DIY: 4 Step Gift Bag {Guest Post}

A couple weeks ago I shared how to make gift boxes out of cardboard tubes, you can read that post HERE. This week I've got one of my favorite bloggers guest posting for me with her 4-Step Gift Bag tutorial! Pam from Brown Thumb Mama has an awesome blog about gardening, thrifty living, recipes and lots of laughs. Be sure to "like" her Facebook page too!

I hate wrapping presents. Searching for paper, finding boxes, awkward-sized packages...and don't get me started on the ribbons, bows, and foofy decorations. Gack. A couple of years ago, I decided to make gift bags of all sizes to use for Christmas presents. Keep in mind that I'm not a very good seamstress, so this was a big accomplishment for me! I decided that a little bit of work up front would give me years without wrapping paper. It was too good to be true! Yes, yes it was. I realized at the end of the day that nobody had returned the bags their gifts were in. So here I am, sewing up another set of gift bags. This time I took some pictures so you can make them too. You will need: Fabric Thin ribbon for the drawstring Sewing machine Iron Measure the size of your gift. (This seems obvious, but if you saw the first batch of too-small-for-anything bags I made you'd understand.) Give yourself at least an inch of space all the way around, and cut out the desired shape.

1. Start with the Quick-Fold Trick

Turn the fabric over so you're looking at the wrong side. Fold the top two inches over so the fold runs off the side of the fabric. Pop it with a hot iron so the fold will stay. Sew down the middle of each fold and run the stitches straight off the edge of the fabric. Repeat on all four corners.

2. Sew up Sides and Top

Run a straight stitch up from the bottom to close up the sides, stopping when you get to the folded part. Fold over about 1/4 inch of each top flap, iron it so it stays, and stitch across.

3. Finish Drawstring Tunnel

Fold down each of the top flaps, and sew all the way across to make the drawstring tunnel. Don't sew the bag shut (ask me how I know). Repeat on the other side.

4. Add the Ribbon

Thread the ribbon through one side of the tunnel, across the "jump," and out the other side. Knot the ends. Repeat, starting the ribbon on the opposite side, so you can pull the knots to close the bag.

And you're done! Jackjack suggests that you stuff the bag full of good presents.

Drawstring bags have tons of uses beyond Christmas presents. Use a light muslin and make produce bags to take to the farmer's market, or pick out a fun print and make a bag for the kids' blocks, or whip up birthday party goodie bags.

Hi! I'm Pam, otherwise known as BrownThumbMama. I'm a corporate writer by day, hobby gardener, avid reader, and housework avoider by night. 

I'm here to show that everyday, working moms and families can enjoy good health and nutrition while living a thrifty life. I give examples, recipes, and real-life stories of our family to show how we do this. 







Thanks for guest posting for me Pam! I'll be making some of these bags for sure! I may wait till after Christmas this year so I can get fabric that's been marked way down ;-) 

Till next time,
Catherine

1st Blogiversary! Past, Present, and Future

One year ago today I wrote my very first blog post. Don't judge me. I didn't know anything about blogging at that point! 

You guys have been here through it all. Even when I tried to make bread for the first time and failed miserably.

And then when I got it right and made amazing bread!

It's been a long and wonderful road with a huge learning curve. But I really have enjoyed it all! Through joining blogging networks, connecting with other bloggers and even meeting a few of my fellow local bloggers! I had no idea what I was getting into when I started but now I couldn't even entertain the thought of quitting! 

I've now published a total of 211 posts! Wow. That's a lot of blogging! Here are some of the most popular/favorite posts. 

My MOST popular post was actually my husband's first post! His cardboard helmet tutorial got an astonishing 5,570 views! Halloween's coming up soon and this would be an awesome DIY costume for kids an adults alike. 

My second most popular post was my DIY pallet garden for under $20. It rounded out the year with 3,728 views which is still huge! 

The 3rd most popular post was my Magic Eraser toilet cleaner Pinterest fail and 4th popular was The Walking Dead workout! Is anyone as excited as I am that the next season is about to begin?!? 

