Advent tree- Tutorial

I'll never forget the look of sheer disappointment on my eldest son's face last year when I told him that "No, I wasn't joking, I hadn't bought him an Advent calendar." I had purposefully not done so for fear of patronising a fast maturing young man - How wrong could I have been?!

You forget that Christmas and the family things you do are so important to your children, almost ritualistic. Needless to say I hotfooted it to the nearest Tescos and came home proudly displaying my purchases, but the moment had gone.

It's going to be different this year! I made an Advent tree!

I scouted around my garden for a suitable candidate to donate it's branches and was amazed to find buds on, I think, (after researching), a Quince bush. The horticulturally minded amongst you may be able to offer advice on this one. But anyway I'm hoping they start to open up in the lead up to Christmas.

Remember the technique from yesterday? Well I used it to make these cute little bags to put on my tree. Lots of sewing around edges......

Can you see the other pieces of paper waiting patiently in the background?

......choosing colour schemes

and attaching handles.

Handles have been attached with a brad on each side

Careful to attach the handle to one side only to make room for your treats

I used my Big Shot and a Stampin' up Sizzlit die to punch out the numbers

 and glued them into place.

I filled the bags with little treats.......

and hung them on the tree.

After reading in a Christmas makey something or other, I rather like the idea of adding a little note to each day, personal to the boys reflecting on the year just passed, just something to make them smile, think or raise an eyebrow :)

Just in case you were wondering the gorgeous papers came from Stampin' Up, my favourite, in fact my only supplier of all things paper crafty. You can purchase them here.
I must apologise for the poor light in the photos today. I've waited for better, but sadly I don't think it's going to happen.

Before I pop off, I'd like to say a very warm welcome to a few new followers. It's lovely to have you along and I look forward to visiting your blogs soon :)

I wasn't feeling the remotest bit Christmassy but this make is definitely getting me in the mood. Why not have a go, I'd love to see your results.

Handmade Monday - Brown Paper Packages tied up with....

.......ribbon actually.

Last week I was packaging up a bundle of my goodies for a lovely customer when 'eeekkk!' I realised I had run out of my usual packing materials. I think my brain went into overdrive and I scanned around my work area for suitable alternatives, none to be seen, until I spotted my roll of brown wrapping paper.

PING! Light bulb moment. I wonder what would happen if I tried to sew with paper......?

I hastily cut out two rectangles of brown paper, threaded my machine up with black thread and machined two rows around three sides of the rectangle, using uneven stitching, to form a very simple bag.

I trimmed the edges with pinking scissors as a finishing touch. The happy reception this simple little bag got set my mind thinking and so today's Handmade Monday is a 'gift bag' using this technique.

So...... machine two rows around three sides of two rectangular pieces of brown paper, cut to your required size and then trim with pinking scissors...

Don't forget to leave the opening!

Punch two holes in the top.

Thread through a  ribbon.

Tie and  add a colourful gift tag.

You could of course stamp an image onto the bag......

Apologies for poor photos today

.......and experiment with sizes.

Place card envelopes for the Christmas table?

It's a cheap and cheerful way of wrapping and doesn't involve sellotape, which I loathe using.

Of course you don't have to stop with brown paper. If you come back tomorrow I'll show you what else I've been up to using this technique.

But, while your waiting why not visit Wendy and the Handmade Monday team to see what they can tempt you with. This week she's asking how your Christmas preparations are going. My kindle covers have been selling like hotcakes, so I need to replenish stocks but as regards my personal preparations ooooh, best avoid answering that one I think.

A warm welcome to a few new followers I've enjoyed visiting your lovely blogs.
Have a lovely day all x

Handmade Monday - Wine Bottle Gift Bag Tutorial

Good morning everyone. Bottles are one of the hardest things to wrap aren't they? This year I've made a few of these which instantly transform a lack lustre wrapped bottle into a thing of beauty. I hope you'll  agree. This is what you're aiming for.

These bags have been made with a definite festive feeling, however you could adapt to suit any occasion depending on the fabrics and embellishments you choose.
The gift bag is unlined and held together around the top by a drawstring fastening. This tutorial explains how to make the hessian bag from the photo. Hessian is a little like Marmite, you either love it or hate it, I love it (but incidentally I hate Marmite). I love it's smell, it's texture and it's versatility and it's price!

So let's get started:

You will need:

Fabric main part of bag  40cm x 22cm  (x2)
Fabric strip 44cm x 4cm   (Casing)
Fabric strip 88cm x 3cm (Drawstring)

Take the two main pieces of fabric and finish the edges to neaten them up. I actually didn't do that on this one because I wanted the rough and readiness of fraying hessian, but I did do a picture to show you what I mean.


See the zig-zag, just helps to stop the fraying



Then with right sides together, pin .....

and sew the 2 main pieces together

down each side and across the bottom taking a 1cm seam.......

 and reinforcing the stitching at the corners.

Reinforced stitching at the corners

Turn the bag inside out and press open the seams.

Now you are going to start making the bag look a little more boxy. At one of the corners of the bag, fold it so that the seams are aligned.





Align the seams by pinching the corners




Mark the point at which the width measures 10cm with a pin at each side.





Can you see how the width is 10cm? Mark with a pin





Then stitch from one side to the other.

This is what you should end up with.

Trim off the excess......

...... and turn your bag right side out pushing your finger into the corners to create that boxy shape that you're after. Depending on the type of fabric you're using it may even stand up on it's own now.

Now turn your bag inside out. Turn over approx 1cm around the top of the bag and then a further 2cm. Press in place.

Pin and stitch.

Now you are going to make the casing for the drawstring. Taking the fabric casing strip, fold both long side raw edges into the centre and press. At each end fold in about 5mm and press, to hide the raw edges.

I think I need a new ironing board cover!!

Mark the centre of the front of the bag along the top edge, with a pin. Start to pin the casing around the outside of the bag approx 6cm down from the top finished edge using the centre pin on the top edge as your starting and finishing guide.

Ensure that you start and finish in the centre of the front of the bag as this is where we need the opening to be for the drawstring.

Stitch into place. Don't forget to leave the openings for the drawstring unstitched!

Next make your drawstring. Take your strip. Fold the two long edges into the centre as before with the casing and press  .....

.....but this time, fold in half again and press. Finish off the ends as with the casing. 

Stitch around all edges.

Attach a safety pin to one end of your drawstring .....

.....and slip inside one of the openings of your casing.

Push it inside and work it all the way around the casing until it comes out of the opening on the other side.

Place your wine bottle inside your bag and pull the drawstring around the neck of the bottle. Tie a bow.






Ta Dah!!




...and with added gift tag



You're a genius! You've earned your self a glass of wine, shame you've just wrapped it up!

You'll notice that I have added a gift tag to make things pop a little more.

I have chosen a very plain fabric for both bags but your fabric choice can be as plain or as funky as you choose. Likewise, why not use ribbon for your drawstring if you prefer.

Now Wendy and all the crafters at Handmade Monday have been busy with their makes so that's where I'm off to now with my contribution. Make sure you pay a visit too or even better why not join in?