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Fabric Gift Bags
by: Joyce Moseley Pierce
As my children were growing up, it always bothered me to buy wrapping
paper only to see it ripped open and thrown in the fireplace or trash after
Christmas gifts were opened. I tried using comics but soon discovered I didn't
like the black newsprint it left on my hands and everyone else's. For me, gift
wrap was right up there with fireworks - we spent good money only to see it go up in smoke. I began to look for a solution.
I bought craft paper and stenciled things on it, but still, I felt the paper was
going to waste. Then one year after Christmas I saw holiday fabric on sale and
had an idea! I bought yard after yard of it on clearance and brought it home to
make gift bags.
I cut the fabric in various sizes. Sometimes I only got 2-3 bags out of a yard,
but I knew that they would be able to hold the bigger items, and better yet - I
would be able to reuse them next year. I basically cut and sewed them like a
pillowcase. I sewed a seam up three sides and left the top open. Then I
turned that edge in slightly and stitched it on the machine to finish it off.
Then I folded it in about 3 inches (or more on bigger bags) and hemmed it. I
then put another row of stitching about a half inch above that one to create a
casing for the ribbon. I slipped a piece of ribbon through the casing and tied
it shut. If you have nosey kids, you may want to tie a knot!
Once the gifts are stuffed in the fabric bags and poofed up with tissue paper,
stand them up around the tree and enjoy your creative artwork! They look
like miniature Santa bags. The best thing, besides the fact that in the long run
you are saving money by not buying wrapping paper, is that you don't spend hours
wrapping the gifts and don't need scotch tape or bows. One satin ribbon will
last the lifetime of the bag. I still use gift tags and punch a hole in them so
they can be run through the ribbon. You might save old Christmas cards and cut
them up for gift tags.
At first my kids hated it - I guess they liked the sound of the ripping paper
and the big mess it created. As years went by, I was determined to make this
work, and feel I have now succeeded. I continue to buy fabric occasionally
because my family has grown and now includes in-laws and grandchildren. I make
the bags big enough that I can insert a shirt box, or whatever size I may be
using. Sometimes I just wrap the item with a lot of tissue paper and then stuff
it in the fabric bag. Tissue paper allows people to hear the crunching of paper and seems to satisfy
the need for noise! Tissue paper is also reusable for the same purpose next
year. Just fold it up and put it away with the bags. All of the bags can
be folded and stuffed inside the largest bag. You can save space, time, and
money.
If you have wrapping paper left over from last year (some people unwrap gifts
and save the paper) try running it through a shredder to use as stuffing for
your bags. The fuller the bags, the cuter they look under the tree.
Use whatever fabric catches your eye or whatever is on sale. I like the red and
green holiday fabric, but I've since incorporated some blue and gold into
the group. Even plain muslin or pillow ticking can look good if you spice it up
with fancy ribbon. Be creative.
Copyright 2002 Joyce Moseley Pierce
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of
Emerson Publications. Visit
www.emersonpublications.com for
lots of good family-friendly information, or to request information about
earning a paycheck from home.
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