Sunday, February 20, 2011

matching gift bag? (got it!)

a matching gift bag is always nice...especially when you only realize at the very last minute that you don't have a box to accomodate a gift for say, your inlaws' anniversary gift. i used this week's regular sketchy thursdays sketch, (as opposed to the special "second chance challenge" card sketch made especially for this week's jingle belles prompt, i mean); it looks a bit like this:



most people use these gorgeous sketches for layouts. every once in a while someone like myself makes a card... (about which diana & heidi & the gang are very gracious and generous with their kind comments!) ...or, say...a giftbag. well, hey, a good sketch can be used for ANYTHING, right? from an ATC to a canvas to a layout to a card, you just adapt the elements to fit your project!



in addition to being inspired by the sketch itself, i totally love what sketchy thursday design team member tomomi did with her layout this week, especially the bunting she added to the top! knowing i already had a card with a butterfly banner...and leftover punched butterflies from making that banner...well, it seemed silly not to use them up.

i've been wanting to try hand-cutting a title for a while now. i wasn't sure how well my penmanship would stand up to this treatment, and i confess to "neatening" it a bit whilst cutting, but i think it looks surprisingly good, actually, so you'll be seeing this again, i think. :) the only tip i'd give to anyone wanting a similar effect is to write with a big marker on scrap paper, staple it to your patterned paper...


cut the inner bits (of the a's and e's and o's) with a craft knife FIRST...and then, finally, use scissors to carefully cut around the contours of your word.



i attached mine to the bag with thin strips of foam tape, after inking around the edges to give it a little more dimension...and hide any small scissor-related boo-boos. et voila! i think my work here is done.

HAPPY SUNDAY, DARLINGS!

11 comments:

  1. You did an awesome job! it looks fantastic!

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  2. what a fabulous gift bag, lauren! love how you take sketches and use them for all kinds of projects. what a great idea! ohmygosh, you fussy cut all those words. how awesome is that!!! your inlaws will love their gift bag and card. thanks for sharing and have a lovely Sunday! *hugs* steph :)

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  3. Thank you for the "lesson" on the hand-cut title... love the gift bag ( I never think of ideas like that)... I must try them both. Also for your nice comments!!!!!!

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  4. Absolutely amazing!! I love the bag. You are so good with making anything and everything. I'm so worried with gift bags they'll be thrown away! LOVE the lettering.

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  5. Fantastic!! Love that hand lettering!!! Such the neat giftie duo!

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  6. Obrigada por escrever em meu blog...
    Que máximo essa dica de escrever num papel e recortar, vou experimentar!!

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  7. You are so clever .. I know I couldn't do this ... the cutting I mean ... just following the sketch would be an achievement for me! But I LOVE the result of your work ..

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  8. You are a ROCK STAR!! I love love love love those butterflies and that heart!!! Rock on girl! Thanks sooooooooooooo much for playing along with Sketchy Thursdays! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  9. Wow, love your giftbag and I love how you used the sketch for it!Beautiful handwriting and your tip is awesome!
    Thanks so much for playing along with Sketchy Thursdays!

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  10. WOW! the bag is a gift in it's self!! beautiful :)
    way to rock the handwriting and cutting for your word!!!

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