My most popular Pinterest pin was the recipe for my homemade garden fresh salsa! 

Followed by my homemade no high-fructose-corn-syrup ketchup! Both of which are so delicious that you'll never buy those things from the store ever again! So if you haven't pinned them yet, go for it! 

I'll wait. 

If you want to follow me on Pinterest, just click HERE! 

What Happily Ever Crafter post is YOUR favorite? You can choose from the ones above or the archives on the right sidebar. 

It's really neat to look at my most popular posts and realize they're all totally different! 

Our anniversary trip to Williamsburg, Virginia

And finally...drumroll please! My total pageviews for my very first year of blogging...

39,463!!!

For you seasoned bloggers that may seem like chump change but I am blown away! My very first month I had only 180 pageviews. I guess that's decent considering I didn't tell anyone that I started a blog!

Every month has shown exponential growth and it's so cool to watch! I owe it all to you guys for liking, commenting and sharing my blog! I can't forget my incredible blog networks either, you can check those out on my sidebar. 

The future of this blog is completely unknown. I have goals but I don't know where exactly this blog will take me. Here are some of those goals for the next year of blogging.

1. Reach 1,000 views a day.
2. Reach 1,000 likes on Facebook (currently at 391!)
3. Schedule Facebook posts ahead of time.
4. Get back to consistently posting (good content) up to 5 days a week.
5. Write those posts ahead of time and schedule them. AKA "Get with the times, Catherine."
6. Cook and craft more for better posts.
7. Try more things from Pinterest and share about it!
8. Earn a little money through the blog and buy my own domain name (plus make the blog beautiful and functional!)
9. Connect with YOU better and attend blogging conferences (like this one I'm attending on October 26th!)
10. Be open to constructive criticism and change. 

So here's to the first of many years of blogging! 

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the first post of the week and fill out my blogiversary poll! I want to get to know my lovely readers! 

Till next time,

Catherine

DIY: From Carboard Tube to Cute Gift Box!

From this:

(via)

To this: 

It is super easy and cute! Wanna know the best part? It's free! I say free assuming that even the most beginner crafters like myself have various ribbon and pieces of scrapbook paper lying around. Families throw hundreds of these away every year! Why not save a few and make something useful out of them? Not to mention, when birthdays and Christmas come around, you're always looking for a small box for the little gifts like jewelry and money! I got the original idea from the blog Sweet Charli. 

Gather your supplies:

• Clean cardboard tubes
• Ribbon
• Twine or pretty string
• Scrapbook paper
• Hot glue gun/glue or tape
• Scissors
• Tissue paper

 Directions:

Fold one end of your cardboard tube in. Think like you're trying to close one of those paper coin rolls from the bank. 

Fold in the other half. Secure it down with hot glue or tape. When you've got that locked down, wrap your gift in a small amount of tissue paper and stick it inside. Fold and secure the open end of the tube the same way as the first one. 

Now decorate them however you wish! I used an extra piece of scrapbooking paper from another project  and wrapped it around, securing it with hot glue. I also used a small length of ribbon my husband had saved from a gift he received. The man knows me. 

For this one I used a thicker piece of the same scrapbook paper and different ribbon. I just switched the directions of the ribbon and paper from the previous box. If you don't want it to be as obvious that it's a cardboard tube, just wrap the whole thing in scrapbook paper. Chances are people won't even notice! Generally people are more focused on what's inside! 

I love this idea because the possibilities of design and decoration are endless! You can even bust out that Bedazzler you've been dying to use! ;-) 

Are you the crazy one in the family who snatches up all the empty gift bags and tissue paper after Christmas? I know I am! No sense in throwing away good bags and tissue paper that can be reused! What are some other unique ways that you like to wrap gifts?

Till next time,

Catherine

I've linked up to Pinworthy Projects #80 with Just Us Four, Atkinson Drive, and Planned in Pencil!

I've linked up to Living Big on Less Money with Feeding Big!