DIY Crafts – THE RUHMAGE

Homemade Gift Bags

Posted on September 11, 2022September 14, 2022 by Lyn

Making homemade gift bags is an easy way to prepare a customized gift for an individual. However, they can also be a convenient way to customize several gift bags for gifts that you may want to give to a larger group of people. And the cool part is that homemade gift bags can also be made with card stock paper! Thus far, you have seen how to make a mini notebook without glue, mini notebook with glue, traditional homemade cards, and homemade pop-up cards with card stock paper. You can also make really cute homemade gift boxes with card stock paper.

The homemade gift bags can be made a few different ways. First, you can use colored card stock paper instead of white card stock. Secondly, you can use double sided card stock paper that provides sides with two different colors. Thirdly, homemade gift bags that are made with card stock are rigid enough for you to actually insert bag handles. You can use paracord rope or twisted raffia string or ropes.

Quick Start Guide

Step 1: Fold one 8.5 x 11-inch card stock sheet of paper in half with the 8.5-inch side folded over to the other 8.5-inch end leaving a small space (about 3/4-inch) from the edge.

Step 2: Next, fold the uncovered 3/4-inch edge over the folded part of the paper.

Step 3: Then, cut both corners of the small, folded edge at an angle as shown. Place the folded free edge inside the paper. Next, apply a thin layer of glue and let the glue dry.

Step 4: Now, use your ruler to measure about 1.5 inches from one of the open ends of the bag. Place a small dot or line using a pencil with an eraser. Then, fold the bag at the dot mark or line. Erase the dot or line.

Step 5: Now fold the bottom of the bag to form to triangles as shown in the picture.

Step 6: Unfold the bottom of the bag and invert the sides as shown.

Step 7: Then fold the superior aspect of the bag’s bottom slightly past the midline. Do the same with the inferior aspect of the bag. Apply glue to the over lapping parts and let dry.

Step 8: Now fold both of the sides of the bag to meet the triangular area that forms on the bottom of the bag.

Step 9: Now, once the glue dries well, insert your hand into the bag to unfold the bottom of the bag. Then, use your hands to invert the sides of the bag using the fold marks that you have made.

Step 10: The only thing left to do is add your stencil drawings.

In Summary

This is another great way to customize gifts for some of your close friends and family. If you enjoyed this post, please like and share. Subscribe to the blog to get notified about the next blog posts. I hope you enjoy making and using some of the homemade gift bags!

DIY Crafts

Homemade Pop-Up Cards

Posted on August 28, 2022September 14, 2022 by Lyn

The homemade pop-up cards are another great way to make homemade cards. They are fairly easy to make and whomever you give them to will appreciate the additional thought you put into making them a homemade card. Nevertheless, you can certainly just make simple homemade cards using most of the same supplies.

A homemade pop-up card with a transportation stencil design could be the perfect card design to congratulate a young boy on a job well done! However, with just a little creativity, you can use different colored map pencils along with different stencil designs that an adult can appreciate like a flower stencil design, bird stencil designs, or food stencil designs.

Things You Will Need

Step 1: Fold one 8.5 x 11-inch card stock sheet of paper in half with the end of one 8.5-inch side folded over to match the corners of the other 8.5-inch end.

Step 2: Arrange your stencils on the card to make sure that you will have enough space to add whatever letters and stencil cutouts you will be adding before coloring and cutting them out.

Step 3: Color and cut your stencil designs.

Step 4: Arrange the letter cutouts and design cutouts on the outside of the folded card. Then use a ruler to measure and mark where you want your pop-up lines to go. Keep in mind that when the card is closed, the cutouts will extend much closer to the edge of the card. This will depend on the size of your cutouts as well. So, keeping the lines as short as reasonably possible is ideal when your cutouts are relatively large.

Step 5: Draw and cut the lines needed for your pop ups along the fold of your card. Then fold the lines onto the card to create a definite fold.

Step 6: Carefully open the card and push each pop-up towards the inside of the card.

Step 7: Glue your cutouts and let the glue dry.

Step 8: While the glue is drying, you can fold the second sheet of card stock paper in half in the same way that you folded the first sheet. Afterwards, stencil and color the outside of your homemade pop-up card.

Step 9: Once the glue dries completely on the inside of the card, you can attach the outside of the card with a thin layer of glue. Any excess glue around the lines that have been cut may cause them to stick together. So, use as little glue as possible near the cut lines.

Card Stock (8.5 x 11 in)

You will need card stock paper to make the homemade pop-up cards. It is a slightly thicker sheet of paper that is much easier to work with.

Ruler

To get the correct length for your lines and to keep the straight, a ruler should be used to measure along the folded edge of the card.

Pencil

A standard lead pencil with an eraser can be used to draw the lines. Once you have measured and cut the lines, there is no need to erase the marks because the outside card will cover over any visible pencil marks.

Stencil

You can use any stencil that you like to design your homemade pop up cards. Many of the stencils are sold in some type of themed set. So, you have plenty of options to choose from. The letters used in this card are 1.5-inch stencil letters and the other cutouts are about 3-inches. Slightly smaller letters and cutouts can be used. However, larger cutouts would be too large for this particular homemade pop up card layout.

Map Pencils

The map pencils are definitely one of the easiest ways to add color to a non-adhesive stencil. Unless you decide to use something like this non-toxic spray paint other methods for adding color will bleed through and smudge.