Double Pouch Gift Bag

When I don't post in awhile, that means it's time for a BIG post! So here's a tutorial using Stampin' Up's Designer Series Paper (DSP) to make a little gift bag with a double pouch. One side holds a matching card and the other pouch could hold a Gift Card to the recipient's favorite store or even a little treat. It's great timing as the DSP goes on sale in November for "buy three packs, get one free." Call your SU demonstrator or I can help you so just email me.

The photo at the top of this post was made with SU's Blizzard wrapping paper instead of DSP -- and it's slightly smaller as I used a piece of paper that's 12 inches by 10 & 1/2 inches instead of the 12 by 12 inch piece in the tutorial. The brown bag holds the cute little snowman card you see that's 4 & 3/4 inches by 4 inches. Love that snowman from Merry & Bright in the Holiday Collection. You fold the wrapping paper just the same. This version was my October Club project and everyone did such a good job -- and they all loved folding without scoring!

So here's the tutorial for the DSP version. I got this idea at SU's Orlando Regional event -- but they showed lots of scoring and I just knew it would work without all that measuring. I know my customers and know you don't like to measure unless you have to. These are really easy once you make one -- I promise. So hang in there and give it a try. The photos do not always line up right next the proper step so just match them up as you go.

Step 1: "Hem" two opposite edges of the 12 by 12 inch piece of DSP. Because DSP is thicker than wrapping paper, and you want your hems straight, it does help to score them each 1 inch from the side first. Then adhere those "hems" down with adhesive. The first two photos in the tutorial show that "hemming" process as I like to call it.

Step 2: Turn the paper so your hems are now top and bottom and then fold in the right side until it's about at the middle — it does not matter any exact measurement yet. Just fold it straight.

Step 3: You're making a tube so fold in the LEFT side now so that it overlaps the first folded side AT LEAST the width of your adhesive tape that you'll be using along that seam. TIP: I use Stampin' Up's Grid paper to have the tube be about 5 & 3/4 inches wide! It's so much easier than measuring and scoring to accomplish the same end result -- a tube with the open ends "hemmed." Be sure you've taped your hems in place and then make sure to tape along that seam to close up your tube. I find that a double-stick tape like SU's SNAIL is fine for these steps so far -- no heavy duty tape needed yet.

Step 4: Fold your tube with the hemmed ends together so that the seam you taped in place is on the outside at first. Another way to say that is "Fold it with the pretty right sides together for now." Now you will make the bottom "gusset" that allows it to stand up so you can either score first about 3/4" away from the bottom fold — both to the right and left of it. Or you can just fold one side back the other way and the grid paper will help you know it's about 3/4 inch and then then just fold the other side back until the hemmed tops match and you've made a pouch with the pretty sides out now and those seamed sides are hidden inside when you do the next step!

Step 5: A little piece of heavy duty red liner tape that SU calls Sticky Strip in the middle holds the pockets together. I put about 2" horizontally across the middle a little down from the top edge. Just one piece is all it takes.

You can embellish with ribbon handles by punching holes EDITOR'S NOTE: Someone asked about punching for the handles and I only punched through the front panel of each pocket — not through both layers of each pocket. (I used SU's slot punch and 10" ribbon handles on my brown wrapping paper bag. A little mini glue dot on the end of each ribbon piece as you fold it back to touch the ribbon handle holds it.) Also -- my little focal point includes a chipboard piece that's "dressed up" with Bashful Blue pigment ink, heat and stick embossing powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

That's all mounted on a scallop circle punch and layered onto a larger circle  made with this amazing trick. Two punches made with SU's Round Tab punch, turn 0ne 90 degrees and layer and you've got the perfect size circle to mat the scallop and no one will notice the tiny seams unless you tell them!

Here's one more how-to on the card who's pretty ribbon tails can stick out of the back pocket of the DSP bag and act as a little ribbon tab.

Here's a photo of the DSP card pocket made from a piece of DSP that's 4" by 11". Fold in the middle and score 1 & 3/8" from one end. Secure that flap and the whole pocket with 5/8 inch celery grosgrain tied with linen thread.

This design was an SU make and take at Convention 07 using a BoHo West theme and I re-did it with Wintergreen DSP and the Punch Pals set. There's even a little row of Crop-a-Dile embossed dots on the pull out card -- card is 3&3/4" by 5&1/4".

I told you this post was a doozy!! Any questions, just post them in the comments or hit email me and I'll get back to you. I've seen lots of ideas for this little pouch so use your imagination. I think it would be great to hold a "Snowman Soup" kit -- a handmade Christmas card in one pocket and a pack of hot cocoa mix and a candy cane "stirring stick" in the other pocket. Enjoy!

Comments

[Samantha]

Beautiful tutorial. Thanks for sharing this with us!!!

[karrin]

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to try these.

[Corie]

Wow these are FANTASTIC -- Thanks so much for the tutorial!!

[Kimberley Morris]

These are so fast and easy and cute!! Thanks for posting the tutorial :-)

[Penny G.]

Thanks for the tutorial! You made it easy to follow. Did you punch the holes only on the outside pockets or through both layers?

[chat]

another wonderful design!!! so many great ideas!!!hope you don't mind if i add you in my blog.
chat aka nitestamper

[Michelle Sturgeon]

AWESOME tutorial and great project! TFS!

[Dawn Easton]

Your little bags turned out so GREAT! I love them too! So nice with that Christmas paper.

[Kelly]

Great tutorial, thanks for sharing it!

[Samantha]

wonderful tutorial! TFS!!!

[Samantha]

wonderful tutorial! TFS!!!

[Samantha]

wonderful tutorial! TFS!!!