Thankful Tablescape kit gift bag tutorial

One of the November Creative Crew challenges was to create a project using the Pretty Packages line in the 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog or any of the kits or packages in the Holiday Catalog. I chose to use the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created kit in the Holiday Catalog, which includes materials to decorate a table for ten guests. Now, I love this kit, but my family is very informal at Thanksgiving. We rarely use place cards, nevermind table tents, napkin holders and centerpieces. I knew I had to come up with other ideas for this kit, so I created a gift bag and coordinating Thanksgiving card. I'm going to share a tutorial for the gift bag today, and the card tutorial is in the following post.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Thankful Tablescape Simply Created kit, Antique Brads, Scallop Edge Border punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, Simply Scored Tool, paper piercer, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

I made this gift bag with the following kit components: one napkin holder, one belly band, two die-cut leaves, 16" of Chocolate Chip paper ribbon and half of one piece of linen thread. I added two Antique Brads, Chocolate Chip ink, adhesive and a few tools. Here is a step-by-step tutorial with photos (click on any of the photos to view a larger image):

Step 1: On the open napkin holder:
- Score 1/4" in from the outside edge of each of the side flaps.
- Cut 1/4" off the end of the long flap.
- Score the long flap 3" from the pre-made score line.

Step 2: Fold and crease the paper on the three score lines you made in Step 1 as well as on the three pre-made score lines. Note: Each side flap has two score lines; be sure to crease the ones that are straight up and down, not the angled score lines.

Step 3: Apply Sticky Strip on the patterned side of the 1/4" section on each side flap. Fold up the long flap and adhere it to the side flaps, lining up the folded edges on the side flaps with the outside edges of the long flap. You now have the basic bag shape.

Step 4: Cut a 16" piece of Chocolate Chip paper ribbon. Score the paper along the middle lengthwise. (The paper is 2" wide, so score at 1".) If you are using the Simply Scored tool, you will need to score the first 12" and then turn the paper around to score the last 4". Then score along the short side at 5", 8" and 13". Cut along the three short score lines up to the middle score line. You will end up with four sections on one side of the paper strip.

Step 5: Angle the sides of each of the sections created in Step 4 by trimming a narrow triangle from each edge. Do not cut past the middle score line.

Step 6: Apply Sticky Strip to the back of the Chocolate Chip paper ribbon along the side that isn't cut. Adhere the paper around the bottom of the bag, lining up the score lines in the paper ribbon with the corners of the bag. Note: I like to apply Sticky Strip in several small pieces so I can remove the backing as I go and reduce the chance that I will accidentally adhere something in the wrong place.

Step 7: Apply Sticky Strip to the four trimmed sections of paper ribbon. Adhere them to the bottom of the bag by folding down the two long sides and then the two short sides. If desired, you could cut another piece of paper ribbon to cover the rest of the bottom.

Step 8: Cut the Tangerine Tango belly band into a 1" wide strip and a 3/4" wide strip.

Step 9: Punch the 3/4" wide strip with the Scallop Edge Border punch. (When you are done punching you will have a very narrow strip left over. If desired you can save this strip for the coordinating card.) Cut the scalloped piece into two 5" pieces (about 13 scallops).

Step 10: Apply Sticky Strip on the patterned side of the scalloped pieces. Adhere them inside the bag along two long sides.

Step 11: Insert one end of the 1" wide Tangerine Tango strip into the bottom of the 1-1/4" circle punch. Close the punch, rounding the end of the strip. Repeat with the other end of the strip.

Step 12: With a paper piercer, make a hole in each end of the Tangerine Tango strip and in each short side of the bag. Attach the strip to the bag with two Antique Brads.

Step 13: Sponge the edges of the die-cut leaves with Chocolate Chip ink. (I used an ink spot, but you could also use a full-size ink pad and a sponge.) Curl leaves up slightly.

Step 14: Layer the leaves together with Dimensionals. Cut in half one of the pieces of linen thread included with the kit. Save one half for the coordinating card, and cut the other piece in half again. Holding the two short pieces together, tie a bow around the leaf stems.

Step 15: Adhere the leaves to the front of the bag with Dimensionals.

Your gift bag is done! I'm going to fill my gift bag with hot apple cider herbal tea (from The Republic of Tea), maple candy and foil-wrapped chocolate leaves for a fun fall-themed Thanksgiving present.






Check out the tutorial for the coordinating card in the next post. You can find more fun projects using Stampin' Up! kits in the November Creative Crew gallery on SCS. Thanks for stopping by!