A 100% non-profit Art Publication                                                Click on any of the Menu Buttons
located on Route 66                                                                                            on the left and cruise
in the Galaxies of Cyberspace!                                                                   to your favorite hot spots.

Rubber Road
Scenic Byway:

Altered Envelopes          Tea Gift Bag ◊ Snowflake Gift Bag ◊

Bouquet Gift Bag ◊ Pansy Gift Bag

By Lori Ronnerud-Guimond
Magic Stampin' Bus   
Newbies Stamping Design Team

Do you have any left over envelopes from purchased cards?  If so, here is a great way to use them creatively.  If you don’t have any extras, stop by any store that sells cards and when the person is restocking them, ask for their extra envelopes.  The lady at my Wal-Mart was very generous.  (Be sure to ask first, they mark them so that the checkout people don’t think you ransacked the card supply).  You can make a cute, inexpensive little gift for someone if they’re not feeling well, stressed out, whatever.  Let your imagination have its way. Embellish the gift bag with circle clips, tags, brads, eyelets, etc. and fill with appropriate items (Examples: Dogs=dog treats, toy; People=soup packet, hot chocolate; Kids=candy, toy, balloons etc.).

TEA GIFT BAG
Supplies: 

•  Cup of Tea stamp set (TAC)
•  Background Bonanza stamp set (TAC)
•  Envelope
•  Cappuccino Delight Kaleidacolor ink pad (Tsukineko)
•  Noir Black Palette Hybrid Ink (Stewart Superior) 

Instructions: 

1.    Seal the envelope and make sure it is sealed well all along the entire edge. 

2.    Stamp the coffee mug, tea bag, and coffee pot once on both sides of the envelope using the K-pad.  Stamp saying with Noir Black under the images once on each side. 

3.    Using the swirl & dot stamp, ink it up with the K-pad and stamp randomly all over both sides of the envelope.  You may want to mask the original stamped images or else just be careful not to stamp directly over them. 

4.    Here I usually just “eye ball” where I want to cut for the handle.  Then I take that piece flip it over to the other side and use it for a template so that both sides match.  Now you have a handle. 

5.    Stuff gift bag with tissue paper and a couple of tea packets.

SNOWFLAKE GIFT BAG
Supplies: 

•  Snowflakes stamp set (TAC)
•  Mug Shots stamp set (TAC)
•  Envelope
•  Pearlescent Ice Blue Brilliance inkpad (Tsukineko)
•  Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance inkpad (Tsukineko)
•  Mediterranean Blue Brilliance inkpad (Tsukineko)
•  Platinum Planet Brilliance inkpad (Tsukineko)
•  Galaxy Gold Brilliance inkpad (Tsukineko)
•  Spiral Clip (Target)
•  Metal Rimmed Tag (Target)
•  1/8” circle punch (Fiskars) 

Instructions: 

1.    Seal the envelope. Make sure it is sealed well all along the entire edge. 

2.    Stamp various snowflakes randomly on both sides of the envelope using the Brilliance inkpads.  I kept the stamp & color the same for all images.  

3.    Here I usually just “eye ball” where I want to cut for the handle.  Then I take that piece flip it over to the other side and use it for a template so that both sides match.  Now you have a handle. 

4.    Stamp a coffee mug with the Sky Blue Brilliance ink on one side of the circle tag.  Stamp a saying on the other side using the Mediterranean Blue inkpad. 

5.    Punch 2 holes in the center just below the “handle” and thread the spiral clip through them.  Attach the stamped circle tag. 

6.    I filled this gift bag with blue shredded Easter grass, a packet of Cocoa mix and a peppermint stick. 

BOUQUET GIFT BAG
Supplies: 

•  Rose Bouquet stamp set (TAC)
•  Envelope
•  Noir Black Palette Hybrid Ink (Stewart Superior)
•  Decorating Chalks (unknown)
•  Cotton Balls 

Instructions: 

1.    Seal the envelope. Make sure it is sealed well all along the entire edge. 

2.    Stamp the various images randomly on both sides of the envelope with Noir Black inkpad. 

3.    Using a cotton ball, apply chalk colors to the images.  I did use a q-tip for the vase since I didn’t want color outside the lines there. 

4.    Take a large square punch and center it over one end of the sealed envelope.  Punch to make the “handle”.  Trim off the top to be able to fill the gift bag.

PANSY GIFT BAG
Supplies:

•  Pansy stamps  (retired - TAC)
•  Tag Tidbits stamp set (TAC)
•  Envelope
•  French Lilac Palette Hybrid Ink (Stewart Superior)
•  Noir Black Palette Hybrid Ink (Stewart Superior)
•  Bone Folder (EK Success)
•  Deckle Scissors (Fiskars)
•  Purple Circle Tag (EK Success)

Instructions:

1.    Seal the envelope. Make sure it is sealed well all along the entire edge. 

2.    Stamp the various images randomly on both sides of the envelope with French Lilac inkpad. 

3.    Now fold over ½” on all four sides.  Use a bone folder to make a good crease. Fold back to the other side creasing with the bone folder again. 

4.    Cut the envelope in half using the Deckle scissors.  Open up the envelope.  The original fold is the center and the two folds you creased are the edges.  Fold the corner triangles toward the bottom and glue. 

5.    You now have a box-type little gift bag.  Stamp saying on the circle tag with the Noir Black ink.  Attach to the gift bag.  Fill as desired. 

If you would like to print this technique, click here.  Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to obtain this file.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, click here to download and install.