Monday, April 22, 2013

Candy Bags

Hello, and Happy Monday to you!  I got up early this morning and began to clean...clean...clean.   I also had a nice visit this afternoon from my Mom and her good friend Kay.  So nice to take a break and sit at my kitchen table with them over some fresh iced tea, and a few laughs.
Today, I want to show you a quick, easy, and very inexpensive way to make party bags.  On Saturday morning, Erika and Noah were on their way out to a friend of Noah's birthday party.  His party was that afternoon, and as they were flying out the door, Erika said, "OH NO, I forgot to get the little bags for the candy!"  So I was looking around to see if I had something that would work.  She had already spent a lot of money of the party, and I knew she didn't have time to make another stop, so.....here is what I came up with.
I had a new package of red and white striped paper that I had purchased on sale from Target, I think.  It wasn't tissue paper, but more like paper to be used as a liner for a burger basket or something.  It almost had a tiny bit of waxed paper feel to it.   Here it is right out of the package.  Folded in half, then into thirds.
I used my paper cutter, and leaving it folded, I cut the paper into three stacks, at the crease.


Then I needed to decide how tall I wanted the bags.  We didn't need them to be very big.  They were for the kids and parents to put candy into them.  So, keeping the fold in the paper, I cut the bags at the top, to the size I wanted.
See, the fold is still at the bottom.
Now, I am going to sew them together at the sides.  And I did this, in the same style as I do when I am piecing a quilt.  When we have many of the same pieces to be sewn, we just strip piece them together, one after the other.
I had a spool of red thread in the top, and a navy blue in the bobbin.  I pieced them all on the one side.  Then snipped the thread between each piece, turned them over and did the same thing to the other side.  With the fold in tact, you only have to sew the two sides!!
After sewing both sides, and snipping the threads, I took them to my cutting table and used my pinking rotary blade to lop off the top for a cute pinked edge on top.
And there you have it.  I made 32 candy bags, lickety split.  And with the pieces that were cut off the tops, I will have some paper gift tags.
They were so cute.  A red zig zag stitch up one side, and a navy blue zig zag up the other, with a pinked top.  Erika made these darling candy dishes.  Putting a bright colored candy in each, with a paint dipped brush in coordinating color tied to the front with raffia. 
I put them in a Longaberger basket and placed this sign in front.   One of Eri's friends at the party said she had been pricing little bags for an upcoming party, and the ones she wanted were 4 dollars for 12!!  Ridiculous!  I think I may have to add these to my Etsy shop!
If you do any sewing on paper with your sewing machine, just be sure to remove the needle you used for the paper, and keep it to use again for another paper project, and not fabric!!!  I remove the needle, mark an index card with paper only on it, and will reuse it again in the future, but won't accidentally use it on fabric.
If you have a machine that does decorative stitch work, sewing on paper can be a fun way to make gift tags, and cards, etc.  Try it!
XO  Kris

24 comments:

Taci simmons said...

What a fun idea Kris... Never thought about using the seeing machine for little bags . So very cute.

Holly said...

You are my most brilliant friend! Great idea, they turned out so cute!

Kerri said...

These are adorable Kris! I bet Erica was thrilled with them! I too have priced little bags on Etsy...you should add these to your shop for sure!

Unknown said...

What a clever idea and so easy and fast. No one has one like it...too cute. You saved the day.

priscilla said...

Really cute Kris ! I have sewn on alot of scrapbook pages , but Duh , I didn't know you couldn't use the needle for fabric afterwards ! The jars of candy are such a great accent to the tables !

Debbie said...

It was a BRILLIANT idea! I never would have thought of it. Soo cute too.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Kris, Great idea and so festive too! Clever fun lady you are! I bet the kids stuffed their bags!!1
Enjoy your day, hope the peeps are well, xoRobin

Mereknits said...

Another amazing idea by you dear Kris. I love it.
Meredith

Deb~in~Denver said...

How do you come up with all of these great ideas? These are darling. Love the candy idea and the dipped paint brushes.... genius!

Pam said...

You are so creative & crafty! I would never have thought to do that.

Grammy Staffy said...

You are so cleaver and talented....great job!

Pammy Sue said...

I had fun reading your last two posts. You got more chickens! How fun! Babies of nearly any species are always so cute. Maybe some day I can convince my hubby to move out of the city a little more so we can have chickens and MORE DOGS! :) That would make me so happy! Your candy bags turned out so cute.

Kelli said...

Love this idea Kris! What a fun party for your grandson!

Gracie Saylor said...

So clever, Kris! Thanks for the tutorial. Your caution about keeping a needle just for paper and the others for cloth reminds me of my Mom's instruction to have scissors for paper and scissors for cloth ... and when I ignored her wisdom how my cutting was as dull as my thinking :-)
xx,
Gracie

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Kris! You are just so clever, I've gotten cards from artist friends that had stuff sewn on the paper and I thought it was so cool! I'm glad you guys had such a fun party for Noah! We're at the beach and are enjoying it.. not a cloud in the sky for 3 days, we'll be here another 3. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

podso said...

This is really neat. I'm going to look for that style of paper as you probably could do a lot with it.

Jill said...

These are super adorable! What a great idea and reusable! Thanks for sharing this idea. Hope you are having a wonderful week.

Jill

Linda said...

And what have you been doing since Monday, eh Kris???
You sure have a lot of gadgets for crafting...great job...
I am sure Erika appreciated it!

Cheers!
Linda :o)

Chenille Cottage said...

Hi Kris!
I love your colorful candy striped goodie bags. You are so clever! What a great tutorial. I agree, that you should put them on etsy.
thanks for stopping by and for your condolences on my computer dilemma. I hope yours hasn't lost any important information. Computers are great but, they can sure wreak havoc!
Smiles on this Spring day!
Carolynn xoxo

Lynne said...

I like this party bag idea a lot! You are so resourceful!
I haven't cleaned my house yet, still shoveling river rocks into the backyard planters. sigh.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

This is the cutest idea, Kris! You really are such a creative person!

Linda said...

Such a great idea Kris! I love the idea of the little candy bags...what fun! You are so creative!! Have a wonderful day ;0)*

Val said...

I want a candy bag =) such a cute idea.

Patty said...

That was such a good idea and they turned out so cute. I wondered how to handle sewing on paper so thanks for the tip!