Returning with another Happy Holidays round with day FOUR of the event! We've been navigating the comment numbers today and WOW you guys, it took everything we had to contain our excitement!! Seriously - you have no idea how much we appreciate our blog visitors here at Crate Paper! We're "beyond joyous" to see so many of you enjoying this week's special festivities. If you're a newcomer of sorts to the ongoing event, we recommend you begin your reading with day one of Happy Holidays as there's probably not a single giveaway you'll want to miss out on and also, there's plenty of holiday projects to feast upon, including those posted today! So, let's do it again, shall we?! Here you go...

With the holidays comes festive parties and gatherings with friends, coworkers and family. It's customary to bring a bottle of wine or sparkling cider as a hostess "thank-you", so I've created a cheery gift bag to complete the present. Nothing says "I care and thank you" more than taking the time to make a small gift extra special! 

Bottle Gift Bag Supply List:

Snow Day Patterned Paper - Mittens, Sparkle, Flakes & Frosty
Snow Day Layered Chipboard
Snow Day Chipboard Accents
Snow Day Phrase Stickers
8.5" x 32" piece of White or Natural Muslin
1 yd. Coordinating Ribbon

 

Trim a 1.5" x 12" strip from each of the Snow Day patterned papers mentioned. Trim each strip into 1.5" x 1.5" squares.

Fold your muslin in half and then 1" up from the bottom fold of the muslin, arrange your squares in a quilt-like pattern as I've done above. Feel free to mix things up here to your liking. 

 

Now, once you've arranged your squares "just so", adhere each one down with a dot of wet glue (just in the center as you'll be doing some sewing - the last thing you want to do is goo-up your sewing needle with glue!)

After you've done this, sew a zig zag pattern around the outside of the squares and along each row. 

Sew each side of the muslin together using a standard size straight stitch (2.5/3.5 stitch length will more than likely work!) to create the bag. Trim the top of the bag so that it's even and then fold it under on the inside to make a nice opening.

 

Place your bottle inside the bag and tie the top closed with ribbon. Following this, embellish the bag to your liking (including the ribbon) and you'll finally have created a gorgeous, festive gift to share!   ~Lori Gentile

 

Can you guess whom created and photographed this adorable wintery album? It's from our very own CP Girl, Jaime Warren! She had this to say about it: 

I love creating paper bag mini albums (yes, it's a paper bag mini album!) - they're inexpensive and fantastic way to document important events and holidays such as Christmas! I take a ton of photos during Christmas, but, I get overwhelmed with the thought of doing several Christmas layouts. So, this year, I decided to create this little mini album to hold some of my favorite photos! I love the way it turned out - these Snow Day papers were perfect! So bright and cheerful! I added touches of dimension to the chipboard and paper embellishments with foam pop dots. I also added a touch of sparkle via glitter glue. This album was fun and super easy to put together!

 

Don't have a lot of time to "go big" on holiday projects this year? Why not think to develop a project based on small, more doable designs that you can then combine to create a beautiful home decor piece such as this one from Ronda Palazzari? Here's more info about it from Ronda:

This easy tag decor was so much fun to make. I found an open frame at the craft store that I just loved. I used foam core and covered it with natural fabric. I then created the tags - I had a blast making each one! What makes this project especially great is that when the next new seasons arrives, I'll be ready to go! I'll simply switch out the tags for brand new ones! 

 

A handmade ribbon tutorial + banner found us from Jill Cornell - the tutorial is specific to the ribbon in which she used for dressing up the banner's mittens. You'll find it here. This is one of the chosen projects we're posting from the project request we put out prior to this week's event - Didn't hear about it? Well, there's still plenty of time to send us your Crate Paper holiday project'(s)! And as a reminder, those that get posted are automatically thrown into a special Crate Paper prize drawing for next week! The winner will be announced December 23rd! 

 

Speaking of which, this particular project set was just sent to us this afternoon via email and look how quickly it found itself on the Crate Paper blog?! Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate relationships, especially those that are of special significance like husbands, wives, family, friends, etc. That is why we took to heart Melissa Theisse's layouts! They're absolutely precious...thank-you for sending them to us Melissa! 

 

You might have noticed that a lot of Crate Paper fans jumped at the chance to win our $100 worth of Crate Paper goods - well, we have an identical set of Crate Paper goods available! This means we're giving away TWO $100 Crate Paper Gift Baskets!! This would be the second one of course...leave a comment and we'll shout out the winner on December 22nd!

This concludes Day four of Crate's Happy Holidays blogging event! We have another day planned for you tomorrow (Emily's Christmas Inspired Sketch Challenge), so tune in - we'll be taking a small break over the weekend though, but needless to say, we'll return next Monday and then wrap-up the event on Wednesday! Still plenty of time to join in on the fun! Have a great day you guys!

 

Comments

[Amanda L.]

Wow.....so much inspiration.......I think I'm going to have to cave and get the entire Snow Day collection.....love Ronda's tag project!!!

[marina]

Cada dia me gustan mas los proyectos que poneis, geniales, gracias por tantas ideas!

[Amy S.]

The Snow banner is so cute and love how putting the paper on the bag makes it look like fabric. Great ideas!!! Now I need some new Crate Paper goodies to use all this inspiration with. Hint, Hint! ;)

[Chloe]

This post has set off a huge lightbulb moment - sewing paper onto fabric?! That is pure genius!!! And what better paper to use than the Snow Day collection! LOVE IT!!! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Guillauma]

Love this mini album, so gorgeous.

[isabel]

the bottle gift bag is my favorite, but all the projects are so so amazing.

[MichelleGB]

More gorgeous projects! I love the tag wall hanging and the banner! Lovely LOs too!

[susan]

Amazing projects today, Love them!! Thank you for the inspiration.

[Becky Williams]

What amazing projects today- I love how you are all so creative! Such great inspiration. I would love to win a basket of Crat- that would sure make for a Merry Christmas!

[SarahA]

What AMAZING projects today! I want to do all of them! I am just so in love with the Snow Day line! :) Another fab giveaway, too!

[Andi Sexton]

Love the tags!!! And the mitten garland? Adorable!!!!!

[Jennifer Roach]

Thanks for sharing all these amazing holiday projects. I especially love the gift bag and mini album

[Jenny A.]

I love all the projects - especially that mini book!

[Kelly Massman]

Love the wine bag! You could also add a nice wine stopper (like the ones my hubby makes)! The mitten garland is also very adorable, as was the mini! This collection is just so cute! I also loved the layouts! TFS!

[Romy]

Wow, I love all these projects. Soooo amazing! And thanks so much for sharing the tutorial too!

[Diana]

I have to TRUTHFULLY say your blog is one of my most FAVORITE blogs to follow! :) Your ideas are always fresh, fun, and doable! I'm looking at all of these today and really can not pick a favorite, I REALLY like all of them! Thanks for ALWAYS having such great inspiration!!

[DeniseB]

I love these projects! The gift bag and the tag decor frame are my favorites!
Can't go wrong with that adorable Snow Day line! The colors are so fun!
DeniseB

[Diana Fisher]

Love that mittens banner and the gift bag tutorial. This has to be one of my fave Crate weeks ever! :)

[Colleen B.]

Such gorgeous creations and inspiration again - definately getting the christmas spirit going!!!

[Celeste B.]

I love the Snow Day collection. A big basket of Crate goodies would bring me a Merry Christmas!