Send guests home with this pretty tote made from recycled items to hold their swap party “purchases”.
Instructions
STEP 1:
Cut kraft paper to 11.5 x 12 inches for bag front and back. Cut kraft paper to 3.5 x 12 inches for bag sides and 3.5 x 11.5 inches for bag bottom. Back each piece with chipboard.
STEP 2:
Cut teal polka dot paper to 11.5 x 2.5 inches. Edge both long sides with punch. Cut green circle paper to 11.5 x 1.75 inches and adhere to center of polka dot strip. Glue strip to bag front and machine stitch.
STEP 3:
Cut page protectors to a 0.25 inch larger on all sides of kraft paper pieces. This excess will be the seam allowance. Insert kraft paper pieces into the page protectors and secure with a small amount of clear adhesive tape.
STEP 4:
Cut 1.5 inch kraft paper strips for handles and sew together to get desired length. Cut page protectors to 0.25 inches larger on all sides of strips.
STEP 5:
Insert strips into cut page protectors and sew together. Stitch along long edges to secure paper.
STEP 6:
Sew bag together following a basic bag pattern.
STEP 7:
Keep side seam allowances on outside to make construction easier.
STEP 8:
Sew handles to bag base.
STEP 9:
To create flower accent, cut and punch circles from pattern paper. Distress edges using scissor blade. Crumple. Layer circles and secure with brad. Add leaves cut from glittered tulle and attach to bag using foam adhesive.