Clover Leaf Gift Bag with Tammy Malone

I feel like one "Lucky" gal to be sharing this tutorial on the Samantha Walker blog today!

Speaking of being "Lucky", I wanted to make a gift bag for friend and the Clover Bag Topper was just the right accent that I needed to make this gift a little extra special. 

To begin you will need:

• Plain cardstock and a coordinating patterned paper
• Double Sided Adhesive Sheet 
• Glitter
• Clover Bag Topper
• Adhesive

You will first want to make an offset image of the Clover Bag Topper file. 

To do this, watch the instructions in this video. 

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How to assemble your Clover Bag Topper

1. Cut the Offset topper from solid cardstock and the original from patterned paper. Using the clover from the patterned paper as a template, freehand cut a clover from the Double Sided Adhesive sheet. You can also create an offset of the clover and use your machine to cut the image.

2. Cut apart the patterned paper topper on the fold line. Add the clover that you cut from the adhesive sheet to the back side of the patterned clover so that the adhesive is exposed through the front of the image.

3. Sprinkle glitter over the exposed adhesive making sure the entire surface is covered. Brush off the excess.

4.Apply adhesive to the back sides of each piece of the patterned paper toppers. Align over the solid colored topper making sure to provide an even margin on all sides.

Their are many ways to attach the topper:

• Staple it to your bag
• Punch holes in the top and add a ribbon handle
• Use brads
• Cut a slit along the top fold line just wide enough to allow the handles to slip through (this was the method I used for my project)

Use the extra clover and cut out one or two more (like I did) to embellish the bag.

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Silhouette Tutorial Tote bags for the Cameo and Portrait!

I'm so excited about this week's Silhouette digital cutting files! 

I've got little tote bags going up in the Silhouette store this week. 

These would make perfect little gift bags, or bags for little treats...or party favor bags...

or fun organizational decor...it's up to you how to use the bags,

as there are just so many ways you could use them!

Best thing about this file...I kept both Cameo and Portrait users in mind when designing it.

Bag Scalloped Tote (studio format)

 Bag Simple Tote (studio format)

Pinked edge tote (studio format)

spiderweb tote (studio format)

 When you open the file, it is formatted for a 12 X 12 cutting area...

however, if you are a smaller format cutting machine owner, I grouped everything in such a way 

that you can easily resize the grouping just a tad to maximize the space on an 8.5 x 11. 

First cut the file out. I recommend using double sided card stock...then you only have to cut once and then you can use the opposite side of the paper for the contrasting elements like the straps and base.

 Fold the base.

 Glue the tabs, then adhere them together at the sides to form the base.

 Find the large rectangular piece--this will become the bag.

 Roll the piece up to make the paper flexible.

 Go ahead...roll it even tighter. This will make it more flexible when shaping it into the base. 

 Now glue the edge. (This is approximately 1/4 inch area on the edge.)

Flex the base a bit to make it shape with the bag portion. 

Glue around the bottom of the bag.

 Put the bag into the base. 

Roll the corners of the bag pressing one finger behind and shaping from the front with your thumb and forefinger. Play with the cardstock a bit to shape it how you would like.

 While the glue is still wet, glue the back of each of the straps and tuck them into the base. Weave the buckles with the strap at the top and fold over. (if you use tape, you may want to glue the straps before glueing the bag to the base...I just happened to do this a little backwards.)

 Add all the straps the same way.

 Curl the handles. 

Thread the handle through the buckle.

 Glue them into the buckles at the top on the inside of the bag.

You may need a dot of glue here and there to make the handles lay the way you want.

Squeeze the bag to shape it how you want. 

(this is why there aren't fold lines--so you can create your bag's unique look.)

Voila!

You have your tote!

Thanks for stopping by.

Samantha

New This Week! September 17, 2012!

Happy Monday!
New this week at Samantha Walker's Silhouette die cut store!

The gingerbread house is a print and cut 3D house!  Simply purchase the file, print it out on your home printer then cut it out with your Silhouette!  We will have a tutorial for the gingerbread house later this week!

Please Note:  The corrected Dial Calendar will be 
updated in the store this week!