look great year after year -- OR pull out the trusty iron.   A great practical bonus of using fabric gift bags for Christmas is that all the gifts can be wrapped in about 40 minutes!

We make a few new bags each year because, as I mentioned, we use them for gifts we give away. We also use these for other gift giving celebrations. Sometimes friends are more excited about the fabric gift bag than anything else!


Here are the instructions:

• Cut 2 equal size pieces of fabric and place right sides together. (Or,  fold a longer piece of fabric in half - right sides together)

• Cut a piece of ribbon long enough close the bag. (Approximately 24 inches for most bags.)

• Fold the piece of ribbon in half and pin to the inside of the fabric about 3 inches from & parallel to the top. 
• At this point your ribbon will be on the inside of the bag laying parallel to the top of your bag.

• Sew all sides together except the top. Sew over the folded end of the ribbon. Be careful not to sew the opposite end of the ribbon into the other side seam.

• Turn right side out.

• Use pinking shears to cut the top so there is no need to hem.  Note: Flannel does not fray.
  

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cross posted @ The Best Nest
source and inspiration: almost positive it was Just Call Me Jamin (graphics of gift bags from her site)

We Whisk You A Merry Kissmas

This craft is a sweet surprise for the chocolate lover in your life! A homemade Christmas gift, it's easy enough for children to make and give.

Makes a great teacher gift (hint, hint, hint), stocking stuffer or workplace Secret Santa present.

To make your "Kissmas Whisk"

~~> place a handful of foil-wrapped chocolate kiss candies between the tines of a new kitchen whisk. Or go all out and add some wonderful 100% Venezuelan dark cacao (HEB). Of course, you have to have kisses in there to carry our play on words but any excuse to nibble that dark cacao is scrumptious.

And make sure you embrace that teachable moment for your little ones. Really work with that wonderful word . . . . tines.

~~> Wrap whisk bottom with plastic food storage wrap and tape wrap to handle.

~~> Add a pretty bow or ribbon, and attach a copy of the Kissmas Whisk gift tag for a charming stocking stuffer or 12 Days of Christmas gift.

This could also be an old fashioned (the whisk) romantic (the kisses) gift from Dad to Mom. Dad, make SURE you know her chocolate preferences because Kisses offer choices these days!

I think this gift should be given to family members with a full melodious rendition of,

"We whisk you a Merry Christmas,
We whisk you a Merry Christmas,
We whisk you a Merry Christmas,
Come right over here!"

Then Grandmom or cousin Mark or Sissy gets a big family kiss and hug!

FYI: full, total, complete and all credit for this grand idea goes to Cynthia Townley Ewer. The original post can be found at Organized Christmas. They even offer a printable gift tag in .PDF format.

PurpleGal graphic source: http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/people/women/2.shtml